The Mariposa Brook watercourse, west of Sturgeon Lake, is bisected by highway 7 and extends to the Scugog River. Water flows through the towns of Oakwood and Little Britain, and then eastward into the Scugog River.
View a map of Mariposa Brook Watershed
Watershed characteristics
Learn about the characteristics of the Mariposa Brook watershed.
Watershed size |
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The total watershed area is 229 km² or 22,883 ha and the total watercourse length is 294 km. |
Natural vegetation cover |
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The dominant forest type is mixed forest including:
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Significant natural sites |
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Provincially Significant Wetlands:
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Environmental conditions
The following grades show the environmental conditions for the Mariposa Brook watershed.
| Indicator | Result | Grade | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Total phosphorus |
0.032 mg/L |
C |
Fair |
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Benthic macroinvertebtrates |
6.15 (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 | Result | Indicator grade | Combined grade |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Nitrate and nitrite |
0.048 mg/L |
A |
C
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Chloride |
342 mg/L |
F |
Nitrogen levels are excellent and fall below the Provincial Maximum Acceptable Concentration guideline of 10 mg/L. Chloride levels are high and are well above the Provincial Aesthetic Objective of 250 mg/L for drinking water. Groundwater quality results from the wells represent groundwater quality in the aquifer where the well is located.
| Indicator | Area cover | Percent cover | Grade | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Forest cover |
40.7 km² |
17.8% |
C |
Fair |
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Forest interior |
8.5 km² |
3.7% |
D |
Poor |
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Forest interior |
8.5 km² |
3.7% |
D |
Poor |
The combined forest conditions grade for Mariposa Brook is ranked as fair.
| Indicator | Area cover | Percent cover | Grade | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Wetland cover |
35.4 km² |
15.5% |
A |
Excellent |