Maitland Musings

Lower Maitland Stewardship Group June, 2005 Volume 1, Issue 1 Maitland Musings Inside this issue: Let’s Go Fishing! Event (and learn to fly fish) Special Fishing Come and try your hand under 12’s, $5 for ages 13 and Edition WHAT: ‘’Let’s Go Fishing’ Event at casting a fly rod! Demon- over. Past Events & Activities 2 strations and free lessons will WHEN: July 9th, 2005 For more details about the be brought to you by the day, or if you wish to attend, Cleaning Up the Valley 2 from 9 am—2 pm LMSG. Local river guide, please contact Darren Kenny at Mike Verhoef of Fly Fitters the Maitland Valley Conserva- will be offering these sessions Undiscovered Country 3 tion Authority (519-335-3557). WHERE: Falls Reserve Conserva- from 10 am to 2 pm. We hope to see you there! LMSG members will also Who Are We? 4 tion Area, Benmiller What Are We About? be on hand to display materi- als and to discuss the group, The Maitland Promoted 4 ADMISSION: $9 per vehicle what we are about, and an- (Day entry to park) swer any questions you may have about the river. As part of Ontario Family The Conservation Area Fishing Weekend (July 8th— has organized a fishing derby 10th), the Lower Maitland where families can fish with- Stewardship Group (LMSG) is out a licence, if they are Ca- partnering with the Conserva- nadian residents. If you wish tion Area to promote fishing as to attend the fishing derby in one of the numerous recrea- addition to the LMSG fly- Mike Verhoef with Rick Morgan tional activities available along fishing lessons, registration Come celebrate Family Fishing week- fishing on the Maitland. the river valley. includes lunch and is $2 for end with the LMSG, and try your hand at casting a fly rod. Undiscovered Country By: Jack Imhof, National Biologist, Trout Unlimited Canada I couldn’t believe it. As I “They’re bass!” that area. What neither of us the finest fisheries in southern Ontario: truly an Exceptional stood on the old iron span Frank and I had gotten expected was to discover that Water. bridge, a few kilometers down- bored that early spring day 33 although the Maitland may have stream of Wingham, huge fish years ago and had decided to trout, it was really home to a emerged out of the depths of explore the Maitland River, glorious smallmouth bass fishery. the river to swim around the (Article cont’d on page 3) downstream of Wingham. Two months later, we had our footings of the bridge. I turned Years before, Frank had to my friend Frank and gasped, bass tackle and began our love caught a large brown trout in affair with the river that is one of Page 2 Maitland Musings Volume 1, Issue 1 What Have We (the LMSG) Been Up To? By: Darren Kenny Lower Maitland Report Barbecue lunches were also Natural Environment An outdoor event was (2000) provided. Event at Richard Moore’s designed to help local land- (2003) owners develop a stewardship The Lower Maitland Re- plan for their own individual port represents the combined Local landowners and Maitland Fly Over/Bus properties. Activities included efforts of many of the part- concerned citizens were in- Tour (2002) a tour of different woodlot ners participating in the vited to attend an outdoor types and discussion of man- Lower Maitland Stewardship social event and barbeque on agement options for a variety Group (LMSG). The report the property of Richard of outcomes - recreation, in- provides a great deal of inter- Moore along the Lower Mait- come, biodiversity and wildlife esting information about the land River near Auburn. A habitat creation. Participants Lower Maitland River and short walk was held during were given information on surrounding area including which the natural environ- options for wetland enhance- history, geography, fish and ment, wildlife and plants of ment and creation on their wildlife, vegetation, regula- the Lower Maitland were dis- properties. tions applicable to the area cussed. A local scientist and and more! In September, 2002 an naturalist held a demonstra- airplane and bus tour of the tion of the many insects that Code of Conduct Signs Lower Maitland River Valley inhabit the river and how they (2004-05) Local Landowner Property and surrounding area was reflect river health and well as Visits (2000) organized for local municipal a discussion on how the river The LMSG has been in- volved in a project to create During the summer of councillors and staff. The shapes the local landscape. and install code of conduct 2000, the LMSG hosted two event was held in order to signs at various locations outdoor events at the homes educate decision-makers Stewardship Series (2004) around the river valley. Signs of local landowners Jim and about the river’s unique natu- are sponsored by local munici- Brenda Ginn and Jim and ral environment and the de- In the spring of 2004, an palities and various commu- Melba Walters. The events velopment pressures along the indoor speaker series for local nity organizations. The signs were open to all landowners valley. New official plans were landowners was held. Presen- are designed to help educate along the Lower Maitland being developed for several tations included issues such as recreational users about the River and designed to provide abutting municipalities and environmentally responsible importance of the natural an opportunity for landown- presented an opportune time forest management, tree environment of the area and ers to share their experiences for such an event to help en- planting and naturalization, how to enjoy their use of the of the area and learn about the courage strong planning poli- wetland creation and rehabili- valley in an environmentally river’s natural heritage. Activi- cies for natural area protec- tation, nuisance wildlife and and ethically responsible man- ties included plant identifica- tion. This event was a huge encouraging wildlife on your ner. tion walks and a presentation success and enjoyed by many. property. on fish habitat in the river. Come and clean up your river valley. WHAT: Great Canadian ronment. Make a differ- River. Learn more about Shoreline Cleanup ence! Help remove gar- it at: bage from sensitive envi- http://www.vanaqua.or WHEN: Saturday, Sep- ronments and protect g/cleanup tember 10, 2005 aquatic animals. and follow the links to Connect with your Join members of the register, or call Beth community and with Lower Maitland Stew- Ross at 524-8144 for Landowners and stakeholders of the people across Canada ardship Group and help more information. Lower Maitland River Valley are who care about the envi- clean up the Maitland invited to help clean up this fall. Maitland Musings Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 3 landscape. The deeply incised southwestern Ontario, although If you are satisfied with the Undiscovered Country valley helps drive and direct the river is also home of one present quality of fishing, you ...cont’d from page 1 groundwater towards the river: species, the Black Redhorse need do nothing. If you wish the resulting in enormous Sucker which is a nationally river to return to its past quality, I still fish the Maitland amounts of groundwater seep- threatened species and absent in then you and the community with delight and passion. My ages and flows along the river. should be asking for designated passion, over the years has Groundwater moderates the “I still fish the Maitland reaches of the river to be classi- been more tempered by my river’s temperature, dilutes with delight and fied as special regulated water interest and concern as an enriched agricultural water and passion.” with a reduction of harvest of aquatic ecologist for the river, maintains good baseflows. large, older fish. Regulations its valley and watershed. The The deeply incised valley has most southern Ontario streams. such as a reverse limit where river and its fishery are chang- naturally prevented farmers Although the Maitland is a only small fish are harvested or ing and if the community and from attempting to farm near superb river for fall and spring catch and release are options that local landowners are not vigi- the river and as a result much fishing for rainbow trout, I impa- have been very successful in lant and proactive, we all will of the valley and floodplain is tiently wait for the opening of other waters in Ontario and the loose an exceptional natural either forested or in natural smallmouth bass. In the last 30 USA. None of this will happen resource. floodplain vegetation. The years, the quality of fishing for unless the local community and river channel is complex with local anglers are willing to de- The Maitland River is an smallmouth bass has declined mand the establishment of spe- anomaly in southern Ontario: a dramatically. Back in the 1972- cial regulations to bring their highly productive, river flowing 1980 time period, it was not un- fishery back. through the intensive farm common to catch at least one or country of Huron County. two smallmouth bass over 16” Most rivers under these cir- per fishing trip. The Maitland cumstances are often physically was one of the finest river bass degraded, full of sediment and fisheries in southern Ontario. algae, nutrient enriched and Things changed in the devoid of life larger than a bug. 1980’s. For a number of years a The Maitland however does good riffle and pool structure bass derby was held on the river not suffer many of these mala- with a substrate of cobble, with many large fish removed dies, despite its location in the gravel and boulders.

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