The Authority has released a 2017-18 report on the riparian vegetation within the Brown Creek subwatershed. Natural vegetation growing alongside streams and rivers is called riparian vegetation or a vegetated buffer. Riparian vegetation is extremely important from a water quality and habitat standpoint as it protects the banks from erosion, absorbs pollutants in runoff, shades the water to impact the thermal regime, and provides nutrient input to support aquatic organisms.
The purpose of this study was to assess the status of the riparian zone in the Brown Creek subwatershed and report on quantity and quality of riparian buffers. The specific intent of the project was to identify riparian zones with a significant lack of vegetation, in an effort to target and guide future stewardship potential. This project was undertaken by the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).
2017-18 Brown Creek Riparian Study