Jewel of Eastern Ontario

JEWEL OF EASTERN ONTARIO
 October 11 & October 13

It was an impressive gathering of Salmon River supporters – at least 200, as they celebrated the launching of a new book, “The Salmon River Watershed.” The book didn’t need to describe it as “the jewel of eastern Ontario”, for I had already determined that years ago when I first paddled the Salmon from Roblin to Croydon.

A group of us paddled it again, the day of the book launching, and despite brisk winds and threatening skies, the river did not disappoint. It was still the precious resource I remembered from a year ago, its deep forests of silver maples lining the river’s edge like a Florida swamp. Now and again, vestiges of habitation, but mostly, remoteness broken only by the train as it rumbled past just south of the river. We paddled past painted turtles, skirted fallen trees that had succumbed to wind and spring floods, and marvelled at forests of buttonbush and water willow. One lonely cardinal flower still peeked above the shoreline shrubs where earlier, the shoreline had been carpeted with this brilliant red flower, according to a Thomasburg resident who had paddled the same stretch a week or two earlier. Dozens of great blue herons took flight at our approach, and we found at least two green herons, several ospreys and heard a pileated woodpecker.

We passed under an ancient bridge, then were stopped by a shallow set of gurgling rapids, their beauty accented by the remains of yet another old bridge, this one expertly sculpted from limestone rocks. Cameras clicked as the sun danced off the panel of rail fence and the water glistened from the rays of sunlight filtering through the trees. It just doesn’t get any better than this.

It was easy to understand the enthusiasm generated under the picnic shelter later that afternoon at Beaver Lake in the community of Erinsville where so many had gathered to launch this new book. Starting out as an informational booklet to be used on road tours, the enthusiastic project soon evolved into a praiseworthy book of over a hundred pages that serves to create public awareness of this important river that runs from Kennebec Lake, above Highway 7, south to the Bay of Quinte. On its meandering route south, it passes through Arden, Tamworth, Croydon, Roblin, Forest Mills, Lonsdale and Shannonville, before emptying into the Bay of Quinte.

Quinte Conservation, understandably, was present too at the celebration, as the Salmon River lies well within its 6,200 square kilometre watershed area. Employee Andrew Mack was on hand to express to those present what an important resource this river was to the Quinte Conservation watershed, and to offer congratulations and best wishes to the Friends of the Salmon River. Those on our afternoon paddle up the Salmon were also on hand, and we expressed what the river means to us as paddlers and naturalists who like to play on its waters. Also on hand was Kingston and the Thousand Island MP Peter Milliken who spoke emotionally of his own trips on the Salmon over 20 years ago.

The book launch was more than just an afternoon outing for those present; it was an opportunity to enthusiastically support the initiatives of the Friends of the Salmon River, with over 175 copies of the book being sold that afternoon. Revenue raised through the sale of the book goes toward the Friends efforts at promoting and protecting the watershed.

Enhanced with colour photos of some of the river’s attributes, the book includes backgrounds of some of the communities the river passes through. Made possible through the writings of several contributors, there are also chapters on the river’s flora and fauna, contributed by Gray Merriam, a retired professional ecologist and a founding member of the Friends of the Salmon. Gray also takes us on a quick tour of the river, “Following the Flow” as we get a quick overview of the river’s path, past its 55 lakes. Past Times and Personal Glimpses takes us back 12,000 years and gently eases us through the centuries to present day. The book also contains a fold out colour map of the entire watershed.

The book is generously sprinkled with a number of profound statements. Says one author, “One lesson of Salmon River watershed history might be that we’ve got off lucky. Our stock of natural capital has at least partially recovered from the entrepreneurial depredations of the 19^th and 20^th centuries.” Another states, “…..the river connects with rain clouds, creeks, lakes, and ocean, with the water we depend on for life in aquifers below the earth’s surface, and the tears of both sadness and joy we shed throughout our lives: a precious gift worth caring for.”

Copies of the book at $15.00 can be obtained from: Greenley Booksellers in Belleville; Novel Idea in Kingston; The General Store and Beaver Lake Variety in Erinsville; The Bakery, The Book Shop and The Corner Store in Tamworth; and from the Lennox & Addington County Museum in Napanee. Copies will also be available at Quinte Conservation.