Tributaries, springs and seeps help move the surface water and groundwater towards the Credit River. 

Springs are places where groundwater naturally exits an aquifer and becomes surface water.

Seeps (the blue asteriks in the map below) are areas where groundwater slowly reaches the surface in small, dispersed amounts, often creating moist or wet patches. These areas can support distinct plants and animals. 


Tributary #4 (upper right of the map) carries water from the Coulterville Provincially Significant Wetland (PSW) underneath the road and into one of the ponds at Osprey Valley golf course. This tributary often becomes dry in the summer. The ponds typically drain toward the Credit River unless the water is needed for irrigation.

Tributary #1 (upper left of map) carries water from the Coulterville PSW south to a Recharge Kettle near Mississauga Road. This kettle also collects runoff and snowmelt from the land and allows the water to infiltrate into the aquifer.

From there, gravity gradually moves groundwater toward the Cataract Southwest PSW (the medium green blob to the left and down from the word "Cataract"). Along the valley wall of the Credit River, the water emerges as springs year-round, typically at a temperature around 8°C.

Along the Elora-Cataract trail east of Mississauga Road, a small creek flowing under the trail through a culvert. This creek is fed by springs and seeps in the north Cataract wetland. The south Cataract wetland then helps return some of this water back underground before it ultimately reaches the Credit River.


Now: BLAST an 700 acre quarry (outlined in red) below the water table.

CBM's plan to deal with the millions of litres of water located in the aquifer:

  • On the west/Mississauga Road side, put in trenches, slurry walls and grout zones to redirect waterflow and protect the quarry from water flowing in
  • On the east/Main Street side, pump out the water, with an agreement from their partner, the Osprey Valley golf course owner, to take this water

 

WEST SIDE (Concept from CBM reports)                                  

 

 

EAST SIDE (Concept from CBM reports)

 

 

OUR CONCERNS:

  • the effect diverting current waterflow will have on the Credit River and local private wells
  • Tributary #1 would no longer be recharging the aquifer which supplies the Cataract Wetland Complex
  • negative effect on water recharge in Cataract and Coulterville Unprotected Source Water areas, affecting residents' water supply
  • springs, seeps, wetlands and tributaries to dry up or be reduced in size
  • no full offset of the amount of water recharging the aquifer
  • water pumped from quarry to Osprey Valley golf course holding ponds (up to 500 million litres per year) changes from being cold groundwater to warmer surface water - that temperature change would severely impact the health and wellbeing of the coldwater fishery in the Credit River

   

 

YOU CAN HELP PROTECT THE CREDIT RIVER FROM THIS THREAT! 

Please click here to sign our Petition to Protect Our Water.