Chief Trail Patrol Warden’s Report
(Victor G. Henrikson)
to the CHPTA Board of Directors January
2015 Meeting
Number of Trail Patrol Wardens submitting a December 2014 report: 9
TRAIL
|
# OF OUTINGS
|
# OF HOURS
|
Heritage Park
|
24
|
28.25
|
Salt Marsh
|
32
|
54
|
Shearwater Flyer
|
38
|
55.5
|
Bissett Lake
|
13
|
5.5
|
Forest Hills
|
1
|
1.5
|
*Other Nova Scotia Trails
|
10
|
12
|
TOTAL
|
118
|
156.75
|
* MacDonald Sports Park and White Point
Lodge Trail
Trail Patrol Wardens continue to clean the
trails and parking lots of various forms of garbage and dog feces. Household
garbage continues to be deposited at the Trail Head garbage barrels. Wardens
restock the Dog Bag Dispensers located at several Trail Heads, which are often
empty a day after being filled. This may indicate use of the bags for use other
than on our trails. The Trail Brochures handed out to the many trail visitors
are greatly appreciated.
Comments/Observations Reported by the Trail Patrol Wardens
for our various trails:
Heritage
Park
1.
Interesting growth of
fungus is often seen on trees in the Park.
2.
Remnants of fireworks
rockets were left in the parking lot.
3.
A single bald eagle was
seen flying back to the Heritage Park with nesting materials in its talons.
Hopefully we will be having a nest pair back in the Park.
4.
Once again, damage to the
trails has taken place from run-off water.
5.
Rabbits in the Park have
changed from their brown colour to winter white. Unfortunately for them, there was
no snow in which to hide.
6.
A Trail Walker with three
large unleashed dogs thought it was ok to have them off leash as she did not
expect anyone else to be in the Park on a sunny and warm Saturday afternoon.
One day the majority of dogs are on leash but the next day most are off-leash.
Often, off-leash dogs are leashed when an approaching Warden is seen, only to
be let off leash once the Warden is off in the distance.
7.
Dead fish found on dry land
within the Park. Perhaps dropped by a seagull or an eagle.
Salt
Marsh Trail
8.
Who would believe the Trail
would look like this on December 27th.
9.
Despite there being signage
indicating that the SMT trail is closed due to construction, trail walkers
continue to use the trail. Wardens inform trail users of the construction and the
possible dangers involved during this time period.
10.
The recently installed bird
feeders on the trail are attracting both birds and squirrels. It is not known
who installed the two feeders which are located a short distance from the trail
entrance on Bissett Road.
11.
The water certainly churns
up when the tide comes in on the Cole Harbour Estuary along the trail.
Shearwater
Flyer Trail
12.
Not sure who installed this
sign on the Trail near Howard Avenue but it has received several compliments.
13.
Ditching taking place on
the trail required Wardens to warn trail walkers of the construction.
14. Heavy rains have resulted in swollen lakes along the trail as well
as minor flooding on the trail.
15.
Nice comments were received
from Trail Walkers regarding the brush cutback along the trail.
16.
A couple, one with a buck
saw, queried a Warden on where to find a nice Christmas tree. They were advised that cutting down or
removing any tree(s) from the trail system is not permitted. They thought that
because it was Crown Land, they could cut down a tree. Once the Warden pointed
out the rules & regulations on the kiosk, they promptly left.
17.
One regular trail user was
seen on roller blades in preparation for when snow finally arrives. He was
using roller blades as a way of getting in shape for cross country skiing.
Bissett
Lake Trail
18.
High-water from recent
rains has almost covered the beaver house beside the Bissett Trail Bridge, as
well as along the trail leading up to the bridge.
Forrest
Hills Trail
19. A tossed box spring and fire pit was spotted along one of the side
trail entrances.
20.
Water erosion along the trail
has taken place as a result of the recent heavy rains.
21.
This month’s heavy rain has
caused a few wet spots on the Trail.
22. Ducks often approach trail walkers in anticipation of being offered
some bread.
Various
CHPTA Trails
23.
Reported outings by bicycle
were 152 and 192 Kilometres.
24.
Abandoned bicycles continue
to be found on the various trails.
25.
For safety reasons, a
Warden placed parking notices on two vehicles which were blocking trail
emergency access points.
26.
Comments continue to be
received from trail users expressing thanks and appreciation for the work of
our Association and the improvements being made to the trails.
27.
Festive Christmas Samaritans
have once again adorned several trees on a couple of our trails.
Reported Wildlife Sightings:
American
Goldfinches, Bald Eagles, Beaver, Blue Jays, Black Capped Chickadees, Canada
Geese, Common Goldeneye, Crows, Juncos, Herring Gulls, Common Mergansers, Mourning
Doves, Muskrats, Rabbit, Sea Gulls, Starlings, Squirrels, Various Duck species
(Black & Mallards) and White Tailed Deer.
Salt Marsh Trail Usage January 1 – December 14, 2014:
Trail
Walkers Only
|
Bicycles Only |
||||||
Jan
|
1,131
|
Jan
|
56
|
||||
Feb
|
1,663
|
Counter
removed
|
Feb
|
||||
Mar
|
1,735
|
Counter
removed
|
Mar
|
||||
Apr
|
2,841
|
Apr
|
565
|
||||
May
|
3,708
|
May
|
825
|
||||
Jun
|
4,367
|
Jun
|
1,069
|
||||
Jul
|
4,426
|
Jul
|
1,380
|
||||
Aug
|
5,208
|
Aug
|
1,538
|
||||
Sep
|
4,226
|
Sep
|
1,149
|
||||
Oct
|
3,248
|
Oct
|
639
|
||||
Nov
|
2,030
|
Nov
|
305
|
||||
Dec
|
889
|
Dec
|
372
|
||||
35,472
|
7,898
|
||||||
Total
usage one way
for SMT
Jan 1, 2014 - Dec 14, 2014
|
|||||||
43,370
|
|||||||
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