Winter 2000
President's CornerThe Grand River is a precious environment that we must all help to maintain and preserve, with your membership and volunteer efforts Friends of the Grand can continue to do their part in supporting and sharing in the future of the Grand River. I would encourage each and every one of you to renew your membership with Friends of the Grand River. "The Grand River gives us so much, but it depends on its friends."
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Annual General MeetingSunday March 26 The Annual General Meeting is the venue that the board uses to announce the projects and events that FOGR is going to undertaken in 2000. It is also the format for the membership to become more involved by either volunteering for a project of interest to them or by standing as a candidate for election to the board of directors, if there is a vacancy. Time will be allocated to address your concerns, questions and suggestions, so if you have praise or complaints, please let us hear them. On Sunday, March 26, 2000 the AGM will take place at 2:00 PM at the Wellington Terrace Home for the Aged in Elora. It is 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 you're there. For more information email Larry McGratton or call him at (519) 843-3102 Food for thoughtIt's a wonderful feeling to know what you do to help the environment we live in today will sustain it for tomorrow! FOGR Current Board of DirectorsExecutive DirectorsPresident: Larry R. McGratton DirectorsArt Patterson Membership RenewalOn April 30, 2000 your membership in Friends of the Grand River becomes expired. In order to continue with the projects and have the wonderful success that Friends of the Grand River has enjoyed we need your membership. Without this money and without members, FOGR would not exist. Also encourage a friend to become a member of Friends of the Grand River. Please respond promptly by filling out your renewal form and mailing it back to: Friends of the Grand River YOU CAN ALSO PRINT OUT A REGISTRATION FORM BY CLICKING HERE Corporate Sponsors
Memorial DonationsFOGR Spawning Recruitment Study: UPDATEAfter the successful placement on 30 November of brown trout eggs from OMNR's Normandale Hatchery into the Grand River, Swan and Carroll Creeks, and into pumped-water bell jars, there was a bit of a breathing space as eggs developed towards hatching. Unfortunately, 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. The closed valve shut off water flow to the bell jar and 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 wellwater is a constant 7 degrees, the eggs developed more rapidly in this experimental control hatchery than in the river water which has mostly been 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. Fish and Wildlife Guardian Programmefrom Jeff Prickett, FOGRIn 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 past 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. The quiz was graded 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 that 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 2000 CalendarFish Stocking 2000April or May The Grand River will receive 20,000 + brown trout for stocking this year. However as, in the past the dates for this project are uncertain. For stocking to take place, there are some requirements that need to be met. River flows and temperatures play the key role in deciding when stocking is to take place, the temperature in the river must be within a couple of degrees of the hatchery. Therefore no one can pin down the exact date in advance. Izaak Walton Fly Fishing ForumApril 8th and 9th Brampton Fair Grounds Grand Opportunities Forum hosted by FOGRJune 3, 2000
Swan Creek RehabilitationJune 9 &10 8:30 AM Swan creek arises as a cold-water spring just east of Highway #6. The creek travels through scenic bush and farmland and enters the Grand River in the village of Inverhaugh. In the past Swan creek was one of the purist streams in southern Ontario. Just prior to entering the Grand, Swan creek has a tenancy to split into four or five different channels then at the mouth of the creek it forums back into one channel. The main problem seems to be caused by one big logjam that continually gets bigger as it collects debris. FOGR intentions are to team up volunteers, the students of Dan O'Gorman's environment class at Center Wellington District High School and our partners (MNR, GRCA, DFO), to remove the log jam and stabilize the banks and do whatever other work is required. We hope to put Swan creek back on her normal course and prevent the banks from further destruction due to erosion. These changes will help stabilize some of the old growth cedars that have been falling into the creek due to the erosion. If you feel that you would like to volunteer on this project and you are able to spare a little of your time, be it an hour or a half day, what ever you can afford to volunteer, would be greatly appreciated. Adopt A RoadOnce again Art Patterson and Alex Albl have stepped forward and taken on this worthwhile project that is responsible for cleansing of the roads that parallel our beloved Grand River from the Shand Dam to Fergus and between Fergus and Elora on the south side of the river. For more information contact: Tree Plant 2000Friday, May 5th Doug Ratz is once again working on a "Tree Plant 2000" plan. As with all plans the detail takes on more shape as the date draws nearer. This year Doug has two separate tree plant events on his project plan list.It involves the schools on the Friday and the Cubs and Scouts of Wellington County on Saturday May 6, 2000. Secondly, there will be a special environmental project at the Alma Public School to be completed on Friday, May 12, 2000. On Friday May 5th the tree plant will involve the students from our local area schools and Doug will be in need of team captains to help organize the students. The project includes a new site on Carroll Creek and will be representative of the kind of projects that can be accomplished through "The Wellington County Rural Water Quality Program." Saturday, May 6th. Saturday May 6th is the big event for the "Friends of the Grand River" along with the other partners. This day of community participation is for every one of us to enjoy, member and non-member alike. This project will take place at Belwood Lake ConseSaturday May 6th is the big event for the "Friends of the Grand River" along with the other partners. This day of community participation is for every one of us to enjoy, member and non-member alike. This project will take place at Belwood Lake Conservation Area with many Cubs and Scouts from across Wellington and the Community Volunteers from Center Wellington. It includes a farm project where protection of a stream from cattle, and, reduction of water temperatures in the stream, is already in progress and is now ready for phase two. So, if you can volunteer a little of your time and want to do something positive for the environment, with your family and loved ones, come out and plant a tree or two. Doug would greatly appreciate your assistance and invite you to also enjoy the "BIG BARBEQUE" that concludes your morning efforts. Meet us about 8:00 AM at the Shand Conservation area with a shovel, a pail and some good work boots. Dress for the weather, those trees need to be in the ground even if the rain falls. Friday, May 12 The Second tree plant event is the next week on Friday, May 12, 2000 and will take place in Alma at the public school. If you could meet there by 8:30 AM it would be very helpful. We need team captains to help the students plant their trees and provide leadership. JOIN US FOR THESE GREAT ENVIRONMENTAL EVENTS For more information contact Doug Ratz (519) 846-5902Garbage KiosksAgain this year with the help of volunteer members we are going to place eight kiosks on the Grand River at the access points. The kiosk program has been a great financial and environmental success. The kiosks have kept the heavily used access points free from every day litter. The board of FOGR thanks all of you for make the program success. Again this year we will be looking for Sponsorship to assist in the cost of maintaining the kiosk program, so if you are interest in sponsoring a kiosk for the 2000 season or know of anyone who might be willing to support such a worth while project, please feel free to contact us. Each Kiosk has a nicely letter sign that recognizes who assisted FOGR in cleaning up the environment and beautifying the Grand River valley, for all to enjoy. If your interest in sponsoring a kiosk or would like to help and maintain a kiosk site, contact: Please report any errors or omissions to the webmaster |
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