Survey of the Eagle Creek - Summer 2014.

This past summer a survey was done of the Eagle Creek to collect information on the health of the creek.

The actual origin of the Eagle Creek occurs somewhere around Unity.

FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SURVEY, DATA WAS COLLECTED FROM THE SOUTH END OF OPUNTIA LAKE ALL THE WAY TO THE NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER.

Objectives of the Survey were to collect data and observations on the following;

1. Check creek bank integrity. How much erosion was taking place?
2. Invasive weeds; Were there prohibited or noxious weeds present and to what extent?
3. Impact of cattle on the creek either by grazing or confined livestock operations close to the creek.
4. Impact of annual crop production on the creek.
5. Recreation, industrial or non- agricultural use impacts on the creek.
6. Wildlife habitat; aquatic and terrestrial.
7. Waterfowl habitat

Accurate flow rates and measurable water quality information were not collected as the Saskatchewan Water Security Agency collects this information.

Observations:

• There are some areas where cattle are causing erosion but the percentage of the overall Creek bed where this is occurring is extremely small. Rushes will move in rapidly to stabilize the bank. As the creek gets closer to the North Saskatchewan River there is some slumping of the creek bank. This is causing problems with some grid roads and a few yards.
• Weeds - I observed none of the highly invasive ones we are concerned about. This does not mean there are none of these weeds out there. I may have missed some bad spots. If you manage land close to the Eagle Creek what weeds have you noticed? Contact me at 306-831-6009 with your observations.
• The number of cattle grazing next to the creek has generally decreased over the past few years due to the declining number of producers with cattle herds. There are no large scale feedlots bordering the creek
• Annual cropping close to the creek bank occurs only in a few areas - so it affects a very small percentage of the overall creek bank. In most instances there is a wide area of non cultivation ( a buffer strip) before you get to the water. The potential spill sites for an agricultural chemical is a very small percentage of the overall creek length.
• Man made impact on the creek is low. There are a few party spots but considering the overall length of the surveyed creek bed they are few and far between. There are two spots where there are pipeline crossings under the creek. The number of gravel pits in RMs 316 & 317 were a surprise (seven in total).
• I think for many people the number of wildlife species that use the Eagle Creek system would be surprising. There is a thriving jackfish population this year. There is an abundance of waterfowl, ducks, geese, pelicans and of course ea- gles which all use the Eagle Creek. Mammals such as deer, moose, muskrats, foxes and beaver can also be found

• RM 318 – 21 sections,
• RM 288 – 15 sections,
• RM 287 – 9 sections,
• RM 317 – 19 sections,
• RM 316 - 27 sections,
• RM 346 – 36 sections
• RM 376 – 21 sections.

The data collected this summer is a snapshot of what the creek was like in 2014. The data and the 350 photos can be used in the future to monitor changes at various locations along the creek’s ecosystem

For 67 sections I was not able to get to the creek to make any observations or take photos.
A “stop” in this survey is where I made observations and took pictures of the creek bed or the vegetation close to the creek. At some stops only one picture was taken. At other stops multiple pictures were taken. There were 81 “stops”

INVASIVE SPECIES CAN BE MORE THAN JUST WEEDS

It is not just weeds (such as purple loosestrife) that can adversely affect an aquatic ecosystem. Zebra mussels and Quagga mussels, can become a problem. The fully grown adult quaggas are slightly larger than zebra mussels. Fish such as Carp and Round Gobies can also invade an aquatic system.

These are Invasive Aquatic Species to watch for:

Zebra mussels

These mussels, originally from the Black Sea area in Europe, first showed up in 1986 in Lake Erie. They are now in all the Great Lakes as well as creeks, rivers and lakes through out the Eastern United States. In 2013 zebra mussels first showed up in Lake Winnipeg. These mussels will disrupt the food chain, harming some species and assisting other species’ survival. Their large numbers would also affect water flow.

Quagga mussels

When they become established anything solid like turbines, propellers on boats and rocks could have hundreds of thousands of these mollusks on their surface. These mussels could attach themselves to watercraft, trailers and related equipment. A boat used in Lake Winnipeg could easily transfer this invasive species west to water bodies in Saskatchewan. If you have never heard about this mussel you could inadvertently spread the problem.