Leeds-Grenville Stewardship Council (LGSC) has been coordinating efforts by Leeds County farmers, farm organizations and the Leeds Community Pasture Association to exclude cattle from the upper reaches of the Gananoque River Watershed, which feeds the St Lawrence River, to improve water quality. The rationale has been to decrease nutrient loading into the headwaters to decrease phosphorus loadings and improve dissolved oxygen in the streams and lakes of the system: including Charleston, Upper Beverley and Lower Beverley. Over 1500 cattle have been excluded from the water to date.
The Leeds Community Pasture Association (LCPA) owns and manages a 607 hectare (1500 acre) property, one of 11 Community pastures in Ontario, which is located near Soperton. The Pasture is divided physically into two parcels know as the West Pasture and East Pasture. Up to 25 Eastern Ontario farmers graze their cattle at the Pasture in the summer. LGSC and the Leeds Community Pasture Board have been working together over the last 7 years to ensure the long-term sustainability of the pasture.
Environmental Outcomes
Partners included:
The work completed is provided in detail on the Leeds Community Pasture - West Pasture and the Leeds Community Pasture East Pasture pages which follow.
The Leeds Community Pasture Association (LCPA) owns and manages a 607 hectare (1500 acre) property, one of 11 Community pastures in Ontario, which is located near Soperton. The Pasture is divided physically into two parcels know as the West Pasture and East Pasture. Up to 25 Eastern Ontario farmers graze their cattle at the Pasture in the summer. LGSC and the Leeds Community Pasture Board have been working together over the last 7 years to ensure the long-term sustainability of the pasture.
Environmental Outcomes
- 222.7 acres of Woodland protected
- 152.9 acres of Wetland protected
- 8.83 kms of Stream protected
- 8 rotational pastures created
Partners included:
- Environment Canada’s Eco Action program
- Wildlife Habitat Canada
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry’s Land Stewardship and Habitat Restoration Program
- TD Foundation’s Friends of the Environment Program
- Athens District High School
- Leeds Community Pasture Board
- Thousand Islands Watershed Land Trust
- Ducks Unlimited and the Great Lakes Community Guardian Fund
The work completed is provided in detail on the Leeds Community Pasture - West Pasture and the Leeds Community Pasture East Pasture pages which follow.
