Holland Brook

Monitoring Priority Site for Bacterial Contamination and Culvert Assessment

About the Stream:

Holland Brook was identified as a priority for water quality monitoring after Dalhousie University’s 2013 testing revealed abnormally high fecal bacteria counts. In response, SWEPS conducted follow-up testing at 8 sites in 2014 using a YSI probe and lab analysis for nitrogen, E. coli, and other parameters. While some problem areas were found—particularly at sites 6 and 7—the results were inconclusive, and SWEPS recommended repeat testing to confirm sources of contamination.

Key Issues Identified:

  • High E. coli at two mid-brook sites
  • Stagnant water and low dissolved oxygen
  • Clogged and deteriorating culverts
  • Pooling and algae accumulation behind culverts

Activities Undertaken:

  • Water quality testing (YSI & lab)
  • Collaboration with Adopt-A-Stream for site assessments
  • Site scoping visits in 2017 for future project planning

Site Information

  • Watercourse: Holland Brook
  • Watershed: Shubenacadie Watershed
  • Location: Between Holland Road and Holly Court
  • Nearest Community: Wellington, NS
  • Road Crossing (Access Points): Holland Road, Holly Court
  • Map Reference (NS Topo 1:50 000): 11D13, Upper Right
  • Coordinates (UTM Zone 20T):
    • Access: 44.846516, -63.607382
    • Water Quality Site Range: Sites 1–8 along brook

Project Design and Results

  • Water Quality Monitoring:
    • Date of Testing: August 13, 2014
    • Number of Sites: 8
    • Parameters Tested:
      • pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, TDS, salinity
      • E. coli (CFU/100 mL), Total Nitrogen (mg/L)
    • Results Summary:
      • Sites 6 and 7 had E. coli levels well above recreational water guidelines
      • Low DO at sites 6 & 7 may reflect poor flow and stagnation
      • Other sites returned to normal E. coli levels downstream
  • Site Observations & Assessment (2017)
    • Culverts Assessed:
      • Holland Road: Cement culvert with bent bars and debris clogging
      • Holly Court: Cement culvert with boulder-lined pool that became stagnant and algae-filled
    • Other Observations:
      • Debris accumulation
      • Algae blooms and low-flow conditions
      • Potential sources of contamination not conclusively identified

Most Recent Holland Brook News

See more Holland Brook posts

Future Work and Next Steps

  • Previous Work:
    • Initial testing and concern raised by Dalhousie in 2013
    • Follow-up testing by SWEPS in 2014
    • Site visits and culvert assessments in 2017
  • Future Work:
    • Additional water quality sampling to track bacterial hotspots
    • Potential culvert replacement or remediation
    • Possible in-stream restoration and debris removal if water quality improves
    • Incorporation into SWEPS’ online data map to support future teams

Holland Brook Photos

[sweps_recent_photos category=holland-brook]

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