The St. Clair Region Conservation Authority (SCRCA) is celebrating a successful first year of the Sydenham Phosphorus Reduction Initiative (SPRI), a project focused on improving water quality in the Sydenham River and protecting the long-term health of Lake Erie.
Funded by the Canada Water Agency, the initiative targets phosphorus runoff — a key factor in toxic algal blooms and declining aquatic health. With over 80 per cent of the St. Clair Region watershed made up of farmland, the role of local farmers has been central to the program’s progress.
Through funding and educational support, SPRI helps landowners implement agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) that reduce nutrient runoff, improve soil health, and support local wildlife. In its first year, the SCRCA partnered with 38 farms to implement more than 125 BMPs, including erosion control and cover cropping. The changes have kept more than 2,500 pounds of phosphorus on cropland and out of the Sydenham River.
“We have seen firsthand how passionate our farming and rural communities are about protecting the land and water that sustain us all,” said Jessica Van Zwol, Healthy Watershed Coordinator at SCRCA. “This kind of impact is only possible because of their willingness to adopt practices and actions that benefit everyone downstream.”
To support ongoing research, the SPRI team launched three new water quality monitoring sites this year, with five edge-of-field stations planned for the second year. The data will help determine where nutrient reduction measures are most effective.
SCRCA is also focusing on education, engaging more than 1,000 students across 15 schools in programs connecting agriculture, science, and environmental stewardship. Programs such as Future Farmers, Phosphorus 101, and the Agriculture Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) Student Conference introduce students to sustainable farming and water protection.
“Helping students connect the dots between soil, water, and food systems is one of the most rewarding parts of this initiative,” said Craig Paterson, Manager of Biology at SCRCA. “They’re not just learning science—they’re seeing how their choices, voices, and ideas matter.”
As SPRI enters its second year, SCRCA continues to work with landowners on a range of projects including erosion control, tree planting, cover crops, and nutrient management technologies.
More information and funding details are available at www.sydenhamriver.on.ca/stewardship/healthy-watersheds-program/spri.
