The Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority advises that very high water levels on Lake Ontario are expected to persist through May with potential for shoreline erosion and flooding. Also, water levels on Rice Lake are rising due to the runoff associated with last week's three day rain storm and are currently 45cm above summer levels.

The public and especially children are reminded to be aware of shoreline hazards that are not normally present. Saturated and eroded shorelines may be unstable and should be avoided particularly during high winds and waves.

This Flood Warning for the Lake Ontario and Rice Lake shorelines will be in effect through Sunday, May 31st, 2017. Conservation Authority staff will continue to monitor conditions, and provide updates as necessary. Should you have any questions or wish to report flooding, please contact Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority staff at 905-885-8173.

The Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority is pleased to announce another awesome line-up of themed summer camps. Choose from Mad Scientist to Surviving the Elements to The Amazing Race. Give your child the gift of nature with a week (or two) of Nature Nuts Summer Camp! 

Clean Water, Healthy Land for Healthy Communities

Did you know that the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority offers funding to undertake environmental projects? Our Stewardship department is here to assist!

Celebrating 10 years of the Clean Water-Healthy Land Stewardship Program in the Municipality of Clarington   

The numerous wind storms that occurred this winter and early spring have resulted in a large number of fallen trees and branches on trails of the 12,000+ acre Ganaraska Forest. The Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority is looking for volunteers who can help out with clearing trails. Interested in helping out? Contact Forest Recreation Technician, Steve McMullen, at [email protected] or call him at the Ganaraska Forest Centre - 905.797.2721.   

Did you know that the Ganaraska Forest opened to all motorized and non-motorized recreational activities on April 29th? Have you been out to enjoy it yet? When you're visiting on a weekend, make sure to stop by the canteen at the Ganaraska Forest Centre for some cool refreshments and tasty treats from Chef Ross!

The 2nd Annual Native Plant Sale in support of the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority takes place on Saturday May 27th.
 

Invasive plants are species that have been accidentally or deliberately introduced to an area outside of their normal range, and which due to their rapid spread, become a threat to the environment, the economy or to human health.

Dive into species identification and best management practices at the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority's Invasive Species Walk on Saturday, June 3rd from 10:00am - 12:00pm. Pre-registration is required by calling 905.885.8173.

If you cannot attend the event and want to learn more about local invasive plants, contact the  Conservation Authority or visit ontarioinvasiveplants.ca.  

Just as financial investors diversify their portfolio of assets to minimize loss, fisheries managers may diversify their portfolio of conservation strategies to minimize species and life history loss. This is often called the "portfolio effect" when it comes to fisheries management - it reduces risk of loss by displaying a diverse array of life histories, or pathways from hatch to spawn for any given species. This can also be expressed as the timing of upstream migration, timing of spawning , and the age of maturation.

Rainbow Trout (Steelhead) are a common and popular species within the Ganaraska Region watershed, are capable of maturing across a wide breadth of ages, and are able to survive spawning multiple times within a season and across seasons. Steelhead are can mature at the age of 1, or as old as 5 or 6. Within one spawning population/year, the spawning population may consist of a wide breadth of ages and life history pathways. Highlighted below are four mature spawning male Rainbow Trout, that have taken different pathways to maturity that were captured by GRCA staff. The value of this diversity is risk is spread out, ensuring that all eggs will become fertilized, and the genetic diversity within the population is maximized. 

 

In 1946, the Ganaraska Watershed plan recommended that a 8,093-hectare (20,000-acre) forest be established and used for surveys, research, flood reduction, tree planting, recreational centres and sound forest management. Today, Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority's Ganaraska Forest is a living example of the principles of integrated resource management balance the uses of forested lands in a sustainable way.

Come see for yourself June 3rd and 4th on a self-guided hike through the central section of the forest. Visit the gatehouse at the Ganaraska Forest Centre on either of those days from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. for your free hiking day pass.