Project Summary

Project completed as of September 2018.

Second Creek is a Credit River tributary in Halton Hills, Ontario.
This project restored Muskrat Pond; one of three ponds historically dammed in Terra Cotta Conservation Area.
Funds from The W. Garfield Weston Foundation directly contributed to dam removal and creek restoration.
The Great Lakes Challenge created new Brooke Trout habitat and reconnected 2.5-kilometres of stream to the Credit River.

Overview

Current Path of Second Creek

Near Wolf Lake - Terra Cotta Conservation Area - July 14th, 2017

View of Wolf Lake From Second Creek

Terra Cotta Conservation Area - July 14th, 2017

Current Path of Second Creek

Near Wolf Lake - Terra Cotta Conservation Area - July 14th, 2017

Drawdown of Muskrat Pond into Second Creek

Terra Cotta Conservation Area - July 14th, 2017

Drawdown of Muskrat Pond into Second Creek

Terra Cotta Conservation Area - July 14th, 2017

Drawdown of Muskrat Pond into Second Creek

Terra Cotta Conservation Area - July 14th, 2017

Natural path of the creek after completed drawdown of Spring Pond

Terra Cotta Conservation Area - July 14th, 2017

Example of the stream restoration process

Credit Valley Conservation Authority

Second Creek Restoration - August 2017

Natural channel formation and vegetation colonization of banks exposed during drawdown. (Photo by Credit Valley Conservation Authority)

Second Creek Restoration - August 2017

Plant transfers Variable- Leaved Watermilfoil; (Myriophyllom heterphyllum) (Photo by Credit Valley Conservation Authority

Second Creek Restoration - August 2017

Plant transfers Variable- Leaved Watermilfoil; (Myriophyllom heterphyllum) (Photo by Credit Valley Conservation Authority)

Second Creek Restoration - August 2017

Plant transfers Variable- Leaved Watermilfoil; (Myriophyllom heterphyllum) (Photo by Credit Valley Conservation Authority)

This project restored the natural flow of the Second Creek and removed barriers for native fish like Brook Trout and Atlantic Salmon. It allowed the growth of native flora and fauna while protecting the area from more extreme weather expected with climate change.

Over time, conservation best practices have changed. Terra Cotta Conservation Area is an example of these extreme variations. The Award Wetland in Terra Cotta formerly housed a concrete chlorinated swimming pool while Spring Pond and Muskrat Pond - the site of this restoration project - were dammed with the goal of creating small ponds visitors could enjoy.

Now the era of restoration has allowed the true benefits of ecosystem balance to be realized. Returning Second Creek to its naturally wild state will continue cascading effects to the surrounding ecosystem.