Dataset

Sault Ste. Marie Water Rangers Team

Dataset by NORDIK Institute

Dataset summary

Observations

  • 28 September 2025

    Root River Old Garden River by Community Volunteers

    There were no beavers on the river this morning. There was a significant drop in temperature last night. There were no other wildlife on the waterbody except chipmunks and squirrels in the background. There is natural debris on the shorelines- Alnus and Populus, the beavers have brought it in. They have stocked the shoreline for the winter. The lodge is much bigger, the beavers have been busy making several infrastructures at this location. There is algae on the water that is green- it is located where the sediments are red and orange. There is orange blooms of algae along the shoreline and in water levels of .19m. These forms resemble iron-oxidizing bacteria found in groundwater wells.

  • 28 September 2025

    Cold Water Creek at Old Garden River Road by Community Volunteers

    There is an abundance of aquatic plants as observed at other monitoring events. There was no algae present at this visit, but the Milfoil has grew in abundance upstream and down. The substrate which was more clay last season is completely dominated by sand. The emersed vegetation is growing on the mounds of sand through the waterbody. This area is not salted in the winter months - instead it is only sanded. The surge of sand at this site and site 4 bring questions whether the use of sanding in winter is creating additional impacts on these rural cold water river and streams. The grasses have changed color and are fermenting exposing a raw smell of decomposition.

  • 28 September 2025

    Crystal Creek Case Rd by Community Volunteers

    There was a train in the distance that scared the birds out of the trees, they must be migratory and not used to the sound. The culvert is completely dammed with debris from a beaver engineer. below the culvert an additional dam is built blocking the riprap rock dam to stop erosion. The culvert is receiving higher pressure from the water due to the fallen tree upstream. This is the highest the water has been observed. The flood poles and riparian barrier is completely submerged and ripped. There are pieces of the tarping ripped off attached to multiple areas on the water body.

  • 27 September 2025

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

    Lots of fish observed in the creek. A small white fish was also observed in the creek, which was unique and different from other fish.

  • 27 September 2025

    Little Carp River Carpin Beach Rd by Community Volunteers

    Lots of vegetation near the monitoring location is dying as fall has started. Lots of fish were observed in the river.

  • 27 September 2025

    Upper Carp River at Creek Rd/Third Line W by Community Volunteers

    Odour at the location was very strange. It could be from plants, but couldn't identify. It wasn't constant, For a moment, I could smell it, but after a couple of minutes, it was gone.

  • 27 September 2025

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

    Still fish are in the creek. As fall has started, more natural debris is getting in the water. Algae has grown so much.

  • 26 September 2025

    Root River Hwy 17E by Community Volunteers

    Water level down at least 15 cm from 2 weeks ago. Fresh beaver activity along bank. Scat on a rock, likely mink (near water and purposely depositing it on a rock!)

  • 26 September 2025

    Dacey Rd at St. Marys River by Community Volunteers

    Mallard ducks and geese present in area.

  • 25 September 2025

    Pointe Des Chenes by Community Volunteers

    People and dog around the monitoring location

  • 23 September 2025

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

  • 22 September 2025

    Root River Wishart Park by Community Volunteers

    The entire substrate has changed. The dominant substrate was gravel, and it is now clay dominated which is the result of the fallen clay cliffs. The clay looks to be supporting algae life through the contribution of sediments. The flow is low, so the sediment is unable to move downstream so it has replaced the gravel dominate substrate. Not sure when this occurred or how long the algae and clay pan has been present. Additionally there was foam, and large quantities of natural debris on the water body due to the beaver action. The new pedestrian crossing bridge has almost washed out with river flow in high events. The city has added more support to the control the erosion around the bridge. The water now flows out of bank before the sample location, the gravel has been moved to create higher ground that the low flow is enable to move through. The vegetation is turned orange, and some shade of yellow and red. There is a significant amount of foliage still to fall. There was iron oxidizing bacteria that created small blooms (See photos).

  • 22 September 2025

    Root River Fourth Line E by Community Volunteers

    There is algae on the water body, some of it looks deceased. All of the algae is on the surface of the rocks. The water is the lowest observed in past 18 months. The wetted width has declined. There was no wildlife observed but there was an abundance of bugs flying around the water. The channel that was monitored last season substrate has entirely changed. It was previously a cobble and gravel dominant substrate. It is now almost entirely clay and sand.

  • 20 September 2025

    Upper Carp River at Creek Rd/Third Line W by Community Volunteers

  • 20 September 2025

    West Davignon Brookfield Ave by Community Volunteers

    Observed fish at the location

  • 20 September 2025

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

    Observed fish at the location