Volume 13 No. 2 Summer 2007

Stauffer: The Project That Remade a Stream and Spawned a Chapter by Barry Mitchell

rather ironic that just two rich spring creek wasn’t cleaning itself and May and worked like mad dogs. We days after I got a mid-June quickly enough for us. Ah, the impa- made good progress and saw our ef- IT’s call to ask for an article for tience of youth! We decided to start do- forts rewarded by clear gravel becom- this issue of Currents, the Clearwater ing some enhancement work of our own ing much more evident as the silt was River went wild and started to flow up to speed things up. But to do that, we flushed out of the sections we labored Clear Creek and into Stauffer, threaten- first needed to belong to a club of some over. ing to destroy it entirely. You see, it was sort to obtain funding and the neces- We also started an aggressive beaver 25 years ago this spring that several Red sary permits to do the work we thought management program to reduce the Deer and Rocky Mountain House area needed to be done. We chose TUC and number of beaver dams that impeded anglers got together to start the Cen- became Alberta’s third and, subsequent- the free-flow of water. The dammed wa- tral Alberta Chapter of Trout Unlimited ly for many years, the most active chap- ter had flooded riparian areas, drowning Canada. ter in Canada. the vegetation and creating even more Our sole reason for forming the Cen- In the early years we built groins from silt. By 1989, we had removed 21 dams tral Alberta TUC Chapter was Stauffer willow bundles and anchored them in from the upper 12 km of the creek. We Creek. Even though Fish and Wildlife place with T posts and number nine no sooner had ripped the last dam out had fenced large parts of it already and wire. For the next five or six years we when we had a big flood and the se- BarryMitchellClearwaterplaying a River cutthroat. had removed a lot of beaver dams, the organized work parties of volunteers al- date Stauffer showed us who was re- little, low-gradient, silt-laden but trout- most every weekend for most of April ally boss! With the dams gone, the high

Currents is Trout Unlimited Canada’s national newsletter. We are proud to be published in The Canadian Fly Fisher. The Stream that Spawned a Chapter Stauffer Creek and TUC’s Central Alberta Chapter Whereas many chapters may think of projects in terms of metres, Alberta’s Central Alberta Chapter thinks in terms of miles. 25 years ago it began a labour of love that has transformed Stauffer Creek into a showcase of stream restoration and a renowned destination fishery for local and international flyfishers alike. water had nothing in its way to slow it down. As the water levels subsided, we, Getting down to it! The Stauffer project required biting the financial bullet and bringing in heavy equip- who fished it religiously, were amazed ment to clear thousands of cubic metres of silt from the streambed. For more photos from this remarkable at the amount of silt that the stream had project, see Page 4. Below, volunteer installing new signage on the Cardinal River. Author’s photos. moved. Stretches, once knee-deep in are fully vegetated, the willows and spruc- Ironside Pond going, now producing muck left behind when the dams were es we planted are growing nicely and the 18” rainbows. They have several more removed, were scrubbed by the flow to trout are back with a vengeance. in their sights that they hope to bring reveal generous gravel bottoms with silt Now that we’d done pretty much all on-stream, so to speak, in the next piled up on the inside of bends like it we could for this unique few years. was dumped there by trucks. little gem of a stream, aside It’s been an in- In the mid-1990s, we got even more ag- from continuing our bea- teresting 25 years gressive with our restoration efforts and ver management program, and a whole lot tackled two particularly bad sections that we’ve turned our efforts of work. But it’s a were so badly damaged that they were elsewhere and in different labour of love for two to three times the average width of directions. those of us who the main creek. For this we had to bite In recent years our little raise the funds the financial bullet and bring in heavy chapter has branched out through our annual equipment. These two stretches were far- into other diverse projects dinner auctions and and-away beyond anything mere volun- and programs such as: especially for those teer man-power could handle. Drawing • We formed the Alberta of us who get to heavily on the expertise of local biologists Stream Watch Program spend that money and a private consultant, we made plans to to protect trout in sev- on the projects we narrow over two kilometres of stream and eral streams in the Nor- dream up. We ain’t re-introduce some meander back into flat, degg area from over- finished yet! straight stretches. We used a track hoe to fishing and poaching. push untreated fence posts deep into the • Trout habitat enhance- Barry Mitchell, a na- silt, then backfilled the area between the ment work has been tive Albertan, has, posts and the damaged banks with logging done on the upper along with his wife, slash and local willows that we gathered. McLeod River south Ann, published the an- The hoe walked right down the middle of Hinton to restore spawning, rearing nual Alberta Fishing of the creek, scooping thousands of cubic and overwintering habitat in a section Guide for the past 37 years. He is author metres of silt from the bottom, depositing of river that was channelized in the of the bestselling book, Alberta’s Trout it on top of the woody debris so we could early 1980s. Highway, Fishing the Forestry Trunk seed it and plant trees to rebuild the banks. • One of our most active project leaders Road. He was made a Member of Alber- It was ugly work and while we didn’t like and his cohorts have had some initial ta’s Order of the Bighorn in 1998 for his seeing the mess of that big orange monster success in the creation of more Muir work on East Slopes regulation changes. in “our” beautiful little spring creek, we Lake and Bullshead Reservoir type He is a life-long conservationist, a friend realized that major surgery was the only “delayed-harvest” fisheries in stocked of the trout, friend of many of us, and it thing that was going to bring these sec- ponds in West Central Alberta. Three goes without saying, is pretty handy with tions back to life. Ten years later the banks years ago they succeeded in getting a fly-rod! ■

2 | CURRENTS: VOLUME 13, NO. 2 • SUMMER 2007 Bronte Creek’s Moment in the Sun New opportunities for an historic southern Ontario watershed By Robyn Wiens

people depend ing of a wide variety of deciduous and sure from agriculture, as well as new on the support coniferous trees. Wildflowers, including pressures from industry, golf courses Just as of their friends, a Ontario’s provincial flower, the trillium, and urban expansion. The effects of the river depends upon its friends. Ontario’s are widespread, while wheat, oat and last couple of centuries, combined with Bronte Creek, carved by the water of soy fields, and apple and pear trees these new pressures, have resulted in melting glaciers approximately 14,000 can still be found adjacent to the creek. degradation. years ago, is a prime example of the ben- The plant and tree life at Bronte Creek Despite Bronte Creek’s natural cold- efits a river can reap when it receives a is especially spectacular during the fall water flow, coldwater fish in the area helping hand. colour change of the leaves. are being adversely affected by bank The Bronte Creek watershed, located Two plant species (dense blazing star erosion. Over-widening and lateral mi- in the heart of the “Golden Horse- and butternut) and one bird species gration of the creek negatively affect shoe” region in southern Ontario, Morriston is an area of great importance for sur- rounding communities as well as the Kilbride species inhabiting the creek. From its Oakville headwaters atop the Niagara Escarp- Carlisle Mount Nemo ment near Morriston, Bronte Creek flows Conservation Area Bronte Creek Freelton Provincial Park nearly 50 kilometres before emptying into Lake Ontario at Bronte Harbour 0 1 in Oakville. The watershed drains over km Bronte Creek flows nearly 50 km from its headwaters near Morriston through several jurisdictions in 300 square kilometres extending across Ontario’s “Golden Horseshoe”, before reaching Lake Ontario in Oakville. David Soltess map. a number of municipal jurisdictions, in- (Henslow sparrow), on Ontario’s SARO water temperature and quality, decreas- cluding portions of Region of Halton, City (Species at Risk) list also inhabit the ing stream power, stream velocity and of Hamilton, County of Wellington, City area. spawning pool depths at many points of Burlington, Town of Milton, Town of Bronte Creek Provincial Park, between along the creek. Certain sections of the Oakville and Puslinch Township. Burlington and Oakville, features a wide creek have widened to the point where Vast wetland areas and significant range of recreational activities and hosts they form small shallow ponds. Increas- groundwater sources provide a steady over 250,000 visitors per year. The park ing water temperatures make the creek cold water supply for Bronte Creek. Na- covers 684 hectares and offers camping, poorer as a reproductive and juvenile tive brook trout, once common in the a recreational complex, educational pro- habitat for the trout that spawn there. creek, are still found in some tributaries, grams, picnic facilities, barn tours and a The amount of park property being along with brown trout which were in- nature centre. The park boasts over ten lost that accompanies this increase in troduced in the 1950s. It is also a nursery kilometres of trails that are perfect for stream width is also a concern. Given stream for rainbow trout from Lake On- cycling, hiking, and rollerblading alike. the immense public usage of the park, tario. But it has much greater potential. Fishing enthusiasts enjoy casting a line lack of protection of this property could Atlantic salmon disappeared from into the shady pools of the stream. For have detrimental consequences for many this watershed over 100 years ago. Ef- those interested in the historical aspect people in the Greater Toronto Area. forts are now underway to reintroduce of the park, Spruce Lane Farmhouse is a Through more conservative land Atlantic salmon to Lake Ontario (the living history museum and offers educa- use, Bronte Creek is in the process of Lake Ontario Atlantic Salmon Restora- tional programs. The farmhouse is also regaining its originally abundant veg- tion Project), and Bronte Creek is one the focus of Bronte Creek Provincial etation cover. Local restoration projects of the watersheds being considered as a Park’s annual month-long Maple Syrup are currently underway on public lands spawning tributary (see Once there were Festival. and on lands of interested individuals, Salmon by Jerry Smitka, Currents, Vol. An alternative to experiencing the courtesy of Conservation Halton and 12, No. 4, Winter 2007). park on foot is the 90 kilometre sce- the Ted Knott Chapter of Trout Unlim- Apart from fish, Bronte Creek is home nic drive through the entire watershed. ited Canada. The ultimate goal of these to a wide variety of plants and animals. The drive is full of many natural and projects is to bring the creek back to full Blue jays, red-tailed hawks, the oc- historical treasures, beginning at Bronte health. Restoration of the creek would casional red-headed woodpecker and Harbour and ending at the Mount Nemo also provide an excellent opportunity snowy owl make the creek an oasis for Conservation Area. The drive takes visi- to expand on educational programs al- bird watchers. White-tailed deer, red tors through many of the conservation ready in place. foxes, coyotes, an abundance of small areas under the operation of Conserva- A combination of good landowner mammals, insects, amphibians and rep- tion Halton. practice, riparian zone restoration, and tiles also inhabit the area. Historically, the area along Bronte volunteer involvement may be just what The creek cuts through one of the larg- Creek was agricultural land. Today, the Bronte Creek needs in order to achieve est Carolinian forests in Canada, consist- creek continues to face increasing pres- watershed renewal. ■

TROUT UNLIMITED CANADA’S NATIONAL NEWSLETTER | 3 TUC Conservation Activities

has never been a time that we truly deliver on our mission to ect in Alberta (water quality/quantity and when clean, abundant, conserve, protect and restore Canada’s habitat), Centerville Creek Stewardship There cold water has been freshwater ecosystems and their coldwa- Project in Ontario (water quality, habitat more important to our society and to our ter resources for current and future gen- and fish community restoration) and the natural environment. Trout Unlimited erations. Trout River Restoration Program in PEI Canada’s conservation activities across All conservation work across Canada (water quality, habitat and fish commu- Canada are now harmonizing with our will reflect our core conservation interests nity restoration). new National Conservation Agenda within the three major program areas of Protection programs were highlighted (NCA) and its core conservation themes: Conservation and Restoration, Protection last year with the acquisition of a critical water quality, water quantity, habitat, and and Science Development. parcel of land adjacent to coaster brook fish community management. The NCA Under Conservation and Restoration trout spawning grounds in the Nipigon ensures that these activities are connect- a few major projects can be highlighted, River in Ontario, the annual Fish Rescue ed in a strategic, comprehensive way so such as the Nose Creek Watershed Proj- in Alberta, and development of major edu- cational programs for rural landowners (Yellow Fish Rural) and the Tusket River The “One, Two, Threes” of Stauffer Creek’s Restoration... Watershed Education for students in Nova Scotia. Drawing heavily on The Coldwater Conservation Fund pro- the expertise of biol- vides us with an opportunity to under- ogists and a private 1 take Science Development for better man- consultant, Central Alberta agement of coldwater resources across Chapter narrowed over two kilometres of stream Canada. Some projects that highlight and reintroduced some science development within the NCA meander back into flat, include: coastal cutthroat population straight stretches. A track studies on Vancouver Island, the Quirk hoe pushed untreated Creek brook trout suppression program, fence posts deep into the genetic research and life history science silt to redefine the stream. in support of the status and distribution of westslope cutthroat and bull trout in the Rocky Mountains, coaster brook trout Logging slash and restoration science in Ontario and the cre- local willows were ation of a citizen science project to collect used to backfill the 2 information across Canada through a dig- area between the posts ital ecological monitoring program. The and the damaged banks. first component of this is the Canadian The track hoe then walked Digital Angler Diary Program. right down the middle of In addition to this work, Trout Unlim- the creek, scooping silt ited Canada is also working to further ar- from the bottom and de- ticulate its policy, position and approach positing it on top of the to a variety of major issues that affect our woody debris so it could four conservation themes. Examples of be seeded and planted. some of these areas of policy develop- ment are listed below. Ultimately, through It was ugly work but the NCA we have created a structure and major surgery was framework for a more strategic approach the only thing that 3 to management of freshwater ecosystems was going to bring these and their coldwater resources. We are sections of the Stauffer connecting the dots into a strategic, ratio- back to life. Ten years later nal framework of activities in order to be the banks are fully veg- more effective in delivering sound con- etated, the willows and spruces are growing nicely servation, protection and restoration. and the trout are back with There was extensive conservation ac- a vengeance. Barry Mitchell tivity by Trout Unlimited Canada across photos. Canada in 2006, especially focussed in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Nova

4 | CURRENTS: VOLUME 13, NO. 2 • SUMMER 2007 ...fulfillling our mission Trout Unlimited Canada Scotia. An overview of the activities is the Central Alberta Chapter on the Doug Cressman outlined below. In addition, a number of McLeod River restoration project, a proj- Chief Executive Officer science-based reports were completed ect designed to increase the productivity [email protected] under the new TUC Technical Report of the McLeod River for Athabasca rain- Series. These reports cover habitat work, bow, bull and westslope cutthroat trout, Bethe Andreasen temperature studies, water quality stud- and mountain whitefish populations. The Editor, Currents ies, fish rescue and other research proj- Edmonton Chapter pursued their inter- [email protected] ects in support of coldwater resource est in developing more trophy lake op- Silvia D’Amelio management. portunities as a means to provide educa- Ontario Biologist tion and recreation for local anglers. The [email protected] BRITISH COLUMBIA Bow River Chapter established the Bow The Nanaimo Chapter helped to co- River fencing project and a habitat proj- Lorne Hutchison ordinate a major Coldwater Conservation ect on Dogpound Creek. A new initiative Director, Fund project with other provincial and was launched on Nose Creek, a tributary Finance and Administration federal partners to examine life history of the Bow River. This is a community- [email protected] characteristics of Dolly Varden and coast- based project to clean up the stream cor- Jack Imhof al cutthroat trout on Vancouver Island. ridor, stabilize and replant banks, moni- National Biologist These species tend to be overlooked on tor the stream’s health and develop a [email protected] the west coast and the information that longer-term restoration program for the the Chapter is helping to collect will in- entire watershed. Initial core funding for Anna Lee-Carswell form management decisions on the Is- this project was provided by Petro-Cana- Program Director, Yellow Fish Road™ land. da and The Calgary Foundation. [email protected] TUC has been helping the Vancouver In addition to the above activities, TUC Chapter develop a position and possible is working with a number of its chapters Brian Meagher restoration initiative for the Skagit River to develop medium-term plans for their Alberta Provincial Biologist Watershed in south-central BC. This wa- local waters. Trout Unlimited Canada [email protected] tershed is home to important populations also provided review, comments and re- Don Pike of bull trout and westslope cutthroat ports on the following issues in Alberta: Special Events Director trout. • Floodplain Development – Sanctuary [email protected] Based on local interest, TUC biologists on the Bow (housing development); have been working with TUC’s BC board • Floodplain Development – Cranston Len Yust members to establish a Trout Unlimited Creek (housing development); Executive Director, Ontario Canada chapter in the East Kootenays, • Floodplain and stream corridor devel- [email protected] based in Cranbrook, BC. The Chapter is opment – Seebe Development (pro- forming, focussing their work on waters posed town on the Bow River); National Office: in the Cranbrook area and also linking • Recreational development, fish pas- Ste 160, 6712 Fisher St SE to the Kootenay Watershed Association, sage, stream corridor impacts – Harvie Calgary, AB T2H 2A7 a binational organization interested in Passage; Tel: 403-221-8360 waters in the East Kootenays. • Forestry proposal for Kananaskis Country. Fax: 403-221-8368 ALBERTA 1-800-909-6040 There was a great deal of conservation SASKATCHEWAN Ontario Office: activity in Alberta in 2006. Our annual With funding from Penn West Ener- Unit 24, 3455 Harvester Road conservation projects were successfully gy Trust, TUC launched an initiative in Burlington, ON L7N 3P2 undertaken: Fish Rescue, Cottonwood southwestern Saskatchewan with ranch- Project (in conjunction with the Bow ers and landowners to better manage Tel: 905-333-1994 River Chapter), and Quirk Creek brook riparian zones for the benefit of both Fax: 905-333-1964 trout suppression and cutthroat and bull the landowners and their local coldwa- trout restoration. ter streams. This program includes an 1-877-733-1994 In addition to the ongoing projects, educational and monitoring component [email protected] there were a number of chapter initia- involving a local school division. tives. TUC assisted the Oldman Chapter www.tucanada.org on a lease agreement with CP Railway ONTARIO Currents layout: as well as a plan for the development of Ontario also benefited from a great David Soltess Design a trophy lake fishery in the southwest deal of conservation activity in 2006. Per- [email protected] portion of the province. TUC advised concluded on Page 8

TROUT UNLIMITED CANADA’S NATIONAL NEWSLETTER | 5 Chapter News and Updates

pervised by the area Officers. They are fundraising by raffling off a pontoon Alberta Stream Watch empowered to write tickets for fisheries boat. Conservation Coalition and other infractions and our local pro- Brian Meagher, TUC Provincial Biolo- Alberta Stream Watch began in 2002 gram is concentrated primarily on the gist will be at the clean-up to conduct a when members of the Central Alberta Blackstone and Ram river drainages. fish identification presentation. Chapter became concerned about the However, they also make regular patrols As a chapter we are also involved in impact of increased outdoor recreation- on other streams in the area such as raising awareness about the damage that al activities in West Central Alberta. The the North Saskatchewan, has been done to Willow increased industrial development and Cline and Big Horn rivers. Creek and its surroundings the resulting affluence of recreationalists Their main duties include due to inappropriate off- from the “Alberta Advantage” had led to educational programs, road vehicle usage. We will a ten-fold increase in use of the West area patrols, fisheries and be in contact with the Alber- country. However, Government funding highway act enforcement, ta Minister of the Environ- for on-the-ground staff from Sustain- signage work and creel ment to see what we can do able Resource Development (SRD) Land, survey data gathering on to help mitigate the damage Fisheries and Enforcement has not kept the streams they patrol. and ensure good off-roading pace. Our specific concerns were: In 2006 they made face- practice within our area. • Increased evidence of poaching to-face contact with over Our annual fundraising • Increased sedimentation and erosion 2000 users in the area dinner and dance is sched- from industrial development that re- and a third officer was uled for the first Saturday in sulted in degradation of fish habitat added in the Grande November. There will be auc- • Loss of riparian vegetation and dam- Cache area. This year, tions, great food, a chance to age to stream beds by largely unregu- 2007, the program has visit with friends and a dance. Another who-knows-what at lated OHV use and abuse expanded again and the Winding Waters cleanup. It would be great to have you The Central Alberta Chapter Stream there are now Stream Watch join us! Watch founders approached several oil officers operating in Hinton, Sundre and — David Thiessen and natural gas and forestry companies Grande Cache as well as our usual two operating in the area to provide some in the Nordegg/Rocky area. Northwest funding for the program. Initial funding Nothing succeeds like success Territories and while the Central Alberta came from Northrock Resources, Talis- In 2000, Doug- Stream Watch Program continues man Energy, Cavern Oil, Total Combus- las McNiven to be an initiative of our local chap- tion Inc. and over the past four years Petro- (P re sident), ter of TUC, the three new positions Canada, Shell, Suncor, Weyerhaeuser, Grant Baker were set up, with funding obtained CAPP, Canadian Natural Resources, (Vice Presi- by local Conservation Officers in Peyto Exploration, Grande Cache Coals, dent), and their respective areas. Stream Watch Foothills Model Forest, Wel-Can Weld- Pete Cott got seems to be an idea whose time has ing and the Conservation Officers Club together and come and those of us who started at Lethbridge Community College (LCC) began to the Central Alberta TUC program have also contributed funds to our pro- form the first five years ago are pleased to see that gram. Both the Central Alberta Chapter NWT chap- our lead has been embraced by Con- and TUC National have also made size- ter of TUC. servation Officers as a way for them able contributions each year. Not only Due to the to bolster their forces during the high- that, many concerned fishermen have Bruce Hannah watches the pot while t r a n s i e n t use summer months so they can do Karen Murchie and Will Nalley shuck also been supporting us with personal cobs at the NWT corn boil. population, mem- more stream patrols, hand out educa- cheques as they learn more about what bership has varied but this first group tional pamphlets and just generally keep we do. became involved in early days and has an eye on our fragile fisheries. The funds we raise through the Cen- remained enthusiastic and dedicated — Barry Mitchell tral Alberta Chapter are used to hire two and raised the membership. The North- students or graduates of the LCC Con- west Territories Chapter received its cer- servation and Enforcement programs. Winding Waters Chapter tificate of affiliation in 2002 when the These students are hired and trained Spring has arrived and Nanton, AB’s dynamic Bruce Hanna came on board. by SRD to work with the Nordegg and Winding Waters Chapter is busy plan- With the tremendous number of hectares Rocky Mountain House Conservation ning a year full of events and activity. of aquatic resources in the NWT, the list Officers. They carry the title of Officer Our annual clean-up of the Chain Lakes of potential projects is long. Although Assistants and are provided with uni- area is scheduled for June 23, with a based in Yellowknife, projects in other forms, a truck and a quad and are su- barbecue to follow. Our chapter will be parts of the NWT are not out of reach.

6 | CURRENTS: VOLUME 13, NO. 2 • SUMMER 2007 ...snapshots of activities and events from across Canada

PROJECTS the administrative and project areas for these spawning beds at various locations An awareness and membership drive the Chapter. Thanks, guys! along the stream. We used the same con- was held at a Yellowknife Trade Fair cept with a large spring, which was ex- three years ago. As membership and in- Prince County Chapter cavated and then lined with sea gravel terest has increased more projects have Prince County Chapter was founded in the same manner. This too proved to been undertaken in recent years. by the late David Biggar. The executive be an area where trout spawned in very High Rollin’ Boil is made up of volunteers from a diverse high numbers. While it is very labour- A corn boil and sale was held at the cross section of the local community, all intensive and time-consuming, this is a measure which we plan to carry on as it July 2006 Folk on the Rocks annual mu- with a common interest in environmen- has definitely proven itself. sic festival. Members worked furiously tal issues and recreational fishing. David Biggar was an environmental to keep up with the demand and sold The Trout River watershed in western visionary who devoted his life to cre- out before the festival was over. Plans Prince Edward Island is the main focus ating a watershed show piece at Trout are being laid to do it again at the 2007 of the group’s enhancement efforts. Mr. River. It is a legacy that Trout Unlimited festival with an increased stock of cobs. Biggar spearheaded the work on this system for over twenty years before Prince County Chapter is devoted to car- Fly Kid Tree his unexpected passing in February of rying on. A Christmas tree was purchased and 2007. The work has involved many en- — Dale Cameron members decorated it with various flies hancement efforts. Riparian zone work and fishing clothing. It was auctioned at includes establishing a nature trial ex- Ted Knott Chapter the Festival of Trees in Yellowknife in tending approximately four kilometres Recognizing the significance of Bron- December 2006. along the stream. This not only allows te Creek and the challenges that it faces, Fishing Lures for easier access for anglers but is very the Ted Knott Chapter has adopted The Chapter thanks NWT Tourism popular with hikers and natu- this creek to be a focal point for the who partnered with them to purchase ralists of all kinds. Tree plant- chapter’s work promotional barbless fishing lures which ing has been carried out along within the Hal- promote TUC and the Explore NWT the stream and throughout the ton Region. website (www.explorenwt.com). Thanks riparian zone. In-stream work We will pur- to management and staff of Yellowknife’s has ranged from debris re- sue rehabilitation Wolverine Guns and Tackle who sold the moval, brush mats, and digger projects including lures and who continue to hand out TUC logs, to cover measures such riparian planting, membership applications too. as half cover logs and pallet in-channel habitat restoration, small Signs structures. Of the many enhancement dam modification Proceeds from the corn boil sales were and dam remo- used to purchase TUC signs. In coopera- efforts carried out by the Prince County Chapter, one val with the ob- tion with Government of the Northwest jective of stabil- Territories, TUC signs reading ‘Working that has generated a great deal of excitement over the izing banks, reduc- to Protect Your Water Resources” are ing heating and im- presently being placed along the Ingra- past couple of years is our work with spawning bed proving in-stream ham Trail. The Trail is the main access fish habitat. Proper- restoration. Initially we tried to many outdoor recreational sites near ties on Bronte Creek this on a small scale as a tri- Bronte Creek Yellowknife. Other partnerships are be- are primarily in pri- al measure. Screened shore gravel was ing developed with the City of Yellow- vate ownership, so we must engage transported to the site using an ATV and knife and federal government depart- landowners to better manage Bronte small trailer. The gravel was then loaded ments to place signs in high use areas. Creek as it flows through their property, on a float and spread over half the width and provide assistance developing and Oceans Day of a section of the stream bed, to a depth implementing plans for private property Chapter members took part in Fisher- of approximately six inches. This being restoration projects. ies and Oceans Canada’s 2007 Oceans a trial effort, there were many questions. Ted Knott Chapter is focused on help- Day on June 8. The theme of “Rivers to Would the trout spawn in it? Would it ing Bronte Creek reach its true potential Oceans” is a fitting one for NWT TUC stay in place during spring freshet? A as a significant coldwater resource. involvement as 2007 is also Internation- survey that fall proved that trout did al Polar Year and oceans play a critical indeed spawn in it, and did so in large role for many fishes. numbers. The following spring the gravel Visit the Ted Knott Chapter website for Exceptional volunteers was still there with very little evidence of a tour of the Bronte Creek Watershed. Both Douglas McNiven and Bruce movement in the high water. Since that http://tutkc.org/Projects/BronteCreek/ Hanna have been heavily involved in time, the chapter has created several of BronteCreekWatershed.htm ■

TROUT UNLIMITED CANADA’S NATIONAL NEWSLETTER | 7 TUC Conservation Activities continued from Page 5 haps the biggest project was the decision a coldwater brook trout tributary of the local landowners to reduce the impacts to acquire a critical piece of land beside Speed River, and developed plans for res- of an on-line mini-hydroelectric dam on Gapen’s Pool on the Nipigon River. This toration of a degraded coldwater stream the lower Rocky Saugeen River. purchase was made to protect the most in Guelph called Clythe Creek. Reviews were conducted on various important spawning area for coaster Local chapters conducted temperature issues ranging from the Credit River Bar- brook trout on the lower Nipigon River studies using recording dataloggers on rier Environmental Assessment, hydro- and has resulted in the protection of a a number of watersheds including the electric development on the Steel River critical piece of habitat essential to the Thames River, Beaver River, Rocky Sau- in Northern Ontario and permits to take restoration of coaster brook trout in Lake geen, Eramosa River, Four Mile Creek, water on a number of coldwater tribu- Superior. Bronte Creek, and Doran Creek. taries. There was ongoing work by the Greg This is the completion of the second Clark Chapter through the WeCARE year of temperature studies on Four Mile PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND program with local restoration projects in Creek in St. David’s. There were also dis- Prince County Chapter continued other parts of the Credit Watershed. TUC cussions with the Ministry of Transport to to do amazing work restoring a once de- assisted the Forks of the Thames Chapter mitigate impacts of Highway 405 on the graded brook trout and Atlantic salmon with a water quality study on the Thames stream and plans were made with local stream, Trout River. The Chapter initiated River in London, which included temper- groups to do restoration on the stream. a new long-term plan which will continue ature, water chemistry and coliform stud- Ted Knott Chapter was active on work up this stream and do additional in- ies. The Middle Grand Chapter finalized Bronte Creek, holding a number of clean- channel enhancements on sections that a plan and raised funds for the removal up days as well as working with the local have had preliminary restoration already. of old dam remnants on Whiteman’s conservation authority and other groups Creek. They are continuing their ongoing on removal of a small on-line dam. The NOVA SCOTIA study of Falkland Creek in preparation chapter is developing a longer term resto- The Cumberland County River En- for a restoration program. ration program for Bronte Creek and also hancement Association and the Am- Happy Trout Chapter in Markdale on cooperating with the Grand River Conser- herst Chapter of TUC continued to do the Rocky Saugeen River was successful vation Authority on a major coldwater res- excellent restoration work on the River in removing a small dam on a coldwa- toration project on the lower Grand River Philip and its tributaries. This included ter tributary of the Rocky and conducted in the Taquanyah Conservation Area. restoration of one tributary that resulted a major habitat restoration project on a Near North Chapter completed a sec- in a 900% increase in juvenile Atlantic 300m section of this tributary. ond season of major restoration work with salmon and brook trout, as well as build- Speed Valley Chapter worked with a set of projects on Doran Creek, includ- ing a new fish passage on another tribu- Wellington County Stewardship on a ing engaging a local gravel pit operator tary that will re-acquaint its headwaters restoration program for Marden Creek, to help remove sand sediment from the with migratory salmon and trout. Plan- stream using silt traps, and instream habi- ning is underway for a watershed-based tat work on other reaches. Students from study of the causes of physical degrada- Trout Canador College in North Bay developed tion of the River Philip in order to de- a video on this stream rehabilitation and velop a long-range strategic restoration Unlimited loaded it onto the Chapter website. program. Canada Humber River Chapter, in partner- The Tusket River Chapter was ac- OUR MISSION: To conserve, protect ship with the Toronto and Region Con- tive with local schools promoting better and restore Canada’s freshwater servation Authority completed another environmental stewardship of the Tus- ecosystems and their coldwater resourc- successful year with the Centerville ket River and its tributaries. Youth, un- es for current and future generations. Creek Stewardship Program. This work der Tusket TUC’s care, performed river OUR GOALS: included clean up days, tree planting clean-ups in the Digby, Yarmouth and • to conserve and protect Canada’s days, several landowner workshops and Shelburne Counties. In a unique effort, freshwater fish and their ecosystems the Chapter organized an Earth Day and restore their coldwater resources to the removal of an onstream dam and its a healthy and productive state; re-naturalization on a tributary of Cent- “Cache in, Trash out” exercise along eight • to develop and apply effective, science- reville Creek. watersheds, including the Tusket River. based and measurable coldwater con- In addition to chapter activities, TUC Young students employed GPS skills to servation solutions in the field; staff and members were involved in a locate a plastic container hidden near • to inform the public about coldwater major research project to assess the ef- their school. The container held prizes conservation issues and educate com- fectiveness of fish passage at the Pal- and garbage bags which they filled with munities about their watersheds; grave Fishway on the Humber River. trash on their walk back to the school. • to build and sustain a healthy organiza- They assisted with the Lake Ontario At- The watersheds were enhanced, and the tion. lantic Salmon Restoration Program and students were educated in mapping and Help us help the trout! Visit tucanada.org established a major study and plan with environmental stewardship. ■

8 | CURRENTS: VOLUME 13, NO. 2 • SUMMER 2007