HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1989-03-08, Page 33Perm Edition '99 s. Page 10
Angiers will soon benefit
from group efforts
ByMike Williscraft
In the very near future anglers, and even
those who may not consider themselves
fishing enthusiasts, will be reaping the
benefits of a small but dedicated group of
area men.
The Maitland Valley Anglers Associa-
tion (MVAA), in co-operation with the
Ministry of.Natural Resources (MNR) are
putting their knowledge and abilities to
work using the funds which have been
made available through the Resident Sport
Fishing Licence (RSFL) which was im-
plemented last year.
Monies raised by the mandatory licence,
which came into effect Jan. 1, 1987, have
totalled $8.2 million. The $10 fee was made
more palatable by the provision which
stipulated funds equal to the revenue
generated will be reinvested in improving
Ontario's fisheries.
It has reached the point where steps
needed to be taken to protect one of the
province's greatest fishing areas because
pollution and increased angling pressures
have made it impossible for some streams
to replenish themselves.
"To improve the cricks, we've lined
them with a lot of stones to narrow them
into faster running water, fenced cattle out
of some areas and put in gabion baskets
where the banks were too steep," explains
P-aul-Blake,-MVAA director.
These improvements will prove fun-
damental to the survival of fish in the
waters where the changes have been
made.
"These cold water streams are the
lifeblood to our fisheries as Rainbow,
Brown and Brook Trout live in these
nursery habitats and, if there isn't enough
of it, you just aren't going to get enough
•
adults to support the population," points
out Ken Maronets, of Wingham's District
Office of the MNR.
The general public's increasing
awareness of the state of the environment
has shown them there are lakes o r ock,
streams which need rehabilitatioMvork
and hatchery facilities which need to be
maintained and updated.
The catch is, these projects aren't free.
With the revenue rolling in from licenc-
ing, the task at hand for the Ministry has
been where and how to spend the m ey.
"We went to the public for comme trand
to see where they wanted to go with (the
funds) ," says Maronets.
"We found their biggest concerns were
with stream rehabilitation, enforcement
and hatchery management so that's where
we started."
One of MVAA's pet projects is the Hunk-
ing Drain which is located on the Archam-
bault's farm near Auburn.
The initial reaction of the Archambaults
to the proposal to have about two dozen
men lining his nearby stream with rock
was one of caution and uncertainty.
"I was quite surprised when they told us
what they wanted to do, but if it's best for
the fish, the stream and everyone involv-
ed, then I didn't mind," says Len
Archambault.
In recent years, the stream, a stones
throw from the farm house, has not Sup-
ported many fish and Archambault notic-
ed that, but wasn't sure of the cause.
"When I was a kid I used to go down and
catch enough Trout for dinner in half an
hour but it wasn't too long before they
disappeared," he recalls.
The cause proved to be what turns out to
Turn to page 14
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Chris Michie (pointing) and Cahn Straughan work together to place a boulder in mid-
stream under the supervision of fisheries technician Steve Rochetta. (Photo by Mike
Williscraft)