SAWIG Stratford Area Watershed Improvement Group

The Stratford and Area Watershed Improvement Group (SAWIG) began meeting and activities in the fall of 2008. The 2009 management plan which has been developed since then describes issues and concerns identified during initial consultations with the public and with the newly constituted Board of Directors.

The geographic area is land bounded by Fullerton’s Marsh, Hillsborough River, Charlottetown Harbour and Northumberland Strait, extending as far east as the Mill Road – MacLennan Road. Stratford Area Watershed Improvement Group envision that as a community, area residents will work together to sustain the quality and quantity of fresh water available for the benefit of future generations. The Mandate SAWIG shall be to engage in activities that work to enhance and maintain streams, shorelines, buffer zones and fresh water well-fields in Stratford and surrounding area. SAWIG is a non-profit organization that will promote watershed awareness in the community through education, scientific research, and habitat restoration.

The primary objective for 2009 is to provide the framework for the development of a comprehensive management plan. In order for this goal to be achieved, considerable research is needed on the history of the area, topography and resulting land use patterns, existing flaura and fauna, as well as articulating priorities for the future. The gathering and collating of this information will provide the basis for a long term restoration plan, essentially, the watershed strategic management plan.

Management Plan Priority Areas

1. Public Education
Coordinated events will be held to provide information and gather public input on issues concerning the sustainability of the area watershed. It is anticipated that 4 public education events with speakers and audio visual presentations will be held in the next year along with 6 public participation outdoor events. Specific education events could be aimed at private well water testing for nitrates in the community. Water budgeting for the area is a good example of another education exercise. SAWIG will develop articles for the town newsletter to publicize the education component.

2. Pondside Park and Hatchery Pond
Strategic investments will be made in stream enhancement, siltation source identification, buffer zone delineation, trail identification and creation, forest restoration (Hurricane Juan cleanup) and general park improvements. Specific short tertm goals include brush matting the watercourse, establishing GPS coordinates of the buffer zone
and water course. Long term objectives for this watercourse include the removal of silt from the pond,
Medium Term Projects could include enhanced walking trails with bridges and the extension of walking area trails into Jordan’s Pond.

3. Large Landscape Issues; Coastal, Agricultural and Forested
The management plan will provide for forest restoration and buffer zone protection of critical zones with the provision of trees and shrubs where needed and accepted by residents. A high exposure area will be sought to provide an example of watershed improvement to the public such as the Jenkins Pond Area which contains a freshwater spring, on property adjacent to the TCH at the eastern entrance to Stratford.

A forestry management plan will be developed which as a foundation has several large existing forested areas in both private and public ownership throughout the town. The management plan will include measures to encourage area agricultural producers to participate in the PEI Dept of Agriculture ALUS program.

4. Baseline Ecosystem information
The management plan will budget significant resources for the assembly of baseline research on the area, a physical survey of the flora and fauna assets, and the identification of critical natural habitat. This information will be used as the basis for the identification of priority lands which exhibit high natural values in the town and which may be candidate areas for acquisition at some point in the future.

5. Community Participation
The management plan will provide for opportunities for public participation in watershed improvements, tree planting, nitrate testing, and aquatic monitoring are good examples of where the comunity can provide assistance and participation.

For more information on this group, please contact Doug Deacon at 367-3605 or email ddeacon@town.stratford.pe.ca