The Geology
The Grand River system includes the Grand and four major tributaries: the Conestogo, Nith, Speed and Eramosa rivers. There are also many smaller streams. In all, the rivers and streams have a total length of about 11,000 kilometres in an area of 6,800 square kilometres.
These rivers and streams are vitally important to the people and communities of the watershed:
- Four communities get some or all of their drinking water from the river. These municipal water systems serve more than 650,000 people in Guelph, the Region of Waterloo, Brantford and Six Nations Territory.
- Municipalities and First Nations operate 29 wastewater treatment plants that discharge treated effluent into the rivers and streams.
- The rivers, streams and wetlands are rich ecosystems. More than 80 types of fish, representing half of the species in Canada, live in the river system.
- Farmers depend on the river system for water for irrigation, watering cattle and other activities.
- Watershed residents and visitors take advantage of the many recreational opportunities in and near the river: fishing, canoeing, boating, hiking and cycling.
Yet there are challenges. Floods can cause millions of dollars in damage and threaten human life. Low water conditions can have a serious impact on the ecosystem as well as the communities, businesses and others who depend on rivers and streams as a source of water.
The Nith River is a river in Brant, Oxford and Perth Counties and the Regional Municipality of Waterloo in Southwestern Ontario. The Nith River empties into the Grand River at the town of Paris, and is named after the River Nith in Scotland.
The Nith river begins in a woodland northwest of Crosshill and west of Waterloo Regional Road 5 in the township of Wellesley, Region of Waterloo, at an elevation of 396 m (1,299 ft). It heads north into Perth County, then turns sharply southwest. It continues south, takes in the right tributary Smith Creek and arrives at the community of Nithburg. The river flows east back into Waterloo Region, takes in the right tributary Silver Creek, and then the left tributary Firella Creek south of the community of Wellesley in the township of Wellesley. The river turns south into the township of Wilmot, takes in the left tributary Bamberg Creek and passes through the communities of Phillipsburg and New Hamburg, Ontario. The Nith continues south, takes in the left tributaries Baden Creek and Hunsburger Creek, enters into Blandford-Blenheim, Oxford County and reaches the community of Plattsville. The river turns east, takes in the right tributary Black Creek, and left tributaries Hiller Creek, Alder Creek and Eden Creek, passes back into Waterloo Region, and reaches the community of Ayr in the township of North Dumfries, where it takes in the left tributary Cedar Creek. It then turns sharply west, flows back into Oxford County, then turns southeast passing through the communities of Wolverton and Canning. The Nith then flows into Brant County, takes in the right tributary Mud Creek and left tributary Charlie Creek, passing Barker's Bush and reaching its mouth at the Grand River in Paris.
The Nith River is flat water with a few riffles, but rain can significantly increase the flow rate. In the early spring the water level has risen to nearly 1000 cm2/s, this causes major flooding in the flat regions upstream such as in and around New Hamburg. The Nith offers excellent paddling conditions in April, including a set of level 3 whitewater rapids as the Nith enters Paris, yet by May, the flow rate drops below 5cm2/s and becomes unsuitable for paddling.
From the posted coordinates, you should have a very clear view of the Nith river flowing into the Grand River. This is one of the major junctions within the Grand River Watershed.
In order to log this earthcache, you will need to provide answers to the following 5 questions. Send me the asnwers based on your observations at or near the posted coordinates.
1. What is the current water flow level between the in the Nith river, flowing North to South under the bridge you are standing on. What is the current water flow level within the Grand River, running east to west, parallel to the bridge you are standing on? Describe any difference you see?
2. What is the condition of the water in the Nith river, compared to that in the Grand River? Is it clearer, murkier, darker, filled with silt, or look generally the same? Feel free to use any describing words you feel necessary.
3. How would you describe the water levels in the Nith, compared to the Grand? Do you see any evidence of higher or lower water levels throughout the year? Do you think the water is currently above, below or at normal levels in both the Grand River and the Nith River?
4. Take an elevation rating while standing on the bridge. Most GPS units have the ability to do this through the "elevation plot" menu. Based on the elevation at the start of the river given in the description, what is the change in elevation between the start and where you are standing now?
5. Describe the texture of the bottom of both the Nith and Grand Rivers. Are they made of the same type of materials, or do they vary? Which one seems to have larger rocks? Why do you think they haven't yet eroded away?
6. (Optional) Post a photo of yourself or your GPS at or near the river mouth. Bonus points if you post a picture!
You do not need to wait for confirmation before logging your find. You may log your find as soon as you send me your answers. I will contact you if your answers are incorrect. Log entries that don't have answers sent along within seven days will be deleted. Any log that includes spoiler answers, or if I feel that you didn't actually visit the location, will result in your log being deleted.