Cawkers Creek is located southwest of Lake Scugog. Water flows northward off of the Oak Ridges Moraine, through Port Perry, then into Lake Scugog. It is bordered by the Nonquon River to the west and the South Scugog Tributaries to the east.
View a map of the Cawkers Creek Watershed
Watershed characteristics
Learn about the characteristics of the Cawkers Creek watershed.
Watershed size |
|
The total watershed area is 12 km² or 1,200 ha and the total watercourse length is 16 km. |
Natural vegetation cover |
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The dominant forest type is deciduous forest including: 14% natural cover |
Significant natural sites |
|
None |
Environmental conditions
The following grades show the environmental conditions for the Cawkers Creek watershed.
| Indicator | Result | Grade | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Total phosphorus |
0.078 mg/L |
D |
Poor |
|
Benthic macroinvertebrates |
5.88 (FBI) |
D |
Fairly poor |
The surface water quality grade was based on total phosphorous (TP) and/or benthic macroinvertebrates (aquatic insects) family biotic index (FBI). The provincial water quality objective for TP in rivers and streams is 0.03 mg/L and 0.02 mg/L in lakes. These guidelines were set because levels highter than these guildelines provide conditions for nuisance algae and aquatic plant growth. A TP value below 0.03 mg/L (rivers) or 0.02 (lakes) meets the provincial guidelines and is in the B (good) or A (excellent) grade range, while the result for benthic macroinvertebrates must be 5.00 or lower to receive a B (good) or A (very good to excellent) grade.
| Indicator | Area cover | Percent cover | Grade | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Forest cover |
1.2 km² |
9.6% |
D |
Poor |
|
Forest interior |
0.00 km² |
0.1% |
F |
Very poor |
|
Forested riparian cover |
0.3 km² |
31.2% |
C |
Fair |
The combined forest conditions grade for Cawkers Creek is ranked as fair.
| Indicator | Area cover | Percent cover | Grade | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Wetland cover |
0.2 km² |
1.9% |
F |
Very Poor |