Help Us Save the Silver Creek Wetland

The Silver Creek Wetland represents a significant part of our natural heritage... a habitat that deserves to be protected from development. It is the most biologically significant area in the Town of Collingwood. Located in the northwestern corner of the town, the wetland spans just over 165 hectares (approx 400 acres) and borders on the Town of the Blue Mountains.

The Silver Creek Wetland is the last remaining coastal wetland on the south shore of Georgian Bay (from Tobermory to Midland).

Membership/Donation Form

How You Can Help

The Blue Mountain Watershed Trust has a comittment to help preserve these wetlands. Your generous donation will go a long way to ensure that we and future generations can benefit from all it offers us.

* BECOME A MEMBER for one calendar year. You will be invited to attend our Annual General Meeting in February, receive our semi-annual newsletters and be kept informed of our activities and accomplishments.

    $       5.00                   Student
    $     15.00                   Senior
    $     25.00                   Individual
    $     50.00                   Family
    $   100.00                   Supporting
    $   250.00                   Patron
    $1,000.00 or more      Lifetime Member

* MAKE A DONATION to support the BMWTF in our efforts to save the Silver Creek Wetland Complex. Your donation will be deposited to the Silver Creek Fund.

* Income Tax Receipts will be issued for donations of $10.00 or more.

* SEND TO:
      BMWTF, P.O. BOX 605, COLLINGWOOD, ONTARIO L9Y 4E8

* MAKE AN ECOGIFT - Click here for more information.

Attend the OMB Hearings to show your support . The OMB takes notice of public participation, so your participation is important.

Tell our Mayor Chris Carrier that you support the town in its efforts to put the wetlands in public hands.

The Natural History of the Silver Creek Wetland:

The Silver Creek Wetland is an area of significant biodiversity. At one point, much of Collingwood was covered in wetlands and marsh. The Silver Creek Wetland represents one of the last of this important habitat still left within town boundaries and is home to the most northerly population of White Egrets in Canada.

The Silver Creek emerges from Lake of the Clouds, runs down the escarpment and passes through the wetland before entering Georgian Bay.

The Silver Creek is a spawning ground for Chinook salmon and rainbow trout.

This is a place where nature is best left undisturbed...

A Brief History of the Struggle:

1986 – Ministry of Natural Resources defined the wetland boundaries and declared it Provincially Significant

1989 – Collingwood Town Council resolved to maintain this wetland principle

1991 – Developer dumped fill on the west end of the property

2000 – Draft Official Plan designated the wetland as Environmentally Protected

2002 - Property acquired by Joia - application for Golf Course development filed

2002 – Interim Control By-law to freeze development on EP designated lands

2002– By-law challenged before OMB, with the result that the by-law’s legitimacy was upheld

2003 - The developer's ( Joia) appeal of OMB Decision supporting the Town's ICBL was dismissed by the courts and $14,000 in costs awarded to the Town.

2004 – Official Plan approved: zoning by-laws passed to disallow golf courses, etc. on EP lands

2004 – Ministry of Natural Resources re-defined wetland boundaries. The Ministry's assessment confirms that the wetland is a Provincially Significant Coastal Wetland.

2005 - BMWTF Board of Directors pass a resolution urging the Town of Collingwood to move quickly to preserve the Silver Creek Wetland Complex and pledge to raise up to $100,000.00 to support the Town.

2005 - Consulate Developments (Ontario) Inc. challenge the Town's new Official Plan (OP) as approved by the County of Simcoe.

2006 - OMB pre-hearing issue of the existence on the site of the endangered Spotted Turtle is raised by the BMWTF.

         - Developer presents a proposal for develpment on the "upland" areas which          are completely surrounded by wetland.

         - BMWTF passed a resolution to retain North-South Environmental to
         review the Azimuth (EIS) Environmental Impact Study to asses potential          harm to the wetland from residential development.

The Great Lakes need your help!