Have you ever wondered if the Credit River is Healthy?

Watershed Report Card

Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) is dedicated to the protection of the Credit River watershed’s natural features and functions. To support this, CVC established the Integrated Watershed Monitoring Program in 1999. This program is designed to tell us the current state of the watershed, and provides an early warning system to detect when ecosystem health starts to decline.

A watershed is defined as the entire area of land that drains, or ‘sheds’, its rain or snow melt into a particular river or stream. Therefore, anything we do to the watershed will eventually affect the river. In this way, watershed health represents a part of the health of our communities, our home.

This program tracks the health of the Credit River watershed by monitoring many environmental indicators such as water chemistry, surface water quantity and quality, groundwater, bugs in the stream, fish communities and terrestrial features (wetland, forest and river zones). By monitoring many indicators, the program answers such questions as: What do the indicators tell us about the health of the watershed? Are they getting better, worse, or staying the same?

CVC has just released our first Watershed Report Card. This document takes all of the data we have collected over the first five years of the program, and answers the question: Is the Credit River watershed healthy? The answer is the watershed is relatively healthy in most areas. However, those areas that have intense human activities such as urban development and farming, show declining trends in overall health. If growth continues and human impacts are not managed well, the health of the ecosystem, our watershed, our communities, and our homes will continue to decline.

To view an online copy of the Watershed Report Card click here. For a hard copy, please contact CVC.

Ice Fishing at Island Lake and Ken Whillans

Ice fishing at Island Lake

Island Lake Conservation Area and Ken Whillans Resource Management Area are both open for ice fishing in 2006. Island Lake is located east of Orangeville north of Highway 9 and has northern pike, yellow perch, and black crappie. Hut rentals, minnows, rod rentals, hot food and fishing tackle are available at Island Lake. An ice fishing derby will be held from February 1 to 28, with prizes for the longest pike, perch and black crappie. For those not interested in ice fishing, Island Lake also has a skating rink and skating trail.

New this year is ice fishing for rainbow trout at Ken Whillans, located on Highway 10 north of Old Base Line Road. Anglers will be able to purchase minnows and rent rods on-site. Depending ont he weather, a skating rink will also be created. As an added bonus, anglers traveling to other destinations can purchase minnows at Ken Whillans.

Island Lake and Ken Whillans are both open 7 days a week from 8 am to 6 pm. Regular day-use fees apply at both areas. Please check CVC’s web-site at www.creditvalleycons.com for more information. Ice conditions for Island Lake can be checked by calling 1-800-367-0890 or 519-941-6329 (local) or call 416-984-4350 for more information about Ken Whillans.

CVC is conducting angler surveys during the 2006 season at both locations to better assess angling pressure, preferred species, use periods and other useful information. The survey results will be used to guide the development of a fisheries management plan for each property. Surveys will be available at each park and CVC staff will also be completing surveys by way of individual interviews on the ice. It is anticipated that the surveys will also be available on CVC’s web-site at www.creditvalleycons.com. If you have any further questions, please contact Jon Clayton at jclayton@creditvalleycons.com or (905) 670-1615 x241.

Winter wanderings

It can be said that the warmth of a fireplace would be less appealing if not embraced after a day experiencing winter’s wonderland. While many of our wildlife friends fly away or find warm shelter for the winter, we humans have many opportunities that can keep us active and experiencing nature until the spring and summer return. Many of these opportunities can be found in some of Credit Valley Conservation’s, Conservation Areas.

White tailed deer track

As long as you prepare and dress appropriately, the winter can be an excellent time to get out into nature. Experience a season where, with fewer people out enjoying the scenery many natural areas can leave lasting impressions on visitors. Fewer people can mean fewer sounds, sights and worries for our natural neighbours and often this season is a great time to see animals such as snowshoe hare, owls, white tailed deer or coyotes. Play your own detective game, as the snowy ground will often leave evidence to their identity in the form of tracks. You can often discover a lot about an animal by the location, look and direction of their tracks.

Don’t let the winter chills get you down and remember that the fireplace will feel all the more warm if you have spent some time enjoying a winter wandering.

Feel free to call us at 1-800-668-5557 or email us to enquire further about our Conservation Areas in the winter.

CVC's private landowner tree planting services - Now accepting orders for Spring 2006!

Landowners living within the Credit River Watershed may be eligible to participate in CVC’s 2006 Tree Planting Service. CVC offers landowners a variety of stewardship services, and will assist with planting plans, and tree planting. CVC’s planting program offers high quality, inexpensive plant materials and professional planting services. In addition, landowners may be eligible for subsidies on the cost of their planting projects.

For more information, contact Zoltan Kovacs, Forester (905) 702-5201 or Brian Boyd, Forest Technician (905) 702-8041 or email cvc@creditvalleycons.com.