Credit Valley Conservation in conjunction with Conservation Ontario launches the Credit River Watershed Report Card 2013.
The Credit River Watershed Report Card 2013 is a snapshot of conditions in the Credit River watershed for data collected from 2007 to 2011.
“The purpose of the watershed report card is to report on the health of the Credit River watershed through the use of key environmental indicators,” said Judi Orendorff, lands and natural heritage director.
“Monitoring helps us better understand our watershed so residents are aware of local conditions and so informed decisions can be made to protect or improve the health of our water and land resources.”
The report card focuses on three environmental categories, grading each from A (excellent) to F (very poor).
Conditions reported on are groundwater quality, forest condition and surface water quality. Generally, groundwater measures scored well, however, forest condition and water quality raise concerns.
“Grades for surface water quality and forest condition typically decrease around urban and suburban areas because there is less natural vegetation and more impervious, hard or paved surfaces,” said Orendorff.
Water and land resources and natural systems of the watershed provide important ecological, economic and societal benefits that need to be protected. Programs such as Rattray Marsh restoration, implementing low impact development practices, restoring stream banks and tree planting are just some examples of how CVC and its many partners are working together to contribute to healthy watersheds which help protect human health.
For more information about the CreditRiver Watershed Report Card 2013, visit www.creditvalleyca.ca/watershedreportcard2013.
For information about Conservation Ontario’s CHECK UP of ecosystem health of watersheds throughout the province, visit www.watershedcheckup.ca.
