HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen-Agriculture 2000, 2000-03-15, Page 30PAGE A-6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2000.
Water, forests, lands receive rehabilitation
By Janice Becker
Citizen staff
In the late 1970s and early 1980s,
government funding allowed consid
erable work to be done on water
ways, forested areas, soil conserva
tion and wildlife management.
Most were under the guidance of
the Ministry of Natural Resources
(MNR) and conservation authorities,
Livestock Producers
You are invited to attend an information meeting
March 20, 2000
to be held at
Brussels Legion
7:30
Grazing Management & Canadian
Cattle Identification Tags
Featured Speakers
TIM PRIOR ~ Grazing Management "New Zealand
Style" - slides of Tim s trip to New Zealand.
DAVID PICKEN - Gallagher's new Smart Power
Energizers
STAN EBY ~ Canadian Cattle Identification Tags
Free Coffee, Donuts & Door Prizes
Transformation
The Scott section of the Belgrave Creek was rehabilitated in 1979 (top photo),1980 (middle
photo) and 1981 (bottom photo) as cattle were fenced out, the banks were reconstructed and
grassed and creek velocity increased.
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along with other agencies.
With government funds and both
paid and volunteer labour, the
impact on the environment was seen
within a few short years in some
cases.
In many instances, short-term
work has resulted in long-term bene
fits while other sites have received
ongoing improvement. Current proj
ects have added to the three dozen
sites detailed in the Huron County
Land Stewardship Demonstration
Areas Catalogue.
One of those early projects was the
rehabilitation of the Belgrave Creek
along what is know as the Scott sec
tion.
Located through Lot 36, Cone. 6
of East Wawanosh Twp., that portion
of the Belgrave Creek was improved
by fencing the stream to prevent cat
tie access, instream devices were
installed and the banks were recon
structed to narrow the waterway
thereby creating fish habitats. Cedar
trees were planted to enhance the
property and protect the site.
Long-term cattle use had caused
the creek to become wide, shallow
and silt-laden.
In i979, 359 metres of fencing
was installed and eight deflectors
placed in the stream to help create a
more natural meander.
Of the 564 metres of creek
improved, 97 metres were narrowed
with rock work to increase flow
velocity which removes excess sedi
ment.
The banks were re-graded and
grassed for stability and trees were
planted.
Nine years later, more work was
done on the creek to provide better
cover for fish. More deflectors were
added to increase flow which would
flush unwanted aquatic plants and
help ensure an appropriate water
temperature for rainbow trout.
Erosion . protection was also
improved.
With just under $8,000 spent on
the rehabilitation, about $6,800 in
the first phase, the Belgrave Creek
received a new lease on life.
The site can be viewed from Cone.
6/7 where a sign indicates the
Belgrave Creek Improvement
Program.
Upstream along the Belgrave
Creek, another stewardship project
was underway during the same time
period.
John and Noreen Gnay had a 27-
acre woodlot at the north comer of
their East Wawanosh property which
had been logged in the 1930s while
neighbouring pastures had been used
by cattle.
The couple was approached by F.
E. Madill Secondary School science
teacher Dan Webster in 1976 about a
reforestation project for his class.
Within a few years, the MNR
sought involvement in the site
improvement.
More than 23,000 seedlings were
planted by hand with a cost of just
over $3,000 on the original 22 acres.
The cost of the seedlings were subsi
dized by the MNR’s Woodlands
Improvement Act which is no long
in place.
Replanting of lost trees occurred
in 1981.
Another $ 1,800 was spent planting
an additional five acres in 1987. This
work not only improved the condi
tion of steeply-sloped scrub land
which was unusable for pasture or
crops, but created a buffer zone
along a highway.
“I think this is one of the biggest
treed areas along the roadside from
Continued on page A-7