Rehabilitation / Enhancement of the MacDonald's River Reach B

Successful Applicant:

Lot 11 and Area Watershed Management Group

Award:

$4,140

Project Title:

Rehabilitation / Enhancement of the MacDonald's River Reach B

Project Summary:

The Macdonald's River is the name of the stream as it appears on the Provincial Map. The stream is located within the Foxley River watershed. The head of tide occurs at 46.6826°, -64.0535°. The primary channel occurs over ~1800 metres to the south of the head of tide. The riparian zone is extended, mixed forests. The headwaters form from lower-order tributaries draining a forest/wetland area of approximately 750 hectares.

Our projects concentrated on Reach B of the Macdonald's River (46.6736°, -64.0570°) and continues to the Rafferty Road culvert (46.6709°, - 64.0524°), approximately 3 km. We enhanced the diversity of the riparian zone hugging the stream system on both sides with the planting of 796 native trees and shrubs. We improved fish passage with the removal of small blockages from the head of tide to the Rafferty Road (4 km), left by abandoned beaver dams and subsequent winters fallen trees. Brushmats were installed in key locations to trap sediment and stabilize banks. Our 3 km access trail was developed to connect with the previously developed MacDonald's River Interpretive Trail funded by the WCF in 2013. This trail now spans from the Tory Road Access to the Rafferty Road. Pathways Youth and Watershed Camp Youth were invited to plant the trees and shrubs on this system.