Description:
Principal Land Uses
|
Total Area: 51.22 km²
|
%
|
| Woodland: 28.13 km² |
54.92
|
| Wetlands: 2.73 km² |
5.33
|
| Residential:10.22 km² |
19.95
|
The Mill Creek watershed is located in the Town of Riverview. This system has a watershed area of 51km2. Activities within this watershed include; the Dobson hiking trail, the Town of Riverview cross country ski trails, snowmobile trails, and forestry. This creek is fortunate in having its own watershed group. Since 1999, a group of citizens have joined their efforts in protecting and in certain cases restoring parts of this watershed. During the past years, this group has installed adequate fording sites for ATV's, done some bank stabilization work, and created plublic awareness on the issues surrounding this watershed.
In the lower parts of Mill Creek near the confluence with the Petitcodiac River, the physical habitat is very silty and the surrounding vegetation is mostly grassy and similar to the vegetation found along the shores of the Petitcodieac River below the causeway. This area is also under tidal influence twice a day. Approximately one to two kilometers upstream from the confluence, the physical habitat changes dramatically with rocky substrate and mixed forests.
A unique feature to Mill Creek is an old dam located two kilometers from the confluence. This structure was built in the 1950's by the Department of Defence as an artificial reservoir to be used in case of forest fires. The dam is approximately 40 meters long by 7 meters high and the reservoir is back up one kilometer behind the structure. This structure does not provide fish passage.
The majority of the Mill Creek watershed is forested, but recent wood cutting operations and residential development above the dam have changed somewhat the landscape of this region. Severe bank erosion and sediment input coming from poorly constructed roads are responsible for the large fine sediment deposits in the creek and water quality issues. Further more, inadequate culvert installation on certain sections of Mill Creek add to the sediment problem and in some cases prohibit fish passage.
Like other creeks and rivers in the Petitcodiac River watershed, Mill Creek has the potential to have functional ecosystems either be aquatic or terrestrial improvements. The fact that this creek has a group of concerned citizens working towards the rehabilitation of this area is a positive step in the right direction. For more information, see the Mill Creek Watershed Group Assessment Report (Matchim, 2001).
Water quality highlights for Mill Creek
|
Section
|
Principal Water Quality Influences
|
Water Test Highlights 1997-2001
|
|
Below Pine Glen Highway (PWMG 63)
|
forestry, residential development, road runoff, bank erosion |
Aluminium, Clarity, E-Coli, Iron, Total Kjeldahl nitrogen, Total organic carbon |
Below Reservoir
(PWMG 20) |
dam, forestry, bank erosion, road runoff (sand & silt), residential |
Aluminium, E-Coli, Iron, Total Kjeldahl nitrogen, Total organic caron, Turbidity |
Recommended Preliminary Classification:
Class B : for all of Mill Creek
Recommended actions:
>> installation of bank stabilization structures where bank erosion is evident;
>> enhance buffer zones where needed;
>> promote best management practices for all future and current forestry operations;
>> work with DELG and DNRE to prevent road runoff (sand & silt) from forestry operations;
>> conserve and enhance the creek's buffer zones;
>> remediate all obstructions to fish passage (Mill Creek dam, Pine Glen road and culvert);
>> encourage best management practices along new commercial and residential developments (ex. berms & stormceptors®);
>> installation of habitat improvement structures;
>> reduce and evnetually phase out the use of cosmetic pesticides.
