The Rural Voice, 2000-06, Page 41costs for the drain.
By observing the first drain, there
appeared to be some narrowing of the
channel, creating a faster flowing
waterway, which would be better
able to sustain itself through removal
of sediment, said Norm Smith of the
Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
In order to test the health of the
creek, Rick Moore and Stewart
Lockie of the Maitland Valley
Conservation Authority assisted John
Schwindt of the Upper Thames
Valley Conservation Authority in
sampling the aquatic life.
With the, use of an electrical
shocker, a.small current was sent
through the water to temporarily
disturb the fish's equilibrium. This
served two purposes, turning the fish
belly -side up so the shiny white
underside could be more easily
spotted and making the fish easier to
net.
Though many might see the first
municipal drain as
unproductive in terms of fish
habitat, the testers captured five
species including central stone roller,
common shiner, brook stickleback,
common white sucker and creek
chubb.
For the novice observer, the
experts said, one of the easiest ways
to determine the health of the creek is
through a count of the number of legs
on the insects trapped. The more legs
on the bugs, the healthier the water.
Though the drain had many
legless worm -type insects, there were
also several higher -form bugs.
The second stop on the tour was at
the McVittie Municipal Drain which
runs through Sturzeneggers' property
on Blyth Rd. It's a drain that had not
required maintenance for several
years and appeared very much like a
naturally -occurring creek.
Though there was some remnant
of steep banks, the slopes had
lessened, the creek meandered in
easy curves, shrubbery and trees
shaded the water and there was
evidence of the important
components to a healthy fish habitat
— riffles, shallows, flow over rocks,
food production area and gravel
spawning areas, said Smith. Though
the main stream channel had been
narrowed, there was still room for
flood conditions.
King said the creek had been
rehabilitated in co-operation with the
landowner. Cattle had been
completely fenced out, the first site in
the area to do so, rock had been
placed along the banks for
stabilization, a three -metre buffer
zone used and sediment traps
installed upstream.
Smith said this was a good
example of a drain.
Ken Maronets of the Perth
Stewardship Network said this type
of drain would hopefully only need
spot maintenance. King agreed,
saying very little had been done in 10
years.
All the professionals present said
the most important factor in finding
the balance between farmland
concerns and fish habitat was co-
operation with the farmer.
A sample from the McVittie Drain
showed higher order fish and insects.
The species included fan -tailed
darter, horny -head chubb, shiner,
mollusk, stone catfish, sculpin and
two age classes of trout as well as
fish found in the first drain.
By sampling the various
waterways throughout the region,
drainage superintendents and
ministry officials are better able to
determine what precautions are
needed when an application is filed
for a clean-out. With the information
on file, there is no need to delay the
work so that a study can be
completed.
The final stop was along the Blyth
Brook, the natural waterway into
which the two drains emptied.
Smith pointed out the importance
of maintaining the health of
municipal drains because they
flow in natural habitats. Features
from the brook should be
incorporated into drains, he said. "A
lot of different habitats are important
to waters managed for fish habitat."
Observation of the Blyth Brook
resulted in trout sightings as well as
rainbow darters, small and rock bass
and much to the delight of everyone
in attendance, a mud puppy.
Smith finished the lesson with a
reminder to all landowners to find a
way for farm drainage and fish
habitats to co -exist, benefiting both,
and to always consider what is
downstream.0
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JUNE 2000 37