Revitalizing Washington Creek

Revitalizing Washington Creek-This summer TUC’s

Middle Grand Chapter held two volunteer events on Washington Creek and a streamside tree planting event along one of the Grand River’s smaller headwater tributaries, Hiller Creek. Between the three events, approximately 100 volunteer hours were committed and 412 meters of aquatic habitat was improved. Trees and shrubs were planted along the bank to increase shading and habitat cover, while instream structures were built to continue to narrow and deepen the channel and expose spawning gravel for Brook Trout.

Washington Creek is a spring-fed, coldwater stream found in Oxford County, Ontario. The stream is a tributary of the Grand River Watershed and enters the Nith River south of Plattsville, Ontario. The predominate land-use surrounding Washington Creek is agricultural, as such, the stream has been heavily impacted by decades of agricultural activity. This has had an impact on water quality as excessive nutrient run-off and sediment from erosion processes have entered the creek.

Although it is only about nine kilometers long, many stakeholders have been interested in rehabilitating Washington Creek. TUC’s Middle Grand Chapter has been actively improving the function of the stream where it crosses Bridge Street in Oxford County.

Brook Trout have historically been found in Washington Creek and are still found throughout the stream today. In the downstream areas of Washington Creek, Brook Trout were absent in fish community surveys conducted in the 1970s. However, in 1990 Brook Trout were spotted there.

The ongoing volunteer efforts combined with the work of TUC’s Small Watershed Action Team (SWAT), aim to improve the quality of coldwater habitat for years to come within the Grand River watershed.