Come Celebrate With Us At Our Newest Conservation Area

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 10, 2006

On Saturday, June 10th , we together with our Community Partners, the Nature Conservancy of Canada, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Region of Peel will be celebrating our success in securing an 80 acre jewel of land that contains over 1 km of the Credit River .

For the past 50 years we have been working cooperatively with municipal partners, the Ontario government and non-governmental organizations such as the Nature Conservancy of Canada to secure just over 2,428 hectares (6,000 acres) of greenlands within our watershed.

Greenlands securement helps protect water quantity and quality; provide natural heritage benefits for present and future generations; facilitate new fishing and recreational opportunities; and protect the scenic vistas of valleys, forests and hills that are characteristic of the watershed.

'Greenlands' is an often used term that refers to terrestrial and aquatic features (e.g. woodlands, wetlands, streams) and functions they provide (e.g. groundwater recharge) within ecosystems. 

CVC's most recent securement in 2005 was made possible through a funding partnership between the Region of Peel and an Ontario Greenlands grant from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Nature Conservancy Canada . We were able to secure another key Credit River property.  The 32.6 hectare (80.75 acre) parcel, located just outside of the village of Alton, in the Town of Caledon contains 1.3 km of the main Credit River, over 1 km of minor tributaries, 5.6 hectares (13.84 acres) of provincially significant wetland, as well as 7.2 hectares (17.7 acres) of forested land.  The property is a key priority for protection and naturalization, and will be a prime location for hiking, picnicking and angling.

We invite you to come out and join Caledon councillor Richard Paterak, Region of Peel Chair Emil Kolb and other dignitaries as we celebrate the acquisition of our newest Conservation Area. The Izaak Walton Fly Fishing Club and partners of the Upper Credit Rehabilitation Initiative will be tree planting along the Credit River . The tree planting will be followed by appreciation ceremonies, a bbq lunch, a nature hike and an electrofishing demo.

10 a.m.     - Community Partners Tree Planting

12 noon    - Appreciation Ceremonies

12.30 pm  - Barbeque lunch

1.30 pm    - Nature hike and Electrofishing demo

Directions:

Turn left on to Hwy 24 West from Highway 10 in Caledon Village .  Drive to Regional Road 136 and turn right heading north to Alton .  In Alton veer to the right and stay on Regional Road 136 until you see the railway crossing.  The entrance to the property is on the right just before the railway crossing.  You will see a Credit Valley Conservation Stewardship Trailer parked at the entrance to the property.  There is parking in the field. Credit Valley Conservation staff as well as signage will direct you to the river where the events are taking place.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Bernadette Fernandez,
Communications Specialist
905-670-1615 ext 240