 |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
Photos of Naturalization Project | General Information and Plans | Photos of Wildflowers
Serious flooding delayed the start of the Harrington Pond Water Quality Improvement Project. The ground remained wet and soft throughout most of the summer, and it was felt that bringing heavy equipment in to do the work would cause too much damage. The project was delayed until late October and early November, at which time the project was completed. A diversion channel was dug to capture runoff from the adjacent farmer's field and direct it into the settling basin on the upper end of Harrington Pond. Rock was laid across the narrow part of Harrington Pond to create the settling basin. A rock berm spans the end of the pond and has a geotextile core to restrict sediment movement into the main pond. The work was completed on November 6, 2000. Funding for this project was provided by Enbridge Pipelines Environmental Initiatives Program.
On November 8, students from A J Baker School planted more than 200 native trees and shrubs on the west side of the pond. The remaining trees and shrubs will be planted in the spring of 2001 by local students. In addition, wildflowers and grasses will be planted to create a meadow on the west side of the pond.
From November 28 to 30, students from Zorra Highland Park School and Stratford Northwestern Secondary School completed the bioengineering around the pond by installing 300 metres of fascines. Fascines are bundles of dormant shrub vegetation that are buried in a trench in the bank, parallel to the water. The vegetation roots in the bank creating a shrub layer that prevents erosion and provides habitat for wildlife. Sections of the pond bank were left open to allow people to fish in the pond.
Funding for the tree planting, meadow creation, and bioengineering at Harrington Conservation Area was provided by Environment Canada's EcoAction Community Funding Program.
