Fringe Creeks

There are 11 fringe creeks that line the Niagara Escarpment between Silver Creek and the Beaver River, occupying a combined watershed of approximately Add up to approx. 5,000 hectares. Too small to warrant individual names, these perennial creeks issue from springs on the brow of the Escarpment, carrying ice cold groundwater to Nottawasaga Bay. As such, they are important sources of habitat for fish and other aquatic life.

Flow path

The creeks originate from springs above the Niagara Escarpment brow and flow to Nottawasaga Bay.

Aquatic life

These creeks provide habitat for game fish such as Rainbow Trout and Chinook Salmon. Their estuaries provide habitat and food at Nottawasaga Bay.

Enjoyment

Find these creeks where they cross Highway 26 between the Town of Blue Mountains and Thornbury.

Health Check

Because of the steepness of these creeks, significant runoff events cause turbidity in the Bay. During storms in the spring especially, the Bay turns brown at the mouth of each creek. Nutrient runoff and turbidities tend to be worse than with Townline Creek.

The fringe creeks are ringed by cottages and there is invasive phragmites at the mouth of each creek. Landowners must take care that their septic systems are functioning properly and not to cut vegetation around these creeks. In our water sampling efforts, we have picked up pesticides from local golf courses in these streams.