Creek restoration on schedule

Stan Howe photo Officials from Molson Canada and the Lake Simcoe Conservation Authority attended a cheque presentation ceremony at Kidd's Creek last Friday.

Government and business have joined together to make Barrie a healthier city and Lake Simcoe a healthier lake, said the executive director of the Lake Simcoe Conservation Foundation.
Last week, Molson Canada joined the campaign to restore Kidd’s Creek in downtown Barrie, with a $76,700 donation to the foundation’s $205,000 public campaign to support the project.
“This is the first time the public and private sectors pulled together around a project. It’s one example of what we need to do with municipalities and businesses throughout the watershed,” said Kimberley MacKenzie.
“It’s a demonstration project that shows how we can work together to improve the watershed and the health of the lake. Opening up the stream channel will allow for more flood control. Any time there’s a rush of water coming from Sunnidale Park, the culvert couldn’t accommodate it and that resulted in flooding along Dunlop Street.”
As well as improving flood control, restoring the creek gives fish such as largemouth and smallmouth bass, pike and sunfish a natural area to spawn and thrive.
As well, adding an acre of naturalized green space in an area that’s experiencing residential intensification will be good for quality of life and health – of not only the fish, but of the people, who can enjoy the green space and the better air quality created by the increase in native plants, trees and shrubs.
“Barrie replaced a culvert and parking lot, which contributed to water run-off, with a fish habitat and some green space. It’s a win-win,” said MacKenzie.
Barrie is contributing $345,000 to the project, the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority $50,000 and the foundation is raising $205,000 to bridge the funding gap.
MacKenzie added the Kidd’s Creek project has prompted communities in the East Holland River watershed to embark on a project to clean up the most polluted watercourse that drains into Lake Simcoe.