Innisfil Creek sub watershed barely makes the grade
by Michelle Minnoch

Representatives from the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA) gave council a delegation last week to provide an update on the NVCA's 2007 Watershed Report Card regarding Innisfil Creek.

"If I had to bring this report card home to my parents, I think I would've stuffed it at the bottom of my bag," said Councilor Lynn Dollin after hearing about the 'D' grade given to Innisfil Creek's Surface Water Quality.

Fred Nix of the NVCA stated all the information was put into a report card format to inform the Authority how the sub watershed is doing.

Surface Water Quality - Grade: F

The headwaters of the creek have been declared "fair" to "good". Upon entering the lowlands, the stream health rapidly declines. The report states it is due to streamside vegetation and field drainage activities.

The report also states that at the 10th Sideroad, the Creek has extremely high phosphorus levels, about 50% above provincial standards during low flow periods.

Forest Conditions - Grade: D

Compared to the other sub watersheds in the NVCA area, forest cover within Innisfil Creek is poor. Farmlands and urban pressures have diminished the amount of forest cover in the areas. At the headwaters of the Creek, forest cover is quite substantial, and the forests are a habitat for deer in the winter.

Wetland Conditions - Grade: C

Compared to the rest of the NVCA watershed, wetland conditions in the sub watershed are rated "fair" to "poor". Due to historic clearing of the lands for farmers, there is less natural flood control for the area without the wetlands. Wetlands help to provide natural flood control in an area, and they are home to local wildlife.

NVCA CAO Wayne Wilson said one of the most powerful indicators of how the sub watershed was doing was to look at stream health, and Innisfil Creek is no exception.

"Innisfil Creek is probably the most impaired system through the NVCA watershed," he said. Wilson said 8.4% of Innisfil is made up of wetlands, and the wetlands really help to reduce local flooding. "Few wetlands have decent buffers - about 24%." He said with a reasonable buffer, you can have good streams.

Deputy Mayor Gord Wauchope said sometimes the Town does not approve projects that have an affect on the wetland and forest cover in Innisfil, and sometimes their hands are tied. He said about three to four years ago, council did not approve the housing project that is now located across

from Alcona Glen Secondary School on Innisfil Beach Road. The land in question was a wetland and had some forest cover.

"Council said no, they went to the OMB, and the OMB said yes."

Councilor Dollin said only 20% of the Innisfil Creek watershed is in the municipality, the rest lies in New Tecumseth. "We've taken our lumps," she said.

Nix stated the NVCA has put $400,000 into their Healthy Waters Program. Like the NVCA, he said the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA) is in the final steps of having such a report card for their sub watersheds.