THE BUZZ AT KEPO
Highlights
What's the Buzz at KEPO?
Welcome!
This is the official newsletter of the Kahnawà:ke Environment Protection Office (KEPO). The Buzz at KEPO is a quarterly newsletter that will provide updates on current KEPO initiatives and events, as well as environmental information relevant to Kahnawa'kehró:non. Keep on reading to see what we’ve been doing to protect and better our environment.
Hazardous Waste Disposal
Kaniatarowá:nen
Beaver Management
Meet the Team
Air Quality Monitoring
Monarch Tagging
Summer Student Specials
Wildlife Profile: Spongy Moth
GreenFrog
KEPO Project
Kaniatarowá:nen Community Knowledge
by Carlee Kawinehtha Loft, Environmental Projects Coordinator - Policy & Outreach
You might have seen our most recent survey, the Kaniatarowá:nen/St. Lawrence River Community Visioning Survey, has gone live! What’s the deal with this survey? Well, KEPO wants to connect with the community about the St Lawrence River, also known as Kaniatarowá:nen. Our goal is to engage the community in a dialogue about the river as well as gather community knowledge to guide various upcoming projects that are focused on protecting and advocating for a healthier Kaniatarowá:nen
Understanding the ecosystem health of our natural world is the first step to improving it, and our community's knowledge is key to that understanding. We want to hear what you enjoy most about the river, what you are concerned about, and what you think are the greatest challenges facing the river and its vast ecosystem Use the QR code to take the survey today! Everyone who takes the survey will be entered into a draw to win a $100 Mountain Equipment Company gift card.
What are some of these upcoming projects?
Research based collaboration with The River Institute and Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, which would see their research into the health of the St Lawrence between Kingston and Lake St Francis extended further downstream to include more of the St. Lawrence.
Their research is a part of a project known as The Great River Rapport, which is an ecosystem health report of the Upper St. Lawrence River. This initiative involves collaboration and consultation from scientists, Indigenous partners, citizens and students to assess the health of the river through discussions about observed changes and capturing and expressing these changes using ecological indicators. Want to learn more? Check out riverrapport.ca
The Regional Assessment, which aims to assess the impact of past, current and future development affecting the river (in, on, around) and has the potential to not only protect the river from future harm, but to start tending to damage already done.
The goal of the regional assessment would be to understand the past, current, and future effects of development on/in/around the St. Lawrence and its tributaries so that future development within the area could focus compensation/offsetting efforts on improving the environment beyond the status quo.
To get involved or to hear more you can contact KEPO at (450) 635-0600 or environmentprotection@mck.ca
Kaniatarowá:nen,September2024
Waste Management Collab
Hazardous waste identification and disposal by Stephanie Butera, Environmental Projects Coordinator - Contaminated Sites and Iotshatená:wi Reed, Waste Management Department Communications Liaison
Responsible management of hazardous waste is essential for protecting the environment, public health, and future generations Hazardous waste are products which, due to their nature (flammability, corrosiveness, toxicity etc ), are potentially hazardous to human health and the environment They require special disposal techniques to be disposed of safely Under no circumstances should hazardous waste be disposed of into nature, sewers or included with household waste or recyclables
How to dispose of contaminated materials?
Read and follow product labels.
Do not mix products.
Keep containers sealed in a dry, well-ventilated area. Keep products in original containers or clearly labeled.
Kahnawà:ke Waste Management offers a Special Collection pickup for the items listed below. Special Collection is picked up on the same day as Recycling. Items must be placed next to your bin. Items can also be dropped off at the Transfer Depot during opening hours.
Paintcans
Aerosols
Smallpropanegascylinders
Usedmotoroil(properlysealedandlabeled)
Usedbatteries
Most hazardous products can be identified by the following symbols:
Additionally,thefollowingitemscanbebroughttothe TransferDepotduringopeninghours.
Small quantities of household hazardous waste.
(Note: they can be picked up during Special Collection if they are in the original container and properlysealed).
Usedliquidcookingoil(properlysealedcontainer)
The following items must be disposed of at another collectionpointoutsideofthecommunity
Expiredorunusedmedication
Takeittoyourlocalpharmacy
Ifyouareunsureifyourwasteishazardous,please contactWasteManagement
If not disposed of responsibly and safely, chemicals from hazardous waste can seep into soils and waterways leading to the destruction of many natural resources. Avoidance is the best way to prevent accidents Consider the use of non-toxic products and limit the use of hazardous waste producing products to what is necessary.
If you encounter a spill site, contact the Kahnawà:ke Environment Protection Office during opening hours or the Kahnawake Peacekeepers after hours.
Waste Management Office Monday – Friday 8am – 4pm (450) 632-4321
wastemanagement@mck ca
Transfer Depot
Monday – Saturday 8am – 4pm (514) 249-0961
KEPO Project Update
Beaver Management
by Kahionhanó:ron Kenneth Canadian, Environmental Technologist
There have been an increasing number of calls to KEPO from community members recently who are concerned that their properties are being flooded due to beavers damming creeks and blocking culverts KEPO employees have been identifying ways to manage these problems without resorting to lethal removal methods or dam busting wherever possible
What was once farmland on the outskirts of the main village area of Kahnawá:ke, has re-grown into forests, with an abundance of food and multiple creeks and streams, the perfect habitat to beavers to create ponds, which they depend on for their survival. At the same time the human population in Kahnawá:ke has been growing and so has the demand for new housing and everything that comes with it, including roads, culverts, and ditches This has put the groups seemingly at odds with one another
In the past, beaver management has meant fo most part, dam busting and exterminating the an when they begin causing problems KEPO has that this is an inefficient and expensive meth management because the issues are never permanently If a dam is busted to alleviate flo the beavers will simply repair it. If the anima extirpated, new animals simply take over that habitat, often within a year or two
Beginning in June of 2024 several areas were identified as being ideal to implement structural modifications to control water levels Two pond leveler systems were installed at large dams in addition to several culvert protectors at critical areas along roads intersecting wetlands in Kahnawá:ke Drone photography and trail cams have also been deployed to help us better understand the local beaver populations to maximize our management methodologies
A pond leveler is a large diameter pipe that is embedded through a beaver dam with one end extending far enough into the pond to prevent the beavers from tampering or clogging the pipe The inflow section of the pipe is further protected by a steel cage placed around the entrance. The pipe is constructed with a double walled interior to reduce the sound of water flowing through it, which helps ensure the device is not tampered with. The cage and the pipe are weighed down with cinder blocks and sunk to the deepest part of the pond while the outflow section of the pipe is set at the desired pond depth. If everything is done correctly, the water level can be reduced by as much as two feet preserving the beaver’s
Culvert protectors are essentially just steel mesh encircling the upstream side of a culvert and extending several feet away at an angle that makes blocking the water exceedingly difficult for the beavers They may begin piling mud and debris along the cage before realizing it is useless and moving on If the beavers decide to make their dam upstream of the culvert, the road generally remains undisturbed, and that area can be more easily managed in the future with other flow control devices such as a pond leveler
But why go through all this effort to control what many consider to be a “nuisance” animal? As mentioned earlier, taking these steps to actively monitor and control areas affected by beavers is more efficient and cost effective than using heavy machinery to break dams year over year. More importantly these animals are known as keystone species This means that the habitat they create is beneficial not only to themselves but also to a wide range of other animals who depend on the ponds and wetland they create Though the higher water levels may affect our homes and roads, humans also reap a great benefit from having wetlands nearby. It is proven that wetland created by beavers are more resistant and resilient to wildfires. The wetlands also help store and filter the ground water. Finally, it is simply our responsibility as Onkwehón:we to ensure that these animals and their homes continue to exist on this earth alongside us. There is no reason why we cannot co-exist side by side and mutually benefit from a peaceful co-existence.
Meet the Team Environmental
Kahionhanó:ron Kenneth Canadian
Technologist
Kahionhanó:ron Canadian has been a part of the KEPO team since 2019 when he began his work as the Environmental Technologist shortly after graduating from Concordia University with a B.A. double majoring in Human Environment and First People Studies.
As a technologist he has a variety of responsibilities which include carrying out environmental inspections, soil and water sampling, making maps using the Geographic Information System, and helping to collect critical data for the various KEPO projects.
During his studies he worked as a summer student with KEPO for 2 summers in 2016 and 2017 It was during this period that Kahionhanó:ron discovered his passion for working in natural environment. This type of work comes easily for him as he spent much of his childhood exploring the forests around his parent’s house on the 207 and fishing along the bay and the river every chance he had.
Kahionhanó:ron recently returned to KEPO after taking a partial leave of absence to study Kanien’kéha at the Ratiwennahní:rats adult language immersion program from 2022-2024 By learning how to speak Kanien’kéha he gained an even greater knowledge and appreciation not just for the land but for our culture and community. By integrating his academic studies with his traditional knowledge, he hopes to make a positive impact and set a good example for those who will carry on the work of protecting the land for generations to come
KEPO Project Up Air
Quality Monitorin
by Cole Delise, Environmental Projects Coordinator - Terrestrial Habitats
KEPO’s air quality monitoring project has five new commercial monitors set up around the community Four of these monitors are Purple Air, which monitors PM 2.5, particulates like dust or smoke less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter The fifth monitor is a Aeroqual AQS1 which monitors PM 2 5, ozone, and nitrogen dioxide. Ozone and nitrogen dioxide are usually associated with car emissions or industrial activity
KEPO Project Update Monarch Monitoring
The purple air monitors which have been up since the spring are located on the 207, and at the Kahnawà:ke Office Complex. These are low-cost monitors which are widely used across Canada and the US. The information from the monitors is publicly available at map.purpleair.com. The Aeroqual monitor is located at KSS and has higher precision sensors and can notify us of bad air quality
So far what we’ve been seeing is that the PM 2.5 levels are averaging 10 µg/m3 at the end of the 207 and 19 µg/m3 at the KOC For reference, the yearly average to be considered healthy air is 12 µg/m3. For daily levels, an average higher than 35 µg/m3 for more than 24 hours is considered unhealthy The levels of PM 2 5 we’ve been seeing are common for the greater Montreal area. This suggests that our air quality is affected mostly by regional effects like weather and wind patterns
Like many community members, we are sadden to see the decline of the monarch butterfly population this year In December 2023, monarchs were listed as an endangered species in Canada To optimize monarch research and conservation efforts, Environment and Climate Change Canada and the Montréal Space for Life Insectarium, developed the Mission Monarch program to help conservation professionals and community members to contribute data in order to inform effective conservation measures
With the help of Junior Environmental Technicians, KEPO has been participating in the Mission MonarchExpert (MMx), which aims to track long-term changes in the distribution and abundance of monarchs and their habitats, through elaborate protocol and standardized procedures. The MMx monitoring protocol consists of different monitoring activities that participants can choose from to characterize potential monarch habitats depending on their interests, skills, and needs.
by Dawson Horne, Junior Environment Technician
PurpleAirairqualitymonitoratKEPO
MonarchButterfly
Shé:kon, Tekaronhiané:ken Alfred iontiats Over the course of summer 2024, I worked as a Junior Environmental Technician for KEPO Having long enjoyed spending my time outdoors, this job seemed as though it was one I could not pass up I have always desired a career outdoors that would help me do some good To say I enjoyed and learned a lot from this position would be putting it lightly.
Though this is certainly not always an easy job, it is immensely rewarding and satisfying. The work done by myself and the office is vital, and working this position allowed me to make a difference, doing some good for the community and environment The staff and coworkers were incredibly welcoming and friendly as well From the start everyone was patient as we became adjusted to our positions and duties
Over the course of the summer our work load varied greatly Some of the different tasks involved collecting and testing water samples, mitigating flooding from beaver dams, inspecting flood sites in Tioweró:ton, electrofishing surveys, invasive species removal on Tekakwitha Island, monarch butterfly monitoring, and so many more projects it could be its own article
Being someone who enjoys the outdoors and cares deeply for it, this job allowed me to do my part in maintaining and healing the environment not just for myself, but for everyone in the community, and to ensure its continued existence for future generations to come. This world is our home, it provides everything we need and as Kanien'kehá:ka it is our duty to care for it So long as we do, it will continue to provide for us. And to that, I say niawen’kó:wa to KEPO for having me and everyone working there for being so welcoming. Here’s to more environmental protection in the future
Kwe, my name is Dawson Horne and I worked as a Junior Environmental Technician this summer at KEPO The experience I had this summer was nothing short of amazing, eye opening and exactly what I needed as a first steppingstone and introduction As someone who wants to get involved and one day work in environment protection, KEPO allowed me to learn hands-on, giving me space to grow, ask questions, observe and overall be apart of the team for a solid 3 months The staff at KEPO were amazing at helping myself and Tekaronhiané:ken understand the ins and outs of everyone’s roles and responsibilities.
I was able to grow my knowledge, getting to work in all the different areas of environmental protection such as; monitoring the water quality in Tioweró:ton using data loggers, monarch monitoring, helping with soil sampling, participating in the FINS fish surveys, maintenance at the pollinator garden, creating social media posts and videos on Canva and so much more!
The thing I enjoyed most about my time here at KEPO was definitely everything that had to do with the monarch butterfly population in Kahnawà:ke From setting up our monitoring plot, to receiving training on monarch tagging through The Monarch Watch Tagging Program, to help understand the dynamics of the monarch’s spectacular fall migration, I really got to understand and love the endangered species But most of all, a highlight was working with the staff here at KEPO, they really knew how to include me and highlight my capabilities and strengths in whatever task we had to do. Overall, I would like to thank everyone at KEPO for an amazing summer working in nature, I will take everything I learned this summer and apply it to whatever I may do in the future! Niawen’kó:wa!
DawsonmonitoringwaterqualityinTioweroton Tekaronhiané:ken&Dawsonidentifyingashseeds
wildlife profile
INVASIVE ALERT!
Tsikenithé:serak
Spongy Moth Lymantria dispar
The spongy moth, formerly known as the gypsy moth, is an invasive insect that has gained a foothold in Eastern North America This is a notable species because of how much damage they can cause to forest ecosystems. The damage is a result of the larvae (caterpillar) stage of the insect’s lifecycle During this stage they will climb to the tree canopy en masse to eat the leaves. They prefer hardwood species
Outbreaks of this pest are cyclical, typically occurring about every seven to ten years.
This species is native to Europe, Asia, and north Africa
Females are beige in colour and cannot fly
“Egg masses” can also be found on outdoor items like vehicles, garbage cans, and furniture
Spongy moth female lays between 500 to 1,000 eggs in tree bark crevices
Infested trees may be partially or completely bare of leaves
In the larvae stage, their hairs have been known to cause skin irritation in humans.
Spongy moth caterpillars can be identified by the pairs of red and blue dots along its back and the long hairs that cover its body They will eat continuously for about 40 days, growing up to 6 cm long in the process They will then begin metamorphizing into adult moths Their skin will harden and become darker as their bodies transform underneath. They emerge 10 to 14 days later with hairy brown or beige bodies and wings. They do not have mouth parts at this stage so they will only live for another 2 weeks, just long enough to mate, lay eggs and die
The egg mases are easily recognizable as they are covered by a patch of fuzzy beige material, often found in the crevices of tree bark. They can also be found under outdoor furniture or just about anywhere it is somewhat protected The spongy moth has become established in Kahnawà:ke and the egg masses can be commonly found on trees along the North Wall and in Big Fence Should you happen to see an egg mass on a tree they can easily be destroyed scraping them off and then crushing them or submerging them in water for at least 2 days.
