Over 16,000 trees will be planted along watercourses in Mapleton this spring. Landowners have been working with the community group Trees for Mapleton to add trees along creeks, ditches and rivers.
Mark Funk, a Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) forestry specialist, says the 16,000 trees will stretch a cumulative length of 12 kilometers along Mapleton’s waterways.
“This will go a long way towards improving the water quality in the creeks and ditches” says Funk.
“It’s certainly going to help downstream water quality in the Conestogo River and the Grand.”
These treed creek buffers (sometimes called riparian buffers) provide a number of farm and environmental benefits: they can filter sediment and nutrient runoff from fields, encourage water infiltration and provide habitat for beneficial birds, insects and aquatic wildlife.
Bill Kabbes, a Mapleton farmer, planted an 820-metre-long creek buffer with trees over 20 years ago. Kabbes, who has a dairy operation near Arthur, planted the trees and installed a fence to keep his cattle out of a tributary of Farley Creek.
When asked whether the buffer has improved water quality, Kabbes replied, “For sure! I think the water leaving our property might even be cleaner than the water coming in.”
Although Kabbes says the main goal was to reduce the amount of manure getting into the water, it has also benefitted his herd’s health.
“The project has had unexpected benefits in terms of herd health. I have seen a lower rate of both mastitis and foot rot now that the cattle aren’t in the creek.”
Grant money is available through the Wellington Rural Water Quality Program to assist with tree planting and other water quality improvement projects.
For more information contact GRCA staff at 519-621-2761 or ruralwater@grandriver.ca.
