Environmental news for the residents of the Grand River watershed Annual report

GRAND RIVER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY Spring 2008

Distribution 200,000 copies Lines on the landscape By showing landowners the map lines marking natural areas, GRCA planners help protect lives and property

By Janet Baine the remaining wetlands in the another community. They also GRCA Communications Specialist Grand River watershed. aren’t usually aware that develop- One way to do that is through ment in the wrong area can en Rosin may not know it, regulations on land use that are increase the possibility of flood but what he does around administered by the Grand River damages. Kthe wetlands on his prop- Conservation Authority. The It’s important that people are erty in Amaranth Township, in regulations, which show up as aware of it, though. When the northern headwaters of the lines on watershed maps, identify Hurricane Hazel struck Ontario Grand River, can help or hurt natural areas that need to be pro- in 1954 it killed 81 people and people downstream. tected. washed away whole neighbor- Wetlands like those on Rosin’s When people plan a new hoods of houses built in flood- property play an important role house or garage for their land, or prone river valleys in Toronto. in storing water and filtering think about subdivision plans and After that storm it became clear Amaranth Township landowner Ken Rosin and GRCA planner Liz impurities out of it, so it could be severances, they think mostly that one of the best ways to pre- Yerex examine the wetlands on Rosin’s property. GRCA photo by Janet Baine that the water that seeps out of about what they or future owners vent future devastation would be his wetlands may eventually of the property will want. They to keep people from building to restrict building in those areas. Buildings located in a flood- show up in a tap in Kitchener or may not be aware that their plans new houses in flood-prone areas. The many floods in Ontario plain face an obvious risk. Less Brantford. could impact the natural environ- Flood lines were mapped in since then, including the 1974 obvious is the impact that they That’s one reason why it’s ment or result in water problems many places across the province Grand River flood, have shown important to protect these and on another property or even in and regulations were developed the value of the regulations. Continued on Page 3

Along Year in review Award winners Living roof THE GRAND RIVER It takes a lot of work to Recognition for those who The green roof project at realize the vision of a have given time and ener- Laurel Creek Nature Centre A Canadian the healthier watershed. gy to the environment. was a natural for Toyota. Heritage River Grand Page 4 Page 7 Page 8 Paul Emerson, Chief Administrative Officer A G E H E R A N D P 2Paul – Emerson T ,G FROM THE CHAIRMAN AND THE CAO The GRCA A Message nvironment” is a simple word that is used to describe a tion, planning fees, donations from the Grand How To Reach Us complex web of relationships – the links that connect River Conservation Foundation and other Paul Emerson rivers, forests, moraines, wetlands and the rest of our sources. Chief Administrative Officer ‘E Keith Murch landscape as well as the living things that inhabit them. Almost all of the rest – about 23 per cent of our revenue – Assistant CAO, Secretary Treasurer The complexity of the subject matter means that no one comes from the senior levels of government, primarily the Joe Farwell person, no one group, no one agency can do all of the things provincial government. Assistant CAO, Resource Management So, in a very real sense, the GRCA is a locally-administered, By Mail: GRCA that must be done to protect and enhance the natural features 400 Clyde Road, Box 729 of the Grand River watershed. locally-financed agency dedicated to finding local solutions to Cambridge, Ontario That’s why partnerships are such a fundamental part of the the issues facing our watershed. N1R 5W6 way we carry out our important responsibilities. We know that There was a time when the provincial contribution to the By Phone: 519-621-2761 or, work of conservation authorities was much higher – about 50 Direct Line: 519-621-2763 + ext. the job will only be done if it involves all levels of govern- Toll Free 1-866-900-4722 ment, community groups, business and industry, farmers, non- per cent of the budget. But conservation authorities, like many By Fax: 519-621-4844 governmental agencies and, most importantly, the residents of other agencies, went through a period when provincial cut- Website: www.grandriver.ca the watershed. backs forced us to look elsewhere for revenue. At the GRCA E-mail general inquiries: we’re proud that we were able to do that and maintain our [email protected] In this issue of the Grand you’ll find information on some of Outside business hours: the work we have been doing with our partners. environmental projects even as we broadened our sources of 519-621-2761 and leave message The article on land use and regulations highlights the com- financial support. (8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, mon interest of the GRCA and its member municipalities in In recent years, the province has increased its support for excluding holidays) our work, notably with grants for maintenance of our critical River Information Line: protecting the lives and property of watershed residents. 519-621-2763 ext. 2519 The commitment of watershed residents, community groups dams and dikes, as well as money for the drinking water source Planning and Permits: and residents to a better environment is illustrated in the arti- protection program. It’s a welcome strengthening of this 519-621-2763 ext. 2230 important partnership. Conservation Areas: cle on the project to install a new green roof at our Laurel Creek Nature Centre. The complexity of it all – the work we do, our network of Head office 519-621-2763 ext. 2250 partnerships, our varied sources of money – has a beneficial Belwood Lake (Fergus) 519-843-2979 The story on Grand River Country points to a partnership of impact on the way we approach our tasks. We know that to be Brant (Brantford) 519-752-2040 the GRCA and local tourism agencies to sell the wonders of Byng Island (Dunnville) 905-774-5755 successful we must understand the needs of our watershed and the Grand to local audiences as well as visitors from farther Conestogo Lake (Drayton) 519-638-2873 its residents and work hard to meet them. It’s not an easy job, Elora Gorge (Elora) 519-846-9742 afield. but it is a challenging and exciting one. Guelph Lake (Guelph) 519-824-5061 And last, but not least, is the information on our annual Laurel Creek (Waterloo) 519-884-6620 Luther Marsh (Grand Valley) 519-928-2832 budget, which details – in dollars and cents – the commitment Pinehurst Lake (Paris) 519-442-4721 many of our partners are making to this work. Rockwood (Rockwood) 519-856-9543 This year our total expenditures will be $29 million. That’s Shade’s Mills (Cambridge) 519-621-3697 money that will be spent reducing flood damages, improving Reserve a campsite: water quality, ensuring an adequate water supply, protecting By phone 1-866-ONT-CAMP natural areas, providing environmental education, undertaking Online www.grandriver.ca watershed planning and operating our conservation areas. Nature Centres: But of that amount, just one-third comes from the 950,000 Apps’ Mill (Brantford) 519-752-0655 Guelph Lake 519-836-7860 residents of the watershed through their property taxes or Laurel Creek (Waterloo) 519-885-1368 water bills, which means their average, per capita contribution Shade’s Mills (Cambridge) 519-623-5573 is only $8.54 a person. Taquanyah (Cayuga) 905-768-3288 Close to 45 per cent of our income comes from money we Alan Dale Paul Emerson Grand River Conservation Foundation raise ourselves, through camping fees, hydroelectricity genera- Chairman Chief Administrative Officer Phone: 519-621-2763 ext. 2271 1-877-29-GRAND Township of Centre Wellington: Regional Municipality of Halton: (Halton E-mail: [email protected] WHO SPEAKS Shawn Watters Hills and Milton) – Barry Lee THE GRAND is published twice a Town of Erin, Townships of Guelph- year by the GRCA, and distributed in City of Hamilton: Anna Kramer newspapers to households in the Eramosa and Puslinch: Brad Whitcombe Grand River watershed. Additional FOR YOU? copies available. City of Guelph: Vicki Beard, County of Oxford: (Blandford-Blenheim, Mike Salisbury East Zorra-Tavistock, Norwich) – Letters and comments to: he municipality where you live appoints Dave Schultz, GRCA Regional Municipality of Waterloo: Alan Dale (GRCA chair) 400 Clyde Road, Box 729 Tone or more representatives to the GRCA board to oversee the budget and (Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo, North Cambridge, Ontario, N1R 5W6 City of Brantford: Robert Hillier, (519) 621-2763, Ext. 2273 activities of the conservation authority. Dumfries, Wellesley, Wilmot and [email protected] They speak on your behalf at the GRCA. Woolwich) – Jane Brewer, Kim Denouden, Vic Prendergast (GRCA 2nd vice-chair) Printed by Grand River Valley Newspapers Jean Haalboom, Ross Kelterborn, Claudette Townships of Amaranth, East Garafraxa, Millar, Jane Mitchell (GRCA 1st vice- County of Brant: Robert Chambers, East Luther Grand Valley, Melancthon, chair), Wayne Roth, Jake Smola, Bill Brian Coleman Southgate: Tom Nevills Strauss, Sean Strickland

Townships of Wellington North and Town of North Perth, Township of Perth Haldimand and Norfolk counties: Mapleton: Pat Salter East: George Wicke Lorne Boyko, Craig Grice

GRAND RIVER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY• www.grandriver.ca S P R I N G 2 0 0 8 R E P O R T P A G E 3 – T H E G R A N D Regulations protect lives and property Continued from Page 1 near each of these. The regulated measure. In the long run, it is areas include natural hazards cheaper – and safer — to keep have on other areas. A building such as flood plains, unstable new buildings out of risky areas or fill material takes up space that soils and erosion prone areas. than to try to protect them with could be filled with water during Prior to 2006, the amount of millions of dollars worth of a flood, sometimes called storage regulated land was less. That year dykes, dams, reservoirs and other space. Lose too much storage a new regulation was adopted as infrastructure. space, and flood peaks become part of a province-wide program Changes that fall within the higher, putting more people and to ensure that all conservation Ontario Planning Act (such as properties at risk. authorities base their decisions rezoning, variances, severances When wetlands, waterways on the same set of rules. The reg- and other matters) need to be and low-lying areas are replaced ulations goes by the unwieldy approved by the municipality. by pavement, rooftops, patios name “Regulation of The GRCA staff work closely and concrete, water runs off the Development, Interference with with municipalities to review land even faster, increasing the plans and ensure the regulated risk of flooding and erosion else- areas are reflected in official You can download a map like this showing the regulated areas on where. It can also pose a risk to plans, zoning bylaws and other water quality since water running ‘We your property. The yellow shaded areas are regulated, while other documents to make the process colours and patterns represent wetlands, slopes and other natural off the land will carry with it simpler for property owners. whatever was sitting on the want to hazard zones. Ken Rosin, whose property is ground. make in the headwaters of the Grand Understand connections sure River and includes provincially Is your land affected? It’s the GRCA’s job to under- significant wetlands, wanted to Here’s how to find out in on your property and print a stand the way these issues are develop- sever his land into three lots. map showing regulated lands connected, and to ensure that the Working his way through the are available on the website. ment is bout 31 per cent of the work of one person doesn’t inad- planning process caused him AGrand River watershed Once you’ve done this vertently hurt another. appropriate.’ some headaches at first. comes under the GRCA’s regu- research, contact the GRCA The GRCA’s regulations, The municipality advised him lation. Anyone contemplating planning department to discuss which are approved by the – GRCA Planner Liz Yerex to talk to the GRCA. Planner Liz activity in the regulated area your plans. They will give you Ontario government, govern Yerex worked with him to sort needs to consult with the advice on how best to proceed, about 31 per cent of the land through the planning and permit saving you time and possibly Wetlands and Alterations to GRCA first. If work is allowed area of the watershed. Regulated process and draw lot lines that to proceed, the landowner will money. areas include river and stream Shorelines and Watercourses would allow a building on each The provincial regulation, (Ontario Regulation 150/06).” need a GRCA permit. valleys, the Lake Erie shoreline, lot, but which would protect the Maps showing the regulated the GRCA policies and guide- wetlands, other hazardous land The increase in coverage wetlands. The severances were lines, the application and fees accounts for a big jump in the area are available on the GRCA and watercourses and the area soon approved by the municipal- website at www.grandriver.ca are all posted in the planning number of permits issued by the ity. section of the GRCA’s website. GRCA: 249 in 2005 and 690 in Look for the “Planning & reg- Rosin wrote an e-mail to Yerex ulations” section and click on Permit applications are 2007. afterwards saying that without commented on by GRCA plan- However, just because an area “Map your property.” By the numbers her help, “I doubt we would have ning staff and then sent to the is regulated doesn’t mean that Or, you can go directly to gotten the severance approval — GRCA board with a recom- ■ construction is forbidden, but it the page by setting your brows- Structures in the floodplain: you are a proactive person and I mendation. The board meets does mean that a landowner will er to www.grandriver.ca/ 7,592 applaud you for it.” twice a month and makes the ■ need a permit from the GRCA propertymaps Buildings in the floodplain: Instructions on how to zero final decision. 1,290 before work can start. The Offer advice ■ Wetlands removed from the GRCA will follow its policies – Yerex and the six other plan- which were updated on January 1 ners strive to meet the goals of watershed: 65% be necessary. resource planner. The Planning ■ — to ensure that the construc- the property owner by offering Amount of land in urban tion project doesn’t harm the more than advice on his applica- “I tell people we don’t want to Act, the GRCA regulation and areas: 3% natural area or increase the risk tion. She says planners are the stop development, we want to GRCA policies to administer this ■ Anticipated population to people and property. front line people who can put make sure it is appropriate and regulation sometimes prevent growth over 25 years: 57% High population growth in the landowners in touch with other that it meets all the current regu- people from building where they ■ Permit applications in 2005: Grand River watershed, com- programs and people. lations to keep the watershed want or in the way that they 247 bined with the uncertainty of cli- Now that the severance appli- healthy,” Yerex says. “It can be a want. If it is a big project or one ■ Permit applications in 2007: mate change means it’s more cations have been approved, complicated process and we do near a natural area, the landown- 690 important than ever to be careful Rosin can move on to the next our best to help people through er may have to hire a consultant ■ Portion of the watershed around natural areas. step of selling the lots or building it.” for studies such as hydrology or regulated: 31% Avoiding new development in on them. But before building Things don’t always go wetland impact, so the process regulated areas is a preventative takes place, a GRCA permit will smoothly for a landowner and a can be complex and take time.

GRAND RIVER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY• www.grandriver.ca P A G E 4 – T H E G R A N D S P R I N G 2 0 0 8 R E P O R T It takes a lot of work to realize the goal of healthy watershed he GRCA's goal is to manage a Most of the projects were completed in healthy and sustainable natural Waterloo Region, Wellington County, Tenvironment in the Grand River Oxford County and Brant County where watershed. the program is funded by the local munici- This is a complex job with many inter- palities. connected parts. To organize the work, ■ A new $50,000 fund in the northern the GRCA has broken its activities into part of the Grand River watershed was set seven broad categories. They all fit up to help farmers and rural landowners together and often overlap. pay for projects that protect water quality. Here are some highlights from these areas for 2007. 3. Protect natural areas 1. Reduce flood damages ■ Ontario Power Generation agreed to spend $260,000 to plant 136,000 trees on ■ The flood operations centre was 152 hectares at Luther Marsh Wildlife The bed of the Grand River near Inverhaugh, was reshaped to improve both fish habitat active in March 2007 when it issued five Management Area. and water quality as part of the Grand River Structural Enhancement Project. flood messages and two watershed condi- ■ The GRCA acquired 53 hectares of tions bulletins for the communities of land in the Dunnville Marsh, 40 hectares ■ Prescribed burns took place at F. W. improvements to the gate motor controls New Hamburg and Ayr. in the Luther Marsh and 39 hectares of R. Dixon Wilderness Area and two islands for the Shand Dam. ■ The GRCA worked with Kitchener, the Greenfield Swamp in North Dumfries at Luther Marsh to restore grassland habi- Woolwich and Mapleton on emergency Township. tat. 5. Support watershed planning exercises to test their municipal flood ■ Eight hectares of farm fields at ■ More than 15,000 trees were planted emergency plans. Dunnville Marsh were restored to natural on GRCA land and another 72,000 trees ■ Municipalities and landowners ■ GRCA staff tested the emergency habitat. were planted on private land during 2007. received advice from the GRCA on ways plan for Shand Dam through an exercise The the Burford Tree Nursery produced to include environmental protection in with Wellington County and Centre 103,000 trees. land use plans and development applica- Wellington Township. ■ After ten years of planning, the first tions. ■ Paper maps were converted to digital of eight in-river projects to restore fish ■ New GRCA policies to administer format to to help municipalities with their habitat took place at Inverhaugh as part of development, interference with wetlands flood emergency plans. the Grand River Structural Enhancement and alterations to shorelines and water- Project. courses were developed to provide the 2. Improve water quality requirements for permit applications. ■ Guidelines for Erosion and Sediment ■ 4. Ensure secure water supply A new water quality and benthic Control were released by the conservation macroinvertebrate monitoring program ■ The year was extremely dry and by authorities in the Greater Golden was undertaken in partnership with the September, water users throughout the Horseshoe in December 2006 and 100 Region of Waterloo in the central Grand Grand River watershed were asked by the people attended a workshop about this. River and lower Speed River. Grand River Low Water Response Team ■ The Lake Erie Region Source ■ The Surface Water Quality to cut their water use by 20 per cent. Protection Committee was formed and Monitoring Network, a joint program ■ Also due to dry conditions, the with the Ministry of Environment, was held its first meeting in December under GRCA reduced the amount of water it Chair Craig Ashbaugh. A website and e- optimized and the number of sites released from the reservoirs during the fall increased from 29 to 37. newsletter for this was also launched. by 15 per cent in order to ensure there ■ ■ Work on the Alder Creek Watershed A sampling program was started on would be enough water in the reservoirs the Nith River to collect more detailed Study and Upper Strasburg Creek to meet low flow augmentation needs Subwatershed Plan was completed. information about river water quality through the winter. before and after municipal wastewater ■ The GRCA completed two phases of 6. Environmental education treatment plant upgrades. a three-year study of an ancient bedrock ■ Equipment was upgraded in the real- valley which runs from Lake Ontario ■ The $2.2 million Living Classroom – time water quality monitoring stations and toward Lake Huron underneath the cen- Campaign for Outdoor Education was a new software program is helping with tral Grand River watershed to see if it completed in June 2007 and a business data management and quality control. could be a municipal water source. plan for marketing all five nature centres ■ The Rural Water Quality Program ■ Dam management projects included was developed. gave out more than $868,000 in grants to Stephanie Genge, a GRCA co-op student, ■ More than 35,000 school children in support 276 projects to protect water on helps with a study of benthic invertebrates rebuilding the gate hoist building at farms across the Grand River watershed. – insects and other creatures living in Conestogo Dam, evaluation and design of the Grand River watershed received a 12- water. the stilling basin at Conestogo Dam and page river and dam safety booklet.

GRAND RIVER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY• www.grandriver.ca S P R I N G 2 0 0 8 R E P O R T P A G E 5 – T H E G R A N D

■ Tree planting, games and displays on envi- ronmental themes were all part of Sunoco Earth Day at RIM Park, Waterloo. GRCA budget includes new ■ About 400 people took part in the Seventh Grand River Water Forum which had a focus on Water: Global Realities – Local Solutions. programs to protect environment ■ The 11th Heritage Day Workshop in Waterloo focused on the history of the City of he 2008 budget for the GRCA calls for expenditures of Waterloo and helped mark its 150th anniversary. $29.1 million that includes money for new projects to ■ The GRCA is continuing on the road to Tprotect water quality, learn more about water supplies, GRCA revenue sources educating people about sustainability by featur- enhance natural areas and upgrade its hydro-generating capac- ing solar and wind energy at the Taquanyah ity. Nature Centre as well as Apps' Mill Nature The budget was approved by the GRCA board at its annual meeting in Cambridge on Feb. 29. Centre near Brantford. Although the budget is up about $5.7 million from last year, ■ 4,000 students and 500 volunteers participat- most of the increase is due to special one-time projects that ed in the Waterloo Wellington Children's are being covered with grants from the province, municipali- Groundwater Festival and 1,500 students and 300 ties or other sources. volunteers participated in the Brantford Brant The cost to the 950,000 watershed residents for their share Children's Water Festival. of the GRCA budget this year will be $8.54 a person. ■ The 25th anniversary of the Guelph Lake Budget expenditures can be broken down into three broad Nature Centre was celebrated in June. categories: special projects, the base (or operating) budget and conservation area operations. 7. Outdoor recreation Where your money goes Special projects: $5.4 million he municipalities of the Grand River watershed con- ■ Over a million visits were made to the Spending on special projects this year is up considerably GRCA's 12 conservation areas generating $5.7 Ttribute about 33 per cent of GRCA revenues. The from the $1.7 million budgeted in 2007. Some of the projects average cost per person for all watershed residents is million in user fees. this year include: ■ The GRCA worked with Grand River about $8.54 a year. ■ $1.8 million for studies on water supplies in Waterloo Here’s how it will be spent in 2008: Country to develop four driving tours of the Region and the City of Guelph, paid for by a grant from the watershed, with a particular focus on the many province under the Clean Water Act. $8.54 used for: Your cost in 2008: old mills that dot the landscape. ■ $550,000 from the Ontario government to set up a fund ✓ Watershed studies $0.14 ■ Warning buoys were installed upstream of that provides grants to landowners who take action to protect ✓ Resource inventory, environmental monitoring $1.38 six dams on the Grand and Speed rivers to pro- water quality around municipal wells and surface water intakes ✓ vide additional notice to canoeists and kayakers under the Clean Water Act. Flood forecasting & warning $0.63 to stay away from the dams. ■ $1 million for a new hydro-electric turbine at Shand Dam ✓ Flood & erosion control structures $1.56 ■ Paddling the Grand River, a 96-page guide near Fergus to replace the old one which failed in 2006. The ✓ Floodplain regulation $0.48 to canoeing and kayaking was published by money for the project will be borrowed from GRCA reserve ✓ Resource management support cost $0.31 James Lorimer and Co. of Toronto. accounts and then repaid from profits earned on electricity ✓ Municipal plan input & review $0.19 ■ The GRCA and tenants who own about 700 sales which will amount to more than $200,000 a year when ✓ Private land tree planting, forestry $0.45 cottages at Belwood and Conestogo lakes settled the turbine is fully operational. a long-standing legal dispute and agreed on ■ $67,000 for water quality studies on the Nith and Grand ✓ Soil & water conservation, stream restoration $0.48 terms of new leases. rivers covered by grants from the Region of Waterloo. ✓ Conservation information $0.72 ■ $150,000 to complete the ✓ Conservation land property taxes $0.16 installation of a “green roof” at ✓ Administration/head office facilities $2.04 the Laurel Creek Nature Centre. The per person levy was calculated by dividing the por- Private sector donations to the tion of the GRCA’s total general municipal levy of Grand River Conservation $8,110,000 by the estimated number of residents Foundation are covering most of (950,000) in the Grand River watershed. The $8.54 was the total project cost of then applied to the net cost of the various GRCA pro- $300,000. gram areas that are partially funded by municipalities. ■ $80,000 for tree planting and other work at the Luther Marsh Wildlife Management tion, provide environmental planning advice to municipalities Area, offset by a grant from and landowners, operate trails, and manage forests, wetlands Ontario Power Generation. and other sensitive environmental lands. Included in this part of the budget is the cost of installing Base budget: $18.1 million two new water quality gauges on the Grand River. About The base budget, which cov- $140,000 will be spent on a gauge at Victoria Street in ers ongoing operations and pro- Kitchener, half of which is being paid by the Region of grams, totals $18.1 million, an Waterloo. The GRCA is also spending $160,000 on a water increase of $1.6 million from the quality station on the Grand at York in Haldimand County. budgeted amount in 2007. That pays for the GRCA’s work to Conservation area operations: $5.6 million prevent flooding, improve water The GRCA’s 12 conservation areas are financially self-suffi- Children learn about water conservation at the Brantford-Brant Children’s Water quality, protect water supplies, cient and record more than one million paid visits a year. Festival, one of two festivals held in the watershed each year. provide environmental educa- Operating costs are expected to rise $100,000 this year.

GRAND RIVER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY• www.grandriver.ca P A G E 6 – T H E G R A N D S P R I N G 2 0 0 8 R E P O R T

Find the Top 10 spots in Grand River Country here’s a lot to see and do in Grand River Country. T So much, in fact, that it’s sometimes diffi- cult to know where to begin. But starting this summer, you’ll be able to find the Top 10 Attractions in a variety of categories on the Grand River Country website at www.grandrivercountry.com Grand River Country is a partnership of local tourism agencies and the GRCA who work togeth- er to promote the outdoor wonders, picturesque villages and exciting cities of the Grand River watershed. Canoeing at Rockwood Conservation Area. The website already provides information on many of the activities available in the water- shed, from hiking and canoeing to shopping. Coming this sum- Enjoy all this – for less mer will be Top 10 lists to point you to Grand River While some fees are rising this year ering a five-night visit (Sunday to Price changes make it Country’s best restaurants, in order to maintain and improve the Thursday) at a reduction of 10 per cent hotels and motels, museums easier to have a summer quality of the parks, frequent visitors from the regular overnight camping fee. and trails, among other fea- can take advantage of a drop in the ■ The charge for a serviced campsite of fun at GRCA parks tures price of a season pass and get more for rises by $2 to $34, while the price of an Grand River Country has unserviced site remains $27. he 12 parks operated by the less. Price changes will also benefit visi- also welcomed two new Grand River Conservation tors to the pools at Brant and Byng members – The County of TAuthority have long had a repu- Island conservation areas. Brant and the Township of ■ The price of a season vehicle pass tation as providing some of the best Wellington North – which Download outdoor recreation in the province. has been cut to $95, a saving of $15 both unique ways to enjoy from last year. The pass allows unlimit- “Journey And now it’s easier – and cheaper – the watershed. The Grand” from to enjoy all of the parks this year. ed access for all passengers to all 12 They’ll be joining the the GRCA website The GRCA operates one of the GRCA parks, throughout the season. other members including the Ontario’s largest networks of parks in For a family of four, the season pass will GRCA, Guelph-Wellington, Centre Wellington some of the most striking natural areas pay for itself in just seven visits. The (Elora and Fergus), Brantford , Six Nations and season pass also includes one free night in the province. With more than 2,500 New Credit, Haldimand, St. Jacobs Country and of camping (Sunday through campsites at eight conservation areas, Woolwich Township Thursday). the GRCA is the second largest opera- ■ At Byng Island (Dunnville) and Best of Brant tor of campgrounds in the province – Brant (Brantford) conservation areas, Brant County Tourism has produced a new second only to Ontario Parks. the adult admission fee rises to $5 but brochure entitled Best of Brant Outdoors which is also includes free admission to the park available at www.county.brant.on.ca/forvisitors Buy a Season Vehicle pool. The child rate remains unchanged Birding tours Pass for $95 at any and also includes free entry to the pool. The Township of Wellington North, which GRCA conservation ■ The price for an adult daily admis- includes the towns of Arthur and Mount Forest has area or online in the sion at other parks rises to $4.25, an released a new birding map, pointing to the best ‘Store’ section of our increase of 25 cents. The price of a bird-watching locations, including the Luther website at child’s admission (six to 14) remains the Marsh Wildlife Management Area, where 242 www.grandriver.ca same as last year at $2.50. Children five species of birds have been recorded. and under are free. More information is available at ■ Campers can take advantage of the Fishing on the Speed River near Guelph www.wellington-north.com/tourism.php or in the GRCA’s new weekly camping fee, cov- Lake Conservation Area “Birding” section of the GRCA website.

GRAND RIVER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY• www.grandriver.ca S P R I N G 2 0 0 8 R E P O R T P A G E 7 – T H E G R A N D Watershed stewards recognized Watershed Awards honours those board’s outdoor education pro- gram. When he retired five years who have helped improve the Grand ago, he started working with the Evergreen he GRCA has given out ects to enhance the natural envi- Foundation to watershed awards each ronment in the Grand River promote Tyear since 1976 to recog- watershed. schoolyard nize individuals, families, corpo- naturalization. Ignatius Jesuit Centre, Guelph rations and groups that have The Ignatius Jesuit Centre, a So far he has made a tangible contribution to part of Guelph for more than helped 58 schools set up the preservation and improve- 150 years, manage a 600-acre greening com- ment of the Grand River water- property in mittees and to shed and its natural heritage. the north add trees and The Honour Roll Award is end of the given to those who have a sus- plants to oth- city, which Wendland tained record of achievement erwise barren includes 150 playgrounds. over an extended period of time. acres of wet- The Watershed Awards are He’s helped raise $800,000 so lands. schools can install gardens, trees, presented for outstanding conser- They vation and environmental work. benches and naturalized area. have worked His efforts have helped schools The 2007 awards were pre- hard to sented at a ceremony at the River in Waterloo Region, Guelph, Betty Schneider of Waterloo receives a standing ovation from guests at ensure this Brantford, Arthur and Stratford. the GRCA Watershed Awards gala after she was presented with an Run Centre in Guelph in land is eco- Father Jim Profit, Ignatius Centre Honour Roll Award. October. nomically Capital Paving and Honour Roll Award and environmentally sustainable Dufferin Aggregates Joe Kral, Guelph and have opened gardens and These two companies and Known as the “bird man of Guelph Lake,” Kral Betty Schneider, Waterloo trails to the public. They set up a their employees have provided has built and maintains more than 500 bird boxes Betty Schneider of Waterloo community shared agriculture money, materials and support for for the Guelph Lake Conservation Area. received the Watershed Honour program so that 200 families can projects to protect and enhance These serve as homes for black-capped chick- Roll Award for decades of work receive fresh organic produce Mill Creek, which flows through with the Grand River Con- adees, house wrens, tree swallows and especially each week during the growing Puslinch Township and the City bluebirds. servation Authority and the of Cambridge. Grand River Conservation season. The Ignatius Jesuits have His boxes have housed an estimated 17,000 undertaken an Old Growth The companies have been Foundation. enthusiastic boosters of the Mill birds since 1995. In the spring of 2007 he retired Forest fundraising project to Mrs. Schneider served on the Creek Ranger program, which from his job as a tool and die maker and now it is enhance the land and support GRCA board for 11 years begin- each summer hires teenagers to a little easier for him to spend the estimated 700 other community projects ning in 1966 and was its first undertake restoration projects. In hours it takes each year for this special project. Kral woman Dennis Wendland, Kitchener 2006 they undertook a big proj- member. In During a long career as an out- ect that only took two days to 1970 she door educator with the Waterloo carry out but two year to plan. Speed River outlook named became the Region District School Board, They returned a section of the first presi- Dennis Wendland helped raise creek into the cold water stream after dedicated fundraiser dent of the more than $400,000 for the that it once was. Grand River arilyn Murray of Guelph, year, was honoured for more Conserva- Ma past-president of the than 20 years of service to the tion Foun- Grand River Conservation foundation as a board member dation, serv- Foundation and a and president where ing for five leading philan- she was involved in years. Schneider thropist in the projects to protect During Guelph area, was rec- natural areas and those years she played a role in ognized for her years build trails. development of nature centres of service by the She recently and the Memorial Tree program. naming of the look- chaired The Living She was a founder of the Grand out onto the Speed Classroom – Valley Trails Association, which River just behind the Campaign for has developed and maintains a River Run Centre in Outdoor Education 275-km trail along the Grand. Guelph. It is now which raised $2.2 called the Marilyn Murray million to support Watershed Awards Murray Riverview. outdoor education programs Four Watershed Awards were Murray, who received a for elementary school chil- presented to groups and individ- Ron van Ooteghem (left) of Dufferin Aggregates and Larry Wilson of GRCA Watershed Award last dren. uals who have undertaken proj- Capital Paving

GRAND RIVER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY• www.grandriver.ca Being ‘earth-friendly’ is natural for Toyota oyota Motor Manufac- with the support of a team of turing Canada Inc. has dedicated volunteers. Tlong had a reputation as an The project was an obvious eco-friendly company. fit for Toyota, which had already In fact, the Cambridge-based been an active partner of the automobile maker was recog- GRCA and the foundation. nized this year as one of A few years ago, Toyota was Canada’s Most Earth-Friendly the lead sponsor of a new nature Employers by the publishers of centre at the Shade’s Mills Canada’s Top 100 Employers. Conservation Area in Cam- To borrow an old saying, the idea of a ”green” or “living” bridge. It also supported the global acclaim starts with local roof – a roof that incorporates refurbishment of a well-used hik- grasses, plants and shrubs. action. ing trail through the area, now The Toyota Earth Day gave employees and their families a chance to And in the Grand River Green roofs have environmen- known as the Toyota Way Trail. plant trees at the Laurel Creek Conservation Area. watershed, Toyota has earned its tal benefits because they help And every year the company earth-friendly credentials on clear the air, supply a habitat for holds an annual Earth Day event students be able to get a good River watershed, we will need many occasions since it first set wildlife and reduce the amount for its employees and their fami- look at the green roof. BMO new ways of making buildings up shop here in the late 1980s. of runoff after rainfalls. lies at a GRCA Financial Group donated a Living more in harmony with our natu- The most recent example is And in this case, the green conservation Roof Observation Tower which ral world and this is a great start roof has an added benefit as a the contribution the company area. provides a birds-eye view of the to making that happen,” she said. new learning tool for the 15,000 made to a new Toyota Living “We are roof. In addition to being a teach- Roof at the Laurel Creek Nature students who visit the Laurel Inside the nature centre, stu- ing tool, the green roof has oper- Creek Nature Centre each year. absolutely Centre in Waterloo. delighted that dents can look at thermometers ational benefits for the GRCA. It Although the life expectancy which will show the roof’s tem- The nature centre is one of so many com- reduces heat gain by 95 per cent five operated by the GRCA to of a green roof is longer than a perature.. Green roofs are much munity part- in the summer, which reduces provide hands-on, curriculum- conventional roof, they can be cooler which can help reduce the cooling costs by up to 25 per based outdoor education pro- more expensive to install. So the ners have come “heat island” effect that accompa- cent. During the winter, heat loss grams to more than 50,000 chil- GRCA turned to the Grand River together to Murdoch nies an old-style roof. Rain bar- dren a year. Conservation Foundation for make this effort rels on the ground will show how is lower, which means heating When the GRCA decided to help. a success,” said Sara Wilbur, much rain is absorbed by the bills are smaller. replace the roof of the 30-year- The foundation began a fund- executive director of the founda- plants on the roof, which reduces Construction of the new roof old building, it naturally adopted raising campaign that attracted tion. “The Toyota Living Roof is the amount of runoff. was completed early in the the support of a number of indi- about kids and the role they will Children visiting the nature spring, just in time for the annual vidual and corporate donors, play as our future environmental centre will learn to see green Toyota Earth Day on April 20, notably Toyota. The drive was ambassadors.” roofs as normal, not the excep- during which Toyota employees led by Ian Murdoch, owner and Of course, to be a true tion, explained Wilbur. planted more than 300 trees in president of Waterloo Nissan, teaching tool, it’s important that “With such a high rate of the Laurel Creek Conservation Many supported Living Roof growth projected in the Grand Area. Toyota’s donation toward the Foundation, CBM Aggregates, $300,000 project was a signifi- Conestogo-Rovers & Associates, About the foundation cant portion of the additional The Good Foundation, Ron and or more than 40 years, the Grand River Conservation cost of turning a traditional roof Barbara Schlegel, TD Friends of FFoundation has improved our quality of life into a green roof. the Environment – KW Chapter by enriching the natural values of the Grand A long list of other donors and Shell Environmental Fund. River watershed and encouraging people to contributed to the project includ- CHYM-FM was the media enjoy, and to learn from, the great outdoors. ing Ontario Ministry of Energy sponsor and in-kind donations For more information: Community Conservation were provided by Nedlaw Living ■ phone toll-free 1-877-29-GRAND Initiatives Program, BMO Roofs (formerly Roof Greening ■ e-mail [email protected] The green roof is installed at the Financial Group, the Kitchener & Systems) and Canadian General- ■ click on www.grandriver.ca/foundation Laurel Creek Nature Centre. Waterloo Community Tower.

Learn more about the Grand River Conservation Foundation at www.grandriver.ca/foundation