When biologists conducted a 2008 fall spawning survey along the upper Sydenham River, they found about 20 “redds” in an area where such brown trout nests had never been seen before.
An Ontario Stewardship Ranger crew builds artificial shade and cover for coldwater fish species. Photo: Jason Mortlock/MNR
To farmers and rural landowners in Grey and Bruce counties, this was proof that their efforts to revitalize local coldwater streams and native fish populations were paying off. They had received technical and financial assistance to narrow the channel at that point along the Sydenham River, add in-stream cover for fish, and install rock weirs and other structures to prevent erosion and build habitat. This was only one of 15 projects, however; crews have also:
- Planted 600 one-metre-tall white cedar trees along streambanks to create shaded waters for brook trout and other coldwater fishes.
- Put up 27.5 kilometres of electric fencing to prevent livestock polluting streams and silting up potential spawning areas.
- Set up watering systems as an alternative to drinking from streams.
- Installed several stream crossings for cattle and farm equipment.
- Prevented streambank undercutting and erosion by building underwater structures and living barriers, such as bio-logs and bio-bales.
- Added clean gravel and cobble stone to stream channels and potential spawning areas.
Among the summer work crews are the Ontario Stewardship Rangers. In 2008, a Ranger crew helped three neighbouring landowners place physical structures in 35 local streams, including:
- More than 100 metres of bio-logs with live willow shoots to prevent stream bank undercutting and increase stream flow.
- 500 metres of straw bio-bales with live grasses to establish living erosion barriers.
- The Rangers also added lunkers, rock vortex weirs and 15 revetment logs and trees to enhance known spawning areas in county streams.
Click here to view a map of the project area
){kind=link}
In-stream Infrastructure
• Bio-bales, bio-logs, lunkers and revetments are all names for structures that create habitat and improve waterflow for coldwater fish species, such as trout.
• Bio-bales are made of straw; bio-logs of coconut fibre. They are anchored at right angles to stream banks. On the upstream side, they trap sediment in which grasses and other plants eventually become established, creating shade for fish and the aquatic organisms on which the fish feed. On the downstream side, they trap gravel in gravel-poor reaches of streams, and this may improve spawning conditions for trout. Once secured, the bales and logs will infill with native grasses and wildflowers.
• Revetments and root wads (essentially, the lower trunks and root fans of large trees) are added to streams to prevent stream bank soils from being washed away and to create cooling shade overhead and pool habitats for fish. They also help to dissipate the erosive power of fast-flowing water.
• Lunkers are crib-like wooden structures installed along the toe of a stream bank to mimic undercut banks. They create overhead cover which offer resting areas for fish.
Project Partners:
- Blue Mountain Watershed Trust Foundation
- Grey County Forest Stewardship Network
- Private landowners
- RUSH (Rehabilitate Upper Sydenham Habitats)
- Sydenham Sportsmen’s Association
For more information, contact:
- Jody Scheifley, Resource Management Technician, Ministry of Natural Resources, Owen Sound (519) 371-8471
- Andy McKee, Lake Huron COA Basin Coordinator, Upper Great Lakes Management Unit – Lake Huron, Ministry of Natural Resources, Owen Sound (519) 371-5449