Nogies Creek

Nogies Creek is a significant watercourse in the Kawartha region, flowing southward from Crystal Lake into the northern end of Pigeon Lake. The creek's watershed encompasses approximately 185 square kilometers, with a total watercourse length of 275 kilometers. The landscape is predominantly covered by natural vegetation, with coniferous forests being the dominant type. Notably, the area includes 5,928 hectares of forest interior and 2,016 hectares of deep forest interior, providing essential habitats for various plant and animal species.

Within the watershed, there are significant natural sites, including the Nogies Creek Provincially Significant Wetland covering 214 hectares and the Nogies Creek Mouth wetland spanning 30 hectares. These wetlands play a crucial role in maintaining regional biodiversity, water quality, and flood regulation.

Environmental assessments indicate that the surface water quality of Nogies Creek is rated as excellent, with total phosphorus concentrations averaging 0.014 mg/L, well below the provincial objective of 0.03 mg/L for rivers and streams.The health of benthic macroinvertebrate communities, as measured by the Family Biotic Index (FBI), is considered fair, with a score of 5.26. Forest conditions within the watershed are rated as excellent, reflecting the area's rich natural heritage.

Understanding the characteristics and environmental conditions of Nogies Creek is essential for effective watershed management and conservation efforts, ensuring the preservation of its ecological integrity and the health of the broader Pigeon Lake ecosystem.