Barrie Creeks, Lovers Creek, and Hewitt's Creek Subwatershed Plan

The Barrie Creeks, Lovers Creek and Hewitt’s Creek Subwatershed Plan
The Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) evaluation done on the fish communities to evaluate the
ecological integrity of the creek labels the portion of the creek downstream of Hwy 400 as ‘fair’.
The two sites closest to the headwaters (upstream of Highway 400) had no fish captured
(Figure 5-3). Fish species are unable to access these
upstream sites because of barriers, dams and
enclosed sections. Poor water quality and limited
water quantity may also cause fish to be absent from
the stream. Looking at the Hilsenhoff (benthics) index,
the creek ranges from fairly poor at the site closest to
the headwaters, up to good for the next three sites and
fair for the site closest to the mouth (Figure 5-6).
Historically brook trout were caught upstream of the
400, but are now found only at the three sites
downstream of the 400. The majority of the brook trout
caught were young of the year, indicating that this
indicator species is successfully using this stream to
spawn (Figure 5-4). Additionally, with discharge areas
in the lower reaches, there may be upwellings in the
area that would support cold water species, such as
brook trout, and maintain their resident population in this area.
Mouth of Kidd’s Creek into
Kempenfelt Bay
Downstream of Hwy 400 water temperatures increase from cold to cool water temperatures,
indicating thermal degradation of the system could be occurring after passing under the highway
(Figure 5-13). There are seven barriers to fish movement, with one right at the mouth and the
rest spread out along the creek (Figure 5-8). Much of the main section of the creek has had its
banks hardened or channelized (Figure 5-9).
From Chapter 2 – Study Area, we know that the creek is an anomaly with a very low drainage
density and moderate average stream slope. This can likely be attributed to parts of the creek
being enclosed during urbanization which has subsequently decreased the stream length and in
turn the drainage density. Results of having a lower drainage density include slower velocities
and less riffle areas, creating less than ideal habitat for benthic invertebrates and some fish
species. Additionally, with the headwaters in a SWM pond, any heavy precipitation events
cause a large quantity of water, moving at higher than normal velocities, to push through the
upper reaches creating an unstable environment for both fish and benthic communities.
Northern pike (Esox lucius)
Overall, the aquatic habitat of Kidd’s Creek
downstream of Hwy 400 is in fairly good condition
based on the presence of cold water species in
the lower reaches and rather healthy benthic
communities. Despite cold water temperatures,
the reaches upstream of Hwy 400 are in poorer
condition, due to barriers and the SWM pond in
the headwaters, indicated by the lack of fish
presence and poorer benthic conditions.
Bunkers Creek
Bunkers Creek is located in the centre of the Barrie Creeks subwatershed and has two
monitoring stations (one at the mouth and one in the southern branch headwaters). With the
steepest slope of all the Barrie Creeks, it has the second highest drainage density, creating a
Chapter 5: Aquatic Natural Heritage 240