Fund helps improve sports fisheries in Georgian Bay

Native brook trout

News release from the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority

Cabela’s Canada Outdoor Fund donated a grant of $20,000 to support the first year of the Nottawasaga River Restoration Program (NRRP).

The goal of the program is to help restore the Upper Nottawasaga River and Sheldon Creek near Alliston, Ontario. The project will greatly improve habitat for young rainbow trout, brown trout and Chinook salmon. As these fish mature, they become very important for sport fishing in Georgian Bay and the Nottawasaga River

Through the NRRP, the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA) and its partners and volunteers planted trees to reduce summer stream temperatures and stabilized stream banks to reduce sediment runoff. They also constructed fish habitat structures and installed fencing to keep livestock out of the water.

NVCA’s partners include Nottawasaga Futures, South Simcoe Streams Network, Nottawasaga Steelheaders, Headwaters Flyfishers, the Township of Adjala Tosorontio and local landowners.

Cabela’s Canada Outdoor Fund provides financial support to Canadian non-profit charities that support advocacy, education and conservation. Cabela’s chose the NRRP as the NVCA and its partners are able to improve habitat with sound conservation methods to ensure future generations will enjoy hunting and fishing.

“We are very thankful for the grant from Cabela’s,” said Fred Dobbs, Manager of Stewardship Services at the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority. “As water quality improves, it not only does it benefit sports fisheries, but it also sets the stage for habitat enhancements for native fish species including brook trout, river burbot and Northern Brook Lamprey, a species at risk.”

Thanks to support from Cabelas, NVCA staff are currently developing designs for new 2020 projects to be completed as part of year 2 of the NRRP. The goal for 2020 is to increase the amount of restoration work by 50% and to improve program efficiency by incorporating fish community, stream temperature and summer flow data into a strategic restoration plan designed to guide future work.