Freshwater Conservation Canada is a national charitable organization dedicated to conserving, protecting, and restoring Canada’s freshwater ecosystems and coldwater resources through hands-on restoration, science-based action, and community partnerships. We spoke with Michael McKenzie, Ontario Biologist at Freshwater Conservation Canada, to learn how he’s applying his academic background to real-world stream restoration projects and why volunteer support is more crucial than ever in protecting our freshwater future.
Describe your charity/non-profit/volunteer work in a few sentences.
Freshwater Conservation Canada is a charitable conservation organization whose mission is to conserve, protect, and restore Canada’s freshwater ecosystems and coldwater resources for current and future generations. Our team is comprised of dedicated individuals who are passionate about freshwater conservation and work tirelessly to achieve our mission. We get work done on the ground by restoring aquatic habitat, improving water quality, and supporting native species. Our science-based approach is rooted in real action and strengthened by community partnerships. We, and our volunteer chapters, regularly run workdays where we use low-tech, natural solutions to repair ecosystems. Our workdays may involve building sediment traps to rebuild streambanks in Southern Ontario as part of our Recovering Aquatic Biodiversity program, our Reconnecting Canada program is focused on creating artificial beaver dams in the foothills of the Rockies, or rehabilitating forests by planting trees and shrubs along rivers across the country as part of our Cooling Streams program.
What problem does it aim to solve?
Over the last century, many of our freshwater systems have been degraded by disruptive land use, like clear-cutting trees, urbanization, and loss of protections, leading to issues like high water temperatures, excess sediment that smothers nests, and inconsistent water quality and quantity. In many cases, the system has reached a point where the natural process which normally keeps ecosystems healthy can no longer overcome these disturbances. Addressing these issues through restoration and conservation reduces the pressure on aquatic species, preserves biodiversity and builds resilience to climate change in our freshwater ecosystems.
When did you start/join the charity?
In 2021, I was hired as a contract field crew member and promoted to a permanent position as the Ontario Biologist. In this position, I focused on stream restoration and rehabilitation.
What made you want to get involved?
When I was hired, I had been in academia for several years, working on my Master’s. While I enjoyed my time and appreciated the opportunity to push science forward, I realized the journal articles I was most captivated by were the ones where people applied that science to make fundamental, positive changes in the environment and on the ground. So, while I continued to write my thesis, I took a four-month contract to try stream restoration, and I found my passion.
What was the situation like when you started?
Like many other ecosystems, Canada’s freshwater systems face habitat degradation from land use and encroaching cities. Most streams are wider and warmer than they should be, with insufficient trees for shade and too much sediment from runoff. These issues are most felt in coldwater systems, which contain fish like our native Brook Trout, and are expected to worsen as climate change brings higher temperatures and more inconsistent rain, leading to more forest fires.
How has it changed since?
I’ve only been at Freshwater Conservation Canada for a short time. Still, I’ve already gotten to take part in some incredible restoration efforts, like removing a superheated pond to protect a cold-water ecosystem and protecting habitat like fish, frogs, and the community, planting 14,000 trees in a year to restore streamside forests that helps the impacts of climate change, and participating in the successful advocacy to the Ontario government to keep protections for the endangered native species Redside Dace. At the local level, these efforts have preserved valuable ecosystems and completely reinvigorated others, giving species the opportunity they need to recover.
During this short period, I have noticed a significant decline in volunteers attending our events. Although we are a national organization, our team comprises only 15 people. Much of our work relies on the contributions of our chapters across the country and their dedicated teams of volunteers. However, as members step down, there appears to be a diminishing number of individuals willing to help organize and complete our tasks.
What more needs to be done?
We need to keep pushing and keep building momentum through on-the-ground action. We need to identify the root cause of the issues and tackle them, even if they are large and complicated. It is not enough anymore to do work that makes an ecosystem look healthy without addressing underlying problems.
How can our readers help?
Join our movement! Become a member, join a chapter in your local area, or even create a new chapter in your area! Subscribe to our mailing list to stay in the know, or consider making a donation. Volunteer at one of our workdays or events. All are welcome, and our staff and chapter members will happily help you get involved in the work.
Do you have any events coming up?
Our workday events are posted on our website and Eventbrite page, so subscribe to receive volunteer opportunities and other updates.
Where can we follow you?
PAY IT FORWARD: What is an awesome local charity that you love?
I am a big fan of the Children’s Foundation of Guelph and Wellington. In addition to the amazing work they do to help fund recreation for children, each year they run a Christmas Tree drive to collect old trees, some of which they gift to us to use in our restoration structures!
