Lake Erie Basin Update - Ontario Side
GLAHNF Welcomes New Lake Advisor: Niagara Restoration Council
By Patti Green, Niagara Restoration Council
The Niagara Restoration Council (NRC) is a non-profit organization
that works towards the restoration and long-term
sustainability of the environment in the Niagara Region. The
official mandate of the Niagara Restoration Council is: “to
protect, maintain, and actively restore the ecosystems of
Niagara.” While working towards this endeavour,we like to have
fun and promote a sense of community!
The membership of the NRC is drawn from many sectors of
the Niagara community, and includes representatives from
municipal and regional governments, industry, academia,
environmental interest groups and concerned citizens.
The Niagara Restoration Council was originally created in January
of 1989 as a Public Advisory Committee (PAC) to address concerns
outlined within the Niagara River and its watershed, designated
an Area of Concern by several levels of government. Several of
the environmental concerns outlined for this area included
degraded water quality, presence of flow barriers, lack of riparian
vegetation,and low levels of naturally forested and wetland area.
The Niagara Restoration Council is committed to the development
and implementation of restoration, naturalization, and
reforestation projects. Several of the NRC’s current projects
include the Building Stream Buffers for Niagara’s Rivers Project,
the Niagara River Area of Concern Fish Barrier Project and the
most recentWildlife Corridor Enhancement Project.
The Buffer Project (that was discussed in last months issue of
GLAHNews, Vol. 14 Issue 1) has included the planting of
thousands of native shrubs and wildflowers in “no-mow” stream
buffers for public parks and golf courses in the Niagara River
Watershed. These planting projects have proved very successful
ecologically, aesthetically, and socially. The buffer strips aim to
increase water quality and restore wildlife habitat to Niagara’s
watercourses, while providing excellent opportunity for involvement
with landowners, school groups, and the general public.
The Niagara Restoration Council’s Fish Barrier Removal Project
has remediated several barriers to fish migration through their
removal and restoration. These impediments have included
man-made and natural barriers such as culverts, dams, weirs,
crossings, and logjams, which can restrict fish migration, and
impede the transportation of sediments, nutrients, and the flow
of water. To date, 136 barriers, of 208 originally surveyed, have
been remediated.
The NRC’s most recent project, the Wildlife Corridor
Enhancement Project initiated in 2005, aims to increase natural
wildlife habitat in the Fifteen, Sixteen and Eighteen Mile Creek
sub-watersheds. The planting of at least 50,000 native trees will
increase interior forest area and establish corridors linking forest
fragments.
For more information:
Patti Green, Niagara Restoration Council
250 Thorold Rd.W. 3rd Floor • Welland, ONT L3C 3W2
PH: (905) 788-0248 • niagararestoration@becon.org
Disclaimer:
The interpretations and conclusions presented in this newsletter represent the opinions of the individual authors. They in no way represent the views of the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council, the C.S. Mott Foundation, subscribers, donors, or any organization mentioned in this publication.
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