Contact(s)
Natural heritage refers to wetlands, forests, river and creek valleys, hills and other natural features and functions in an area, as well as all the different plants and animals that use those areas.
Natural heritage features provide many benefits, including habitat for plants and animals, erosion control, flood control, clean air, and clean water.
A natural heritage system is made up of natural heritage features and areas which are linked by natural corridors and which are necessary to maintain biological and geological diversity, natural functions, viable populations of indigenous species, and ecosystems. A natural heritage system can be thought of as a linked network of natural areas.
Maps can help us understand where these features and their functions are located. Maps can also show how these features are connected to each other and how they work together as one system. Maps can also identify the locations of environmentally significant areas and potential habitat restoration or enhancement areas.
We prepared Natural Heritage Characterization Reports to help identify the variety of natural heritage features and functions and to describe the complexity and importance of natural heritage systems across the Grand River watershed. The reports also help identify linkages between natural heritage features and areas, surface water features, and groundwater features.
The Characterization Reports use existing information from a variety of sources such as the Grand River Information Network. The reports provide information and mapping that will help us, and others, protect, restore and enhance natural heritage systems within 11 geographically distinct subwatersheds that make up the Grand River watershed.
A watershed, or subwatershed, is defined as an area of land where all the surface water drains into the same place, whether it's a creek, a stream, or a river. At 6,800 square kilometres, the Grand River watershed is about the same size as the province of Prince Edward Island. Since the Grand River watershed is so large, there are many different natural heritage features and functions to describe, which makes for a very complex natural heritage system.
Use the maps to help identify your municipality and your subwatershed. Then click on the subwatershed headings below to learn more about the natural heritage characteristics of your subwatershed.
First Map: Subwatershed areas in the Grand River watershed
Second Map: Municipal boundaries, major roads, rivers and cities in the Grand River watershed
Upper Grand River Subwatershed |
OverviewThe Upper Grand River subwatershed is located in the most northern portion of the Grand River watershed. It is where the Grand river starts. The subwatershed comprises portions of the Townships of Amaranth, East Garafraxa, Grand Valley, Melancthon, Southgate, and Wellington North. The Grand River starts northeast of Dundalk. The southern most portion of the watershed is at the Shand Dam, at Belwood Lake. The subwatershed total area is 79,100 hectares or 12% of the Grand River watershed. Land
Water
Plants and Animals
|
Conestogo River Subwatershed |
OverviewThe Conestogo River subwatershed is located within the north-west portion of the Grand River watershed. The Conestogo River starts in the Damscus-Kennilworth area of the Township of Wellington North and flows through the towns of Glen Allan, Wallenstein, Hawkesville, and St. Jacobs before joining the Grand River in the Village of Conestogo. Subwatershed total area is 82,000 hectares or 12% of the Grand River watershed. Land
Water
Plants and Animals
|
Upper Middle Grand River Subwatershed |
OverviewThe Upper Middle Grand River subwatershed includes sections of Mapleton, Wellington North, Centre Wellington, and Guelph-Eramosa Townships in the County of Wellington; a small section of the Town of Grand Valley in Dufferin County; and the northern half of Woolwich Township in the Region of Waterloo. Subwatershed total area is 64,000 hectares or 9% of the Grand River watershed. Land
Water
Plants and Animals
|
Speed River Subwatershed |
OverviewThe Speed River subwatershed drains eastern portions of the City of Cambridge, portions of the Town of Erin, Townships of Centre Wellington and Puslinch, the City of Guelph, a small portion of the Town of Milton, and the southern tip of the Township of East Garafraxa. Subwatershed total area is 78,000 hectares or 12% of the Grand River watershed. Land
Water
Plants and Animals
|
Nith River Subwatershed |
OverviewThe subwatershed includes portions of the Townships of Mapleton, Wellesley, Wilmot, and North Dumfries, Perth East, Blandford-Blenheim, and a small portion of Brant County. A very small portion of the west side of Kitchener is contained within this subwatershed. The subwatershed contains smaller portions of the City of Waterloo and the City of Cambridge, which are mostly located to the east. The start of the Nith River is located in Mapleton Township at the extreme north end of the subwatershed. The river flows in a southeasterly direction and joins the Grand River in the Town of Paris. Subwatershed total area is 112,800 hectares or 17% of the Grand River watershed. Land
Water
Plants and Animals
|
Middle Grand River Subwatershed |
OverviewThe Middle Grand River subwatershed is located within the central portion of the Grand River watershed and contains large portions of the Cities of Waterloo, Kitchener, and Cambridge, as well as portions of the Townships of Puslinch, Guelph Eramosa, North Dumfries, County of Brant, and small corner of the City of Brantford. The subwatershed is subject to a great amount of development pressure. Subwatershed total area is 60,400 hectares or 9% of the Grand River watershed. Land
Water
Plants and Animals
|
Fairchild Creek Subwatershed |
OverviewFairchild Creek subwatershed is located within the east central portion of the Grand River watershed and contains sections of the City of Hamilton and Brant County. Fairchild Creek flows southwest from Puslinch Township and then southeast before joining the Grand River near the Village of Onandaga. Subwatershed total area is 40,100 hectares or 6% of the Grand River watershed.Land
Water
Plants and Animals
|
Whitemans Creek Subwatershed |
OverviewWhitemans Creek subwatershed drains portions of Perth County, Oxford County, and Brant County. Whitemans Creek has 2 main branches: Horner Creek, which flows south through Blandford-Blenheim Township, and Kenny Creek, which flows south through Norwich Township in Oxford County and eastward through Brant County. The confluence of these 2 main branches represents the beginning of Whitemans Creek, which enters the Grand River 5 km upstream of the City of Brantford. Subwatershed total area is 64,000 hectares or 9% of the Grand River watershed. Land
Water
Plants and Animals
|
Lower Middle Grand River Subwatershed |
OverviewThe Lower Middle Grand River subwatershed captures middle portions of the Grand River watershed, including portions of the City of Hamilton, City of Brantford, Brant and Haldimand Counties, and the Six Nations of the Grand River lands. The subwatershed includes the section of the Grand River between the mouth of the Nith River in Paris to the Village of York in Haldimand County. Subwatershed total area is 47,600 hectares or 7% of the Grand River watershed. Land
Water
Plants and Animals
|
McKenzie Creek Subwatershed |
OverviewThe McKenzie Creek subwatershed is located within the central portion of the Grand River watershed. The creek system includes a north branch (McKenzie Creek), which originates in the Oakland Swamp, and a south branch (Boston Creek), which originates on the Norfolk Sand Plain. The subwatershed drains portions of Brant, Haldimand, and Norfolk Counties as well as large portions of 2 First Nations Territories: Six Nations of the Grand River and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. Surface flows are generally eastward toward the Grand River in the Village of York. Subwatershed total area is 36,800 hectares or 5% of the Grand River watershed.Land
Water
Plants and Animals
|
Lower Grand River Subwatershed |
OverviewThe Lower Grand River subwatershed is located at the southern end of the watershed and is situated almost entirely within Haldimand County. This subwatershed drains a very small area of the Six Nations of the Grand River lands. This subwatershed includes the section of the Grand River between York and the river mouth, which is located at Port Maitland on the Lake Erie shoreline. Subwatershed total area is 35,600 hectares or 5% of the Grand River watershed. Land
Water
Plants and Animals
|
Full characterization reports for each subwatershed are available (PDFs). Please email the Natural Heritage department.