The importance of conserving wetlands in the Yorkton area, as well as recognizing contributors and raising funds for the effort, was brought to attention at the Harris Conservation Project Dedication at Ducks Unlimited Canada in Yorkton, on Saturday, August 21.
The Harris Conservation Project is located next to the Ducks Unlimited Canada, Yorkton office, and has been recently finished.The productive marshland can be viewed by walking the interpretive trails, boardwalks, and observation areas, while viewing an abundance of waterfowl and wildlife species.
A cairn was unveiled, which was dedicated to Don Harris, a local, long-time conservationist and Ducks Unlimited Canada, Yorkton office volunteer, including being chairman of the Ducks Unlimited Fundraising Committee for about 25 years. It was the involvement of many volunteers, including Harris, and Ducks Unlimited staff that made the project what it is today.
Dave Kostersky, Manager of State Grants for the Ducks Unlimited Canada, Yorkton office, explained why Harris was honored. "He's been a conservationist here in Yorkton, and a hunter himself.He used to own a gun shop and hardware store here and since has retired. He definitely represents what Ducks Unlimited is about. He believes in the outdoors, spends his life in the outdoors, and has dedicated his life to making sure that the future of the outdoors is saved for years to come."
Harris said it was hard to describe how he felt about being honored. "It feels fantastic. Unbelievable. I've met a lot of good people.
"Wetlands is something I've been concerned with all my life. I have a farming background. I found out years ago that if you drained off the water from the sloughs it affected the fields - not only the waterfowl, but having the moisture there was helping the fields... I also just love to see the waterfowl out there, especially in the spring... coming in from the south to start their nesting program."
The project, explained Kostersky, is really a wetlands project that existed before, "but we did improvements, both for education and biological reasons." The marsh was lifted up by machines for better access, because it was too low, he said. "It can now be better utilized by waterfowl and wildlife."The cairnis a 20,000poundrock with a bronze plaque.
