Challenge #2 had us out exploring, testing, observing and interviewing. It was an excellent way for us to get to know our local watershed and the many things that are around us as a direct result of the water flowing through our community. Georgetown and Acton have a long history of shaping and being shaped by the water - from the mills of both towns to the "man-made" Fairy Lake to the conservation areas that dot the area for all to enjoy the outdoors. The exploring was the most popular of the activities and here are three we found to be interesting and having a lasting impact on our community. Limehouse Conservation Area Address: 12169 Fifth Line, Limehouse L0P 1H0 Located on the Niagara Escarpment, and owned by Credit Valley Conservation, the Limehouse Conservation Area is a site of Regional Cultural Heritage. Remains of the 19th Century Kilns are found in the area, and are currently being restored. Found in the Conservation Area is a provincially threatened species of fish, as well as the kilns and limestone, hence the name ‘Limehouse’. The Limehouse Conservation Area also contains water that is within the Silver Creek Watershed. The Limehouse Conservation Area holds a historical story, starting in the 1800’s. The trail takes hikers past remnants of the Lime Industry. You can see the huge kilns, and an old powerhouse. These cultural structures represent Ontario’s past association with the Niagara Escarpment resources. Barber Paper Mill Address: The Barber Paper Mill, 99 River Drive, Halton Hills, Georgetown, ON. Established in 1854 At one point in time, the Barber Paper Mill was the largest industry in the county of Halton. The industry contributes to the history of paper milling, and hydroelectric power in Canada. For around 10 years, the mill originally made ‘rag paper’, from cotton and linen rags, until 1869, when they began to make paper with wood pulp. The Barber Paper Mill provided hundred of jobs for those within the community, and surrounding it. The river was used to produce a great deal of paper, supplying nearly the entire country until 1948. Barber Dynamo Built in 1888, the Barber Dynamo was the first electrical generating plant to supply an industrial plant in North America. From the Dynamo, two wires carried the power up to the Barber Mill, which was located 3 km up the river. The Barber Dynamo was a great historical contribution to North America. The Dynamo was put in place to increase the Mill’s production, because the Dynamo was an extra source of power. We explored a few other sites as well. Here's a video specifically about Georgetown. We also spent some time investigating the rising and falling levels of water as well as the native and invasive species of the Credit Valley Conservation watershed. The general consensus is that the water levels in this area are dependent on the weather, with the most significant changes happening in spring and fall. As a result of the relatively mild winter, we conclude that the water levels in the nearby creeks and rivers are actually higher than they have been historically at this time, however they will be at their highest in a few weeks time. Numerous fish, fauna and fowl populate and depend on the waters and they are surrounded by a fairly intact ecosystem. Some species that are of a concern are the giant hogweed, the emerald ash borer beetle, and the round goby. Here is just a little of what we found along with some evidence of the rising and lower levels of our waterways:
2 Comments
Dona
2/23/2017 10:41:43 am
Very impressive - I have shared your blog and awesome video in our Facebook Players community here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1192586727497019/
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Mr. Dinner
3/30/2017 09:59:09 pm
Thanks so much. Our video of our day of action isn't quite ready so you'll have to settle for some pictures. But the day is part of a larger project and we hope to have a number of videos posted here, even they aren't part of the challenges. Been a very enjoyable experience.
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