Junction Creek Stewardship Committee

Benthic Macroinvertebrates or “Benthos” are small aquatic bugs generally found at the bottom of lakes and rivers. These creatures exhibit a wide range of tolerances to environmental pollutants and can therefore be powerful indicators for stream health.

The Junction Creek Stewardship Committee has been part of 3 fish community assessments of the upper reaches of Junction Creek (2004, 2008, 2019), all of which were collaborative projects with local academic institutions and stakeholders. Based on the species found and their sensitivity to water quality, we were able to gain a better understanding on current stream health and compare results to past studies to reveal temporal and spatial trends.

Biodiversity is a key characteristic of healthy and resilient ecosystems. In natural systems that have experienced extreme degradation, like Junction Creek, increasing levels of biodiversity is a hallmark of recovery. Reporting species sightings, biomonitoring programs and species at risk research projects are important to gain a better understanding on the status and changes in Junction Creek’s biodiversity. The information is used to guide restoration efforts in the Junction Creek watershed.

Wetlands are extremely valuable ecosystems that provide habitat for a variety of animals and plants, but they also provide many services to the cities that surround them. During spring melts or storm events wetlands can hold back water and mitigate floods. Wetlands also help clean the water that moves through them as they have the ability to trap sediment and retain excess nutrients and pollutants. This is very important since the water moving through the wetland will eventually be used by humans for drinking, swimming or fishing. By studying wetlands, we gain a better understanding on their role in the community and connected ecosystems, and inform decisions for watershed management.

The JCSC conducts monthly water quality sampling at 13 carefully selected sites along Junction Creek. By tracking changes in water quality over time, it is our hope that the data collected can be used to influence provincial and municipal policies to help protect Junction Creek, and to have a positive impact on people of Sudbury.