RRCA Hosting Open House at Cooper Marsh Conservation Area

The Raisin Region Conservation Authority (RRCA) and its community partners are inviting the public to join them on Saturday, June 18, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. for an open house event celebrating the reopening of the Visitors Centre at Cooper Marsh Conservation Area in South Glengarry.

"Visitors dropping in throughout the morning will be able to help build and install duck nesting boxes, participate in educational workshops, take in new taxidermy displays, learn about the many bird species found at the Marsh, and discover how they can take part in the Cooper Marsh Biodiversity Project through citizen science biodiversity monitoring," says RRCA Nature Interpreter, Ashley MacCrimmon.

The interpretive and educational building is nestled within the 663-acre Conservation Area and has been closed to the public for over two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and various upgrades and renovations. It reopened its doors on June 1, 2022, and is currently open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Visitors attending the open house on June 18 can also explore the Marsh's 12-kilometre nature trail network, which includes boardwalks and viewing blinds and towers. Recently installed wayfinding signs and markers make it easy to navigate the trails.

"I encourage hikers to bring a pair of binoculars" says MacCrimmon. "Spending time at the Marsh is always an opportunity for observing wildlife in their natural habitat. Over 200 bird, 30 fish and 8 amphibian species can be found at the Marsh."

Cooper Marsh is one of the RRCA's three Conservation Areas, along with Charlottenburgh Park and Gray's Creek. Located at 20020 County Road 2, a few minutes' drive from Lancaster, the Marsh sits on the picturesque north shore of the St. Lawrence River and is part of the larger Charlottenburgh Marsh – one of the most significant wetlands in all of Ontario. The RRCA actively maintains, enhances, and restores this natural area. Cooper Marsh received 40,000 visitors in 2021.

For more information, visit rrca.on.ca or contact (613) 938-3611 or [email protected].