Monitoring

Monitoring provides valuable data on the long-term status of bird and amphibian populations in the watershed. This information helps to measure the success of rehabilitation projects as well as to identify problems within the watershed that need to be addressed. Identification of species decline and the reason for the decline at an early stage is important to finding successful solutions.

Marsh Monitoring

Canadian Wildlife Service, Ontario Region (CWS/OR) along Rondeau Bay's northwest shore. Monitoring was expanded in the summer of 1995 to include the collection of amphibian data. This data provides a baseline of information prior to wetland restoration adjacent to the abandoned Erieau railway line.

Amphibian Monitoring

Three Amphibian Monitoring Routes and two Back Yard Monitoring Stations were delineated in the Rondeau Bay watershed following the CWS/OR guidelines. The data collected adds to the baseline of information prior to the restoration of 22 ha. of wetland and upland habitat adjacent to the abandoned Erieau railway line.

Forest Bird Monitoring

A Fragmented Forest Bird Monitoring Route with two sites (Pickseed Woodlot and Sinclair's Bush) was established and monitored by a volunteer, based on established provincial guidelines, for the first time during 1996. Monitoring will provide a baseline of information regarding songbird populations inhabiting fragmented forests within the Rondeau Bay watershed, aiding the RBWRP in assessing and measuring gains in forest bird diversity.

Bluebird Nest Boxes

Local landowners who placed school-built bluebird nesting boxes on their properties are committed to monitoring their use by Eastern Bluebirds and other cavity nesting species.

Successional Habitat

Monitoring of bird species present in a successional habitat was initiated in 1996 at the RBWRP's bio-engineering site. This work provides a baseline of information prior to natural succession and/or habitat restoration of the retired portion of the pasture.

Water Quality Monitoring

Water quality information was gathered and analyzed through a specific initiative designed for the Rondeau Bay Program by Environment Canada's Monitoring and Systems Branch. Water quality parameters (dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, temperature, turbidity, redox potential and stream flow) were monitored at four sites in the watershed to provide a baseline of information against which future environmental improvements due to restoration efforts can be measured. Two of these sites were associated with the RBWRP's bio-engineered stream restoration project. Monitoring should clearly demonstrate that measures undertaken to restrict cattle access and rehabilitate the stream have been beneficial to the environment.

Partners:

A water quality monitoring program was initiated during 1996 at the RBWRP's wetland restoration site. Data gathered yearly through this initiative will provide comparative information regarding before, during and after water quality conditions at the restoration site.

Partners:

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