Youths talk turtle research, road safety strategies with Cornwall council

Cornwall council will consider options to benefit local turtles with the help of research from the Youth for Climate Action Working Group.

Article content Many people in Cornwall are passionate about turtles, including the members of the city’s Youth for Climate Action Working Group who made a presentation to council on Monday. Group vice-chairperson Grace Soares, who was joined by chairperson Sharon Ilori, spoke about turtle conservation and the challenges facing local turtle populations. Both members are students at École secondaire catholique La Citadelle.

Recommended Videos According to the group’s research, there are eight different species of turtles in Cornwall, and all are considered to be either of special concern, threatened, or endangered in Ontario and/or Canada. Soares said there are blandings, eastern musk, northern map, painted, common snapping, spiny soft-shell, spotted, and wood turtles in the area, and that turtles are known to be essential contributors to the health of wetland biodiversity.

“Wetlands are very important to Cornwall because they act as natural carbon sinks,” said Soares. “A carbon sink is anything natural from the environment that takes in more carbon than it emits. So it’s like negative greenhouse gases, which is super important for the environment.”

In the presentation, the group pitched implementing ecopassages and exclusion fencing in the city — to be considered during budget deliberations — as well as lowering speed limits on some roadways during turtle mating season. “We think protecting local turtles is in excellent alignment with council’s strategic priorities, point two of pillar three, which is to respond to emerging environmental climate impacts and adaptation needs with supportive and forward-thinking policies and procedures,” said Soares. Soares said ecopassages are cost-effective structures designed to create safe passage for turtles, sometimes incorporated into existing culverts under roadways.

Exclusion fencing is used to redirect turtles away from roadways and other dangerous areas. Strategies implemented to benefit turtles in the Township of The Archipelago were discussed as an example, including how 16 culverts were retrofitted, shoulders were paved at wetland crossings, and educational community events were hosted. Soares said this work led to more than 3,600 turtle eggs being saved.

Admitting that extensive research hasn’t been conducted yet, Soares said a few roads have been identified by the working group that could benefit from mitigation work, including Power Dam Dr. due to its proximity to Guindon Park. “Marleau Avenue and Nick Kaneb Drive/the industrial park, these have a high proximity to wetlands and probable habitats for turtles, and there are also many concerns due to the new construction in these areas,” said Soares. The group is planning to conduct a scientific field survey and research what areas these mitigation strategies may be best situated in the city.

Once sites have been identified, the information will be presented to city staff to consider and bring back to council. “We will be looking at our 2027 budget to start implementation of some of the recommendations,” said deputy CAO and Fire Chief Matthew Stephens, referring to considerations when planning any infrastructure and road network projects. Many councillors praised the work of the students and spoke to the importance of protecting local turtles, including Mayor Justin Towndale, who said he liked how the youth identified problems and solutions, making their work valuable and achievable.

“It’s very easy to separate ourselves from the ecosystem. We don’t often feel a part of it. But I think when we take the time to look at the impact this small, quiet creature has on our entire ecosystem, we realize that it is consequential and that our development can change the environment for the future,” said Coun.

Sarah Good. Soares thanked the River Institute and Raisin Region Conservation Authority (RRCA) for supporting the group’s research. The group also received letters of support for their leadership and initiative from the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, Citizens for Marshland Conservation board of directors, and SDG Turtles.