Efforts continuing in the Bayfield North Watersheds

Since 2008, the Bayfield North Watersheds have been an area of interest for the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority, other local and government agencies, and residents.

Co-operative projects between agencies and landowners have included developing a watershed management plan, as well as conducting a watershed-based best management practices evaluation (WBBE) project called Crops and Creeks Huron. The purpose of these projects has been to improve water quality in the small gullies flowing directly into Lake Huron, north of Bayfield. This project area has also provided the opportunity to monitor the effectiveness of agricultural best management practices (BMPs) in improving water quality. The management plan has been completed (http://www.abca.on.ca/page. php?page=bayfield-north) and the WBBE project has wrapped up (http://www. abca.on.ca/page.php?page=crops-and-creeks-huron); however, work in this watershed is ongoing.

Landowners continue to implement new BMPs within these watersheds including planting cover crops on six fields, completing one wetland project, and planting 60 trees to help stabilize a lake bank property. Partnerships with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Environment Canada, and the University of Guelph have supported stream and BMP monitoring. In 2014, monitoring continued at three berm sites, two tile drain sites, and a cover crop site.

Research conducted in this area has helped the Healthy Lake Huron partners document how BMPs can be effective at both the site scale and the watershed scale. These results show that a system of ACTion BMPs, which Avoid, Control, and Trap/Treat erosion and runoff, can have a positive impact on improving water quality. Specifically, these are BMPs that:

• • help Avoid runoff and improve soil structure and infiltration include reducing tillage, managing nutrient application, and using cover crops.
• Control runoff include berms, grassed waterways, and wetlands.
• Trap and Treat runoff are found at the field edge, such as planting and maintaining riparian buffers.

In the Bayfield North Watersheds, monitoring and modelling efforts have demonstrated that one of the best ways to reduce runoff is to keep a field in permanent cover (e.g., hay or pasture). As this is not always possible, a combination of ACTion BMPs will help improve soil health and reduce runoff. The project partners would like to thank residents of the Bayfield North Watersheds who continue to help them learn from their stewardship efforts.