Meet the Ontario Strategic Watershed Action Team, or SWAT as we call them!
2022 Swat crew tree planting in the Niagara region.
This summer, you will find them across southern Ontario working towards improving water quality with our eight Ontario chapters and other like-minded organizations. Stream rehabilitation projects completed by the SWAT crew will increase the resiliency of streams and rivers in the face of climate change. SWAT can be found doing everything from streamside clean-ups to installing sediment traps to restore stream form and function.
Are you interested in getting into stream restoration? Here’s some information about the crew, where they came from, and their favorite aquatic species.
Hey everyone! My name is Chris Borowski, and I’m the SWAT’s crew lead this year. I completed my BSc. in Zoology from the University of Guelph with a certificate in Environmental Conservation. To further enhance my knowledge, I completed the post-graduate Ecosystem Restoration program at Niagara College. I’m interested in southern Ontario’s infrastructure and how we can preserve our waterways through engagement and restoring our natural systems. My current favorite species is Watercress for its importance in indicating a coldwater stream. I’m excited about everything this great crew will accomplish this year!
Hello, I’m Mike! I am very excited to be back for my second summer as part of the SWAT crew! I completed a degree in Conservation at the University of Guelph and have been working on a master’s at Trent University, examining migratory Great Lakes fish and how their spawning runs benefit the rivers where they lay their eggs. I am looking forward to another summer of spending time in the river, learning more about the surrounding ecosystems, and growing my arsenal of restoration techniques so I can tackle whatever issue the SWAT crew encounters. My favourite aquatic animal is the Burbot. Often overlooked, it has a range of odd qualities to it, including being the only freshwater cod and choosing to spawn during the winter under the ice!
Hello everyone! My name is Heidi, and I am a SWAT crew member. I have an undergrad in Zoology from the University of Guelph, and I also just completed my Fish and Wildlife Technician diploma from Fleming College. I have a strong passion for restoration and conservation, so I am looking forward to restoring and stabilizing our watershed’s riparian zones and banks this summer with TUC! My current favourite aquatic organisms are our native freshwater mussels. These animals have fascinating life histories and play a crucial role in filtering their aquatic habitats!
My name is Sara Jose, and I have joined TUC for the season as one of the SWAT crew members! I graduated from Niagara College’s Environmental Technician Field & Lab Co-op Program and received a Graduate Certificate in Ecosystem Restoration. I am currently working towards receiving my Bachelor of Science (Biology) through Thompson Rivers University Open Learning Program. I love to learn, and in my spare time, I enjoy reading, writing, and am a volunteer at a local wildlife rehabilitation centre. My favourite freshwater aquatic organism is the Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens).
If you see the SWAT, say hello, and stay tuned to our social posts to see what the SWAT is up to next!
The SWAT crew was made possible through funding from Environment and Climate Change Canada’s EcoAction Community Funding Program, Canada Summer Jobs, and ECO Canada.
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