WATERSHED STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM
- PROJECT TO PROGRAM
by Sami Rehman, Coordinator

The Watershed Stewardship Program (WSP) has completed the first year of its 2-year funding time frame.

The project's agenda and targets have remained the same but by accepting and fostering it as a program, the endpoint of this endeavor becomes non-existent (or a distant conclusion). The eventual goal of the Watershed Stewardship Program is to protect the ecologically significant areas of the lower Grand River watershed. In order to reach our goal of protecting our natural heritage for our neighbours, communities and future generations, we must approach it as a long-term program, not just a project. Long term investments into cultivating and strengthening relationships with community members, partnering agencies and landowners will result in fruitful relationships. In other words, long-term protection requires long-term commitments.

At the midpoint of Year 1, the restoration activities of 2001 and 2002 resulted in 15 acres of reforestation, 1,000 metres of riparian areas (waterway shoreline) restored and a 2-acre wildflower meadow along River road. These results are precisely "on target" to reach our objectives for Year 1. The results of these activities will hopefully provide an example for private landowners interested in stewardship projects on their own properties.

Riparian Restoration along the Grand River

The WSP has also received assistance from the Haldimand Rural Water Quality Program to help the Ruthven Park Demonstration Project adopt the best management practices such as erecting a fence to restrict livestock access to the Grand River, establishing buffers along waterways and reforesting unproductive land. The Haldimand Rural Water Quality Program is administered by the Grand River Conservation Authority(GRCA), www.grandriver.ca.

The landowner contact program, has had great results. The WSP began contacting landowners in the North Cayuga Slough Forest Natural Area, just north of Cayuga. We have established watershed stewardship agreements with landowners. The WSP is also contacting landowners in the Oriskany Sandstone Natural Area and with landowners in the Oakland Swamp Natural Area. The latter is located in the Southern end of Brant County.

We look forward to continuing are efforts by contacting the landowners in these valuable areas within the watershed. These contacts provide opportunities to learn about landowners' concerns and discuss the significance of their property. Please keep an eye open for "Watershed Steward" gatepost signs on participating landowners' properties.

One of the greatest assets and products of the WSP has been the development of partnerships. It is clear that various conservation agencies throughout the watershed and surrounding area have come to realize the value of sharing common goals and information. Since the initial steps of WSP, the number of partners has increased with the realization that by working cooperatively, the conservation community can deliver common agendas effectively and professionally. Communicating success stories and failures, as well as minimizing the duplication of each agency's efforts, are leading to a strengthened conservation movement in the lower Grand River Watershed.

The WSP is always looking for volunteers. Please feel free to contact the WSP office at (519) 759-8015 or Toll Free 1(866)495-9159 or email us at lowergrand@bfree.on.ca.