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News of the River"all of the river news all of the time" September 1999 to February 2000 Spawning Recruitment Study: UPDATEFebruary 8, 2000 by Dr. Ian Martin On November 30 brown trout eggs from OMNR's Normandale Hatchery were successfully placed into the Grand River, Swan and Carroll Creeks, and into bell jars which act as minihatcheries (see an earlier article "FOGR Study on Spawning Success is Underway"). Since then there has been a bit of breathing space as eggs developed towards hatching and the experiment progressed.The eggs in a bell jar at the GRCA monitoring station at Belwood all died about 2 weeks after they were placed in this mini-hatchery which uses water pumped from the river. It seems that a combination of caddisflies and silt clogged up the valve, shutting off water flow to the bell jar and so the eggs died from lack of oxygen. The clogging problem has been solved by a minor plumbing change, so that if we attempt this part of the experiment again, water flow should not be a problem. We live and learn, and thank GRCA for allowing access to this very useful facility.Eggs in the bell jars supplied with well water flourished. Since the well water is a constant 7 degrees, the eggs developed more rapidly in this experimental control hatchery than in the river water which has mostly been in the 0-2 degree range. Eggs in both of the well-water jars hatched a bit before Christmas with pretty good success rates, and we now have close to 2000 tiny trout swimming around a large shallow tray. Initially, the newly hatched alevins fed on their attached yolk sacs, but in the past couple of weeks they have completely resorbed the contents of the yolk sacs and are now being regularly fed with a standard commercial starter food, courtesy of the fish research station near Alma. This well-water setup is an experimental control, to give us an idea of mortality rates that we might expect under ideal conditions. These numbers can then be compared to mortality in eggs reared in river-water bell jars (next year?) or in the Scotty boxes in the river.
Without the presence of the Belwood bell-jar hatchery to tell us when to expect hatching in the Scotty boxes, we had to dig up a few Scotty boxes to check on egg development or hatching. This was done on 05 January, and no hatching had yet taken place in the sample Scotty boxes from either the upper river station near Belwood, or the lower river station between County Road 86 and the closed bridge concession. The good news is that both stations had only nominal mortality of eggs: 1 or 2 eggs out of 130 in each Scotty box. Boxes from the upper river station had egg cells nearly clogged with organic silt, but the eggs were still viable. Boxes from the lower river were nearly lost owing to scour and anchor ice, even though they had been covered by fairly large stones. However, organic silt was less evident inside the cells of the boxes from this lower station. We elected not to disturb boxes at the middle river station since development should be similar to that noted at the other stations. Boxes checked at the upper and lower river stations were reburied in their original locations and we anticipate checking these, the middle river boxes, and those from Swan and Carroll Creeks, before mid-February. Right now, most of the river is covered in ice, though less so than a week ago. The forecast spell of mild weather should give us a window to get at the boxes next week. Stay tuned!Excavation of marked, natural redds in the river to collect dead or live eggs should occur in late March or earlier, when permits are issued by DFO. New Training for Fish and Wildlife Guardiansby Jeff Prickett In mid-January, members of Friends of the Grand River attended the first training seminar for the new Provincial Fish and Wildlife Guardian Programme. This programme builds upon the popular and successful River Watch Programme pioneered by our group, which was so well received by OMNR that the concept has been formalized and extended to wildlife guardianship as well. Those interested in becoming Guardians take part in a 2-day training seminar conducted by one of the provincial Master Guardians, who themselves have taken extensive training from MNR staff.The first 2-day course was conducted by our own local Master Guardian and ex-President of FOGR, Ken Collins. Brad Gerrie, the OMNR Enforcement Supervisor from the Guelph District Office, was there as well, as an additional resource for training sessions. The venue for the course was the Belwood office of the GRCA, and seven trainees were in attendance.The course was intensive, covering everything from an introduction to provincial law, observation techniques, and of course the provincial Fish and Wildlife Act. At the conclusion of the second day, a short quiz was written by those attending. This was marked during the following week by the two instructors. Our thanks go out to Ken and to Brad, for an informative and well-run training session. Ken has advised that another training course will be conducted in the early spring. Watch this space for details!There have been some questions from FOGR members about the status of our River Watch following the introduction of this new provincial programme, so here's how things work. You can still participate in the River Watch programme if you are unable to attend the Guardian Programme training session. River Watch is not dead. If you are interested in either River Watch OR Fish and Wildlife Guardian Programmes, contact me, Jeff Prickett for more details. (Jeff is the contact for FOGR participation; Ken Collins has a wider responsibility: he has to train Guardians all over southwestern Ontario for all interested groups.)I look forward to hearing from anyone with questions or comments about the Fish and Wildlife Guardian Programme, or with River Watch. Remember, spring is just around the corner, and soon our beloved Grand River will again come alive with anglers of all sorts. It's our duty to make sure that everyone knows the special regulations and areas, in addition to the normal regulations and areas.The stewardship of the Grand River has been placed upon us, and it's a responsibility that we take seriously. Jeff Prickett, FOGR Study on Spawning Success is Underway!December 4, 1999 Early on Weds. 01 December, 1999 FOGR volunteer Jeff Prickett picked up 7500 fertilized brown trout eggs from the OMNR Normandale Hatchery near Turkey Point, thans to arrangements worked out by Daryl Coulson of the Guelph OMNR office. Another 11 volunteers helped count and load the eggs into Scotty Egg Incubator boxes, which were then placed into the main river at three locations: one each in the lower, middle, and upper sections of the river.
Additional boxes were incubated in Swan and Carroll Creeks. As well, three bell-jar incubators were set up with about 1300 eggs each. These bell jars are supplied with either river water or well water, depending on location.
GRCA also has been an enthusiastic supporter of this effort, and has provided a safe and secure location for rearing eggs on pumped water from the upper Grand. Natural redds also were marked in the river, so that fisheries biologist Derek Parks (University of Waterloo) can locate them for further studies through the winter. The object of the exercise, rather than just rearing fish, is also to determine whether natural spawning trout have any likelihood of success. Almost 500 redds of brown trout were mapped in the 06 November, 1999 survey, yet we do not know if any offspring result from this spawning. Derek Parks will be making comparisons of hatching success between eggs excavated from natural redds, eggs in Scotty boxes in the Grand, Swan, and Carroll, and eggs reared in stream or well water. Results from these comparisons should help OMNR, GRCA, and FOGR determine how best to help the spawning trout of the Grand to produce the maximum number of young trout.Many thanks to all the volunteers who turned out on a cold day to swing pickaxes and swan's feathers in FOGR's cooperative effort with OMNR and GRCA! Dr. Ian Martin Half Empty or Half Full?November 23, 1999 The Beatty Dam continues to be in the Elora and Fergus news. The Beatty Dam was drained and refilled earlier this year (see an earlier article). Friends of the Grand River has taken photos of the dam and in its drained and undrained state. It is clear that head pond shown drained on the top and full on the bottom has almost no silt and, if the dam is removed, cobble and gravel will be exposed.
Fall Gathering of the Friends of the Grand RiverThe fall gathering is a meeting were the board of Friends of the Grand River will address your concerns, questions and suggestions. The format of this meeting is open floor so if you have praise or complaints, this is the time and place for them.On Sunday November 28, 1999 from 2:00-4:30 the fall gathering meeting will take place at the Wellington Terrace Home for the Aged in Elora. Its located on Cuthbert Street just off of Colborne Street in Elora. To find Colborne Street, drive down the main street of Elora, until you see the post office and municipal building, turn on to Colborne Street and head east to Cuthbert Street, turn left and drive to the end of the street and your there.For more information contact Larry R. McGratton at 519-843-3102 First Pictures of the "Dry" Beatty DamNov. 18, 1999 The Beatty Dam in Fergus slowly lost
its water
Spawning Success in the GrandOctober 27, 1999 Photo courtesy of Ian Martin. (click on image
for full size picture) Another year and another attempt at
spawning by the brown trout of the Grand River. From Belwood
to Zuber's Corners the trout are cutting redds and laying
eggs.So far not much recruitment of fish has been shown but
the trout have certainly given it there all once again. It
is not clear why the eggs fail to hatch but we at Friends
of the Grand River are trying to be part of the solution by
counting redds and improving water quality.
The Beatty Dam Refills- Grand River Dewatered!Saturday, October 9, 1999 Owing to natural deterioration, generalized leakage, and collapse of the main centre gate, the Beatty Dam in Fergus steadily lost storage capacity through much of September and October. By the evening of Thursday, 07 October, 1999 the dam was drawn down approximately 90% of storage capacity, showing a vertical drop of more than 1.5 meters (5 feet). Cobble and gravel riffles and runs, showing a productive, medium gradient channel were clearly visible in the reclaimed stream bed above the Hwy. 6 bridge. Less than 1 meter water depth was retained behind the dam. Friends of the Grand River (FOGR) has abundant photographic documentation of these conditions.Through most of the day on Friday, 08 October, 1999 flow in the river below the dam was greatly curtailed and spawning riffles in the river below the abandoned rail trestle were entirely dewatered. Brown trout had already begun some spawning excavations in these areas. Also a consideration is that treated effluent from the Fergus and Elora sewage treatment plants may not be adequately diluted by these low flows, so that water quality could be impaired by heightened concentrations of chlorine and nutrients.As of 10 am on Saturday, 09 October, 1999 the Beatty dam is completely refilled and is water is flowing over the lip of the structure. At 11:30 am this same date, FOGR executive members living in the area (Larry McGratton, Ian Martin, and Ken Collins) inspected the Beatty dam to determine why the structure refilled so rapidly (river flows into the dam have been relatively constant). Water turbidity precluded inspection above the dam. Ken Collins inspected the structure from underneath. He found it difficult to approach the newly closed centre gate because of turbulent discharge through the rotting wood of the dam decking, but it appeared that the gate had been covered by lumber and wood debris, possibly including some plywood sheeting. He also noted that several of the main support beams, originally 12-by-12 inch timbers, have rotted and eroded away to dimensions of approximately 2-by-2 inches. FOGR has documented these conditions with further photographs.We (FOGR) have reported these events to DFO, OMNR, and GRCA in light of their possible effects on the spawning activities of brown trout and other autumn spawning fish species, and the recent communications of DFO with the council of Centre Wellington through their engineers (Dale Murray, Triton), regarding application for refilling of the Beatty dam after drainage. It also appears to us that the dam may be a threat to public safety in its refilled state. FOGR also has been in communication with Mayor Pinkney of Centre Wellington, who stated that council has not authorized any repair work to the Beatty dam.Ian Martin 10/13/99 The Beatty Dam Empties- Prime Trout Habitat CreatedSeptember 28, 1999 News Release from Friends of the Grand RiverThe federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans has scotched plans by the Township of Centre Wellington to drain and refill the Beatty Dam in downtown Fergus, reports the Fergus-Elora News Express (22 September, 1999). Triton, the town's engineering firm had proposed drainage of the dam in order to inspect the structure and allow a more accurate costing of the options of repair, replacement, or removal of the dam, which appears to be in an advanced state of deterioration. DFO indicated that drainage of the dam was not a problem, but that refilling or, presumably, replacement, would go against their policy which "strongly supports the rehabilitation projects that endeavor to restore previously altered aquatic habitats to their more natural state."At present, the Beatty dam, which was built to supply power, is not a working operation. It is a replacement of the original structure and is only about 50 years old. Local debate on the value of the dam hinges on aesthetic considerations: some believe it to be a tourist attraction, while others believe that the dam has a negative impact on what would otherwise be an attractive, natural river valley.Despite dissenting opinion from Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources, Triton Engineering stands by its claim that removal of the dam will cost the municipality $100,000 more than replacement of the structure, for a total budget of $374,000, owing to anticipated costs of rehabilitation of the riverbed behind and under the dam. Triton has previously worked with the Beatty dam in 1996, when it carried out ad hoc repairs to the existing structure. These repairs resulted in short-term water deprivation downstream, threatening fish and other aquatic life, and failing to adequately dilute treated sewage effluent. After being informed of the DFO response by Dale Murray of Triton, Township council agreed to have Quaile Engineering assess the safety of the existing structure and determine costs for a visual concept of an undammed river profile.
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| 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. |