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HOME / WATER / STREAMS, PONDS, WETLANDS, AND ESTUARIES /

Streams and Ponds

PEI streams are small and shallow.  They vary in width from 5 cm to 10 m (2 inches to 33 feet) and in depth from 5 cm to 2 m (2 inches to 6.5 feet).  Streams that are wider or deeper than this are often estuaries.  Most streams are less than 16 km (10 miles) in length.  They flow slowly and tend to meander and spread out.

A typical stream begins as a spring.  Groundwater flows upward through fractured bedrock and begins to flow downstream in a defined streambed.  As it makes its way to the ocean, the stream is subject to mixing with run-off water from the land.  Eventually, stream waters mix with salt water to become an estuary.

Stream flow coming from groundwater is termed 'base flow'.  On an annual basis, about 60 to 70% of the water in Island streams comes from groundwater.  The rest comes from rainfall or from surface runoff.  During dry periods, PEI's streams are nearly 100% groundwater. 

PEI streams are generally considered to be 'cold'.  Groundwater sources (springs or seeps) range in temperature between 8 - 10 degrees Celsius.  Only in cases where large, man-made ponds or beaver ponds exist, do stream temperatures become warmer.

Ponds are a very common occurrence along Island streams.  Over the last two centuries, most streams were dammed at one time or another to serve industry (grist mill, lumber, power).  Over time, many of these historic mill sites were re-developed.  These man-made ponds, of which there are over 600, serve a variety of purposes (recreational, cultural, aesthetic, or wildlife enhancement). 

With the exception of beaver and barrier beach (or barachois) ponds, there are few truly natural ponds on PEI.  Barrier beach ponds are most common along PEI's northern shoreline.  Here, continually shifting sands partially restrict stream flow.  Water backs up and a pond is formed.  These ponds are constantly in a state of change, and usually contain a mixture of fresh and salt water.