Stewardship councils and their partners are working to enhance wildlife habitat and reduce algae and the overgrowth of water plants along 12 rural properties in the Severn Sound and Nottawasaga River watersheds and the southern and eastern shores of Georgian Bay.
Volunteers planting trees along Black Ash Creek near Collingwood – Photo: Fred Dobbs/NVCA
The projects combine education and hands-on work. Runoff from animal waste, fertilizers, and sewage can lead to high phosphorus levels in water bodies, which promotes algae blooms and the overgrowth of water plants. Encouraging landowners to switch to more environmentally-friendly land use practices is the education part. As for the hands-on work, so far, the partners in these projects have installed 8,300 metres of electric fencing to protect 445 metres of in-stream and stream bank habitat from trampling by cattle and other livestock. The fencing also retires 19 hectares of farmland, creating a buffer zone for nearby streams.
Overall, these Huronia region projects will involve:
- Installing fencing to limit livestock access and pollution; in some cases, alternate livestock watering solutions are provided, such as water tanks and frost-free nose pumps.
- Retiring flood plains and steeply sloped or erosion-prone land.
- Naturalizing stream- and riverbanks, which includes planting evergreen trees to lessen wind and soil erosion and create habitat for wildlife and shade for fish.
- Decommissioning and removing dams to improve water flow and quality and to enable fish migration.
Click here to view a map of the project area
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Home Renovation for Trout
• When it comes to real estate for trout, location really is important! Trout are coldwater fish with very particular habitat requirements throughout their life cycle. Brook trout, especially, need upwellings of cold groundwater to survive.
• The most productive trout streams have meandering channels with lots of pools and riffles, undercut banks and healthy streamside vegetation that provides shade to keep water temperatures cool. The streambed is also important. Trout need an assortment of silt, debris, and algae-free stream bed materials, such as sand, gravel or cobble rocks, for spawning and nursery habitat.
• Southern Ontario can supply plenty of perfect locations. For example, the Nottawasaga River watershed boasts the largest population of migratory rainbow trout in southern Ontario, as well as healthy local populations of brook and brown trout.
Project Partners:
- Ducks Unlimited Canada
- Dufferin/South Simcoe Land Stewardship Network
- Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
- Severn Sound Environmental Association
For more information, contact:
- Graham Findlay/Brad Allan, Biologists, Ministry of Natural Resources, Midhurst (705) 725-7530
- Andy McKee, Lake Huron COA Basin Coordinator, Upper Great Lakes Management Unit – Lake Huron, Ministry of Natural Resources, Owen Sound (519) 371-5449