Rock Creek

The headwaters of Rock Creek are southwest of Shaunavon. This creek grows as it collects runoff water and becomes wider and deeper gathering volume as it moves north traveling the length of the RM of Arlington and joins the Swift Current Creek east of the confluence of Bone Creek and Swift Current Creek. This portion of the watershed is within the boundaries of the RM of Carmichael.

Rock Creek has had a significant improvement in water quality since the Town of Shaunavon stopped dumping raw effluent into the creek. A local group was instrumental in getting Ducks Unlimited, Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment and the Town of Shaunavon to work together to build an area to repair past damage and lessen any future impact on the creek resulting from Shaunavon's sewage effluent discharge.

A large area of marshland was created which provides nesting habitat for a wide variety of water and shore birds, as well as a tertiary treatment for effluent from the Town of Shaunavon. These wetlands west of Shaunavon allow effluent from the town to flow through a series of settling ponds and an area of cattails and rushes so that clean water enters the stream. These plants were chosen as they are very efficient at filtering toxic materials from the water. If effluent is released from the marsh into Rock Creek it occurs after a spring runoff event to ensure maximum dilution of the brackish water into the creek. The Town of Shaunavon has two holding lagoons so that untreated effluent does not need to be released into the creek system and impact water quality downstream of the marsh.