One of several small waterways within the city is Omand's Creek, which flows southwest into the Assiniboine River from the northwest corner of Winnipeg, near the town of Rosser. Characterized as one of Winnipeg's most disturbed waterways, Omand's Creek attempts to fulfill an objective cited by Michael Hough, author of Cities and Natural Process: "the enrichment of the city's existing natural wealth; to capitalize on what is inherently there." The present day creek is a hybrid, formed when the former Colony Creek, which flowed into the heart of the downtown area of Winnipeg, was redirected into the channel of Omand's Creek. The creek, (a riverbottom forest remnant) essentially resembled a ditch, devoid of habitat normally supporting native plants and wildlife associated with stream ecosystems . Water quality was being depleted due to untreated stormwater and sewage runoff from nearby commercial and residential development. In 1987, action was taken to rehabilitate the stream bed, improve water quality and once again foster native plants, wildlife and environmental stewardship on a seven acre piece of land encompassing a portion of Omand's Creek on the east side of Empress Street opposite the Polo Park Shopping Centre. Bluestem Nature Park now stands as a natural riparian prairie-stream ecosystem with prairie sods, trees, shrubs, prairie grasses and wildflowers native to the Winnipeg region. Revitalization and enhancement initiatives are ongoing. Most recently in 1997, The Friends of Omand's Creek Revitalization Project undertook vegetation enhancement and restoration, stream clean-up, weed control, flora and fauna surveys and demonstration projects. 2 The latter was accomplished through local volunteers and Green Team employees. Today, Omand's Creek provides much needed refuge for land and water wildlife in the city.
To log this Earthcache you must visit Omands Creek Greenway Trail and email the answers to these questions. .
KIDS Question:
1-What type of soil was present when the buffalo roamed this area 300 years ago?
NON-KID QUESTIONS:
2-4000 Trees and shrubs were planted along Omand's creek for what reason?
3-What process was implemented to Omand's creek to stop this?
Go to the bridge way point and describe what you see at the shoreline under the bridge
OPTIONAL:
4-Take a photo along the way
Four habitats have been restored along Omands Creek. Animals, insects and repties that you might see:
(If you spot any please take a photo and submit it with your log! :) )
- Leopard Frog
-Red Winged Blackbirds
- Muskrats
- Western Painted Turtle
- Mallards
- Blue Winged Teals
- Wood Ducks
- Monarch Butterflies
- Catterpillar
- Eastern Kingbird
- Downy Woodpecker
- Crayfish
- Common Snail
- Brook Stickleback
- Whirlgig Beetles
- Careful Observers will find curled up snakes!