The Waring's Creek Improvement Association
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Waring's Creek sign photo
The Waring's Creek Improvement Association (WCIA) is a community-based group of citizens, mainly residents of Prince Edward County, who are engaged in the rehabilitation and preservation of Waring's Creek.

At one time known as Trout Creek, Waring's Creek drains a watershed of over 3500 acres in the western portion of the island known as Prince Edward County, Ontario's smallest county. "The County", as it is affectionately known, is a predominately rural oasis in the sea of urban and suburban development that stretches along Lake Ontario's western and north shores from Niagara to Kingston.

Waring's Creek photo

Waring's Creek drains its watershed into West Lake, a small body of water formed when the Sandbanks, one of the outstanding freshwater shoreline features of eastern North America, surrounded and captured several acres of Lake Ontario. Several hundred thousand visitors use nearby Sandbanks Provincial Park annually.

Waring's Creek is a typical, southern Ontario sandplain stream, with low flows and relatively high nutrient levels, capable of supporting eastern brook trout populations. (Source: Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters).

Since 1993, the WCIA has expended great efforts in rehabilitation. To date, a 3-km. stretch of the Creek has been dramatically improved. More than 15,000 trees have been planted to control erosion. The results are becoming apparent as the watercourse begins to once again take on the characteristics of a meandering, cold water creek. Silting has been reduced and the water temperature has dropped. Significant cold-water habitat and indicator species are in evidence. With continued effort by adjacent landowners and the WCIA plus lack of disturbance, the Creek may soon be able once again to sustain brook trout.

The WCIA is locally based, but its concerns for the local ecology have worldwide implications. Communities can make a difference in the quality of their local environment.

Executive Officers elected for 1997-98:

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For more information about the WCIA and its activities, including membership information, contact the WCIA as follows:

E-mail:

mjives@post.kosone.com

Snail mail:

P.O. Box 2230, Picton, Ontario, K0K 2T0

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Gravel Pit

And for more information on a project* which is an important challenge to the local environment and to the WCIA--a proposed, 135-acre upstream gravel pit--click here

* This project has the support of the Canadian Environmental Defence Fund