The water quality component of the South Tobacco Creek (STC) study began in 1992 with the establishment of monitoring sites in the headwater portion of the basin at each of the Twin Watersheds sites and at the outlet to the watershed at Miami, Manitoba (Miami site). In 1994, water quality monitoring began at a third site where the STC crosses Highway 240 (HWY 240 site), about 4.5 miles (7 km) west of Miami. Water samples were collected at these four sites to determine the presents of nutrients, major ions and suspended sediments in runoff water. In1995 limited nutrient and sediment data collection began from a natural wooded area (Pristine site) in the upper portion of this escarpment watershed.