The elements of nature — water, air, fire and earth — are a lens in which we can reflect on how we protect, connect and sustain the Credit River Watershed. Discover how our work supports these elements and ways you can embrace them to celebrate Earth Day.
Water
Water is what connects us in the Credit River Watershed. The watershed is the area home to the Credit River. A watershed is defined as the entire area of land that drains, or ‘sheds’, its rain or snow melts into that river. The boundary of a watershed is based on the elevation and natural contours of a landscape.
We collect information about water quality and quantity in the Credit River Watershed through our real-time monitoring network. This information helps us better understand, predict and warn about flooding, threats to water quality and low water levels. We also share this data with our municipal partners to support flood forecasting and to determine the overall health of the watershed’s natural systems.
Water Project Spotlight: Sustainable Landscaping Solutions
We all have a role in protecting water. We work with landowners, including corporate and institutional partners across the watershed to create sustainable landscapes.
Through our Greening Corporate Grounds’ (GCG) program, we helped GCG participant Headwaters Health Care Centre in Orangeville manage stormwater on their property. One initiative they introduced was the installation of a catch basin insert in their parking lot to collect litter, debris and plastic from stormwater runoff. This helps to improve water quality by removing debris before flowing into the stormwater system and eventually to the Credit River.
Between January and October 2024, the catch basin trapped 377 grams of litter, including cigarette butts, plastic litter, disposable cutlery, pieces of plastic film, plastic packaging and more.
Actions You Can Take to Protect Water
- Make sure that garbage/recycling bins are not overflowing and are emptied regularly. If you have something to throw away, don’t leave it on the ground. Take your trash with you or find a bin that’s not overflowing.
- Manage your well and septic to protect your drinking water. We can help assess the condition of your well and septic and make recommendations.
- Take your household hazardous waste to one of Peel’s Community Recycling Centres for free, safe disposal.
Air
Air is another essential element that contributes to our health and well-being.
Planting trees remains an important conservation action to clean our air. Trees and plants absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen, reducing the amount of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. In fact, a mature tree can absorb over 48 pounds of carbon dioxide in one year. Trees also reduce air temperature and cool urban areas, making our communities more resilient to climate change.
We offer a range of tree planting programs to support watershed residents and landowners to plant trees in their yards, communities and in our conservation areas.
Last year, volunteers planted 8,500 native trees and shrubs in the watershed.
Air Project Spotlight: Pollinator Patch Plantings
Youth and corporate volunteers also helped plant five new pollinator patches last year at Erindale Park, Verity Park, J.C. Saddington Park, Barberton Park and Rattray Marsh Conservation Area. They assisted us in maintaining and expanding the pollinator garden at Island Lake Conservation Area as well.
These plantings benefit animals like birds, bees, butterflies and moths, by creating new habitats. Pollinator patches will provide food for many flying insects. For example, milkweed is a plant that provides essential egg-laying habitat for monarch butterflies.
Actions You Can Take to Support Air
- Plant a native tree on your property to make a big impact in the community. Homeowners in eligible neighbourhoods can request a free tree that our home planting team will deliver and help plant.
- Rural landowners with larger properties can also work with us to create new forests or expand on existing ones to support the surrounding environment.
- Green your community with us. Join us at an upcoming event to learn and restore nature at one of our upcoming events.
Fire
Fires are important natural processes that help to regenerate landscapes. That’s why we conduct controlled burns when creating prairie and grassland habitat.
Controlled burns in the spring promote the growth of warm-season grasses and set back invasive and non-target species. Warm-season grasses grow in clumps, creating habitat for ground-nesting birds including species at risk like the Savannah sparrow and bobolink.
Controlled burns are conducted under a detailed burn plan, approved by the local fire department. We schedule them under ideal weather conditions to minimize effects on surrounding properties.
These fires are carefully managed by fire experts to burn low to the ground, capturing dried grasses and leaves without harming larger trees.
Fire Project Spotlight: Controlled Burn at Upper Credit Valley Conservation
We conducted a controlled burn at Upper Credit Conservation Area in 2021. Following the burn, we observed almost double the number of bobolinks in the grassland compared to 2020. We were excited to spot four juveniles who likely fledged from a nest in the grassland.
We have a controlled burn planned this month at the Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area, not yet open to the public, to help the grassland establish and promote biodiversity.
Earth
Life in the Credit River Watershed is rooted in its soil. Soil isn’t just dirt; it’s a living system and is incredibly biodiverse. Soil hosts a quarter of our planet’s biodiversity, providing habitat for insects, fungi, bacteria and other invertebrates.
Earth Project Spotlight: Improving Soil Health
High-quality soil is essential for agriculture, and healthy soil supports the ecological restoration of natural areas. We work with farmers through our Rural Water Quality programs, where we provide financial and technical assistance and support on-farm initiatives that enhance soil health, improve water and air quality, create habitats and boost climate change resilience.
Managing invasive species is another way to support soil health. Some invasive plants like European buckthorn and garlic mustard are allelopathic, meaning they release chemicals into the soil that prevent native plants from growing. Removing these invasive species is the first step in improving soil health in the watershed.
Last year, volunteers helped pull 23,500 square metres of invasive plants. That’s approximately the size of four and a half football fields!
Actions You Can Take to Support Earth
A few ways you can give back to the earth, and we mean that literally, include:
- Farmers can plant cover crops and install erosion control structures. Learn more about our Rural Water Quality Program.
- Roll up your sleeves and attend an invasive species pull event to help restore habitat for our native wildlife and allow a more diverse ecosystem to grow.
- Taking action at home and on your land. Find ways to green your property and address your specific needs.
Celebrate Earth Day with Us
There are many actions that support a healthy and resilient watershed and together we can achieve so much more. This spring, volunteer with us and make a difference in your community by joining us at an upcoming event—it’s a great way to celebrate Earth Day, every day.
By Sarah Lebret, Associate, Marketing and Communications.