Covia Holdings LLC
Nepheline Syenite Operations
Havelock, Ontario, Canada
Certified Gold through 2024
Project Name
Project Type
PROGRAM - Wood Duck Nesting Boxes
Avian
PROGRAM - NSO Turtle Nesting Survey
Reptiles & Amphibians
PROGRAM - Turtle Monitoring at Wetland #1 and #2
Reptiles & Amphibians
PROGRAM - School Site Visit(s) - Post Secondary
Formal Learning
About the Program
First certified in 1996, Covia’s Nepheline Syenite Operations (NSO) encompasses 3,500 acres in Ontario, Canada, 250 of which are actively managed for wildlife. NSO consists of two plants, the Blue Mountain Plant and the Nephton Plant. Presently, the site includes both active and inactive quarries, two processing plants, tailings ponds, ridge pits, lakes, forests and grassy areas. The team supplements the wood ducks habitat with additional nesting locations in an effort to help increase the local wood duck population. The team also monitors and protects turtle populations in hopes of increasing population size of these at risk species. The team engages in formal education with various institutions, offering a unique habitat experience, which helps students to understand the practice of mining and appreciate all the different aspects, environment, costs, production, wildlife, community, restoration, water quality etc. that comprise the industry and habitat on-site.
Practices and Impacts
First certified in 1996, Covia’s Nepheline Syenite Operations (NSO) encompasses 3,500 acres in Ontario, Canada, 250 of which are actively managed for wildlife. NSO consists of two plants, the Blue Mountain Plant and the Nephton Plant. Presently, the site includes both active and inactive quarries, two processing plants, tailings ponds, ridge pits, lakes, forests and grassy areas. The team supplements the wood ducks habitat with additional nesting locations in an effort to help increase the local wood duck population. The team also monitors and protects turtle populations in hopes of increasing population size of these at risk species. The team engages in formal education with various institutions, offering a unique habitat experience, which helps students to understand the practice of mining and appreciate all the different aspects, environment, costs, production, wildlife, community, restoration, water quality etc. that comprise the industry and habitat on-site.
Practices and Impacts
- The team monitors turtle nesting activity and collect or protect nesting sites where possible. By patrolling the high-traffic turtle areas and the use of fencing and signage on-site, they are able to reduce turtle road fatalities attributed to vehicles. If turtles are sighted, trained staff are called to move the turtles off the high-traffic areas and haul roads. Additionally, through monitoring, employees are able to identify nesting areas and either protect turtle nests with specialized covers or collect eggs for incubation and release. Species observed include Blanding’s, painted, snapping and spotted turtles.
- The team installed 10 wood duck boxes in the wetland habitats between 2019-2020. Site placement of the nesting boxes was determined after careful review of the available onsite wetlands. Two wetlands were selected for the initial project phase of nesting box placement. The sites were selected based on habitat preferences of the targeted wood duck, easy viewing for monitoring and accessibility for installation. The wood duck boxes are maintained annually and monitored regularly during the breeding season.
- The team allows visitors and school groups to safely observe a working mine site with emphasis placed on how wildlife interact with mining operations and the importance of revegetation, reducing environmental impacts and protection of water quality. The education partners determine and direct the learning activities for the students based on the core curriculum of their programs.
