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Group formed to improve the Penetangore Watershed |
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 Kincardine deputy mayor Anne Eadie offers some information from her experience with the Pine River Watershed Initiative Network (PRWIN)  Jo-Anne Harbinson (L) of the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority talks to landowners Tom Franklin and Carl Hlinka photos by Carol Blake | ||||
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A group has been formed to help improve the Penetangore Watershed. Initiated by Chrystel Murphy and Erin Gouthro, the first meeting was held March 10 in Armow, with discussion about landowner involvement and the goals of the Penetangore Watershed Group. Kincardine deputy mayor Anne Eadie shared her experiences with the Pine River Watershed Initiative Network (PRWIN), and offered to be a "free consultant" for the Penetangore group. She said she was impressed with the number of landowners who responded to the first Penetangore group community meeting. Craig Todd of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Stewardship Network told the assembly that he has trees available for the Penetangore group's first planting in April. Jo-Anne Harbinson of the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority shared knowledge of programs available for the group to submit applications for funding.
The Penetangore Watershed Group invites all volunteers and landowners along the river who are ready to plant trees in April, to contact Gouthro at 519-396-6641 or gouthros@brucetelecom.com; Murphy at chrystelmurphy@yahoo.ca; or Carol Blake at 519-396-5170 or mcblake@bmts.com In a telephone interview, Gouthro said she and Murphy developed an interest over the years in improving the Penetangore Watershed. Murphy started the community garden in Kincardine, and Gouthro has the environmental background to assist the group. "The North and South Penetangore River could look better," said Gouthro. "There could be more benthos on the rocks. Those are water bugs, such as stone flies (what fly fishermen use), or may flies. They need an oxygen-rich environment to survive, and they're what sports fish eat." The objective, she said, is to improve the water quality in the Penetangore River which has an impact on the whole community. It affects the beaches and swimming because the river drains into the lake. "It's imperative that we realize the importance of the watershed," said Gouthro. "It's a vision that other people have had, such as the Lake Huron Fishing Club." She said the club began 10 years ago, building cattle-fencing to protect the Penetangore River. Landowners also have had the vision, said Gouthro, doing their part on their own properties, to fix up the watershed. "Many landowners have taken the initiative already to see the river and its tributaries improved."
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 Craig Todd (L) of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Stewardship Network, talks with Chrystel Murphy of the Penetangore Watershed Group She
said government programs for landowners have resulted in a tremendous
tree-planting on the Southline. "We hope to build on that," she said. At the first meeting, Gouthro said the landowners showed huge support for the group. "We had a great turn-out and we have since had numerous phone calls of support." It was agreed to form the group that will bring resources into the community, through public and private funding, to create improvements to the watershed. "We have property owners who want to get started on doing programs on their land," said Gouthro. She said even a homeowner in the urban part of Kincardine can support this initiative. "What you do with your front lawn, with pesticides and fertilizer, can affect the river directly," she said. "It all goes into the sewers and eventually into the river and then to the lake." She
suggested urban dwellers can plant mature trees or native grasses and
flowers on their property which would prove extremely helpful to the
watershed. Scrolling stops when you move your mouse inside the scroll area. You can click on the ads for more
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