Healthy Water
The Healthy Water Award is presented to individuals and groups who have completed a project that improves, supports or protects the water quality in the Lake Simcoe watershed. Projects could include stormwater management, water conservation, streambank and shoreline restoration or stabilization, low impact development techniques and source water protection.
The Healthy Water award was presented to the following recipients in 2022:
Anne Bell, Susent Simmental Farm, (Town of Innisfil)
As a steward of the land, Anne sought out ways her farm could be more protective of the local waterways. In partnership with the Conservation Authority, she had over 1,000 feet of livestock restriction fencing installed along the banks of White Birch Creek to keep cattle in pasture and out of the creek. Her efforts go a long way towards protecting our waterways.
City of Barrie (City of Barrie)
The City of Barrie partnered with the Conservation Authority to improve the water in Kidd's Creek. The project involved retrofitting a dry stormwater pond to increase water infiltration into the ground by installing an underground storage and water infiltration facility. The outcome is that there is now nearly 17,000 cubic metres less stormwater running into the creek each year, along with a reduction in phosphorus inputs by over 10 kilograms per year. This work will also lessen high flows during storm events which will reduce erosion, flooding and improve water temperature which is good for fish. In addition, because the site has become naturalized, the City will no longer need to maintain weekly grass cutting.
Town of Aurora (Watershed Wide)
The Town of Aurora hosted a Low Impact Development Inspection and Maintenance Training Workshop for municipalities in the Lake Simcoe watershed. Its goal was to support staff in managing their low impact development investments and increase collaboration within and amongst the local municipalities. With nearly 70 participants, this workshop provided both a virtual classroom and a hands-on in-person session. Hosting these types of activities facilitates municipal knowledge sharing about low impact development features, which, in addition to improving the health of the watershed. It also gives municipalities ways to learn how to extend the service life of their low impact development features and to save on operating and maintenance costs.
Town of Caledon and Town of Newmarket (Watershed Wide)
The Town of Caledon and the Town of Newmarket each hosted a Stormwater Management Pond Inspection and Maintenance training workshop for Lake Simcoe watershed municipalities and others in Ontario. Supported by the Conservation Authority, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks and the Sustainable Technologies Evaluation Program, the training provided both technical instruction and encouraged learning and information sharing on ways to extend the service life of stormwater features and to save on maintenance costs. Close to 100 participants attended the workshops, with training provided both virtually and in-person, with a hands-on component.