Conservancy protects 48-hectares of Frontenac Arch

The Nature Conservancy of Canada has protected a 48-hectare section of original forest on the Rideau waterway, part of the ancient, rocky Frontenac Arch that links Algonquin Park to the north with the Adirondacks to the south.

The newly-protected area includes 2.5 kilometres of shoreline on Whitefish Lake. The area is about 25 km north of Gananoque.

“A collection of towering granite ridges, rich forests and pristine shoreline, this piece of Whitefish Lake is at the heart of the Frontenac Arch,” the Nature Conservancy says in its announcement.

“Thanks to the support of many donors, this important piece of the local conservation puzzle is now protected for the long term.”

Private donations were joined by money from the federal government.

In late 2017, the non-profit group put out a call to the public to help protect this spectacular natural area. Many donors — both local and across Ontario — stepped up to help.

The total project cost is $900,000. The land will be owned and managed by the Nature Conservancy.

“A UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, the Frontenac Arch is a unique area of overlap between the northern Canadian Shield and southern Appalachian forests. The Arch supports a great richness of plant and animal species, making this one of the most diverse regions in Canada and a place of great beauty. It serves as a highway for migrating birds, bats and insects, and mammals with large home ranges, including moose and bobcat,” the Nature Conservancy says.