Local watersheds aren’t in the best health.
According to the Watershed Report Card from Saugeen Conservation, the surface water quality in Kincardine’s Penetangore River gets a “C” grade, and forest cover levels only get a “D.”
The one bright spot is ground water quality, it gets an “A.”
The so-called “Lake Fringe” watershed along Lake Huron stretches from Kincardine to Southampton.
Surface water there still gets a “C,” the tree cover grade is slightly better, at “B.”
Saugeen Conservation and Trees Ontario are offering a subsidy of 65 cents per tree to landowners who want to reforest their properties.
Kincardine Councillor Ron Hewitt says more help is needed.
He says farmers can’t be expected to pay the full price and the province needs to cover more of the costs.
Hewitt says the Penetangore and Pine River watersheds are probably the two worst in Saugeen Conservation’s territory.
He says it’s a frustrating situation to deal with but if the public isn’t made aware, nothing can be done about it.
Saugeen Conservation Water Quality Specialist Martha Nicol says the lack of tree cover and wetlands in the watersheds are to blame for their poor condition.
