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Cattle in the creek? Try a solar-powered watering system With financial help from the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, a Fonthill beef farmer has solved the problem of cattle roaming into a prized local creek by TIFFANY MAYER The days when a Fonthill beef farmer's cattle could roam around an unfenced stream have ended, thanks to concerns about a rare trout stream and lingering worries left over from the 2000 Walkerton drinking water tragedy. Fortunately for farmer Jeff Cunningham, a solution for the situation was largely financed by the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, which contributed 75 per cent of the cost of a solar-powered watering system Cunningham now uses to keep his animals hydrated. Cunningham's acreage includes a pond and coldwater stream that feeds into Twelve Mile Creek. For years, the small tributary, barely a crevasse in the ground, was a stomping ground for his cattle as they made their way to the pond for a drink. "From our perspective, cows in the creek are not good for business," says Deanna Lindblad, a restoration technician with the conservation authority. "Post-Walkerton, people are way more sensitive about cows in a creek. We get calls from people saying 'I saw a cow in the creek.'" That's exactly what happened in this case. Cunningham's herd of seven cattle was seen by passersby, who complained to the conservation authority. Preservation of the creek is paramount, though, because it is one of the Niagara Region's only two coldwater streams supporting native brook trout. With cows trampling the banks and sending sediment into the shallow tributary, movement and spawning of the trout were becoming increasingly difficult. Creek health aside, there's also the question of the herd's well-being, Lindblad explains. When they're allowed to roam freely in the water they drink, they may not be taking in the cleanest liquid. Keeping them out of the water also lessens the risk of hoof infection. Lindblad contacted Cunningham and the hobby farmer was more than willing to lend an ear - and his land - to the conservation's proposal to fence off the creek and install a solar-powered watering system. "Farmers are the best stewards of the land, so we're not telling them something they don't already know," Lindblad says. The watering system cost $5,500 and includes a 50-watt solar panel, 12-volt deep cycle solar batteries, a float pump system, creek crossing and 400 metres of electric fencing. The only maintenance Cunningham must do is store the system indoors over the winter. The water pump comes with a 10-year guarantee and the solar panel is good for 20-25 years. The sun charges the batteries, which store the power until it's needed to send water from the pond to one of two 110-gallon troughs outside the fenced-off area. The troughs take about five minutes to fill. A float switch lets the system know when water needs to be replenished. This is the first such system the conservation authority has installed as part of its 10-year action plan to restore the fragile watershed. But it won't be the last. The authority is in the process of setting one up for 65 head of cattle, again assuming 75 per cent of the $5,500 cost. Not only can the project be adapted to larger herds, but wind power will work in settings where sunlight isn't a feasible power source, Lindblad says. The second leg of the project, also included in the cost, will involve planting trees and shrubs in the fenced-off area to stabilize creek banks and provide shade to keep water cool. The cattle didn't take long to adjust to their new water source and restricted creek crossing, according to Cunningham. "I just opened the gates and they followed me through. The grass was greener on this side and there wasn't much left on the other side, so it didn't take long to convince them," he chuckled. "We've moved them back and forth three or four times and they seem to find it all right." It's also been an easy adjustment for Cunningham. "It's working well. It's a good source of water and there haven't been any problems so far." BF © copyright 2006 AgMedia Inc.. top back