Steve Somerville
Lake Simcoe Conservation Foundation executive director Kimberley MacKenzie (left), Southlake Regional Health Centre CEO and president Dan Carriere and East Gwillimbury Councillor and Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority chairperson Virginia Hackson get down and dirty for the Eastern Creek naturalization project near the hospital.
Newmarket
October 11, 2008 09:52 PM
Teresa Latchford
A makeover is going to give a local creek that au-naturel appeal, while improving the environment.
A
section of Eastern Creek, passing through property owned by the
Southlake Regional Health Centre, has been identified as a site for
stream bank restoration.
The restoration project falls under
the Lake Simcoe Water Quality Improvement Program, which offers funding
to support private landowners complete projects to improve the
environment on their land.
Representatives from the Lake Simcoe
Region Conservation Authority, Southlake Regional Health Care Centre,
the Town of Newmarket and York Region gathered for a ground-breaking
ceremony to kick off the restoration project.
“The environmental
concern at this location is that there are no buffers between the hard
urban surfaces and the creek to filter out contaminants from urban
run-off,” conservation authority chairperson Virginia Hackson said.
“Working together, we will remedy this problem to ensure the long-term
health of our environment.”
The project site is 185 metres of
land bordered by Davis Drive and Grace Street. The aim of the project
is to improve water quality, reduce erosion and create more habitat for
fish and wildlife while creating a natural setting for hospital
patients, visitors and local residents to enjoy.
The restoration will take four to six weeks and cost about $225,000.
Biologists
have specified which native trees and shrubs to plant to help attract
native wildlife, while engineers figured out which technique would
limit erosion. Fisheries biologists were also consulted to see how to
create the best condition for the fish to thrive.
The funding
for the project has come from multiple partners, including the
conservation authority, multiple levels of government, Southlake and
numerous local environmental groups.
For more information, visit www.lsrca.on.ca