Louis Prévost, planning and forestry director for the United Counties of Prescott-Russell (UCPR), met with the township council during its February 2 session to explain a proposal that would help protect the creek’s wetland habitat.

A report from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) indicates that the creek area may be eligible for designation as a “provincially significant wetland”. Prévost noted that some recent logging work in the area, including some illegal tree cutting, may have had some effect on the creek’s ecosystem and designation as a significant wetland area could provide stronger legal protection for waterfowl and fish in the Dickinson Creek region.

Any future work in the creek area, Prévost indicated, would require written approval from the province, based on input from the South Nation Conservation Authority.

He also noted that a provincial assessment of Dickinson Creek was done several years ago but no further action was ever taken on the file. The UCPR has to apply to the province for reactivation of the file to start the process to designate the area as a significant wetland. Since the creek is located within Alfred-Plantagenet a resolution of support from the township would help with the UCPR’s application.

Council approved the resolution with a request for the UCPR to ask MNRF if it has files on any other areas within the township that may qualify as significant wetland habitats.