Wilket Creek: urbanization, geomorphology, policy, and design

Abstract

The understanding of the morphology of an urbanized channel is currently limited to a ‘black box’ understanding in that the main driving force of morphological change is hydrologic. This study aimed to expand our understanding of urbanized channels by conducting a socio-geomorphological investigation; that is, the natural and policy-driven events and processes leading to the current channel form. A fluvial audit including historical analysis and fieldwork was conducted in Wilket Creek, a southern Ontario urbanized channel, along with a review of provincial and municipal policy and reports. Overall, it was concluded that the current morphology of Wilket Creek is the result of a complex combination of urbanization, conservation policy, and channel reconstruction and design. This in-depth analysis provides the sequence of events and processes which took place in the catchment which has led to the current urban morphology