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Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund support reshaping rivers in the Nottawasaga watershed

October 2, 2025   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

The Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority has announced they have received support from Bass Pro Shops and the Cabela’s Outdoor Fund for its ‘Reshaping Rivers for Resiliency’ project.

This is an ambitious initiative aimed at restoring river ecosystems in the heart of the Nottawasaga watershed.

As part of the NVCA’s Nottawasaga River Restoration Program, now in its eighth year, the project restores habitat for native and sport fish such as Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, and Chinook Salmon, and species at risk. The project improves degraded rivers and engages communities through hands-on action.

Funding supports restoration at three key sites. These include the Nottawasaga River near Alliston, Sheldon Creek in Adjala-Tosorontio, and the Mad River at Carruthers Memorial Park in Clearview Township. There are also fall tree planting events.

“Restoring our rivers means creating a more resilient watershed,” said Laura Wensink, River Restoration Technician with NVCA. “This grant is helping reshape damaged rivers into thriving ecosystems—and creating real opportunities for the community to be part of that story.”

Through the summer and fall of 2025, work includes stabilizing eroding banks, creating an oxbow wetland for amphibians, birds, and juvenile fish, and rebuilding a side channel for young trout.

Native trees and vegetation will be planted to cool the water and stabilize soils. Volunteers will join the restoration and stewardship activities.

These efforts will enhance nearly four hectares of aquatic and riparian habitat, protect another four from degradation, and prevent over 1,100 tons of soil from entering the river.

This will reduce sediment and phosphorus pollution and improve water quality.

At Carruthers Memorial Park, a straightened stretch of the Mad River will be re-naturalized. On the upper Nottawasaga River, restoration will reconnect the river with its floodplain, stabilize banks, and create a new wetland.

Tree planting and bank repairs along Sheldon Creek will protect the river from livestock impacts.

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