Otonabee Conservation was established in 1959 and is one of 36 members of Conservation Ontario charged with protecting, restoring, and managing the natural resources within the Otonabee Region watershed on behalf of its eight-member municipalities. Conservation Authorities boundaries align with local watersheds, in recognition that land and water resources are connected and managing them together is the best way to protect the environment.
It is supervised by representatives from each municipality, and Deputy Mayor Ryan Huntley has served on its board, most recently as its chair, for the last years. The agency aims to help municipalities maintain a healthy, environmentally-diverse watershed that improves the quality of life for residents, makes the area more appealing to visitors and new businesses, and helps to ensure a more vibrant regional economy. It delivers programs and services that support the sustainability of the environment, within the physical and economic context of the watershed and in consideration of the social, cultural, and economic aspirations of its residents.
Every five years, it publishes a Watershed Report Card that provides information about water quality, forests, groundwater and wetlands.
A watershed is an area of land drained by a creek or stream into a river, which then drains into a body of water such as a lake or pond. Everything in a watershed is connected: actions upstream can affect conditions downstream. Measuring helps develop a better understanding of the watershed, helping to direct protection activities where they are most needed and allowing authorities to track the progress of their efforts.
The first item examined in the report is surface water, which is found in lakes, rivers, creeks and wetlands and is a key component to the environment. Its health is assessed by measuring the levels of phosphorus and benthic macroinvertebrates (small aquatic organisms living in bottom sediments). The watershed earned an overall quality rating of B, which is considered a good rating. Locally, samples from Baxter Creek earned a good rating whereas samples at Cavan and Squirrel Creek rating only fair. For Cavan Creek, this indicates a reduction in its water quality from its “good” rating in the 2018 report. Baxter and Cavan creeks support cold-water habitat and are more vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
Forest conditions were also evaluated and received a B, or a good overall rating. Forests provide many benefits including habitat, clean air and water, flooding and erosion reduction and outdoor recreation opportunities. Forests also make watersheds more resilient to climate change impacts. Forest health can be negatively impacted by urbanization, agriculture, invasive species, and disease. Local forests are health but urbanization, climate change and other risk factors such as invasive species can damage them so continued efforts to protect them are required. While forests are slow to grow, their environmental benefits begin as soon as they are planted.
Next on the list was groundwater quality which was not graded. Groundwater is precipitation that has infiltrated the ground to fill spaces and cracks in soil, sand, gravel, and rock. It is found beneath the earth’s surface within saturated layers of porous rock or sediment called aquifers, which are an important source of drinking water. Groundwater plays an important ecological role by replenishing wetlands, creeks, streams, rivers, and lakes. Its quality is assessed by measuring concentrations of components such as nitrate, nitrite, and chloride, which can have an impact on human health. Nitrogen occurs naturally in groundwater as nitrate and nitrite. Additional sources of nitrogen can include septic systems and fertilizer. The Ontario Drinking Water Quality Guideline for nitrate and nitrite (as nitrogen) is 10 mg/L. Levels of nitrate, nitrite and chloride on all tests on the wells within the local watershed met the provincial and federal water quality guidelines. Roughly 35% of residents within the watershed depend on groundwater for drinking.
The final area examined is referred to as Wetland Cover which also was not graded. Wetlands include bogs, marshes, swamps and fens, and offer protection against climate change. They contribute to a healthy watershed by providing habitat for birds, amphibians, and reptiles, including Species at Risk. Wetlands are nature’s sponges, helping to reduce flooding by storing water and releasing it slowly during dry periods, and act as filters to improve water quality by removing contaminants from water. The Otonabee watershed has 11% of wetland cover, slightly higher than Environment Canada’s recommended 10% minimum. Of the nearly 40,000 hectares of wetland within the watershed, 2,500 of them are owned by Otonabee Conservation including 17 different provincially significant wetlands.
We all have a role to play in protecting our land and water resources. Individuals can help protect groundwater by maintaining private wells and septic systems, limiting water use during dry spells, participating in community clean up or tree planting events, restricting planting to include only native species and by reducing their carbon footprint. To learn more Otonabee Conservation and how it protects our environment, visit www.otonabeeconservation.com. KG