Month: September 2025

Notice – Bayfield River Flats entrance and parking lot closed to all public access, during construction, until further notice

Two exciting enhancement projects are taking place at Bayfield River Flats Natural Area and, during the construction phase in September-October 2025, the entrance and parking lot will be closed to all public access until further notice.

The area of construction will also not be accessible to the public.

One of the enhancement projects is using innovative natural means to reduce riverbank erosion and the other concurrent project is to install a new canoe and kayak launch.

Both projects will benefit the nature area in the long term and the brief closure, estimated to be around four weeks, is required to make these enhancements possible.

The project construction was awarded following a tender.

The contractor is expected to begin work on or around Monday, September 8, 2025 and the closure remains in effect until further notice. (At this time, it is expected the work will take about four weeks or so to complete).

There may be some public access, under the pedestrian walkway under the bridge, to some non-construction areas.

The Bayfield River Valley Trail Association and the Huron Tract Land Trust Conservancy would like to acknowledge all the partners making these trail enhancements possible.

The project to use innovative natural techniques to reduce riverbank erosion is possible thanks to provincial and county partners including the lead funder for that project, the Province of Ontario through the Ontario Community Environment Fund (OCEF).

A generous and significant donation, by a community donor, made the canoe and kayak launch possible. Additional community donations are helping the fundraising committee to reach the fundraising goal of a total of $20,000 to complete the canoe and kayak launch project. Any donations raised, over the fundraising goal, will go towards maintenance of the trail.

The Bayfield and area community showed its generous support, for the Bayfield River Flats Natural Area, at a celebration and meet-and-greet event at Bayfield Town Hall. About 50 people attended the celebration evening on Wednesday, August 27, 2025. Generous donors and silent auction bidders helped to raise thousands of dollars towards the canoe and kayak launch project.

Cathy Lalonde, Chair of the Canoe and Kayak Launch Fundraising Committee, provided a land acknowledgement underlining the shared responsibility we all have to protect and steward the environment. “Bayfield Trails shares that mission, by maintaining places where we can all experience the benefits and importance of the nature around us,” she said.

She expressed thanks for a significant donation by a community donor, prior to the August 27 event. That generous donation ensures the canoe and kayak launch will be able to proceed. Building on that foundation, the fundraising committee is working to reach a total goal of $20,000 to complete the project. The event at town hall has put the finish line in sight.

She thanked everyone who came to the event and thanked all the donors, project partners, the trail association, the land trust, and the fundraising committee members. She also thanked Michael Finkbeiner, Senior Investment Advisor with Wellington-Altus, for his sponsorship of the evening. She also thanked Tyler Hessel and 1851 Bayfield Landing for having provided a cash bar at the event.

Municipality of Bluewater Mayor Paul Klopp brought greetings from the municipality. He thanked the community for its generous support of projects past and present. That support made it possible to purchase the river flats and, later, to connect Bayfield and the nature area with a pedestrian walkway. Now, further community support is making it possible to add a canoe and kayak launch. He thanked the donors and project partners. “That’s what it’s all about, everybody working together,” he said. He said the canoe and kayak launch “will be used a lot.” He also made a generous donation to the project.

Local historian Dave Gillians provided historic context about the importance of the Bayfield River Flats Natural Area and the amazing community mobilization that made its purchase possible.

Kelly Vader, President of Bayfield River Valley Trail Association (BRVTA), spoke about a companion project to protect fish habitat and to use innovative natural means to protect a stretch of riverbank from erosion.

Nathan Schoelier, Ausable Bayfield Conservation’s stewardship, lands and education manager, and a staff advisor to Huron Tract Land Trust Conservancy (HTLTC), provided a brief overview on the work of the land trust. He mentioned the five properties, including the river flats, that are permanently preserved thanks to the generous donors, to the land trust, who have left a lasting local nature legacy.

In addition to the short remarks made throughout the evening, there was also lots of time for Bayfield and area neighbours to mingle; enjoy hors-d’œuvres and a beverage, and to bid on silent auction items in support of the canoe and kayak launch project.

The Bayfield River Flats Natural Area is permanently protected by HTLTC as habitat for wildlife and as a recreation destination. BRVTA volunteers maintain the trail at no cost to the public. To learn more, visit the Bayfield River Valley Trail Association website. If you would like to donate to the Bayfield River Flats Natural Area canoe and kayak launch project, donation details are on the Bayfield River Flats web page. Any funds raised, in addition to the fundraising goal, will go towards maintenance of the Bayfield River Flats Natural Area.