tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648437764946386032024-03-26T02:47:27.849-04:00RESTORE COOTES
A call for a paradigm shift toward nature in Hamilton OntarioRandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07094473740572791152noreply@blogger.comBlogger404125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-164843776494638603.post-47853080860321339222022-05-28T11:27:00.003-04:002022-05-28T17:53:02.303-04:00Stairs Connect Us: Please Sign A Petition<p>A group of residents in the University Gardens neighbourhood are seeking improved connections for active transportation. </p><p>The neighbourhood sits on a plateau above McMaster's west campus parking lots. A path through a wooded section between Grant Boulevard and McMaster's parking lot "P" is the shortest and most direct route that connects hikers, and commuters walking or cycling, but it is on the side of a hill that becomes treacherous in winter. At the bottom of the hill, a concrete bridge spans the narrow Ancaster Creek that is the dividing line between Hamilton's Ward 13 (Dundas) and Ward one's Ainslie Woods North neighbourhood.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScCojAGZ8p_bvfVNICgmqiesrhBH6HYSaabsobnIySJ8G8Fqg/viewform">SIGN THE PETITION HERE</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOsMGSGPbPC7zYw_lBqUDRhRlCBVKp8sM9ETNvpcz40x2-kuj47AvEoTQciWiHOQtT70wYPz1T3KbVl6nb1z5LZEvLWzda6BEsXV5mHPUQ0JakM4wlUTp17Y51UTWL3BAe7-vkBFPdeRf9GHXgWqsMp89S1tBYYUA3pExMoDeJFAcngkE70olQESM/s686/Screen%20Shot%202022-05-28%20at%2011.23.11%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="286" data-original-width="686" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOsMGSGPbPC7zYw_lBqUDRhRlCBVKp8sM9ETNvpcz40x2-kuj47AvEoTQciWiHOQtT70wYPz1T3KbVl6nb1z5LZEvLWzda6BEsXV5mHPUQ0JakM4wlUTp17Y51UTWL3BAe7-vkBFPdeRf9GHXgWqsMp89S1tBYYUA3pExMoDeJFAcngkE70olQESM/s320/Screen%20Shot%202022-05-28%20at%2011.23.11%20AM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>Existing stairs were removed by the Hamilton Conservation Authority (HCA) with no plans for replacement. Area residents have started a petition to request a replacement set of stairs and will use the petition as support when they go to the HCA Board meeting in early June.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFafj-9z0DbQu91-z6Z-_MgVwSw-_gjqt5JOd60eGejNw2l5jjpOcFQEg27QKAb9xGkB9fP4vdnBHVBXDpEUFYEpfWyiDEw5CbbqNoAgU-pLq84frCKDjvSMKS8XI66WieS0EWDa2nDZBfNQArZzQdv_LvtIzbsfcy0bf0ekymV4aUSStrUpSSBi4/s2834/20220528_134832.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2834" data-original-width="1860" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFafj-9z0DbQu91-z6Z-_MgVwSw-_gjqt5JOd60eGejNw2l5jjpOcFQEg27QKAb9xGkB9fP4vdnBHVBXDpEUFYEpfWyiDEw5CbbqNoAgU-pLq84frCKDjvSMKS8XI66WieS0EWDa2nDZBfNQArZzQdv_LvtIzbsfcy0bf0ekymV4aUSStrUpSSBi4/s320/20220528_134832.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><br /><div>The text of the petition reads:<p></p><blockquote><p>The Hamilton Conservation Authority has removed the staircase at the end of Grant Blvd with no plans to replace it. Residents in University Gardens need a safe metal staircase with a bike runnel that cyclists and pedestrians can use for commuting or leisure from our subdivision all year! </p><p>Sign this petition and ask the HCA and the City of Hamilton to fund a new staircase! We will present these results at an upcoming HCA Board meeting at the beginning of June.</p></blockquote><p>This trail connection is identified in the <a href="https://www.hamilton.ca/sites/default/files/media/browser/2016-06-27/hamilton-recreational-trails-master-plan-2016-mapping.pdf">Hamilton Trails Master Plan</a>, and it is the only direct way to get between University Gardens and McMaster for people on foot or with bicycles. </p><p>Please consider signing the petition and add your voice to their request.</p><p>Thanks in advance for your support!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScCojAGZ8p_bvfVNICgmqiesrhBH6HYSaabsobnIySJ8G8Fqg/viewform">SIGN THE PETITION HERE</a></p><p> </p><p></p></div>Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07094473740572791152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-164843776494638603.post-84205747239336536532021-06-11T16:30:00.008-04:002021-06-11T16:30:00.182-04:00Where did the water go? Art action in Lot M Parking<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUpKxqPBNK_WMUqdx4872I-PXZhet2bgmZs3TrcTaAmINek8yVfCSwwZ1CkYh-Dp6p77ZpPTLxuiLpmCzGZZVy65QQIrGgEX8TTJu-FnzcpOMHAcjtM1OFN6e6hvlDtyybSEMWW791Fo/s520/coldspring+topo+overlay+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ariel map of west campus McMaster University parking lot with superimposed hitsorical topical terrain mapping showing where Coldwater Creek used to flow before the parking lot was built" border="0" data-original-height="442" data-original-width="520" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUpKxqPBNK_WMUqdx4872I-PXZhet2bgmZs3TrcTaAmINek8yVfCSwwZ1CkYh-Dp6p77ZpPTLxuiLpmCzGZZVy65QQIrGgEX8TTJu-FnzcpOMHAcjtM1OFN6e6hvlDtyybSEMWW791Fo/w320-h272/coldspring+topo+overlay+2.png" width="320" /></a></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">West Campus Eco-Art Project </h2><h3 style="text-align: left;">A walking activity and site activation on McMaster’s West Campus. </h3><p>West Campus Eco-Art Project is a project that incorporates creative walking activities and an artistic site activation connected with the West Campus Redesign Initiative at McMaster University. The initiative provides opportunities for connecting with nature through an on-line informational video, walking excursions and creative activities that deepen knowledge and experience with place in all its complexities (social history, citizen science, ecology and diversity). </p><p>Focusing on the Coldwater creek valley on McMaster’s West Campus, participants will learn about the history and unique features of the area and will be invited to then engage with the site through observation, sketching and stencil-making. Stencils will be used to paint text and image on the parking lot asphalt to delineate a blue line that marks an historic water route. </p><p>The project is supported by the McMaster Museum of Art (www.musuem.mcmaster.ca, School of the Arts www.sota.humanities.mcmaster.ca, Nature at McMaster www.nature.mcmaster.ca and Restore Cootes www.restore-cootes.org.</p>Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07094473740572791152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-164843776494638603.post-5477298233736077892021-06-09T12:34:00.001-04:002021-06-09T12:34:21.701-04:00McMaster's Parking Non-Problem Problem.<p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" face="-apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Looking at McMaster University</span><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" face="-apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">'s plan to build a $12-million dollar parking garage at the site of current Parking Lot K, west of Cootes Drive. </span></p><p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" face="-apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The University Planning Committee minutes from March 18, 2020 cite the need to replace their 490-stall Ward Avenue parking lot by 2024. That's the only reason given.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaOUp0g4NCRWKirarG8a6a3wGDKtNn-Ru19Sa74Xz4Aq6D_qfi18B3454zDbsf5D-hOOzNWY2ZimExD0AOROeBKaKgpN9UPBf8uthe44p8xS5uL8QrBtfJ63wh_7q4QDJC61y2czeiE7g/s2612/20210605_134528.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="View of parking lot K from automated gate, parking lot surrounded by trees" border="0" data-original-height="1204" data-original-width="2612" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaOUp0g4NCRWKirarG8a6a3wGDKtNn-Ru19Sa74Xz4Aq6D_qfi18B3454zDbsf5D-hOOzNWY2ZimExD0AOROeBKaKgpN9UPBf8uthe44p8xS5uL8QrBtfJ63wh_7q4QDJC61y2czeiE7g/w640-h296/20210605_134528.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" face="-apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let's do some math: $12 mil/490 spaces=$24,489.00 per stall, which is in line with rough pricing per stall in parking structures. </span></p><p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" face="-apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">In McMaster's 2011 Campus Master Plan (CMP’11), they identified lot K & 4 other campus sites for potential “Academic, research or residence *above parking structure* & Lot i as a “parking structure” site.</span></p><p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" face="-apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now it looks like Lot K loses the "</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Academic, research or residence" part and becomes just a "parking structure."</span></p><p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" face="-apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">But wait! The more recent Facility Services Capital Plan Update 2021/2022 has a $17-million price tag for the structure. That's almost a 42% increase on the March 2020 UPC’s $12 million. This puts each parking stall at $34,693, an increase <i>per stall</i> of more than $10,000.00</span></p><p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" face="-apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The most recent Campus Master Plan (2017) shares that </span></p><p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" face="-apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><blockquote><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" face="-apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Of 3,728 parking spaces analyzed, data showed peak utilization for 3,003 parking spaces. This equates to 81% of the parking spaces" </span></blockquote><p></p><p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" face="-apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Even without Ward Avenue's 490 spaces, there's enough capacity. </span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" face="-apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">WHAT ABOUT REDUCING THE DEMAND FOR PARKING? </span></h2><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWcSTTGMvlEnWY-SeCcQ3pWOuJ0Tjy80cQVSJIM4Z_Pi9lcHGea3DdG9n79b-tmNCjF94NClKOBMbZcu87MdMmBcbalHRYcSUDHdqLCz7nmJF_ROB3cTIa9WjW9-tR76TTK8btUxYARJQ/s1428/Screen+Shot+2021-06-05+at+5.58.05+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1428" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWcSTTGMvlEnWY-SeCcQ3pWOuJ0Tjy80cQVSJIM4Z_Pi9lcHGea3DdG9n79b-tmNCjF94NClKOBMbZcu87MdMmBcbalHRYcSUDHdqLCz7nmJF_ROB3cTIa9WjW9-tR76TTK8btUxYARJQ/w400-h224/Screen+Shot+2021-06-05+at+5.58.05+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;">What does McMaster say about parking demand? </span><p></p><p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" face="-apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><blockquote><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" face="-apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Drivers parking at the University appear to be cost-conscious & elect to park further away to reduce their parking costs. Similarly, if parking rates are increased, these users may seek different modes to access the campus (e.g. transit)"</span></blockquote><p></p><p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" face="-apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">and </span></p><p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" face="-apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><blockquote><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" face="-apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Parking supply should be managed and not designed for the peak period; doing so would be fiscally irresponsible and would not encourage the use of more sustainable modes”</span></blockquote><p></p><p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" face="-apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">& wisely recommend to </span></p><p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" face="-apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><blockquote><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" face="-apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Explore strategies to increase parking costs in order to reduce demand and encourage users to travel via transit and/or cycling. This will need to be introduced strategically to ensure receptivity” </span></blockquote><p></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" face="-apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">SO HOW IS THAT PRICE INCREASE GOING?</span></h2><p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" face="-apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" face="-apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPsdsIg3B26cZi4LMwpXD1VEpLwXqGoy3m-sY9vpaGyOBAOxh9FCqnt3iEx73F969R4EcBSX1ue2Mztcv6rBEeGC1DuRd5LZv_moE6b3tcQ0cpQgUPxQh7y7r36bziFV5OD-topnmFjwM/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1204" data-original-width="2612" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPsdsIg3B26cZi4LMwpXD1VEpLwXqGoy3m-sY9vpaGyOBAOxh9FCqnt3iEx73F969R4EcBSX1ue2Mztcv6rBEeGC1DuRd5LZv_moE6b3tcQ0cpQgUPxQh7y7r36bziFV5OD-topnmFjwM/w400-h185/20200224_131329.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" face="-apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">In September 2020, McMaster parking prices went up, but NOT in Lots </span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" face="-apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span></li><li><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" face="-apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">B</span></li><li><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" face="-apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">C</span></li><li><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" face="-apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">D</span></li><li><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" face="-apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I</span></li><li><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" face="-apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Q</span></li><li><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" face="-apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Underground Wilson </span></li><li><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" face="-apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lot M </span></li><li><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" face="-apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lot P </span></li><li><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" face="-apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">and accessible Lots in A, B, C, D, E, I, Underground Wilson & Underground Stadium, MDCL, IWC and Mills Library. </span></li></ul><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Prices are holding steady here, and I couldn't find a mention of Ward Ave. </span><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;">So it's </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Only lots G, H and Underground Stadium where prices were moderately increased (up by $1.00/hour). These increases impact less than </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;">700 parking spaces or about 14% of McMaster's parking supply. All in North East campus. </span><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Considering McMaster's awareness of parking cost-influencing behaviour, cost increases don't appear to be applied in a way to get desired results.</span></div><div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0f1419;"><span style="font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;">OPPORTUNITY</span></span></h2><div><p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" face="-apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">A 2007 paper (Becker) found 27% of parking permit holders at McMaster live within 4 kilometres of campus, 37% live within 5km, & over 1/3 of staff are parking permit holders living within 5k of campus.</span></p><p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" face="-apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Light Rail Transit between McMaster and Eastgate Square is coming. With the added capacity and general reliability and comfort offered by higher-order transit, McMaster could look at transit passes for staff and faculty. </span></p><p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" face="-apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1419; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Remote work will remain once the pandemic is under control. Both remote work and increase transit suggest there are feasible options to reduce parking demand. </span></p></div></div></div>Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07094473740572791152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-164843776494638603.post-51855663372670760502021-03-16T18:44:00.002-04:002021-03-16T18:51:44.343-04:00McMaster's Parking Problem: Next LevelI'm sharing a recent article published in the Dundas Star News about McMaster's plan to build a - get this - $17-million dollar parking structure. Seventeen million. Yes,<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>$17,000,000.00</b></span></div>That's a lot of money to provide temporary shelter for vehicles of people who choose to drive to campus.<br />We will be following this closely. Here's the article. <br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Cootes Drive six-storey McMaster University parking garage under review<div class="separator"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicGHxsaBMF_q837u0YC2ifb_ZJ8aCTA8uQNKrlj56Cc6SYoADH3fTf0ZL8BzR7MNsnoD3b7iOxSybJaEDqGx25yHxcgkzrNKmBxxK5fYU5ygkpxQaj-86QeOgv6MfC3Kl6tODnA98tBCc/w400-h400/Parking-Map-2011.jpg" /></a></div></h2><h3 style="text-align: left;">Variances or amendment to zoning bylaw expected to permit parking structure</h3><b>Craig Campbell, Dundas Star News, Friday, March 5, 2021</b><br /><br />Zoning bylaw variances, or amendments, could be required for a planned six-storey, 567-space McMaster University parking garage west of Cootes Drive, and north of Thorndale Crescent.<br /><br />University spokesperson Michelle Donavon said the $17-million structure on parking lot K at Westaway Road will help ongoing efforts to re-naturalize parts of the west campus, by moving some surface parking into the structure.<br /><br />“These plans will increase green space and reduce the amount of surface parking, and the plan for the new parking garage complements these efforts to allow the rehabilitation work to continue,” Donavon said.<br /><br />McMaster’s campus master plan includes three potential parking garages west of Cootes, around Westaway, but the university has only applied to build one so far.<br /><br />“We’re piloting a different approach with this project as we look to provide parking spaces on a smaller footprint that takes up less land,” Donavon said.<br /><br />The property’s current zoning allows surface parking, but apparently does not permit a parking structure. The maximum height for any building there is 2.5 storeys, and 11 metres, while McMaster’s proposal is six storeys and 20.4-metres.<br /><br />City of Hamilton spokesperson Michelle Williams said the application has been circulated to internal city staff for comment.<br /><br />“If there are any zoning deficiencies identified in the review of the proposal, planning staff would be the ones to suggest the appropriate planning application to address those deficiencies,” Williams said. “However, it is the applicant’s decision on how they wish to proceed.”<br /><br />A group of artists, professors and other community members have participated in Designing Paradise, in support of naturalizing the west campus, which abuts a creek connected to Cootes Paradise.<br /><br />English professor Daniel Coleman called the proposal “a huge boon” for the surrounding ecosystem. He said surface parking lots currently covering the valley floor create a bottleneck for water and living things travelling up or down the valley between Ancaster and Sulphur Creeks and Cootes Paradise.<br /><br />Coleman said the lots also can send water carrying pollutants into the creek.<br /><br />“The lots also interrupt the flood plain’s capacity to filter the water that flows down the valley toward Cootes Paradise marsh, with the result that pollutants and sediments flow more readily into Cootes,” he said.<br /><br />Long-time Cootes Paradise supporter Randy Kay said he hasn’t seen details of McMaster’s proposal, but he’s eager to see if there is a direct relationship between the proposed “very expensive” parking garage and the supply in lot M next to the creek.<br /><br />“I’d also like to know what McMaster is doing to reduce demand for parking, to manage demand,” Kay said. “I’m really hoping McMaster is being prudent with spending, since parking garages are not really money well spent, in my opinion.”<br /><br />A capital plan update to the university’s planning committee on Feb. 10 states “the university is in need of additional parking spaces off central campus. The university currently leases land at Ward Avenue and this lease is set to expire in fiscal 2024 with no option to renew.”<br /><br />Hamilton Conservation Authority had not yet received the proposal for review, as of March 2.<p></p>Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07094473740572791152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-164843776494638603.post-73958234879542066192020-07-05T14:04:00.001-04:002020-07-05T14:28:54.570-04:00Turtle TreksTurtles move slow but they can cover a lot of ground.<div><br /></div><div>When the weather warms in the spring, male and female turtles start to roam, with female turtles seeking nesting sites to lay eggs. They are busiest during May and June, but will be making their rounds anytime between April and October (<a href="https://ontarioturtle.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Turtle-Nests-and-Nest-Protection.pdf">Source</a>). </div><div><br /></div><div>The babies hatch later in the summer or early fall and are born into a world of danger, with predators being a top hazard, but roads play a role in reducing the hatchling's survival rates. </div><div><br /></div><div><blockquote>Less than 1 in a hundred turtle eggs laid will hatch and grow into an adult turtle.</blockquote><div style="text-align: right;">(<a href="https://ontarioturtle.ca/turtles/">Source</a>) </div><div> </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVKvaas_GpSRlcKpDZSqIRtMNjpNW5KVDojAxdu_K6LLeNgKcCWXwr5uQIGhPl3SNR7VIKOv-0YS7Gd8oxIAxV1_koUicSQiwKWo9hSI99bnqXWHs8ROpAANvekxi3HlcRbM5lNddShYU/s4656/20170917_193356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="baby snapping turtles in a tupperware container held by a child" border="0" data-original-height="4656" data-original-width="2620" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVKvaas_GpSRlcKpDZSqIRtMNjpNW5KVDojAxdu_K6LLeNgKcCWXwr5uQIGhPl3SNR7VIKOv-0YS7Gd8oxIAxV1_koUicSQiwKWo9hSI99bnqXWHs8ROpAANvekxi3HlcRbM5lNddShYU/w225-h400/20170917_193356.jpg" title="Baby snapping turtles" width="225" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Turtles take a long time to reach sexual maturity, meaning that maintaining a robust population requires protection. Adult snapping turtles, for instance, have a 99% survival rate in the wild, but road mortality tips the scales against them. The loss of a fertile adult female creates a huge deficit in the survivability of the species in a region. </div><div><br /></div><div>A good source for information on turtles is <a href="https://ontarioturtle.ca/turtles/">https://ontarioturtle.ca/turtles/</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>We are asking people locally to pledge to avoid using Cootes Drive in order to give at-risk turtles a fighting chance. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font color="#0b8043" size="5">If you haven't yet, please sign our pledge (it takes less than one minute to complete) here: </font></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font size="5"><a href="http://bit.ly/ProtectTurtlesCootes">ProtectTurtlesCootes</a></font></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07094473740572791152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-164843776494638603.post-16917460441401202132020-06-27T18:29:00.002-04:002020-06-27T18:37:55.194-04:00It only takes a minute to save Turtles on Cootes DrivePlease help us raise awareness of the simple thing drivers (and passengers) can do to avoid killing at-risk turtles and other wildlife on Cootes Drive between Dundas and Hamilton.<div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font size="5">TAKE OUR PLEDGE: <a href="http://bit.ly/ProtectTurtlesCootes">ProtectTurtlesCootes</a> </font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font size="5">(takes less than one minute to complete)</font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Alternative routes between Dundas and Hamilton exist, and taking these routes will only add a minute to most drivers reaching their destination.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5zP1E9Tgry6vA4hf1CMFhjA0i_EUYJvo0DNJ70Lf1Nr8vPnnZKKAZZW29VpZ8eiYDJSZP-SCfIVxLSnY5R2Ez5lJq9g6WhBPiVPLlV1fbAiSBFJ6cDuOWf03nBebCOvH4HVpkpZf4M1I/s1600/IMG_20170829_132107.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="photo of a turtle crushed on the road" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5zP1E9Tgry6vA4hf1CMFhjA0i_EUYJvo0DNJ70Lf1Nr8vPnnZKKAZZW29VpZ8eiYDJSZP-SCfIVxLSnY5R2Ez5lJq9g6WhBPiVPLlV1fbAiSBFJ6cDuOWf03nBebCOvH4HVpkpZf4M1I/w300-h400/IMG_20170829_132107.jpg" title="Turtle crushed on Olympic Drive, Dundas Ontario" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div>Often you might not even be aware you've hit a young turtle, or a snake, for example, yet in the case of turtles, each death means this at-risk group is one death closer to extirpation. Turtles take a long time to reach maturity, and most hatchlings never make it to adulthood so you can see the dilemma.</div><div><br /></div><div>Please take a minute to pledge your commitment to use an alternate route, and help Restore Cootes and other groups do their part to protect our reptile friends. A previous survey showed that 70% of respondents would do this for the turtles. Hopefully, you will join them!</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks in advance for your support!</div><div><br /></div><pre style="text-align: left;"><br /></pre></div>
<iframe frameborder="0" height="1167" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScp74iYi9ZV5Y54Qy9Dwdp7UJC9lsFJAEndeO2J7HTcfSj6Ug/viewform?embedded=true" width="640">Loading…</iframe>Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07094473740572791152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-164843776494638603.post-6326859520736841852020-01-19T21:06:00.002-05:002020-01-19T21:06:37.345-05:00Design for nature not cars in McMaster west campus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Monday, January 20, 2020</div>
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Rethinking McMaster's West Campus</h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9-Qx4tBVYytAS2pKqXKiPTsHwqg6HLD6R_utJVOVFre1AsBbccUqdNyinCbeYhG1RRdsks_H37o5XkUkd1ds6zCcSrv0pI6j3hEsr49SVCP0U_Xf_UaMpNd4zqbifX0wJBJBudZzc6I/s1600/designing+paradise+2+poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="618" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9-Qx4tBVYytAS2pKqXKiPTsHwqg6HLD6R_utJVOVFre1AsBbccUqdNyinCbeYhG1RRdsks_H37o5XkUkd1ds6zCcSrv0pI6j3hEsr49SVCP0U_Xf_UaMpNd4zqbifX0wJBJBudZzc6I/s640/designing+paradise+2+poster.jpg" width="494" /></a></div>
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Floodplain and Simple</h2>
I really hope that the vision for west campus does look to rehabilitate the floodplain under McMaster Parking Lot M. In these times of global climate emergency, what better contrast than cars parked on top a coldwater wetland. One is a source of our current predicament, and the other is a part of the solution to mitigate the issues we face.<br />
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Meanwhile: Trail to Trespass</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtcUpy6mdP1tf-TQ5CrMIojG79PrMOuH8j-ZjVsFDv-eTOiJ58KKjyscfdkxyCkAFxKTiTpVjb_Y9YSCx8YNJsIkmum1aBzQP3hy9TDrXJxbHzT4oFJJbpaOI6SgCSSqiSRds84a7oyq4/s1600/IMG_20141223_155600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtcUpy6mdP1tf-TQ5CrMIojG79PrMOuH8j-ZjVsFDv-eTOiJ58KKjyscfdkxyCkAFxKTiTpVjb_Y9YSCx8YNJsIkmum1aBzQP3hy9TDrXJxbHzT4oFJJbpaOI6SgCSSqiSRds84a7oyq4/s200/IMG_20141223_155600.jpg" width="150" /></a>McMaster still has to come to terms with the fact they won't allow people currently parking in the west campus to use the perfectly lovely remnant of the former Royal Botanical Gardens nature trails to access campus.<br />
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It's very odd that it was easier to get hundreds of parking spaces removed to create the required 30-metre buffer to the coldwater creek there than it is to get McMaster to stop blocking access to the trail.<br />
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I'm hoping to open (another) conversation with McMaster about this trail. In the meantime, I will be checking out the ideas generated through the Designing Paradise project.<br />
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<i><span style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">If you want to help with a campaign to re-open access to the trail ("Maria's Walk" in the former Coldspring Valley Nature Sanctuary trail system) - shoot us an email and we will get you on the team.</span></i><br />
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<br />Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07094473740572791152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-164843776494638603.post-15058394481636351662020-01-08T17:35:00.001-05:002020-01-08T17:35:21.366-05:00In the beginningI've sometimes wondered how certain plants started growing in our yard. I'm guessing seed dispersal: the wind floats some through the air, sticky burrs caught on a racoon's fur drop as they pass through at night, a nuthatch drops some seeds from its tail-end while searching for bugs on the side of a tree.<br />
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The methods of delivery are varied, but the process of growth continues with time and the right conditions - rain, sun, soil - and the wind, the racoon, the nuthatch are forgotten like the seed itself.<br />
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We see goldenrod, sumach, dogwood, and it appears as though nothing preceded this moment, this forest stands inexplicably before our eyes.<br />
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This is the way too with social or environmental change. Generations of germination and growth. The fruits may come after the planter has long disappeared. Like a monarch butterfly migrating - it's the generation that begins the journey that makes it possible for the next generation to arrive.<br />
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I feel a little of this with the west campus parking lots: I'll explore this idea further in another blog post next week. For now here's a poster of an upcoming event on January 13, 2020:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3qruGtF1XYgN0m7chY9mgseI0DYNK4jBy8O069fG-rtPaic1Z3NJcKW9tURnYRQ2GYiZKYjSGUXBcjGQNge8V2xra-fIYAm-uMsMusNn2yBEgP-uFSO1PDX3tcWnhTPojh1pclwcwFs/s1600/Jan+13+Designing+Paradise+poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="619" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3qruGtF1XYgN0m7chY9mgseI0DYNK4jBy8O069fG-rtPaic1Z3NJcKW9tURnYRQ2GYiZKYjSGUXBcjGQNge8V2xra-fIYAm-uMsMusNn2yBEgP-uFSO1PDX3tcWnhTPojh1pclwcwFs/s640/Jan+13+Designing+Paradise+poster.jpg" width="494" /></a></div>
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I hope to attend and hear what folks are thinking. See how the forest is growing.</div>
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- Randy</div>
<br />Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07094473740572791152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-164843776494638603.post-87218888736485393232019-07-12T08:54:00.000-04:002019-07-12T08:54:10.973-04:00Free Outdoor Workshops and Guided Butterfly and Moth Identification walks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN1wdWUzNPTUdpQd2lXgYz_5D9zpuiZBffnocEwuCsFFZxoGzGbykTJGo7htLzidkH_3z3Aavz_fp_vptZGGUkkEsP6T1aGrfesOgtUaze74CMSq1Ur4-SGFoisFHVhbKjY94Q8GrCVIs/s1600/ubg-summer-poster-2019-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1237" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN1wdWUzNPTUdpQd2lXgYz_5D9zpuiZBffnocEwuCsFFZxoGzGbykTJGo7htLzidkH_3z3Aavz_fp_vptZGGUkkEsP6T1aGrfesOgtUaze74CMSq1Ur4-SGFoisFHVhbKjY94Q8GrCVIs/s640/ubg-summer-poster-2019-2.png" width="494" /></a></div>
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No need to leave town to see beautiful butterflies and magnificent moths. Free, outdoor, and close to home at the Dundas, Ontario Urquhart Butterfly Garden. </div>
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It is easy to get to without a car, you can ride your bike down the Cootes Drive multi-use path or take transit (HSR Dundas #52, Head Street) and get off by the Canadian Tire/Beer Store.</div>
<br />Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07094473740572791152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-164843776494638603.post-49959105293964777612019-07-05T19:32:00.001-04:002019-07-05T19:32:29.577-04:00Survey on Cootes Paradise Can you take a few minutes to help researchers at the University of Toronto with a survey on Cootes Paradise? <div>
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Which environmental benefits are most important to you and your family? Your input will make a difference! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhueL8MeCLaSnyccmvdn-c2KZ1VDoHzbg075MWlS7W1K6fVIPqp2gonyv_Wl5J0xPITtNOLjon-YrLiGJ1HKywuoO6sHp4oBSimZvwLfceSQDmj55X5sFWJmDHJHpS8oYjFjBmjOihFuBA/s1600/CPSurveyPoster.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1237" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhueL8MeCLaSnyccmvdn-c2KZ1VDoHzbg075MWlS7W1K6fVIPqp2gonyv_Wl5J0xPITtNOLjon-YrLiGJ1HKywuoO6sHp4oBSimZvwLfceSQDmj55X5sFWJmDHJHpS8oYjFjBmjOihFuBA/s400/CPSurveyPoster.png" width="308" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Take the survey at: <a href="http://www.cpsurvey.ga/">www.cpsurvey.ga</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Please note that Restore Cootes is not involved in the research, and we are sharing to help promote the survey only.</span></div>
Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07094473740572791152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-164843776494638603.post-39231973107170033552018-10-24T08:25:00.000-04:002018-10-24T11:38:14.388-04:00Filling In The Floodplain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-TnB2ITBdHHxWanX_Ue06ja2Rf3WPvv-uiK6Q9qZmgAN4pv3BLxaMFCZUQB3s_ogOcRfW4Qq-pH5dEoZzX2UMT7rUuCmZbJEV8kf0GROg1cV8jWOE_SOu3mfkRavCokeXgJoA_cayARQ/s1600/ParadiseRevisited_ColdwaterCreekTour2_Digital.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1237" data-original-width="1600" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-TnB2ITBdHHxWanX_Ue06ja2Rf3WPvv-uiK6Q9qZmgAN4pv3BLxaMFCZUQB3s_ogOcRfW4Qq-pH5dEoZzX2UMT7rUuCmZbJEV8kf0GROg1cV8jWOE_SOu3mfkRavCokeXgJoA_cayARQ/s640/ParadiseRevisited_ColdwaterCreekTour2_Digital.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I'm stepping in to fill-in for the injured Wayne Terryberry on this interpretive hike - on the filled-in floodplain of lower Ancaster Creek, formerly Coldspring Valley Nature sanctuary, currently McMaster Parking Lot M - also the site of a rehabilitation project that has peeled back the asphalt to create a 30 metre riparian zone to separate the cold-water creek from the parking.<br />
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Lots to see and discuss, and this hike will have a lot more about the natural science of the space with McMaster Biology prof Susan Dudley.Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07094473740572791152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-164843776494638603.post-82676931690546167792018-10-02T15:20:00.000-04:002018-10-02T15:21:59.030-04:00Moving toward MacMarsh at McMaster<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTN2BQoGGmGpMTpCPLlycc28GP9zqLaxyxo7WELqWU5cKRF08FTX5H-tLwdue4_n5durgsh0QGvp_pVUUVRbYPKssA7Nh3B-zTEHPePWESzMRuse4e_TlLveFLTuOMQUOqa9NtbAZYl14/s1600/ParadiseRevisited_OctoberEvents_Mailer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1036" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTN2BQoGGmGpMTpCPLlycc28GP9zqLaxyxo7WELqWU5cKRF08FTX5H-tLwdue4_n5durgsh0QGvp_pVUUVRbYPKssA7Nh3B-zTEHPePWESzMRuse4e_TlLveFLTuOMQUOqa9NtbAZYl14/s640/ParadiseRevisited_OctoberEvents_Mailer.jpg" width="414" /></a></div>
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Some interesting approaches to looking at rehabilitating a McMaster parking lot to become a coldwater wetland.<br />
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I'll be on the panel discussing the historical aspects of the site, with other smarter people, 10am Thursday, October 25, 2018.<br />
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Two days prior, <a href="http://patriciajohanson.com/">Patricia Johanson</a> will be speaking about the way she uses art, site-specific art, to help heal the earth.<br />
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Should be inspiring. Hope you can make it.Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07094473740572791152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-164843776494638603.post-2370725339653279052018-09-10T11:38:00.001-04:002018-09-10T11:39:17.532-04:00History Hike in West Campus Tuesday, September 11 at 2pm<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjquME0WxvdTIXW5d52qSAMqKSY_VRHVHzXuuA-AbrpbLAEE2Ar3900rMiyBj65zP0ZDzwE6mR895aRhyphenhyphen1_k5yfKuVZJpeEykwoKL9b419CEKaU0ue_yb-aTzY3qBBXJBY8o0EpkBRhaXU/s1600/ProjectDescription_ColdwaterCreekTour1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1237" data-original-width="1600" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjquME0WxvdTIXW5d52qSAMqKSY_VRHVHzXuuA-AbrpbLAEE2Ar3900rMiyBj65zP0ZDzwE6mR895aRhyphenhyphen1_k5yfKuVZJpeEykwoKL9b419CEKaU0ue_yb-aTzY3qBBXJBY8o0EpkBRhaXU/s640/ProjectDescription_ColdwaterCreekTour1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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We're going on a hike to introduce McMaster students (and any other interested participants) to this former RBG Coldspring Valley Nature Sanctuary and coldwater creek floodplain - currently a parking lot - to examine the past, present and future of this place that is undergoing an important ecological transformation.<br />
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Tour Leaders </h4>
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<li>Dan Coleman (English Professor and author of <a href="https://alllitup.ca/books/Y/Yardwork">Yardwork: A Biography of an Urban Place</a>)</li>
<li>Randy Kay (Restore Cootes)</li>
<li>Judy Major-Girardin (School of the Arts)</li>
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Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07094473740572791152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-164843776494638603.post-48098200507970004732018-07-23T21:07:00.000-04:002018-07-23T21:07:31.614-04:00Urquhart Butterfly Garden speaker seriesA lovely butterfly garden is the perfect setting for this annual speaker series.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXE2R49PLvP3Tr30D0rXwWQzeJbXiWmYi89seyqctYHHfysItdf7d4vMaDKSuz15eayRseDhlAe8wSwzChEavYppSvE9G0vqekdxd8jL2iDr5bc6brmW_nXYVP2iC8nBNnXux4CUb6WI/s1600/UBG+Summer+2018+flyer_print.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1237" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXE2R49PLvP3Tr30D0rXwWQzeJbXiWmYi89seyqctYHHfysItdf7d4vMaDKSuz15eayRseDhlAe8wSwzChEavYppSvE9G0vqekdxd8jL2iDr5bc6brmW_nXYVP2iC8nBNnXux4CUb6WI/s640/UBG+Summer+2018+flyer_print.png" width="494" /></a></div>
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August 4, 2018, Guest speaker: Doreen Nicoll</h3>
You cannot have Monarch Butterflies without milkweed. Doreen Nicoll has recently become a heroine for monarch butterflies, by insisting on her rights to grow milkweed in her naturalized garden in Burlington.<br />
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Doreen Nicoll has long understood that garden with nature and not against her is the best thing for our planet. She also knows that native plants are great at attracting butterflies and bees of all species.<br />
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Doreen will be the first presenter in the Summer Series at the Urquhart Butterfly Garden and her topic will be Monarchs and Their Milkweed and naturalized gardening. She has wealth of information and is fun as well!<br />
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The session will begin at 11 am Saturday on August 4 and last approximately one hour. Please bring a chair.<br />
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If it rains the session will be cancelled.<br />
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<b>For more information about the Urquhart Butterfly Garden please visit urquhartbutterfly.com</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>The Summer Series is funded by the Dougher Fund of the Hamilton Community Foundation.</i></div>
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Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07094473740572791152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-164843776494638603.post-82755523384429947572018-07-09T12:20:00.002-04:002018-07-09T12:20:44.293-04:00McMaster Versus Maria's Walk<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It seems that McMaster can't quite figure out a welcoming approach to this historical trail. </div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Signs have gone from "no trespassing" to "use at own risk" and now, "do not use" with the unwelcome addition of a chain link fence at the top and the bottom of the west campus trail.<br />
Why all the changes from threatening to personal responsibility, and now back to prohibitive with physical barriers? </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNcHEtbNDOEWcHw0xdIOV9W2k9Bw1JyuZ-TiSPpkq685DySRaQ92oeYabgO-aTHh-kXFQOouYqjuN7EN0HhXQHg_fFoOoGZbvmYkBpdiDfWRT3S5JZwV8G_ahDU71kXZDahuBYX7rQWE/s1600/IMG_20141223_155557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNcHEtbNDOEWcHw0xdIOV9W2k9Bw1JyuZ-TiSPpkq685DySRaQ92oeYabgO-aTHh-kXFQOouYqjuN7EN0HhXQHg_fFoOoGZbvmYkBpdiDfWRT3S5JZwV8G_ahDU71kXZDahuBYX7rQWE/s320/IMG_20141223_155557.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bottom of Maria's Walk trail 2013</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMCbMk9-2tRnVXWNA4i3nR_ggwpHU9zJD4Fot5Njcx80Z3WRj-YdvJmhtrTftxjkln47jrtH5vr3PAQFHYbdsetr_n8gHjzk3RKaEEWyolHUfS58pDPyhxG5jPkUxVLpYoHoXjQbYA-k/s1600/IMG_20161003_174233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMCbMk9-2tRnVXWNA4i3nR_ggwpHU9zJD4Fot5Njcx80Z3WRj-YdvJmhtrTftxjkln47jrtH5vr3PAQFHYbdsetr_n8gHjzk3RKaEEWyolHUfS58pDPyhxG5jPkUxVLpYoHoXjQbYA-k/s320/IMG_20161003_174233.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top of Trail C 2016</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-GS6qjKkNKrJhWrtt8W9nqOYzgOY3OWo03SNyidIz2sMsEgqlyNKWv8-C1Nb5btkuPDCVd-WZfn-rYY9mjp4s5FhdomrUYDeFudVVKGIeD_RCBIoUo2f3t4C194iAT2xy6qAMqJkteY/s1600/20180518_113011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-GS6qjKkNKrJhWrtt8W9nqOYzgOY3OWo03SNyidIz2sMsEgqlyNKWv8-C1Nb5btkuPDCVd-WZfn-rYY9mjp4s5FhdomrUYDeFudVVKGIeD_RCBIoUo2f3t4C194iAT2xy6qAMqJkteY/s320/20180518_113011.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2018 top of trail with Do Not Use sign and fence</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizIe-tiX4d9TEm7Qql1nrTwW_L3CM5xwKEv-SaHgwPW5h1X8w4S7j9yTICDGokYwssVATjQXLSA-SzJn4APyj-YeoovjDhg5xuuq3iH0BxU64bDhOnd6QyP7wuguRU3kKAMIhNj2pI-KI/s1600/20180518_112827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizIe-tiX4d9TEm7Qql1nrTwW_L3CM5xwKEv-SaHgwPW5h1X8w4S7j9yTICDGokYwssVATjQXLSA-SzJn4APyj-YeoovjDhg5xuuq3iH0BxU64bDhOnd6QyP7wuguRU3kKAMIhNj2pI-KI/s320/20180518_112827.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2018 Fence at top of trail looking down</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghi0A3TtJRlmFtC0MH0o-_tsq4pYgZuo5J7CDX-5BwazyKRCFtUImJFiHUnWx2lYz_mejVMuzM4g9cQrIjQZPn9UpHUZXBeru2Aa4k3TdVDZNyT8EmT0Wevh3yl9c-FkfBVQBx4c1e3T0/s1600/20180628_154722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghi0A3TtJRlmFtC0MH0o-_tsq4pYgZuo5J7CDX-5BwazyKRCFtUImJFiHUnWx2lYz_mejVMuzM4g9cQrIjQZPn9UpHUZXBeru2Aa4k3TdVDZNyT8EmT0Wevh3yl9c-FkfBVQBx4c1e3T0/s320/20180628_154722.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2018 fence at bottom of trail</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4LhGTCeocCD2_XLC738PEtLEoj0PrlK1A4Mpgcs1ejOK2UvwiWmoI0Y6qtYiqAtnB9VjHhc4h4dzNf8QY-_Cmr2FJjq46omtz-tU1k8nC_Wq4h4cnSJJvZGrAsFCNZm8afp8t1-GfHLo/s1600/sc2009-03-12-r2003-1-photo-coldspring-creek-sign-medres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1303" data-original-width="1600" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4LhGTCeocCD2_XLC738PEtLEoj0PrlK1A4Mpgcs1ejOK2UvwiWmoI0Y6qtYiqAtnB9VjHhc4h4dzNf8QY-_Cmr2FJjq46omtz-tU1k8nC_Wq4h4cnSJJvZGrAsFCNZm8afp8t1-GfHLo/s320/sc2009-03-12-r2003-1-photo-coldspring-creek-sign-medres.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Historical photo of Thorndale trailhead when the area was<br />
and RBG Nature Sanctuary</td></tr>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/B3Wp2zwcsv8/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/B3Wp2zwcsv8?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<h4>
Selected links</h4>
<ul>
<li>http://www.restore-cootes.org/2013/05/marias-blocked-walk.html</li>
<li>http://www.restore-cootes.org/2015/01/re-open-and-repair-marias-walk.html</li>
<li>http://www.restore-cootes.org/2017/07/lost-nature-trail-at-mcmaster-video.html</li>
<li>http://www.restore-cootes.org/2014/12/who-was-maria.html</li>
<li>http://www.restore-cootes.org/2015/05/trail-fragment-rim-prospect-circuit-to.html</li>
</ul>
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<br />Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07094473740572791152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-164843776494638603.post-19884491190686423762018-05-23T19:43:00.001-04:002018-05-23T20:57:41.525-04:00Turtle Trouble on World Turtle DayA new <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/ranavirus-snapping-turtle-canada-1.4653798">virus infecting the local turtle population</a>, road mortality as cars and trucks continue their shell-crushing trips down Cootes Drive.<br />
<br />
Yes, it's <b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.worldturtleday.org/"><span style="font-size: x-large;">WORLD TURTLE DAY</span></a> </span></b>and things are admittedly pretty bad for our slow-moving reptile friends.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>That means it's time to make some changes!</b></div>
<br />
Why not start with things we can easily control, like our own behaviour. Driving along Cootes?<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://bit.ly/ProtectTurtlesCootes"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Pledge now to use an alternate route</span></a><br />
(click on the link above to take the pledge!)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b> <b><span style="font-size: large;">A minute or two will save lives!</span></b></div>
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<br />Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07094473740572791152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-164843776494638603.post-44238936041068172372018-01-17T08:30:00.000-05:002018-01-17T08:30:08.189-05:00Dundas Waste Water making fish sluggish in Cootes Paradise <h2>
Chemicals in Cootes Paradise are making fish sluggish</h2>
<h3>
Study says fish are burning energy to deal with effluent from treatment plant instead of on feeding, mating</h3>
<h4 style="text-align: right;">
by Mark McNeil, Hamilton Spectator</h4>
<br />
If you've ever noticed fish looking unusually tuckered out in the waters of Cootes Paradise, a new McMaster study might have an explanation.<br />
<br />
It seems effluent from the Dundas Wastewater Treatment Plant could be the cause.<br />
<br />
The study published this week in the journal Environmental Science and Technology says wild sunfish downstream from the plant expended 30 per cent of their energy to push back the onslaught of chemicals. That means less stamina for other things like finding food and a mate.<br />
<br />
"The main thing we found is that the exposure essentially required the fish to burn a lot more energy," said Graham Scott, senior author of the research paper.<br />
<br />
A lot of chemicals — including pharmaceuticals — just pass through the treatment plants into receiving waters. Exposed fish will have the chemicals enter their bodies, "and what we found is that the fish has to burn a lot more energy to cope with the chemicals, just to stay alive."<br />
<br />
"Essentially it needs to divert a lot of its finite resources to dealing with the contaminants."<br />
<br />
The discovery is interesting because it introduces a new area of concern about effluent from wastewater treatment plants, such as the one in Dundas.<br />
<br />
Some chemicals in discharges are known to be highly toxic in high concentrations, or carcinogenic. Others could adversely affect fertility.<br />
<br />
But the new study found there are also less noticeable outcomes.<br />
<br />
"This is something that is more subtle but it could have a very serious impact to the day to day living of fish," said Scott. "One of the reasons they seem more sluggish when exposed to wastewater effluent is because in a way they are sick. They are burning more energy to cope and they don't have as much energy for other things."<br />
<br />
The study comes several weeks after a similar published study by a team of scientists with Environment and Climate Change Canada and McMaster University that looked specifically at the effect of pharmaceuticals from the Dundas plant's effluent.<br />
<br />
The researchers found fish had elevated levels of serotonin in their blood plasma and that caused them to be more active and willing to explore than fish kept away from the discharges.<br />
<br />
The fish tended to avoid cautionary instincts such as keeping still after being startled, said Sigal Balshine, a professor in the department of psychology, neuroscience and behaviour at McMaster and one of the authors on the papers. Balshine and five other colleagues also worked on Scott's research.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, the City of Hamilton is exploring options for the 1980s-era Dundas treatment facility to mitigate its discharges into Cootes Paradise that among other things have led to algae blooms.<br />
<br />
The city previously earmarked about $25 million to upgrade the plant that manages sewage from Dundas and parts of Waterdown. A total rebuild would cost $45 million.<br />
<br />
But Scott noted that even a state-of-the-art treatment facility would be generally ineffective at blocking pharmaceuticals such as birth-control medications, antidepressants and beta blockers from passing into receiving waters.<br />
<br />
mmcneil@thespec.com<br />
905-526-4687 | @MarkatthespecRandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07094473740572791152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-164843776494638603.post-15706256288846910022018-01-14T18:58:00.000-05:002018-01-14T18:59:30.384-05:00Freeze FrameDeep freeze, thaw, deep freeze. Here we are in January 2018. Cootes is looking good no matter the weather!<br />
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<br />Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07094473740572791152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-164843776494638603.post-18924171368373371982017-10-29T13:16:00.000-04:002017-10-29T13:16:06.260-04:00Coldspring Valley explorers: a photo gallery!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
What do all these people have in common? They've taken the guided tour of west campus with Restore Cootes! Be like them and come out Friday at 12:30 PM to tour the remnants of Coldspring Valley Nature Sanctuary, McMaster Parking Lot M depaved, Ancaster/Coldwater Creek, and other sites of historical and research interest. Register here: <a href="http://bit.ly/waterweekwalk2017">http://bit.ly/waterweekwalk2017</a></div>
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<br />Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07094473740572791152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-164843776494638603.post-19964870339243812362017-10-12T09:00:00.000-04:002017-10-18T11:31:36.497-04:00Coldspring Valley History Hike: Water Innovation Week <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We're heading back out to share the history of this former floodplain/nature sanctuary, and take a look at the rehabilitated future of this contested site in McMaster's west campus. Can we really depave Paradise? It's happening!<br />
<br />
Register on Eventbrite: <a href="http://bit.ly/waterweekwalk2017">http://bit.ly/waterweekwalk2017</a> (by donation)<br />
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<br />Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07094473740572791152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-164843776494638603.post-79497852519350264692017-09-28T12:13:00.000-04:002017-09-28T12:13:17.082-04:00Slow Sign and Turtle Time<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZvqlippMnnrABYuhBfzYM28amMHC3POodSH_BQEu4Ue2y8VY6I9Oz0wmGbn3GURA9CIC1bqcq57EQe3NPB1w07qJE9_2A79WyuRt-A-VWiRoCPKB4Vpr122lbiyVb4ISa6v5fxtLDzEY/s1600/img_20170428_212857_956_34228996721_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1397" data-original-width="1397" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZvqlippMnnrABYuhBfzYM28amMHC3POodSH_BQEu4Ue2y8VY6I9Oz0wmGbn3GURA9CIC1bqcq57EQe3NPB1w07qJE9_2A79WyuRt-A-VWiRoCPKB4Vpr122lbiyVb4ISa6v5fxtLDzEY/s400/img_20170428_212857_956_34228996721_o.jpg" width="400" /></a><b>THEY SAY:</b><br />
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Information Report: April 3, 2017<br />
SUBJECT/REPORT NO: Rare Turtle Recovery, Wildlife Corridor Issues and Roads of Issue at Cootes Paradise<br />
(PW16024a) - (City Wide)<br />
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<h3>
Traffic Issues on Cootes Drive</h3>
Traffic Operations & Engineering has been working with the Ward 13 Councillor on traffic signage along Cootes Drive. Four (4) traffic signs (with flashing lights) operating during turtle migration season will be installed in the spring of 2017. The migration period for turtles is generally around the months of June, early July and September but can vary due to weather conditions. The traffic signs are useful in alerting motorists of potential turtle crossings on that roadway.<br />
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<b>RESTORE COOTES SAYS:</b><br />
<br />
Is it working? Is there any evidence that it is helping turtles or even slowing vehicles?<br />
<br />
We're betting it has little to no impact - the light is always flashing, if turtles are present or not, the road is built for speed and it makes it dangerous to slow down.<br />
<br />
We hope to find out more about this and we will report back here.<br />
<h4>
In the meantime: pledge to avoid Cootes Drive here: <a href="http://bit.ly/ProtectTurtlesCootes">http://bit.ly/ProtectTurtlesCootes</a> </h4>
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<br />Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07094473740572791152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-164843776494638603.post-51972267192103650942017-09-27T11:54:00.000-04:002017-09-27T22:49:14.984-04:00Poor Spencer CreekPoor Spencer Creek. <a href="https://restorecootes.blogspot.ca/2009/04/upstream-factors.html">Every so often</a> some sort of catastrophe befalls the creek and undoes previous good work to create a healthier ecosystem.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWneINdbuVYUbuwhHDdgQg8SCgS_PhPm3E1SnOnWsyhGtDT9AFe_hROsIcNbwk3_2OI8i_yHiyoyUo5_TN4bSUWeNN3Aq971RWfcxBKN4HCgy_hKKkjynZf0J1BCSvkpMr5oJbH4OuEw/s1600/IMG_20170529_144221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWneINdbuVYUbuwhHDdgQg8SCgS_PhPm3E1SnOnWsyhGtDT9AFe_hROsIcNbwk3_2OI8i_yHiyoyUo5_TN4bSUWeNN3Aq971RWfcxBKN4HCgy_hKKkjynZf0J1BCSvkpMr5oJbH4OuEw/s320/IMG_20170529_144221.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
Maybe it's time to do a safety audit along the creek to determine where the next problem might be lurking?<br />
<br />
Citizen action resulted in a response to this latest - construction related - incident that released sediment to muddy the waters. See the twitter timeline below:<br />
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<a class="twitter-timeline" data-partner="tweetdeck" href="https://twitter.com/dundastard/timelines/912896967130451971">Spencer Creek - Curated tweets by dundastard</a> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">NEWS SOURCE: https://www.thespec.com/news-story/7578797-bridge-project-spills-sediment-down-spencer-creek/</span>Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07094473740572791152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-164843776494638603.post-60325865327171739732017-09-25T09:38:00.000-04:002017-09-25T09:38:03.419-04:00Counting On Cootes Thinking about the other evening, tabling at Supercrawl.<br />
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I set up for 6pm, and closed up at 10pm: so that's four (4) hours.<br />
<br />
Someone with a counter at the front door clicked in 1000 people.<br />
<br />
So, average 250 people per hour. (It honestly didn't feel like that many, but I have no doubt about the veracity of the reported number).<br />
<br />
I had 22 people stop and sign the actual pledge.<br />
<br />
That would average 5 people per hour signing the pledge.<br />
<br />
What's that, 12 minutes per pledge on average?<br />
<br />
22/1000 is: 2.20% So just over 2% of attendees actually stopped and took an action.<br />
<br />
Maybe that's pretty good?<br />
<br />
I felt quite happy with the pace and the results. It's something to build on anyway, with almost all those pledgers also agreeing to join our mailing list. Before the event I had nobody on the list, now I am up over 20.Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07094473740572791152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-164843776494638603.post-79800655676527614002017-09-21T09:19:00.003-04:002017-09-21T09:19:49.979-04:00Three reasons we want you to avoid driving on CootesThis time of year, these baby snappers are trying to get places. They have a rough time as it is, being small and snackable for some predators, and subject to road kill on Cootes Drive and Olympic.<br />
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You probably wouldn't notice these when you are travelling in your vehicle at 80 km/h. Yet that's the speed limit on Cootes, which is precisely where so much wildlife lives in the adjacent marsh.<br />
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So we encourage you to take our pledge, and limit your drive-time on these roads that cut through a nature preserve. Do it for the kids.<br />
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<br />Link to Pledge form: <b><a href="http://bit.ly/ProtectTurtlesCootes">http://bit.ly/ProtectTurtlesCootes</a></b></blockquote>
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It only takes a minute to do the pledge, and it will generally only add a minute to your drive between Dundas and Hamilton to follow through on the pledge.<br />
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Take another look at the baby turtles: there are your three good reasons.<br />
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Thanks for your support.Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07094473740572791152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-164843776494638603.post-43929848643598703652017-09-13T22:17:00.000-04:002017-09-13T22:17:08.402-04:00How to help a snapping turtle cross the road (and keep all your fingers!)<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Lgd_B6iKPxU" width="560"></iframe>
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Everything you need to know here! Randyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07094473740572791152noreply@blogger.com0