2018 Waddle Creek – Brook Trout Restoration
Waddle Creek is a cold water creek located in Lanark Highlands Township within Lanark County, northwest of Perth, Ontario. Waddles Creek is a reach of Eastons Creek which flows into the Clyde River which drains into the Mississippi River. Waddle Creek is one of five cold water streams within the Mississippi Valley Watershed.
Coldwater streams are significant tributaries in the proper function of natural ecosystems as they help to moderate temperatures in the larger rivers and lakes they flow into. Not only are these streams water temperature regulators, they also provide nursery habitat for many fish species including brook trout which require the cold temperatures and high dissolved oxygen levels that these creeks possess.
Watersheds Canada, and the Lanark County Stewardship Council (LCSC) met with staff from the Ministry of Natural Resources & Forestry (MNRF) and Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) to determine the ideal site location for this project. We decided to plant 75 black willow and silver maple trees (5-6’ potted stock) along the banks to stabilize the shoreline, enhance the buffer strip and to provide future shade for the creek. The site visit revealed that the area that needed restoring was dense with canary type grasses, very tall and thick. So we decided to use thick paper, coconut mats around each tree. The area is also known for a high deer population, so we caged and staked each tree to improve its rate of survival.
The restoration took place over several days during the summer, focusing on areas of Waddle Creek that were in need of shade and bank stabilization. We therefore decided to plant 75 black willow and silver maple trees (5-6’ potted stock), along with wildflower seeds on the banks to stabilize the shoreline, enhance the buffer strip and to provide future shade for the creek. We used an ATV to create pathways to the site and along the creek to make transporting and planting easier.
A fish habitat enhancement project partnership sign was placed at Waddle Creek Road crossing (culvert).
This entire project would not have been possible without the support of the many partners and volunteers who made it successful. It was a combined effort involving the Lanark County Stewardship Council, Lanark & District Fish & Game Conservation Club members, the Ministry of Natural Resources & Forestry staff & Youth Stewardship Rangers, Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority, and Watersheds Canada. Special thanks to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program for the financial support in the competition of the Waddle Creek Restoration Project.
In partnership with grassroots organizations and local volunteers, Watersheds Canada has completed many fish habitat restoration projects across Eastern and Central Ontario over the past nine years, including walleye spawning bed enhancements, cold-water creek enhancements, trout spawning bed enhancements, and in-water habitat enhancements through the deployment of brush piles (woody debris). If you think your Ontario waterfront community could benefit from a fish habitat enhancement project, please check out the free Fish Habitat Enhancement Toolkit: Watersheds.ca/download-the-fish-habitat-enhancement-toolkit/
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