A watershed is an area of land that drains into a river or stream. The Credit River watershed covers an area of 1000 square kilometers. Its boundaries are based on ecology, making the watershed fall partially within the Region of Peel and the Region of Halton. Both regional governments provide financial support to the CVC for the protection of the river.

The river falls within the boundaries of 10 municipalities who help to fund its operation:

• City of Brampton
• City of Mississauga
• Township of Amaranth
• Town of Caledon
• Township of East Garafraxa
• Town of Erin
• Town of Halton Hills
• Town of Mono
• Town of Oakville
• Town of Orangeville

The River and Its Tributaries

The Credit River is 90 kilometres long but over 1500 kilometres of tributaries, streams and creeks feed into it, including:

• Black/Silver Creek - 27 km
• West Credit - 26 km
• Shaws Creek - 19 km
• East Credit - 17 km
• Caledon Creek - 18 km

The Credit River watershed also includes 15 kilometres of the Lake Ontario shoreline.The average daily flow of the Credit River is 690,000 cubic metres, 65% of which comes from groundwater.

Watershed Population and Land Use

• 600,000 people live in the watershed
• 87% of the population lives in the lower 1/3 of the watershed
• the watershed's population is growing at a rate of approx. 2%
• in 1999, 21% of the watershed was developed
• by 2020, 40% of the watershed will be developed (based on approved development and the official plans of our municipalities)
  

Plants and Animals

The Credit River is home to a wide range of wildlife. Some species are permanent or seasonal residents while others are sighted occasionally. CVC currently has:

• 244 species of birds
• 64 fish species
• 41 species of mammals
• 5 species of turtles
• 8 kinds of snakes
• 17 amphibians (frogs, toads, salamanders & newts)
• 1330 species of plants