Our Organization

The Nottawasaga Steelheaders began in 1993 as a chapter of the Ontario Steelheaders.Our organization was founded by Chris Atkinson in 1993, to focus on various issues regarding the preservation of wild steelhead in the Nottawasaga River and take action to address problems affecting them.

Since our inception, the Nottawasaga Steelheaders have undertaken numerous correctivework projects involving hundreds of thousands of dollars and tens of thousands of man-hours of work on most of these watersheds tributaries. Our fully volunteer organization has spearheaded countless, garbage pick-ups, logjam removals, stream bank stabilizations, tree plantings, cattle-crossing control measures, spawning bed restorations, dam de- stabilizations and fish monitoring programs.

We have also been involved in community endeavours such as young anglers enrichment days, community festivals, children’s educational activities at fishing shows and educational programs for schools, scouts, guides and disabled children. By our tenth year, as captured in our mission statement, our more all-encompassing focus has matured into building and maintaining working partnerships for the protection and improvement of natural habitats and species within the Nottawasaga River watershed. Our growing membership and nationally recognized commitment have garnered the respect, which will enrich the foundation for further accomplishments.

Our projects in concert with such groups as the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority, Midhurst Ministry of Natural Resources and Lake Huron Management Unit have restored water quality, improved wild fish species survival and restored natural conditions in the Nottawasaga River watershed.

Our continued partnerships with communities on the Nottawasaga River such as Essa, Alliston and Wasaga Beach, will ensure a viable and formidable front to meet the adversities that compromise the health and well-being of the Nottawasaga River watershed. Our leading-edge investigations into the significance of genetics of migratory wild steelhead have significantly impacted and refocused the direction of fish management. Continued studies to assess and manage wild steelhead species in the Nottawasaga River watershed will not only provide important scientific data to assist their survival but bring a more important understanding of the ecosystem in which they live. That understanding of the Nottawasaga watershed will benefit us all.