THE GRAND STRATEGY NEWSLETTER VOLUME 6, NUMBER 1 - JANUARY 2001 Grand River The Grand: Conservation A Canadian Authority Heritage River Feature Fancy a Fence? 1 Milestones Forest Plan 3 Walper Hosts Workshop 3 Whats Happening? Unused Wells 4 Latornell Symposium 4 FANCY A FENCE? Great Canadian Rivers 5 Wetlands Conference 5 by Anne Loeffler, Grand River Conservation Authority Environmental Awards 5 In December, the snow is flying, but local near the watercourses to provide them with easy Now Available fencing contractors still had more than enough access to drinking water. The resulting Trees for 2001 5 fencing jobs to finish before winter tightened its streambank erosion and water quality degrada- grip on the land. Whats going on? Why the tion has affected humans and beasts down- Look Whos Taking demand for fencing contractors? stream, and thereby has become a societal issue. Action Stream fencing projects are part of the But change is lurking around the upstream Special Recognition 5 reason. In the last two years, 18 projects to bend. The change is happening on farms NA Water Trails Inc. 6 fence livestock from streams have been com- throughout the Grand watershed, where more High Jinks at Shades 6 pleted under the Rural Water Quality Program farmers than ever before are participating in Chiefswood 7 in the Region of Waterloo and Wellington environmental programs. One such program is Did You Know? 7 County. Tree buffers have been established the Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) program, between the fence and the watercourse on most which has been instrumental in helping farm Calendar 8 of the participating farms. And already theres families identify environmental areas of concern interest from at least 30 farms to complete and priorities for action on their farm. The EFP Cover photo similar fencing/buffer projects next year. also offers some limited financial assistance to Author and photographer This increased fencing activity comes as a the farmer taking these actions. Carl Hiebert captures the surprise to some. After all, times are difficult Once farmers have completed an EFP for the patterns and subtleties of for farmers. Input costs are up; commodity farm, they are eligible to receive financial the rural landscape. This prices are down. Profit margins have decreased, assistance from the Rural Water Quality Pro- small tributary has been forcing intensification for many operations, gram (RWQP). The RWQP offers technical and fenced and protected as including those who pasture their livestock financial assistance to implement a variety of part of the Rural Water throughout the Grand watershed. On many best management practices that improve and Quality Program. farms, cattle have historically been pastured protect water quality. Funded by the Regional l See page 2 How do the students feel about Public School recently helped establish in the Boomer Creek a tree buffer watershed. This project was supported Tree by Home Hardware through the Canada Foundation. Students spent part of the day planting 180 hardwood saplings at the farm, and then planted 25 saplings in their schoolyard to provide shade. participating in a stream buffer planting? Here are some of their answers: ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ SHARE THE RESOURCES - SHARE THE RESPONSIBILITY The environmental benefits of stream There can be educational benefits as In 2000, the same stream is already on its way to becoming a healthy, clean on its way to becoming a healthy, is already In 2000, the same stream will eventually shade and Fencing keeps out livestock, and new trees watercourse. the stream. protect In 1999, this farm stream showed badly eroded banks, with sediment moving freely showed badly eroded In 1999, this farm stream was open and unshaded with poor water quality. The stream into the water. are numerous. Streambank buffers erosion is reduced; nutrient, pathogen and sediment inputs into the watercourse decrease; fish habitat is protected and enhanced; wildlife habitat and corridors are created. Benefits to the farming operation can include improved herd health, improved pasture productivity, from and windbreak and shading effects the trees in the buffer. well. The Grade 8 class from Linwood ○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ For example, a farmer is eligible to Obviously this cost share formula Municipality of Waterloo, the County Waterloo, Municipality of and the City of Guelph, Wellington of programs have been able to the RWQP provide over $700,000 in financial assistance to implement 160 water quality protection projects since 1998. The program is delivered to farmers by who conduct site visits, staff GRCA assist the farmer in the application process, and supply technical assist- ance as required. receive up to $10,000 to share the cost of fencing livestock out of creeks. Eligible project items include fencing, installation of a livestock stream crossing, and an alternate water supply. pays for 75% of the costs if The RWQP the farmer has hired the job out to a if the farmer contractor; however, he is reimbursed supplies the labour, for 100% of the cost of the materials. The program also shares the cost of tree seedlings and saplings to be planted in the newly retired stream area at a rate of 75% to a buffer maximum of $6,000. Former pasture land which has been retired into trees through the program is also eligible for a performance incentive of $250/acre/ year for up to three years to compensate the farmer for loss of production from the land, and to cover ongoing man- agement costs for weed control. To has proven to be attractive to many. projects fencing/buffer date, RWQP have resulted in the establishment of over 30,000 trees in stream buffers, more than 13 kilometres of stream fencing, and the exclusion of about 750 head of livestock from watercourses. The farmers themselves have supplied It is estimated that, much of the labour. to date, local farmers have contributed over 1,700 hours of labour to construct fences on their farms to restrict live- stock from creeks. An impressive indicator of commitment to environ- mental protection! FANCY A FENCE? FANCY page one from 2 ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ We helped prevent erosion. The Plan. Walper Hosts Heritage stream buffer will clean up the In early November the Steering Workshop water. Committee for the Watershed Forest Plan The Walper Terrace Hotel in It was a cool experience. We met to review each draft section of the Kitchener will be the host venue for learned how to properly plant trees plan and also to generate ideas and th and how important they are. action plans for implementation of the the 4 Annual Heritage Day Work- shop on February 19, 2001, organized We helped animals that live in the plan starting this spring. Many excellent by The Grand Strategy Heritage creek. ideas were discussed and broad priorities The water will be cleaner so less were set. Some of the project and pro- Working Group. This heritage inn makes this an ideal location for the people will get sick. gram recommendations of the Steering workshop with its theme Heritage We learned how to respect our Committee are available to review on- environment. line at the Watershed Forest Plan website Makes $ense: Discover Why. An inn at the centre of the commu- By planting trees, we made the air in the form of fact-sheets. nity has welcomed visitors since early cleaner and fresher. Completed draft sections of the It was good experience, good Watershed Forest Plan are also available settlers came to Sandhills (now Kitchener). Originally the Varnum exercise, and we got stronger. on-line and broad community input on Inn stood on the site at Schneiders We were satisfied with the work we these sections is needed and encouraged. did. People can then quickly and easily fill Road (Queen South) and Preston Road (King Street). In 1836, We enjoyed knowing that we made out the on-line comments form for the Frederick Gaukel purchased the inn, a difference! section they wish to provide feedback on and submit their comments for consid- enlarged it and renamed it Gaukels Do you want to establish a fence Hotel. The hotel saw several owners eration. and stream buffer on your farm? For and name changes before C. H. more information on the Rural Water Public open houses are also being scheduled for January and February to Walper took over in 1886. Then Quality Program, contact the GRCA at known as the Commercial Hotel, the give the general public an opportunity to 519-621-2761. building was destroyed by fire in review the final draft of the WFP and offer their comments and suggestions 1892. The following year a new building was erected as a high-class (see Grand Actions Calendar, page 8, MILESTONES hotel at the cost of $74,000. In 1908, for details). The Watershed Forest Plan website will continue to play an impor- $4.50 a week supplied the guest with a room, meals and a maid to fill the Milestones are progress or products of tant role in providing information to the water pitcher, while beer and whiskey The Grand Strategy Joint Work Plan. stakeholders groups and the public about the plan, meeting dates and minutes, and sold for 5 cents a glass. Hotel rooms were then lighted by gas jet, only two Forest Plan Comes about forest resources of the Grand River rooms had baths and there was one Together Watershed and about implementation of the plan. The final version of the plan is telephone in the lobby. Even with much of the watershed Since then the hotel has undergone to be completed in early spring this year. blanketed in a thick layer of snow, the many changes, from recognition as stakeholder groups of the Watershed ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ So take the opportunity to use the cold months of winter to reflect on some of one of the best eating places in Forest Plan are already thinking of the Canada to closing its doors in 1979 the great trees youve known, planted, warmer days of spring and of course, because of financial difficulties.