Our area of interest is composed of independent watersheds that originate in the Niagara Escarpment, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. The watercourses drain directly into Georgian Bay and include Silver Creek, Black Ash Creek, Townline Creek, Pretty River, Batteaux River, Indian Brook and the Beaver River as well as smaller streams. Our area of interest forms a rectilinear shape bounded by the Georgian Bay shoreline to the north and the highlands of the Niagara Escarpment to the south – an area totaling approximately 90,000 hectares.

The Watershed Trust’s watershed boasts a unique and diverse natural environment. It supports a wide array of terrestrial and aquatic wildlife. This attracts visitors and new residents due to its natural beauty. Because of this unique natural environment and geographic location, our watershed is under great pressure to support increased recreational, residential/commercial, extractive and rural activities. Because of the social, economic and ecological value of our remaining wild and delicate places, the Watershed Trust is committed to ensuring the continued environmental health and integrity of our watershed.

We are stewards of the Blue Mountains area. As such, we undertake a broad variety of activities including:

• Raising public awareness and outcry about imminent dangers to our natural heritage
• Monitoring water quality, pollution and turbidity & working with government and the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
• Negotiating directly with developers in our area to reduce pressure on sensitive areas
• Engaging with 3 levels of government on conservation issues
• Holding quarry operators to account and challenging expansion plans
• Fundraising to support our work