May 2002

Did You Know?

Over 60,000 Atlantic Salmon fry were released into Rennies River on May 23rd. by the Salmon Association of Eastern Newfoundland (SAEN) and Fluvarium staff. This is the 5th. Year of this programme and the smolt from previous releases have been spotted throughout the Rennies River system including the pools at the Fluvarium itself. There are also reports of returning adult Salmon having been spotted at Quidi Vidi.

Dr. William Carson owned the farm called "The Billies" where Confederation Building is now. The farm stretched from Smithville all the way to the south shore of Kent's Pond. The land between Kents Pond and where Prince Philip Drive now is was never cleared. The rest of it was either under cultivation or was pasture according to a 1941 aerial photograph. There was another smaller farm known as "Capt. Edgett's Farm", later known as Rose's Farm located at the north end of Gooseberry Lane.

A book by Hilda Chaulk Murray on old farms and agricultural life in the St. John's area, has just been published by ISER at Memorial University. It is titled "Cows Don't Know its Sunday" and it is available at Bennington Gate. Much of Pippy Park was originally farmland and efforts are under way to preserve that heritage.

Hans Melis 1925-78 who was originally from Holland, was the official Government Sculptor. He created two statues outside Confederation Building, the John Cabot statue unveiled Oct. 5th. 1971 and Sir Wilfred Grenfell unveiled in Sept 30th. 1970. He also created the relief sculptures over the main entrance to the CoNA Prince Philip Dr. Building and the busts of former Prime Ministers of Newfoundland inside the lobby of Confederation Bldg and of the founders of Memorial University at the MUN Campus.

THE INSTITUTE FOR MARINE DYNAMICS EXTENSION

The proposed extension to the Institute of Marine Dynamics building complex on Kerwin Pl. by Long Pond will add additional office space as well as larger meeting and conference areas. The new construction will add a third floor to the main building and provide a new and improved main entrance.

One of the occupants of this additional space will be an "incubator" area for assisting in the startup of new Marine Technology-based companies. This "incubator" will provide office space, access to IMD's research capabilities and facilities and access to local organizations that form the Ocean Engineering and Marine Technology Cluster here in Pippy Park in St. John's. This cluster consists of the extensive facilities of Memorial University's Marine Institute, the Centre for Cold Ocean Research (C-CORE) and all the other extensive University research and development facilities and expertise.

The new extension will also provide additional office space for more researchers and for NRC's expanded Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) and a new library for the Canadian Institute for Scientific and Technical Information(CISTI).

The Institute for Marine Dynamics is the National Research Council's national centre for ocean technology research and development. It provides innovative solutions and technical expertise in support of Canadian industry, and collaborates with international companies and research agencies to bring new technology to Canada.

The Offshore Engineering Basin is one of the world's most advanced indoor facilities. It consists of a Wave Tank, an Ice Tank and a huge Towing Tank. The Wave Tank is equipped with an ocean current generation system and a total of 168 wavemakers capable of generating regular and irregular waves. The Towing Tank is a full 200 metres long and the Ice Tank can produce 76 metres of usable ice, the longest in the world.

Much of the research uses scale models of ships hulls and other marine vehicles which are towed through the water and subjected to wave or ice stresses to measure the effects. There is a state of the art computerized model making machine unique to IMD that can reproduce any three dimensional concept into an actual object. Free guided tours of the facility are offered to the public weekdays 9-4 pm. Phone 772-4366

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD FOR DON STEELE

At the 13th. Annual Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Awards Ceremony held at the Fluvarium June 2nd. Dr. Don Steele was presented with an award in the Individual category as someone who has made a significant contribution to the environment. Don Steele is very active with the Natural History Society and in Pippy Park he has been a longtime member of the Friends of Pippy Park, the Pippy Park Heritage Committee, and the Outer Ring Road Environmental Advisory Committee. The Natural History Society was also recognized under the category of Community Group/Organization. Other categories were Educator, Youth or Youth Group, School, Municipality and Business. The awards are a joint programme of the Newfoundland and Labrador Women's Institutes, the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board and the Department of the Environment.

OFFICIAL OPENING OF FOGARTY'S WETLAND

At the beginning of Environment Week the Minister of Works, Services & Transportation, Percy Barrett and the Minister of Environment Kevin Aylward and a young Green Wing Legacy Member , officially cut the ribbon and unveiled the sign to open the Fogarty's Wetland Interpretation Area. The event was hosted by Wayne Bartlett of Ducks Unlimited, who helped with funding the project.

Fogarty's Wetland is a combination of fen, bog and open water which, because of its accessible location, history and wide variety of plant and animal inhabitants was chosen as a prime site for wetland interpretation to school, youth and other groups as well as individuals who happen to be passing by. A new walking trail following Nagles Hill Brook and passing through Fogarty's Wetland is currently under construction. This will give easy access from the Fluvarium for interpretive walks.

In addition to its value as wildlife habitat the wetland is an excellent example of a successful compromise between the engineering requirements of the Outer Ring Road construction, the relocation of a major power line, the preservation of the important water retention capacity of the wetland and minimal interference with stream habitat and water quality both during the road construction and afterwards. It has been an object lesson in cooperation between the Department of Works, Services & Transportation and its Environmental Advisory Committee, the Department of Environment, the Federal Dept of Fisheries and Oceans, Newfoundland Power, Ducks Unlimited, the Pippy Park Commission, the Fluvarium, the Grand Concourse Authority and the neighbouring landowners.