A volunteer-led and community-supported effort to protect an extension to KLT’s Jeffrey-Cowan Forest Preserve on Ston(e)y Lake reaches fundraising goal just days before deadline because of your support.
With only four days to go until the campaign’s September 6th deadline, Kawartha Land Trust (KLT) has received the $1.375 million in pledges needed from donors like you to protect a 10.5-acre forested property on the north shore of Ston(e)y Lake.
A final fundraising push over the unofficial last long weekend of summer resulted in a wave of support that will allow KLT to meet the conditional offer previously arranged with the landowner. Over the Labour Day weekend, more than 40 families made over $400,000 in pledges and gifts, adding to the $1-million in pledges KLT had already received.
Over 300 individuals and families who contributed toward this conservation effort have succeeded in adding 10.5 acres of connected forest habitat to KLT’s protected lands along the lake. Land that will benefit several Species at Risk in the area, including Red-headed Woodpecker, Wood Thrush, and Common Snapping Turtle.
This conservation opportunity was brought to KLT by a group of concerned residents and cottagers on Ston(e)y Lake who wanted to see the property, which is directly adjacent KLT’s Jeffrey-Cowan Forest Preserve, protected.
Over the summer, these concerned residents and cottagers formed a small but mighty volunteer fundraising team that raised awareness about the campaign and paddled the lake to the homes and cottages of friends, family, and neighbours to ask for pledges to permanently protect the property.
One of the features that makes the property so special is its 200 metres of natural shoreline.
Natural shoreline is one of the most characteristic and at-risk features in our area, and this particular shoreline was identified as a top priority for conservation through research jointly conducted by KLT and the Environment Council for Clear, Stony and White Lakes, with the support of The Stony Lake Heritage Foundation, in 2021.
“The dedication and persistence of the volunteer fundraising team and passion for nature on the lake made this conservation success possible,” said John Kintare Executive Director.
“On behalf of the Kawartha Land Trust community, we offer our sincere thanks to the volunteer fundraising team — John Huycke, Wendy Pitblado, Carrie Scace, Lois Wallace, and Tina Warren — and to all who pledged to protect the Jeffrey-Cowan Forest Preserve Extension. Without them, this land could have been lost.”
Volunteer Wendy Pitblado was excited to tell her children and grandchildren about the success of the campaign that she and fellow volunteers championed all summer.
“I felt very strongly about protecting this treasure of land on Ston(e)y Lake. And now, being able to share with my wonderful children that the entire lake community came together to protect nature — a forest that is filled with amazing wildlife, as well as an astonishing piece of shoreline — is a powerful message,” said Pitblado.
“I look forward to taking my family to the extended trails on the Jeffrey-Cowan Forest Preserve Extension and sharing this amazing story with them. It was incredibly important to me personally that we came together to protect this jewel on Stoney Lake for all time, and I hope it will inspire others to protect nature. I think this campaign resonated with so many in our community because we are all passionate about this extraordinary group — our lake family.”
Transfer of the property to KLT, the region’s charitable land trust, will occur in October. During the winter, KLT’s stewardship team will make plans for the extension of KLT’s Stony Lake Trails network onto the Jeffrey-Cowan Forest Preserve Extension.
For the full list of community members who supported the protection of KLT’s Jeffrey-Cowan Forest Preserve Extension, visit our pledge page. Thank you to each and every person who made a gift to protect the land you love.
Over the last 18 years, Kawartha Land Trust, with the support of donors and volunteers has protected six lakeside properties along Ston(e)y and Clear Lakes: Jeffrey-Cowan Forest Preserve, Jeffrey-Cowan Forest Preserve Extension, Christie Bentham Wetland, Elliott CEA, East Syndicate Island, and the newly protected Zeidler property, which was announced earlier this summer.
For updates on this project and other conservation projects, sign up for Kawartha Land Trust’s e-newsletter.
Once again, from everyone at Kawartha Land Trust, we offer our thanks to the amazing volunteer fundraising team who worked so hard to protect the land they love this summer. Pictured at KLT’s Jeffrey-Cowan Forest Preserve earlier this week (l-r): Wendy Pitblado, John Huycke, Tina Warren, and Lois Wallace. Not pictured: Carrie Scace. (KLT)
