Join Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority staff for an engaging tour showcasing a restoration project on Sheldon Creek. This tour will explore how innovative conservation practices are protecting critical habitat for trout, salmon, and other aquatic species. Once impacted by severe erosion and poor water quality, this site has been transformed through livestock exclusion fencing, streambank stabilization, wetland creation, and the planting of over 1,300 native trees and shrubs. During this tour, you’ll see how a 15‑metre riparian buffer protects the creek, learn how restored floodplains reduce erosion and improve water flow, and observe unique restoration solutions like using recycled Christmas tree revetments to enhance fish habitat. This field trip showcases real-world stewardship, collaboration, and sustainable land management. Come experience how thoughtful restoration is helping rebuild a healthier watershed—one stream at a time!

Date & Time: 
Monday, November 2, 2026, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.

Site Location:
Adjala Sideroad, Simcoe County, ON (Meeting location will be provided after registration.)

Speakers:

• Don Little, Manager, Stewardship & Restoration Services, Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
  Don has over 18 years’ experience working as an environmental practitioner.
• Laura Wensink, River Restoration Technician, Stewardship & Restoration Services, Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
  Laura has over 10 years’ experience in aquatic biology and ecological restoration and is a certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner.

Special Instructions:
Address and parking details will be provided to registered participants.

Accessibility:
This site will require walking on uneven terrain, in potentially muddy conditions. Please dress for outdoor conditions.

Native prairie grasslands, once widespread across Southern Ontario, have largely disappeared. Today, however, farmers and landowners throughout our valley are helping restore these remarkable ecosystems.

Discover the beauty and value of our native prairie grasses and wildflowers and learn how they can benefit both your land and the environment. Native prairie plants are an excellent choice for poor, sandy marginal lands, providing long-term benefits such as increased soil carbon storage, improved water infiltration and groundwater recharge, reduced flooding and erosion, and essential habitat for pollinators and species at risk.

Date & Time:
Monday, November 2, 2026, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.

Site Location:
Baldwick Line, Simcoe County, ON (Address and roadside parking details will be provided to registered participants.)

Speaker:
Shannon Stephens, B.Sc. (Env), MSc., Healthy Waters Program Coordinator, Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority

Shannon enjoys working with farmers, volunteers, landowners, and communities to improve water quality, protect drinking water and restore habitat. She has over 30 years of experience with ecological restoration of wetlands, prairie, river and woodlands; plant identification; seed collection, germination and dormancy research; protecting farm soils and water quality; and exotic species control.

With the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority since 2006, Shannon has coordinated water quality enhancement projects, habitat restoration, river rehabilitation and fish community monitoring projects, and drinking source water protection projects. And an odd life fact, she has been run over by carp!

Special Instructions:
Address and parking details will be provided to registered participants.

Accessibility:
This site will require walking (1-2 km) on uneven terrain, in potentially muddy conditions. Roadside parking is available on a quiet, dead-end road. Tour leaders will advise on poison ivy locations. Please dress for outdoor conditions.

Scanlon Creek Conservation Area is located in Bradford West-Gwillimbury and is approximately 300 hectares. The property was home to a large recreational on-line pond, created by a constructed dam, which was used for canoeing, kayaking, and swimming. In 2015, over 600 metres of Scanlon creek was re-established, by-passing the former dam and using natural channel design and bioengineering techniques, along with the creation of several wetland areas within the creek valley.

To further enhance the main creek, in 2023, stream restoration work and culvert improvements were completed further downstream to reduce erosion using bioengineering techniques and improve flow by replacing a damaged and undersized culvert along a maintenance access route. In addition to the downstream work, additional stream restoration work was completed upstream, using similar techniques, to manage a section of severe erosion. In total, over 250 metres of streambank restoration was completed.

A visit to this location will include hiking the trails (moderate to rugged access) around the property to view many of the completed restoration works and experience the natural environment. The hike will finish at the newly completed Nature Centre, which is scheduled to be completed September 2026.

*Also consider signing up for The Nature Centre at Scanlon Creek field tour starting at 3:30 p.m.

Date & Time:
Monday, November 2, 2026, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.

Site Location:
Scanlon Creek Conservation Area, 2450 Line 9, Bradford, ON

Speaker:
Bryan Widner, Construction Specialist, Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority

Bryan Widner has spent over a decade undertaking environmental restoration across the Greater Toronto Area. From hands‑on field construction to overseeing project design and implementation, he brings a deep commitment to improving ecosystems wherever he works. As the Construction Specialist at the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority, Bryan collaborates with consultants, contractors, and local stakeholders to deliver Stormwater Management and Ecological Enhancement projects throughout the watershed. His dedication to promoting and protecting natural systems continues to drive meaningful progress for the region’s environmental health.

Special Instructions:
None

Accessibility:
This site will require walking on uneven terrain, in potentially muddy conditions. Please dress for outdoor conditions.

The newly completed Nature Centre at Scanlon Creek is scheduled to be completed in September 2026. Join Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority staff to take a tour of the Centre. Built using Net Zero V3 Design, with over 8,500 ft2 and four flexible multi-use rooms, the Centre will be an immersive natural experience, blurring the lines between the indoors and outdoors by incorporating the latest innovations in sustainable design and construction.

Visit the website for a virtual tour and latest construction updates.

*Also consider signing up for the Scanlon Creek Restoration field tour starting at 1:30 p.m.

Date & Time:
Monday, November 2, 2026, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Site Location:
Scanlon Creek Conservation Area, 2450 Line 9, Bradford, ON

Speakers:
Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority Education Staff

Special Instructions:
None

Accessibility:
Barrier-free access

The Victoria Green Stormwater Management Facility was constructed in the 1980’s to address urban stormwater runoff from a newly constructed residential subdivision in the Town of Innisfil. The design focused on water quantity control. In 2023, the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority partnered with the Town of Innisfil on retaining a consultant to retrofit the existing stormwater facility, focusing on improvements to water quality and ecological enhancements. This included a treatment train approach through the implementation of Low Impact Development (LID) features, forebays within the stormwater management pond and wetland features adjacent to the pond facility.

The project was completed in the summer of 2025 with the creation of 169 m2 of wetland area, 7,800 m2 of Natural Heritage Restoration area and 587 shrubs, along with 1,927 aquatics & perennials planted.

Several LID bioretention cells were also installed as part of the treatment train. The water quality improvements for this project included a phosphorus reduction of 2.77kg per year.

The site tour will include walking the length of the facility, starting with the LID’s and then to the stormwater management facility to see the pond retrofit and adjacent wetlands.

Date & Time:
Monday, November 2, 2026, 1:30 – 2 p.m.
Monday, November 2, 2026, 2:30 – 3:00 p.m.

Site Location:
Innisfil, ON (Meeting location will be provided after registration. Street parking is available.)

Speaker:
Brook Piotrowski, Restoration Project Manager, Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority

Brook Piotrowski is a Restoration Project Manager at the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority. Brook is a Certified Engineering Technologist who has been implementing innovative stormwater practices for 30 years. He manages all aspects of urban restoration projects including stormwater, environmental enhancement, and stream and valley restoration.

Special Instructions:
None

Accessibility:
Gravel access road to the ponds. Please dress for outdoor conditions.

The Kettleby Dam Removal Project re-established connections for Redside Dace migration through the removal of an artificial barrier. This barrier was in place for over 50 years to fill a large pond for recreational use by Kettleby Valley Camp. The camp was in full support of this project which allowed us to enhance the stream and habitat to meet the needs of the endangered Redside Dace (Clinostomus elongatus) migration.

The area has been naturalized, incorporating pools and riffles to support fish migration and overhanging streamside vegetation for protection. The plantings along the streambank included grasses, wildflowers, and small shrubs that are also important for fish protection and food.

This project resulted in the restoration of 60 metres of stream and 120 metres of riparian buffer, along with 130 potted shrubs planted, 500 live stakes installed and a total area 1,500 m2 being seeded with native grasses and wildflowers. Returning the creek to a free-flowing state has helped to improve its overall health.

We are very pleased with the results of this restoration project. The site visit will include a walk down to the dam to look at the remaining structure and the restored channel.

Date & Time:
Monday, November 2, 2026, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.

Site Location:
Kettleby Valley Camp, 609 Kettleby Rd., King City, ON

Speaker:
Peter Shuttleworth, Restoration Project Specialist, Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority

Peter Shuttleworth has worked with LSRCA since 2017. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Geography from the University of Ottawa and a post-graduate certificate in Ecosystem Restoration from Niagara College. Peter enjoys connecting with landowners to implement restoration efforts that benefit our watershed and feels a great sense of pride knowing that our work effects positive change. He is an avid canoeist and tries to spend as much time outdoors as possible.

Special Instructions:
Parking directions will be sent to registered participants.

Accessibility:
This site will require walking on uneven terrain, in potentially muddy conditions. Please dress for outdoor conditions.