Rivers and streams

Streams and rivers are the connectors in the web of life, because they carry water from place to place. They are the link between natural areas such as forests and wetlands.

Some rural streams have been turned into drains to move water off farmland. In cities and towns, some drains are part of the storm sewer system and have been straightened, buried and lined with concrete.

Water quality declines as rivers pass through urban areas and intensive farming. Treated effluent from wastewater treatment plants and runoff from farm fields add nutrients to the water, which can harm water quality. This is a challenge for the creatures that live there.

The good news is that a lot is being done to address water quality issues. Municipalities are improving their wastewater plants and operating them more effectively. Farmers are adopting better methods to keep water clean on the farm.

On a local scale, renaturalizing streams helps return them to life. In one creek tested four years after improvements were made, 55 per cent more fish were found and the number of species increased to 15 from 10.

Waterway facts

• Size: The total length of mapped waterways is about 11,000 kilometres. Many small creeks and streams have disappeared or shrunk due to urbanization or farm drainage practices.
• Strategy: Naturalize stream corridors where practicable by planting buffer trees and shrubs, restoring stream beds, removing small dams.