Sault Ste. Marie Water Rangers Team

Observations

• 25 February 2025

  Cold Water Creek at Old Garden River Road by Community Volunteers

  Snow started melting. Park the vehicle on Old Garden River Rd and put some traffic cones in front as well as at the back of the vehicle and if possible turn on the flashing lights of the vehicle for safety. Snowbank is melting so be careful while climbing on. Use big grab pol to grab a water sample.

• 25 February 2025

  Root River Wishart Park by Community Volunteers

  Be careful walking on the snow. A bridge is being built downstream. Snow started melting so do not walk on the snowbanks near the river. The surface of the river is partially frozen so do not go near the frozen surface. Park/Recreation as pollution sources in the immediate surroundings.

• 25 February 2025

  East Davignon Farwell Terrace (near Tim Hortons) by Community Volunteers

  Be very careful with the snow. Snowbanks started melting and water is floating under the snow surface so be very careful on the slope. Use a big grab stick to collect the water sample. Not recommended to solo. Ice on the water surface.

• 25 February 2025

  Root River off Hwy 17 N (near Teen Challenge) by Community Volunteers

  Big snowbanks on the way to the monitoring location and can not see water. The whole stream is frozen.

• 24 February 2025

  Drake St. Park by Community Volunteers

  Snow was melting. Can not stay on the road for a long time, as big vehicles are passing very fast and it is dangerous. Storm Water as pollution sources in the immediate surroundings

• 23 February 2025

  East Davignon Creek Allens Side (N of 2nd Ln W) by Community Volunteers

  The site is currently inaccessible for water monitoring due to deep snow accumulation, unstable icy surface, and risk if falling through thin ice along the creek's edge. The snow covered terrain makes movement difficult, increasing the likelihood of slips and falls, while the absence of stable ground prevents safe setup for monitoring.

• 14 February 2025

  Drake St. Park by Community Volunteers

  1 Mallard spotted upon arrival. Ice flows found in stream, but did not extend across. When the test was being completed, the length of stream was in the shade. Path to the water side was safe enough to get through and the water was within reach safely with the teacher stick. Park/Recreation, Storm Water as pollution sources in the immediate surroundings.

• 14 February 2025

  Drake St. Park by Community Volunteers

  Can’t see the level ground, snow is very deep, icy, slippery, hard to climb up snow bank. Park/recreation as pollution sources in the immediate surroundings. A longer pole would be nice to reach the stream when it’s snowing because we had to go in deeper, and a harder pole that locks

• 29 January 2025

  Cold Water Creek at Old Garden River Road by Community Volunteers

  The left and right bank of creek are suspended on both sides retain water - easily break. Sample minimal 4 feet away from bank by the tree stump. The snow is cold and high. The snowpack is approx 11.25 inches deep. There is snow escarpments on left and right bank. Be careful.

• 29 January 2025

  East Davignon Farwell Terrace (near Tim Hortons) by Community Volunteers

  There is a huge snow bank that has to be climbed to access the site. It’s important to have equipment such as poles to tell how deep the snow pack is and where the water is. Storm water as pollution sources in the immediate surroundings. Sampled from the middle of creek, ice and snow on left bank. Large snowbanks from snow removal present. Very shallow water. Oily sheen in sample cup. Sampled 140ml of water.

• 24 January 2025

  Drake St. Park by Community Volunteers

  Snow, downhill, slippery, deep, we could not see level ground, some pond weed was green, there were ducks present in the creek. Park/Recreation as pollution sources in the immediate surroundings. There are ducks in the creek.

• 24 January 2025

  Drake St. Park by Community Volunteers

  Couldn’t see level ground, deep snow, parking could be an issue, slippery. Park/Recreation as pollution sources in the immediate surroundings. Ducks, road salts in water from snow, which made salinity and hardness very high, and would make it anoxic. Water temperature is -1. pH is between 7.7 to 7.8.

• 17 December 2024

  Root River Wishart Park by Community Volunteers

  Access at the park - be careful on a trail. Do not recommend going solo. River banks are covered with snow so do not go near the stream. Use a big reacher stick to grab the water sample. Grab a water sample to the vehicle and monitor there. Park - as a pollution source in the immediate surroundings.

• 24 November 2024

  Crystal Creek Case Rd by Community Volunteers

  The beaver dam is gone, it looks like it may have been broken up by a large amount of water. It looks like an explosion of sticks. The other side of the culvert is very high and flowing over the rock once again. The sand island is not visible and is under the water. The walk down to the creek is slippery because of frozen snow-covered green grasses and other vegetation. The water is high.

• 24 November 2024

  Root River Wishart Park by Community Volunteers

  The beaver dams are broken up by the current. A large amount of water must have passed through. You can see where it was pushed. There is large amounts of foam on the water. The river went from dry and dammed. To saturated, high and steady flow. The beaver has cut down almost all of the alder on left bank. In the future when the roots die, this whole bank could erode, it can be seen in the saturated sand banks already breaking off. Parks dogs as a pollution sources in the immediate surroundings. Snow on the ground was slippery. The path is eroding by saturated sand banks. The beaver has blocked pathways everywhere. The water is high and strong.

• 20 November 2024

  Cold Water Creek at Old Garden River Road by Community Volunteers

  The water temperature was colder than other sites but the meter did not drop even after 5 minutes. DO measurement was taken but the comparison chart said 11 although when changed in a different direction its looks 9. Using the steps given having it face on it would be 11 but in actual closer to 9 shown by aquatroll. The site was moved approximately 10 m upstream from a culvert. Dead grass blocks seeing the path- watch steps.

• 20 November 2024

  East Davignon Farwell Terrace (near Tim Hortons) by Community Volunteers

  The water was low and orangey red. The grass and vegetation was green and alive except directly on left and right bank. Plastic water bottle found. Water colour: Brown and orange.

• 20 November 2024

  Big Carp River Herkimer Rd by Community Volunteers

• 19 November 2024

  Big Carp River Herkimer Rd by Community Volunteers

  The water was much lower than last time, reaching the water from the bank was tricky. The microwave in the water and a window from from a camper trailer became visible in the water as a result of the low level. There was no wildlife to speak of during this visit, likely due to the high winds and difficult weather.

• 12 November 2024

  Bellevue Park duck pond by Community Volunteers

  Park a pollution source in the immediate surroundings. The water is partially frozen in some areas of the pond. Oily sheen is observed on the water surface. Lots of birds were around including pigeons and ducks. Please wear gloves while monitoring at this location.