Map: - see Hall's Creek watershed map

Description:

Humphreys Brook is a tributary of Halls Creek. The watershed area of Humphreys Brook is 38 km². One lake is also present in this watershed (Aero Lake) which as an area of 1,8 km². Like Rabbit Brook this watercourse is also considered an urban stream. In the upper parts of this watershed we find a golf course, the Greater Moncton Airport complex and the Caledonia Industrial Park. This brook's main influences include the presence of a dam (9,1 metres wide x 4,7 metres high x 7,6 metres deep) and a scrap yard that borders and encroaches the watercourse. The dam is situated under Mill Road and is approximately 3 km upstream from the brook's confluence with Halls Creek. The scrap yard is located 50 - 100 metres upstream from the dam on the true right bank. Also directly below the Mill Road dam on the true right bank is a textile Mill.

The substrate of the brook directly upstream from the dam is made up mainly of silt with some sand. This is the accumulation of substrate since the 1923 when the dam was built. Further upstream as the influence of the dam becomes less apparent the substrate and the general habitat of the brook improve dramatically.

As for the scarp yard, there are large amounts of debris found within the brook. This debris ranges from large blocks of cement, construction/demolition material and scrap metal located on the banks and directly within the brook. Miscellaneous garbage is also found scattered over the middle and lower parts of the brook.

Another factor that influences water quality, is sewage cross connections. Two pipes have been surveyed, one directly above the dam and the other 10-15 metres below the dam. The latter demonstrates visible and physical signs of sewage cross connections. At certain times during the summer of 2001, fabric material has been spotted entering the brook via a pipe coming from the textile mill. More pipes (storm sewers) entering the brook have been surveyed around the Caledonia Industrial Park, but no evidence of sewage contamination was noticed.

In the tidal part of Humphreys Brook, wetland destruction and snow dumping also cause a threat to water quality. Nearby wetlands have been targeted by developers to be infilled and used as snow dumps during the winter months. During the summer these wetlands are infilled with all sorts of unknown fill material that could possibly be laced with toxic substances. In addition to infilling, the loss of these wetlands diminishes the environment's capacity to filter and clean its waters (surface and ground). When snow dumping is not going on within wetlands, it is just disposed of directly into the brook (tidal area).

With a few changes like removing the dam, fixing cross connections and a general stream clean up, Humphreys Brook could once again become vibrant with life. With no obstruction and good water quality, fish would certainly return to this area. Wildlife such as beavers and deer have been spotted in an around Humphreys Brook. Local citizens suggest that trout was still caught in the upper parts of Humphreys Brood as recently as the mid 1980's.

Water quality highlights for Humphreys Brook

Three sites were samples between 1997 and 2001. The upper most site was PWMG 30 at the Trans-Canada Highway, the second was situated below the dam at Mill Road Bridge and the third was sampled 50 metres upstream from the Lewisville Road bridge.

Recommended preliminary classification:

Class C : for all of Humphreys Brook

Recommended actions:

>> remove Mill road dam;
>> clean up debris entering the brook from scrap yard (Tri-Province Enterprises) and other sources;
>> fix all sewer cross connections entering the brook;
>> discontinue snow dumping in wetlands (MacAleese Ln.; Dowd St.);
>> discontinue direct snow dumping within the brook along Lewisville Rd;
>> stop wetland destruction and rehabilitate wetland areas bordering the brook;
>> encourage best management practices along new commercial and residential developments (ex. berms & stormceptors®);
>> conserve and enhance the brook's buffer zones;
>> create adequate fording sites along the brook;
>> minimize impacts of the ongoing construction of the new Moncton Airport Terminal;
>> reduce and eventually phase out the use of cosmetic pesticides.