The WCA thanks the Ontario Trillium Foundation for their support of this THE RIVER’S ‘War of 1812’ Bicentennial commemorative project. NATURAL HERITAGE

he largest watershed in Southern Ontario—the Grand River and its many tributaries—drains almost 7,000 square T kilometres of some of the richest soil to be found anywhere. The river valley has nurtured not only the Carolinian forest, but also meadows, farms and major urban centres. From its source at Dundalk, the Grand River flows south and empties into Lake Erie at Port Maitland, some 300 kilometres total. As the last ice age began to wane 13,000 years ago, the ice gave way to post-glacial forests, and the Grand River Watershed became dominated by a shrub forest that eventually grew to include southern species of maple, oak, elm and ironwood. As the temperature continued to rise, forests developed and so did the variety of the wildlife. Some 6,000 years ago, it was not uncommon to see moose and elk. Meat eaters such as black bears, wolves, cougars and many other species called the area home as well. This land of plenty attracted settlers from the south, who lived alongside

aboriginal communities that were already flourishing in the Grand River Watershed. Scan to view this panel

" Approximately 18,000 years ago, the Laurentide Ice Sheet covered much of North America. As this ice mass began to melt, it shaped the landscape by creating lakes, rivers, escarpments, and other geographic features. The Grand River Watershed was carved by this retreating ice mass and evidence of that geological history can be seen along the river today. The Laurentice Ice sheet. Source: Cosmographic Research.

! This stereo pair of photos shows the upper reaches of the Grand River, as it has cut its way down through the bedrock at Elora. The Elora Gorge is one of the many outstanding natural features in the Grand River Watershed. Stereoscopic Image of the Grand River at Elora. Source: Archives of Ontario.

! As the Grand River flows from " As the ice sheets continued north to south, it reaches the to recede, birds, animals and lowlands, slows its flow, and becomes fish began to move into the a gentle river that winds its way to Grand River Watershed, Lake Erie. The river is a water source followed about 13,000 years consisting of many tributaries. These ago by hunter-gatherers who include the Conestogo River that joins eventually established the Grand above Waterloo, and the communities and lived in Eramosa River that joins the Speed harmony with these abundant River in Guelph, that in turn, joins the resources. About 1,500 years Grand at Cambridge. ago, maize agriculture was A fourth major tributary is the Nith introduced, resulting in the River that enters the Grand River in development of longhouse Paris. There are hundreds of other village life. smaller creeks and streams that flow Elk, once common in the region. into the Grand. The Grand River today.

The high forest canopy provided shade that created an environment very different from today’s second and third growth woodlands. The ground cover was sparse, and both animals and humans moved easily through the tall trees, giving rise to a network of paths that connected various areas.