"Dedicated
to Preservation and Conservation on the Grand River"
The Friends of the Grand River was organized to develop, promote and implement projects which will preserve, conserve and enhance the ecology of the Grand River watershed.
Board meetings are held the last Thursday evening of every month.
New location: Veteran's Hall, TCW Municipal Building
1 MacDonald Square
Elora
(see a Google map)
Annual General Meeting
Sunday April 22, 2012
2-4:30pm
Belwood Conservation Area ("Shand Dam")
Wellington Rd. No. 18, Fergus
(see a Google map)
We report on all the upcoming projects and talk about what worked and what did not in the previous year.
Spring Road Clean Up
Saturday April 21, 2012
9am-12noon
Meet at Fergus Arena, Country road 18 Fergus (Belsyde Rd)
Wear rubber boots if you have them as ditches may be wet. Bring a ranincoat, warm clothes, a pair of gloves and a couple bottle of water to drink.
Tree Planting
Saturday May 5th, 2012
10am-1pm
Location: along the Grand River at Wilson Flats
Come and get some dirt on your boots
The annual tree plant will see 200 trees (3' to 6' in height) planted along the banks of the Grand river.
With Global warming in the daily news, this is your chance to help with the battle against it and keeping our environment safer for future generations.
So if you are not already busy on May 5th, why not come and help out for a few hours while the river warms up a degree or two and then fish the afternoon. Or better yet bring the family out and spend the day together outdoors. All you need is a pair of boots, gloves, a shovel and a willing heart to make a difference. FOGR will supply lunch and refreshments for all volunteers.
For more info, contact Terry Ryckman @ (519) 843-3806.
Fish stocking is always an approximate date - it depends on temperature's and flow of river. But here are the current dates:
Date: Tuesday May 8
Hatchery: Chattsworth
Location: Grand River - Belwood to West Montrose
# of Fish: 13,000
Meeting Location: Zehrs parking lot in Fergus
Date: Wednesday May 9
Hatchery: Chattsworth
Location: Grand River - Belwood to West Montrose
# of Fish: 10,000
Meeting Location: Zehrs parking lot in Fergus
Date: Thursday May 10
Hatchery: Chattsworth
Location: Conestogo River - Conestogo Dam to Hawksville
# of Fish: 10,500
Meeting Location: West of County Road 12 on County Road 45 (just N and W of the Macton Bridge)
Date: Friday May 11
Hatchery: Harwood
Location: Conestogo River - Conestogo Dam to Hawksville
# of Fish: 4,250
Meeting Location: West of County Road 12 on County Road 45 (just N and W of the Macton Bridge)
As in the past, the hatchery truck is anticipated to arrive between 10:30 and 11:00 am each day. The Leader of the Grand River fish stocking Al Newsome. Email
or phone (905) 242-1174 or (519) 846-8488
Fish Stocking on the Grand
May 8th & 9th are the dates for this years stocking.
We will Meet at the north east corner of Zehrs parking lot off Tower Street in Fergus between 9:30 and 10:00 am.
This will allow us to get organized for the arrival of the stocking truck.
These dates are rain or shine.
Items to bring: rain gear, warm clothes, light lunch, a couple bottles of drinking water, waders or rubber boots, sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, camera and a friend or two.
Fish Stocking on the Conestogo
May 10th & 11th are the dates for this years stocking.
The leader for the Conestogo River fish stocking is Brad Knarr.
We will meet on both days at the Macton access point between 9:30 and 9:50 AM. This will allow us to get organized for the arrival of the stocking truck at approx. 10:20 AM.
These dates are rain or shine so please bring appropriate clothing.
Please let me know one way or the other if you can or cannot attend. I need to make sure that I have enough people to get the fish into the river as quickly as possible. If you do not respond I have no way of knowing if you are still interested or not. Unfortunately if you do not respond your name may be removed from my list of future events. All that I am asking is for a quick yes or no and the date if you are able to attend.
If you have a canoe, please let me know, even if you are by yourself I can put someone in it with you.
If you have any questions please contact Brad Knarr. Email
or phone 519 747 1824
Grand Opportunities
Saturday June 2, 2012
10am
Belwood Lake Conservation Park
This you should not miss. The only cost is the park admission price and if you want a steak lunch - approximately $15.00. The day consists of on-the-river seminars, used equipment sales, raffles and games. Grand Opportunities Poster
Leader Larry McGratton
Conestogo tree planting & road cleanup dates to be determined
As soon as these dates are confirmed they will be posted and forwarded to you via email.
Contact person: Archie McLarty. Email
or (519) 751-7671
Volunteers are welcome. Your assistance is needed. See our projects and activities sections for more details and contact us if you would like to help the FOGR.
Have you got some time to volunteer? Contact us to sign up for that project you want to get involved in.
It's time to knock the rust off your shovel and come out to help out with our ongoing quest to turn the banks of the Conestogo into a forest. We've planted some 2000+ trees and shrubs along the river to date thanks to your past efforts, and their growth and impact is becoming a welcome new feature of the river.
You're making a difference!!
We will be meeting at 9:45 am Saturday May 12 at the Wallenstein access site (NOTE: NOT MACTON!!) on Highway 86/a.k.a. Listowel Road, about 5 minutes northwest of Elmira. Get yourself to the Esso station, just south of Elmira on Highway 85 coming north from KW. Go west on Listowel Road/Hwy 86 to the first stop sign then left through Wallenstein, down the hill and park in the access lot, just before the bridge on the right hand side.
The planting sites will be on that property or across the river on the adjoining farm. Rally in the parking lot by 9:45 if possible and we'll get organized and started soon after. Dress for the weather, wear good boots, gloves, sunscreen, bring your shovel (or we'll have some). Those feeling adventurous should bring waders to be able to cross the river without walking the bridge! Lunch and refreshments will be provided for you if you call Archie McLarty at 519-751-7671 to confirm numbers. With any luck we'll have good weather and lots of happy diggers. Many hands make light work! No one will be turned away! Let's set a record and be on the way home by 1:00!
Petition
The federal government is considering the removal of fish habitat protection from The Fisheries Act, which is one of the few controls on loss of habitat in rivers and lakes in Canada.
The Atlantic Salmon Federation has created an on-line petition to lobby the Conservative government to retain the "no net loss of fish habitat" provision.
The petition might well be of interest to FOGR members who are concerned about development pressure on our limited cold-water fisheries.
The best way to learn the art and science of fly fishing is on the river and Grand Opps provides an unparalelled opportunity to do just that. Plus we have a killer lunch, the best gear swap anywhere and fantastic draw prizes. The announcement is here: Grand Opportunities Poster.
The biggest and best gear swap is also at Grand Opps. Here is a link explaining the sale and telling you how to register your gear at the Used Equipment Sale
This site has been posted to keep our members
informed of current and future activities of the Friends of
the Grand River organization. Parts of this site are still
under construction and will be updated regularly or people
will pick on me, the webmaster.
