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Orono Town Hall O rono Weekly Times Volume 64, Number 4 750 GST Included Wednesday, January 26,2000 Serving Kendal, Kirby, Leskard, Newcastle, NewtonviUe, Orono and Starkville since 1937 What's to become of the Wilmot? The pristine Wilmot Creek, surfaces north of Leskard and flows for 17 km., down to Lake Ontario east of Newcastle. The Creek is the subject of a Watershed Study currently underway, by the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority. Happenings CANADIAN BLOOD SERVICES It is only through the generosity and sharing spirit of blood donors that Canadian Blood Services can ensure an adequate supply of blood and blood products for the 59 hospitals across Toronto and Central Ontario. The next blood donor clinic in this area: Rehoboth Christian Reformed Church, 130 Scugog St., Tuesday, February 15, 2000 from 3:00 p.m. - 8:00 pm. DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB Come one and all! Easy going, fun atmosphere. Everyone Welcome. Try to come With a partner. Bring your friends too. Mondays 1 - 4 p.m., Clarington Beech Centre, 26 Beech Ave., Bowmanville. Sponsored by the Clarington, Older Adults Association. VOLUNTEER...and be a FRIEND The Friends of the Clarington Public Library is a community- driven organization whose goal is to initiate, co-ordinate and promote activities which will enhance the services and resources at the library. Help organize book sales and other fundraising events! The Friends now meet on the second Wednesday of every month at the Bowmanville Branch, 6:30 p.m. Next meeting: Wednesday, February 9th. HEARTH PLACE CANCER SUPPORT CENTRE Tai Chi for cancer patients and caregivers, at Hearth Place Cancer Support Centre, 86 Colbome St. W., Oshawa, Saturday, January 29, 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. Learn about the graceful series of movements that support stress reduction and improve strength and flexibility. Call 579-4833 to register. register. Logo selected for nature area The winning logo designed by Grant Benham was selected from 181 designs submitted. "Benham's logo was selected selected for its complete representation representation of the major areas of the nature area," stated committee member Bob Willsher at the logo unveiling during Monday evening's Clarington Council meeting. The Samuel Wilmot Nature Area is west of Newcastle, at the mouth of the Wilmot. " The bottom portion of the logo is blue, representing Lake Ontario, the cattails represent the marshland. The black portion portion surrounding the tree is actually actually green, representing the meadowlands and the tree represents represents the forest, explained Willsher. Benham, a resident of the Wilmot Adult Community, frequently frequently walks the Nature Area, neighbouring his community, and fishes the Wilmot. The Samuel Wilmot Nature Advisory committee ran a Logo contest from October 1 to December 1, 1999. Winning logos were selected by a committee committee of members of the Samuel • Wilmot Public Relations committee with the help of Councillor John Mutton and Mayor Ham re. Two categories, adult and children, were established with prizes being awarded to the first and second place winners in each category. Several students from the grade three classes at Newcastle Public School drew sketches after vising the area, and submitted submitted these as entries. Natalie Desrochers, a grade 8 student at Dr. -Ross Tilley Public School in Bowamanville was the first place winner in the (continued page 10) "The Wilmot is still a pristine pristine creek, but that doesn't mean it won't change," says Warren Coulter, a Water Resources Technologist with the Ganaraska Region Conservation '■ Authority (GRCA). A watershed study of the Wilmot Creek and its tributaries, tributaries, currently underway, will identify areas that shouldn't be developed, . says Coulter. "We're taking a proactive approach," explained Coulter. "We don't want to be put in a corner when there is a crisis, or major problem with water quality quality in 50 years," he stated. Hopefully the study will be able to direct development away from sensitive areas. The Wilmot Creek is 21.1 km. in length and rises north of Leskard, in the vicinity of Mosport Park. It flows 17 km. south-southeast to Lake Ontario. Tributaries feeding into the main branch are, Hunter, Stalker, Foster and Orono Creeks. "People who live in the watershed area are our most important resource," says Coulter. Those who have lived along the creek for a long time have noticed the changes over time. A Public Meeting has been scheduled for Thursday February 10, at The Pines, to give people an opportunity to get involved In the future of the Wilmot. Members of the public will be given the chance to voice their ■concerns abput various various issues effecting the Wilmot, such as water quality, agricultural agricultural practices, property rights, fishing and development pressure. pressure. If people are interested, focus groups will be formed, pulling together those with a vested interest in the Wilmot. Focus groups can then narrow in on what they want to see in the future. We want people to feel a part of this study," said Coulter. The Wilmot Creek watershed watershed will undoubtedly see substantially substantially increased development development pressure is the years ahead as the population of Clarington's is projected to double double in the next 20 years. Effects of development Prior to the arrival of the first European settlers in 1796, the tributaries of the Wilmot Creek were reported to have abundant Atlantic Salmon and Brook (continued page 9)