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New bridge installed at Eau Claire Gorge

Most of NBMCA's conservation areas now open

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The North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority’s (NBMCA) Eau Claire Gorge Conservation Area is now open with a new 10-metre pedestrian bridge.

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The newly installed bridge leads to the Gorge lookout.

The section was closed last fall to allow for the removal of the old bridge and construction of the new bridge this spring.

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A video featuring the new bridge is available on the NBMCA’s YouTube channel.

“With the bridge complete, the gates are open and Eau Claire Gorge Conservation Area is ready to welcome the public to the trails,” Troy Storms, manager of lands and stewardship, said in a statement.

Eau Claire Gorge Conservation Area is located in Calvin Township off Highway 630, south of Highway 17. From Highway 17, travel east toward Mattawa, turn on Highway 630 and follow the signs. The entrance to Eau Claire Gorge is on the right on Graham Road.

The majority of the NBMCA’s 15 conservation areas and trails have officially opened for passive use, while a few amenities, such as washrooms, remain closed due to COVID-19.

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Storms says Papineau Lake is closed. A dock is set to be installed in the near future.

The public is reminded to practise physical distancing or wear a mask while visiting conservation areas.

“NBMCA has been following the recommendations of our local public health experts, keeping our trails open to promote mental and physical health and wellness, while encouraging the public to respect physical distancing for our community’s safety,” NBMCA chair Dave Mendicino said.

“Opening up the conservation areas, which were closed for the winter, gives people more opportunity to get out in nature.”

While most conservation areas remain accessible year-round, a few are gated and were closed for the winter season for safety. They are typically opened prior to the Victoria Day long weekend.

Fred Pinto, chair of Friends of Laurier Woods, which co-owns Laurier Woods with the NBMCA, says while people are enjoying the trails, the public is reminded to “maintain physical distancing, keep their dogs on leash, stay on the trails, and leave nature in its place by not picking and removing natural items such as tree bark and wild flowers.”

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