Speed River Story Map

Human Impact at the Wellington Street Dam

In May, the dam's gates lower and the bed of the Speed River is submerged under a layer of water. 

If you were a fish, and the dam gates were up, do you think you would have a hard time getting back to the other side of the dam? Well, the dam makes it hard for organisms like fish to move up and down the river. Now, revert back to human form fishy! Now that you are a human again, can you get across the dam easily? How so? Yes! Humans can cross the dam because there is a walkway built to help us get across the river!

Also, it's important to note that dams, a human creation, impact the quality of the river's water in a negative way. For example, when the sun heats the water in the holding pond, the warmer water holds less oxygen than cold water. This harms organisms like fish that require oxygen to live. 

When was the Wellington Street Dam built? It was built way back in 1957 by the Grand River Conservation Authority. WHO the heck is the GRCA? They watch over and protect the water and other natural resources in the grand river watershed. Link to GRCA  here! 

Next, do you like canoeing? If the dam was torn down, do you think the water in the pond and river would go up or down? If you said the water would go down, you are correct. People benefit from the dam because in certain seasons, especially the warmer months, the water stays high enough to canoe along the Speed River. In May, the gates are lowered, decreasing the amount of water that flows out of the pond and river, creating higher water levels. 

The Hidden Creek and the History Behind it

Quick!

Can you see where a creek would be here? Can you see Peterson Creek? Can you find any clues of where it could be? Or used to be? 

Hint: What do you think a hidden creek is?

What is a hidden creek?

A hidden creek is a small river that is buried underground. We cannot see them from the surface. In most cases, they are creeks that have been buried or forced underground due to development. 

Peterson Creek

Peterson Creek that joins with the Speed River right here is one of Guelph's hidden creeks. Its forked headwaters (the creek's source) are underneath the university campus (the red arrow on the map). The engineered storm sewer, the stone structure you are looking at, collects most of the rainfalls that would have once, before development, flowed into the creek.

The history behind the creek

Peterson Creek was named after the Peterson Family. For three generations, the Peterson family lived on Ulmenwald estate, which spanned roughly from Forest St to Maple St, to Water St, to Mary St (red box on map). Before the 1940s and 1950s, the creek fed an above-ground spring, which was located near Forest Hill Drive and the James St intersection (red circle).

For a more in-depth history of Peterson Creek, check out Ward 5 City councilor Leanne Caron's story:  Footsteps in Ward 5: Peterson Creek .

One Person's Trash is Another Person's Treasure!

Guelph has a fascinating past… Did you know that we used to use the banks of our waterways as dumps? Doesn't that sound ridiculous?. 

Getting positives from negatives 

One fun thing about this not-so-fun fact is that anybody can become a part-time archaeologist—a person who studies human history. In certain spots along the river, you can find old bottles and jars from the past, even when digging less than a foot into the ground. You can find objects from the 1960s and even ancient artifacts that date back from the early 1900s (if you were to dig deep enough hypothetically).

Want to see for yourself? All you need to do is walk in the woods a little bit off the path on the riverside of the James Street trail. Look around on the ground, and you will likely find some extraordinary treasure to take home with you. Try checking in fallen down trees, too! Remember always to be aware of your surroundings and not pick up any broken glass, or needles without the proper safety precautions and training!

Make an Impact!

The best thing about this is that while you are having fun discovering all these cool things along the river, you can also clean up the environment. If you have a parent nearby, you can even try moving bad things like glass that could injure an animal or person. 

Journey to the Past

Consider this! (Time to exercise your curiosity and consider some of these questions):

How did the water get here? 

If rivers flow into the ocean, which is made of saltwater, why aren't our rivers salty? What could be the sources of the river's freshwater??

What wildlife can you see around you today? What wildlife might you have seen millions of years ago?

How do you think mountains, valleys, escarpments, etc., form?

How is the landscape here different from what you might see in northern Ontario? Why do you think this is?

The Paleozoic Era

Over 400 million years ago, our watershed, the Grand River Watershed, began to form. It was the Paleozoic Era, a time that began with the Cambrian Explosion. The Cambrian Explosion wasn't so much of a KABOOM explosion... It was instead an explosion of life in the oceans. Life began on land as well during this time, but the landmasses looked very different. Some supercontinents eventually came together to form a landmass called Pangaea, which would, in turn, break up and create the continents we know today. Have you ever noticed how Africa and South America look as though they could fit together on a map like puzzle pieces? It's because they once did. This was when the bedrock that makes up the land here formed, along with many of the caves in the Rockwood Conservation Area and the walls of the Elora Gorge. Sea levels were rising and falling, depositing different types of rock! 

The Glaciers

But how was the shape of the river carved out? Glaciers! Millions of years ago, massive glaciers carved out the figure of the land we see today. So much has happened to create the world we know today. But the world is constantly changing. What will the next chapter of our river's story look like? 

For an adventure: further down the James Street Trail, you'll find a rock wall, with trees stretching up toward the open sky. Using what you learned today, how do you think it formed?

Human Impact and History of the James Street Storm Water Outfall

Want a challenge?

Try to get around the stormwater outfall here. You could try and cross across the cement blocks or go up and around it. Now imagine if you were older and less agile, or if you were biking or had young kids. It would become a lot harder right?

Building a Bridge!

 The Guelph Hiking Trail Club successfully raised money to build a steel and wooden bridge spanning 8ft across and stretching 30ft long! This bridge will make it more accessible for everyone, including those with strollers and decreased mobility on foot to walk the James Street Trail. 

What is a Stormwater Outfall?

A stormwater outfall is where all the stormwater collected from rain or melted snow flows back into a waterway, the Speed River. If the stormwater is not properly cleaned before flowing into the waterways, these outfalls can be detrimental to the ecosystem. 

Why do you think the water needs to be filtered and cleaned before flowing into the river?

If you guessed it was because the stormwater picks up a bunch of bad things from the roads and sidewalks, then you were right! 

What sort of pollutants do you think the storm water could pick up?

The water that flows across the pavement picks up all sorts of pollutants such as oil, fertilizer, pet waste, which then goes into the waterways, harming the river's ecosystems. 

How did the James St Trail come to exist?

In the 1920s, the James St trail used to be an electric railway between Guelph and Toronto. After the rails were removed, in 1931, the trail was converted into a path, which people now use to walk and bike. The concrete blocks you see were put here in 1965 to help people cross over the storm water outfall. Over time, these blocks have shifted and are no longer an accessible way to cross the outfall.

Native Species Along James Street

Disclaimer - UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES DO WE RECOMMEND YOU CONSUME ANY PLANTS

Have you ever wanted to be a cool cat who could identify native plants while walking through nature? Well, today is your lucky day!

The forested area along the Eramosa river has plenty of beautiful plants, both native and non-native. Today we are just going to focus on learning about the native ones.

Let's take a closer look at two native, edible plants you can find along the trail.

Cedar

If you've ever gone on a pleasant stroll in the forest, you have most likely encountered a Cedar tree! Cedar is not only a common tree, but it is also very useful. One thing you can do with it makes delicious and nutritious tea from the Needles/Foliage that are rich in vitamin C. The inner bark of cedars is also a great material for starting a fire. All you need to do is scrape some of the inner bark off and roll it back and forth in between your palms to break down the fibers to get a soft dusty little bundle that will burst into flames if hit by a spark or ember. It is not recommended to start fires in the forest or Peel bark off these trees.

*Please note that the next 2 points are optional since they are out of the way, and would make this walk a lot longer*

Photo from  Scouten White Cedar 

OPTIONAL - Rock Formations

Woah! How did these rock formations get here? Over years and years, material was compressed and changed form by eroding, melting, freezing, and undergoing other changes in form! Fun fact: all the material that makes up these rocks (and you!) originated from stars that exploded far off in space many years ago. The rock wall is made of stardust, and so are you! Now, what kinds of natural life can you see on the wall?

If you’re curious about the natural history of the wall, you can look up the “Geology of the Grand River Watershed” when you get home! To find out more about rocks, check out this video by SciShow Kids on how to be a “Rock Detective!”:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNs1gqkYerg 

OPTIONAL - Fiddleheads

Disclaimer - UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES DO WE RECOMMEND YOU CONSUME ANY PLANTS. FIDDLEHEADS ARE ALSO POISENOUS IF NOT COOKED BEFORE HAND

This plant is super interesting and also very common. It's called a Fiddlehead. If you have ever been out in nature, you might have seen Fiddleheads before. You may even have some in your garden! A Fiddlehead is a type of fern, and the reason they're called Fiddleheads is that when they are young, the tops of the plant m look like the head of a fiddle. That is also the part that you could technically eat, though we advise against it during this walk. At this point in the season, the Fiddleheads are fully grown and non-edible.

Remember: fiddleheads are poisonous when eaten raw and need to be cooked properly.

Another thing to note is that as foraging for wild edible plants becomes more popular it is also important to make sure people don't over harvest them and ensure that they are being properly identified

Photo from  Wikipedia .

Photo from  Wikipedia .

Meet Rusty… an Invasive Species of Crayfish

Walk down to the dock next to the Boathouse and look into the water...

Hey there! Down here in the water! My name is Rusty, and I'm a crayfish! What is a crayfish, you might be asking… Well, I'm a small crustacean, and I live at the bottom of the river under rocks and sediment. There are more than 500 species of crayfish that can be found in North America, but I'm a particular kind…. My species is called the Rusty Crayfish, or in scientific terms, the Orconectes rusticus. Pretty hard to pronounce, isn't it!?

But BAD NEWS!… Unlike some of the native species of crayfish that share the river with me, I have only lived in the Grand River Watershed—that includes the Speed and Eramosa rivers—since 1987! But why is this an issue? When I was introduced to this ecosystem by fishers that used me as bait, I outcompeted the native species and started hurting the river's ecosystems and food chains. That's why they call me an invasive species!

But what's wrong with invasive species? Here's how crayfish like Rusty hurt our river ecosystem:

- Rusty Crayfish are larger and more aggressive than native crayfish, so they eat twice as much food and don't get eaten by fish as often

- This can cause the decline or disappearance of native crayfish populations

- They consume massive amounts of plants (aquatic vegetation), small fish, and small organisms and carry more than 200 fertilized eggs under their tail.

- Rusty Crayfish reduces important habitats that fish need to lay their eggs and grow their population rapidly. 

There are sadly no nice spots to go crayfishing along our route today but if you have extra time, the next point on the map is a nice spot to step into the river and try to catch a crayfish! If you need to get on your way, skip point 11 and go straight to point 12.

Photo by Doug Watkinson

Crayfishing

Welcome to a great spot to catch crayfish!

Make sure you have strap-on sandals or rubber boots if you want to step into the river. 

Once you’re ankle deep, locate some rocks in the river—look for rocks from about the size of your fist to the size of your head. Crayfish are easiest to find when they are hiding under rocks.

Stand downstream of the rock (helps to not disturb sediment) and gently flip the rock over. 

Watch carefully! Crayfish are fast and will try to swim away to hide under another rock or in the sediment.

If you find a crayfish, wait for the sediment to settle so you can see it properly and with your index finger and thumb, quickly reach into the water and grab it right behind its front pincers. One you have caught it, you can pick it up out of the water and take a look! See if you can identify if it's a rusty crayfish or a native species of crayfish using the identification key  HERE .

Careful! They do pinch, but if you hold them where I am holding them in the video or put them in a bucket, they shouldn’t be able to reach you. If you are nervous you can ask you parents for help.

When you’re done, place the crayfish back in the water, and gently flip the rock back over.

See the video of how to properly hold the crayfish above! Happy crayfishing!

For more info about the Rusty Crayfish and how to identify them click  HERE. 

Ice Cream - An Essential Service

ICE CREAM! Now that I have your attention, the Boathouse, which many of you may know, is an iconic Guelph landmark (and a tasty place to get some ice cream). It was first built in 1876 (that's older than your parents!) as a storage house for local planes. Just kidding, it was a house for boats. It underwent many changes over many years. Today, you can get ice cream, have lunch in the Tea Room, and rent canoes and kayaks.

People were drawn to Guelph because it was where two rivers came together. Settlers have had a huge impact on the rivers and we've also done a lot to try to rehabilitate them. Consider yourself part of the continuing history of people and water in our city.

If you're interested, here's more info!

 CBC Link 

 YouTube Link 

Now time for ice cream!

Rehabilitation at the Garbosaurus

Try this!

Sit down on a bench with the person you're with. 

Think of two natural spaces—magic spots— you love and that you visit often. It could be a backyard, a park, a piece of the river, or any other special natural space!

Now brainstorm some ideas of how you could make this space a healthier, more biodiverse ecosystem! 

Could you pick up some garbage, plant some native plants, remove invasive species, and/or tell a friend about what you learned today? Could you make some natural art out of the things you find at your magic spots? Make sure not to pick up anything dangerous or pick any native plants. 

Now that you've thought about it, try telling the person you're with three reasons why you like your two magic spots and how you want to help rehabilitate them! 

As we've learned today, the river is such an important ecosystem for the many organisms and people that rely on it. We've also learned about some of the human impacts on the river: introducing invasive species, building dams, and dumping garbage on the banks. Luckily, humans have also taken some pretty inspiring efforts to rehabilitate—cleanup and restore—the river. 

The Speed River 2Rivers cleanup has been going on for over 40 years!. Each year, volunteers who work with organizations like Wellington Water Watchers and OPIRG Guelph gather in and around this Speed and Eramosa Rivers to pick up garbage. The Garbosaurus statue you see here was created with some of the garbage that was collected to remind us all about the importance of maintaining our natural spaces. 

Photo by Tony Saxxon for the Guelph Mercury. 

Connection to Creeks and Rivers

Welcome back to the start of our loop! We are at the end of our journey, and we’ve learned so much!

With your family, in a safe spot near the water, dip your hands into the river. To be connected to the water, to the creeks and rivers, helps us connect to ourselves and the life that sustains everything around us. Many cultures celebrate water. In Guelph, there is a Sacred Water walk which is an Anishinaabe ceremony that focuses on “water protection through walking for the water.” Please read the website link ( Here ) to understand more about this important walk.

Take a moment for reflection in a safe spot close to the river: 

What animals did you see? Maybe some Canada geese, perhaps a squirrel or two. Why do you think those animals lived there, and how many do you think rely on the river as a water source? 

Did you notice the sound of the water? If so, how did it make you feel? If not, perhaps the cars were drowning out the natural sounds in certain spots. Think back on what you learned today…. Can you think of other human impacts on the watershed? 

There are stormwater pipes, connected underground water systems, and above-ground creeks all along the path you took today. The story of the creeks and rivers tells us the story of Guelph from the 1820s, when Guelph was being settled, to now. For example, many schools in Guelph have underground water systems near them since schools were built in marshy areas when Guelph was established. 

The first Guelph settlers established themselves by creeks and rivers because of how essential water was to their lifestyles, such as running mills, cleaning, transport and more. Consider yourself a part of the continuing history of people and water.