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Determining Restoration Options for Ings Pond and Restoring Fullerton's Creek

Successful Applicant:

Stratford & Area Watershed Improvement Group


Award:

$4,645


Project Title:

Determining Restoration Options for Ings Pond and Restoring Fullerton's Creek


Project Summary:

Fullerton's Creek is the most significant tributary of Fullerton's Marsh (a critical wetland habitat) and one of the largest tributaries of the Hillsborough river. Midway up the system is Ings Pond, which has shown signs over the past 50 years of returning to a stream habitat. Recent beaver activity has caused the area to pond again.


The goals of this project were to determine the best course of action for restoring the area of Ings Pond, and improve riparian zone habitat for wildlife, water quality, stream bed composition, and stream flow in Fullerton's Creek.


Based on consultation with the landowner, Rosie MacFarlane, and Mary Finch, it was decided that no immediate restoration will take place at Ings Pond. The landowner would like to keep the pond and installing a headwall and fish passage would be extremely costly and likely not approved by DFO. It is likely the beaver dam will blow out within a few years, allowing the pond to revert to a stream and establish a thalweg. Instead, we continued to focus on stream work in the system above and below the pond.


Over 500 native trees and shrubs were planted within the riparian zone along Fullerton's Creek, and over one kilometer of stream was enhanced through alder removal, brush mat creation, and removal of woody debris and invasive species.


The major benefit to wildlife will be the eventual restoration of fish passage for anadromous fish and improved fish habitat. Aquatic wildlife will benefit from our enhancement work through better water quality and improved hydrology and flow. The in-stream enhancements will contribute to a narrower stream channel, faster flowing water, and less in-stream sediment deposits. Removing alders and replacing them with native trees and shrubs will improve forest and riparian habitat for mammals, reptiles, birds, and amphibians through increase biodiversity and improved forest structure.




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