Student tree planters lend nature a helping hand

News release from Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority November 2 2012

Enthusiastic volunteers helped the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA) plant 1,400 trees along a half-kilometre stretch of Thornton Creek in the spring and fall of 2012.

Student volunteers from St. Joseph’s Catholic High School in Barrie and Nantyre Shores Secondary School in Innisfil were assisted by individual volunteers from the local community. They worked alongside NVCA stewardship staff, who helped guide their planting efforts.

“I feel I made a difference to our local environment,” said student planter Kristen Savoie. “By planting more trees along the Thornton Creek, I helped supply future habitat for birds and animals as well as restore important cold water fish habitat, all while protecting the water supply for the people in Thornton. ”

Essa Councillor, Michael Smith, helped out during the spring planting session. “It was a fantastic opportunity to contribute to the environment and the community – I was just glad to be a part of it.”

Paul Sarlo, an inspirational teacher at St. Joseph’s Catholic High School, said he was very proud of the volunteers, all of whom participate in the Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) program focusing on the Environment.

“[The SHSM program] allows students to experience a range of customized, career-focused learning opportunities, reach-aheads and sector-specific training,” Sarlo said. “We partnered with the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority to provide students with just such an opportunity.”

The NVCA has an objective to establish natural buffers along 75% of the streams in its watershed. So far, about 38% of streams in the watershed have a naturalized buffer, making projects such as these critical in the Authority’s efforts to improve water quality.

“The trees these volunteers planted will serve double duty in protecting the environment,” said Shannon Stephens of the NVCA. “First, they will help protect local drinking water by preventing contaminants from reaching an important water supply for the nearby municipal well.

“Second, they will shade Thornton Creek, making it a better habitat for fish and other aquatic life by lowering the temperature and increasing dissolved oxygen levels. This also helps improve water quality downstream.”

“We could not have done this without the hard work of all the volunteers, the donation of trees from Somerville Nurseries and Enviroscape Nurseries, the support of the Township of Essa and their staff, and a grant from the Ontario Drinking Water Stewardship Program,” Stephens said. “It’s wonderful that the Township of Essa supported the restoration of this important and vulnerable area.”

Next spring, the NVCA plans to reforest 16 acres adjacent to the creek to further protect this critical source of municipal drinking water.