2012 Fund Recipients

• clearing Phragmites* (an invasive plant) in the Port Franks community of Lake Huron's Lambton Shores
• establishing native plants.

*Phragmites overwhelm native plants and wildlife, resulting in reduced biodiversity and access to swimming and fishing areas along the coast.

• Protect Lake Huron
• Improve the health of area wetlands and coastal dune systems

• Improve access to the Conestogo River Valley.

Planting trees and expanding community access to trails with the support of local partners and community volunteers.

• Protect Bayfield River water quality.
• Make it easier for   older and disabled visitors to enjoy existing trials.

• Educate trail users about the ecological importance of the region’s watershed and the need for continued environmental stewardship.

With volunteers and using standardized survey protocols, monitoring marsh birds, frogs and habitats to asses the health of wetlands in various sites of the Great Lakes Watershed. 

• Results will be shared to inform habitat restoration and protection activities across Ontario.

• Help preserve the natural habitat and expand community access.

With students and community volunteers:

•  cleaning up Etobicoke Creek’s riverbank
• planting trees and vegetation

• Control erosion in order to help protect water quality in Etobicoke Creek, which flows into Lake Ontario.

Monitoring and restoring streams – with the support of area landowners and students – by:

• taking and analysing water samples
• undertaking volunteer-based restoration projects

• Restore six streams: four that flow into Lake Huron and two into Georgian Bay

BurlingtonGreen Environmental Association

Organize and conduct a community clean-up event at Beachway Park on Earth Day, 2013 to:

• remove garbage and invasive non-native plants
• plant native plants

• Improve the health of the beach and coastal environment.

• Educate students to help protect the Great Lakes.

• Help students develop an appreciation of the lakes and learn good stewardship practices.

Students at the Institute of Environmental Science are:

• planting native species
• clearing debris from Watts Creek, a tributary of the Ottawa River which flows into the St. Lawrence River

• Improve the fish habitat
• Protect water quality as it flows downstream and into the Great Lakes.

With the Environmental Leadership Program from East Elgin Secondary School:

• creating fish spawning areas
• planting trees and native plants

• Renew and protect the ecosystem of Bradley Creek.
• Prevent erosion along the banks of the creek.

With the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority and other community partners, landowners and volunteers:

• naturalizing shorelines
• rolling out a community awareness program to encourage landowners and community members to take positive action that will help:
  • protect wildlife habitat
  • improve surface water quality in the Gananoque River

• Reduce the impacts of runoff, erosion and habitat loss in the Gananoque River (a tributary of the St. Lawrence River) Watershed.

• testing water quality
• introducing a management program for Phragmites (an invasive species found in the area)
• launching a public awareness campaign to emphasize the importance of the health of the ecosystem

• Protect and restore wetland habitat adjacent to Lake Couchiching.

• restoring and naturalizing the Clarence Island shoreline
• improving fish habitat and water quality in the Ottawa River which flows into the St. Lawrence River

• Help protect the St. Lawrence River.

• Restore the historic conditions of these waterways and support efforts to bring Atlantic salmon back to the waterway while improving the overall habitat and water quality.

• Reforestation will lead to coldwater stream rehabilitation providing prime habitat for native brook trout and Atlantic salmon.

• Improve native fish habitat and protect water quality.

Creating the 1,250 metre long Riverside Nature Trail along a traditional fishing area on the southern shore of the Thames River that will:

• prevent erosion
• include signage to identify species at risk and provide information to encourage the community to protect their environment

• Help protect the Thames River. which flows into Lake St. Clair and then into Lake Erie.

With local landowners these groups are:

• creating new wetlands and restoring existing ones on three properties in Bloomfield, Belleville and Shannonville
• erecting fences to prevent cattle from entering Provincially Significant Wetlands

• Protect water quality, and wetland habitat for waterfowl, frogs, turtles and other wildlife.

• educating children and the community on the value and need for preserving Ontario’s Great Lakes
• planting trees
• organizing a clean up of the Humber River shoreline

• Help protect water quality before it flows into Lake Ontario.

Ecology Ottawa’s Adopt-a-Stream in partnership with the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority’s City Stream Watch Program:

• encouraging Ottawa volunteers to clean five area streams to help keep the St. Lawrence River watershed healthy. 

• Protect the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Watershed.

With community partners and volunteers:

• removing invasive plants organizing a beach cleanup
• introducing an educational shoreline tour
• forming a Beach Management Committee formed to oversee environmental stewardship and clean-up activities

• Improve the ecosystem and water quality of Georgian Bay’s Waubuno Beach, to help the beach achieve international Blue Flag status.

With community partners and volunteers:

• clearing Pine River, which flows into Georgian Bay, of decayed vegetation to improve water flow and deepen the centre channel
• strengthening the river banks to prevent further erosion and enhance the fish habitat.

• Improve the environment for residents and visitors to fish, canoe and explore.

• The efforts will reduce pollutants from entering Lake Erie and protect properties from flooding.

• Improve water quality in this sensitive trout and salmon habitat.

• planting trees
• expanding walking paths
• adding interpretive signage

• Improve opportunities for off road walking and access to facilities and services of this popular summer playground on the shores of Lake Superior.

The Friends of Medway Creek
&
The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority

$23,691

Planting native trees, shrubs and seedlings along the creek banks with the support of local students.

• Help reduce erosion, and improve the water quality and fish habitat of Medway Creek, which ultimately flows into the Great Lakes.

Restoring the natural habitat along the St. Clair River shoreline in Canatara Park by:

• removing invasive species
• planting a diversity of native species, including Prairie Grasses.

• Create a healthier more stable habitat.

With community partners and volunteers:

• building a new environmentally friendly, accessible multi-use recreational 2km-long trail that will:
  • link with an existing landlocked portion of trail
  • provide direct access to the Trent River that flows into Lake Ontario
• The project includes:
  • planting native species
  • regular clean-up initiatives
  • removing invasive species

• Ensure the river’s shoreline stabilization and facilitate erosion control.
• Re-establish links between the community, the Trent River, Trent Severn Waterway and Lake Ontario.

• The program encourages residents to reduce stormwater runoff and contamination to local watersheds and Lake Ontario.

Holding workshops – with the help of community partners – that will teach residents how to assess and identify problems on their own land, such as:

• poor water quality
• threatened wetlands and habitat for species at risk
• promotion of blue-green algae growth

• Provide scientific solutions to these issues that will change resident behaviour and encourage on-going monitoring.

With the Grand River Conservation Authority: 

• creating four wetland areas to enhance biodiversity
• installing new interpretive signage and clear nature trails in the area

• Increase community involvement in the Taquanyah Conservation Area and Nature Centre.

With area volunteers:

• removing invasive species
• increasing the depth of the creek
• creating wetlands
• planting native grasses, wildflowers, shrubs and trees that will form a buffer to minimize the impacts of sediment and fertilizer runoff

• Help rehabilitate a 5.6 hectare area of Fourteen Mile Creek in North Oakville.
• Improve fish habitat, wildlife habitat, and water quality.
• Help protect the endangered Redside Dace that populate portions of the creek.

Conducting an ecosystem survey of the Speed River for which the school’s 270 grade seven and eight students will:

• collect water samples throughout the year
• look for macro-invertebrates and micro-organisms

• Help protect the Speed River, which flows into the Grand River and ultimately into Lake Erie.
• Increase students’ awareness of the organisms in the river and the impact of pollution and human use on the waterway, and on the Great Lakes Watershed.

Planting more than 1000 trees and shrubs across seven sites in the Region of Durham and the City of Kawartha Lakes.

• Reduce phosphorus runoff into the Kawartha Lakes system which flows into and the Great Lakes.
• Help maintain the health of the lakes. 

• Help focus environmental efforts on protecting specific species and improving their habitat.

With the Elgin Hiking Trail Club, area stakeholders and volunteers, building:

• two boardwalks
• two viewing platforms
• a one-kilometre trail around the wetland an outdoor classroom in Dan Patterson Conservation Area

• Help protect the great lakes.

Working with area volunteers:

• planting native vegetation on the Lake Superior shoreline in the Mission Island Marsh Conservation Area
• installing an interpretive exhibit that shows the evolution of the Marsh

• Enhancing this significant wetland area for migratory birds.

With municipalities and two local schools:

• implementing the Living Beaches program to area students
• teaching students about Lake Huron beach-dune ecosystems and coastal science
• providing students with hands-on field experience harvesting and replanting beach grass at sites along the Lake Huron coastline

• Help restore three Lake Huron beaches

• collecting water samples to monitor the health of Lake Rosalind and Marl Lake, which provide drinking water and recreation resources to area residents
• conducting public engagement activities to encourage area residents to protect the health of these lakes

• Help protect the health of Lake Rosalind and Marl Lake (whose waters ultimately flow into Lake Huron).

Working with teachers and students in communities across Ontario:

• planting trees
• stocking fish
• taking other actions

• Help protect the Great Lakes watershed.

Maintaining and expanding sediment traps to capture eroded soil during storms which will:

• deepen the lake and enhance the natural water flow
• improve the water quality and protect fish and wildlife habitat

• Reduce sedimentation in Lake Lisgar and the Big Otter Creek, which ultimately empties into Lake Erie.

Restoring wetlands with community partners and local youth groups.

• Create nesting, feeding, and roosting habitat for a variety of wildlife at the Long Point Crown Marsh.

Constructing barriers to slow stormwater runoff with the help of the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority and area landowners.

• Reduce erosion and fertilizer runoff into Garvey-Glenn Shoreline Watershed and ultimately into Lake Huron.

• Educate and engage children.
• Foster appreciation and respect for the environment.

• With partners and area volunteers:
•  cleaning up the Miller Creek Habitat
• planting more than 8,000 native trees and shrubs, as well as thousands of wildflowers

Help enhance the Miller Creek Habitat:

• reduce erosion along the creek
• enhance the fish and wildlife habitat
• protect water quality before it flows into the Niagara River and on to Lake Erie

With community partners and volunteers, posting new signage along the Lake Erie Shoreline Trail that:

• Highlights the benefits of the improved wetland
• showcases newly planted native species
• promotes protection of the natural habitat

• Improve and extend the Lake Erie Shoreline Trail through an area of restored wetlands.

With area volunteers and University groups:

• excavating the Georg Creek channel
• establishing natural meanders
• creating a riparian buffer

• Restore George Creek – a tributary to the Current River which flows into Lake Superior – to its historic standing as an important brook trout nursery stream.

Holding a shoreline clean-up event and installing signage tracing the ecological development of Sheguiandah Bay.

• Promote environmental stewardship among residents.

Creating floodplains with the help of the South Simcoe Streams Network through:

• grading works
• strengthening embankments
• planting native trees

These efforts will:

• limit the amount of phosphorus entering the creek system by reducing erosion and displaced sediments during heavy rains
• improve water quality, fish habitat, as well as accessibility to the area for both people and wildlife

• Restore 300 metres of Beeton Creek, which flows into the Nottawasaga River and eventually into Georgian Bay.

With the Voyageur Trail Association and Trans Canada Trail, posting signage along the boardwalk to identify points of historical and environmental interest

• Help protect sand dunes and the natural habitat of this area around Lake Superior.

With community volunteers and local high school students:

• planting more than 2,000 native trees and shrubs over 8,000 square metres
• restructuring a pond to improve habitat for native fish, including Atlantic Salmon and Brook Trout

• Restore a wetland in Duffins Creek which flows into Lake Ontario.

With community partners and volunteers:

• improving access to spawning habitat
• stocking rivers with salmon
• encouraging a sense of stewardship among the community towards the watersheds and this species

• Protect and restore Atlantic Salmon in the Credit and Humber River watersheds.

Protecting and enhancing the wildlife habitat and biodiversity of wetland in Lake St. Clair, south of Mitchell’s Bay with help from the Stewardship Network and an area landowner. They’ll do this by:

• creating shallow depressions in the ground and clearing them of non-native plants and sediments
• planting native tallgrass prairie after the wetland restoration is completed

• Help ensure that the area can better withstand fluctuations in water levels and temperature, and provide refuge and a food supply for a variety of species.

• removing garbage from streams and marshes
• encouraging youth to use fresh water resources for recreation

• Educate youth on the value and need for preserving Ontario’s watersheds.

Pine River Watershed Initiative Network

Installing a trail and planting trees on a section of the Pine River with help from community partners, volunteers and students.

• Enhance public access.
• Improve educational outreach. opportunities
• Help restore the river.

• Re-establish riparian habitat, providing food and cover for a variety of birds, amphibians, insects and mammals.

Developing an interpretive exhibit at the Red Rock Marina that showcases Lake Superior’s:

• biodiversity
• fish habitat
• invasive species

• Educate visitors on Lake Superior and stress the importance of individual stewardship of the Lake.

Restoring several sections of the Avon River – with help from community partners, volunteers and students – by:

• strengthening eroded shoreline
• planting native shrubs, plants, wildflowers and grasses

• Improve water quality and habitat for aquatic life.
• Ensure that the Avon River is enjoyed for years to come.

With community volunteers:

• planting trees to enhance the natural habitat and integrity of the shoreline along Lake Huron
• clearing the trails to improve accessibility and safety 

• Help protect Lake Huron.
• Improve the multi-use trail system at Stoney Island.

With a team of volunteers:

• cleaning up litter
• planting trees along the Credit River

• Improve water quality.
• Protect the native habitat of both plants and wildlife.
• Enhance the natural beauty of the Credit River, which flows into Lake Ontario.

With its students and volunteers:

• releasing fish that have been raised at the College’s Muskellunge hatchery into specific stocking sites

• Reintroduce an indigenous, healthy and naturally reproducing population of Muskellunge into Lake Simcoe, adding to the biodiversity of the area.

• Help improve a section of the Two Creeks Forest Conservation Area trail system in a natural heritage area along the St. Lawrence River.

With area volunteers:

• Monitoring macro-invertebrates* in the creek,
• designing and implementing an education program to be shared with residents at various community events
• embarking on a tree planting initiative.
• encouraging environmental stewardship of the creek

*Macro-invertebrates are ideal organisms for evaluating ecological conditions in the creek.

• Raise awareness of the improved health of Talfourd Creek, a small tributary of the St. Clair River, historically impacted by industrial contamination.

With community partners, homeowners, volunteers and students:

• collecting data and measuring the incidence of nuisance aquatic vegetation, such as algal blooms, in the Lake St. Francis region of the St. Lawrence River

• Use the information gathered to focus restoration activities and management planning on areas that will address the emerging concern of nuisance and harmful algae appearing in the waterways of Eastern Ontario.

With community partners and students:

• planting native trees along the creek to reduce erosion, attract wildlife to the area and promote a healthy ecosystem
• posting new signage along the creek

• Restore Trout Creek that feeds into the Thames River and eventually to Lake Erie.

Create a nine-acre buffer zone of tallgrass prairie on top of a bluff along the north shore of Lake Erie with the support of a local landowner and high school students.

• Filter surface water runoff before it enters the lake and add to the biodiversity of the area by re-introducing native grasses that that have been lost.

• Improve stormwater management and the overall health of the Black Creek watershed (the Black Creek feeds the Etobicoke Creek, which flows into Lake Ontario).

Improving habitats and engaging the community by:

• cleaning waterways
• removing overgrown invasive plant life
• planting trees
• providing elementary school children with the resources to raise Atlantic salmon in their classrooms for release in local area waterways, such as those in Greenwood, Cobourg and Belfountain Conservation Areas

• Engage the community in protecting aquatic habitat and fish species in a heavily urbanized area of Ontario.
• Improve local habitat in several tributaries of Lake Ontario, including Morningside Creek.

• Reduce negative impacts to water quality and the natural habitat of Bronte Creek.
• Raise awareness within the local community of the benefits of a healthy environment.

• Increase the significance attached to the lakes
• Strengthen relationships and enhance understanding within the community

Engaging and educating volunteers with activities that include removing invasive plants to prevent damage to the sensitive ecosystems on Walpole Island.

• Help control invasive plant species on Walpole Island.

• Enhance user experience and understanding of this area of Great Lakes shoreline.

• Holding the North Shore Gikendaasowin Sharing Gathering where:
• 16 First Nations communities will come together and share knowledge of  the role they play in protecting the land and water
• a Water Walk will be led by Anishinaabe grandmothers around Bass Lake Sanctuary in Wahnapitae First Nation

• Share knowledge and learn about the importance of protecting the land and caring for water – “the lifeblood of Mother Earth.”

With area volunteers, replacing the Stephen E. Renault Walkway Bridge.

• Restore public access and stabilize the embankment on either side of the bridge, which is part of the Lake Superior Coastal Trail, an important link in the provincial trail network.