A major achievement for improving the health of the Speed River watershed took place this fall when an 81-year-old dam was removed from the stream that runs through Plant an Old-Growth Forest Project lands owned by the Ignatius Jesuit Centre here.
The dam removal is a significant milestone in the ecological restoration of Marden Creek, an 11-year project, initiated by the Wellington County Stewardship Council, and Trout Unlimited Canada, to improve water quality and to restore Marden Creek to a coldwater stream capable of supporting brook trout – all the way from its headwaters to its confluence with the Speed River.
Brook trout thrive in coldwater streams and were once common throughout the watershed. They require cold, clean water to survive and so are considered an indicator species of a healthy watercourse.
However, in recent years brook trout in Marden Creek have been confined to the upper part of the watercourse, as the dam heated the water and created a thermal barrier in addition to a physical barrier to the Speed River.
The first dam on the site was built in 1832 to provide water power for a saw mill that was later converted to a grist mill. It was replaced by the current structure in 1929.
The Ignatius Jesuit Centre dam on Marden Creek, the last remaining barrier to water quality and fish and other aquatic wildlife migration is now gone.
The Marden Creek dam removal links two important ecological restoration projects – the Marden Creek restoration project, and the Plant an Old Growth Forest restoration project. The former dam was within a two kilometer stretch of Marden Creek that flows through the 40 hectare parcel of land designated by the Jesuits to be restored to an old-growth forest.
Together, the forest and creek restoration projects represent a big step forward for watershed health.
The dam removal and creek restoration project is a partnership of the Ignatius Jesuit Centre, the Wellington County Stewardship Council and Trout Unlimited Canada.
The Ministry of Natural Resources, the Grand River Conservation Authority, the Wellington Water Stewardship Program, World Wildlife Fund, the Species at Risk farm incentive program, and the Community Fisheries and Wildlife Involvement program have been key supporters.
Design work for the dam removal was done by Brian Greck, of Greck and Associates Ltd., of Brampton.
