Plant trees Saturday in Inglewood to help cool the Credit River

May 12, 2016 · 0 Comments

Do you want to help make a difference in your community?
Join Credit Valley Conservation (CVC), Ontario Streams and the Halton Peel Woodlands and Wildlife Group for a community tree planting in Inglewood.
The event will take place this Saturday (May 14) from 9 a.m. to noon at Lloyd Wilson Centennial Park in Inglewood.
“We are excited to host this important event in Inglewood,” said CVC’s Deputy CAO and Director of Watershed Transformation Mike Puddister. “The goal of this tree planting is to expand an existing wooded area to create more natural space along the banks of the Credit River. This is particularly important to cool the river’s temperature to help trout populations. It will also provide many other benefits for the environment, but river temperature here is critical.”
The Credit River is an important cold water fishery in Southern Ontario. The Credit River watershed is home to 79 species of fish, including brook trout, brown trout and rainbow trout. Different fish species prefer different habitats. Trout rely on cold water for survival. Tree plantings are one way to increase the natural area, or buffer, along the river to help cool the water.
“In an area like Inglewood, where trout are thriving, you would expect to find river banks with up to 30 feet of natural growth on both sides of the river. This helps prevent erosion and provide shade for cool water temperatures,” continued Puddister. “Unfortunately, many streams and rivers don’t have enough coverage. Community tree plantings help us reach this goal.”
CVC and its partners host a number of tree plantings annually in the watershed to support local environments. Trees are important to help fight climate change. Volunteers are essential to help maintain a healthy watershed. In 2015, CVC’s 6,000 volunteers gave 30,000 hours of personal time to plant 16,000 native trees and shrubs.
No experience is needed and CVC staff give tree planting demonstrations. Students can participate and earn their community volunteer hours.
Participants should dress for the weather, and wear long pants and boots if possible. Shovels and gloves are provided but extras would be helpful.
For more information and to register, visit http://www.creditvalleyca.ca/event/inglewood-community-tree-planting/