Cooling Squirrel Creek – Freshwater Conservation Canada Partners with Visionary Landowner to Restore a Brook Trout Stream and Protect it from Climate Change

MILLBROOK – Freshwater Conservation Canada (formerly Trout Unlimited Canada), a national leader in freshwater ecosystem conservation and restoration, is partnering with a visionary landowner to restore a section of Squirrel Creek that runs through a retired cattle pasture. This effort will help to cool this reach of the stream and reset conditions to support the return of Brook Trout, while helping to build resilience to the impacts of climate change.

Working with Steven Brackenridge of Squirrel Creek Farm, Freshwater Conservation Canada is restoring the health of Squirrel Creek and returning the retired cattle pasture to riparian forest and wetlands, including planting Sugar Maple trees. These trees are intended to be used by Brackenridge’s great-grandchildren for maple syrup production.

Brook Trout are resident to Squirrel Creek, but due to multiple factors, they are rarely seen in this reach of the stream in recent years. Warming of the water is one factor – without shade provided by trees, and an online pond upstream, this reach of stream is less hospitable to coldwater fish species like Brook Trout. Bank erosion and sedimentation caused by cattle entering the stream has fouled fish nesting habitat and has disconnected the stream from the floodplain, further impacting the health of the stream and fish and downstream communities. Streams and rivers overflowing into floodplains is a natural process that helps to mitigate flooding and drought and contributes to the ongoing health of the stream and the fish and wildlife that make it home.

“Our Cooling Squirrel Creek project is an excellent example of how rural landowners and conservation organizations partnering together can help to protect and restore our freshwater ecosystems, which also protect our communities from the impacts of climate change,” said Mike McKenzie, Program Manager. “Farmers are important stewards of our lands and waters.”

“I can remember catching large Brook Trout in this stream when I was a child, but it has been many years since I have seen one of any size” said Steven Brackenridge. “By commissioning this restoration, I aim for them to return, and to carry on my grandfather’s legacy of caring for the land for future generations.”

Freshwater Conservation Canada and Squirrel Creek Farm are hosting a community tree planting event on Friday, October 31 and Saturday, November 1, from 9 am to 2 pm – Link  

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