Ontario Streams working with local landowners

Ontario Streams is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to protect and rehabilitate the streams and wetlands in Ontario through education and community action.

Ontario Streams works with local landowners to rehabilitate the streams that flow through their property. Possible projects include tree planting; instream habitat enhancement, and the removal of instream barriers such as perched culverts, dams and online ponds, which block the migration of fish.

In 2006, Ontario Streams worked in co-operation with one Caledon resident to mitigate a large barrier that was effectively blocking all fish from reaching upstream habitat. Upon project completion native species, such as brook trout, are now able to access high quality habitat in the extreme headwaters of Coffey Creek. These types of projects are made possible by contributions from various grant organizations. In 2006, this included a $5,000 grant from the Shell Environmental Fund.

Created in 1990, the Shell Environmental Fund is a national program intended to make a local difference. A total of more than $12 million has been granted to more than 4,000 environmental projects across the country. Individuals, schools, community associations, service clubs and environmental groups have used the grants, of up to $5,000 per project, to improve and protect their environment.

Landowners living along a local stream who are interested in making a difference of their own are encouraged to visit www.ontariostreams. on.ca for more information. Details of the Shell Environmental Fund can be found at www.shell.ca/sef.