Ausable River Recovery Strategy

Species At Risk

Habitat Improvement - What you can do to help!

There are many ways to improve stream health and ultimately the chances of survival for the species at risk in the Ausable River! 

The following stewardship practices are only a few of the ways landowners can sustain and enhance the natural aquatic communities of the Ausable Basin.

Find out what one of your neighbours has been doing to help protect wildlife habitat and water quality - and how funding programs can help you join in this important work - by downloading the 2008 ABCA Habitat Stewardship Program flyer.

Riparian Buffers

Riparian buffers are strips of natural vegetation that line the edges of streams and rivers.  They have many important functions that help keep waterways healthy including;

* Filtering pollution (e.g., sediments, chemicals, nutrients, etc.),

* Stabilizing streambanks,

* Cooling stream temperatures,

* Providing aquatic habitat.

Restricting Livestock Access to Watercourses 

 
Gravel streambeds free from silt build-up provide a healthy habitat where fish and mussels can thrive.  Livestock often trample down stream banks which leads to streambed siltation and bank erosion.  Because siltation is a major factor in mussel and fish species decline, putting up a fence and keeping livestock out of watercourses is an important and effective step in saving these species at risk and improving water quality.

Grassed Waterways

Grassed waterways on your property will not only benefit water quality and the species that live in the water, but will also help to protect long term agricultural sustainability.  A grassed waterway will help to conserve precious topsoil.  

A grassed waterway will also reduce the effects of erosion by filtering sediment and nutrient contaminants and controlling overland waterflow.

Habitat Stewardhip Grants

Find out about grants available through the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authoriy and the Ausable River Recovery Strategy Habitat Stewardship Project by visiting the Foresty and Land Stewardship page.
For more information about any of the stewardship practices and grants available to you, please contact the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority at 519-235 -2610 or toll-free at 1-888-286-2610.       

Photos: Dan Holm, Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Drinking Water Source Protection