Map: - see Hall's Creek watershed

Description:

West Branch Halls Creek is a tributary of the Halls Creek watershed, which covers 126 km². Two major tributaries enter this creek and they are; 1- Gorge Brook and 2- another unnamed tributary that flows west of Magnetic Hill area. This section of the Halls Creek watershed is significantly impacted by human activities. Residential, commercial, and public development are scattered throughout the watershed (ex: Magnetic Hill complex, Golf course, Campgrounds, Quarries, Farms, Nature Parks, Residential dwellings, etc.).

Point and non-point sources of pollution are found in all sections of this brook. Numerous evidence of sewage cross connections around the Mapleton Road area have been identified when the storm sewer system is surcharged. A series of small ponds located between Mapleton Park and the Trans Canada Highway were formally used as sewage lagoons until 1980. It is unclear if these lagoons are still affecting the water quality of West Branch Halls Creek in a negative way. These lagoons should be targeted for further water quality studies (see Table 20 for water quality results).

The creation of Mapleton Park has also added sediments into the creek. The construction of footpaths and the cutting of trees have contributed in part to the creek's siltation problem. Other sources such as bank erosion, quarrying, and inadequate culvert installation all contribute to the input of fine sediment within West Branch Halls Creek.

Gorge Brook, one of the main tributaries of WB Halls Creek runs through 2 quarry operations. It has been noted during rain events that a significant amount of sand and silt are washed out of these areas into Gorge Brook and subsequently into WB Halls Creek. The unnamed tributary that runs through the Magnetic Hill Golf Course also seems to carry a large amount of fine sediment into the creek.

Further more, debris/garbage is also scattered at numerous locations throughout the creek. For example, old discarded vehicles (junk yard along Gorge Brook); old cement pads and sidewalk litter the creek at several locations.

Several obstructions have been surveyed in the creek ranging from inadequate culvert installations to controlled openings that allow flow/fish passage only when needed. For example, an inadequate culvert was surveyed on one of the TCH off ramps; the structure was installed approximately 80 centimetres above the water line.

On a positive note, for the most part, the riparian vegetation surrounding the creek is adequate and provides a significant amount of cover to the creek. Fish life was also observed in West Branch Halls Creek, the fish spotted there were mostly Chub and White Suckers. Further upstream, in the Gorge Brook tributary, there were also considerable amounts of Brook Trout spotted in the watercourse. With modifications made to culverts, blockages, sewer lines and fine sediment input amongst other things, this creek's ecosystem could prosper in a much healthier set of circumstances.

Water quality hightlights for West Branch Halls Creek

Section	Principal Water Quality Influences	Water Test Highlights 1997-2001
Above Briardale Street (PWMG 27)	urbanization, storm sewers, residential, road runoff, golf course, quarries, farms, game farm	Alkalinity, Conductivity, E-Coli, Fecal coliforms, Iron, Manganese, Total dissolved solid, Total Nitrogen
At Wheeler Boulevard (PWMG 26)	old sewage lagoon, storm sewers, urbanization, road runoff, nature park, tide, residential	Aluminium, Alkalinity, Clarity, Conductivity, E-Coli, Fecal coliform, Total coliforms, Iron, Manganese, Total dissolved solid, Total Kjeldahl nitrogen, Total nitrogen, Phosphorus, Turbidity

Recommended preliminary classification:

Class C : for all of West Branch Halls Creek

Recommended actions:

>> stop sediment input in Gorge Brook coming from local quarry operations;
>> stop sediment input in WB Halls Creek coming from old Westlane pits;
>> clean up debris/garbage entering the brook from junk yards or from illegal dumps;
>> work with local farmers to add cattle fencing along streams and brooks that run through their properties (Gorge Brook area);
>> replace and/or fix culverts that impede fish passage;
>> conserve and enhance the brooks buffer zones;
>> installation of bank stabilization structures where bank erosion is evident;
>> modify storm water infrastructure to accommodate high rain events;
>> extend water sampling to include old sewage lagoon to see if lagoons are still contaminated and contribute to the creek's high bacteria levels;
>> encourage best management practices along new commercial and residential developments (ex. berms & stormceptors®);
>> reduce and eventually phase out the use of cosmetic pesticides.