Coldwater streams are a valuable, yet limited and endangered resource throughout southern Ontario. These particular ecosystems are unique, in that they can 'tell a story' of the past, present and future of coldwater streams in Ontario. The health of a coldwater stream (i.e. fish and invertebrate species present) tell us, or rather can open our eyes to, the land use practices within a watershed that are either environmentally sound or detrimental to the quality of water we all depend on for survival.

The Community Stream Steward Program is a multi-partner initiative that is focused on creating a sense of community and individual awareness of the need for each of us to do our part in restoring and preserving such an integral part of our natural heritage - the coldwater stream. We will work with dedicated individuals and community groups to form a network, or web, of Stream Stewards located on coldwater streams throughout the project area. This network will allow for significant steps, large or small, to be taken towards achieving our goal of coldwater stream restoration and preservation.

A legacy of conservation and stewardship

The conservation community in the City of Kawartha Lakes and surrounding areas lost a significant contributor to land and water stewardship when Robert Whitney passed away unexpectedly in April of 2007. Robert was passionate about protecting and conserving his property on the Pigeon River and was the founding "Stream Steward" of the Community Stream Steward Program (CSSP). Read on

VOLUNTEER POSITIONS AVAILABLE - Fund Development Committee Chair & Members required
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Through continued volunteer and partner support the Community Stream Steward Program will be able to continue;

• Identifying, recruiting and training Community Stream Stewards
• Developing and supporting community volunteer organizations
• Developing and implementing a Stream Steward training program
• Conducting stream assessments to identify and target priority restoration areas….
• Organizing community and/or stream specific open houses
• Developing and launching an interactive and educational website
• Assessing streams and developing and/or contributing to management plans
• Creating, enhancing, protecting trout spawning sites
• Improving thousands of meters of channel
• Naturalizing and cleaning of garbage thousands of meters of shoreline
• Creating and enhancing riffles
• Stabilizing stream bank and other sources of siltation
• Creating vegetated riparian zones with the planting of tens of thousands of trees, shrubs and plants
• Performing pre and post stream restoration monitoring to determine the effectiveness and success of the works completed
• Working with hundreds of individuals that have and continue to volunteer their time to stream improvement activities

All of our goals and desired achievements are attainable, but would not and cannot happen without the continued support from existing and new volunteers and landowners. Please contact us on how YOU can become involved and help the Community Stream Steward Program achieve the goal of coldwater stream preservation and improved water quality.

     

"The future health and sustainability of coldwater streams depends on the individual and combined involvement of many organizations, associations and property owners."