New funding is available to support practices that will help reduce phosphorus losses within the Sydenham River Watershed.
St. Clair Conservation recently secured four years of funding through the Canada Water Agency to support the Sydenham Phosphorus Reduction Initiative (SPRI). The goals of SPRI are:
1. To decrease the overall non-point source phosphorus loads in the Sydenham River Watershed, as the River is the 3rd largest Canadian contributor of phosphorus to Lake Erie and,
2. To increase the adoption and sustainability of agricultural and rural Best Management Practices (BMPs) in high phosphorus-yielding areas.
With over 80% of the St. Clair Region watershed comprised of agricultural land, BMPs such as windbreaks, cover crops, and wetland restoration are critical in minimizing phosphorus losses to waterways. These practices can also help to reduce soil erosion, protect water quality, increase crop yields, and potentially decrease the need for fertilizer. Additionally, implementing BMPs improves habitat for aquatic wildlife, specifically our local Species at Risk.
