Pond and Howitt Creek
Parking
Pond Creek
The first point to go to is Pond Creek. Check out this cool sign which talks about naturalization, river rehabilitation, and the Speed River Project. You may notice how the planting of native trees and shrubs along the Speed River creates a buffer for habitat and to shade the river, reducing its temperature.
Turn around and look at Pond Creek. Start at where it joins the Speed and walk along it up to where it goes under Wellington St. Try to imagine what Pond Creek looked like before it was channeled in concrete. It likely had more bends and perhaps it flowed faster back then. Today it looks as though the creek just appears out of nowhere, but that is because it flows underneath Wellington St, coming all the way from a wetland near St. Joseph’s Hospital. That is because humans have forced it into pipes underneath our roads.
To make cities for ourselves, and to build roads and houses, we have changed the directions of our rivers and streams. Take a peek at the concrete hole to see the water flowing downstream. As you can see by the sign, there is a bridge and a small waterfall, and signs of construction. The city of Guelph had to do emergency construction because our sewage was going into the river! Our poop and pee! Yuck! This can be dangerous for the plants and animals in the area, so it's important to make sure our water remains uncontaminated using closed systems.
To see a map of the city’s underground water drainage and human waste systems, click here and go to page 5!
Human Impact
Take a look around and count how many human-made things you can see (ex. pipes, trails, roads, buildings, lights etc.). Next, close your eyes for 15 seconds, and count how many human noises you can hear (cars, construction, talking, bikes etc).
Now close your eyes again and count how many natural sounds you can hear, like birds or the river.
Being close to a road, you probably noticed a lot more human-made things and noises. In the city, many of the things around us are made by humans, and humans have huge impacts on the local and global environment. Some of these include pollution impacts, from sound and light pollution, to air and water pollution.
Sound pollution is when human-made noises, such as the sounds of cars or construction, overpower nature. There are many negative consequences to this, like birds not being able to communicate about where food is. When human-made objects take over, this can lead to increased garbage and pollution in the environment and a lack of space for animals.
Light pollution, which is created from houses or street lights, can make it easier for predators to catch prey at night, but it also makes it harder for the small critters to get away. This can disrupt the natural ebb and flow of populations, and can make animals become endangered.
Air pollution is the chemicals and gases that we put into the air. This can be chemicals from factories, or gas from our cars.
Sometimes, humans also pollute the water. You may have been near the river before, and had your parents tell you not to drink any of the water. It’s super important not to drink Guelph’s river water. Can you guess why that is? For a long time, the banks of the Eramosa river just upstream from where we are, were used as a garbage dump! As a result, there are still some chemicals and bacteria in the soil around the river, which can leach into the water. Much of the garbage that goes into the river will eventually end up in the ocean, in places like the North Atlantic Garbage Patch (click the link for more info). This is why it is so important to make sure that we do not litter, and that we look after the natural areas around us. Since humans have such a huge impact on the environment, it is extremely important that people are aware of the waste they create. Thankfully people have been working hard over the years to clean the river, protecting the water.
Humans have also brought species from around the world which impact biodiversity. You will learn more about biodiversity and invasive species later on, but it is important to note the human impact of creating grass monocultures. A monoculture is when there is only one species in an area. Humans have planted grass everywhere, as you can see in this field! Monocultures are bad because they limit the types of food for animals to eat. The reason that there is so much goose poop everywhere is because geese aren't supposed to eat grass, but it's all there is, so they don't digest properly and poop everywhere. If you have a food intolerance, you may understand how eating food that isn't meant for you can make you feel pretty gross.
Invasive Species
As you begin to explore the creek it’s important to be aware of some invasive species you may come across, so you know how to stay safe, and how to deal with them. This is always something to remember whenever you’re out exploring different parts of Guelph’s waterways because it helps protect the delicate ecosystems connected to the river.
Garlic Mustard
(See photo #1)
This is garlic mustard. It’s an invasive species from Europe, and It's a big forest invader in Ontario. It grows over a two-year period. In its first year, it grows in clusters on the ground. In its second year, it’ll flower and grow long stems (see photo #2/#3). Its leaves are kidney-shaped and have small jagged edges.
Another way to identify garlic mustard is by crushing the leaves and smelling it. When crushed, it gives off the strong smell of garlic. With the loads of garlic mustard along here you should easily be able to find some and test this out.
While you can remove Garlic mustard with your family by pulling it out from the root and putting the plant in a clear garbage bag to be thrown out, there are some issues with the removal causing it to spread more, so do some research before you go picking. If you want to learn more about invasive species or report sightings in Ontario, use the link below.
Native Species
While on your walk, see how many different types of plants and animals you can spot! The word biodiversity means the variety of species in the area. A lot of different species in an area means that there is high biodiversity. Having biodiversity is important because it ensures that each plant and animal has many options for food and habitat.
When creating an area with high biodiversity, it is important to have a lot of native plants. Native plants are plants that have been in the area for a very long time. Another group are invasive plants. Many invasive species were introduced by colonizers over the past centuries and they are very good at growing, spreading, and taking up space. This can be harmful because it makes it difficult for native species to grow. Some species, such as Dandelions and Canada Geese, are native invasive. This means that they have been here for a very long time, but that they are also good at spreading and they harm the species around them.
It is important to make sure that native species have places to grow and live. This area is a designated turtle nesting area. Turtles play important roles in maintaining biodiversity because they provide food for other animals, disperse seeds and affect mineral cycling. Be sure to not walk, or let your pets walk, on the sandy area, because there might be turtle eggs buried under there!
A study conducted in 2005 on the Lafarge property (by Howitt Park, where you will soon go), found that only 46% of the 197 plant species were native. This is lower than the proportion for many urban natural areas in southern Ontario. To learn more about the environmental impact report of the area, go to Environmental Impact Study for the Lafarge Property City of Guelph October, 2005
Throughout your journey, keep paying attention to how many types of plants and animals you see. You’ll likely see a lot of birds, and here is a list of many of the bird species that have been spotted in Howitt park!
Move along Wellington until you reach the crosswalk. Cross and continue up Roland Street. Then, turn left onto Waterloo and continue until the next crosswalk. Backtrack along Waterloo and turn left into the Orange Hall parking lot. Lock your bike to the fence and follow the path to points six and seven.
History
Walk along the trail from the parking lot until you reach a cement slab. Step into the larger area, and keep walking towards the creek. Begin walking along the water, but be careful not to get your feet wet!
Look across the creek to the island of tall, light brown plants. They look a little bit like giant wheat stocks. Those are bulrushes, known also as cattails, because of the long, brown, bushy ends they get in the summer. Have you ever seen bulrushes before? If not, maybe your parents have. Think about (or ask them) where they were seen. Were they growing in a forest? In the desert? It’s likely they were on the edge of a pond.
As you know, the park you came from, and the creek running by you, were named Howitt. This is after the Howitt family, who lived in the Kingsmill House a short walk from here. What you may not have known is that from the 1800s to mid 1900s, where you are standing is where a pond would have been, which explains the presence of such tall bulrushes. The pond was also named after the Howitt family, and many Guelphites came to Howitt Pond to swim, socialize, and sunbathe.
Take in the area a little bit more. Look down at your feet. Did you notice you’re standing on sand? Perhaps you saw it in the bottom of the creek as you walked along. It’s there because in the 1930s the city brought in huge amounts of sand and built a beach by the pond.
You're probably wondering how so much water was ever held here. Did you notice the cement walls on both sides of the clearing? With your parent’s permission, carefully climb up on the wall. These used to be intact, and from the pond, water was used to power the historical Red mill and Phoenix Mill. When the dam was removed, the water flowed out and down towards the Speed river, creating the rest of the creek.
This information was taken from here .
Water Protection
Look at the water as it moves around the bends. At some points, it moves super quickly, and in others it seems to not be moving at all. Pick up a stick or a large leaf. You can make a little nature boat if you want to as well. Toss it into the creek, and safely follow it as it flows downstream. When you get back to the cement slab, with your parent’s permission, climb on the wall and watch it go down the waterfall. Down the little hill, you can see the water keeps flowing through the ravine until it hits a concrete wall, and flows into a tunnel. From that tunnel, the water will go under the city streets, until it reemerges and ends up in the Speed River. Water is always flowing downstream, from little waterways to larger rivers and lakes.
This means that the water in Guelph doesn’t stay in Guelph, but goes out towards Cambridge, and then eventually towards lake Erie. It’s possible that one day your stick will end up in there, but if it does, it won’t cause any harm. What we need to remember though is that everything we put in the water will flow downstream, just like the stick. Look again at the creek and see if you can see any plastic or pieces of garbage floating past. If it’s not removed, it too could end up in the lake. That could hurt plants and animals, but also people that use the water for drinking, for gardening, or for recreation.
Water can be polluted by more than just garbage. Liquids like soap, oil, dyes and other chemicals also pose a threat to the cleanliness of our water. Down in the lower ravine, there is a puddle of polluted water that is dangerously close to entering the creek. While it isn’t safe to try and clean it up without proper training, we can notify city workers of spills such as this one, and we can avoid polluting the waters more with our own actions.
Organizations like Wellington Water Watchers are working on initiatives to keep the water in Guelph pollution free, and to conserve the water we use. But individuals should help too, because we all benefit from clean water. Before you leave the creek, do your part and try to collect at least one piece of garbage, discarded clothing or container and dispose of it in Guelph’s waste management system. Do not pick up anything sharp and ask a parent to help with your collection. If everyone does their part to protect the water, then it will be safe and enjoyable for all.
Rehabilitation
While you’re in Howitt Park, take a look at the community garden! This garden primarily grows food for charity while also offering small plots for rent. There are many gardens like this around Guelph, and they are also important for pollinators in the area. What are pollinators? Here’s a hint: “Bzz bzz”. That’s right! An example of a pollinator is a bee. Pollinators are animals, often insects, that move pollen from one flower to another. Because of the way our cities are built, it's hard for them to find homes, and without them, many species cannot reproduce, and our environments would not be as diverse. Did you know that 1 in every 3 bites of food you eat is made possible by pollinators?
You’ve now reached the end of the map. Thank you for adventuring through Pond and Howitt Creek! We hope you had lots of fun and that you were able to learn something new. If you began with your car, make your way back to Waterloo and then retrace your way back to the parking lot. To explore other parts of Guelph’s watershed, try out another story map.