Grey Sauble Conservation Authority 1995 Annual Report (April 1, 1995 - March 31, 1996)

The CURB program for the Sauble River watershed came to an untimely end after four successful years of implementation. Local landowners invested $1,219,415 into the watershed to complete 205 of the 233 approved projects. The Ministry of Environment and Energy supported these projects with $694,276 in total grant funding. Of the projects completed, 70 were livestock restriction from watercourses (MOEE provided $252,998 in grants), 79 were septic system repair or replacement (MOEE provided $140,073 in grants), 55 were manure runoff reduction with 17 solid manure roofed storages, 1 liquid manure storage and 37 eavestroughing projects (MOEE provided $301,030 in grants), and 1 milkhouse waste water storage project (MOEE provided $175 in grant). An additional $12,000,000 will be required to complete the CURB plan for the Sauble River Watershed based on the completion of 25 (9%) of the 270 potential project identified by this plan. Weather patterns over the past four years of this CURB program have not been similar with respect to precipitation and resulting discharge levels. Farming activities change throughout the summer season and their impact on water quality varies depending on timing and intensity of precipitation. Due to these variations, conclusions from water quality data are difficult to express. In general, results from 1995 water quality monitoring appeared to demonstrate an overall improvement in water quality compared to 1993 data. Special monitoring of remediation projects indicated that restricting livestock access from the watercourse reduced E. coli loading. However, sites demonstrating improved wildlife (muskrat) habitat due to abundant vegetation growth, increased E. coli loading. Studies of limited livestock access not eligible for CURB funding, confirmed that E. coli loading still occurred, however, stream morphology downstream of the access site played a key role as to the ability of the stream environment to mitigate the overall loading from a farm site. In general, higher gradient stretches flowing over a rock/rubble substrate reduced the E. coli load carried by the watercourse. Slower flowing stretches with suitable muskrat habitat were found to elevate E. coli levels even higher than the livestock access areas.