Great Lakes Biodiversity Conservation Strategies

Transcription

1 A.D. Latornell Conservation Symposium Dan Kraus, Nature Conservancy of Canada 21 November 2013

2 Summary Two Minute History of Application and Next Steps 2

3 Two Minute History of the Part 1: Paradise Found Largest freshwater ecosystem in the world High diversity of ecological systems Many endemic species and vegetation communities High abundance of fish and birds The contain 20% of the world s surface water. 3

4 More water than all the other Great Lakes Retains healthy populations of native fishes Most isolated freshwater islands in the world Coastal herd of Woodland Caribou Coastlines harbour arctic plants Longest freshwater coast in the world Largest freshwater island in the world Hosted six endemic chub species Endemic coastal plants and insects Large coastal areas of acidic rock barrens, alvars and sand beach Most productive freshwater fishery in the world Four major sand-spit features High biodiversity on Western Lake Erie islands Key migratory stopover habitat for birds Lake plains prairies along the St. Clair/ Detroit River corridor Second deepest of the Connected to the Atlantic Ocean basin to ocean migration of American Eel Once had a landlocked population of Harbor Seals in the eastern basin Large productive coastal mashes in the western and eastern basin The basin and Rocky Mountains have the highest diversity of ecological systems in Canada and the U.S. 4

5 Two Minute History of the Part 2: Paradise Lost Over-harvest Rapid loss of natural cover Fish harvest peaked in 1899 Thousands of dams Streams and rivers used to transport logs Sturgeon were harvested and dried for fuel in southern Ontario. 5

6 Two Minute History of the Part 2: Paradise Lost Over-harvest Sturgeon were harvested and dried for fuel in southern Ontario. 6

7 Two Minute History of the Part 2: Paradise Lost Industrialization Dumping of industrial and urban pollutants Large-scale diversion and canal projects In 1885 over 90,000 people in Chicago died from cholera in the Lake Michigan drinking water supply. 7

8 Two Minute History of the Part 3: Atlantic Invasions & the World s Biggest Septic Tank Invasion of Sea Lamprey, Alewife and Rainbow Smelt High inputs of phosphorus from agriculture and urban run-off and raw sewage Pacific salmon were introduced to the Great Lakes in the 1980s to reduce alewife populations. 8

9 In the 1950s, a generation of people came to recognize how stressed the system can become. Cleveland State Library Special Collections,

10 Two Minute History of the Part 5: New Invasions = New Ecosystem Direct habitat change and competition Increasing nearshore productivity Changes to food web Diporeia densities have declined from 10,000 per cubic meter to almost zero. 10

11 Two Minute History of the Water Quality Agreement Reduce Phosphorus Loading Reduction of visible pollution Persistent Toxic Substances Ecosystem Approach to management (Phosphorus Supplement) Updated Phosphorus reduction targets Remedial Action Plans for Areas of Concern Lakewide Management Plans Chemicals of Concern Nutrients Climate Change Habitats & Species Invasive Species Science Groundwater 11

12 In Progress 2013 The have over 28,000 km of coast. 12

13 Conservation Action Planning 13

14 Project Team Lake Ontario Conservation Ontario* Cornell University* Environment Canada* Environmental Protection Agency* Department of Fisheries and Oceans* NYSDEC* NYS Department of State* Nature Conservancy of Canada Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources* Parks Canada* SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry SUNY Brockport* US Army Corps of Engineers The Nature Conservancy Tug Hill Commission US Fish and Wildlife Service University of Guelph St. Regis Mohawk Tribe Ducks Unlimited * Steering Committee Funding: EPA GLNPO, EPA Region 2 Canada-Ontario Agreement Environment Canada The Nature Conservancy Nature Conservancy of Canada 14

15 Project Scope Lake Superior: Since the focus of this project is to foster bi-national action to conserve and restore the biodiversity of Lake Superior, the scope for recommended actions will include the open waters of the lake (to the head of the St. Mary s River, coastal areas (roughly 2 km inland from the shoreline) and the watersheds of tributaries with a focus on how they affect the biodiversity of the lake Lake Ontario: Since the focus of this project is to foster bi-national action to address the biota of Lake Ontario, the scope for recommended actions will include the watersheds of tributaries to the extent that they affect the biodiversity of the lake. 85% of the water in Lake Ontario comes from Lake Erie. 15

16 Conservation Targets Offshore system Nearshore zone Inshore system Islands Coastal wetlands Coastal terrestrial systems Tributaries and watersheds Benthic offshore system Offshore pelagic system Nearshore zone Coastal wetlands Coastal terrestrial systems Native migratory fish Islands Rivers, estuaries & connecting channels Benthic offshore system Offshore pelagic system Nearshore zone Coastal wetlands Coastal terrestrial systems Native migratory fish Islands Aerial migrants Benthic offshore system Offshore pelagic system Nearshore zone Coastal wetlands Coastal terrestrial systems Native migratory fish Islands Aerial migrants 16

17 Benthic and Pelagic Systems Lake Ontario has one of the southern most populations of Lake Trout in the world. 17

18 Nearshore System The are almost 100 species of native fish in Lake Ontario. 18

19 Coastal Wetlands 50% of the coastal wetlands around Lake Ontario have been lost. 19

20 Coastal Terrestrial Lake Ontario has over 138 km of sand beaches. 20

21 Native Migratory Fishes One-third of fishes spawn in tributaries. 21

22 Islands Islands make up almost half of the entire Great Lakes coast. 22

23 Conservation Targets Assessing Viability Benthic offshore system Offshore pelagic system Nearshore zone Coastal wetlands Coastal terrestrial systems Native migratory fish Islands Rivers, estuaries & connecting channels Benthic offshore system Offshore pelagic system Nearshore zone Coastal wetlands Coastal terrestrial systems Native migratory fish Islands Aerial migrants Benthic offshore system Offshore pelagic system Nearshore zone Coastal wetlands Coastal terrestrial systems Native migratory fish Islands Aerial migrants Almost all Lake Erie coastal wetlands in the U.S. are diked. 23

24 Health of Lake Superior Conservation Targets Definition Overall Viability Deepwater and Offshore Waters >80 m depth GOOD Nearshore Zone and Reefs m depth GOOD (near FAIR) Embayments and Inshore <15 m depth GOOD (near FAIR) Coastal Wetlands Wetlands that are connected to Lake GOOD Superior and/or within 2 km of the coast Islands Natural and artificial islands GOOD Coastal Terrestrial Habitats Natural habitats within 2 km of the coast GOOD Tributaries and Watersheds Entire drainage area of Lake Superior including all tributaries and inland waters FAIR 24

25 SOLEC Indicators used to assess viability Indicator Lake Superior Status and Trend Contaminants in Waterbirds Good/ Declining and increasing Contaminants in Whole fish Fair/ Deteriorating Groundwater Quality To be developed for SOLEC 2014 Nutrients in Lakes Good/ Unchanging Major Ions To be developed for SOLEC 2014 Water Clarity Undetermined/ Mostly improving 25

26 One study found that the economic value of wetland is over $10,500 per acre per year. 26

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28 What Threats are facing the targets? Linked to the health of targets Ranked based on: Scope Severity Irreversibility 28

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32 What are our Strategies to improve the health of our targets and/ or reduce threats? Linking of targets, threats and strategies Strategies will be integrated into existing programs where possible Will include both lakewide and place-based assessments and strategies Over 5 million people in Ontario get their drinking water from Lake Ontario. 32

33 Aquatic Invasive Species addressing this significant concern Almost 200 non-native species have been introduced into the. 9 33

34 Phosphorus addressing toxic and nuisance algae 6 34

35 The Nearshore managing this critical link 7 35

36 Conservation managing habitats and species Photo: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources 36

37 Lake Ontario LaMP Conservation Priority Action Sites Less than 5% of the Lake Ontario shoreline in the eastern basin is artificial. 37

38 Lake Ontario LaMP Conservation Priority Action Sites Hamilton Harbour Wetlands, nearshore & coastal terrestrial are important for eastern basin, good to moderate condition. -Watershed planning done. -More works needs to be done to restore P cycles. -Designated as an Area of Concern results in greater funding compared to other sites. -Good case study of wetland restoration, including habitat improvement for pike to control carp population. Approximately 70% of the Lake Ontario shoreline in the Golden Horseshoe is artificial. 38

39 Lake Superior Regional Summaries 39

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43 Applications & Next Steps Support implementation of the 2012 Water Quality Agreement and Nearshore Framework for the Canada-Ontario Agreement Support basinwide context for local conservation actions Strengthen binational, multi-agency approach to conservation Build case for increased funding to implement key strategies in priority places Use the strategy as a platform to focus funding towards priority areas and actions Ontario is Iroquoian for Beautiful Lake. 43

44 NCC Conservation Strategies, DRAFT 1. Protect priority coastal species and habitats 2. Reduce the abundance of coastal invasive species 3. Restore native fisheries and the health of aquatic ecosystems 4. Improve the health of beaches and nearshore waters 5. Address key knowledge gaps 6. Engage the public in conservation 7. Build partnerships & capacity 44

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