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Canada's “Rock to Road”
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Snyder
Flats a model T he Snyder Flats property is a source of high quality gravel, close to the local market. Extraction offers an opportunity to enhance fish and wildlife habitat adjacent to the Grand River. In addition, revenues from the gravel extraction are used to purchase and protect other important lands, and to carry out stream restoration projects throughout the watershed. The property is located on the flood plain of the Grand River near the cities of Kitchener and Waterloo. The site was first settled in 1807 by Jacob Snyder, an immigrant from Pennsylvania. The property was gradually cleared for agriculture, and remained in mixed farming until the 1960s. In 1969, as part of the valley land acquisition program, the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) purchased the flats. The intent of the land acquisition program was to create a publicly owned river corridor to reduce flooding and erosion risk, and to encourage passive recreation development. The Conservation Authority purchased a number of similar properties under the program. Since 1979, the GRCA has worked in cooperation with Preston Sand & Gravel Co. Ltd. to extract gravel from Snyder Flats, while creating valuable habitat along the river.
The Snyder Flats concept Interaction between a river and its flood plain are important for the productivity of the river and the valley it occupies. With the clearing of much of the Grand River valley for agriculture and urban development, many traditional flood plain habitat areas have been lost. With flow in the river regulated by large dams, flood plains are inundated less frequently. The most productive aquatic habitats in a river or pool are the shore zones, and the adjacent flood plains. These are the areas shallow enough to allow light to penetrate to the bottom, pro viding energy for aquatic plants. The plants become part of the food chain for fish and wildlife. These areas are extremely important as spawning and nursery habitat. Few flood plain pools and wetlands remain along the Grand River. The creation of these important aquatic features was a critical part of the Snyder Flats rehabilitation. It is estimated that 65 per cent of the original wetlands, and their associated habitat, in the Grand River watershed have been lost. The Snyder Flats project is an attempt to recreate some of those lost wetlands. The rehabilitation plan Extensive gravel resources below the water table were confirmed in 1987. Extraction of this gravel created the opportunity to prepare a site plan that would enhance aquatic plant and wildlife in the local area. Five main aquatic zones were created: cool water habitat, warm water habitat, north flood plain pool, south flood plain pool, and the connecting channel. Each of these areas serves a unique purpose in the overall plan. This pool is a shallow depression in the flood plain. The area is covered with water during the spring runoff period. It remains damp throughout the summer and provides habitat for wetland plants and animals. This is a shallow pool that covers 9.4 acres. Along with its 1.5acre island this pool provides 1620 m of shoreline. Seasonal flooding from the Grand River has introduced many species of fish, including largemouth and smallmouth bass, black crappie, northern pike, yellow perch, pumpkinseed, suckers and many species of minnows. Monitoring has found "young of the year" pike, large mouth bass, and minnow species using the site as nursery habitat. This was the first pond created on the site. The pond covers 8.9 acres and includes 1120 m of shoreline. Depth ranges from 6 m in the southwest corner to 0.6 m along the eastern edge. This pond is isolated from the rest of the complex and it may eventually be used as a rearing area for cool water fish that could be released into the Grand River. This channel runs through the flood plain for 530 m, linking the flood plain pools with the river. The channel has evolved into a series of riffles and pools, along with a number of gentle meanders. The riffles provide areas where turbulent water mixes with air, picking up the oxygen required to sustain aquatic life. The riffles also provide spawning habitat, and location insect production. This 23.7 acre pond that has 1640 m of shoreline. Pond depths range from 7 m along the west and south edges, to 0.6 meters along most of the eastside. Although there is no direct flow from the river, the pond has been designed to allow flooding during the spring and fall, through the backup of water from the Grand River. Spring floodwaters attract fish from the river into the pond, where they can spawn and spend the summer rearing their young. In addition to the increased habitat within the Snyder Flats property, this pond will contribute to the fishery in the Grand River, as fish return to the river when the flows increase in the tall. Snyder Flats is a passive recreation area, where resource management techniques and gravel restoration are demonstrated. The property covers 237 acres. Along with the 42 acres of ponds, there are a number of wooded areas and grasslands on the property where visitors may observe birds and wildlife. The property is open to the public on weekends. Aggregates
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