GRCA Minutes
Grand River Conservation Authority, 400 Clyde Road, Cambridge, Ontario N1R 5W6 Tel: (519) 621-2761 Fax: (519) 621-4844 Internet: www.grandriver.ca
January 2008 Acquiring new natural areas The media reported that the Grand at Dunnville is "the third foulest river" Volume 14 – No. 1 One way that the GRCA helps pro- in Ontario, and Emerson said that this mote watershed health is by acquiring is consistent with the annual water GRCA land that is environmentally signifi- quality report that goes to the GRCA cant. board. General Membership The GRCA owns over 19,000 The Grand River is nutrient-rich, Chairman - Alan Dale hectares of land, which includes three partly because of its geology and part- per cent of the land, eight per cent of 1st Vice-Chairman - Jane Mitchell ly due to the land uses within the the forests and 18 per cent of the habi- watershed. Intensive agriculture and 2nd Vice-Chairman - Vic Prendergast tat for species at risk in the watershed. urban growth are key factors that con- tribute to the overall negative impact Townships of Amaranth, East Of all the GRCA's land, only 420 on water quality, especially down- Garafraxa, East Luther Grand Valley, hectares has been acquired since 2000 stream of wastewater treatment plants Melancthon and Southgate - and all of this is natural heritage wet- and in the southern reach near Lake Tom Nevills lands, such as wetlands or hazard Erie. Townships of Mapleton and lands beside rivers and streams. Most of the GRCA's municipal part- Wellington North - Pat Salter When the GRCA buys land, it is ners are working on wastewater man- usually with funding assistance from Township of Centre Wellington - agement plans and the GRCA is also the Ontario Heritage Trust, the Nature Shawn Watters planning to update the water manage- Conservancy of Canada or Ducks Town of Erin, Townships of ment plan for the watershed. This will Unlimited. Sometimes land is donat- Guelph/Eramosa and Puslinch - deal with the combined impacts of ed and this generosity contributes sig- sewage treatment, non-point pollution Brad Whitcombe nificantly to publicly-owned natural sources and removing unnecessary City of Guelph - heritage. dams that slow the water down and Vicki Beard, Mike Salisbury A challenge is that any land owned degrade water quality. Region of Waterloo - by the GRCA needs to be maintained Even if all the municipalities in the Jane Brewer, Kim Denouden, and this comes with a price tag. For watershed met the Ministry of Jean Haalboom, Ross Kelterborn, example, housing that is next to con- Environment discharge standards, Claudette Millar, Jane Mitchell, servation areas needs to be protected there would still be a water quality Wayne Roth, Jake Smola, Bill Strauss, from falling branches and trees, and problem in the Grand River, Emerson Sean Strickland this is a strain on the GRCA's hazard said. The GRCA would like to take a tree budget. Town of North Perth and Township leadership role in setting a higher of Perth East - George Wicke The Grand River Conservation standard for the river. Region of Halton - Foundation and the GRCA have J. Barry Lee raised more than $500,000 in recent Average precipitation expected years for land purchase and steward- City of Hamilton - ship through the generosity of several Precipitation to mid-December is on Anna Kramer commited donors. track to meet or exceed the long-term County of Oxford - average for the month. Alan Dale Environment Canada’s marginal Less than half way through County of Brant - water quality rating no surprise December, average precipitation Robert Chambers, Brian Coleman ranged from a low of 36 per cent of CAO Paul Emerson told the board the long term average at Guelph to a City of Brantford - that he is not surprised by Robert Hillier, Vic Prendergast high of 80 per cent at Conestogo. Cold Environment Canada's recent "mar- temperatures were well below the Haldimand and Norfolk Counties - ginal" water quality rating for the long-term average. Lorne Boyko, Craig Grice Grand River that received lots of media attention. In the northern half of the water-
THE GRAND - A Canadian Heritage River shed, over 50 mm of water content see the "River Data" section of the After several meetings, a set of prin- was recorded in most watercourses GRCA website at www.grandriver.ca. ciples to guide future activities during the Dec. 1 snow survey. addressing this issue were developed Having snow on the ground is like Download a copy of the GRCA’s by the three parties. (Aggregate having money in the bank — the river safety booklet for children in the extraction in the province is governed snow will melt at some point and this "River Safety" section. by the Aggregate Resources Act, will help build the reservoirs back up. which the Ministry of Natural Three conservation areas Resources implements and enforces.) The Level 2 low water condition plan to open for winter activities declared on Sept. 26 throughout the The principles acknowledge the Grand River watershed continued into Shade's Mills Conservation Area in importance of water and aggregate December, due to ongoing lack of Cambridge opened for ice fishing and resources to the watershed and the rain, reduced river flows and lower- cross-country skiing in mid- need for more comprehensive and than-average reservoir levels. In a December, which is earlier than usual consistent data collection methods. Level 2, the Low Water Response due to an early arrival of winter The principles also allow for the Team asks water users to reduce their weather. three organizations to work together consumption by 20 per cent. to develop a guide for cumulative For skiers, there are four trails from impact assessment and best practices Rivers and ponds dangerous 1.6 km to 2.7 km in length, for skill in the watershed. places in early winter levels ranging from beginner to expert. The trails are groomed and The GRCA board passed the princi- Cold weather and then warmer tem- track set. Ski equipment is available ples and requested the Ministry of peratures and rain make conditions for rent for $10, but skiers should call Natural Resources to provide oppor- dangerous around rivers and streams. the park at 519-621-3697 to reserve tunities for municipalities and the equipment and check on current con- public to review and comment on the The impact of warm Christmas ditions. Groups should also call ahead guide before it is finalized. Once com- weather will be most noticeable in for bookings. pleted, the ministry will be responsi- urban areas with an increase in flows ble for implementing the guide in pri- in streams and ditches. Parents are Anglers will be able to fish for pike ority areas of the Grand River water- advised to keep their children away and perch. There are no ice huts or shed. from these areas because of the equipment rentals at Shade's Mills. increased danger caused by higher The park will be closed on Christmas, flows, slippery banks and cold water Boxing Day and New Year's Day. temperatures. Shade's Mills is one of three GRCA Localized street flooding is also pos- conservation areas that will be open sible due to obstructed catch basins. for winter activity this year. Pinehurst Lake, near Paris, will offer ice fishing The Grand, Conestogo and Speed and snowshoeing when it opens later Rivers are expected to see moderate in December. Laurel Creek in increases in flows but should remain Waterloo will offer cross-country ski- within their banks. In rural areas, par- ing when it opens. Information on the ticularly the northern part of the opening dates for these parks are watershed, the blanket of snow on the posted at www.grandriver.ca. ground will absorb much of the rain, This issue of "GRCA Minutes" reducing the amount of runoff. Ice-fishing has been cancelled this was published in January 2008. year at two parks — Belwood Lake There is a potential for small ice It is a summary of the Conservation Area near Fergus and December 2007 business con- jams to develop along the Grand Guelph Lake Conservation Area — to which could cause localized flooding. ducted by the Committee of the protect the fish population. The water Whole and the General People should keep off the ice on level in the two reservoirs is low Membership Committee of the rivers and streams where the thick- because of the exceptionally dry GRCA. Space permitting, other ness of ice can vary greatly and ice weather during the summer. noteworthy happenings and top- can erode from underneath, resulting ics of interest have been includ- in big changes in thickness within Aggregate extraction concerns ed. The Grand River short distances. in the Grand watershed Conservation Authority wel- comes the photocopying and dis- In addition, water entering a river tribution of "GRCA Minutes" or from a groundwater spring, storm Concerns about the possible impacts of aggregate extraction below the visit our website at sewer drain or other source can be www.grandriver.ca. warmer than the rest of the water in water table on water quality and the river, creating spots of open water quantity prompted the GRCA to meet or thin ice. with the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ontario Stone, For more information on river flows Sand and Gravel Association.
THE GRAND - A Canadian Heritage River GRCA Minutes
Grand River Conservation Authority, 400 Clyde Road, Cambridge, Ontario N1R 5W6 Tel: (519) 621-2761 Fax: (519) 621-4844 Internet: www.grandriver.ca
February 2008 Dale to serve second year Creek Subwatershed is in southwest Volume 13 – No. 2 as chair of GRCA board Kitchener. Alan Dale has been re-elected for a The studies outline management second one-year term as chair of the strategies to help preserve and protect GRCA Grand River Conservation Authority. existing natural features while allow- General Membership ing development to proceed in a Dale, who represents Oxford responsible manner on land designat- County on the 26-member board, was Chairman - Alan Dale ed for that purpose. acclaimed at a GRCA board meeting 1st Vice-Chairman - Jane Mitchell on Jan. 11. He has been a member of A companion document, the Upper 2nd Vice-Chairman - Vic Prendergast the GRCA board since 2000 and Strasburg Class Environmental Townships of Amaranth, East served as vice-chair in 2006. Assessment, recommends replacing a Garafraxa, East Luther Grand Valley, “We have a rich and proud history, culvert on Fischer-Hallman Road with Melancthon and Southgate - a grand history, and I believe that we a new one and adding a high level Tom Nevills have a great future ahead of us but we overflow culvert to resolve a flood Townships of Mapleton and cannot rest on our laurels,” said Dale. concern. This work would be paid for Wellington North - Pat Salter “We must continue to work hard and by the Region of Waterloo. Township of Centre Wellington - lead the way. We must strive for a The studies are posted on the web- Shawn Watters healthy and sustainable natural envi- site at www.grandriver.ca in the cur- ronment.” rent studies and reviews section. Town of Erin, Townships of One of the challenges will be deal- Guelph/Eramosa and Puslinch - New Hamburg development Brad Whitcombe ing with the impact of climate change which will be felt in many parts of the permit approved by board City of Guelph - GRCA’s operations, such as flood con- Vicki Beard, Mike Salisbury A proposal by Sunvest trol, water supply and protection of Development Corporation to put 160 Region of Waterloo - natural areas. residential units west of Catherine Jane Brewer, Kim Denouden, Two vice-chairs, Jane Mitchell, a Street in New Hamburg was Jean Haalboom, Ross Kelterborn, endorsed. Claudette Millar, Jane Mitchell, member of Waterloo Regional Council Wayne Roth, Jake Smola, Bill Strauss, from the City of Waterloo and Vic Most of the land is within the Sean Strickland Prendergast, a representative of the Regulatory Floodplain of the Nith City of Brantford, were acclaimed to River and the development has been Town of North Perth and Township another term in these positions. of Perth East - George Wicke in the works for more than two decades. It had already received Region of Halton - Upper Strasburg Creek and approvals from the GRCA, Wilmot J. Barry Lee Alder Creek plans approved Township and Waterloo Region in the City of Hamilton - The Alder Creek Watershed Study 1990s when regulations were not as Anna Kramer and Upper Strasburg Creek stringent. County of Oxford - Subwatershed Plan were endorsed by Only five hectares of the 27.4 Alan Dale the board. hectare property will be developed County of Brant - Growth is expected in some parts of and the rest will remain open space Robert Chambers, Brian Coleman these subwatersheds and these studies and a stormwater management facili- City of Brantford - will guide planning matters and per- ty. The number of units has been cut Robert Hillier, Vic Prendergast mit applications. back from 202 in 1987 to 160. Haldimand and Norfolk Counties - Alder Creek is a tributary of the This development will be flood- Lorne Boyko, Craig Grice Nith River primarily within Wilmot proofed and fill will be added to bring Township, while the Upper Strasburg it above the regulatory floodline. In
THE GRAND - A Canadian Heritage River addition, the stormwater management ally above average with a low of 82 The people of the Six Nations of the facility will provide enhanced water per cent at Shades Mills and a high of Grand River Territory have been an quality treatment not only for this 190 per cent at Laurel Dam up until important part of the Grand River development, but also for nearby Jan. 24. watershed’s history and heritage. existing development. The temperature was well above Over 200 participants are expected January flooding after thaw average at three degrees warmer than in the workshop which is free, the long-term average at Shand Dam although donations are welcome. It took years of planning, millions of to Jan. 23. Warmer weather means Space is limited so it is necessary to dollars and the work of many organi- more evaporation of water from the register in advance. Contact Brandee zations so that on Jan. 9 most of us reservoirs and more melting snow Sandy, Chiefswood National Historic could carry out our daily activities and ice. Site, 519-752-5005 or by e-mail at unaffected by flooding. [email protected]. The Shand and Conestogo dams are An extended warm weather front back to normal levels for this time of Source Water Protection after freezing temperatures was very year. Guelph Reservoir was above committee now meeting unusual because the river system had normal, but was drawn down to the to cope with abundant water from sky normal level so that it can absorb the The Lake Erie Region Source and land within a very short time. It spring runoff. Luther reservoir will Protection Committee meets the first stayed warm even at night, melting remain above normal. Thursday of each month to develop a the snow continuously. At the same source protection plan for the Grand time, 50 millimetres of rain fell across At the end of January strong winds River watershed. the watershed. and warm weather caused the water in Port Maitland to peak 0.35 metres The committee of 24 is under the "The flood infrastructure that cost above the critical level, causing an leadership of Craig Ashbaugh and millions of dollars over many decades evacuation there. their second meeting took place pays for itself when one major flood is Thursday Feb. 7. averted," says Dwight Boyd, senior Conservation area fees change After approving committee rules water resources engineer with the and other matters, their first big task Grand River Conservation Authority. Fees for conservation areas in the is to create the terms of reference that This warm weather front would have Grand River watershed have been set will guide them in their work. resulted in millions of dollars in dam- for 2008. ages along the Grand River in an ear- Vehicle passes decrease from $110 to They will base their decisions on lier time. $95 when compared to last year. characterization reports for each of the four watersheds that make up the The GRCA issued nine flood advi- Camping fees are remaining the same Lake Erie region – the Grand River sories to keep people informed of at $27 for an unserviced site and and Long Point Region, Kettle Creek what to expect and where potential increasing by $2 per night to $34 for a and Catfish Creek. problems could occur. The reservoirs serviced site. There will now be a new were used to reduce river flows lower Sunday-to-Thursday rate for The meeting schedule, agendas and through Cambridge and Brantford by people who are staying for a week. reports are posted on the website up to 50 per cent. Major dykes that www.sourcewater.ca. have been constructed in Bridgeport, Eight of the GRCA’s parks offer Cambridge and Brantford protected camping, making the Grand River these areas, keeping the water mostly parks the second largest campground in the river in urban areas. operation in the province – second only to Ontario Parks – with more This issue of "GRCA Minutes" Municipalities were very effective at was published in February 2008. taking measures to ensure public safe- than 2,500 campsites. The 2008 fees for all types of services and camping It is a summary of the January ty such as closing roads and bridges. 2008 business conducted by the in the GRCA’s 11 conservation areas The media did a great job of keeping Committee of the Whole and the are posted on the website at people informed. Grneral Membership Committee www.grandriver.ca. "People shouldn't go away and say of the Grand River Conservation the river can't flood, it can flood," Heritage Day Workshop Authority board. Boyd says. But the systems in place to Space permitting, other note- protect people and property are effec- People throughout the Grand River worthy happenings and topics of tive and a worthwhile investment. watershed can learn more about the interest have been included. traditions, events and influence of Six The Grand River Conservation Warm wet January Nations at the 11th Heritage Day Authority welcomes the photo- Workshop on Monday Feb. 18 from copying and distribution of After a long, dry spell there is lots of 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Six "GRCA Minutes" or visit our water back in the Grand River system. Nations Community Centre, website at www.grandriver.ca. Precipitation in January was gener- Ohsweken.
THE GRAND - A Canadian Heritage River GRCA Minutes
Grand River Conservation Authority, 400 Clyde Road, Cambridge, Ontario N1R 5W6 Tel: (519) 621-2761 Fax: (519) 621-4844 Internet: www.grandriver.ca
March 2008 GRCA approves 2008 budget and only the appropriate kinds of $29.1 million, $8.54 per person development will be considered early Volume 13 – No. 3 in the planning process. This will be The general membership of the somewhat similar to the standards GRCA GRCA has approved a $29.1 million suggested by the United States Green budget for 2008 that includes money Building Council’s draft document General Membership for new projects to protect water qual- “LEED for Neighbourhood Chairman - Alan Dale ity, learn more about water supplies, Development” rating system. enhance natural areas and upgrade its 1st Vice-Chairman - Jane Mitchell hydro generating capacity. The GRCA will set conditions 2nd Vice-Chairman - Vic Prendergast through “expressions of interest” and Although the budget is up about “requests for proposals” that would Townships of Amaranth, East $5.7 million from last year, most of the allow land to be purchased only by Garafraxa, East Luther Grand Valley, increase is due to special one-time organizations willing and able to Melancthon and Southgate - projects that are being covered with design and build to specific environ- Tom Nevills grants from the province, municipal- mental standards. For example, a pur- Townships of Mapleton and ities or other sources. chaser will be required to design Wellington North - Pat Salter The cost to the 950,000 watershed buildings that use less water and Township of Centre Wellington - residents for their share of the GRCA energy and meet other environmental Shawn Watters budget this year will be about $8.54 a criteria. Town of Erin, Townships of person. This land sale protocol fits well Guelph/Eramosa and Puslinch - Budget expenditures are for operat- within the GRCA’s vision statement Brad Whitcombe ing expenses ($18.1 million), conserva- calling for a healthy and sustainable City of Guelph - tion area operations ($5.6 million) and natural environment. Vicki Beard, Mike Salisbury special projects ($5.4 million). The Feb. 12 report is posted with the Region of Waterloo - The three principal sources of rev- agendas in the “Meetings” section of Jane Brewer, Kim Denouden, enue are self-generated funds such as the website at www.grandriver.ca. Jean Haalboom, Ross Kelterborn, park fees ($12.2 million), municipal Claudette Millar, Jane Mitchell, levy ($9 million) and government Flood outlook for spring Wayne Roth, Jake Smola, Bill Strauss, grants ($6.4 million). Almost all of the Sean Strickland grants are from the province. The combination of frozen ground Town of North Perth and Township and a significant snowpack means of Perth East - George Wicke New green sustainability there is a high risk of flooding in the development policy Grand River watershed this spring, Region of Halton - according to a GRCA report. J. Barry Lee The general membership passed a Whether flooding actually takes City of Hamilton - resolution that will permit only sus- Anna Kramer place will depend on what happens tainable development and construc- during the spring melt. The winter County of Oxford - tion on surplus land with develop- started with dry conditions through Alan Dale ment potential that the GRCA sells. November, but rain and snow fall County of Brant - The GRCA owns over 19,000 have been at or above the long term Robert Chambers, Brian Coleman hectares of land. Occasionally small average since then. parcels which don’t provide an envi- City of Brantford - Water stored in the snowpack can ronmental, educational or recreational Robert Hillier, Vic Prendergast melt and contribute to spring floods. purpose are sold. Haldimand and Norfolk Counties - The January snow melt has left the Lorne Boyko, Craig Grice The new policy means conditions ground frozen and saturated with will be placed on the sale of this land water, and recent snow has returned
THE GRAND - A Canadian Heritage River the snowpack back up to normal lev- Conservation Foundation are working section. els. together to turn a farm field into a 40- The winners are selected by the hectare forest at the Guelph Lake The major GRCA reservoirs have Special Recognition Committee of the Conservation Area. between 52 per cent and 84 per cent of GRCA board. The winners will be their storage capacity available for The club will purchase and organize honoured at a special event this fall. flood control. The Shand and the planting of 5,000 trees a year over Conestogo dams have enough storage the next 13 years – a total of 65,000 Source water newsletter to accommodate the water in the trees – to establish the “Rotary sign up now available snowpack, but not enough to also Forest.” accommodate heavy rains. Anyone can subscribe to the The GRCA, which owns the land, newsletter to implement the Ontario Two flood warnings have been will prepare the site and then manage Clean Water Act in the Lake Erie issued for the Village of West the new forest, which is opposite the Source Protection Region, which Montrose because river levels were up Guelph Lake Nature Centre on includes four watersheds: Grand to the road due to ice jams. Conservation Road. River, Long Point Region, Catfish In the coming weeks, the reservoir The three project partners will look Creek and Kettle Creek. levels will be monitored along with for community support from organi- Future editions of the newsletter snowpack conditions, and adjusted to zations, companies and individuals in will be produced after the monthly prepare for the spring snow melt. the form of donations, tree purchase meeting of the Source Protection plans and help with tree planting. Committee. These meetings take place Money for conservation projects The project kick-off is Saturday, the first Thursday of the month. available from Foundation April 26 at an Earth Day and To receive this newsletter, send a Environmental Showcase event. The blank e-mail (no subject line) to Applications are now being accept- project will end in 2020, which will ed from community groups and SourceWaterNews-subscribe@source- also be the 100th anniversary of the water.ca. schools for Community Conservation founding of the Rotary Club in Grants given out by the Grand River Guelph. The newsletter and the instructions Conservation Foundation. can also be viewed on the Internet at The creation of the forest, using www.sourcewater.ca. Each year the Foundation awards native tree species, will improve grants of up to $2,000 to qualified wildlife habitat and bio-diversity in groups (must be a registered charity) the conservation area. or up to $500 for elementary schools undertaking conservation projects in communities throughout the Grand Nominees for environmental River watershed. awards sought for 2008 Eligible projects must be tangible The Grand River Conservation and available for the use or benefit of Authority is looking for nominees for the entire community. its 2008 environmental awards. Deadline for receipt of grant appli- Each year the GRCA presents cations is May 2. The award recipients awards to individuals, families, organ- will be selected this summer with the izations and businesses that have cheque presentations this fall. taken action to protect and enhance This issue of "GRCA Minutes" the natural environment of the Grand A final report may be requested of was published in March 2008. River watershed. grant recipients within one year, or It is a summary of the upon the successful completion of the It presents two awards: the Honour February 2008 business conduct- project. Roll Award for a sustained record of ed by the GRCA board and com- achievement over an extended period Applications can be downloaded mittees. of time and Watershed Awards for from the Foundation section of the outstanding examples of conservation Space permitting, other note- GRCA website at and environmental work. worthy happenings and topics of www.grandriver.ca/foundation or by interest have been included. contacting the Foundation at 519-621- Nominations can come from anyone The Grand River Conservation 2763 ext. 2271 in Cambridge. in the watershed. The deadline for Authority welcomes the photo- nominations is May 2. A nomination copying and distribution of Rotary forest at Guelph Lake form is available from the GRCA web- "GRCA Minutes" or visit our site at www.grandriver.ca. Look for website at www.grandriver.ca. The Rotary Club of Guelph, the the “Watershed Awards” link on the GRCA and the Grand River home page in the “Taking Action”
THE GRAND - A Canadian Heritage River GRCA Minutes
Grand River Conservation Authority, 400 Clyde Road, Cambridge, Ontario N1R 5W6 Tel: (519) 621-2761 Fax: (519) 621-4844 Internet: www.grandriver.ca
April 2008 Big snow melt led to flooding The GRCA also wants provincial support to update the Grand River Volume 13 – No. 4 The Flood Operations Centre has Basin Water Management Study been very busy this spring. which was completed in 1982. This plan focuses on sustainable water GRCA Abundant snow was still on the management in the watershed and ground at the end of March when the General Membership addresses the cumulative impacts of snow pack was four times higher than climate change and population Chairman - Alan Dale normal in the area south of growth on water quality and quantity. 1st Vice-Chairman - Jane Mitchell Cambridge, and 1.5 times higher than 2nd Vice-Chairman - Vic Prendergast normal in the area north of The board is asking other conserva- Cambridge. tion authorities within the Greater Townships of Amaranth, East Golden Horseshoe to endorse a simi- Garafraxa, East Luther Grand Valley, March had been colder and wetter lar motion. Melancthon and Southgate - than normal. Warm, sunny days Tom Nevills towards the end of the month were Caledonia bridge replacement Townships of Mapleton and slowly releasing water from the snow. But when the warm weather com- Wellington North - Pat Salter A new bridge to replace the historic bined with 25 cm of rain overnight on nine span bowstring bridge in Township of Centre Wellington - March 31-April 1, it led to flooding of Shawn Watters Caledonia is on the province’s five- the Nith River in New Hamburg, Ayr year work plan. Town of Erin, Townships of and Paris, as well as along the Grand Guelph/Eramosa and Puslinch - River in low lying areas of Kitchener, Tanya Cross, senior project engineer Brad Whitcombe Brantford, Six Nations and with the Ministry of Transportation, City of Guelph - Haldimand County. made a presentation to the board about the bridge. Vicki Beard, Mike Salisbury This flood event and events in Region of Waterloo - January and February have resulted in The Grand River was designated as Jane Brewer, Kim Denouden, a very busy spring for flood opera- a Canadian Heritage River in 1994 Jean Haalboom, Ross Kelterborn, tions. based on recreational and heritage Claudette Millar, Jane Mitchell, features including bridges, but the Wayne Roth, Jake Smola, Bill Strauss, GRCA supports recommendations GRCA can’t regulate or restrict any Sean Strickland from Environmental Commissioner heritage features, such as bridges. The Town of North Perth and Township board could only listen and comment of Perth East - George Wicke The GRCA board has thrown its on the presentation, but their view has support behind Ontario no weight in the decision-making Region of Halton - process, which is already complete. J. Barry Lee Environmental Commissioner Gord Miller’s 10 recommendations in his The environmental assessment on City of Hamilton - annual report. Anna Kramer the bridge began in 2002 and after The board is asking that provincial many steps along the way it led to a County of Oxford - November 2007 decision by Alan Dale agencies address the “irreconcilable priorities” of growth and a healthy Haldimand County Council to replace County of Brant - environment that Miller discussed. In the two-lane bridge with a new three- Robert Chambers, Brian Coleman addition, the GRCA is asking member lane bridge. City of Brantford - municipalities to support Miller’s rec- About $3 million will be spent on Robert Hillier, Vic Prendergast ommendations and incorporate sus- repairs to the bridge beginning this Haldimand and Norfolk Counties - tainable water and environmental spring. The new bridge will be a five Lorne Boyko, Craig Grice concepts into their official plans as span steel arch bridge — a design that soon as they can. harkens back to the 1874 bridge that
THE GRAND - A Canadian Heritage River was in this location before the bow- Money is available to businesses the past four years. The caterpillars string bridge replaced it. The total cost with 500 employees or less whose feed on tree leaves and large popula- for repair, design and replacement is properties are located within 100 tions can eat all of a tree’s leaves, $20 million. metres of a municipal well or 200 eventually causing the tree to die. metres of a municipal surface water Road maintenance contract intake. Post-secondary scholarship There are more than 190 municipal deadline is May 31 Cornell Construction Ltd. of wells and five surface water intakes in Brantford will be contracted to con- the Grand River watershed and many Applications are being accepted struct roads and provide road mainte- of them are located in the built-up until May 31 for the S.C. Johnson nance for the GRCA this year. areas of cities and towns. Many of the Environmental Scholarship. Cornell met all requirements in their wells are located in cities and towns. This scholarship, worth $1,500, is $114,500 bid. They have done this Maps showing the location of the made available by the Grand River work in previous years. municipal wells and intakes are avail- Conservation Foundation to help uni- able at www.sourcewater.ca. versity students continue their studies The GRCA has had this capital work Interested businesses can contact in conservation and environment and surface treatment of roads done related fields. by an outside contractor since 2004. Crystal Allan at the Grand River Conservation Authority at 519-621- Applications are open to full-time Board Chair Alan Dale appointed 2763, ext. 2268 for further information. students who have completed their Eligible businesses must submit an to Nestle Waters committee third year or sixth semester of an hon- application by Sept. 30. ours program in a watershed universi- GRCA board chair Alan Dale has ty (Waterloo, Guelph, Laurier) or col- been appointed to a new committee Gypsy moth spraying program lege (Conestoga). Students must be that has been set up as part of an in Brantford Canadian citizens or permanent resi- agreement between Nestle Waters dents, in the following programs of Canada and Puslinch Township. The Grand River Conservation study: environmental sciences, engi- Authority and the City of Brantford neering, chemistry or manufacturing. The agreement was signed last fall held a joint public information meet- The deadline for applications is May and sets out a process to ensure any ing March 18 to discuss plans to deal water supply complaints made by 31. A selection will be made by the with a gypsy month outbreak in two foundation’s awards committee prior neighbours of Nestle are dealt with parks in the city. quickly. to Aug. 31. A gypsy moth outbreak in south- For further information and an Under the agreement, Nestle will western Ontario has hit Brantford in pay a licensed well contractor to application form, contact the Grand the past year and has threatened trees River Conservation Foundation by e- respond to complaints and fix or in the city’s Mohawk Park and the replace residential, agricultural or mail at [email protected] or GRCA’s Brant Conservation Area. by phone at 519-621-2763 ext. 2271. commercial wells that are within a Most at risk are stands of native trees, specified area. If the contractor’s including some 200-year-old oaks. study finds Nestle is not at fault and the well owner disagrees, the Nestle The city and the GRCA propose to Waters Canada Well Interference spray naturally-occurring bacteria Committee will have five business which kills the gypsy moth caterpillar days to review the situation and make but which is harmless to humans, a decision. wildlife, aquatic life, plants and soils. The spraying would be done by a heli- This issue of "GRCA Minutes" Dale was appointed to this commit- copter at dawn in May. The precise was published in April 2008. tee because Puslinch Township date would depend on weather condi- It is a summary of the March requested a representative from the tions. Two sprayings are expected at 2008 business conducted by the GRCA. each location. GRCA board and committees. About 30 hectares of trees would be Reviews available to businesses Space permitting, other note- sprayed at Brant Park, and about 15 for pollution prevention worthy happenings and topics of hectares at Mohawk Park. The board interest have been included. also recommended that the province Companies in the Grand River The Grand River Conservation conduct spray programs or provide watershed that want to help protect Authority welcomes the photo- funding to help property owners municipal drinking water supplies copying and distribution of spray. from contamination may be eligible to "GRCA Minutes" or visit our participate in a cost-free pollution pre- Gypsy moth populations have been website at www.grandriver.ca. vention review program. growing across Southern Ontario for
THE GRAND - A Canadian Heritage River GRCA Minutes
Grand River Conservation Authority, 400 Clyde Road, Cambridge, Ontario N1R 5W6 Tel: (519) 621-2761 Fax: (519) 621-4844 Internet: www.grandriver.ca
May 2008 April was dry and warm research with the GRCA. Volume 13 – No. 5 Rainfall in April was below average, Taylor and his group will meet with reversing the trend of heavy precipita- GRCA staff to discuss the issue fur- GRCA tion through the winter. ther. General Membership April was also very warm and this GRCA wants Grand moraines combination of warm dry weather has in draft greenbelt criteria Chairman - Alan Dale seen the landscape dry up very quick- 1st Vice-Chairman - Jane Mitchell ly. The period from May to November The GRCA wants the greenbelt 2007 was one of the driest in 60 years 2nd Vice-Chairman - Vic Prendergast expansion criteria to include policies and this has left the landscape much Townships of Amaranth, East to protect the Grand River moraine drier than expected after a very wet systems, similar to policies protecting Garafraxa, East Luther Grand Valley, winter. Melancthon and Southgate - the Oak Ridges Moraine. Spring flows were higher than nor- Tom Nevills The greenbelt is the cornerstone of mal this year, leading to flood condi- the Greater Golden Horseshoe growth Townships of Mapleton and tions in the first part of April. By the plan. It was set up in 2005 and sur- Wellington North - Pat Salter end of the month, about the same rounds the Greater Toronto Area. A Township of Centre Wellington - amount of water was going into the small portion of the Grand River Shawn Watters reservoirs as was leaving them. This watershed is within the greenbelt and Town of Erin, Townships of break-even situation has come a little early this year, which means the the draft criteria sets out what would Guelph/Eramosa and Puslinch - be required for new areas to become Brad Whitcombe GRCA is about to start augmenting the rivers with water from the reser- part of the greenbelt. It is expected City of Guelph - voirs. that growth could “leapfrog” into the Vicki Beard, Mike Salisbury Grand River watershed, putting stress on the watershed’s water resources. Region of Waterloo - GRCA hears from SMART Jane Brewer, Kim Denouden, about Highway 24 route The criteria for the proposed expan- Jean Haalboom, Ross Kelterborn, sion were released by the province at Claudette Millar, Jane Mitchell, Representatives from a coalition of the end of March and workshops Wayne Roth, Jake Smola, Bill Strauss, citizens concerned about the environ- were held in some communities is Sean Strickland mental assessment to identify a new April. A GRCA report on the criteria Town of North Perth and Township route for Highway 24 around the east contained several recommendations of Perth East - George Wicke side of Cambridge spoke to the GRCA and was sent in time for the April 30 board. Region of Halton - deadline for responses. J. Barry Lee Eric Taylor, a Puslinch resident and City of Hamilton - member of Save Money and Reduce Senior staff changes at GRCA Anna Kramer Traffic (SMART) asked the GRCA board to insure that the Ministry of Changes in the management team of County of Oxford - Transportation of Ontario regenerates the GRCA were approved by the Alan Dale highway routes with environmental board April 15. County of Brant - factors having equal or stronger The GRCA will now have two assis- Robert Chambers, Brian Coleman weighting. tant CAO positions. Joe Farwell has City of Brantford - He said his group has analyzed the been appointed as assistant CAO for Robert Hillier, Vic Prendergast MTO report, publications and resource management, a position that Haldimand and Norfolk Counties - responses and attended sessions with has been vacant since Tony Smith Lorne Boyko, Craig Grice the project team and senior MTO staff. retired five years ago. Farwell’s previ- He said they would share their ous position of manager of engineer-
THE GRAND - A Canadian Heritage River ing, planning and watershed restora- A partnership involving the GRCA, get information on river conditions by tion will no longer exist, but a new the Grand River Conservation calling the GRCA’s River Flow position of manager of resource plan- Foundation, area residents and the Information Line at (519) 621-2763, ning has been created. community at large will turn the area Ext. 519 or visiting the River Data sec- into a showcase for conservation in tion of the GRCA website at Ralph Beaumont is moving from Cambridge. www.grandriver.ca manager of communications to the new position of manager of environ- The revitalization plan means creat- mental education and marketing. ing three ponds as natural habitat Prescribed burns for Brantford, Dave Schultz has assumed the posi- where a dam was until 2000. The Paris and Luther islands tion of communications manager. stream won’t be connected to the The GRCA carried out prescribed ponds, keeping the water cooler burns on two of its properties to help Jim Woods will retire and is being which is better for fish. Excavation maintain the remnant prairie and replaced by Jack Griffin as manager of will begin this fall and planting will savannah habitats in the area. conservation areas. take place next spring. Michael Bradley has been appointed Controlled buns were held on five The Trillium Foundation has pro- hectares at Brant Conservation Area manager of property, replacing Tom vided $75,000 for this $435,000 project, Smith who is moving out of the and 0.5 hectares of land west of Paris. which is also supported by the The same areas were burned in 2006. province. Cambridge North Rotary Club. About half of the funds have been raised. The burns restore rare habitats to GRCA will draw down water maintain and enhance the tallgrass level in Chicopee ponds For more information or to make a prairie and other native plants and contribution, contact Sara Wilbur 519- reduce the presence of woody plants The GRCA drained some of the 621- 2763, ext. 2272. and invasive species. water from two ponds at the Chicopee Prairie and savannah habitats are Ski Club, Morrison Road, Kitchener to GRCA parks opened April 25 scarce in Southern Ontario as they allow the club to dredge one of the have been degraded for a number of ponds later this summer. GRCA conservation areas opened April 25 in time for the launch of the reasons including farming, urbaniza- Chicopee plans to remove silt from trout fishing season. tion and suppression of fire. Without the upper pond in order to increase restoration, there is a risk that this the amount of water the pond can Rainbow trout have been stocked in important part of our natural heritage hold for winter snow-making. The silt ponds at Belwood Lake Conservation will disappear. These burns are care- is largely composed of decayed vege- Area and Rockwood Conservation fully planned and carried out with the tation. The excavation work will take Area. The Hampton Pond at Belwood assistance of experts. place in July to allow the ponds to be Lake is reserved for children under the age of 13. The Ontario Ministry of It is estimated that 25 per cent of the refilled before winter. Grand River Plains was once tallgrass Natural Resources has also continued prairie and oak savannah. Today only The draw-down is taking place its program of stocking thousands of one-tenth of one per cent of the Grand slowly over five weeks in April and brown trout in the Grand and River Plains original tallgrass prairie May to minimize the amount of silt Conestogo rivers to give seasoned and savannah remains. released to the downstream water anglers a chance to enjoy some of the course. The gradual lowering will also best fly-fishing locations in the allow fish to migrate from the upper province. pond to the lower pond, which will still have about four metres of water The GRCA operates one of the in it at the end of the draw-down. Ontario’s largest networks of parks, This issue of "GRCA Minutes" offering visitors a wide range of out- was published in May 2008. There are no natural fish popula- door activities in some of the most It is a summary of the April tions in the ponds. The fish there are striking natural areas in the province. 2008 business conducted by the mostly goldfish and other pet fish With more than 2,500 campsites at GRCA board and committees. released into the ponds by others. eight conservation areas, the GRCA is the second largest operator of camp- Space permitting, other note- Funding sought for Fishermills grounds in the province – second only worthy happenings and topics of Pond project in Cambridge to Ontario Parks. interest have been included. The Grand River Conservation More information is available on Community leaders and GRCA staff Authority welcomes the photo- www.grandriver.ca or call 1-866- held a media event to launch an inno- copying and distribution of ONT-CAMP (1-866-668-2267) to book vative plan to revitalize the "GRCA Minutes" or visit our a campsite. Fishermills Pond area of Chilligo website at www.grandriver.ca. Conservation Area in Cambridge. Canoeists, kayakers and anglers can
THE GRAND - A Canadian Heritage River GRCA Minutes
Grand River Conservation Authority, 400 Clyde Road, Cambridge, Ontario N1R 5W6 Tel: (519) 621-2761 Fax: (519) 621-4844 Internet: www.grandriver.ca
June 2008 GRIN nets gold award Level 1 water users were asked to vol- untarily cut their consumption by 10 Volume 13 – No. 6 The Grand River Conservation per cent. Authority received a 2008 Gold GRCA Award for putting powerful map- In several parts of the watershed making tools and a wealth of data in that were particularly hard hit by dry General Membership the hands of website visitors. weather and high water demand, Level 2 was put in place, under which Chairman - Alan Dale The Best Web GIS Gold Award was water users were asked to cut con- 1st Vice-Chairman - Jane Mitchell given to GRCA geomatics staff mem- sumption by 20 per cent. The team bers Graham Smith and Zoë Green by 2nd Vice-Chairman - Vic Prendergast removed the Level 2 declaration in the Ontario Chapter of the Urban and February after a mid-winter rainfall Townships of Amaranth, East Regional Information System and snow melt brought the GRCA’s Garafraxa, East Luther Grand Valley, Association (URISA) in Toronto in reservoirs back to their normal level Melancthon and Southgate - May. for that time of the year. Tom Nevills Smith and Green are pleased that The low water response team is Townships of Mapleton and their work has been recognized by made up of representatives of major Wellington North - Pat Salter peers from this 500-member organiza- water users including municipalities, Township of Centre Wellington - tion. farmers, golf course operators, gravel Shawn Watters While Web-GIS has become com- pit businesses, Six Nations and others. Town of Erin, Townships of mon, what is unique about the It meets as necessary in order to Guelph/Eramosa and Puslinch - GRCA’s approach is that anyone can implement the Ontario Low Water Brad Whitcombe access the information and download Response Plan in the Grand River City of Guelph - it, promoting better decision-making watershed. Vicki Beard, Mike Salisbury and a healthier watershed. Although precipitation is up, a good Region of Waterloo - Visit www.grandriver.ca/GRIN/ start to the summer season is no guar- Jane Brewer, Kim Denouden, grin.cfm to learn more about these antee that conditions will last. Jean Haalboom, Ross Kelterborn, tools. Environment Canada predicts above- Claudette Millar, Jane Mitchell, average temperatures and below-nor- mal precipitation for the next four Wayne Roth, Jake Smola, Bill Strauss, Watershed is in good shape months. It is still important for water- Sean Strickland after wet winter weather shed residents to conserve water Town of North Perth and Township around the home, farm and business, of Perth East - George Wicke A wet and snowy winter has helped to restore surface and groundwater including following municipal out- Region of Halton - levels to normal conditions, says a door water use bylaws. J. Barry Lee report presented recently to the Grand City of Hamilton - River Low Water Response Team. 2008 Watershed Awards Anna Kramer Precipitation has been above normal Six 2008 Watershed Awards will be County of Oxford - during the last six months, making up given out by the GRCA at a special Alan Dale for the particularly dry weather across recognition event in the fall. County of Brant - the Grand River watershed in the The award recipients are: the Port Robert Chambers, Brian Coleman summer and early fall of 2007. Maitland Historical Society for clean- City of Brantford - As a result, the low water response ing up the feeder canal and the Port Robert Hillier, Vic Prendergast team, which met by conference call, Maitland Lock; Woolwich Clean Haldimand and Norfolk Counties - has declared the watershed to be out Waterways for creek rehabilitation Lorne Boyko, Craig Grice of the Level 1 restrictions that have and bank stabilization projects; David been in place since June 2007. Under Belleville, chair of the Beautiful
THE GRAND - A Canadian Heritage River Brantford Committee since 1997; Phil Woolwich is planning to incorporate landowners and the watercourse. The and Katie Wilman who have made the changes into their official plan and fact sheets are posted in the Rural numerous improvements to River’s zoning bylaws. For more information Water Quality section of Edge Goat Dairy in Arthur; Richard on one-zone, two-zone and SPAs, visit www.grandriver.ca. Cook of Wellesley, volunteer operator the planning section of of the Wellesley Dam for 18 years; and www.grandriver.ca. Warning markers at eight dams Doug Ratz of Elora, who has been part of many local environmental New Fergus floodplain mapping The Grand River Conservation Authority has installed warning mark- groups. and policy area change ers upstream of eight of its dams on The award recipients were selected GRCA staff has started to update the Grand, Nith and Speed rivers to by the special recognition committee floodplain mapping for the Grand provide additional notice to canoeists and approved by the GRCA board in River between the Irvine River and and kayakers to stay away from the May. the Shand Dam. dams. Update to new planning policies This could mean some development Installation was completed in May policy changes for parts of Fergus. at these locations: Wellington Street New planning policies that came Dam, Guelph; Dunnville Dam; into effect Jan.1 were updated in May An update found river flows could Caledonia Dam; Wilkes Dam, and are now posted along with a sum- be higher than previously throught. Brantford; Parkhill Dam; New mary of the revisions in the planning As a result, more land could end up Hamburg Dam; Bissell Dam, Elora; section of www.grandriver.ca. within the GRCA’s regulated areas. and a boom at Drimmie Dam, Elora. The revised maps will be released for The name of the document is the public review and after the input is The buoys are marked with a bright GRCA’s Policies for the gathered, the new maps with regulat- red diamond, which is an internation- Administration of the Development, ed areas will be finalized. al warning symbol for boaters. They Interference with Wetlands and are in addition to existing warning Alterations to Shorelines and The GRCA is working with and portage signs. Wellington County and the Township Watercourses Regulation (Ontario The eight GRCA dams are all “run Regulation 150/60). of Centre Wellington on a possible two-zone policy area that would regu- of the river” or “low head” dams. The water upstream of the dams can be The regulation strives to protect late development. This would permit still and placid, but the area down- people and property from damage development in the fringe of the stream can be dangerous. Strong cur- that may result from flooding. It also floodplain with restrictions to manage rents at the base of the dam can cap- prevents or restricts development that the risk to people and property for size a canoe or kayak and trap the may increase flooding or erosion or flooding. The new mapping and poli- occupant underwater. impact water and conservation. cy is expected to be in place by the The changes to the GRCA’s policies end of the year. The County of Brant has also that were approved in May are minor installed buoys at the Penman’s Dam — they help clarify some points and Four new buffer fact sheets in Paris. This dam is owned by Brant address a couple of policy gaps. County. The markers will be removed Four new fact sheets outline the in the fall. many benefits of creating buffers Elmira now has new floodlines between farmland and watercourses. and a two-zone policy area Trees, vegetation and fencing along This issue of "GRCA Minutes" The GRCA has adopted the Weigel streams provide a buffer to protect was published in June 2008. Drain floodlines and a two-zone poli- watercourses. The fact sheets have cy in parts of Elmira. It is a summary of the May 2008 been created thanks to funding from business conducted by the GRCA The Weigel Drain is a watercourse Greencover Canada. board and committees. that drains 2.6 square kilometers of They help people recognize some land and includes the core of Elmira. Space permitting, other note- environmental practices used by farm- worthy happenings and topics of A two-zone area identifies low risk ers to protect our water supply. They interest have been included. The areas within the floodplain where also help farmers and landowners rec- Grand River Conservation development is not normally permit- ognize that buffers have environmen- Authority welcomes the photo- ted and allows redevelopment with tal and economic benefits to their own copying and distribution of restrictions to manage the risk to peo- operation. "GRCA Minutes." The publica- ple and property from floods. Each fact sheet highlights a buffer in tion can also be viewed in the The mapping and analysis were pre- a different part of the Grand River “newsletters” section of sented to the public at an open house watershed. Each buffer has also pro- www.grandriver.ca. in December. The Township of vided different benefits to the
THE GRAND - A Canadian Heritage River GRCA Minutes
Grand River Conservation Authority, 400 Clyde Road, Cambridge, Ontario N1R 5W6 Tel: (519) 621-2761 Fax: (519) 621-4844 Internet: www.grandriver.ca
July 2008 Stilling basin upgrade for kept rivers and streams flowing Volume 13 – No. 7 Conestogo Dam moved to 2009 strongly. An expensive project to upgrade the Rainfall for June ranged from 80 GRCA stilling basin at Conestogo Dam has mm at Laurel Creek Conservation been deferred until 2009 to give the Area to 104 mm at Shand Dam. General Membership GRCA time to take a more detailed Normal rainfall is about 80 mm. look at another project at the dam. Chairman - Alan Dale Rainfall has generally been above average throughout the spring. As a 1st Vice-Chairman - Jane Mitchell Water leaving the dam gates has a high amount of energy, especially result, river flows have been above 2nd Vice-Chairman - Vic Prendergast when the gates are fully opened. The average, with little need for the GRCA Townships of Amaranth, East stilling basin is the area where the to augment flows from the water Garafraxa, East Luther Grand Valley, energy is dissipated before the water stored in its seven reservoirs. Melancthon and Southgate - moves downstream. There is a risk Tom Nevills that if the water is not “stilled” that it GRCA to study Townships of Mapleton and could flow back against the dam itself, Upper Rockwood Dam eroding it and possibly causing it to Wellington North - Pat Salter The Grand River Conservation fail. Township of Centre Wellington - Authority is starting a review of the Shawn Watters At present, the stilling basin can future of the Upper Rockwood Dam Town of Erin, Townships of handle flows of about 700 cubic on the Eramosa River in the Guelph/Eramosa and Puslinch - metres per second (cms). The plan is Rockwood Conservation Area. to increase the capacity of the dam to Brad Whitcombe The review, which is called a Class handle flows of about 1,400 cms, Environmental Assessment, will City of Guelph - which is much higher than flows from include opportunities for members of Vicki Beard, Mike Salisbury a Hurricane Hazel-type storm. The Region of Waterloo - the public to comment on plans for project is estimated to cost about $2.7 the dam. Jane Brewer, Kim Denouden, million. Jean Haalboom, Ross Kelterborn, The dam is beside the old Harris Claudette Millar, Jane Mitchell, However, the GRCA is also looking Mill. The dam is one metre and sits on Wayne Roth, Jake Smola, Bill Strauss, at a second, potentially more expen- top of a two metre waterfall. It was Sean Strickland sive project to construct an emergency likely built in the 1860s and has two spillway. If the water in the reservoir concrete abutments and three piers. Town of North Perth and Township were to ever reach the top of the dam, of Perth East - George Wicke Sets of logs (called stoplogs) are the spillway would provide a route placed between the abutments and Region of Halton - for water to safely spill over or piers to block the flow of water in the J. Barry Lee around the dam in order to protect Eramosa River. When the logs are in City of Hamilton - the dam from breaching. place, they create a pond that is about Anna Kramer The Ministry of Natural Resources one metre deep and two hectares in County of Oxford - has asked the GRCA to develop plans area. Alan Dale for the spillway project, which could The stoplogs have reached the end County of Brant - cost as much as $18 million, before it of their 25-year life span and replace- Robert Chambers, Brian Coleman will give permission for the stilling ments would cost about $10,000. The basin project to proceed. City of Brantford - GRCA removed some of the logs in Robert Hillier, Vic Prendergast 2006. Since then, vegetation has Wet June keeps rivers flowing grown up in the previously flooded Haldimand and Norfolk Counties - area. Lorne Boyko, Craig Grice Rainfall was above average in most of the watershed in June, which has The environmental assessment will
THE GRAND - A Canadian Heritage River consider a range of alternatives that The association members spent gram can also be applied to other sec- include doing nothing, replacing the three days in the Grand River water- tors of the livestock industry and the stoplogs and repairing the piers or shed, learning more about its natural poultry industry. removing the entire dam. features and recreational opportuni- The project was paid for through a ties. Part of the process will be to investi- grant from Agriculture and Agri-Food gate the impact of the dam on water The Outdoor Writers of Canada is a Canada’s Greencover Technical quality in the Eramosa River. The national organization of professional Assistance Program. More informa- Eramosa is a coldwater river, however communicators specializing in the tion is available at www.wbvecan.ca the presence of the dam creates a outdoor field. The membership pond where the water warms up includes writers, artists, photogra- before moving downstream to the phers, cinematographers, lecturers, larger pond at the centre of the con- broadcasters, public relations consult- servation area. ants, and government information officers. New Rotary Forest for Snyder Flats New members join foundation board A new Rotary Forest is planned for Snyder Flats in Waterloo thanks to the Four new members have joined the Kitchener-Conestoga Rotary Club’s board of the Grand River 2008 Dream Home Lottery. Conservation Foundation. In addition, seven long-serving members have Snyder Flats is on the east side of retired. the Grand River in Waterloo, near Bloomington. More than 56,000 native The new and retiring members were trees and shrubs will be planted on all honoured at the annual meeting of the property, which is owned by the the foundation held June 25 at the GRCA. Laurel Creek Nature Centre. Community groups will be invited New members are: David Pady, to help plant the trees. Restored grass- Guelph; Ian MacNaughton, Breslau; lands and a 2.5 km Rotary Walk are Martin Ehlert, Sheffield; and Alex also part of this project. Wilson, Hillsburgh The Dream Home Lottery has raised Retiring members are: Alex Lang, $5.5 million for community groups John Knill, Tom Land, Rick Chaplin, over the past 22 years including more Allan Holmes, Gil Henderson and than $500,000 last year. The home is Norm Lundvall. under construction is south Kitchener and tickets go on sale in September. Project shows Women’s Crisis Services of value of shelterbelts Waterloo Region will share the lottery The GRCA, working with Ontario proceeds and use the funds to help Pork, has concluded a three-year build a new shelter. demonstration project to show the This issue of "GRCA Minutes" The Rotary Club of Guelph is advantages of shelterbelts on hog was published in July 2008. undertaking a similar project near farms. It is a summary of the June 2008 Guelph Lake. The Guelph Rotary Shelterbelts – rows of trees and business conducted by the GRCA Forest is expected to be a 13 year proj- bushes around barns – can reduce board and committees. ect that will turn 40 hectares of fields odour, improve aesthetics, lower heat- Space permitting, other note- into forest by planting 5,000 trees each ing costs for bars, and cut down on year. worthy happenings and topics of soil loss through wind erosion. interest have been included. The Grand River Conservation Outdoor writers tour watershed Three demonstration sites were set up in the Grand River watershed, Authority welcomes the photo- About 30 members of the Outdoor among 12 sites across Ontario. New copying and distribution of Writers of Canada recently held their techniques for developing faster- "GRCA Minutes." The publica- annual convention in the Elora Area. growing shelterbelts were tested. tion can also be viewed in the As part of their visit, they were guests Information was presented to farmers “newsletters” section of of the GRCA at a luncheon held at the through newsletters and workshops. www.grandriver.ca. Elora Gorge Conservation Area. The techniques developed in this pro-
THE GRAND - A Canadian Heritage River GRCA Minutes
Grand River Conservation Authority, 400 Clyde Road, Cambridge, Ontario N1R 5W6 Tel: (519) 621-2761 Fax: (519) 621-4844 Internet: www.grandriver.ca
August 2008 Lots of rain in July agencies. Volume 13 – No. 8 Two severe rainfall events — one on The Conestogo hydro facility was the morning of July 11 and the second also recently overhauled and returned GRCA of July 22 — helped make July wetter to service in September 2006. The new than the long-term average. turbine at Conestogo Dam is a double General Membership regulated turbine, which means that Guelph received more than double adjustments can be made to both the Chairman - Alan Dale the average amount of rain over the wicket gates that regulate the flow of 1st Vice-Chairman - Jane Mitchell course of the past month, four times water through the turbine and the 2nd Vice-Chairman - Vic Prendergast more than it received during July angle of the propeller blades. 2007 which was unusually dry. Townships of Amaranth, East Double regulation makes the tur- Garafraxa, East Luther Grand Valley, In the national media, Waterloo was bine more efficient at converting Melancthon and Southgate - dubbed Canada’s second wettest city water energy into electrical power. Tom Nevills outdone by Toronto. A flood advisory The end result is that the new turbine Townships of Mapleton and was issued on July 11 in response to will be more efficient than the original Wellington North - Pat Salter the heavy rainfall, which is very turbine. It will generate about 30 per Township of Centre Wellington - unusual during the summer. cent more electrical energy from the Shawn Watters same amount of water. All the major reservoirs are slightly Town of Erin, Townships of above their normal operating range, Guelph/Eramosa and Puslinch - while flows in the main Grand River New berm for Groff Mill Creek Brad Whitcombe are well above average. City of Guelph - The GRCA has granted an easement Vicki Beard, Mike Salisbury A full version of the watershed con- to the City of Cambridge for a new ditions report for this and past berm to help control flooding of Groff Region of Waterloo - months is available in the watershed Mill Creek in Dumfries Conservation Jane Brewer, Kim Denouden, Area. Jean Haalboom, Ross Kelterborn, conditions section of the website. Claudette Millar, Jane Mitchell, Severe rainstorms in recent years Wayne Roth, Jake Smola, Bill Strauss, Heavy rain means more flooded Coronation Boulevard, a golf Sean Strickland GRCA-produced hydro electricity course, some private homes and Town of North Perth and Township GRCA land. As a result, the city initi- of Perth East - George Wicke Higher-than-average rainfall means ated an environmental assessment lots of water to turn the turbines and Region of Halton - process for Groff Mill Creek to find a J. Barry Lee create hydro power. solution to the flooding. City of Hamilton - The GRCA operates hydro genera- The preferred alternative included Anna Kramer tors at three sites — Shand Dam at installing a berm upstream of the rail County of Oxford - Belwood Lake (rated at 600 kW), crossing of Groff Mill Creek within Alan Dale Conestogo Dam at Wallenstein (500 the conservation area, as well as mak- kW) and Guelph Lake Dam (110 kW) ing channel improvements to the County of Brant - north of the city. Robert Chambers, Brian Coleman creek and realigning the trail over the berm. City of Brantford - The Shand generator has not been Robert Hillier, Vic Prendergast working since July 2006 due to GRCA staff will work with city staff Haldimand and Norfolk Counties - mechanical failure. But GRCA staff to coordinate this project. The city will Lorne Boyko, Craig Grice hope it will restart in September, cover the costs of construction and depending on approvals from various maintenance.
THE GRAND - A Canadian Heritage River Terrestrial resources report speakers than usual who bring incred- will be acknowledged at the pavilion ible expertise on a wide array of top- and invited to its launch once funds Terrestrial resources presented its ics,” says forum chair Ralph are raised. All donations are eligible 2007 annual report to the board out- Beaumont. for a charitable receipt. lining details of the projects that were undertaken during the year. The nationally and internationally For more information about Run for known speakers include Isobel the Toad, please visit www.runfor- The day-to-day workload of the Heathcote, professor of environmental thetoad.com. Terrestrial Resource program at the science and environmental engineer- GRCA is focused on protecting and ing at the University of Guelph; John enhancing watershed natural heritage. Gerretsen, Ontario Minister of the Environment; James P. Bruce, Report highlights include milestones Canadian Policy Representative, Soil such as pine shoot beetle control at and Water Conservation Society; Rob Laurel Creek Conservation Area, de Loë, Canada Research Chair in restoring eight hectares of land at Water Management, University of Dunnville Marsh, the Luther Marsh Guelph; Paul Emerson, CAO of the Management Plan that extends to 2016 Grand River Conservation Authority; and an updated Forest Management Mark Servos, Canada Research Chair Plan that will help the GRCA capital- in Water Quality Protection, ize on tax incentives. University of Waterloo; Eva G. Abal, In addition, the GRCA facilitated Scientific Co-ordinator, South East three exchanges within the San Roque Queensland Healthy Waterways Lake watershed in Argentina through Partnership in Brisbane, Australia; an international twinning program. and Gord Miller, environmental com- missioner of Ontario. Eighth annual Water Forum Sept. 19 ‘reflecting on change’ The Run for the Toad Pavilion planned for Pinehurst The major issues confronting the Grand River watershed, from popula- Oct. 4 marks the seventh annual tion growth to climate change, will be Run for the Toad, a 25 or 50 km run at the subject of presentations at the the GRCA’s Pinehurst Conservation Eighth Annual Grand River Area. Watershed Water Forum on Sept. 19 To celebrate this event and a very in Cambridge. fruitful partnership with the GRCA, The annual event, which attracts race directors George and Peggy about 400 participants, takes place at Sarson are inviting runners, walkers the head office of the Grand River and corporate support to build a new Conservation Authority, 400 Clyde Run for the Toad Pavilion at Pinehurst. Rd. from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This issue of "GRCA Minutes" Registration is open to the public and The pavilion will serve as a great was published in August 2008. details about the program, speakers place for run participants each year, and registration (including an online It is a summary of the July but it will do much more than that. registration process), can be found in 2008 business conducted by the Throughout the year it will also be the Water Forum section of the GRCA Grand River Conservation used for the many groups that come website at www.grandriver.ca Authority board and commit- to Pinehurst to enjoy its forests, beach- tees. Space permitting, other es and camping facilities. At 3,200 The registration fee of $90, or $55 for noteworthy happenings and top- square feet, the pavilion will enable students and seniors, includes lunch. ics of interest have been includ- larger groups than ever before to ed. The Grand River The theme for the forum is enjoy the park. It will be located in the Conservation Authority wel- “Reflecting Change – Mirrored in the beach area, near the starting area for comes the photocopying and dis- Water” and addresses the impact that Run for the Toad. human activities have on water quali- tribution of "GRCA Minutes" or ty and water supplies. The Run for the Toad goal of visit our website at $80,000 was announced at the www.grandriver.ca. “This year we have more keynote Training Run in July. All contributors
THE GRAND - A Canadian Heritage River GRCA Minutes
Grand River Conservation Authority, 400 Clyde Road, Cambridge, Ontario N1R 5W6 Tel: (519) 621-2761 Fax: (519) 621-4844 Internet: www.grandriver.ca
September 2008 Firm retained for Shand Dam replaced and relocated downstream of electrical upgrade the Haldimand Road 9 bridge where Volume 13 – No. 9 it will be less of a safety risk to GRCA Hatch Energy has been retained at a staff, who must stop on the bridge GRCA cost of $105,000 to finalize the design when they visit the station. and prepare tender documents for the General Membership Shand Dam electrical upgrade. Construction of the new York gauge is expected to take place during the Chairman - Alan Dale Testing of Shand Dam’s 66-year-old summer of 2009 when river water lev- 1st Vice-Chairman - Jane Mitchell electrical system has confirmed that els may be lower. the gate operation motors are consis- 2nd Vice-Chairman - Vic Prendergast tently overloaded during normal gate Wet weather continues Townships of Amaranth, East operations. The dam is on the Grand Garafraxa, East Luther Grand Valley, River north of Fergus. Rain was above or close to the long Melancthon and Southgate - term average across the watershed in The gates are used to control the Tom Nevills August, but some areas were affected water that passes through the dam. by localized thunderstorms that Townships of Mapleton and The electrical upgrade includes con- brought heavy rain. Wellington North - Pat Salter structing an addition on the control Township of Centre Wellington - building on the east end of the dam’s One storm on Aug. 5 dropped 68 Shawn Watters spillway and installing a new gate mm over five hours in Cambridge, Town of Erin, Townships of electrical system. and this represented a 10 to 25 year Guelph/Eramosa and Puslinch - storm. It resulted in some local street Brad Whitcombe New water quality gauges flooding and excess water in urban for Kitchener and York waterways, including Schneider City of Guelph - Creek, Laurel Creek, Groff Mill Creek Vicki Beard, Mike Salisbury The GRCA is moving ahead with and Mill Creek. Region of Waterloo - plans for two water quality gauge sta- Lower-than-normal air temperature Jane Brewer, Kim Denouden, tions on the Grand River in Kitchener in August followed a warmer June Jean Haalboom, Ross Kelterborn, and in York. Claudette Millar, Jane Mitchell, and July. The rain means all the major Wayne Roth, Jake Smola, Bill Strauss, Both projects have been on hold reservoirs are above their normal Sean Strickland since 2006 pending Six Nations land operating range, while the flows in claim issues. Representatives of the the river system are well above the Town of North Perth and Township GRCA met with Six Nations heredi- long term average. of Perth East - George Wicke tary chiefs and notified the Band Abundant water has resulted in Council to inform them of these pro- Region of Halton - high dissolved oxygen levels, cooler jects. J. Barry Lee water temperatures and less solar City of Hamilton - The Region of Waterloo first radiation. All of this is good for the Anna Kramer approached the GRCA about the fish in the waterways. This means County of Oxford - Kitchener station in 2003. The project there are less aquatic plants that con- Alan Dale is expected to go ahead this fall. tribute to water quality problems. County of Brant - The gauge will be part of an early High flows have also forced the sus- Robert Chambers, Brian Coleman warning system for the drinking pension of tubing at the Elora Gorge City of Brantford - water supply, will help to model the Conservation Area on several occa- Robert Hillier, Vic Prendergast assimilative capacity of the river, and sions this summer. help monitor flooding conditions Haldimand and Norfolk Counties - around Bingeman’s Park. Emergency spillway design Lorne Boyko, Craig Grice The 35-year-old York gauge will be under way for Conestogo Dam
THE GRAND - A Canadian Heritage River A plan to upgrade the stilling basin then be brought together for the final filled activities including catching at the Conestogo Dam has been put phase of the study. bugs, Mother Nature Bingo, wildlife on hold until after a plan and detailed demonstrations, cave exploration, cost estimates for an emergency spill- GRCA searching for old wells guided nature walks, a lunchtime way at this dam have been completed. cookout and silent auction. The GRCA is searching for old wells For more information, call the The stilling basin is the area below on GRCA property so that these wells Rockwood Conservation Area at 519- the dam where the water is stilled or can be properly decommissioned. calmed before it goes downstream. 856-9543 or 519-240-1402 or e-mail Hatch Energy has been retained for Old wells are a safety concern for [email protected]. just over $250,000 to design and pre- people who chance upon them and pare plans for the spillway. may fall in. They are also a pathway Terms of reference meetings for contaminants to enter the drinking for Source Protection in October This spillway design must be sub- water supply. Over the past three mitted to the Ministry of Natural years GRCA staff has visited 200 pos- Three public meetings will be held Resources by the GRCA before the sible well sites and located 80 old in the Grand River watershed on the ministry will approve the stilling wells. Forty-one of these have been Terms of Reference that have been basin upgrade. For this reason, the decommissioned and others will be prepared by the Lake Erie Source stilling basin upgrade has been put on decommissioned by a licensed well Protection Committee for the Clean hold. driller as funds become available. Water Act. There are two different alternatives It is expected that there may be The meetings will be held for dealing with the deficiency in the another 20 wells that have not yet Wednesday, Oct. 1, Best Western, 19 overflow capacity of the dam. Both been found. The GRCA owns 20,000 Holiday Drive, Brantford; Thursday, would mean constructing an emer- hectares of land that was once used as Oct. 2, GRCA head office, 400 Clyde gency spillway and the cost estimates farms and homesteads, so some wells Road, Cambridge; and Monday, Oct. range from approximately $7.6 million remain on these properties. 6, Wellington County Museum for controlled overtopping to $17.6 Archives, Aboyne Hall, RR1 Fergus . million for controlled bypass. If you suspect you know where a well may be on GRCA property, All these meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. Drilling for water in the search please call 519-621-2763, ext. 2288. If and will include displays, presenta- for an ancient river valley you suspect that you may have an tions (begining at 7:30 p.m.) and a abandoned well on your property and public comment period (begining at A $300,000 contract for the next would like to learn more about fund- 8:30 p.m.). ing assistance to properly decommis- phase of a three-year study to find an For more information including the sion it, contact Tracey Ryan 519-621- ancient buried river valley has been Terms of Reference document, please 2763, ext. 2269. awarded to All Terrain Drilling Ltd. visit www.sourcewater.ca. About seven boreholes will be Rockwood Biothon Sept. 20-21 drilled in three areas — north of Paris extending southeast of Lynden (three A 24-hour search for creatures of all holes), Southwest of Kitchener varieties is taking place in the between Ayr and Roseville (two Rockwood Conservation Area on holes), and on the north side of Sept. 20-21. This is the fifth annual Wellesley (one or two holes). Drilling Grand River Watershed Biothon, a This issue of "GRCA Minutes" will take place between mid- fundraising project organized by staff was published in September September and November. Residents at the Grand River Conservation 2008. in the vicinity of the drilling will be Authority to support outdoor educa- notified before it gets under way. tion programs. It is a summary of the August 2008 business conducted by the The Dundas Valley Study is search- Teams made up of GRCA staff and Grand River Conservation ing for a river valley that is millions of volunteers search for as many species Authority board and commit- years old. The study has four phases as they can find in 24 hours on the tees. Space permitting, other of investigation over three years. conservation area grounds. Team noteworthy happenings and top- members collect donations for each Already data has been compiled and ics of interest have been includ- species they identify in three cate- a geophysical survey has been com- ed. The Grand River gories: vertebrates, invertebrates and pleted. This has led to the drilling Conservation Authority wel- plants. phase, since holes will provide scien- comes the photocopying and dis- tists with more information about the Members of the public are invited to tribution of "GRCA Minutes" or location and characteristics of the the conservation area on Sunday, visit our website at ancient river valley. All of the infor- Sept. 21 from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. to www.grandriver.ca. mation that has been gathered will participate in a long list of free, fun-
THE GRAND - A Canadian Heritage River GRCA Minutes
Grand River Conservation Authority, 400 Clyde Road, Cambridge, Ontario N1R 5W6 Tel: (519) 621-2761 Fax: (519) 621-4844 Internet: www.grandriver.ca
October 2008 Wet weather leaves watershed so the budget is expected to be higher Volume 13 – No. 9 in good shape for fall than the current draft indicates. Wet weather has continued through The board will review several more September thanks to a trail from drafts of the budget in the coming GRCA months before it is finalized in Hurricane Ike that dropped 100 mm February. General Membership of rain in the upper watershed. Chairman - Alan Dale A Flood Advisory was issued on GRCA plans maintenance work 1st Vice-Chairman - Jane Mitchell Sept. 12 due to the hurricane, but the at Woolwich Dam 2nd Vice-Chairman - Vic Prendergast storm shifted north and major flood- ing was averted. The Grand River Conservation Townships of Amaranth, East Authority is going to dig up a small Garafraxa, East Luther Grand Valley, The Shand and Conestogo reser- section of the surface of the Woolwich Melancthon and Southgate - voirs have higher water levels than Dam near Elmira to learn why it is Tom Nevills normal. The GRCA has not had to augment the river flows very much settling more than the usual amount Townships of Mapleton and this year due to the regular rainfall and then do any necessary repairs. Wellington North - Pat Salter since May. The work will start Oct. 7 and last Township of Centre Wellington - about a week. To allow the work to Shawn Watters River flows have also been above average. The temperature has been 1.5 take place, the reservoir will be drawn Town of Erin, Townships of degrees above the long term average down early to its winter holding level. Guelph/Eramosa and Puslinch - for September. Normally it reaches the winter level in Brad Whitcombe mid-November. City of Guelph - Special 2009 budget meeting In addition, the trails around the Vicki Beard, Mike Salisbury Woolwich Dam will be closed on Oct. Region of Waterloo - The GRCA board got a first glimpse 6, about one week earlier than normal. into the budget for the coming year at Jane Brewer, Kim Denouden, It is normal for earthen embank- Jean Haalboom, Ross Kelterborn, a special budget meeting in ment dams, such as Woolwich, to set- Claudette Millar, Jane Mitchell, September. tle over time, but the amount of set- Wayne Roth, Jake Smola, Bill Strauss, The GRCA budget is divided into tling has been greater than usual. The Sean Strickland four areas including the base budget reservoir will remain at its winter Town of North Perth and Township (61 per cent of total budget), special holding level after the work is done. of Perth East - George Wicke programs with matching special fund- Region of Halton - ing (5 per cent), the Source Protection Transportation official speaks J. Barry Lee Program with matching provincial to GRCA board City of Hamilton - funding (14 per cent) and Jeanette Jamieson Conservation Areas with self-generat- Fred Leech of the Ministry of ed revenue (20 per cent). Transportation made a presentation to County of Oxford - the GRCA board about the draft This draft of the 2009 budget Alan Dale Environmental Assessment Terms of showed spending of $28 million, com- County of Brant - Reference released in September. pared to spending of $29.1 million in Robert Chambers, Brian Coleman 2008. The lower spending in the draft This is a step in the EA process that City of Brantford - budget is normal for this time of year. was announced in June to improve Robert Hillier, Vic Prendergast This is because special project funding transportation in the growing commu- Haldimand and Norfolk Counties - will be added into the 2009 budget in nities of Cambridge and Brantford, he Lorne Boyko, Craig Grice the coming months as grants are said. This study replaces the former approved by external organizations, Highway 24 Transportation Corridor
THE GRAND - A Canadian Heritage River Class EA study and is more broadly The soft path is a different way of go to the Dream Home website at based. It will address transportation thinking about water and it can mean www.rotarydreamhome.com, or call system problems and opportunities to big savings in both water and money. 866-294-6466. 2031 and prepare plans and conceptu- Now water is thought of in a linear If you or your group is interested in al designs for changes. The alterna- way – it is cleaned in a centralized helping to plant the Rotary Forest system, sent out for distribution, and tives that are being considered are to beginning in spring of 2009, please optimize the existing transportation used after which it becomes waste- call the GRCA at 519-621-2761. system, expand non-road infrastruc- water. The soft path means decentral- ture, widen roads and highways or ized decision making and water distri- build new roads or highways. bution as well as many water systems Community conservation grants that better match the quality of water The ministry is holding four Public Three community projects and four to its use — for example, using rain- Information Centres and will accept schools are to receive 2008 community water or grey water to flush toilets comments until Nov. 14. A proposed conservation grants in October. instead of tap water. environmental assessment terms of The Grand River Conservation reference will be submitted to the Brandes and the GRCA are deter- Foundation awards grants to qualified Minister of Transportation early next mining how much water can poten- community groups and elementary year. tially be saved by taking this new schools that are undertaking conserva- approach within this watershed. Any construction that may be pro- tion projects. posed for Highway 24 won't take Grants for $1,000 have been award- place until 2015 at the earliest, he said. Environmental scholarship awarded at Water Forum ed to the Parks Foundation in Paris The website about the study is for an erosion project, the Port www.brantford-cambridge-ea.ca. The S. C. Johnson Environmental Maitland Historical Association for Scholarship was awarded to Julie lock restoration and Ruthven and Lessons from Australia Anderson, a fourth year environmen- Habitat Haldimand for habitat for Grand River watershed tal science student at the University of restoration. Schools set to receive Guelph who plans to continue her awards are St. Augustine in There are many lessons that water studies next year by entering a Cambridge, St. Leo in Brantford, St. experts and researchers in the Grand Masters program in environmental Teresa in Kitchener and St. Nicholas River watershed can learn from toxicology. in Waterloo. Queensland, Australia. This scholarship is made available Applications for the 2009 grants will Dr. Eva Abal, the Scientific by the Grand River Conservation be posted on the GRCA website in the Coordinator, South East Queensland Foundation, with annual awards of spring. Healthy Waterways Partnership, $1,500 to help university students con- spoke to scientists in the Grand River tinue their studies in conservation and Watershed and also at Water Forum environment related fields. The pres- in September. entation of this scholarship was made She described a far-reaching plan at Water Forum on Sept. 19. that began in 1992 to solve the water challenges on the eastern coast of Kitchener-Conestogo Rotary Australia. The plan sets targets for Forest DreamHome tickets 2026 that improve the environmental This issue of "GRCA Minutes" and water quality conditions of today The Kitchener-Conestoga Rotary was published in October 2008. and outlines 500 committed actions Forest will take shape beginning in that will help bring about these spring 2009. It is a summary of the changes. September 2008 business con- The forest will be a vibrant, 250 acre ducted by the Grand River space along the east side of the Grand Conservation Authority board The Grand’s soft path of water River at Snyder Flats in Waterloo, and committees. offering more than 56,000 trees, a 2.5 Oliver Brandes has been encourag- Space permitting, other note- km Rotary Trail and restored native ing Canadians to take the soft path to worthy happenings and topics of grassland habitat that is rare in water and now he is bringing this interest have been included. Ontario. approach to the Grand River. The Grand River Conservation The forest is being funded by the Authority welcomes the photo- The associate director of the Polis Rotary Club through sale of tickets for copying and distribution of Project on Ecological Governance at the DreamHome lottery. Tickets are "GRCA Minutes" or visit our the University of Victoria spoke with $100 each, or three for $250. website at www.grandriver.ca. the GRCA board and staff as well as attendees of Water Forum. To learn more and purchase a ticket,
THE GRAND - A Canadian Heritage River GRCA Minutes
Grand River Conservation Authority, 400 Clyde Road, Cambridge, Ontario N1R 5W6 Tel: (519) 621-2761 Fax: (519) 621-4844 Internet: www.grandriver.ca
November 2008 Less rainfall in October amount of silt that is washed down- stream and to give fish in the ponds Volume 13 – No. 11 The rain fell regularly in October, time to swim to other parts of the but there was less of it. creek. GRCA staff monitored the GRCA drawdown. General Membership Only about 70 per cent of the long term average precipitation fell, break- The water level dropped about 2.5 Chairman - Alan Dale ing a trend of wet weather for 2008. to three metres, leaving large mud flats exposed. Water continued to flow 1st Vice-Chairman - Jane Mitchell The air temperature was slightly 2nd Vice-Chairman - Vic Prendergast through the old creek channel on the warmer than average - 0.5 degrees - in floor of the pond. Townships of Amaranth, East October. Garafraxa, East Luther Grand Valley, It’s believed there’s been a dam on Melancthon and Southgate - River flows on the main Grand the site since the 1860s. The current Tom Nevills River were heavier than average due dam may have been built early in the to frequent rainfall throughout the Townships of Mapleton and 20th century and was improved in the Wellington North - Pat Salter summer. 1950s. The GRCA has owned it since Township of Centre Wellington - 1957. Shawn Watters At the end of October, the reservoirs Town of Erin, Townships of were within their normal operating Guelph/Eramosa and Puslinch - range, aside from Belwood Lake, Flood Operations Centre Brad Whitcombe which was high due to work on the working with municipalities gate at the Shand Dam slated for Nov. City of Guelph - The Flood Operations Centre is Vicki Beard, Mike Salisbury 19 . On the other hand, the Woolwich reservoir was below the normal oper- working with municipalities on emer- Region of Waterloo - ating range due to work on the earth gency plans. Jane Brewer, Kim Denouden, embankment at the dam. Jean Haalboom, Ross Kelterborn, Staff participated in a Haldimand Claudette Millar, Jane Mitchell, County desktop flood emergency Wayne Roth, Jake Smola, Bill Strauss, Low water level due to work Sean Strickland exercise on Oct. 8. GRCA staff provid- at Wellesley Pond in November ed technical background information Town of North Perth and Township to the emergency coordinator for of Perth East - George Wicke The water level in Wellesley Pond Haldimand County for this exercise. Region of Halton - was drawn down Nov. 3 to permit J. Barry Lee minor repairs to the concrete on the Staff met with the flood coordinator dam at the south end of the pond. City of Hamilton - for Wilmot Township and the Jeanette Jamieson The construction work is expected Waterloo Regional Police Service. This County of Oxford - is to finalize the flood warning zones Alan Dale to be finished at the end of November and then the pond will be refilled for for New Harmburg and review flood- County of Brant - the winter. The dam is owned and plain communications materials. Robert Chambers, Brian Coleman operated by the Grand River City of Brantford - Conservation Authority. Weather extremes in watershed Robert Hillier, Vic Prendergast during 2007 and 2008 Haldimand and Norfolk Counties - It took several days to drain the Lorne Boyko, Craig Grice water from the pond, which feeds These past two years have both Firella Creek. The drawdown was been extremes in precipitation in the done gradually to minimize the Grand River watershed.
THE GRAND - A Canadian Heritage River Last year – 2007 – was the driest tect the sources of municipal drinking A holiday gift of $30 will cover the year on record in the watershed. It water in the Grand River watershed. cost to plant a tree in your Grand was so unusual that it was outside of River valley community. A $20 gift the range of variability, according to a The proposed Terms of Reference will help care for the GRCA's natural newly compiled graph showing pre- for the Grand River watershed has areas and trail systems. cipitation between May and been released for a second round of November at the Shand Dam 1939 to public comment. The document is Each donor will receive a thank you 2008. available on the website of the Lake letter, tax receipt and a beautiful holi- Erie Source Protection Region at day card. Or, we can send the holiday In contrast, 2008 has been exception- www.sourcewater.ca or can be exam- card directly to the recipient so that it ally wet and is within the upper range ined at the GRCA office, 400 Clyde arrives in time for the holidays. of variability for precipitation. Road, Cambridge. However the graph shows that 1986 Orders must be placed by Dec. 15, was the wettest fall on record. The deadline for comments is Dec. 2008. Call 1-877-29-GRAND to donate 6. Members of the public have three or visit www.grcf.ca to learn more. ways to provide comment on the doc- Dumfries Conservation Area trail ument: closed during berm construction By mail to: Lorrie Minshall, Source Construction of a new flood control Protection Program Director, Lake berm in Dumfries Conservation Area Erie Source Protection Region, c/o in Cambridge began the week of Nov. Grand River Conservation Authority, 10, which means closing part of the 400 Clyde Road, Cambridge, ON N1R trail in the park. 5W6
The City of Cambridge, which is By fax to: (519) 621-4844 paying for the project, has hired Network Site Services Ltd. to build a By e-mail to: comments@sourcewa- flood control berm across the creek ter.ca. upstream of the CN/CP rail lines.
A small footbridge that crosses the Heritage bridge inventory creek will be removed as part of the The GRCA deferred a decision not project. The berm is the second part of to pursue a comprehensive heritage a three-phase project by the City of bridge inventory and evaluation. Cambridge and the Region of Waterloo to control flooding along Heritage bridges support the 1994 Groff Mill Creek. Coronation designation of the Grand River as a Boulevard was damaged when water Canadian Heritage River. flowed over the road following heavy rainfalls in both 2005 and 2006. A comprehensive bridge inventory This issue of "GRCA Minutes" has already been carried out by the was published in November During construction in the conserva- Region of Waterloo, but not other 2008. tion area, trucks will enter from municipalities. Dunbar Road, opposite St. George It is a summary of the October Street. The entrance gate is closed to The inventory is a planning tool to 2008 business conducted by the the public and notices will be posted help decision-makers when they con- Grand River Conservation advising that the area is a construction sider work associated with a bridge. Authority board and commit- zone. Another warning sign was also tees. Space permitting, other posted at the park entrance near the Give green for the holidays noteworthy happenings and top- YMCA on Hespeler Road. ics of interest have been includ- The Grand River Conservation ed. .The Grand River Public comment sought Foundation’s give greeen campaign is Conservation Authority wel- by December 3 for source now underway for the holiday season. comes the photocopying and dis- protection Terms of Reference tribution of "GRCA Minutes" or This provides the opportunity to visit our website at The public is invited to comment on make an investment in our natural www.grandriver.ca. the steps that are being taken to pro- world for generations to come.
THE GRAND - A Canadian Heritage River GRCA Minutes
Grand River Conservation Authority, 400 Clyde Road, Cambridge, Ontario N1R 5W6 Tel: (519) 621-2761 Fax: (519) 621-4844 Internet: www.grandriver.ca
December 2008 Shand Dam turbine now repaired Recently, the Provincial Water to produce hydro in January Quality Monitoring Network was Volume 13 – No. 12 expanded to 36 long-term monitoring After being shut down for two and sites – up from 28 sites in 2002. At the GRCA a half years, the Shand Dam turbine is same time, laboratory costs were expected to once again generate hydro reduced by 20 per cent, to make this General Membership electricity. program more efficient. Chairman - Alan Dale This generator has not been is serv- The 2008 water quality report was 1st Vice-Chairman - Jane Mitchell ice since July 2006 due to mechanical presented to the board at the failure. Since that time, a new turbine November meeting and is posted in 2nd Vice-Chairman - Vic Prendergast has been installed along with many the Water section of www.grandriv- Townships of Amaranth, East improvements at a cost of $1.3 mil- er.ca. Garafraxa, East Luther Grand Valley, lion. Melancthon and Southgate - The peak generating capacity at 2008 Grand Actions Registry Tom Nevills Shand Dam remains at 600 kW. With Townships of Mapleton and the upgrades, it is expected that the The 13th edition of the Grand Wellington North - Pat Salter average output from the new turbine Actions Registry is complete and has been posted on the GRCA website. Township of Centre Wellington - will be higher than the unit it Shawn Watters replaced. At peak capacity the hydro This edition describes a wide array plant produces enough electricity to of actions undertaken in 2007 to Town of Erin, Townships of power 600 homes. improve the Grand River watershed, Guelph/Eramosa and Puslinch - increase heritage appreciation and Brad Whitcombe Funding for this upgrade has come from the reserves. Revenue from the support the designation of the Grand City of Guelph - sale of electricity will be used to pay River as a Canadian Heritage River. Vicki Beard, Mike Salisbury back the reserves over a number of The registry has grown from 168 entries in 1994-95 to 235 entries cur- Region of Waterloo - years. The revenue from the Shand rently. It is assembled to find out who Jane Brewer, Kim Denouden, generator is expected to be $195,000 a year. The payback will be 6.8 years. is actively involved in improving the Jean Haalboom, Ross Kelterborn, health and heritage of the watershed, Claudette Millar, Jane Mitchell, The generator is expected to be test- to commend these efforts and encour- Wayne Roth, Jake Smola, Bill Strauss, ed in January and will then go back age new partnerships. Sean Strickland into production. The Registry is available on Town of North Perth and Township www.grandriver.ca and is searchable of Perth East - George Wicke 2008 water quality report based on year and categories of work. Region of Halton - One organization working on tree J. Barry Lee Wet weather this year has led to stewardship in one community, for high levels of nitrogen and phospho- City of Hamilton - example, can use it to link up with rus in the waterways of the Grand Jeanette Jamieson similar organizations in other commu- River watershed, yet dissolved oxy- nities. County of Oxford - gen was at a relatively good level. Alan Dale High levels of these two nutrients Wet weather continued in County of Brant - means prolific growth of aquatic November with snow and rain Robert Chambers, Brian Coleman plants. This is the water quality issue City of Brantford - of primary concern in the Grand River November brought more rain and Robert Hillier, Vic Prendergast watershed. snow than usual, leaving the ground saturated as winter weather approach- Wet weather takes the water quality Haldimand and Norfolk Counties - es. Lorne Boyko, Craig Grice issues from the river and transfers these into Lake Erie. The resulting saturated ground
THE GRAND - A Canadian Heritage River means there is more runoff to water- Classroom to be renamed and was installed in 1973 when the courses when it rains. If the snow in memory of Bruce Duncan building was constructed. It is not pack forms before it gets extremely expected to be able to function anoth- cold, the frost penetration will be The downstairs classroom at the er summer. reduced. This would result in less Taquanyah Nature Centre will be The $204,000 contract was awarded runoff during winter thaws, as water named in honour of former GRCA to Conestogo Mechanical Inc. of more readily soaks into the ground. employee Bruce Duncan. Kitchener, the lowest of four bidders The first half of November was a little on this proposal. warmer than average, with an early Bruce died Nov. 11 2006 from onset of winter snows later in the injuries he sustained in a car accident. month. He was 60 years old and the general Trees available for purchase manager of the Hamilton Region River flows are high and most reser- Conservation Authority at the time of Landowners with 2.5 acres or more voirs are above the normal operating his death. He worked at the GRCA for of land (exclusive of buildings) can range, as a result of recent precipita- 15 years as a nature interpreter based order trees from the GRCA by March tion. The reservoirs will be drawn at the Taquanyah Nature Centre. 31. down to their normal winter level Bruce left the GRCA in 1988 to work over the following weeks. at the Hamilton Region Conservation The list of available trees, a price list Authority. and an order form are on www.grandriver.ca in the Forestry 10th anniversary events While he was with the GRCA, Bruce section. The list is updated periodical- for fisheries management plan initiated environmental day camps at ly. Orders for these trees must be for a the GRCA and under his direction minimum of 200 seedlings or 20 The 10th anniversary of the Grand four bald eagle chicks were raised and saplings. River Fisheries Management plan is released at Taquanyah. This year being celebrated with a Grand Fish eagles were breeding again in the Tree planting in the watershed is Grand Waters Banquet and southern Grand after an absence of expected to grow from 180,000 in 2008 Symposium at the German Canadian many years. to more than 230,000 in 2009, but this Club in Brantford, Saturday, Jan. 31, is nowhere near the rate of one mil- starting at 1 p.m. lion in the 1980's, before government Heritage Workshop in 2009 funding cutbacks. The afternoon symposium will fea- to focus on rural roots For more information see the ture several speakers and be followed The 12th Annual Heritage Day Forestry section of by dinner and silent and live auctions www.grandriver.ca. to raise funds for fisheries projects in Workshop and Celebration takes place the Grand River. This is a special Heritage Day, Feb. 16 and the theme event since it is linked with the 10th is Rural Routes ~ Rural Roots: A anniversary of the Grand River Heritage View of the Countryside. Fisheries Management Plan, the first The workshop will be held at the river plan of its kind in the province. Wilmot Recreation Complex in Baden, In addition, there will also be sever- 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The program al open house meetings in communi- includes many speakers, a launch of ties along the Grand River to provide the heritage river inventory and a tour information on the progress of the of Castle Kilbride National Historic plan and seek feedback on the next Site. It is free, but donations are wel- This issue of "GRCA Minutes" steps to be undertaken to improve the come. was published in December 2008. fisheries. This event is organized by the Two meetings are scheduled in Heritage Working Group. Registration It is a summary of the January: Jan. 7 at the Wellington and program information is posted in November 2008 business con- County Museum, County Rd. 18 the Conferences section on ducted by the Grand River between Fergus and Elora at 7 p.m. www.grandriver.ca. Conservation Authority board and Jan. 21 at the GRCA auditorium, and committees. Space permit- 400 Clyde Rd., Cambridge. Later New air conditioning system ting, other noteworthy happen- ings and topics of interest have meetings will take place: Feb. 3, Brant for GRCA Administration Centre been included. The Grand River Artillery Club; Feb. 16, Dunnville Conservation Authority wel- District Hunters and Anglers The administration centre of the comes the photocopying and dis- Clubhouse; and March 18, Six Nations GRCA will get a new air conditioning tribution of "GRCA Minutes" or Tourism Building, Ohsweken. All system. visit our website at meetings begin at 7 p.m. This item was approved by the www.grandriver.ca, where back For more information, see the GRCA board and put into the 2009 issues are also available. Fisheries section of budget. The current air conditioning www.grandriver.ca. and ventilation system is 35 years old
THE GRAND - A Canadian Heritage River