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TORONTO, Sept. 1, 2011 /CNW/ - Hydro One and Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) announced today they will partner on two environmental restoration projects that will focus on removing invasive species in Limehouse Conservation Area and a pond restoration initiative at Terra Cotta Conservation Area, as part of Hydro One's Bruce to Milton Biodiversity Initiative.

CVC has identified Limehouse Conservation Area as a priority site for its Invasive Species Strategy. Funding from the biodiversity initiative will be used to educate local volunteers and students from CVC's Conservation Youth Corps and engage them in removing invasive species like garlic mustard and non-native honeysuckles.

The Terra Cotta Ponds Restoration project will involve decommissioning Spring Pond on Second Creek and re-establishing a cold water stream to ensure more Atlantic salmon and brook trout in the Credit River. This will improve habitat for amphibians and fish found in this area by decreasing sedimentation, reducing stream temperatures and increasing oxygen levels which will improve wetland succession.

The Biodiversity Initiative is an innovative mitigation approach that will create and enhance natural habitat in partnership with community-based organizations, First Nations and Métis and municipalities. The initiative shifts Hydro One's focus from its traditional compensation approach of "area for area" replacement of woodlots when constructing new high-voltage transmission lines. Hydro One was recognized by the Canadian Electricity Association (CEA) for this Biodiversity Initiative receiving the CEA 2009 Environmental Commitment Award.

"We are very proud of the Biodiversity Initiative and the opportunity it provides us to enhance the natural habitat and give back to communities as we modernize the electricity transmission system," said Laura Formusa, President and CEO, Hydro One Inc.  "Partnering with CVC means that local values and priorities are reflected throughout the process, helping to ensure success while making sure Hydro One can deliver the electricity Ontario needs."

"Next to habitat loss, invasive species represent the next greatest threat to biodiversity," said Rae Horst, CVC Chief Administrative Officer. "Thanks to the funding partnership with Hydro One, CVC is able to move forward to combat invasive species and preserve the beauty and natural heritage of Limehouse Conservation Area into the future."

This year, seven partners will receive funding from Hydro One to implement 22 locally-designed biodiversity initiatives.  These projects will help restore and enhance approximately 380 hectares of habitat and ensure there is net gain of woodlot and wildlife habitat within the four watersheds crossed by the new transmission line. Approximately 280 hectares of woodlots will be removed to enable construction of the Bruce to Milton Project.

The Bruce to Milton Project received Ontario Energy Board section 92 Leave to Construct approval on September 15, 2008 and Environmental Assessment approval on December 16, 2009.  This new 180 kilometre double-circuit 500 kV transmission line from Kincardine to Milton will transfer more than 3,000 megawatts of clean and renewable power from the Bruce area to southern Ontario. This project represents the largest expansion to Ontario's transmission system in 20 years. The new line is planned to be in-service in December 2012.

For more information on the Biodiversity Projects and partners please visit www.HydroOne.com/projects/brucetomilton.

Hydro One delivers electricity safely, reliably and responsibly to homes and businesses across the province of Ontario and owns and operates Ontario's 29,000 km high-voltage transmission network that delivers electricity to large industrial customers and municipal utilities, and a 123,000 km low-voltage distribution system that serves about 1.3 million end-use customers and smaller municipal utilities in the province. Hydro One is wholly owned by the Province of Ontario.

CVC was formed on May 13, 1954 and has been working for more than 50 years to protect the natural environment. CVC is one of 36 conservation authorities operating in Ontario and is a partnership of the municipalities within the Credit River Watershed. CVC is a community-based environmental organization originally formed by an act of provincial government and dedicated to conserving, restoring, developing and managing natural resources on a watershed basis. To learn more about CVC, visit www.creditvalleyca.ca.