SNC Projects

East Castor River Flood plain Elevation Study

In March 2006 North Dundas Township and South Nation Conservation partnered to undertake a flood plain elevation study in an identified sector of the East Castor River along County Road 13.

The goal of the study was to maximize the lands available for development. With the purpose to ensure that such development could take place in a manner which guaranteed public health and safety and the protection of property.

Indian Creek Fishway

The Indian Creek is a tributary of the South Nation River. The headwater is located around Lot 23 Concession 8 in Augusta Township and flows easterly to the South Nation River. The Indian Creek dam is located west of the Village of Spencerville on private property, just North of County Road 21.

Originally, the Indian Creek was dammed for a sawmill operation; although we have not been able to determine when the dam was built. Its construction has meant that several species of native fish cannot access historical spawning areas above the dam. Anecdotal information suggests there was a historically reproducing population of Northern Pike Esox lucius above the dam site prior to construction; however, minimal spawning activity has been reported above the dam since its installation.

The Indian Creek Dam consists of a concrete gravity structure. The dam dimensions are approximately 11.10 m long by 1.45 m height. A stop board sits in the notch of the weir, located approximately in the middle of the dam, is 0.85 m wide by the same height.

Although there is no floodplain mapping for the area, the landowner has reported that spring flow conditions on the Indian Creek often result in the dam being overtopped. Even though, the landowner reported to remove the stop board from the sluiceway during spring runoff, flows in this period exceed local fish swimming capabilities. The landowner intends to use the structure to generate energy in the near future.

High velocity flows in the sluiceway, even when fully open prevent all fish passage including Northern Pike migration past the dam.

South Nation Conservation (SNC) developed a plan to provide fish passage during the spring spawning period on Indian Creek, which would maintain normal flow conditions at the reservoir. This project was undertaken to reintroduce access for Northern Pike by constructing an off-line bypass channel allowing fish to circumnavigate the dam structure.

The fishway will be constructed so that water will be diverted from the current impoundment above the dam only during high-flow conditions, like those typical during the spring runoff (March and April). This design will maximize the benefits to Northern Pike and other warm water species that spawn during these high-flow periods, yet will also allow the landowner the continued use of the dam structure

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