Larose Forest is one of the largest community forests in Ontario and is managed by the United Counties of Prescott and Russell. The forest has a limited amount of commercial logging, is popular year-round for various recreation activities, and home to a variety of wildlife. The one problem for Larose Forest now is with some people using it as a dumping site for their yard waste under the mistaken belief that it is a free and ecological way to deal with their grass clippings and other yardwork debris. (Facebook)
Some people have been using the Larose Forest as a dumping site for their yard waste because they believe they are being eco-friendly.
Louis Prévost, planning and forestry director for the United Counties of Prescott and Russell (UCPR), presented the counties council with the proposed new management plan for the Larose Forest and also reported a problem with unwanted dumping in the community forest.
“This is one of the largest community forests in Ontario,” said Prévost, during his presentation to UCPR council June 24.
The draft plan will come back to UCPR council in August for final review and approval.
The Larose Forest spans more than 11,000 hectares and serves a multitude of uses as a UCPR-owned-and-managed community forest. There is a limited amount of regulated forestry work that helps support the local forest industry.
Parts of the Larose Forest also serve as year-round community recreation sites for hiking, cycling, horseback riding, snowmobiling, and picnicking. There are also a few families and individuals who have their homes located in some of the fringe areas of the forest.
Prévost reported to council that there are also some people who make a habit of using the Larose Forest as a place for dumping their yard waste, ranging from grass clippings to branches and other tree cuttings. He told council that whoever these people are, they must be doing so under the mistaken belief that dumping their yard waste in the forest is an organic and “green” method of dealing with their yard work debris.
Discarded household garbage, construction debris (like patio stones), and yard waste are the most common items dumped. Dumping debris and yard waste is not just unsightly; it actively spreads non-native invasive flora, contaminates the soil, and creates breeding grounds for pests that threaten the forest’s biodiversity.
“It’s not,” said Prévost adding that dumping yard waste in the community forest creates a risk of introducing some invasive species of plants through seeds mixed in with grass cuttings, weeds, and other yard debris.
“It’s a significant cost for us (UCPR staff) to deal with these incidents,” he said.
Since Larose Forest stretches across rural municipalities near the Ottawa-Quebec border, jurisdiction over enforcement is split among a few different bodies including the UCPR and local municipal enforcement. For dumping on specific roads or adjacent properties, enforcement is typically handled by local bylaw officers. For instance, the City of Clarence-Rockland and The Nation Municipality enforce infractions along forest boundaries.
If you spot an illegal dump site, contact the UCPR or local municipal by-law office so they can investigate and enforce provincial regulations or local waste bylaws.
