West Credit River to receive a helping hand: WeCARE project receives grant

September 19, 2005, Erin – The West Credit River: Emerging from the rich groundwater in Hillsburgh, Binkham, and Brisbane flowing through picturesque villages of Erin and Belfountain, and tumbling over the Niagara Escarpment at historic Belfountain Conservation Area. It conjures images of wild beauty, natural areas and clean water. These images and the fundamental and urgent importance of this headwater resource have inspired a diverse group of citizens and organizations to take action. They have brought to life a project dedicated to the protection and enhancement of the West Credit River and the land that supports it: the West Credit watershed. The project has become known as The West Credit Appreciation, Rehabilitation and Enhancement project or WeCARE. As Mary Sheilds, a resident of Erin and a member of the WeCARE Steering Committee, puts it “…the West Credit watershed is both valuable and vulnerable and deserves the care of not only its residents but of those who live downstream.” After over a year of planning, WeCARE is delighted to announce the generous support of this initiative from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. A total of $123,800 in funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation combined with funds and in-kind contributions from the project partners will allow this group to implement a dynamic work plan over the next 3 years. This multi-partner community initiative will work with watershed residents. The partners believe that increased awareness and education of those who live, work and play in the watershed is the key to its resilience.

Partners of the project include: Credit Valley Conservation; Environmental Advisory Committee of Erin, Trout Unlimited – Greg Clark Chapter, Izaak Walton Fly Fishing Club, Credit River Anglers Association, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Ontario Streams, Erin Rotary Club, Halton Peel Woodlands and Wildlife Stewardship Council, Wellington County Stewardship Council, the Erin Village Business Improvement Association, Erin Community Radio and local residents and watershed landowners. Credit Valley Conservation’s Senior Aquatic Biologist, Bob Morris is excited about WeCARE and explains how it differs from other projects he has been involved with. “With it’s many partners, WeCARE can work to involve the whole community. The focus on education, I hope, will promote proactive participation and long term stewardship.”

You can get involved in this project too! If volunteering interests you, and you like to get outside and get your hands dirty, keep you eyes on your community calendars for upcoming WeCARE Workdays. Spring, summer and fall will be filled with opportunities to plant trees, get into the river to help restore areas, or join local experts for a hike to learn about local flora and fauna.

Landowners and residents of the West Credit can get involved right at home. Partners in this project will be working with local landowners to promote beneficial management practices for their lands. WeCARE will also be reaching out to local schools, offering volunteer experience and training opportunities for youth and educational programs for teachers and students.

A highlight of the project made possible through this grant will be a series of Community Conservation Symposiums. Each event will be a day of hands-on workshops, informative talks and activities on a variety of topics related to life in the West Credit. Watch for more information on the first Community Conservation Symposium coming in March 2006!

If you would like more information about WeCARE you can contact the Project Coordinator, Amy Doole 1-800-668-5557 x 284 adoole@creditvalleycons.com.

WeCARE Steering Committee

City of Mississauga and CVC take the Yellow Fish Road

For the third year in a row, the City of Mississauga and CVC helped community groups get involved with Trout Unlimited Canada’s Yellow Fish RoadTM program.

The Yellow Fish RoadTM program is a hands-on environmental project for youth to help bring awareness of water pollution to their community and to their watershed. The program provides the opportunity for participants and the residents of the local neighbourhoods to learn more about the human impacts on watersheds, non-point source pollution, storm drains and hazardous waste disposal. Yellow Fish RoadTM volunteers paint yellow fish symbols next to storm drains and distribute fish-shaped brochures to nearby households, reminding people that anything entering the storm sewer system goes directly into the local waterbody.

So far this year, the City of Mississauga and CVC staff have helped community groups, including Girl Guides, various environmental clubs, and neighbourhood groups, organize Yellow Fish RoadTM events throughout Mississauga. The City provided all the necessary equipment and CVC staff led the groups through an interactive presentation on water quality.

“The kids are excited to have the responsibility of painting the fish and distributing brochures”, says City Environmental Technician, Andrea McLeod. “By participating in the program, they are making a big contribution towards protecting fish, wildlife and our drinking water from unnecessary pollution.”

Approximately 600 storms drains have been marked and nearly 2000 homes have received the fish-shaped brochures thanks to this year’s efforts – an accomplishment which will create resident awareness of the fact that water flowing into storm drains empties untreated directly into local streams, rivers and lakes.

For more information on the Yellow Fish RoadTM program in Mississauga, contact:

Andrea McLeod
City of Mississauga, Transportation and Works Department
Environmental Technician
905-896-5930

Rainbow Trout Stocking

The Aurora District Ministry of Natural Resources as part of its Urban Fishing Initiative in the GTA is providing rainbow trout to Credit Valley Conservation(CVC) for public angling opportunities. Approximately 6000 trout will be stocked at the Ken Whillans Resource Management Area pond off Hwy 10 in Caledon. Angling is permitted until the end of November. Ice fishing will also be permitted at Ken Whillans but only during the month of February when ice conditions will be monitored for public safety. CVC will also be experimenting with a stocking of 2000 trout in Muskrat Pond at Terra Cotta Conservation Area. The success and feedback of this stocking will be assessed as part of the on-going Management Plan update to help determine future management of this and other ponds on site. Angling will be permitted to the end of November and re-open the last Saturday in April of 2006.

Please note there is an admission fee to both Conservation Areas but there are no additional fees for fishing. Ontario fishing regulations apply to these stocked ponds including licenses and a daily limit of 5 fish.

In addition the Ministry will also be stocking Lake Aquitaine in the City of Mississauga with 4000 trout. This stormwater pond was rehabilitated for a recreational fishery by CVC in the mid 1990’s and also supports populations of bass, sunfish, perch and catfish. It is also the location of an annual Urban Fishing Festival each July. Again fishing for trout will be permitted until the end of November and will re-open at the end of April 2006. There is no ice fishing permitted given the unsafe conditions here.

For further information contact CVC at 905-670-1615/1-800-668-1615, www.creditvalleycons.com or MNR at 905-713-7400.