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Sixteen Mile Creek (Halton Region)

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Sixteen Mile Creek is a river in Halton Region in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada.[1] It is in the Great Lakes Basin, and flows from the Niagara Escarpment through the towns of Milton and Oakville to Lake Ontario.[2]

Sixteen Mile Creek
Rivière de Gravois ("gravelly river" in French)
Sixteen Mile at Milton, Ontario
Sixteen Mile Creek (Halton Region) is located in Southern Ontario
Sixteen Mile Creek (Halton Region)
Location of the mouth of Sixteen Mile Creek in southern Ontario
Native nameniizhozaagiwan (Eastern Ojibwa)
Location
CountryCanada
ProvinceOntario
RegionGreater Toronto Area
Regional MunicipalityHalton
MunicipalitiesOakville, Milton
Physical characteristics
Sourcewetland
 • locationMilton
 • coordinates43°35′08″N 80°02′34″W / 43.58556°N 80.04278°W / 43.58556; -80.04278
 • elevation365 m (1,198 ft)
MouthLake Ontario
 • location
Oakville
 • coordinates
43°26′22″N 79°39′57″W / 43.43944°N 79.66583°W / 43.43944; -79.66583
 • elevation
74 m (243 ft)
Basin size372 km2 (144 sq mi)
Basin features
River systemGreat Lakes Basin

The creek is named for the distance from the river's mouth to the western end of Lake Ontario.[3] It was previously known to the Mississauga Indians in their language as Ne-sauga y-onk or niizhozaagiwan ("having two outlets")[4] and to the French as Rivière de Gravois ("gravelly river").[5]

Like many creeks draining into Lake Ontario, Sixteen Mile Creek has cut a deep valley that is home to a broad range of wildlife, including whitetail deer, raccoons, foxes, opossum, and squirrels.[6] The forest contains tree species typical of the Carolinian forest habitat,[7] although since this is close to the northern limit of this zone, some are poorly represented. The total area of the drainage basin is 372 square kilometres (144 sq mi).[8]

In Oakville, it also forms part of Glen Abbey Golf Course[9] and is home to the Oakville Yacht Squadron.[10]

Mouth of the creek

Fishing

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Conservation Halton identifies Sixteen Mile Creek as an excellent fishing site in Oakville and Milton. The entire watershed provide numerous angling opportunities.

According to Conservation Halton [11] the west branch provides excellent coldwater habitat for brook, brown and rainbow trout. During their spawning runs, both in spring and fall, chinook salmon can be seen in Sixteen Mile Creek. Stocked trout had been unsuccessfully introduced to the Mill Pond[12] near downtown Milton.[13] Although the pond does not provide suitable habitat to sustain trout populations it is a great location for fishing a number of panfish and carp.[14] Both the middle and east branches provide opportunities for smallmouth bass fishing. In addition the lower reaches near Lake Ontario provide a migratory corridor[15] for Lake Ontario[16] fish. Oakville Harbour is a relaxing urban setting for angling trout and salmon before they make their spawning voyage upward Sixteen Mile Creek. The rocky banks of the Oakville Harbour[17] provide excellent habitat for smallmouth bass.[18]

Hiking

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According to Town of Oakville The Sixteen Mile Creek Trail[19] runs through the centre of Oakville,[20] on either side; the east and west bank of the Sixteen Mile Creek. Sixteen Mile Creek Trail is a part of 60 kilometers long Oakville Heritage Trail network.[19] Trails network features information stations telling over eighty stories about land and its people, dating from 9000 BC to AD 2000.[21] The trails link all areas of the community and reflect Oakville's natural, human and built heritage.[22] Heritage trails were created as a Millennial project in partnership with the Oakville Community Foundation.[23] In 2017, three new trail projects including a new heritage information station honouring indigenous heritage[24] was completed in conjunction with Canada's 150th Birthday celebrations.[25]

Moccasin Trail

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Moccasin Trail

Moccasin Trail forms the Inner Valley Trail portion of the Sixteen Mile Creek Trail, a 6.1 kilometer heavily trafficked loop suitable for all skill levels according to AllTrails.[26] The Moccasin Trail starts at the sharp descend created by bluffs[27] of Queenston formation[28] shale.[29] making the trail impassable along the river bank. The rest of the Sixteen Mile Creek Trail snakes harmoniously along the picturesque west riverbank. The Inner Valley Trail cover almost half the distance between Dundas bridge to the north at Lions Valley Park[30] and Smith Triller Viaduct[31] at the Glen Abby Golf Course[32] to the south. Sixteen Mile Creek Moccasin Trail is one of the two similar trails honouring Oakville's rich Indigenous heritage.[19] The other Moccasin Trail is located along the Bronte Creek Heritage Trail.[19] The Moccasin Trail Heritage Information Kiosk is located near Rebecca Street and Mississauga Street on the Bronte Creek Heritage Trail. The Moccasin Trails feature a series of 13 plaques containing Indigenous stories, verses and information relating to the land, water and sky, giving visitors a deeper understanding of Indigenous heritage.[19]

Invasive Species

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Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum)[33] is a non-native invasive plant that is most widely distributed in Halton Region along Sixteen Mile Creek. Contact with this plant can cause serious burns to the skin and temporary or permanent blindness.[34][35][33]

Wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa),[36] also known as poison parsnip, is an invasive plant. Similar to that of giant hogweed the sap containing chemicals that can cause human skin to react to sunlight, resulting in intense burns, rashes or blisters. European settlers have brought them into North America for their edible roots. The plant subsequently has escaped from cultivations into wilderness.[36]

The Town of Oakville[37] who owns and maintains the groomed trails[38] around Sixteen Mile Creek[19] runs several campaigns for residents to learn how to identify invasive plants,[39] to stay on trails and away from areas known to have invasive species, to inspect, clean and remove mud, seeds and plant parts from clothing, pets such as dogs and including horses, vehicles including bicycles and equipment such as mowers and tools and to avoid disturbing soil and removing plants from natural areas.[19]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ "Sixteen Mile Creek". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  2. ^ Dunn, p. 4-6.
  3. ^ d’Entremont, David. "Sixteen Mile Creek: Heart of the Halton Region". Oakville Conservation Association. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  4. ^ FREELANG Ojibwe-English and English-Ojibwe online dictionary
  5. ^ "French Sketch Map, c. 1760". Retrieved 22 February 2012.
  6. ^ Dunn, p. 110-112.
  7. ^ Dunn, p. 52.
  8. ^ Dunn, p. 4.
  9. ^ Witteveen, Gordon (2001). A century of greenkeeping. Chelsea, Mich: Ann Arbor Press. p. 149. ISBN 978-1-57504-161-2. OCLC 46364702.
  10. ^ "Unknown title". Inland Seas. 18. Great Lakes Historical Society: 59. 1962. ISSN 0020-1537. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
  11. ^ "Where to Fish — Conservation Halton". Conservation Halton. Archived from the original on 28 October 2021.
  12. ^ "Milton 160: Mill Pond's long and storied past". InsideHalton.com. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  13. ^ "Homepage". www.milton.ca. 3 December 2020. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  14. ^ "Common Carp". www.ontario.ca. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  15. ^ "Migration Corridors — All About Watersheds". allaboutwatersheds.org. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  16. ^ "Lake Ontario | lake, North America". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  17. ^ "Oakville Harbour". www.oakville.ca. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  18. ^ Government of Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (4 May 2018). "Smallmouth Bass". www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g "Heritage Trails". Town of Oakville. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  20. ^ "Welcome to the Town of Oakville". www.oakville.ca. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  21. ^ Canada, Government of Canada; Indigenous and Northern Affairs (7 June 2011). "First Nations in Canada". www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca. Retrieved 25 December 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  22. ^ "Heritage & History". www.oakville.ca. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  23. ^ "Oakville Community Foundation – Building Community Through Philanthropy". Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  24. ^ "Trail projects honouring Indigenous heritage receive Canada 150 funding from Oakville Community Foundation". www.oakville.ca. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  25. ^ Heritage, Canadian (2 February 2018). "Canada 150". aem. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  26. ^ "| AllTrails". AllTrails.com. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  27. ^ "bluff". National Geographic Society. 9 February 2016. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  28. ^ "Sixteen Mile Creek: Heart of the Halton Region « Oakvillegreen Conservation Association". oakvillegreen.org. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  29. ^ "Shale: Sedimentary Rock - Pictures, Definition & More". geology.com. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  30. ^ "Destination Parks". www.oakville.ca. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  31. ^ Limited, Alamy. "Stock Photo - Smith-Triller Viaduct that crosses 16 Mile Creek along Dundas Street in Oakville, Ontario, Canada". Alamy. Retrieved 25 December 2020. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  32. ^ "Glen Abbey Golf Club - Glen Abbey Golf Club". glenabbey.clublink.ca. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  33. ^ a b "Giant Hogweed – Ontario's Invading Species Awareness Program". Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  34. ^ "Giant Hogweed". Regional Municipality of Halton. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  35. ^ "Giant hogweed continues to sprout in Milton".
  36. ^ a b "Wild Parsnip – Ontario's Invading Species Awareness Program". Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  37. ^ "Green Gardening". www.oakville.ca. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  38. ^ "Invasive Species: Oakville's Most Wanted « Oakvillegreen Conservation Association". oakvillegreen.org. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  39. ^ "Invasive Species". www.oakville.ca. Retrieved 24 December 2020.

References

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Sources

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