Bowmanville Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bowmanville Creek |
|
|---|---|
 Location of the mouth of Bowmanville Creek in Southern Ontario
|
|
| Other name(s) | ruisseau Bowmanville |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Ontario |
| Regional Municipality | Durham |
| Municipality | Clarington |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Confluence of three unnamed streams Enfield 255 units? 44°01′25″N 78°49′50″W / 44.02361°N 78.83056°W |
| River mouth | Lake Ontario Bowmanville 74.1 m (243 ft) 43°53′16″N 78°39′51″W / 43.88778°N 78.66417°W |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Lake Ontario→ Saint Lawrence River→ Gulf of Saint Lawrence |
| River system | Lake Ontario drainage basin |
| Basin size | 170 km2 (66 sq mi) |
| Tributaries |
|
Bowmanville Creek is a stream located in Clarington, Ontario, Canada. It starts in the Oak Ridges Moraine and flows all the way to Lake Ontario in Bowmanville. The Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority helps manage and protect this creek.
Contents
About Bowmanville Creek
Bowmanville Creek is an important natural waterway in south-central Ontario. It flows through the Regional Municipality of Durham, specifically within the area of Clarington. This creek plays a role in the local environment and provides a home for various wildlife.
Where Does the Creek Flow?
The journey of Bowmanville Creek begins where three smaller streams meet near a place called Enfield. This starting point is quite high up, at about 255 meters (837 feet) above sea level.
From there, the creek flows mostly southeast, then turns south. It passes under Ontario Highway 407 and goes through the settlement of Hampton. As it continues south, it enters the community of Bowmanville. It flows under Ontario Highway 401 and is joined by another stream called Soper Creek. Finally, Bowmanville Creek reaches its end at Port Darlington, emptying into Lake Ontario. At this point, the creek is much lower, at about 74.1 meters (243 feet) above sea level.
The Creek's Watery Home
The area that collects water for Bowmanville Creek is called its drainage basin. Think of it like a giant funnel that gathers all the rain and melting snow, directing it into the creek. The drainage basin for Bowmanville Creek covers about 170 square kilometers (66 square miles).
Most of this area is within Clarington. However, a small part of the creek's starting area is in the township of Scugog to the north. Bowmanville Creek's drainage basin is next to other creeks. To the west, it borders the area of Oshawa Creek. To the east, it's near Wilmot Creek. Several smaller creeks also flow into Lake Ontario between Oshawa Creek and Bowmanville Creek.
Creek History and Fish
Over the years, Bowmanville Creek has had several dams built on it. A dam is like a wall that holds back water. One important dam was the former Goodyear dam, located about one kilometer north of Lake Ontario. This dam was originally built to help create electricity for a factory.
However, this dam made it hard for fish like trout and salmon to swim upstream to lay their eggs. To help the fish, people used to lift them over the dam. Later, a special structure called a fish ladder was built. A fish ladder helps fish swim around the dam by providing a series of small steps or pools. Further north, in downtown Bowmanville, another dam once powered the Vanstone Mill. This dam was washed away during a big storm in 1986.
