The Elora Gorge is a popular tourist attraction located at the western edge of Elora , Ontario , Canada , which is 25 km north from the city of Guelph .
13-488: Elora Gorge Conservation Area is one of many conservation areas owned by the Grand River Conservation Authority . The Grand River flows through the bottom of the gorge, approximately 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) long, with limestone cliffs reaching 22 metres (72 ft) high. It was formed from glacial meltwaters from the previous ice age . The area includes a park with camping sites, hiking trails, and
26-572: A drainage ditch and features such as Sifton Bog . As such, the Thames is a watershed for most of Western Ontario, and is therefore highly susceptible to seasonal flooding. In 1937, such flooding had devastating consequences, destroying over 1,000 homes, and causing millions of dollars in damage. Today, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority is mainly a not-for-profit agency which monitors flora and fauna welfare in
39-664: A result of public concern over the state of the environment in Ontario , the Province passed the Conservation Authorities Act, 1946. The Act was based on three main principles: The Grand River Conservation Authority is a corporate body established to enable municipalities to jointly undertake water and natural resource management on a watershed basis - for the benefit of all. The broad goal of all conservation authorities in Ontario
52-715: Is a conservation authority in Ontario , Canada. It operates under the Conservation Authorities Act of Ontario . It is a corporate body, through which municipalities, landowners and other organizations work cooperatively to manage the Grand River watershed and natural resources within it. Created in 1932 as the Grand River Conservation Commission, the GRCA is the oldest water management agency in Canada. It
65-573: Is a body based in London, Ontario , Canada. It was created in 1947. It was responsible for the construction of the Fanshawe Dam , completed in the 1950s, to control flooding from the Thames River , which runs through London. During the last ice age , the site of London was the terminus of a large glacier. When the region warmed at the end of the ice age, the glacier melted and receded North, leaving behind
78-528: Is also popular for kayaking and tubing . Located nearby is the "old swimming hole ", at the Elora Quarry Conservation Area, a 0.8 hectare (two acre) former limestone quarry encircled by sheer cliffs up to 12 metres (39 ft) high. Elora Quarry did not become a conservation area until 1976, but it was a popular swimming area long before that. The Elora Gorge Falls are a roughly 25 ft (7.6 m) tall waterfall located upstream from
91-425: Is one of 36 conservation authorities in Ontario and is a member of Conservation Ontario . The GRCA also owns and manages many conservation areas, parks and trails within the watershed. The Grand River provided transportation, water supply, and waterpower attracting settlement to the valley in the 19th century. The combined deforestation and urban settlement aggravated flood and drought conditions. A main part of
104-708: Is specified in Section 20 of the Conservation Authorities Act: The objects of the Authority are to establish and undertake in the area over which it has jurisdiction, a program designed to further the conservation, restoration, development and management of natural resources other than gas, oil, coal and minerals. (RSO 1990, c. 27) Under the terms of the Act, the Grand Valley Conservation Authority
117-596: The Grand River Conservation Commission . The Commission completed the Shand Dam, the first multi-purpose dam in Canada, in 1942. It was built for flood control and the low flow augmentation to improve water quality during the dry summer months. The Commission also started planting trees to re-vegetate the landscape along the river. Prior to World War II , renewable natural resources were exploited to encourage economic and industrial expansion and growth. As
130-603: The Elora Gorge. Popular activities at the site include: camping, canoeing, fishing, hiking, cycling, swimming, picnicking, and tubing. The Quarry served as a film location in the 2017 adaptation of Stephen King ’s novel It , as well as its 2019 sequel . Grand River Conservation Authority 43°22′33.24″N 80°17′8.57″W / 43.3759000°N 80.2857139°W / 43.3759000; -80.2857139 ( Grand River Conservation Authority Head Office ) The Grand River Conservation Authority ( GRCA )
143-523: The Grand River's course flows through the Carolinian life zone, which contains a southern type of forest that is found only in this area of Canada. A wide variety of rare plants and animals are found here. The water quality in the river started to deteriorate to the point where it was a major public health concern. To deal with these problems, a group of eight municipalities came together in 1934 to form
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#1733086211335156-556: Was established in 1966 through the amalgamation of the Grand River Conservation Commission and the Grand Valley Conservation Authority. Grey Sauble Conservation Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority Upper Thames River Conservation Authority Conservation Halton Hamilton Conservation Authority Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority Upper Thames River Conservation Authority The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority
169-481: Was formed in 1948. This allowed all watershed municipalities to work collaboratively to address a broad range of resource management issues. The practicality of two conservation organizations operating in the same watershed was closely scrutinized in the 1960s. To avoid potential conflict over roles and responsibilities and to eliminate duplication of programs the Grand River Conservation Authority
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