6.0 Jock River-Leamy Catchment: Creek Challenges/Issues

Water Quality/Quantity

Surface chemistry water quality on the Jock River in the Leamy Creek catchment is “Fair” over the two reporting periods (2004-2009 and 2010-2015). Frequent high nutrient concentrations and occasional metal exceedances largely contributed to the rating

Instream biological water quality conditions in the Jock River within the catchment are unknown

Existing hydrological and geochemical datasets and assessments (academic, RVCA, others) are only recently available and/or are not being considered in the characterization of the numerous hydrologic functions of the Jock River subwatershed. Further, there is a dearth of hydrologic information (hydroperiod, groundwater/surface water interactions, geochemistry) about the wetlands that remain in the Jock River subwatershed

Headwaters/Instream/Shorelines

‘Natural’ vegetation covers 23 percent of the riparian zone of Leamy Creek, the Jock River and its tributaries (Figure 52) and is below the recommended 30 metre wide, naturally vegetated target along 75 percent of the length of the catchment’s watercourses

Water crossing (stone causeway) along the Jock River acts as a barrier to fish migration (located immediately downstream of the Monahan Drain confluence)

Land Cover

Woodlands cover eight percent of the catchment and is less than the 30 percent of forest cover that is identified as the minimum threshold for sustaining forest birds and other woodland dependent species (Figure 50)

Pre-settlement wetlands have declined by 100 percent and are now absent in the catchment (Figure 51)