The Provincially Significant Silver Creek Wetland is the most important remaining coastal wetland on southern Georgian Bay. It is an important migratory stop for birds and home to a wealth of fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. This includes four species of turtle, seven species of frog, at least two species of snake, salamanders, egrets, trout and salmon, beaver, mink, muskrat, fox, coyote, deer, songbirds, many breeding birds and birds stopping to recharge on their way north or south. Silver Creek Wetland also plays an important role in fish spawning.

In addition to providing a home for wildlife of many kinds, the Silver Creek Wetland provides other valuable ecological services. It improves water quality, reduces flood damage and erosion, and contributes to recharge and discharge of groundwater. It also mitigates sedimentation of the Bay.

Location

The Silver Creek Wetland is an area covering approximately 180 hectares (450 acres) along the shore of Nottawasaga Bay spanning the municipalities of the Town of Collingwood and Town of Blue Mountains. Two streams feed the wetland: Silver Creek, an exceptionally clean and pure trout/salmon stream, and Townline Creek, which is smaller, not quite as pure, but nevertheless provides important cold water fish habitat. The Silver Creek Wetland extends along both sides of Highway 26 west of Collingwood, with its centre point located somewhere north of the intersection of the eastern end of Silver Creek Drive and Highway 26, towards East Black Bass Bay.

Issues

Development

The first significant issue, and the reason that the Watershed Trust was formed in 1995, was that a developer wanted to turn the Silver Creek Wetland into a golf course. We won that battle, ultimately resulting in a portion of the Wetland’s official designation as Provincially Significant. Read more about the formation of the Blue Mountain Watershed Trust.

More development

The Wetland is all privately owned. Authorities such as Conservation Authorities and the Ministry of Natural Resources must have owners’ permission to enter and monitor. Only when there is a development proposal are owners obliged to allow access for evaluation purposes. Agencies cannot simply evaluate the wellbeing of endangered and threatened species and ensure a healthy habitat.

There are several housing developments planned for parts of the Wetland that do not fall under the designation of Provincially Significant:

• Consulate East
• Consulate West
• 70 & 80 Madeleine Drive
• Huntingwood Trails

The Watershed Trust is in discussions with the Town of Collingwood, the Nottawasaga Conservation Authority and the developers about the approval and the detail of these plans.

Our plan for the Silver Creek Wetlands

Private ownership of the Wetlands not only limits conservation officials’ access, but also limits public enjoyment of the wetlands. We believe that it’s important to get these lands out of private hands when the opportunity arises.

To that end, we put forward {The Silver Creek Wetland – A Vision for the Future} in 20XX. [LINK to document] Our vision includes transferring management of the Wetland and its sensitive portions—those that by law must remain unaltered—from landowners either to the relevant municipality or to a Conservation Authority (CA) such as the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority.

The Collingwood Town Council the Blue Mountains Town Council, the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority and the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority have endorsed our proposal. It was also presented to the Niagara Escarpment Commission (NEC) in 20XX.

“The NVCA is the logical steward for this delicate ecosystem,” observed Norman Wingrove, President of the Watershed Trust. “Without their monitoring and management, adjacent development will degrade the area, diminishing its ability to provide healthy habitat for birds, turtles, fish and mammals.”

To date, no landowners have expressed interest in passing stewardship of the parts of their land that cannot be developed to a CA or municipality.

How you can help

You can help the Trust in its efforts by becoming a member or by making a tax-deductible donation. As a member, you have the option of taking an active role in fighting development within the Silver Creek Wetland. One of the most important things you can do is to write and express your concerns to your local MPP and to:

David Piccini, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change

Toll Free: 1-800-565-4923

cballard.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org

Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change

11th Floor, Ferguson Block

77 Wellesley Street West

Toronto, Ontario

M7A 2T5