McLarens Creek is located southwest of Sturgeon Lake. It flows through Goose Lake, under Hwy 35 and enters Sturgeon Lake at the western end of the McLarens Provincially Significant Wetland.
View a map of the McLarens Creek Watershed
Watershed characteristics
Learn about the characteristics of the McLarens Creek Watershed.
Watershed size |
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The total watershed area is 79 km² or 7,869 ha and the total watercourse length is 56 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
Area of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI):
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Environmental conditions
The following grades show the environmental conditions for the McLarens Creek watershed.
| Indicator | Result | Grade | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Total phosphorus |
0.045 mg/L |
C |
Fair |
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Benthic macroinvertebrates |
6.07 (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 |
14.9 km² |
18.9% |
C |
Fair |
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Forest interior |
3.5 km² |
4.4% |
D |
Poor |
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Forested riparian cover |
1.7 km² |
28.7% |
C |
Fair |
The combined forest conditions grade for McLarens Creek is ranked as fair.
| Indicator | Area cover | Percent cover | Grade | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Wetland cover |
12.9 km² |
16.4% |
A |
Excellent |