[All] Good news for fish in the Marden Creek

Thu Dec 16 18:34:19 EST 2010

Hi folks

This is great local story regarding the successful re-mediation of a creek and ecosystems.

Lulu :0)

--- On Thu, 12/16/10, Janet Baine <jbaine at grandriver.ca> wrote:

From: Janet Baine <jbaine at grandriver.ca>
Subject: GRCA Features: Marden Creek Runs Free
To: 
Date: Thursday, December 16, 2010, 3:49 PM

Grand River Conservation Authority 
Features Service  Marden Creek runs free  Dec. 16, 2010  By Janet Baine GRCA Communications Specialist Marden Creek, a small tributary of the Speed River at the north end of Guelph, is moving freely for the first time in nearly two centuries.It is an example of the work that can be done to improve streams throughout the watershed—removing a pond or reservoir to cool and clean the water so that more species can live there.The last old dam on the creek was removed this fall. A short time later, a beautiful small brook trout was found in the lower part of the creek in the former reservoir. Brook trout could not survive at this location during the 181 years that the stream was dammed. A photo of this trout with three perfectly lined up red dots is being e-mailed among the many people and organizations that have had a hand in this project, as if the small fish were the miracle of a long-awaited newborn baby.Brook trout thrive in coldwater streams and
 were once common throughout the watershed.  They need cold, clean water to survive and are considered an indicator species of the health of the stream.  While the dam was in place, the water was warm and not so clean. As a result, trout could not make their way all along the stream and into the Speed River. The small dam was the last barrier on the creek. For anyone who understands local fisheries, this is exciting news.“It’s awesome. This project was done with the best approach by letting the creek decide where to go, instead of a hard engineering approach,” explains Jennifer Wright, aquatic biologist at the GRCA who reviewed the changes. Eventually the mud that was at the bottom of the pond will be covered with vegetation and the new stream bank will be naturalized.This is a major step towards improving the health of the Speed River watershed. It is an important component to an 11-year project, initiated by the Wellington County Stewardship
 Council and Trout Unlimited Canada. In 2009 Trout Unlimited received a Watershed Award for their work. The dam was on property owned by the Ignatius Jesuit Centre, which received a watershed award for other environmental work in 2007. This project involved many other partners. The Ministry of Natural Resources, the Grand River Conservation Authority, the Wellington County Water Stewardship Program, World Wildlife Fund, the Species at Risk Farm Incentive program and the Community Fisheries and Wildlife Involvement Program have been key supporters. First dam in 1832The first dam on the site was built in 1832 to provide water power for a saw mill. It was replaced by the current structure in 1929.  This was the last remaining barrier to fish and other aquatic wildlife.The dam was within a two kilometre stretch of Marden Creek that flows through the 40 hectare parcel of land designated by the Jesuits to be restored to an old-growth forest. Together, the
 forest and creek restoration projects represent a big step forward for watershed health.  Photos:1. A small brook trout found in a part of the stream where it could not survive before the stream was restored. Photo by Larry Halyk.2. An aerial photo of the former reservoir on Marden Creek taken shortly after the dam was removed. A small stream is now meandering through the area. Photo by Hugh Smith. Please ask for this because it is 2 MB and I didn’t want to send it out to everyone.  Further information:Dave Schultz, GRCA Manager of CommunicationsPhone 519-621-2763 x2273  |  Cell 519-658-3596  |  Email dschultz at grandriver.ca     Janet Baine, Communications Specialist Phone 519-621-2763 x2302  |  Email jbaine at grandriver.ca    From time to time, the GRCA provides items to media outlets within the Grand River watershed. These are feature stories or issues-oriented articles with local relevance. They complement the press releases, while
 providing more background information. You are welcome to publish these items as space permits. Where possible, we will also provide photos or graphics. We ask only that you credit the stories in whatever format is compatible with your own style.      Janet Baine, BA, MACommunications Specialist Grand River Conservation Authority400 Clyde RoadCambridge, Ontario  N1R 5W6(519) 621 2763 x 2302www.grandriver.ca

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