Workday Report - Emerson Creek - January 30, 2015

"OMG!! DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE HERE?" Larry Halyk 

We all knew we had a hidden gem in Emerson Creek, near Cayuga, but it took two old friends of mine from many years ago to give credence to our hopes.

We hosted Larry Halyk, former senior MNR manager, Stewardship director and current president of Trout Unlimited Mid Grand Chapter president, and his good friend, Warren Yerex, retired long time biologist from GRCA. They provided the professional opinion that we have an exceptional stream here and all that’s needed is the final confirmation of the level of dissolved oxygen in the several spring sources they identified.

Seeing two senior experts so enthused was a delightful feeling that we all didn’t even notice the -14C temps, In fact at one site, the steamy mist on the stream was clear evidence of the difference in stream and spring water temperatures. The pair quickly went through the process of replicating the very successful system currently in use at Marden Creek, near Guelph (a project that earned Larry a National Environmental Award). It is so simple and inexpensive and non-invasive from a stream flow perspective, that we are anxious to get started, but we must wait a week for oxygen tests. Rats!! That’s a whole week away…like waiting for Santa Claus!!

In preparation, and to make smaller in-stream flows more easily identified, we have already purchased the digital temperature probe and extension. It will quickly identify “warm” flows within the base gravel and should speed up discovery of smaller springs we may have missed.

Wade and Mike are out there almost daily, scoping out even more of the creek, just in case we missed something. Calculating how much river gravel needed depends on the number of springs and their sizes; the sediment fence has to wait till spring, since wooden stakes cannot be driven into frozen soil.

I thought I would never be so anxious for winter to hang on, but our ability to complete this job hinges on ease on access. In the summer, it is nearly impassable. That’s what makes it an ideal nursery site; little or no human intervention all summer.



We feel very fortunate to have uncovered one of nature‘s hidden jewels. With a little TLC, we will reap the rewards of an indigenous species of fish being re-established in Haldimand County THIS YEAR.

We invite all environmentalists to keep visiting our blog at www.tutkc.blogspot.ca to follow the history of this project. A pair of new videos will soon be available for your enjoyment. To take part in this and other activities of our Chapter, either workdays, money or materials, please contact Doug Whitford at: dwhitford@cogeco.ca. Our volunteers enjoy great satisfaction by improving our local waters.