Interpretive Messaging

Geographical

• • The geology of the region is important in understanding the morphology of the river and stream channels of the Conservation Area. The Carp River watershed is comprised of two types of bedrock, a prominent ridge of Precambrian metamorphic rock and a broad flat.topped (mesa) of younger Paleozoic Sedimentary rocks. The contact between the two is marked by an ancient southeast-northwest trending fault (the Hazeldean Fault) whose position marks the course of the Carp River. These fault-controlled rock types form prominent ridges which exercise a dominant control on the topography within the watershed, as well as the surficial (glacial) geology. The Carp River valley floor is dominated by clay loam and silty clay loam (North Gower Series) which have been described as being the most fertile soils within the entire Ottawa Valley: they have traditionally been used for agriculture and dairy cattle. The flanks of the Paleozoic bedrock ridge are draped with fine sands and sandy loams traditionally used as pasture. Organic soils and wetlands on the bedrock ridges are underlain by dense, relatively impermeable tills. MORE