Champion Country, Tuesday, May 24, 2005 - 23 ll-ýalton's new Yellow Fish Road program emtpntasizes mne importance ot'cdean water By ROBIN DOWNTON-POIRIER Special ta The Champion Little yellow tïsb wîil soon appear near stomi drains in neighbourhoods across the region thanks 10 Conservation Halon's new program, Yellow Fish Road. launched May 11. Started in 1991 by Trout Unliîmited Canada, tbe nation-wide progians bias involved 60,00001 s ulunieers. primarily Canadian youîh. in edttcating the public about the importance of clean water by painting small, yellow fish beside storm drains and handing oui tish hangers explaining the initiative to reighbouning homes. Since 1991. one million fisb hatîgers have been distributed and 100,100 stormn drains marked. In December 2004, Conservation Halton took a co-ordinating roIe in the project for the entire Halton watershcd. "Conservation Halton decided to help al our patiner municîpalities deliver this pro- gram because we believe il is very neat and effective," said Hassaan Basit. watershed communications specialist and Yellow Fish Road co-ordinator. 'To me. what's really neat about the pro- gram is that il not only involves and cdu- cales cbildren about keeping siorm water and ultimately our Great Lakes dlean. but il goes a sîep faobher in that it draws un kîds. the future stessards of thîs land, to gîtooui n the community and cducate adulis and the sidcr commîînîîy about the importatnce of" preventing hamitul substances lîke paint. car otl, fertilizer. and pet waste froin enter- ing' unr sater snpplv.' Mr. Basit explained thai. unlîke the drains in our sitiks and tîilets. stomi ss.îtcr flows dîrectly inio our sîrcaîtîs. ris crs. and lakes ss ithout passtng tbrougb a 55 ater treainient plant. cre.îîîîg an iinbcaltb01irtoniment fliiaqLiatic animil s and lits lic posýsihîlitv iii ndiiîc up ini mtdri iking ssatct. The nainc 'Yclloss Fisb' is dcri s c frou tlîc tact ibai lîsh. pa1rticul.îls Ratnboss Truut. .arc cuosidet cd ainindicati species.rnîeaning ibat tbc water is likely unhealthy in a specilîc area ilf out cant live in it. The Ymllow Fisb Road prograi is offered fre-ol-charge and is suitable for youth groups such as Girl Guides. Boy Scouts. 4-H clubs, or scbool gîoups. said Mr. Basit. Group numbers cao range from four 10 40 but the ideal number is six, lie said. "Thanks to Iront Unlimited Canada. Conservation Halton is able to deliver this prograin tree of cîîst to alIl paniners antI par- ticipants. We have partnered witb Halton Regitîn. City of Burlingîcin, Townofci Oaks ille and the Field and Stream Rescue Teain to bring this prcigran to Halton and tl will bie delivercc tii residents of Miltoni and Halton Hilîs,» said Mr. Basit. Altbough the official launcli of the Yellow Fish Road prograni was beld May Il at the Haltoti Regional Centre, the Oirsi group in Halton 10 participate. a Girl Guides Patbifînders group in Oakville, paînted the first yellow tîsh May 2, super- vised by Conservation I-aIton. The program bas two parts. tlhe first being to educate the youth group about their local water supply and the imtpact bazardons wastes have on it. The second part gets the group of kids involved by painting yellow fish near stonin drains and distributing tish hangers. Any group wishing 10 participate needs to choose an area tbey would like tc0 work in and select a day for painting, then they can contact Conservation Haîron for the guest speaker presentation and supplies, Groups are provided paint. Oish stenîcils. bruslies. a bronin and dustpaîi to dlean area). safety sesîs. gîîggles. and pylons. fish bangers tor the dîsors. as svell as scîme goodies for tlîc bard-working group. ldeally the besîtînicecof year 10 paflicipate s bcîsscen May aîid October and te selecîccl ci.î mu st bc dry sci tIe paint dises luit ssash ass ay. saîd Mr. Rasit. "Most gîcîîîps lîke ito wcîrk on the paint- ing ancd dîstrobtitingu ) lor one to Iwo hours. Tbey pain( as, niaii\ tr as lets, drainîs as ibey cati.' saicld i.B.îsit. 'icyesaI sut latic tint fiîsilîsapc'uldi milia Io imresýicîcti lis îîîg l le ucp.iniï'.iýrcci. 1I11c\ p.ii iii îesiîlettial .îre.îs titls. îot imjor rtiacs. tior satecix i asîttis. l hlatke hltîî' icsa.i'e i' ihl hislaice\ci tii v i t tnIllc'"fi uidlieil u il itut Ian i rsess ay.tir rîiac l il l g o sîraiglbî doss th e siorm draitincln end up in our creeks. rîsers. andc lakes." Foîr motre infcormationî on the Yelloss Fjslî Rîîad prograin. visit Conserv'atiomn Haltuutis Web site at wsss.ccîiîse-v ationlialttîit.uîi.cai or contact Hassaan Basil ai 1905) 336- 1158, ext. 270. Photo by PETER C. McCUSKER Students, tram Ieft, Rachael Wang, Alyssa Salda, Sarah Wang and Bridgette Clahecy jain, tram Ieft, OakviIIe Mayar Ann Mulvale, Canservatian Haltan baard member Brian Penman, Haltan Chair Jayce Savaline and Burlingtan Mayar Rab Maclsaac far the recent Iaunch af the YeIIaw Fish Raad pragram. Anti-quarry group scheduled to meet Monday By ROBIN DOWNTON-POIRIER Special ta The Champion Fiends of Rural Communities and the Environment (FORCE) members have scheduled a meeting for Monday te, mark the one- year anniversary of the goup's creation and discuss the events of the past 12 months. When news broke on the Victoria Day long weekend in 2004 about a planned application for a limestone quarry in Flamborough. the group of concemred and outraged citizens band- ed together to fight Lowndes Holdings Corp. "The May long weekend marks the one-year anniversary of our communitys knowledge of the proposed Flamhorough Quammy. Il was over that cold wet Victoria Day weekend last year that the first e-mails started flying and the first steps toward community organ- ization were started," recalled FORCE chairperson Graham Flint. "Wr have come a long way since thbm and the annual meeting will bc an opportunity 10 discuss the year's aclivilies and update people face te, face." Over the pasl year. FORCE bas beld several meetings 10 give residenîs information, updale thein on the progress. and keep tbem Golf course proposai has expanded e tram RESIDENTS an page 22 Dawkins said il was put on hold due 10 Uic Once the Town receives ail commentt fariner, expressed is worries with tbe Region's golf course sludy and the thc proposais and the application bas be watem reservoir propoîrd for Uic course and Province's Greenbelt Plan. evaluaîed, staff will bring forward a tec ils potential smell. Since stagnant water She noteri the proposaI bas also nical report wiîh recommendations1 cao become a hreeding ground for mosqui- increased in size from the original 18 holes committee and council. tocs, he also cited concems on West Nile 10 27 since Uic projeet flow includes an Melanie Henneasey can 6e î'eaî'hed virus. An application on the large course additional 100 acres that's currently zoned mhennesaey@milî'onc-anadianchampioc was initially made, in 2001, but Ms for a golf course. oM. ton been ch- for 'd at on.c apprised of the future steps. With the likely long legal baIlle abead, more than $150,000 bas hemn raised tbough donations from residenîs and businesses to pay for lawyers, scientists. and other experts 10 build a case against Lowndes Holdings Corp.. said Mr. Flint. He said FORCE bas gathered information 10 back ils position that a limestone quanry operalioni sould damage the commîînîîy's water supply. cause îîîcreased truck traffic and noise. anîd would destroy the peace and beauiy tif the rural scîîîng. A few months agci. FORCE's case may have heem aided by provincial Greenhelt Legislaîioîî Ilat ccîuld prevent the lirnestone quarry from being built. The annual meeting. 10 be held at the Lawson Park Campgrounds ( 111th Concession East), will cover the evenîs of the past year, celebrate the achievements, and map ouI the future steps t0 be taken 10 stop the proposed quarry operation. "This is a business venture ftir Lowndes Holdings Comp., a way 10 make a profit." said Mr. Flint. "For us. Ibis is about our fami- lies. our childmen, and our way of life. We're ready for the fight." For more information, visit FORCE's Web site aI www.stopthe- quanyca or contact Graham JEUWJ~ ---7