Credit River

Willow Park Ecology Centre (WPEC) is located at the lowest point in the West Branch of the Credit River, which is known as Silver Creek, very close to where it meets the Credit. The northern portion of the Credit River watershed, and more specifically, the Silver Creek sub-watershed, feed the aquifers and wells near WPEC. Creeks, streams, ponds and swamps upstream of the park capture and store water from snow and rain and release it into natural reserves of ground water that is consumed by everyone downstream.

The river responds seasonally and to specific weather conditions by raising and lowering its volume of water. Spring run-off has large amounts of clear, cold water frothing downstream, while hot dry weeks in August can lower the river level to a gentle, lazy flow. These cycles are natural, and as long as humans don't interfere drastically with the water flow, do no harm. Wildlife that depend on the river for habitat, food or drinking water, can live with these normal variations.

L.U.N.K.E.R.S. Units

An important part of regeneration at WPEC is to improve fish habitat. One way we have done this is by installing L.U.N.K.E.R.S. units in the river bank. These units are underwater structures that can stabilize a stream bank and provide a safe resting place for fish. L.U.N.K.E.R.S. stands for "little underwater neighbourhood keeper encompassing rheotactic salmonids."

Our L.U.N.K.E.R.S. units are wooden cribs made of cedar, with spaces for fish to enter and swim through. Reinforcing rods anchor the units to the riverbed, while wooden stringers secure them permanently into the riverbank. Rocks were positioned to cover them, hold them down, and blend them into the surroundings. They are designed to imitate an undercut bank, providing overhead cover for fish.

L.U.N.K.E.R.S. units provide protected resting and feeding places for fish. They also prevent erosion of stream banks and the silting up of riverbeds. They are used with good results in locations across North America where conservation is practised, helping to increase the diversity of fish and protect spawning.