The Rural Voice, 1993-11, Page 45Calendar
contact Township Directors or office in
Hanover.
12 — Perth Holstein Club Annual
Banquet, 7:00 p.m., Upper Kinsmen
Hall, Stratford Fairgrounds.
14 — Walkerton 4-H Awards.
18 — Grey County Federation of
Agriculture Directors' meeting, 8:00
p.m., OMAF board room, Markdale.
19 — Normanby Township Federation
of Agriculture Annual meeting.
23 — 4-H Achievement Program, 7:30
p.m., Seminar room, OMAF office,
Clinton.
23 — Huron Holstein Club Annual
meeting, 11:00 a.m., Brussels Legion.
24 — District 3 Sheep Association
meeting, 8:00 p.m., OMAF office,
Stratford.
24 — Focus '94 — Update on Crops &
Tillage Practices, 9:30 a.m. to 3:00
p.m., Centre Grey Recreation
Complex, Markdale.
25 — Huron Soil and Crop Improve-
ment Association Annual meeting,
Social 6:00 p.m., Banquet 7:00 p.m.,
Brussels, Morris & Grey Community
Centre. Tickets available from your
local director.
26 — United Breeders' Incorporated
Annual meeting, Brussels Legion.
26 — 4-H Awards Night, 8:00 p.m.,
Central Huron Secondary School,
Clinton.
26 — Grey County Holstein Club
Annual meeting, Chatsworth
Community Centre.
29 — WOBI Annual meeting for
Oxford -Perth, 11:00 a.m., Tavistock
Memorial Hall.
30, December 1 — Sharpen Your Credit
Management & Skills course, 9:30
am. to 3:15 p.m., OMAF board room,
Markdale. 2 people/farm — $25.
(Register by November 19 — 519-986-
2040 ort -800-265-9152)0
Water Matters
Streambank erosion
Bank erosion in the past, was not
often considered a serious problem
in rural Southern Ontario. However,
having learned valuable lessons
from past actions, we now know that
intensive land use can have a serious
impact on river ecosystems. For
example, building in the vicinity of
riverbanks or pasturing livestock on
banks may accelerate
erosion.
Allowing live-
stock access to
waterways remains a
common practice
among livestock
farmers in rural
Ontario. The tramp-
ling of livestock
along a bank breaks
apart the vegetative
cover of the bank
allowing the flowing
water to carry away
the exposed and
loose soil surface.
As livestock are
attracted to the
watercourse for
watering purposes,
the livestock spend
considerable grazing
time along the banks which
contributes substantially to the bank
degradation. As well, the common
occurrence of livestock excreting in
the water has a profound impact on
water quality both on site and
further downstream.
Damage attributed to accelerated
bank erosion can be classified into
two types: (1) damage in the
immediate area and (2) damage
created downstream by sediment
transport. Immediate damage would
include a loss in productive
farmland, the undermining of
structures and the washing out of
lanes and roads. Downstream
damage would be seen in an
increase in the amount of pollutants
that enter the stream channel, such
as phosphorus, bacteria and silt.
This increase in pollutants can cause
a water quality problem for
downstream users including man,
animal and fish species alike.
Water and soil conservation
practices can help to reduce the rate
of streambank erosion. One such
undertaking is the restriction of
livestock from waterways. Fencing
animals away from streams and
rivers is becoming more favoured
among farmers. Aside from reduced
erosion, the benefits of fencing are
Cattle along
stream banks
can increase
soil erosion,
pollu
probl
tion
ems
numerous. Protecting
and improving fish and
wildlife habitat,
lessening the water
related risks to herd
health and severely
reducing the pollutants •
that enter the waterway
are only a few of the
rewards of fencing.
The Province of
Ontario is strongly
committed to providing
programs which are
aimed at reducing
erosion and water
pollution. These types
of programs typically
offer technical advice
along with grants to
undertake this variety
of improvements. The
Clean Up Rural Beach-
es and Conservation Services offer-
ed by Conservation Authorities and
the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture
and Food's (OMAF) Permanent
Cover II are a few programs
available at this time which provide
funding for fencing and/or erosion
control projects. Although each
program has specific goals in mind,
the fencing component is shared by
all three. These programs may also
provide assistance for alternate
watering facilities and tree and
shrub planting as well.
For more information on the
subject or the possible grant
programs, call your local
Conservation Authority or OMAF
office.0
This is another in a series of
articles by Janette Smiderle of the
Saugeen Valley Conservation
Authority, highlighting
information on water quality in
the rural environment.
NOVEMBER 1993 41