GRCA APPLICATION # 449/08
MILL CREEK, HALDIMAND COUNTY

September 13, 2008

Forward:

Following two weeks of rain and in the face an impending rainfall of up to 100 mm in the forecast for the next 24 hours, we faced an urgency factor on this project. With potential major damage to the landowner’s electric cattle fence, we accelerated the excavation phase. This consisted of removing the soil behind the cofferdams from both upstream and downstream immediately to the gravel substrate. The original plan was to do this more gradually, but with threatening weather, time was critical. This approach produced somewhat more and muddier deposit on the dig site than projected.

In retrospect, this was the correct tactic, since the rain began falling as we finished our BBQ. This rain continued falling for 24 hours, with an accumulation of 47mm. By Monday AM the entire island through which we had dug, was completely underwater, but about 70% of the flow was funneling through our excavation channel. We felt we had dodged an “Environmental bullet” and were greatly relieved.

Process Report:

All 32 persons in attendance signed a “Landowner Liability Release Register”. This also is required by Trout Unlimited liability insurance. A safety supervisor was in place, with “Men at work” signs loaned by the county at strategic locations on Town line road. Two flagmen controlled traffic. Parking for all but one control vehicle was limited to DeCewsville road for safety. The O.P.P. did not appear, as they had promised to do.

The project began with removal of damaged roadside fencing to provide safe access to the dig site. One team of younger helpers was assigned to cutting and delivering dogwood brush bundles to the west bank as needed.

We assembled a prefabricated 4’ x12’ gangplank and placed it from dig site to west bank, leveling it, adding a slip proof metal grating and smaller plywood approach ramps. on each end.

Two 4’ x 8’ plywood cofferdams were driven into the upper and lower ends of the proposed excavation and held in place with “T” bars. Incidental water was bailed out of the area to provide relatively dry excavation. Due to recent heavy rains, the sod removed during this dig was saturated, reducing the “Pack ability” of the material. This drawback was minimized by the extensive use of the brush bundles. The soil was tamped down as the work progressed upstream on the west bank.

Excavation: Working the dig upstream, we quickly discovered that the soil depth to gravel was less than encountered elsewhere in the area: only about 18”, as opposed to 30” to 36” elsewhere. This speeded up the dig, but provided less than the projected 20 cu. meters we expected. The result was lower volume for the bank fill than was hoped.

A large, “Four man” sized boulder was unearthed near the upper end of the dig. It was left in place and should act as a deflector to improve a westward flow or meander; This should prove beneficial as it will help to scour the stream deeper.

Finally, the cofferdams were removed, allowing about 70% of the stream flow freely in the restored channel. We widened the top opening to about 9’ to produce a slight funnel effect. Within minutes, the stream ran clean, with all sediment removed.

Clean up: We had intended to salvage the original damaged roadside fencing and reinstall it on each side of the road culvert. This was because the landowner felt he may need to have cattle access the stream, should the system freeze up during the winter. The landowner was not able to attend this workday and, in his absence, his neighbor offered to install a new section of electric fence across the stream, downstream of this culvert. This will prevent cattle, if allowed into the stream, as above, to escape to Town line road. 

The bottom strand of wire is several inches above the anticipated high water level. This fence will serve an additional benefit of preventing casual access to this section of the stream.

Water intake: The location of the water intake for the cattle was temporarily exposed to identify its precise location. This was done with the help of photos taken by the installation contractor during installation last year. At that time, the channel erosion had already occurred and he had used the closest access to water. Unfortunately, this is the Westside erosion channel, which is scheduled to be eliminated in phase 2 of the restoration project. In that case, the intake will be completely covered with soil. Our sketch will identify both its present and possible future locations, both located within the main stream flow. We have flagged and measured the existing intake, which has been re-covered with gravel. In the meantime, by allowing a moderate flow down the western channel, the intake should work well this winter as it did last year. By providing a good central flow, danger of further erosion at the fence should be minimal. We will continue to monitor this issue this winter and spring. We will ask the contractor for a rough estimate of the cost to extend the intake pipe by up to 35’. This will provide a guide for planning phase 2 costing. It is the opinion of Trout Unlimited that every effort is made to avoid additional costs to the landowner in phase 2.

The biggest benefit of the day was the variety of participants and their enthusiasm for the restoration of this stream. There is a strong feeling of community involvement that bodes well for future to maintain, improve and monitor this valuable resource.

Attendees included: Trout Unlimited: 7; Habitat Haldimand: 6; Caledonia Hunters& Anglers Youth: 7; 4H Club: 5; Caledonia Scouts: 2; Haldimand and Area Woodlot Owners Association: 2; Hamilton Area Fly Fishers & Tyers: 2; and 2 other local residents.

Sponsors included: T.U., Habitat Haldimand, Haldimand Stewardship Council and Snyder’s Sweet Corn.

The BBQ And Corn Roast, which followed, was well attended. It brought together a divergent group with a common cause; this should ensure good attendance at future workdays. In addition, we now have a strong local interest in unofficial stream monitoring.

We feel this has been a strong first step in what will prove to be a remarkable turnaround in habitat, much thanks to the Taquanyah initiative and dam removal. It is hoped that we may quickly get approval to repopulate this stream with brook trout. The locals recall stories of abundant populations in the stream prior to the damming at Taquanyah. We are trying to get written documentation of this locally, since we understand this may help to speed up the approval process. Let us hope.

We attach local media articles for your review.

Respectfully submitted,

Bill Christmas
Trout Unlimited Canada

Wade Dowling
Habitat Haldimand

c.c. Rick Armstrong 
Landowner and Co Applicant

c.c. Sylvia D’Amelio
Trout Unlimited Canada