Photos capturing changes to the streambanks and channel bed of 12 Mile Creek over an extended period of time can be a useful tool for understanding what’s happening in this dynamic system.

Without shade cover, water heats up, making it difficult for Brook Trout to survive. Tree shadows help keep the ground cool so that rainfall runoff from the surrounding area isn’t warmed as it flows overland on its way to the stream.

Stream temperature plays a very important role in the health and survival of Brook Trout. Record the temperature for 3 different locations within the stream and compare to the required temperatures for Brook Trout survival.

The current of 12 Mile Creek carries nutrients to young brook trout fry, which eat small invertebrates drifting by. Moving water absorbs oxygen and carries away waste. It takes energy for fish to swim upstream, or to swim just enough to maintain their position in flowing water.

Streams are dynamic and flow will naturally change over time. The more extreme weather events and fluctuations to flow a stream experiences, the harder it can be for the stream to return to its natural equilibrium

A healthy vegetated streambank, also known as a riparian buffer, reduces overland runoff and the likelihood of excess pollutants entering the stream.

The biodiversity of riparian buffers impacts the health of 12 Mile Creek’s interconnected ecosystem. It is healthiest if a high diversity of different species are present.

The sinuosity of a watercourse is a measure of its ‘wiggliness’. The course of a stream naturally changes as sediment is picked up and deposited by energetic flowing water. Stream banks erode as material is carried away and gets deposited further downstream.

In order for Brook Trout to thrive they need their water to follow the 3 C’s: clean, clear and cold. For this activity we’re going to focus on the first two; clean and clear, by inspecting water collected directly from Twelve Mile Creek.