Almost six years have passed since a tornado ripped through this township, causing extensive damage to local forests, power lines, homes and barns.
But the event is still fresh in the memories of many locals, including those living around Conestogo Lake – one area that was directly hit by one of two tornadoes to strike Wellington County on Aug. 19, 2005.
“It was devastating at the time it occurred,” said Melanie Gualtieri, past president of the Conestogo Lake Cottagers’ Association Inc.
So on May 1, with the help of a $2,500 grant from Cottage Life magazine and trees supplied by the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA), the cottagers’ association will be planting 1,000 trees to replace those damaged by the 2005 tornado.
“We still miss the trees … we take them so for granted,” said Mary Thompson.
Her cottage, which was completely destroyed by the tornado and rebuilt within a year, overlooks the area across the lake where the May 1 tree planting will take place.
Thompson, who plans on taking part in the event, said cottagers themselves have tried to plant some trees, but there is no way they alone could replace the swath of trees lost along the 2.2-hectare area that will be targeted during the May 1 event.
“This is hopefully going to help that happen,” Thompson said, noting new trees are sort of a last step to the area’s recovery from the tornado.
She credits Gualtieri with the idea and with securing the grant. Last September Gualtieri read about the funding opportunity in an issue of Cottage Life magazine, and with the help of Michael Bradley at the GRCA, submitted an application.
A few months later she discovered her application was successful and the cottagers’ association received the $2,500 grant earlier this year.
“I was totally excited,” said Gualtieri, who noted she had a good feeling about the application from the beginning. “It was super. I was just ecstatic about it.”
She told the Advertiser many of the 400 cottage owners around Conestogo Lake did plant 500 trees some time after the 2005 tornado, but that “didn’t put a dent in [the need].”
Bradley, the GRCA’s director of operations, acknowledged trees have been planted in the area since the tornado, but said continued plantings will help restore the destroyed forest to what it once was.
“The area was completely de-vegetated, basically,” Bradley said.
But it is hoped 1,000 new trees in the 40-year-old forest, located along Road 100 (the first road east of the Conestogo Dam), will help prevent soil erosion, provide wildlife habitat and improve local water quality.
“Tree species selected will help to stabilize the land, and will also provide a future seed source for additional natural forest growth,” Gualtieri said in the grant application to Cottage Life.
The May 1 planting will feature a mixture of the following species: red oak, cottonwood, white pine, white cedar and gray dogwood.
Bradley said the GRCA’s role is to provide the trees and the expertise on how and where to plant them, but, “It’s nice to have a big groups of volunteers to do the work.”
Organizers are looking for the help of cottage owners as well as local residents, clubs, schools and councillors.
“We want to have a good time that day,” said Thompson. “The more people we have, the more fun it will be.”
The planting event is set for May 1 at 9am.
Those interested should gather at Lot 137 and bring gloves, work shoes and shovels. There will be a free barbecue after the event.
For more information email Melanie Gualtieri at melclca@rogers.com.
