Biologists and conservationists are trying to turn history around on the Credit River, which empties into Lake Ontario at Port Credit.
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| Volunteer angler transfers an Atlantic upstream on the Credit River. Photo: Credit River Anglers Association |
They are working hard to restore spawning and nursery habitat and to remove migration and movement barriers, in order to welcome back a historic fish species – the Atlantic salmon.
The Credit River project is part of a larger effort to restore self-sustaining Atlantic salmon populations in several Lake Ontario watersheds. Since May 2006, more than 2.5 million hatchery-reared Atlantic salmon have been stocked in the Credit River (Mississauga), Duffins Creek (Durham Region) and Cobourg Brook (Northumberland County). These streams were chosen for their cool temperatures, availability of gravel beds for spawning and because local communities strongly support salmon restoration.
The stocking and restoration of tributary habitats are showing early signs of success. Volunteer anglers captured and moved at least 34 young adult salmon over the Streetsville Dam on the Credit River during the fall of 2008.
That November, a pair of Atlantic salmon was observed spawning in the river. Several pairs were observed spawning in the fall of 2009, as well.
To restore the conditions that will encourage Atlantic salmon and other coldwater fish species to spawn in the Credit River, and to establish strong populations of these fish in Lake Ontario, the Ministry of Natural Resources and partners are:
- Planting trees along river banks to prevent eroded soil sediments, farm nutrients and other pollutants from entering the water. The additional shade will also lower water temperatures.
- Fencing to prevent livestock entering streams.
- Making it easy for fish to swim around culverts, dams and other barriers to migration.
- Altering dams so that water downstream is cooler.
- Protecting Atlantic salmon spawning and nursery habitat from competition from non-native fish species, further up the Credit River system.
Click here to view a map of the project area
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Return of the Native: Some Facts
• Atlantic salmon are an important part of the natural and cultural heritage of the Lake Ontario basin. Their ancestors migrated from saltwater in the post-glacial period and adapted to freshwater inland. They require cool, fast waters and clean habitat; as an indicator species, their survival is solid evidence that an aquatic ecosystem is healthy.
• Atlantic salmon helped to open the southern Ontario wilderness. Lake Ontario and its tributary streams once teemed with Atlantic salmon and many early settlers depended on them for survival. But by 1896 the species disappeared. The causes? The construction of dams for powering saw and grist (flour) mills; habitat destruction due to agricultural pollution; development along spawning streams; and over-fishing, both in spawning streams and in Lake Ontario.
• The Credit River is the largest of three Lake Ontario streams chosen for restoration of Atlantic salmon; it drains a 1,000-square kilometre area and empties into Lake Ontario at Port Credit near Mississauga. If this first phase of the reintroduction program is successful, other Greater Toronto Area streams that have potentially high quality spawning and nursery habitat will be considered for stocking.
• More than 50 conservation-minded individuals and organizations are working together to restore this treasured native species to Lake Ontario. Find out more at www.bringbackthesalmon.ca
Project Partners and Sponsors:
- Australia’s Banrock Station Wines
- Credit River Anglers’ Association
- Credit Valley Conservation
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada
- Liquor Control Board of Ontario
- Local landowners, construction companies and suppliers
- Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
- Ontario Streams
For more information, contact:
- Alastair Mathers, Lake Ontario Basin COA Coordinator, Lake Ontario Management Unit, Ministry of Natural Resources, Picton (613) 476-8733
- Mark Heaton, Biologist, Ministry of Natural Resources, Aurora (905) 713-7406