A Better Future for the Grand

Fall 2012

Watershed Report Environmental news for the residents of the Grand River watershed • Distribution 210,000 copies A better future for the Grand or more than 30 years, Lorrie Minshall has been at People want Fthe centre of some of the most important work done by the to know if the Grand River Conservation Grand River Authority: managing floods, pro - tecting water quality, environ - is improving. mental planning. Now, as she nears retirement, Lorrie Minshall she’s looking at what water man - says the agers will need to do over the next Lorrie Minshall in the dam control room at the GRCA headquarters in Cambridge. She’s leading the effort to 30 years to make the watershed a answer is ‘Yes’ develop a Water Management Plan for the Grand River watershed. healthier, safer place. Minshall, a water resources “getting out of the weeds and done and these are the next steps focused on infrastructure — However, the Water engineer, is director of the team dealing with the issues.” that will see it improve further.” sewage treatment plants, dikes, Management Plan is also looking developing an updated Water She likes to quote her husband The Water Management Plan is reservoirs and other physical at “soft” solutions that involve Management Plan for the Grand Ron, who works at a Cambridge the latest in a string of studies assets. changes in the way people think River Watershed. The plan will business: “People want to know if dating back to the 1930s. The They’re still critical to main - about and manage water establish goals for an improved the river is fishable, drinkable and most recent was completed in taining a healthy, safe watershed. resources. watershed and outline the work to swimmable. If it isn’t, who is 1982 and most of its recommen - Sewage treatment plant upgrades For example, one of the big be done to get there. doing something about it?” dations on water quality, water will improve water quality, and pieces of the plan is water conser - Her goal is to have a prelimi - supply and flood protection were reservoirs will be needed to vation, also called “water demand ‘An asset for communities’ nary version of the plan ready to implemented. reduce flood damages and protect management.” hand over when she walks out the “This river has gone from being But there are some differences water supplies. In fact, their sig - The idea is that instead of hunt - door of the GRCA head office for an open sewer to an asset people between the new plan and those nificance will be magnified in a ing around for new sources of the last time next spring. and communities appreciate,” she that preceded it, says Minshall. time of climate change and popu - To Minshall, the plan is about says. “But there’s still work to be Many of the earlier plans lation growth. Continued on Page 3

Climate Eye in the sky Innovative change Researchers take to the partnerships sky to learn where We face a future with groundwater is entering The Grand River more extreme weather the Grand River. Conservation Foundation as a result of climate is building new partner - change. ships to support conservation projects. Page 4 Page 9 Page 12 The GRCA may look and taste wonderful but coliform and E. coli can be How To Reach Us lurking. In many areas, your water can be tested for free. Check with your local health department. Joe Farwell Chief Administrative Officer A Message Keith Murch Assistant CAO, From the Chair Pick up after your dog. There are thousands of dogs in the Secretary Treasurer watershed. It is not simply a case of keeping sidewalks and trails By Mail: GRCA ecently I visited the notorious Well clean; their feces become part of the runoff into streams and 400 Clyde Road, Box 729 Number 5 in Walkerton that in 2000 aquifers. Cambridge, Ontario sickened citizens of the city with E. Don’t flush leftover N1R 5W6 R Jane Mitchell coli. I also visited the state of the art pills or medicines By Phone: 519-621-2761 Chair Direct Line: 519-621-2763 + ext. Walkerton Clean Water Centre where down the drain. Toll Free: 1-866-900-4722 By Fax: 519-621-4844 municipal water plant operators are trained so such a tragedy Hormones and antibi - Website: www.grandriver.ca can never happen again. Well Number 5 is now decommissioned otics in particular can E-mail general inquiries: and is a memorial to the victims of the tragedy. hurt wildlife. Take [email protected] The well became contaminated by farm run-off. The GRCA medicines back to the Outside business hours: works to prevent run-off with our Rural Water Quality program pharmacy. My drug 519-621-2761 and leave message that helps farmers build manure storage and fence streams to store gives away free (8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, excluding holidays) prevent cows from wading. bags for excess. Cities are upgrading their wastewater plants. The GRCA works The Grand is in good River Information Line: with municipalities to create best practices for treatment plants. shape. You can swim Well Number 5 at Walkerton 519-621-2763 ext. 2519 These help our water while saving millions through efficiencies. and canoe in the river. Planning and Permits: What can the average person do to help keep our rivers and Trout fishing is some of the best in North America. But nitrogen 519-621-2763 ext. 2230 groundwater clean? and phosphorus in particular still need to be reduced. If you are on a well, get it tested three times a year. Your water Working together we can keep the Grand grand. Conservation Areas: Head office 519-621-2763 ext. 2250 Belwood Lake (Fergus) 519-843-2979 Brant (Brantford) 519-752-2040 Byng Island (Dunnville) 905-774-5755 Conestogo Lake (Drayton) 519-638-2873 This issue of The Grand draws attention to some of those Elora Gorge (Elora) 519-846-9742 things that are happening to improve our rivers. Municipalities Guelph Lake (Guelph) 519-824-5061 A Message Laurel Creek (Waterloo) 519-884-6620 are investing in improved sewage treatment. The GRCA is work - Luther Marsh (Grand Valley) 519-928-2832 From the CAO ing to finalize a Water Management Plan which examines water Pinehurst Lake (Paris) 519-442-4721 Rockwood (Rockwood) 519-856-9543 his year’s weather conditions have quality, water supply and opportunities to reduce flood risk. We Shade’s Mills (Cambridge) 519-621-3697 been a challenge for water managers. are also evaluating different scenarios that may result from cli - The light snow pack last winter was mate change, and considering how these changes might impact Reserve a campsite: T By phone 1-877-558-GRCA (4722) not sufficient to fill the major reservoirs. The Joe Farwell our water management activities. Online www.grcacamping.ca Chief Administrative low rainfall over the summer has made it Officer Understanding how the Grand River watershed will respond to Nature Centres: necessary to rely on the reservoirs to supply changing climate and population growth is a critical part of the Apps’ Mill (Brantford) 519-752-0655 most of the flow to the Speed, Conestogo, and Grand rivers. work we do here at the GRCA. The Water Management Plan will Guelph Lake 519-836-7860 Couple this with the higher temperatures, and there is a real Laurel Creek (Waterloo) 519-885-1368 provide us with guidance to do our part to keep the Grand River Shade’s Mills (Cambridge) 519-623-5573 challenge maintaining the health of the rivers. watershed as a healthy and sustainable community. Taquanyah (Cayuga) 905-768-3288

Grand River Conservation Foundation Phone: 519-621-2763 ext. 2272 The municipality where you live appoints 1-877-29-GRAND one or more representatives to the GRCA E-mail: [email protected] Who speaks for you? board to oversee the budget and activities The GRAND is published twice a year of the conservation authority. by the GRCA, and distributed in news - papers to households in the Grand River watershed. Additional copies Townships of Amaranth, East Regional Municipality of City of Guelph: County of Oxford (Blandford- available. Garafraxa, Melancthon, Waterloo (Cambridge, Bob Bell, Maggie Laidlaw Blenheim, East Zorra-Tavistock, Letters and comments to: Southgate; Town of Grand Kitchener, North Dumfries, Municipality of North Perth, Norwich): Bruce Banbury Dave Schultz, GRCA Valley: Tom Nevills Waterloo, Wellesley, Wilmot and 400 Clyde Road, Box 729 Township of Perth East: George City of Brantford: Woolwich): Cambridge, Ontario, N1R 5W6 Townships of Mapleton and Les Armstrong, Todd Wicke Robert Hillier, Vic Prendergast (519) 621-2763, Ext. 2273 Wellington North: Pat Salter Cowan, Jan d’Ailly (GRCA 2nd (GRCA 1st vice-chair) [email protected] vice-chair), Rob Deutschmann, Regional Municipality of Halton Township of Centre Wellington: Jean Haalboom, Ross Kelterborn, (Halton Hills and Milton): County of Brant: Joanne Ross-Zuj Geoff Lorentz, Claudette Millar, Barry Lee Brian Coleman, Steve Schmitt Town of Erin, Townships of Jane Mitchell (GRCA chair), City of Hamilton: Haldimand and Norfolk Guelph/Eramosa and Puslinch: Warren Stauch Jeanette Jamieson Counties: Lorne Boyko, John Brennan Fred Morison Page 2 Spring 2012 • Annual Report WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN Minshall has been at centre of many key GRCA programs fter graduating from the University of Guelph with About the Water Management Plan Aa degree in water resources he Water Management Plan 2041, putting pressures on exist - engineering, Lorrie Minshall Tis a collaborative process ing water supply and sewage landed a job with the GRCA run - involving all three levels of gov - treatment systems. ning its first computer. ernment, First Nations and water I Close to 70 per cent of the It was not long after the May experts to develop a plan to watershed is farmed, with hun - 1974 flood and the GRCA wanted manage water resources for the dreds of thousands of cattle and to use the new tool to develop a next 30 years. hogs and millions of poultry. computer program to predict The use of manure and chemical floods. Goals fertilizers has to be managed to The computer, remembers The goal is to develop an minimize the impact on ground Minshall, was “way less powerful action plan that all of the part - and surface water quality. than a Commodore 64.” ners will implement to address The partners But, despite being megabyte these issues: challenged, the computer turned I ensuring a sustainable water The work is overseen by a out a model that was the forerun - Lorrie Minshall in the early days of her career. supply for communities, steering committee made up of ner of the much more powerful economies and ecosystems, representatives of agencies with and sophisticated program used new development. planning process which is now I reducing potential flood responsibility for water issues today. Along the way she earned a being implemented under the damages, including municipalities, provin - Master of Business Clean Water Act. Once the Act I cial ministries (Environment, Helped manage dams improving water quality to Administration from McMaster was passed and the process began, improve river health and reduce Natural Resources, Agriculture) Since then she has been University. she was the source protection the Grand’s impact on Lake Erie, and federal departments involved in some of the most In the 2000s she was deeply program manager for the Grand and (Environment, Agriculture and Agri-Food, Fisheries and important work done by the involved in source water protec - River, Long Point Region, Catfish I increasing resiliency to deal Oceans) and the Six Nations of GRCA. tion planning. Minshall helped Creek and Kettle Creek water - with climate change. Early in her career she became put together a presentation for the sheds. the Grand River. involved in the day-to-day man - Issues inquiry into the Walkerton taint - She left that position in 2010 to Timeline agement of the GRCA’s network ed water tragedy. The presenta - take the lead on development of The plan is being developed The partnership was launched of seven dams that are critical to tion suggested that conservation the Grand River Water against the backdrop of 21st cen - in early 2010. The plan is expect - reducing flood damages and authorities should take the lead in Management Plan. That job will tury issues of climate change, ed to be ready by March 2013. maintaining water quality. developing watershed-based come to an end in spring 2013 population growth and extensive She supervised the resource drinking water protection plans. when she retires. agriculture. Cost planning department which pro - For a time she worked with the Lorrie and her husband Ron I Climate change could have The work is being financed motes ways to minimize the provincial government to help it live in a riverfront home in an impact on the frequency of largely by the GRCA and the impact on the environment of develop the source protection Caledonia. floods and droughts, water qual - Ontario government which pro - ity and water supply. vided a grant of $903,000 under I Continued from Page 1 sewage treatment plants or ing and opportunity to improve The Grand River watershed the Showcasing Water plant processes to turn out the is one of the fastest growing Innovation Program. The GRCA water, municipalities can get more upgrade equipment. highest quality effluent. Some regions in Ontario. Its popula - is contributing a similar amount out of existing supplies. While that’s still necessary in municipalities that have gone tion, currently about 960,000, is on behalf of watershed munici - They can use tools such as lawn many cases, sewage plant opera - down the optimization road have expected to hit 1.4 million by palities. watering restrictions, pricing tors are learning that improving been able to avoid spending mil - mechanisms, incentives for low- day-to-day operations can also lions on plant upgrades. about it’.” She says the idea of partners flow fixtures or grey water reuse. make a big difference. That’s another way the process So for Minshall, having water working together to reach shared It means bending the curve on Called “wastewater optimiza - of developing the new Water managers from all levels of gov - goals is the “Grand tradition” that water consumption, explains tion,” it’s a quality control system Management Plan is different ernment sitting at the table has been behind the push for Minshall: reduce the overall that involves giving staff the train - from the ones of the past, says together has led to a cross-fertil - watershed improvements from the amount of water consumed even Minshall. ization of ideas about what can be as population rises. earliest days of the GRCA. done. To Minshall, it’s a better way to A similar process can be ‘What we are going to do’ “Actions are starting even get results than a system that is applied to the way sewage is treat - This watershed She doesn’t want the plan to be before the plan is written down,” heavy with laws and regulations. ed, says Minshall. Municipalities is at the leading a big long list of recommenda - says Minshall. know they have to improve the edge of water tions that may or may not be “Municipalities are at different “This watershed is at the lead - ing edge of water protection and quality of the effluent they’re put - protection and implemented. places when it comes to demand ting into the Grand River and its “There’s no good just talking management,” she explains. So innovation,” she says, because innovation. there is a collaborative approach tributaries. Lorrie Minshall about what needs to happen,” she some have picked up new ideas – In the past that would have explains. “Nothing will move and identified ways to work to problem solving that “gets automatically meant investing unless the people at the table say: around barriers – to make their things done without coming in millions of dollars to expand ‘This is what we’re going to do communities more water efficient. with regulations.” Grand River Conservation Authority • www.grandriver.ca Page 3 CLIMATE CHANGE

The shape of things to come?

By Katherine Balpataky the result is “the frequency of GRCA Communications Specialist From drought to floods, climate change intense events — both floods and droughts — will increase,” says revor Herrle-Braun parks could mean more extreme weather Stephanie Shifflett, water his truck next to the surface resources engineer for the GRCA. Tpond he uses to irrigate a lowed by an early spring and long, Plan scheduled to be completed in drop in annual precipitation of six Water levels won’t necessarily 10 hectare (25 acre) field of sweet dry summer made 2012 a chal - 2013. per cent to an increase of 12 per be more extreme, but the spring corn in St. Agatha, west of lenging season. There is still some uncertainty cent. melt and its high flows will occur Farmers in Ontario have suf - about how climate change will Waterloo. Warmer winters ahead earlier and summer low flows will The water levels are down more fered through droughts in the affect the watershed. It is a rela - be much lower than now. The analysis provided some than a metre. There’s a wide ledge 1920s and 1930s and, more tively small piece of the Earth and “What we’re learning is that we broad, overall forecasts for the of cracked, dry soil, an exposed recently, between 1997 and 2002. computer models developed to can no longer count on stream road culvert and water lilies wilt - However, climate change may simulate climate change don’t pro - future of the Grand River water - flow or water levels fluctuating ing on the shoreline as proof. make these kinds of conditions vide enough detail at that scale. shed: within the historical range all the I “We don’t usually start irrigat - more common. So the researchers used several warmer winters with more time,” says Linda Mortsch, a ing until July, but this year we climate models to get a sense of frequent snow melts, Senior Climate Change Help develop plan I started in May,” says Herrle, who the range of potential changes in earlier springs, Researcher with Environment grows and sells vegetables as part To prepare for these changes, rain and snowfall patterns, stream I longer, drier summers, Canada and adjunct professor at of his 242 hectare (600 acre) oper - research is being done as part of flows, water temperature and I higher precipitation overall the University of Waterloo. She ation. the Water Management Plan to other factors. with more soaking into the provided advice on the Grand “I’ve got a diesel generator run - get an idea of what climate change For example, they looked at ground in winter, replenishing River study and is an ongoing ning 24 hours a day pumping may mean for the Grand River what would happen if annual groundwater aquifers, and contributor to reports prepared by water from a well,” he says. “The watershed. average temperatures rose any - I higher air temperatures result - the International Panel on pumping has doubled my costs The knowledge gained in the where between 1.8°C and 4°C. For ing in more evaporation in the Climate Change. for the season.” studies will be used to develop the precipitation, they looked the summer. “It really forces us to look at The lack of snow last winter fol - Grand River Water Management impact of changes ranging from a Put these factors together and potential changes in our water Driest year in decades took its toll on the Grand River watershed his has been the driest year Tsince 1958 which has resulted in low flows in the river system and low water levels in GRCA reservoirs. Usually, the reservoirs are filled with water from the spring runoff, but this year some of reservoirs, such as Conestogo, were never filled. On the graph at left, reservoir operators try to keep water levels (blue line) somewhere in the white area between the two green lines. But this year Conestogo reservoir was low most of the year. As a result the GRCA adjusted the amount of water it released from the reservoirs in late summer to ensure adequate flows through Old stumps and roadways can be seen at the bottom of Guelph Lake. the end of the year. Photo by Chris Seto, Guelph Mercury

Page 4 Fall 2012 – Watershed Report CLIMATE CHANGE availability, ” says Mortsch. The climate models provide The cycle of frequent spring guidance on the range of chal - floods and a dried-up river in the lenges the watershed may experi - summer is not a new one in the ence. The study points to the need Grand River watershed. That’s to modify the way dams and what life was like in the early 20th reservoirs are managed to recog - century as a result of changes to nize the new conditions. the land when the landscape was Build resiliency cleared of trees and wetlands to make way for farms and cities. “Things like restoring wetlands, Back then, the Grand River suf - planting trees and putting more fered devastating floods many water storage on the landscape are springs and became a foul, pollut - other adaptation measures that ed gutter in the summer. The will help build resiliency in the solution was to build a series of watershed. The good thing about reservoirs that store water from these actions is that they will also the spring runoff which is help us with the other objectives released gradually through the of the Water Management Plan,” summer and fall to maintain says Shifflett. flows. Of course, there are others who Those reservoirs were built by can make use of the climate the Grand River Conservation change study to improve adapta - Authority (and its predecessor) tion measures. between 1942 and 1976. Trevor Herrle-Braun is already Farmer Trevor Herrle-Braun has been experimenting with different land management techniques to adapt to adapting, by dedicating fields for Delicate task dry conditions. Testing different irrigation methods and irrigating at night are some of them. straw that he uses as mulch to Managing the reservoirs is a reduce evaporation off his straw - delicate task. The GRCA’s engi - Now climate change is creating voirs. day release of water below normal berry fields. Other farmers have neers must make sure there is the need to revisit the standards This has implications for operating levels — like water opted to select drought-tolerant enough room left in the reservoirs once more. municipalities that count on the rationing — in preparation for crops or store additional water by in the spring to accommodate the The situation this summer is a reservoirs to supply water for more dry weather. digging new storage ponds. next major rainfall or snow melt, good example of these challenges. their drinking water system and “There are always some risks while holding back enough water This has been the driest year their sewage treatment plant when you adjust water targets to last the summer. since 1958. There wasn’t enough operations. away from optimal levels,” says They have refined their operat - snow melt and rain to fill all The GRCA met with municipal Dwight Boyd, Director of Climate ing procedures over the years and seven reservoirs to the required water managers to revise their Engineering for the GRCA. “You change and learned some important lessons level. By August, the GRCA was flow targets for the rest of the can put aquatic species under from Hurricane Hazel in October faced with cutting back the rate of year. They agreed to adjust their stress. So it’s important to plan water use 1954 and the May 1974 flood. water flowing out of the reser - flow targets, operating the day-to- ahead for such situations.” In Whitemans Creek, in west - ater use is an important ern Brant County, the low water Wdimension of climate levels this summer led the Grand change adaptation because Finding the best top (climate) models some water uses will likely he Water Management Plan shed. Then, the projected more or fewer days of rain and River Low Water Response Team to call for a voluntary 20 per cent increase as temperatures rise. Tclimate change study uses changes from the regional mod - snow. That’s because the study Dry spells and increased evap - reduction in water use. the output of global climate els are inputted into a computer uses historical frequency of daily oration may make irrigation models, made available by the model that simulates the way rain and snowfall and then Used for irrigation necessary for some crops Ontario government, to test how water adjusts the amount of precipita - The creek is heavily used by where it was not needed different scenarios of climate flows tion that will fall based on the cash crop farmers who rely on before. As well, households change may affect local weather through output of the climate models. that water lawns or refill pools and availability of water in the the Grand this water for irrigation in sum - “If you were to pick any one mer. In the future, longer dry may be inclined to use more watershed. River sys - climate change scenario and say water. tem. spells in areas like Whitemans Climate models are computer ‘this is our best guess of what the As part of the Grand River programs that are built using The could lead to water conflicts if future will hold’ you would Water Management Plan and known physical laws and chemi - modelling they aren’t managed properly. probably be wrong. By running Drought management plans with Source Protection Planning, cal interactions based on the has limita - work is being undertaken to earth’s system. These models are tions. multiple climate change scenar - measures that involve water users ios, water managers can get a will be needed. Water managers develop water use forecasts for useful for testing how one kind For sectors in the watershed that of change affects another. example, sense of the types of challenges will need a careful evaluation of they may be facing, even if they the risks involved. use the most water. This work In the Grand River climate the mod - Mortsch will evaluate whether there are don’t decide to adapt to all of The GRCA’s Stephanie Shifflett study, the output of global cli - els work any potential shortfalls in them all,” says Linda Mortsch, a says adapting to these changes mate models based on different on such large scales that they water supply to be concerned Senior Climate Change will require water managers to do scenarios of future greenhouse don’t pick up the local weather about. This information will what they’ve always done — but gas emissions in the atmosphere effects caused by the Great Researcher with Environment help municipalities develop differently. It may also require is used to develop climate Lakes. The modeling also does - Canada and adjunct professor at their long-term water supply more weather data on which to change scenarios for the water - n’t show whether there will be the University of Waterloo. and conservation strategies. base their decisions.

Grand River Conservation Authority • www.grandriver.ca Page 5 WATER QUALITy Investing in a cleaner river More than $750 million is going into better sewage treatment or more than a century, the control plants and other control residents of the Grand River measures, its waters generally are Fwatershed treated the Grand within water quality objectives,” River system as their sewer. said a 1967 news release. From the first days of settle - But population growth has con - ment until well into the 20th cen - tinued to put a strain on the river tury, raw or barely treated sewage system which is expected to deal was dumped into rivers and with an ever-growing flow of creeks. treated effluent. By 1956 the situation across When the OWRC issued its Ontario, and particularly in the congratulatory news release in Grand River watershed, was so 1967, the watershed population serious that the province created was about 400,000. Now it is more the Ontario Water Resources than twice that (about 960,000) Commission to build new sewage and is projected to hit 1.4 million plants or upgrade existing ones. in 2041. ‘Fast becoming useless’ Governments are constantly The Grand was “among the first under pressure to invest in new watercourses to be attacked by the and expanded plants to protect OWRC” because it was “fast water quality. The Kitchener sewage treatment plant is undergoing a $326 million upgrade. Photo courtesy Region of Waterloo becoming useless for most human So now, in the early years of the 21st century, another massive uses because of increasing pollu - $750 million in sewage treatment upgrade or delay it. Erie. The plume of nutrient- infusion of cash holds the prom - tion,” says a history of the com - plant upgrades. Some of the work is to cope loaded water and sediment enter - ise of another step forward in the mission. Region of Waterloo : The with population growth, but more ing the lake at Port Maitland con - battle to improve the Grand River A decade later, after an invest - Region has an ambitious plan to significantly, a lot of the money is tributes to algae growth and other ment of millions of dollars, the system. upgrade 6 of its 13 sewage treat - going into new technology to water quality issues in the eastern Grand was on the mend. Municipalities, with the support ment plants over a decade at a improve the quality of the effluent Lake Erie basin. “Thanks to a network of of the senior levels of govern - cost exceeding $700 million. going into the river system. “The Grand River sediment OWRC municipal water pollution ment, are spending more than Work is already underway on the plume can be detected up and Going after nutrients Kitchener and Waterloo plants. down the coast for a distance of Ahead is work at the Hespeler, The targets are nutrients – 12 km (seven miles) and up to Level of sewage treatment Wellesley, Baden-New Hamburg chemicals such as phosphorus three km (two miles) offshore and St. Jacobs plants. and nitrogen – that are found in depending on weather,” says the Town of Grand Valley : A new human and animal waste. The Lake Erie Binational Nutrient sewage treatment plant worth $16 plants are designed to take most – Management Strategy. million opened last spring to but not all – of the nutrients out The Grand River is one of sev - serve the community in Dufferin of the sewage. While the output of eral rivers that “urgently need County. nutrients from each plant may be reductions in total phosphorus Township of Centre relatively small, the cumulative concentration,” it concluded. Wellington : Work has started on impact of the nutrient loads from The sewage treatment plant a new $21 million sewage treat - 30 sewage plants in the watershed upgrades that have just been com - ment plant for Elora. In 2002 the can harm river health. pleted or are in the works will township completed a $2.6 mil - In the river, are fertilizer for help with that. Many more of the lion upgrade of its Fergus plant. algae and aquatic plants. plants will provide what’s known City of Guelph : A major A healthy river ecosystem needs as “tertiary” treatment in which a expansion of its treatment plant, a certain level of nutrients. But an third step is added to the treat - worth $18 million, was completed overload can destroy a river. If ment process to remove even in 2002. there are too many aquatic plants, more phosphorus. City of Brantford : A major they remove too much oxygen As part of the work on the upgrade worth about $20 million from the water, depriving fish and Water Management Plan for the More municipal wastewater treatment plants are moving to a high - has been planned for 2014 but other aquatic organisms of the Grand River, a team of water er level of treatment, called “tertiary,” which reduces the nutrients city officials are conducting a oxygen they need. quality experts looked at the in the effluent. This chart shows the change in the volume of study of plant operations to see if High nutrient levels in the potential impact of the plant sewage getting higher levels of treatment as the sewage treatment they can be made more efficient Grand are also a concern because improvements. The work is sum - plants in the watershed as plant are upgraded. and so reduce the size of the of the effect they have on Lake marized in the report “Assessment

Page 6 Fall 2012 – Watershed Report WATER QUALITy Sewage plant upgrades will cut phosphorus levels his chart shows Tphosphorus levels in the Grand River as the river goes downstream from Shand Dam to Six Nations. Levels tend to go up when water from tributaries and effluent from wastewater treat - ment plants (WWTP) enters the Grand.

Current Researchers Gerald Tetreault (left), Keegan Hicks and Meghan Fuzzen phosphorus levels Tiny fish provide big clues Projected phosphorus to water quality changes levels after plant eghan Fuzzen wades into says Gerald Tetreault of the upgrades are complete Mthe Grand River just University of Waterloo, who is upstream of the Kissing Bridge coordinating the field work. Provincial Water at West Montrose with an elec - “This is a really unique oppor - Quality Objective trofishing pack on her back and tunity to build off one another.” a wand in her hand. The GRCA, municipalities The University of Waterloo and other agencies are involved of Future Water Quality said the report. ago and found that it could meet researcher is surveying darters to make sure the research will Conditions in the Grand and They found, for example, that its effluent quality targets without – a type of small fish — as part have a direct impact on water Speed Rivers” and is available at there will be a sizeable drop in a planned $20 million sewage of a study to see how water management decisions. www.grandriver.ca phosphorus levels downstream of quality affects fish populations. plant expansion. The City of Improve monitoring The team used a computer pro - the Kitchener sewage treatment Brantford has embarked on a Fuzzen’s study is one part a gram called the Grand River “The Grand River plant, the largest in the watershed. project to optimize its plant. much larger national research Simulation Model. The computer project, funded by the Conservation Authority and its The phosphorus load would drop Optimizing the operation of model simulates the water quality Canadian Water Network, that’s partners will use this research to about 0.07 milligrams per litre other sewage treatment plants in the Grand River from Fergus to (mg/L), a reduction of about one- bringing together scientists and to improve monitoring pro - could reduce phosphorus levels 10 south of Brantford, and the Speed third. water managers from across the grams and guide decisions per cent or more in the southern River from Guelph Lake to its end The experts did several other country to find ways to meas - made as part of the Grand Grand River. in Cambridge. model runs to see what would ure changes in river health. River Water Management Plan,” The users of the model can plug says Barbara Veale, happen if, in addition to the phys - “The adoption of wastewater In five watersheds across in projections on the effluent Coordinator of Policy and ical upgrades, there were some treatment process optimization as Canada, researchers who study loads coming out of the sewage Partnerships for the GRCA. improvements in the way the a best practice by watershed chemistry, aquatic insects, treatment plants in those reaches. “It’s been really useful to sewage plants were operated. municipalities is a win-win for plants, river flows and fish are They can look at different scenar - collecting samples and identify - work with (GRCA) staff The process is called “optimiza - river water quality and for munic - ios involving river flows, water ing survey sites to decide what because we gain their knowl - tion” and essentially it involves ipalities, given its proven cost- temperature and other variables. species and conditions are most edge about how wastewater stepping up quality controls in the effectiveness,” said the study. important for measuring water - treatment plants operate and Levels change sewage plant to focus on turning More oxygen shed-wide changes. In the why river flows are maintained The concentration of phospho - out the cleanest effluent possible. Grand, this research will be as they are,” says Jason The result of the drop in phos - rus in river water rises and falls as The City of Guelph went used to develop monitoring Venkiteswaran, a researcher the Grand moves downstream. It’s through the process a few years phorus levels will be a rise in dis - programs and improve water from the University of Waterloo highest immediately downstream solved oxygen – a fact that is criti - management decisions. who is studying the fate of of sewage treatment plants and cal to the health of the river, par - “Over the next three years, nutrients in the Grand. where streams and rivers enter Significant improve - ticularly the fish and other aquat - we hope to get a more complete “We draw on the experience the Grand. But the concentration ments to water ic species that live there. and long-term monitoring data quality will result from picture of the processes going drops off as the phosphorus is “Dissolved oxygen levels in the on in the river,” says Adam of municipalities and GRCA taken up by aquatic vegetation, or the implementation of the planned summer are predicted to improve Yates, a principal investigator and we test each other’s in places where clean groundwa - wastewater treatment in heavily impacted reaches of the from Western University of assumptions about how the ter enters the river. plant upgrades Grand and Speed rivers,” said the London, Ont. river works,” he says. “Significant improvements to Water Management “Traditionally, researchers The Canadian Water report. “The greatest improve - water quality will result from the Plan study tend to focus on one aspect of Network has provided $600,000 ment will occur in the Grand implementation of planned waste - the natural system – like fish,” over three years. water treatment plant upgrades,” River at Blair.”

Grand River Conservation Authority • www.grandriver.ca Page 7 WATER QUALITy Farmers work to keep nutrients out of water he Grand River watershed is blessed with some of the Watershed faces challenges Tbest farmland and most dealing with all that manure productive farmers in the country. Close to 70 per cent of the hectare.” sus “non-point sources.” watershed – about 4,500 hectares The report identifies two issues The analysis is contained in a – is farmed. of general concern for Ontario, report done by a group of water However, this agricultural rich - which also apply to the Grand quality experts from the GRCA, ness also brings some challenges. River watershed: municipalities, provincial and fed - One of the biggest is the handling I Phosphorus levels “tend to be eral ministries and other agencies. of manure and commercial fertil - higher in areas of more intensive (“Summary of Activities to izers, which are sources of nutri - cropping systems, higher livestock Determine Sources of Nutrients ents such as phosphorus, nitrates production densities and clay and Sediment in the Grand River and ammonia. soils.” Watershed and their Relative It’s a big challenge. For example, I “Nitrate concentrations Importance.”) 20 dairy cows or 60 beef feeder appear to be trending upward” There isn’t enough data avail - cattle can produce as much solid with implications for both human able to provide hard numbers on A farmer builds a stream fence in Wellesley Township. waste as 1,000 people. and aquatic life. the relative weight of different With more than 250,000 head Nutrients such as phosphorus sources of nutrients. much of the phosphorus and Rural investments of cattle in the watershed, that’s a and nitrates (a form of nitrogen) However, some broad trends ammonia entering the river sys - For more than a decade, the lot of manure to be stored, han - have two primary sources: “point were identified: tem. dled and applied to cropland to sources” such as sewage treatment I In the spring, melting snow Grand River Conservation Water experts have long under - Authority has operated the Rural keep it out of groundwater and plants and septic systems, and and rain wash soil off the land, stood the impact that farm run- surface water. There’s also the “non-point sources” such as carrying high levels of phospho - Water Quality Program. off can have on water quality. Municipalities provide the bulk of manure generated by hundreds of runoff from rural or urban land. rous. During the runoff period, That’s why so much effort – and thousands of hogs and millions of Some preliminary work has almost all of the phosphorus the money for the program, money – has been put into pro - which is given to farmers as chickens and turkeys. been done as part of the Water entering the river system is com - grams to keep water clean on the Management Plan to try to identi - ing from non-point sources. A grants to pay part of the cost of Top five for manure farm. implementing BMPs. The farmer fy the proportion of nutrients similar thing can happen follow - The provincial government In a report issued in 2002, the is also required to provide labour, coming from “point sources” ver - ing a big summer rainstorm. passed the Nutrient Management office of the I materials or cash to cover his During the winter and spring, Act in 2002 to establish province- Environmental share of the cost. high nitrate levels in the middle wide standards for manure. Commissioner By the end of 2011 more than section of the Grand River in Many farmers have nutrient of Ontario said 1,100 projects were carried out The Grand River water - Waterloo Region is suspected to management plans which outline “the Grand River with a total value of more than shed is among the top come from groundwater which how they will handle, store and watershed (is) $31 million, including grants of five manure producing enters streams and rivers through apply manure on their land. among the top areas in the country. $11 million. springs or seeps. The nitrates in There are also many well-estab - five manure pro - The money has gone into hun - the groundwater were built up lished “beneficial management ducing areas in Environmental dreds of manure storage facilities, over decades of manure and fer - practices” (BMPs) that can be the country, at Commissioner Gord Miller fencing of more than 125 kilome - tilizer use. implemented by farmers, whether over 5,000 kilo - I tres of streams, dozens of erosion During the summer, sewage or not they have Nutrient grams per treatment plants account for Management Plans. Continued on Page 9 Before and after An effective way to protect water quality is to install fences and greenery along streams. The fences reduce soil erosion caused by cattle when they wan - der into a stream for a drink of water. Trees and shrubs along a stream will soak up nutrients that would otherwise go into the stream. More than 115 kilometres of stream fences have been built through the Rural Water Quality Program.

Page 8 Fall 2012 – Watershed Report WATER QUALITy Hunting groundwater from the sky By Janet Baine 11.5 km section between Glen GRCA Communications Specialist Morris and Paris. They used Conant’s infrared camera, which Water o a groundwater specialist, measures radiation and makes the seeing is believing. temperature difference visible. temperature T They know that ground - The sun was coming up and the water comes into a river, but helicopter door was off, so it was facts infrared technology allows frigid. This day was chosen care - I The more groundwater seep - experts to see exactly where the fully — a cold day when rain or ing into the river at a given groundwater hot spots are locat - snow had not fallen in quite a ed. stretch, the cooler the river will while so there wasn’t much other be during the summer. At dawn on a cold day in than groundwater entering the I Water released from reser - January 2012, Gregg Zwiers and river, allowing it to be more visi - Brewster Conant flew in a heli - voirs, such as Shand and ble. Conestogo, has a cooling copter above part of the “recovery Conant teaches earth and envi - stretch” of the Grand River — an impact on the rivers. ronmental science at the I In a laboratory setting, water University of Waterloo. Zwiers is that is 15C will hold about Hot water the senior hydrogeologist with the one-third more oxygen than GRCA water that is 30C. They flew over the section of I After the sun goes down, the the river twice —once taking still air and water temperature goes photos and then video with the down as well, so cool nights $20,000 infrared camera, while a help improve temperature. standard video camera was also A helicopter travels along the Grand River in search of groundwater I entering the river. Shade from trees and vegeta - shooting the river. tion beside the river cools the Constant temperature water down. need cool water. Moraines. I Shade from boulders and On this day, the air temperature Above : The pale yellow is the loca - And, the groundwater is usually The camera doesn’t measure trees create cool spots where was -19C and water in the river tion along the east bank of the cleaner than the river water, so temperature, but can show where fish can rest and stay cool on Grand River where groundwater is would have been close to zero. water quality improves where a the water is warmer than the sur - hot summer days. entering the river. However, groundwater is a fairly lot of groundwater enters. rounding land and water, based I Rain hitting hot pavement BELOW : The same area is shown in constant 9C to 11C throughout More information on where on the colour differences in the and then entering the river can the video capture. the year. groundwater enters a river and infrared photos and video. Then be very hot and even deadly During the winter, the ground - how much can be an important it’s possible to match these spots for fish. water is warmer than the river step toward a greater understand - with a map and still photos. I Engineered streams that have water, so it prevents ice from ing of river health. been straightened also provide forming. During the summer, the Shows ‘hot spots’ That’s particularly true of the very poor habitat and warm groundwater can be 20C cooler section that Zwiers and Conant The report includes infrared the water than the river water, so it cools off flew that day. The GRCA has images showing “hot spots” where I Effluent from wastewater the river, which makes it a better known for a long time that this lots of groundwater is entering treatment plants can warm the habit for some organisms that small stretch of river improves the river. It identified more than river in winter but can cool the water quality in a really big way. 500 of these locations. water in summer. There are about 720,000 people Researchers estimate that an Rural water quality living upstream and many com - average of 30 to 60 litres per sec - Continued from Page 8 lowest cost. munities, wastewater facilities and ond per kilometre of groundwater “I learned most of the ground - control projects and other proj - It concluded that farm BMPs farms. flows into the Grand River in this water is coming in along the west This is the area where the river ects that help keep nutrients and “are environmentally effective and section. This is enough water to bank, which is discharging a lot sediment out of waterways. passes through the Galt-Paris can protect groundwater sources fill one or two Olympic-sized more water than the east bank,” A report from the George from nitrogen contamination.” swimming pools Zwiers says. “It confirmed for us Morris Centre, an agricultural “Using practices such as plant - per day per kilo - think tank at the University of what we suspected and we can ing vegetation strips along shore - metre. Guelph, pointed out that best look in greater detail to learn lines, constructing wetlands, The research management practices “act as bar - more. So many ways we measure rotating crops, using low nitrogen This is one step in a was funded by a riers to prevent or decrease the multi-step process of donation from groundwater are indirect, but this fertilizer and repairing older sep - contamination of water by nutri - trying to understand S.C. Johnson and is a way you can see it.” tic systems are examples of bene - your river. ents, pesticides and pathogens.” Son Ltd. of “This is one step in a multi-step In 2011 the centre carried out a ficial management practices that Brantford that process of trying to understand help prevent contamination of Researcher study to analyze the costs and Brewster Conant came through the your river. You are going to see benefits of various BMPs to deter - private and public drinking water Grand River the biggest discharges by doing mine which had the greatest sources from nitrogen,” said the Conservation this, so you are not going to miss impact on water quality at the study. Foundation. anything big,” says Conant.

Grand River Conservation Authority • www.grandriver.ca Page 9 WATER SUPPLIES Municipalities are coming up with innovative ways to encourage conservation By Katherine Balpataky significant population growth. GRCA Communications Specialist To ensure that municipalities are able to meet Waste not, water needs without stressing the river or groundwa - pend any time in the cities or towns of the ter systems, municipal water managers are working Grand River watershed and you’re likely to see a on long-term water supply strategies. They are look - Sconstruction site where steel beams are being ing at ways to manage the demand for water to get hoisted, concrete foundations being laid and pipes more out of less. want not being stacked – the signs of urbanization. By sharing their experiences and research, the Over the next 25 to 50 years, many of the munici - water managers are making Grand River watershed palities in the Grand River watershed will experience one of the most progressive in the nation. Guelph Grey is green ike Darmon steps into the opportunities for conserving the basement of his water among household users, MGuelph home to check they discovered that low-flow the water levels in his greywater showerheads and water-efficient system. The 150-litre tank is more appliances would only get them than half-full of water collected so far. A public survey indicated from their showers and baths. He that certain residents were moti - can flush freely today. vated to experiment with greywa - “It comes down to making ter. So Guelph launched a pilot water work as hard as it can study and offered rebates to before you flush it away,” says encourage the installation of grey - Darmon. “The average person in water systems in 30 new and Guelph uses 187 litres per day. existing homes. We’re now down to 60.” “The main goal was to see how Mike and his wife Louise effective greywater systems are at installed the greywater system in reducing water and energy use,” their 80-year-old home in 2009 as says Wayne Galliher, Water part of a pilot project by the City Conservation Project Manager for of Guelph. By evaluating the the City of Guelph. users’ experiences, the city hopes The study also collected infor - Mike Darmon and wife, Lois Cherry use a high-efficiency washer and hang-dry laundry to reduce water and to learn if water recycling could mation on how satisfied partici - energy use. Lois says her mother grew up during the Depression, so she was brought up this way. be promoted more broadly among pants were with the new systems, how well they were able to main - residents, and if so, how. from across Canada and North because of their “green attitude” “Other municipalities that are tain them, what motivated them America from communities that said they had already done some considering greywater should to enroll and how their behaviour want this information.” research on greywater systems. consult the public to understand Match source to use changed. After three years, the average the opportunities and challenges More satisfied Greywater systems are based on “It was surprising how little water savings from participants specific to your community,” he the premise that water quality information exists about the tech - was 22.6 litres (5.97 gallons) per As a result, the green keeners says. should be matched to its use: you nologies and building codes and capita per day or about 30 per were generally more satisfied with “It’s also important to connect don’t need drinkable water for standards across Canada,” says cent savings per household. To the greywater systems. Those who the people who are using the gardens or flushing toilets. Galliher. “We’ve been getting calls put this in perspective, if every participated to save money were greywater system so they can Most household greywater sys - household in Guelph saved this less satisfied. Most said the unex - share what they’ve learned and tems reroute water from the bath much, you could fill two of the pected maintenance work was the support one another.” and shower into a tank where it is It’s also important to world’s largest oil supertankers reason. For its next phase of work, filtered and recycled for use in the connect the people (over 1 million cubic metres) with “I don’t think these systems will Guelph will explore the feasibility toilet. This alone reduces the who are using the the water saved in one year. work for everyone,” says Darmon. of a communal system that would demand on municipal supplies by greywater system so The study showed that the “It’s a good idea to take a look at connect greywater use between a an average of 83 litres per person they can share what they’ve learned. $1,500 incentive was critical to your lifestyle and reduce water mix of residential and industrial per day, since flushing is one of getting homeowners and builders use in every other way you can users. the largest water uses in the Project Manager to participate. Saving on water first. Then determine whether For more information regarding home. Wayne Galliher and energy bills was another you have the need,” he says. Guelph`s Residential Greywater When water managers at the important factor. We learned a lot about our resi - Field Test, visit: City of Guelph began to evaluate The majority who signed up dents’ needs,” says Galliher. www.guelph.ca/greywater

Page 10 Fall 2012 – Watershed Report WATER SUPPLIES Oxford Region of Waterloo Whale of a price The water information age hen Oxford County amal - f home owners from Chicago, Wgamated 21 water systems ISan Diego, Miami and Waterloo and nine wastewater facilities that each tallied up the amount of serve almost 30,000 customers in water used on their lawns in one 2008, there was a need to create a year, who would come out on top single water rate structure to sim - for water use? Which one would plify administration and cover make the greatest effort to con - operating costs. serve water? Designing a new rate system The answer to these questions was also an opportunity to and others will soon be clear encourage water conservation. thanks to an ongoing study of Now that the rate system has North American household water been in place across Oxford for use. The study will help the three years, it is time to evaluate Region of Waterloo evaluate the whether water is truly being effectiveness of water conserva - saved. tion programs and to determine So the county is embarking on future water needs. a study to examine how their Waterloo Region was one of 18 pricing system is encouraging North American municipalities to people to conserve. partner with the American Water Per capita domestic water use in Brantford, Region of Waterloo and “Most residents have been sup - Guelph is lower than the Canadian and Ontario averages, Works Association Research but still higher than in Europe. portive of the new system, once Foundation and Aquacraft Inc. to they know how it works,” says update the 1999 residential water Deborah Goudreau, Manager of Oxford County water manager lets and low-flow shower heads, could be flagged to bill payers, Deborah Goudreau works end use study. Water Services for Oxford water pricing policies and the way saving them money on their water high above Tavistock. Analyze bills County. “Because they have some information is presented on bills. bill and saving the municipality control over the cost of their users in the area. The researchers will analyze The Waterloo portion of the the costs of pumping and treating water.” “The main goal was to develop utility bill data from 26,000 study will include a detailed it. “But, it has been a challenge to a single rate system that would households and responses from a household survey and analysis of “We know there has been a sig - communicate how the new rate cover the costs of providing water 900-household survey to under - water bills and will monitor real- nificant reduction in per capita system works,” she says. and wastewater services to the stand how water is used in the time water consumption in the household water use overall,” says Goudreau says the various utili - county,” says Goudreau. “But we home. homes over two weeks to measure Steve Gombos, Water Efficiency ties serving the county prior to also wanted a water rate system “The information goes a long exactly how much water is beings Manager for the Region of 2008 had different rate structures. that would encourage residential way for forecasting water used by specific appliances, show - Waterloo. Some utilities charged by volume water conservation without penal - demands and conservation poten - ers and taps. For 10 homes, the “But this research gives us a while others had flat rates. Some izing industrial and commercial tial, evaluating conservation pro - analysis will also look at hot water much better picture of why. We utilities had reserve funds for cap - users,” she said. grams and to help us understand use. will also see how the region stacks ital costs while other ran a deficit. The new system may not the factors that influence water Mayer says that some of the up against other municipalities. encourage water conservation if Each had its own billing cycle. So use,” says Peter Mayer, principal early results show that managing “For example, if we find out in 2008, Oxford staff began to people are confused how it works investigator for the study of leaks could be the next big thing that Peel Region is doing better, research water rate options. or aren’t interested enough to ask Aquacraft Inc. for household water conservation. we can take a look at their conser - questions about saving money. Water price tied to use Mayer says the research will “We’re finding that it’s a small vation programs and see what we That’s why the next step is to eval - help water managers understand percentage of people causing a lot Oxford chose a structure can learn from them,” he says. uate whether the rates are actually how much water has been saved of the water loss when it comes to known as a “humpback system.” Waterloo Region will also use promoting water conservation. by promoting high-efficiency toi - leakage,” says Mayer. In this pricing scheme, the cost “Per capita water use was dra - the research to evaluate how per cubic metre rises and then matically different among com - Survey users much water demand there will be falls in blocks. So, initially, the munities when the program start - Water managers would need to in the future, to be used in the more water you use, the more you ed,” says Goudreau. “So it will be survey water use billing informa - Water Efficiency Master Plan “It’s a small percent - update. pay per cubic metre — to a point. really interesting to see where we age of people causing tion to get at these kinds of water After a certain threshold (in this land once we get a look at the a lot of the water loss losses. Results from the study will be case, 850 cubic metres per analysis.” when it comes to Although toilet leaks may go available in 2013. month), the rate per cubic metre Oxford hopes to complete the leakage” unnoticed by homeowners, they The Region of Waterloo will decreases in blocks. The rate study by the end of 2013. are easily detected by the share what they have learned structure is designed to encourage For more information on Water use investigator researchers because they create from this process with other Peter Mayer households to conserve water to Oxford County’s humpback water consistent patterns of water use watershed municipalities through save money, yet keep things rate structure, visit both day and night. If these pat - the Grand River Water affordable for industrial water http://www.oxfordcounty.ca terns were detected, the water loss Management Plan.

Grand River Conservation Authority • www.grandriver.ca Page 11 Innovative partnerships Foundation leaders 2012-2013 boost conservation projects Board of Directors By Janet Baine GRCA Communications Specialist Chair Project Doug Brock, Waterloo n innovative partnership partners Vice-chair with the Grand River Joy O'Donnell, Brantford Conservation Foundation I Lafarge Canada Inc. A I Holcim (Canada) Inc. Directors and the Ontario Stone, Sand & I Cox Construction Ltd. David Hales, Waterloo Gravel Association will help build I Steed and Evans Wayne Knox, Caledonia a new hydro facility planned at I MHBC Planning/Ian and the Parkhill Dam in Cambridge Sandie MacNaughton C. Thomas LeBrun, (Galt). I CBM Aggregates North Dumfries The project is in the planning I Tri City Equipment Ian MacNaughton, Kitchener phase and is expected to cost Jane Mitchell , Waterloo between $7 and $8 million to Oct. 18, as the final tally isn’t in (GRCA Chair) build. It will double the GRCA’s yet. Ian Murdoch, Waterloo hydro production capacity. “We think it is fabulous that an Robin-Lee Norris, Guelph The association has offered to entire industry has come to the help raise money to pay some of table so generously to support this David Pady, Puslinch Representatives of the OSSGA and the GRCF at the Parkhill Dam (from the capital costs of the project. project,” said Sara Wilbur, execu - Dan Potje, Ayr left): Moreen Miller (OSSGA Chief Executive Officer), Malcolm Matheson, J. Crawford Reid, Brantford Already the association and its tive director of the Grand River Ruth Prior, Dan O’Hara, Sara Wilbur (GRCF Executive Director) member companies have raised Conservation Foundation. The and Tony Iacocca. Terry Reidel, Kitchener $205,000 during the first months foundation is the GRCA’s charita - Janet Vallery, Belwood of their five-year commitment to ble partner, supporting projects been generous supporters of the province. The project is also Alex Wilson, Hillsburgh this project. This doesn’t include which have few or no other GRCF for years, and this new going to be a showpiece for every - John Whitney, Waterloo the funds raised at a gala dinner sources of public funding. project will be a model for other one in Cambridge to see,” said at the Cambridge Mill restaurant “Members of the OSSGA have projects of this kind throughout Wilbur. “The industry sees real value in You can help, too! creating green solutions to put For more than 40 years, the Rallying for the Grand River more resources into the conserva - Grand River Conservation tion stream,” said Moreen Miller, nother new Grand River servation of our Foundation has improved our Chief Executive Officer of Conservation Foundation river.,” said Scott quality of life by enriching A OSSGA. “This project will create partnership is with the Quinn, manag - the natural values of the perpetual funding for the work BMW/MINI Grand River dealer - ing partner and Grand River watershed and ship. general manager. that the GRCA does.” encouraging people to enjoy, The Kitchener dealership held a During the The GRCA already operates and to learn from, the great car rally in October with the rally, the cars three hydro generating facilities at outdoors . unique combination of raising stopped at sever - Shand Dam, Conestogo Dam and more than $1,700, increasing al places along Guelph Dam. During the summer For more information: awareness of river management the river with a GRCA guide. conservation and the willingness when water flows are low, the new and enjoying a day on the roads The participants learned about to do something about it,” said Parkhill hydro facility will pro - • Subscribe to RiverNews, the Foundation newsletter along the river. river management while they Sara Wilbur, foundation executive duce about 600 kwh of power, by signing up on www.grcf.ca “The Grand River watershed enjoyed lunch. Proceeds went to director. about the same as the existing has some fantastic drives and this the GRCF for the protection of “We are really pleased to broad - Shand Dam site. But in the spring • To donate, visit www.grcf.ca event was a great opportunity to water and natural areas. en our base of partners because when there is far more water • Phone toll-free showcase them. Our dealership “We work with diverse partners we expect that these are long- passing by the dam, it will pro - 1-877-29-GRAND looks out onto the Grand, so it’s who all have different skills to term relationships that will duce about 1.2 megawatts of • E-mail only natural that we would part - bring to the table. What they strengthen conservation initia - power. This is enough electricity [email protected] ner with GRCF to promote con - share is a common interest in tives.” for about 575 homes.

Learn more about the Grand River Conservation Foundation • www.grcf.ca