These creeks are important habitats for fish, aquatic insects, birds and mammals. These habitats are also among the most threatened by human activities, because they criss-cross the areas that we live in and travel through. Many small waterways have been altered to allow roads to go over them, to allow urban and industrial development and to create more uniform sections of land for agriculture. Often they are funneled through pipes or culverts or their paths are altered to go in a different direction or in a straighter path. Sometimes they are filled in completely.

This is the case all along the south shore of Hamilton Harbour. Only one creek still flows naturally there, the Red Hill Creek, and this creek is threatened by the proposed development of a new expressway through its valley. The many other creeks that used to flow into the Harbour in this area have all been buried.

Red Hill Creek is the last remaining free flowing creek in the old City of Hamilton (out of an original fourteen). Original source of map is Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan.

Creeks are also where surface water flows to from everywhere within its drainage basin.

This means that any pollutant washed off the surrounding land, by rain or irrigation, go into the creek. In urban areas this might include pesticides, fertilizers, road salt, oils from road surfaces and other substances that are frequently used by people living nearby.