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Why and How this Site was Created Why and How this Site was Created During two series of public meetings coordinated by the OHI in early 2010, it became apparent that people love their headwater areas and that headwater threats span a range of issues to which people can easily relate. Unlike having a common experience such as boating on Lake Simcoe or fishing near the forks of the Credit, however, headwaters lie far apart and are usually known just locally, and even then only if they are not on private land. As a result, the OHI thought
that headwater mapping might enhance the ability of Research quickly identified both a source of unrestricted data in MNR and the student coop program in the Geomatics Institute at Sir Sanford Fleming College. Staff at MNR was extraordinarily helpful from the on-set of this program, clarifying software needs for the application for the student coop, ensuring the right datasets were utilized, and providing on-going guidance for the students who selected the placement. The two students worked long hours with exceptional diligence, initially weathering iterations in desired outcomes, then ironing out problems in the data, and finally generating huge files and initial maps for 17 watersheds. Deadlines met, the OHI’s GIS specialist then had to manipulate the preliminary product into two sets of polished maps: one set in PDF and one for posting on to Google maps. The OHI thanks the amazing members of the team that accomplished the mammoth task of mapping the first 17 watersheds:
Headwaters consist of wetlands, groundwater filtering into surface waters, and first and second order streams, including ephemeral and intermittent streams. They also include groundwater infiltration zones and what can be described as headwater drainage areas – areas such as forests or glacial deposits such as the Oak Ridges Moraine that absorb and release water into ground and surface waters. Technical information of use here includes:
Water seeping into and coming from aquifers, babbling through forests and meadows, nursing the biological diversity of our wetland complexes, and flowing through our valley corridors provides the sources of our streams, lakes, and groundwater. While more scientific study is needed, first and second-order streams are generally considered to provide:
The information and maps on this site was obtained from MNR data assembled in the early 2000s, itself collected before that. Implications of this include the following:
Going forward, the OHI believes that increased resource support for GIS mapping, including the inclusion of multiple datasets, is imperative, and is a required tool for society to monitor the effectiveness of initiatives such as wetland and water-taking policies, the Provincial Policy Statement, the Low Water Response Plan, and the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan. On a broader scale, Ontario clearly need improved mapping protocols to better reflect human alteration of streams and wetlands. For example, new protocols could use different types of dashes to show where streams have been placed in drainage tile, in large pipes under new sub-divisions, in concrete and/or straightened channels, or moved to new locations, hopefully adhering to the principles of natural channel design. Similarly, we need map protocols to show alterations to wetlands, both where they have been drainmed and where they are being restored. The OHI does not have all the answers, nor do we advocate a blank cheque approach to solving all the problems. We do, however, advocate a robust discussion regarding on-going commitments to accurate information, compatible formats for file-sharing, and public access. Pending the advent of perfect headwater mapping, the OHI offers a small example of how some of the existing challenges impact our maps. Please see A Fascinating Snapshot. Maps posted on the OHI website are illustrative only, intended to portray general characteristics at the regional level. Do not rely on the maps for actual watershed boundaries, as a guide to navigation, or as a precise indicator of routes or locations. These maps, summary data, reports, and/or associated content have been prepared by a variety of organizations and individuals and represent emerging and in-exact data for which no warranties or representations - express or implied, statutory or otherwise - shall apply or are being made by the Ontario Headwaters Institute (the Institute), nor any other organization cited on the website, with respect to the documentation, its accuracy, or its completeness. In no event will the Institute, nor other organizations mentioned herein, be liable or responsible for any lost profits, loss of revenue or earnings, claims by third parties or for any economic, indirect, special, incidental, consequential or exemplary damage resulting from any errors, inaccuracies or omissions in this documentation; and in no event will the Institute nor its partners, supporters, nor sponsors accept liability for any such errors, inaccuracies or omissions on any particular claim, proceeding or action, including any claim for expenses purported to involve material or actions relating the information posted to, in response to, or in any way related to the information on this website. The limitations, exclusions and disclaimers expressed above shall apply irrespective of the nature of any cause of action, demand or action, including but not limited to breach of contract, negligence, strict liability, tort or any other legal theory, and shall survive any fundamental breach or breaches. Data Sources: MNR Base Data and Arc Hydro Quaternary Session Data, Land Information Office, Ministry of Natural Resources Metadata References: Base data sources also include the Ontario Road Network. Derived Data: Headwater Catchments compiled by OHI
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