Mississauga Bassmasters Conservation



```Conservation` As one of the founding clubs of the Ontario B.A.S.S. Federation, we are very proud to have been the recipients: 2000 Bass Anglers Sportsman Society National Chapter Conservation Award 2000 Bass Anglers Sportsman Society Chapter of the Year for the Northern Division 1997 Bass Anglers Sportsman Society National Chapter Conservation Award Click here to view a letter from the Prime Minister of Canada on our club achievement. Click here to view a letter from the Federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans to our club.








2010 Club Conservation Project
Mississauga LitterNot Volunteer Clean-up Program Our club adopted Lakefront Promenade Park several years ago under Mississauga's LitterNot Volunteer Clean-up Program. The guidelines are simple to adopt a street, park or watercourse: Two-year commitment Minimum of three cleanups per year Training, safety equipment, garbage bags and garbage pickup provided by City of Mississauga Groups receive a sign at their location and a certificate of recognition from the Mayor. Our first 1-hour park cleanup for 2010 was held on Thursday, May 20th at Lakefront Promenade Park beginning at 7:00 p.m. We met at the main building next to the splash pad. Click here for map of the Lakefront Promenade Park.
Rattray Marsh Conservation Area Spring Cleanup & Help Control the Spread of Invasive Species Projects We are encouraging our club members to participate in at least one Rattray Marsh event. Ten (10) membership participation points towards Mississauga Bassmasters' Member of the Year qualification will be awarded even though these events are held by the CVC/Rattray Marsh Protection Association. Don't forget to wear your club shirt! Come to any Marsh entrance for this annual event and help preserve this unique and sensitive wetland for all to enjoy. A volunteer coordinator will direct you to an area needing clean up. Dress appropriately for the weather, bring work gloves to protect your hands and wear boots. Please bring a refillable water bottle. Eligible for high school volunteer hours. No advance registration required. Further information: Credit Valley Conservation (905) 670-1615 ext 221 or Rattray Marsh Protection Association (905) 823-1572 or (905) 820-2571. Click here for CVC Rattray Marsh Project details Annual Spring Cleanup, Saturday, April 10th from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm Help Control the Spread of Invasive Species, Sunday, May 30th from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm Help Control the Spread of Invasive Species, Sunday, June 27th from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Ken Whillans Resource Management Area * Event Cancelled Due to Poor Ice Conditions * Our first conservation event for 2010 is scheduled for Saturday, March 13th from 9am till about noon. Ken Whillans Resource Management Area is located just off Hwy 10 in Caledon, ON. We will be working with Credit Valley Conservation staff to build bass habitat which will be then transferred onto the ice to strategic locations. It is expected that these bass structures will then sink to the lake bottom when winter thaw commences. Please assemble at the main parking gate at 9am and bring along a full floater suit if you have one. CVC staff will monitor and assess the safety condition of the lake ice prior to this event. Check back here as we will post updates as they become available.

2009 Scheduled Conservation Projects
Lakefront Promenade Park Spawning Bed Project Thank-you club members & the CVC for your tremendous contribution in building bass spawning beds at Lakefront Promenade Park on Saturday, October 3, 2009. Using a work boat provided by the Credit Valley Conservation to haul gravel and stone back and forth into the bay, we created several protected spawning beds using 4.8 tonnes of pea gravel and 2 tonnes of granite boulders in Lake Ontario. Click here to view video of event
Sixteen Mile Creek Tributary Erosion Control Project It was great to see so many volunteers come out to our erosion control project on Saturday, May 30th at 16-Mile Creek tributary in Milton. Thank-you all! Erosion control was accomplished through the utilization of rock, sod mats, shrubs and seeding. Photos will be posted soon. Click this for a map of the meeting place which was west end of Louis Street/Laurent Avenue off of Thompson Road/3rd Line.
Whillans Spawning Habitat Construction Project Ken Whillans Resource Management Area is located on the west side of Highway 10 north of Olde Baseline Road, just northeast of Inglewood. Our club members are planning to work with Credit Valley Conservation staff this fall to continue our previous years work and long term goal of creating a largemouth spawning habitat.

2008 Conservation Projects
Rattray Marsh Conservation Area Annual Spring Clean-up Club members participated in a conservation event sponsored by the CVC on April 12th, 2008. Although it rained, this didn't dampen the spirits of those that came out to help clean up Rattray Marsh. Great job volunteers!
Lakefront Promenade Park Aquatic Plant Planting Club members have been asked to participate in a conservation event sponsored by the CVC on Thursday, August 14th, 2008 beginning at 1 pm. The erosion control component is currently underway followed by the proposed small wetland planting. The CVC has around 70 aquatic plants to dig in, as well as the erection of a fence to keep out the geese and ducks. Volunteers please show up at Lakefront Promenade Park with hip waders if possible.

2007 Conservation Projects
Lake Ontario Atlantic Salmon Restoration Program Club volunteers had an opportunity to help a partner organization in a Lake Ontario Atlantic Salmon Restoration Program. On May 15th-18th, 2007 a stocking initiative was completed.
Peel Children's Water Festival Since 1996, the Peel Children's Water Festival has provided an environmental education program to over 50,000 Peel elementary school students and their families. Through numerous interactive games and demonstrations, the Region of Peel along with numerous partners in education, government, industry and the community, educates residents about the water cycle, water efficiency, environmental protection and resource conservation. Although our primary audience is school children, the Festival's Community Day allows both parents and children to try out some of the activities and to learn about the Region of Peel's water programs and services and the importance of protecting our water supply. Mississauga Bassmasters was invited to participate in the 2007 Peel Children's Water Festival Community Day - Saturday, May 26th between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. at Heart Lake Conservation Area in Brampton. This event provided Mississauga Bassmasters a good opportunity to profile our organization and its accomplishments, and would inspire the general public to become involved in preserving and protecting the environment. We're able to set up a static display or an interactive hands-on activity. More detailed information about the Festival can be found by clicking on www.peel-waterfestival.ca
Whillans Brush Pile Project Ken Whillans Resource Management Area is located on the west side of Highway 10 north of Olde Baseline Road, just northeast of Inglewood. Two fishing ponds provide angling opportunities for northern pike, largemouth bass and more recently, stocked rainbow trout. The Credit River also flows through the property, providing angling opportunities for naturalized brown trout. A special thank-you to the dozen volunteers (& kids) who turned out on Saturday, April 21st, 2007 to undertake a replacement and new construction of brush piles for largemouth spawning area protection in the ponds at Whillans Resource Management Area. A few strapped on chest waders and Dave Scarr donated use of his small watercraft to help move the materials from the shoreline. The weather was excellent and we spotted lots of bass holding to the sunken structure erected back in 2004 by Mississauga Bassmasters!

Credit Valley Conservation
The CVC believes in "conservation through cooperation" and works with a number of community groups, schools, fishing clubs, local businesses, naturalists, etc. on various projects to improve the health of the Credit River Watershed. Community groups participate in various projects throughout the Watershed including tree planting, stream restoration work, hosting workshops, and helping us to better understand the watershed. CVC supports these efforts by: Click here to tour the CVC website. - providing information and expert advice - providing access to materials, supplies and funding sources - facilitating partnerships among these groups. Mississauga Bassmasters is one of many Community Partners working with the CVC.


Past Club Conservation Projects
Lakefront Promenade Park Artificial Reef Projects Lake Ontario A-Frame Bass Condo Project Ken Whillans Resource Management Area Spawning Habitat Project Wolfe Lake Weed Control Project Mississauga LitterNot Volunteer Clean-up Program Cawthra Creek Wetland Project Credit River Smallmouth Bass Habitat Survey and Fish Transfers Credit River Tree Planting Project Island Lake Reservoir Bioengineering Erosion Control Project Participation in the Credit River Fisheries Management Plan Ken Whillans Resource Management Area Brush Pile Project

Lakefront Promenade Park Artificial Reef Projects Peel Region gladly donated (recycled) Christmas Trees, thus assisting us in building new bass spawning protection and submerged cover. The trees were transported to the job site and then loaded onto a boat at the Lakefront Promenade Park marina. Forty-four trees now lay at the bottom of Lake Ontario forming four artificial reefs. The trees were sunk around structure to assist with the future growth cover for spawning bass.




Lake Ontario A-Frame Bass Condo Project We recycled material to assist us in building new bass spawning A-frame condos. The units were transported to the job site and then loaded onto a boat at the Lakefront Promenade Park marina. Several A-frame condo units now lay at the bottom of Lake Ontario forming artificial reefs for spawning bass.


Ken Whillans Resource Management Area Spawning Habitat Project We built a few brush piles for largemouth spawning cover in the shallows of Whillans Lake, Caledon, ON.


Wolfe Lake Weed Control Project Special weed control structures were constructed from wood & brick mortar during the winter and allowed to sink to the lake bottom when spring melt arrived. The structures became natural habitat for spawning Wolfe Lake bass as well helped control weed growth.





Mississauga LitterNot Volunteer Clean-up Program For the past nine years, our club adopted this shoreline of Lake Ontario in Mississauga and hold events to keep Lakefront Promenade Park clean for local residents to enjoy.


Credit River Smallmouth Bass Habitat Survey and Fish Transfers Our club applied for and received a Community Fisheries and Wildlife Improvement Program (CFWIP) grant from the Ministry of Natural Resources, to capture, radio tag, and transfer smallmouth from below the Reid Dam, in Streetsville, to several kilometres upstream in the Credit River.



Credit River Tree Planting Project Trees were purchased and then planted along the shoreline of the Credit River system.


Island Lake Reservoir Bioengineering Erosion Control Project A bioengineering erosion control project was undertaken at Island Lake in Orangeville, ON. Our club secured special bundles of sprouts along selected shoreline in hopes of creating new walls of vegetation to hinder shoreline erosion.


Participation in the Credit River Fisheries Management Plan Credit River Ladder - Preliminary study for the conversion of a Bass Spawning Ladder, plus monitoring fish count and water temperature at ladder.


Ken Whillans Resource Management Area Brush Pile Project Our membership undertook a replacement and new construction of brush piles for largemouth spawning area protection in the ponds.



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