Map of the Rouge Watershed and Park
(green areas). Click to enlarge.


Biomonitoring - Tom Mason of the Toronto
Zoo leads an FRW Butterfly Walk in
July, 2003.


Bio-monitoring pinpoints sources of
contamination such as this discharge from
the construction of the York Durham Sewer
(September, 2003).


FRW helps the Conservation Authority
and the Rouge Park acquire and restore
properties to expand the Rouge Park


Mike McClellan of the City of Toronto
Forestry and St. Bede Catholic school
students after a planting beside the
Morningside Tributary.


Communications and Volunteer
Coordinator Sadhana Sivasubramaniam
prepares Tamil Community volunteers
for a Wildflower Planting day.


FRW plans to restore this historic (1860)
Settler's Cottage to help preserve the
cultural heritage of the Rouge area.

Friends of the Rouge Watershed (FRW) is a charitable, community conservation group working with youth and the community to protect, enhance and restore the ecological health of the Rouge River watershed and Park. Our key areas of activity include:

1. Contributing to Watershed and Park Planning and Protection

• facilitating public awareness of, and involvement in, watershed protection;
• utilizing science, planning and law to encourage an ecosystem approach to watershed planning which anticipates and avoids environmental damage.

2. Environmental Education

• providing hands-on conservation activities and environmental education experiences for 2,500 students and 500 community volunteers each year;
• working with students to promote understanding and action with respect to energy conservation, renewable energy technologies, smog and greenhouse gas reductions, and climate change.

3. Bio-monitoring and Research

• facilitating and communicating ecosystem monitoring and research to better inform decisions on land use planning and environmental protection.

4. Habitat Enhancement and Restoration

• planting 35,000 native trees, shrubs and wildflowers to expand woodland, wetland and meadow habitat by 18 hectares per year;
• creating hundreds of habitat structures, such as raptor posts, nesting boxes and frog ponds, each year;
• facilitating the recovery of rare and endangered species and attempting to control the spread of invasive exotic species.

5. Land Acquisition and Stewardship

• raising funds and promoting partnerships to help the Conservation Authority and the Rouge Park acquire ecologically and culturally important lands and develop stewardship agreements.

6. Communications & Volunteer Coordination

• communicating with the public and decision-makers about environmental challenges and opportunities;
• training and coordinating volunteers to assist with our conservation activities.

7. Cultural Heritage Conservation

• assisting with the protection and restoration of archeological sites, historic buildings and sites.

"Friends" includes community volunteers, partners and patrons.