Upper Avon River Conservation Club & the Adopt a Watershed Project

• Avon River watershed map
• Avon River watershed report card (pdf file)
• Lake Victoria AREA marsh restoration project

Since 1992, the Upper Avon River Conservation Club has planted treed buffers along the Avon River and its tributaries. The club has used the 1952 Avon Valley Plan as a guide for their conservation activities. A theme of “neighbours helping neighbours to improve the health of the Upper Avon River watershed” has been followed by club members.

To date, 6,000 native trees and shrubs have been planted on 25 different farms in the Upper Avon River watershed. These trees help improve the environment by providing shade for the streams, reducing wind and water erosion, filtering and taking up nutrients, providing habitat for birds, and producing oxygen.

More than 600 volunteers have helped during the past 14 years. The main core of planters is drawn from friends and neighbours in the Upper Avon River watershed. In addition, others have been encouraged to come out and help. Other participants have included the Meadowrun Fish and Game Club, Boy Scouts, Nature Roots, students from North Easthope School and Hamlet School and the Environmental Club from Stratford Central Secondary School.

New Adopt a Watershed Project along the Avon River

Environment Canada – Ontario Region is working with the Upper Avon River Conservation Club and the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) to pilot an Adopt a Watershed Project on the Upper Avon River, upstream of Stratford. The objective is for rural communities to adopt their local subwatershed in order to increase awareness of water and air quality issues, biodiversity and protection of species at risk in the rural landscape.

Interviews with rural residents are being completed by members of the Upper Avon River Conservation Club, with guidance from the UTRCA. The interviews will provide insights into the Club’s experience in raising environmental awareness. The plan is to use the Upper Avon River Conservation Club as a model for other Adopt a Watershed projects in Ontario.

UTRCA staff conducted fish sampling in the upper Avon River at the launch of the new Adopt a Watershed Project. Fish species found in the river are an indicator of overall watershed health. Staff were also looking for fish that are listed as species at risk in Canada.

The Adopt a Watershed concept is in keeping with the International Joint Commission’s recommendation to include local expertise and initiatives at the watershed level for the mutual benefit of the Great Lakes.