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The Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA) says its long-running Healthy Waters Program is helping farmers protect valuable topsoil, improve water quality and reduce pollution entering local rivers and streams.
According to the conservation authority, stewardship and restoration projects completed through the program prevent an estimated 2,090 tonnes of soil from washing into waterways each year across the Nottawasaga Watershed.
NVCA officials say that soil loss remains a significant issue in the watershed. A recent capacity study found approximately 37,000 tonnes of topsoil erode into local rivers and streams annually. Along with the soil, nutrients such as phosphorus are also carried away from farm fields.
“Topsoil is one of a farmer’s most valuable assets,” says Don Little, NVCA’s Manager of Stewardship and Restoration Services. “Along with that soil goes nutrients and investments that were intended to support crop production.”
Excess phosphorus entering waterways can contribute to algae blooms, impact drinking water quality and reduce oxygen levels needed by fish and other aquatic species.
The Healthy Waters Program works with farmers and rural landowners to implement projects aimed at reducing erosion and keeping nutrients on the land. These projects include nutrient management planning, improved manure storage systems and infrastructure designed to divert clean water away from farmyards.
The program also supports livestock fencing projects that prevent animals from entering streams and rivers. NVCA says fencing helps reduce bank erosion while limiting contaminants such as E. coli from reaching local waterways.
Other projects include planting native trees, shrubs and grasses along streambanks. These natural buffers help absorb nutrients before they enter waterways while stabilizing banks and reducing soil loss. Streambank restoration work can also involve the use of natural materials such as rocks, tree root wads and recycled Christmas trees.
“Agriculture is an important part of the Nottawasaga Watershed’s identity, with generations of farm families stewarding the land since the 1800s,” says Kevin Eisses, Chair of NVCA’s Agricultural Advisory Committee. “Through the Healthy Waters Program, NVCA has helped hundreds of farmers strengthen their operations while protecting the rivers, streams and natural resources that support our communities.”
The conservation authority offers cost-share funding to help eligible landowners complete stewardship projects, including livestock fencing, streamside and wetland planting, and streambank stabilization. Additional funding opportunities may also be available to farmers in Dufferin County for projects such as cover crops, well upgrades and farm machinery stream crossings.
Click here to learn more, or call 705-424-1479 or email stewardship@nvca.on.ca.
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