Acknowledgements. Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources

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3 Acknowledgements The Wilmot Creek Fisheries Management Plan was written by Marc Desjardins (Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority) and Jeff McNeice (Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources), with input from the members of the technical steering committee and community advisory council, in accordance with the OMNR Watershed-based Fisheries Management Guideline (Koenig 2006). TECHNICAL STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS Marc Desjardins Dr. Doug Dodge Stephen Haayen Warren May Cam McCauley Tim Rance Lori Riviere Les Stanfield Janice Szwarz Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority Scientist Fisheries and Oceans Canada Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Toronto Region Conservation Authority Regional Municipality of Durham Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Municipality of Clarington COMMUNITY ADVISORY COUCIL MEMBERS Appreciation is also extended to the members and groups of the Community Advisory Council who provided input and technical support, specifically: Bonnie Anderson Nancy Armishaw Tara Borwick Arthur Burrows Doug Elliot Eli Garret Gerry Gibson Bert Gibson Rick Gregorczyk Wayne Kerr Kelly Kerr Eric Lawlor Don Lycett Natalie Meade Libby Racansky Carole Seysmith Cam Simpson John Slater Wilmot Creek Outdoor Education Centre Citizen Community Stream Steward Program, OFAH Samuel Wilmot Nature Area Citizen Trout Unlimited The Wilmot Fishing Club The Wilmot Fishing Club Float Fishing Conservation Group Citizen Citizen Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food Citizen Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority Citizen Durham Land Stewardship Council, OMNR Float Fishing Conservation Group Orono Crown Lands Trust Funding for this project was provided by the Fisheries and Oceans Canada and with in-kind resources provided by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority.

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5 Executive Summary Wilmot Creek is situated along the north shore of Lake Ontario east of Toronto but within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The creek extends from its origins on the Oak Ridges Moraine south to its outlet into the lake and includes all of Wilmot, Foster, Hunter, Stalker and Orono Creeks and their tributaries. The Wilmot Creek watershed is located within the Regional Municipality of Durham and the local Municipality of Clarington (former Clarke and Darlington Townships), and includes the villages of Newcastle, Orono, Kirby, and Leskard. Wilmot Creek has a rich natural history revolving around its fisheries. Native brook trout and Atlantic salmon were important food and economic resources for early European settlers. In the early 19 th century, land clearing and damming of the creek for mills began to take its toll on the fisheries, a trend that was occurring in other Lake Ontario watersheds as well. In response to these changes, in 1842 a local landowner and other local settlers and workers attempted to claim the diminishing stocks and prohibit further exploitation from the local community. This conflict resulted in a bloody confrontation between the involved parties at the mouth of Wilmot Creek, commonly referred to as the salmon wars (Schmidt and Rutherford, 1975). In 1865, Samuel Wilmot began experimenting with propagation of Atlantic salmon in an attempt to recover the once abundant population. By 1968, the first fish hatchery in Canada was in full operation on Wilmot Creek; however, the efforts were in vain. By the turn of the century Atlantic salmon were extirpated from Lake Ontario. The watershed has since recovered and Wilmot Creek and its tributaries now support diverse fish communities of cold, cool and warm water species. Within the lower reaches of the creek and the Newcastle coastal marsh on Lake Ontario there exists a diverse warm water community including yellow perch, northern pike, darters and cyprinids. The mid reaches of the creek are dominated by rainbow trout and mottled sculpin, and are utilized by migratory Chinook salmon. On the mainstem of the creek north of Taunton Road, brown trout dominate and mottled sculpin are replaced by slimy sculpin. In the headwaters of both Wilmot and Orono Creeks, the fish community is dominated by brook trout. The boundaries between these communities are marked by changes in geology and the presence of barriers. Like all watersheds in the Greater Toronto Area, Wilmot Creek is facing many pressures including landscape development (e.g. future housing developments and the extension of Highway 407) and introduction of invasive species. Population and housing statistics for the Municipality of Clarington indicate that the population increased by 15.2% between 2001 and 2006 (from 69,834 to 77,820 respectively) and is expected to increase to 112,500 by 2016 (Statistics Canada 2007). Within the Municipality of Clarington, Ward 4 (former Clarke Township which includes the villages of Newcastle and Orono) has a population of 13,773 people (2006) and is expected to increase by 43% (to 19,700) by Most of this growth will occur in Newcastle Village (Municipality of Clarington, Personal Communications, 2007). In 2000, the Lindsay District Fisheries Management Plan (FMP) expired, a document which guided fisheries management in the Wilmot Creek watershed and provided direction for watershed development, planning and restoration. After its expiration, agencies responsible for

6 fisheries management began compiling background information and directing the development of a watershed-based fisheries management plan for Wilmot Creek. These agencies included the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR), Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority (GRCA). Throughout the development of the plan, the public were given the opportunity to provide input and identify issues that they felt were important. A Community Advisory Council (CAC) was assembled in the early stages of development to represent the diverse group of interested stakeholders including local landowners, farmers, angler groups, environmentalists and the general public. This group helped to mould the plan into its current stage. In addition, a series of public consultation sessions were held to solicit input on the content of the plan. Based on this input and a review of historical and current data, target species for management were developed including native brook trout and Atlantic salmon, and naturalized salmonids including Chinook salmon and rainbow trout. In order to facilitate the effective implementation of management objectives and address the issues identified through public consultation and data analysis, the watershed was delineated into smaller subwatershed fisheries management units. These management units, or fisheries management zones, are based on distinct fish communities due in part to surficial geology and the presence of barriers to fish migration. The Wilmot Creek FMP will provide direction for the management of fisheries for a period of five years ( ). It provides information on the current status of fish, fish habitat and land use in the watershed and in the seven fisheries management zones. It is anticipated that this information will be used by the public, municipalities, the private sector and government agencies to help guide future management of the aquatic resources in the Wilmot Creek watershed. The objectives of the FMP are: to protect and enhance the biological integrity of the aquatic ecosystem; to achieve "no net loss" of fisheries habitat; to promote the sustainable utilization of fisheries resources; to develop a greater knowledge of fish populations, fish habitat and aquatic ecosystems; to describe the existing conditions of the fish community to establish a benchmark of ecosystem health; to provide a framework for fisheries management at subwatershed, reach and site scales; to rehabilitate degraded fish communities and fish habitat, for self-sustaining, native stocks; to promote public awareness, appreciation and understanding of fisheries resources and the aquatic habitats on which they depend; and to involve organized angling associations, environmental interest groups and the general public in fisheries management activities. The next stage Wilmot Creek fisheries management will be the implementation of the strategies and recommendations made in this plan. This will require a concerted effort between the stakeholders including federal, provincial and municipal governments, non-governmental

7 organizations, angling clubs, farmers, land owners and private citizens. Only through effective implementation will we protect, maintain and enhance this important resource.

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9 Table of Contents Table of Contents CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1.0 Introduction Plan Development Background Information Fisheries Technical Steering Committee Stakeholder Consultation Plan Objectives Context of the Plan Federal Level Fisheries and Oceans Canada Federal Level Transport Canada Federal Level Environment Canada Provincial Level Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Provincial Level Ontario Ministry of the Environment Provincial Level Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Provincial Level Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Provincial Level Ontario Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal Conservation Authorities Municipal Level Plan Implementation. 14 CHAPTER 2 WATERSHED CHARACTERISTICS Introduction Delineation of Fisheries Management Zones Wilmot Creek Watershed.20 Watershed Characteristics. 20 Geology and Physiography Water Quality Stream Order Stream Slope In-stream Barriers Land Use/Land Cover Forest Cover Wetland Cover Riparian Habitat.. 28 Land Disturbance Index (LDI). 29 Land Use Planning i

10 Wilmot Creek Fisheries Management Plan Watershed Fish Community Objectives Fisheries Management Zone 1 Coastal Marsh Characteristics.. 33 Fish Community Objectives Fisheries Management Zone 2 Wilmot Creek 35 Characteristics.. 35 Fish Community Objectives Fisheries Management Zone 3 Foster Creek Subwatershed.. 37 Characteristics.. 37 Fish Community Objectives Fisheries Management Zone 4 Wilmot and Orono Creeks Characteristics.. 39 Fish Community Objectives Fisheries Management Zone 5 Hunter and Stalker Creeks Characteristics.. 41 Fish Community Objectives Fisheries Management Zone 6 Hunter and Stalker Creek Headwaters Characteristics.. 43 Fish Community Objectives Fisheries Management Zone 7 Wilmot and Orono Creek Headwaters. 45 Characteristics.. 45 Fish Community Objectives 45 CHAPTER 3 FISHERIES MANAGEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION 3.0 Introduction Watershed Issues and Management Options Fisheries Management Zone 1 Issues and Management Options Fisheries Management Zone 2 Issues and Management Options Fisheries Management Zone 3 Issues and Management Options Fisheries Management Zone 4 Issues and Management Options Fisheries Management Zone 5 Issues and Management Options Fisheries Management Zone 6 Issues and Management Options Fisheries Management Zone 7 Issues and Management Options GLOSSARY. 93 REFERENCES LEGISLATION (Web links to Legislation) APPENDICES Habitat Water Quantity. 116 Stream Flow. 117 ii

11 Table of Contents Hydrograph Components Fluvial Geomorphology The Natural Flow Regime 122 Human Alterations to the Flow Regime and Effects 123 Ecological Response to Altered Flow Regimes The Sediment Regime Natural Channel Design Forest Cover, Agriculture and Urbanization: The Influence of Land Use on Rivers Hydrology 127 Sediment Yields Water Quality Riparian Vegetation. 131 Large Woody Material. 132 Modeling the Impacts of Land-use on Aquatic Habitats in Lake Ontario Streams 134 Habitat Mitigation Strategies 139 Riparian and Table Land Planting. 139 Stormwater Management Tile Drains/Water Storage Ponds Water Takings (Improve Our Understanding) Restoring Floodplain Connections (Woody Material Floodplain Terracing) Barriers/Culverts/Online Ponds Environmental Farm Plans - Nutrient Management Management Practices. 143 Best Biodiversity Biodiversity Species Diversity Genetic Diversity Ecosystem Diversity Importance of Biodiversity Influences on Biodiversity Land Use Pollution Fish Stocking Species Competition Introduced Species 149 Naturalized Species Consumptive Use Stock Recruitment. 149 Spawner Escapement 150 Climate Change Loss of Biodiversity iii

12 Wilmot Creek Fisheries Management Plan Species at Risk. 150 Mitigating for Loss of Biodiversity Pollution Over-Harvest Climate Change. 152 Invasive Species. 152 Land Use LIST OF FIGURES Figure 2.1 Wilmot Creek Watershed Location and Political Boundaries 18 Figure 2.2 Wilmot Creek Fisheries Management Zones 19 Figure 2.3 Strahler Stream Order in the Wilmot Creek Watershed 23 Figure 2.4 Stream Slope in the Wilmot Creek Watershed. 24 Figure 2.5 Instream Barriers in the Wilmot Creek Watershed.. 25 Figure 2.6 Land Use in the Wilmot Creek Watershed Figure 2.7 Thermal Regimes and Construction Timing Windows Figure 2.8 Wilmot Creek Fisheries Management Zone Figure 2.9 Wilmot Creek Fisheries Management Zone Figure 2.10 Wilmot Creek Fisheries Management Zone 3 38 Figure 2.11 Wilmot Creek Fisheries Management Zone Figure 2.12 Wilmot Creek Fisheries Management Zone Figure 2.13 Wilmot Creek Fisheries Management Zone Figure 2.14 Wilmot Creek Fisheries Management Zone Figure A1 The Hydrologic Cycle Figure A2 Hydrograph Figure A3 Hydrograph Response to Development 118 Figure A4 Three Levels of Geomorphic Investigation Figure A5 Relationship between Percent Impervious Cover (PIC) and Fish Community Figure A6 Stream Segments in Need of Rehabilitation LIST OF TABLES Table 2.1 Summary of Strahler Stream Order in the Watershed Table 2.2 Summary of Stream Slope in the Watershed Table 2.3 Proportion of Land Use in the Watershed and Management Zones Table 2.4 Proportion of Naturally Vegetated Stream Length by Strahler Stream Order.. 29 Table 2.5 Construction Timing Windows for In-Water Works. 30 Table 3.0 Wilmot Creek Watershed Management Options and Implementation. 50 Table 3.1 Zone 1 Management Options and Implementation. 64 Table 3.2 Zone 2 Management Options and Implementation. 68 Table 3.3 Zone 3 Management Options and Implementation. 72 iv

13 Table of Contents Table 3.4 Zone 4 Management Options and Implementation. 76 Table 3.5 Zone 5 Management Options and Implementation. 80 Table 3.6 Zone 6 Management Options and Implementation. 84 Table 3.7 Zone 7 Management Options and Implementation. 88 Table A1 Physical Responses to Altered Flow Regimes Table A2 Ecological Responses to Altered Flow Regimes Table A3 Provincial and Federal Water Quality Guidelines and Objectives Table A4 Fish Species List for the Wilmot Creek Watershed Table A5 Species at Risk and their Status in the Watershed v

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15 Chapter INTRODUCTION Throughout Ontario, there has been increasing recognition of the need to manage and plan fisheries resource use on an ecosystem or watershed basis. In order to accomplish responsible stewardship of an entire ecosystem, a holistic approach to planning is necessary, and this is the role of watershed management plans (WMP s) and watershedbased fisheries management plans (FMP s). A watershed management plan provides recommendations on the use and management of these natural systems that can be incorporated into the changing land use and decision making process. It allows targets to be set before amending land use documents, and aids municipalities and developers in making land use decisions. The primary goal of a watershed plan is to achieve a sustainable environment by understanding natural systems within the region, in order to avoid significant loss and habitat degradation, which may ultimately, impact the quality of life in the region. Watershed management is essential to fisheries management since many aspects of land and water use affect fish habitat and productivity. The long-term health of aquatic ecosystems is a critical consideration in any land use planning process; and fisheries management plans are fundamental in incorporating fisheries concerns into the planning and permitting process. With the expanding growth of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), the Wilmot Creek watershed will see significant development pressure. Within the Municipality of Clarington, population has increased by 15.2% between 2001 and 2006 (from 69,834 to 77,820 respectively; Statistics Canada 2007) and is expected that the population will more than double to 177,750 by 2031 (Statistics Canada Census, Regional Municipality of Durham 2006). The Wilmot Creek Fisheries Management Plan is a resource document written for the citizens and stakeholders of the Wilmot Creek watershed. The plan will create a framework to guide the protection, rehabilitation and enhancement of the fisheries resource in the watershed. It is hoped that this document will encourage stakeholders to follow the recommended management actions provided and subscribe to an "ecosystem first" approach regarding resource use and watershed development. Specifically, the plan will provide background information on the state of the aquatic ecosystem, identify resource issues, outline management direction, and establish benchmarks and targets (indicators) necessary to monitor the aquatic ecosystem and measure success of the FMP. 1

16 Chapter 1 - Introduction 1.1 PLAN DEVELOPMENT Background Information Fisheries management is a cooperative effort of multiple agencies working together to achieve a common goal. While fisheries management is the responsibility of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, many of the goals and objectives of fisheries management are related to the initiatives and responsibilities of other organizations. For example, watershed management planning is the responsibility of Conservation Authorities; however, many of the activities in the watershed have a direct impact on the fisheries and fish habitat of that watershed. Therefore, this plan reflects the joint effort of multiple agencies working together to protect, maintain and enhance fisheries resources in the Wilmot Creek watershed. The Wilmot Creek Fisheries Management Plan was conceived during early public consultations in support of the development of the Wilmot Watershed Management Plan, and during concurrent meetings of a technical steering committee. At that time, the public emphasized the importance of Wilmot Creek s aquatic resources. Furthermore, the abundance of studies and fisheries data collected on Wilmot Creek, together with the questions to be answered, suggested a need for a process parallel to the watershed management process to plan for fisheries resources. A fisheries technical steering committee was established in 2000 to guide the development and production of a fisheries management plan for Wilmot Creek Fisheries Technical Steering Committee Data available for fisheries management planning on Wilmot Creek was extensive. Making optimal use of these data required innovative approaches not previously unexplored in documents of its kind. A unique product was envisioned with a larger goal of providing powerful new tools to link stream health to land-use development. Members of the technical steering committee met regularly to discuss the required technical components and the analysis of background data. Members represent resource professionals including staff from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR), university researchers, and the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority (GRCA). The first product was a state of the resource background report for Wilmot Creek that was created to support the development of both the fisheries and watershed management plans. The preparation of the background report benefited from several research initiatives carried out on Wilmot Creek. Specifically, work conducted by the Salmonid Ecology Unit of the OMNR, quantifying site level variance toward the development of standardized protocols and the concurrent development of landscape / fisheries models. 2

17 1.1.3 Stakeholder Consultation An initial public consultation (open house) was held in the spring of Many outreach presentations followed targeting stakeholders and policy makers. Additional meetings were held in January of 2005, and June of The reason for these meetings was to inform the public about the purpose and scope of the project, inform them of the development of new tools, obtain comments and concerns, and solicit feedback regarding management priorities. Following these meetings a working group comprised of the technical committee, representatives from the municipalities, and stakeholders was assembled to formulate the final fisheries plan. 1.2 PLAN OBJECTIVES The objectives of the Wilmot Creek Fisheries Management Plan are as follows: Protect and enhance the biological integrity of the aquatic ecosystem Describe the existing conditions of the fish community to establish a benchmark of ecosystem health Provide a framework for fisheries management at subwatershed, reach and sitespecific scales Promote the sustainable use of fisheries resources Achieve a "net gain" in the productive capacity of fisheries resources Rehabilitate degraded fish communities and fish habitat, for self-sustaining, native stocks Develop a greater knowledge of fish populations, fish habitat and aquatic ecosystems Promote public awareness, appreciation and understanding of fisheries resources and the aquatic habitats on which they depend Involve organized angling associations, environmental interest groups and the general public in fisheries management activities 1.3 CONTEXT OF THE PLAN The management of aquatic resources within the Wilmot Creek watershed is the direct responsibility of DFO and OMNR. However, numerous other agencies implement legislation designed to examine the effects of human intervention in and around water. 3

18 Chapter 1 - Introduction The involved agencies include: Fisheries and Oceans Canada Environment Canada Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Ontario Ministry of the Environment Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food Conservation Authorities Municipalities The Inter-Jurisdictional Compliance Protocol for Fish Habitat and Associated Water Quality provides a comprehensive summary of the compliance roles and responsibilities of stakeholder agencies with respect to fish habitat and water quality. The following sections are taken from this protocol in hopes that it will provide the reader with some insight into the many agencies that are involved, either directly or indirectly, in the management of fish and fish habitat. In particular, this section will be useful when reviewing the management recommendations in Chapter 3 and how the stakeholders are involved. The principal federal legislation for the protection of aquatic habitat and water quality as it relates to fish is the Fisheries Act, R.S.C In addition, provisions of the federal Navigable Waters Protection Act, and the provincial Public Lands Act, Environmental Protection Act, Ontario Water Resources Act, Nutrient Management Act, Lakes and Rivers Improvement Act, Conservation Authorities Act, Drainage Act, and associated regulations provide a framework for the protection of fish habitat through control of water and land based activities that can indirectly affect fish habitat and water quality. Legislation regulating the harvest of fish in Ontario waters is the provincial Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act and the Ontario Fishery Regulations under the Fisheries Act. In addition to legislation, there are a number of key concepts and principals from OMNR strategic documents that help to guide fisheries management. These include: Protecting What Sustains Us: Ontario s Biodiversity Strategy, Our Sustainable Future Ministry of Natural Resources Strategic Directions, Strategic Plan for Ontario Fisheries (SPOF II), and the Aquatic Ecosystem Approach to Managing Fisheries. Also, federal agreements like the Policy for the Management of Fish Habitat and bi-national agreements such as A Joint Strategic Plan for Management of Great Lakes Fisheries and Fish-Community Objectives for Lake Ontario help to guide the management of Lake Ontario tributaries. The FMP is a resource document and not a policy document. The information provided should be used in conjunction with policy documents such as OMNR's Strategic Plan for Ontario Fisheries (SPOF II), Great Lakes Fishery Commission s (GLFC) Joint Strategic Plan for the Management of Great Lakes Fisheries, and DFO s Policy for the Management of Fish Habitat. 4

19 These policy documents, however, are only one component of protecting the resource. It is necessary to impart a strong non-regulatory approach through education, outreach and an overall management philosophy of "net gain". Many of the actions outlined in this plan are, therefore, based on this approach Federal Level Fisheries and Oceans Canada Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has ultimate responsibility for the management of fisheries resources in Canada, pursuant to the Fisheries Act. In Ontario, the provisions in the Fisheries Act are delivered by DFO and through partnership agreements with other government agencies (Environment Canada, Parks Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Conservation Authorities). In Ontario, DFO retains responsibility for administering the fish habitat provisions of the Fisheries Act (Section 35 of the Fisheries Act) and shares responsibility with Environment Canada for the administration of Section 36 of the Fisheries Act (the entry of substances deleterious to fish into fish habitat). Decisions related to the management of fish populations in Ontario, including determining fishing seasons, catch limits, stocking of inland waters and area fish management priorities are administered by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, on behalf of DFO. Section 2 of the federal Fisheries Act defines fish to include "parts of fish, shellfish, crustaceans, marine animals and any parts of shellfish, crustaceans or marine animals, and the eggs, sperm, spawn, larvae, spat and juvenile stages of fish, shellfish, crustaceans and marine animals". Section 34(1) of the federal Fisheries Act defines fish habitat as "spawning grounds and nursery, rearing, food supply and migration areas on which fish depend directly or indirectly to carry out their life processes". The essential ecosystem components required for healthy fish habitat include adequate food, cover, spawning and nursery habitats and access for migration. Section 35 is the primary section pertaining to the protection of fish habitat and states "no person contravenes Subsection 35(1) by causing the alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat by any means or under any condition unless authorized by the minister or under regulations made by the governor of council under this Act." Based on the No Net Loss Guiding Principle, DFO has developed a variety of review guidelines, operational statements, fact sheets and outreach materials outlining the 5

20 Chapter 1 - Introduction general principles used by DFO staff to conserve and protect fish habitat. DFO s delivery of the fish habitat management program in Ontario is accomplished through both proactive means, such as educational outreach and the pre-development review of proposals potentially impacting fish habitat and the enforcement of Section 35 of the Fisheries Act through DFO s Conservation and Protection Branch. In addition to the above functions, DFO has been given the responsibility for the administration of the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA), as it relates to aquatic species. Section 32 of SARA protects the habitat and individuals of Schedule 1 extirpated, endangered or threatened SARA species from negative impacts resulting from man-made activities or works Federal Level Transport Canada, Navigable Waters Protection Program (TC NWPP) Transport Canada is responsible for administration of the federal Navigable Waters Protection Act. The Act is designed to protect the public right of navigation by prohibiting the construction or placement of any work in navigable water without the approval of the minister Federal Level Environment Canada (EC) Environment Canada (EC) has shared responsibility for the enforcement of the pollution prevention provisions of the Fisheries Act. In many cases (e.g. non-federal lands or non-federally regulated industries), EC refers potential occurrences to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment (OMOE). OMOE often is the lead agency responding to occurrences, although if the deleterious discharge involves sediment it will be referred to DFO. In addition to their Fisheries Act responsibilities, EC also has a regulatory function with respect to administering requirements of the Migratory Birds Convention Act and the Species at Risk Act (except aquatic species at risk). Both of these acts could also potentially influence the potential to proceed with proposed works in a variety of habitats, including aquatic ecosystems Provincial Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources The OMNR is the provincial agency responsible for the protection and management of Ontario s natural resources. The OMNR has primary administration and enforcement responsibilities for a considerable number of provincial statutes. The Lakes and Rivers Improvement Act plays a specific role in contributing to the protection of fish habitat. Other legislation including the Public Lands Act, and the Aggregate Resources Act, also indirectly supports the protection of fish habitat. 6

21 The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act enables the OMNR to provide sound management of the province's fish and wildlife. Further to this, the Endangered Species Act ensures the conservation, protection, restoration or propagation of flora and fauna species that are threatened with extinction in Ontario. A current initiative to streamline Ontario s fishing regulations is underway. Activities seek to increase angler satisfaction by making regulations easier to understand, thereby increasing angler compliance. In addition, this streamlining will improve fisheries management by providing a more consistent approach to managing fisheries on a landscape basis and developing a regulation review process that ensures consistency across broader areas of the province. In 1976, OMNR developed a long-term plan for managing Ontario's fisheries resources (Strategic Plan for Ontario Fisheries - SPOF I). With Public consultation, OMNR designed a new strategy in 1992 (SPOF II), which identifies ecological, economic, and social values placed on our fisheries, and maps out a course of action to sustain aquatic ecosystems for the future. SPOF II consists of four parts (outlined below) and provides a basis for actions involving the public and private sectors. Goal for Ontario s Fisheries To have "healthy aquatic ecosystems that provide sustainable benefits, contributing to society's present and future requirements for a high quality environment, wholesome food, employment and income, recreational activity, and cultural heritage" Objectives To protect healthy aquatic ecosystems To rehabilitate degraded aquatic ecosystems To improve cultural, social and economic benefits from Ontario's fisheries resource Guiding Principles Sustainable development Limit to resource Natural reproduction Knowledge Societal benefits Strategic Management Actions Protect and rehabilitate aquatic ecosystems Involve the public in decision making Ensure resources are appropriately valued Improve program management and coordination Acquire and communicate knowledge Enforce firmly and effectively Provincial - Ontario Ministry of the Environment The Ontario Ministry of the Environment is the provincial agency responsible for enforcing the Environmental Protection Act, Environmental Assessment Act, Nutrient Management Act, Pesticide Act, Ontario Water Resources Act, and the Clean Water Act. 7

22 Chapter 1 - Introduction The Environmental Protection Act prohibits the discharge of anything that causes or has the potential to cause an adverse environmental effect. The Environmental Assessment Act provides for the protection, conservation and best management of the environment. The Nutrient Management Act provides for the management of nutrients applied to agricultural lands and requires compliance with nutrient management strategies and plans (discussed in more detail below Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and Rural Affairs). The Pesticides Act and Regulation 914 provide the province's regulatory framework for pesticide management to protect human health and the natural environment. The OMOE, through the legislation, regulates the sale, use, transportation, storage and disposal of pesticides. The Ontario Water Resources Act prohibits the discharges of any substance that may impair the quality of any water and Section 34 of the same act requires a person to obtain a water taking permit if they are taking more than 50,000 litres of water per day from any watercourse. Water quantity protection involves managing water withdrawals and maintaining the recharge that replenishes ground water and sustains ground water discharge to surface water. In determining whether water is being over-used, or the sustainability of future supplies, it is necessary to determine how much water must remain in the environment. Environmental water needs should be defined as a regime of water flows, levels and quality that is required to sustain a healthy ecosystem. The regime of water flows and levels that is required to sustain a healthy ecosystem and the tolerance of the ecosystem to changes should be determined based on hydrology, water quality, geomorphology, connectivity, and biology. The science for determining environmental water needs is in its infancy and evolving rapidly. Building upon existing pilot projects for defining ecological water needs, research should be undertaken to evaluate methodologies for determining the regime of water flows, levels and quality required to sustain a healthy ecosystem and for determining the tolerance of the ecosystem to changes in the hydrologic regime. Options for managing water taking (i.e. demand management) include managing new and expanding water taking, implementing water efficiency and water conservation programs and practices, and maintaining drought contingency plans. The Clean Water Act received Royal Assent on October 19, 2006 and was enacted on July 3, The Act ensures that communities are able to identify potential risks to their supply of drinking water, and take action to reduce or eliminate these risks. 8

23 Municipalities, conservation authorities, landowners, farmers, industry, community groups and the public would all work together to meet common goals. The legislation establishes source protection areas and requires that a source protection plan be developed for each area. In areas of the province where there are conservation authorities, the source protection area is the conservation authority area, and the conservation authority (the source protection authority ) has the role of facilitating the source protection planning process for that area. Additional source protection areas outside of conservation authority areas may be established by regulations Provincial - Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) works closely with farmers and other agencies to enhance the protection of aquatic environments. Several Best Management Practices have been developed to assist farmers in the protection of fish habitat and water quality. OMAFRA has legislative responsibilities for the protection of the environment within the Drainage Act and the Nutrient Management Act. The Drainage Act is a legislative tool that allows landowners to petition their municipalities to resolve drainage problems. The municipality administers the legislative process used to develop drainage works and assesses project cost to landowners within the drainage system s watershed. The process ensures public involvement through consultative meetings and an appeal procedure. DFO recognizes the important contribution of agriculture to Ontario s economy and the contribution that fish habitat in agricultural drains makes towards sustainable fisheries. A Class Authorization system was developed to strike a balance between the need to protect fish habitat and the need to provide drainage to agricultural lands. The system streamlines the process of reviewing the effects of drain maintenance activities on fish habitat under the Fisheries Act. The Nutrient Management Act, 2002, (hereafter referred to as the Nutrient Management Act ) was developed by the OMOE and OMAFRA, as part of the government's Clean Water Program. The Act provides a framework for setting clear, consistent standards and environmental protection guidelines for nutrient management on farms, municipalities and other generators of materials containing nutrients. It builds on the existing system by giving current best management practices the force of law, and creating comprehensive, enforceable, province-wide standards to regulate the management of all land-applied materials containing nutrients. The Act contains amendments to the Environmental Protection Act, the Highway Traffic Act, the Ontario Water Resources Act and the Pesticides Act, and consequential amendments to the Farming and Food Production Protection Act,

24 Chapter 1 - Introduction to ensure consistency and give higher recognition to the standards. The Act was passed in June It came into force on July 1, 2003 What farms are covered by the Nutrient Management Act and Regulation? Currently the Regulation is limited to new farms, and farms that are expanding to become large operations. It applies to: Operations that are placing new barns on a separate property where farm animals will generate more than 5 nutrient units*; Large livestock operations where there are enough farm animals present to generate 300 nutrient units or more; and Existing large livestock facilities that are expanding and will move into the large category (at or over 300 nutrient units). (*A nutrient unit is the amount of manure that gives the fertilizer replacement value of the lower of 43 kg of nitrogen or 55 kilograms of phosphate. For example, one beef cow may constitute one nutrient unit, while 8 goats could equal one nutrient unit. A large livestock operation, then, could have more than 300 beef cows or more than 2400 goats to be subject to this regulation, depending on the relevant calculations made under the Nutrient Management Protocol.) By September 30, 2003 all new and expanding livestock farms must complete a nutrient management strategy or plan. On July 1, 2005 these regulations will apply to all existing operations of 300 nutrient units or more (not just new and expanding operations). The provincial government decided to postpone extending this regulation to smaller farms until 2008 at the earliest. Whether they will be subject to this Regulation depends now on the advice of the Provincial Advisory Committee on Nutrient Management, the availability of funding and the decisions of the current government Provincial - Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing The Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (OMMAH) identifies and protects provincial interests and promotes sound infrastructure planning, environmental protection, economic development and safe communities. To achieve this OMMAH is responsible for several statutes which legislate acceptable land-use direction in Ontario including the Planning Act, Green Belt Act, 2005, and the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Act. The Planning Act establishes the foundation for land use planning in Ontario and describes how land uses may be controlled, and who may control them. Specifically, the Act: 10

25 promotes sustainable economic development in a healthy natural environment within a provincial policy framework provides for a land use planning system led by provincial policy integrates matters of provincial interest into provincial and municipal planning decisions by requiring all decision-makers to have regard to the Provincial Policy Statement provides for planning processes that are fair by making them open, accessible, timely and efficient encourages co-operation and coordination among various interests recognizes the decision-making authority and accountability of municipal councils in planning To promote provincial interests, such as protecting farmland, natural resources and the environment, the provincial government has released a Provincial Policy Statement under the authority of Section 3 of the Planning Act. It provides direction on matters of provincial interest related to land use planning and development, and promotes the provincial policy-led planning system. The new Provincial Policy Statement came into effect on March 1, This coincides with the effective date of Section 2 of the Strong Communities (Planning Amendment) Act, 2004, which requires that planning decisions on applications that are subject to the new PPS shall be consistent with the new policies. The Greenbelt Act, 2005, came into effect on February 24, It enables the Lieutenant Governor in Council to make a regulation creating a Greenbelt Area in the Golden Horseshoe area and to establish a Greenbelt Plan by Order in Council, which contains land use designations and policies to govern the lands within the Greenbelt Area. The objectives of the Greenbelt Plan are: to establish a network of countryside and open space areas which supports the Oak Ridges Moraine and the Niagara Escarpment; to sustain the countryside, rural and small towns and contribute to the economic viability of farming communities; to preserve agricultural land as a continuing commercial source of food and employment; to recognize the critical importance of the agriculture sector to the regional economy; to provide protection to the land base needed to maintain, restore and improve the ecological and hydrological functions of the Greenbelt Area; to promote connections between lakes and the Oak Ridges Moraine and Niagara Escarpment; to provide open space and recreational, tourism and cultural heritage opportunities to support the social needs of a rapidly expanding and increasingly urbanized population; to promote linkages between ecosystems and provincial parks or public lands; to control urbanization of the lands to which the Greenbelt Plan applies; 11

26 Chapter 1 - Introduction to ensure that the development of transportation and infrastructure proceeds in an environmentally sensitive manner; to promote sustainable resource use; The Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Act, 2001, provides authority to establish the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan to protect the ecological and hydrological integrity of the Oak Ridges Moraine. The Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan governs specific land uses to protect the ecological and hydrological integrity of the Oak Ridges Moraine and to ensure a continuous natural environment for future generations, while providing compatible social and economic opportunities. The Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Act (2001) directs municipalities to bring their official plans into conformity with the Plan and to ensure that the decisions they make on development applications conform to the Plan. As such, the Plan will be implemented mainly at the municipal level. However, where municipal official plans or zoning bylaws conflict with the provincial policy, the provincial policy will prevail. Within the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan, watercourses are included in the Hydrologically Sensitive Features category, and receive a minimum vegetation protection buffer of 30 m from any part of the feature. Fish habitat is included in the Key Natural Heritage Features category, also receiving a minimum vegetation protection buffer of 30 m from any part of the feature. The Plan s water resource policies require municipalities to prepare watershed plans, water budgets and water conservation plans to incorporate into their official plans within specified time periods. Restrictions on large-scale development are imposed if this work is not completed Provincial - Ontario Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal The Ontario Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal (PIR) is responsible for providing a broad framework for planning and coordinating the government s investments in public infrastructure and for growth planning in the province. PIR has the overall responsibility for fostering and implementing the government s long-term plan for growth. On June 13, Bill 136, the Places to Grow Act 2005 received Royal Assent. The act provides a legal framework necessary for the government to designate any geographic area of the province as a growth area and develop a growth plan in collaboration with local officials and stakeholders to meet specific needs across the province. The Places to Grow Act enables the government to plan for population growth, economic expansion and the protection of the environment, agricultural lands and other valuable resources in a co-ordinated and strategic way. The legislation is provincial in scope and allows for growth plans in any part of Ontario. 12

27 A regulation was also passed identifying the Greater Golden Horseshoe as the first area in the province for which a growth plan would be prepared under the Places to Grow Act. The Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe was finalized and released in June of Conservation Authorities Ontario s Conservation Authorities are empowered by the Conservation Authorities Act to undertake programs to further the conservation, restoration, development, and management of natural resources on a watershed basis. The Conservation Authorities Act allows regulations that: Pertain to the use of water Prohibit or require permission to interfere in any way with the existing channel of a watercourse or wetland Prohibit or require a permit to undertake development (construction, structural alterations, grading, filling) in areas where the control of flooding, erosion, dynamic beaches, pollution or the conservation of lands may be affected Conservation Authorities have indirect responsibility to participate in fisheries management through the Conservation Authorities Act, particularly Ontario Regulation 168. This regulation requires a permit from the conservation authority prior to various works taking place (e.g. altering a watercourse, constructing any building in the floodplain or placing fill in a regulated area). Conservation Authorities are also responsible for watershed planning and play an important role by providing First on the Scene support and by referring potential occurrences to primary agency(ies) Municipal Level At the municipal level, fish habitat receives protection indirectly through Official Plan designation of green space or open space, Zoning By-law, stormwater management, site plan and subdivision approval, and through development setbacks and by not permitting land uses that are incompatible with natural heritage objectives. The Durham Region Official Plan and the Clarington Official Plan regulate land use in the Wilmot Creek watershed under the authority of the Planning Act. An official plan sets out local, or regional council's policies on how land in a community should be used. It is prepared with input from citizens and helps to ensure that future planning and development will meet the specific needs of the community. The new Provincial Policy Statement (PPS) requires that planning decisions (Official Plans) shall be consistent with the new provincial directives. 13

28 Chapter 1 - Introduction An official plan deals mainly with issues such as: where new housing, industry, offices and shops will go what services like roads, watermains, sewers, parks and schools will be needed when and in what order parts of your community will grow The Durham Region Official Plan was adopted by Regional Council in 1991 and approved by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing in The plan includes a Regional Structure that generally consists of urban areas, agricultural areas, a major open space system and rural settlements. The Durham Region Official Plan also identifies environmentally sensitive areas (ESA). Currently, fish habitat is primarily protected through the major open space and environmental policies which require that development applications in proximity to an ESA undertake an environmental impact study. It should be noted, however, that the Region is currently completing their Official Plan Review process which, amongst other items, will bring the plan into conformity with the Greenbelt Plan and significantly strengthen the environmental policies. Included in the amendment will be a schedule designating a Greenbelt natural heritage system and key natural heritage and hydrologic features. Consistent with the Greenbelt Plan and Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan, the amendment to the Durham Region Official Plan includes a policy which states that, with some limited exceptions, development and site alteration is not permitted in key natural heritage and/or hydrologic features, including any associated vegetation protection zone. Within urban areas and rural settlements, the vegetation protection zone shall be determined through an environmental impact study. Outside of these areas, an environmental impact study will be required for any development or site alteration within 120 metres of a key natural heritage or hydrologic feature to identify the vegetation protection zone. The vegetation protection zone for wetlands, seepage areas and springs, fish habitat, permanent and intermittent streams, lakes and significant woodlands will be a minimum of 30 metres. Municipalities also work closely with their local Conservation Authorities, through watershed planning, the development of watershed level fisheries management plans, the plan review process, and through support of Authority policies and programs. 1.4 PLAN IMPLEMENTATION The Wilmot Creek Fisheries Management Plan is an important tool for ensuring the future protection and maintenance of the fisheries and fish habitat of the creek, however, benefits to the fishery will only come with the effective implementation of the plan. Implementing the actions will require a concerted effort between the stakeholders including federal, provincial and municipal governments, non-governmental organizations, angling clubs, farmers, land owners and private citizens. 14

29 To be successful, a committed and enthusiastic Implementation Committee needs to be established and should include some members that served on the Technical Steering Committee and Community Advisory Council, as well as other interested stakeholders. The Implementation Committee will be tasked with coordinating the implementation of the management strategies and recommendations made in this plan. This will include developing partnerships, securing resources to complete work, and providing technical and scientific expertise to implementation teams and individuals. It is important that the implementation of management actions be monitored to evaluate the success of the FMP so that the plan can be modified accordingly when scheduled for review. Only through effective implementation will we protect, maintain and enhance this important resource. 15

30

31 Chapter 2 Introduction The 97km 2 Wilmot Creek watershed contains approximately 173 kilometres of watercourses including Wilmot, Foster, Hunter, Stalker and Orono creeks and their many smaller unnamed tributaries. The watershed is situated along the north shore of Lake Ontario (at a latitude of approximately 43 o 54 N and a longitude of approximately 78 o 36 W) east of Toronto but within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). It is in the jurisdiction of the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority and provincial fisheries management zone seventeen (formerly fishing division six) of the Aurora District OMNR. The watershed is in the Municipality of Clarington (former Clarke and Darlington Townships), which is part of the Regional Municipality of Durham. Urban and rural settlements in this area include Newcastle, Orono, Kirby, and Leskard (Fig. 2.1). Population and housing statistics for the Municipality of Clarington indicate that the area will see significant urban development in the coming years. Ward 4 of the Municipality of Clarington (former Clarke Township), which encompasses the majority of the Wilmot Creek watershed, has a population of 13,773 people (2006) and is expected to increase by 43% (to 19,700) by Most of this growth will occur in Newcastle Village (Municipality of Clarington, Personal Communications, 2007). Delineation of Fisheries Management Zones The delineation of fisheries management units within a watershed is often necessary to facilitate the effective management of areas with common attributes. The rationale and methodology for the delineation must make strong management sense based on watershed characteristics such as distinct fish communities, subwatersheds, riverine habitat categories, unique geology, physiography or any combination of these or other attributes. In order to facilitate local stakeholder involvement and the effective implementation of management strategies, the Wilmot Creek watershed was subdivided into smaller management units (Fig. 2.2). Seven fisheries management zones (FMZ) were delineated based on the presence of distinct fish communities, due in part to surficial geology and the presence of barriers to fish migration. Zone delineation between creek systems in the watershed was based on an enhanced flow direction grid. The delineation process and subsequent spatial analysis of attributes within the watershed were performed using Geographic Information System (GIS) software. 17

32 Chapter 2 Watershed Characteristics Figure 2.1. Wilmot Creek watershed and its location in relation to major waterbodies, regional and local municipalities, and the Greater Toronto Area. 18

33 Figure 2.2. Wilmot Creek watershed delineated into seven fisheries management zones 19

34 Chapter 2 Watershed Characteristics 2.0 WILMOT CREEK WATERSHED Watershed Characteristics The following sections are intended to provide the reader with a brief summary of the characteristics of the Wilmot Creek watershed and fisheries management zones. Many of the topics and concepts discussed here are examined in greater detail in the appendices in an attempt to create linkages and lead the reader through the interactions of this dynamic creek system. Geology and Physiography The Oak Ridges Moraine is the prominent geological landform in the Wilmot Creek watershed, separating the streams flowing into Lake Ontario from those flowing into Georgian Bay, Lake Simcoe and the Trent River. Beginning on the moraine, the headwaters of Wilmot Creek flow south over the Halton Till and Newmarket Till Plains, and over glacial deposits left from the Lake Iroquois shoreline and Lake Iroquois Plain before emptying into Lake Ontario. The diverse physiography in the watershed allows for cold-water and cool-water habitats in Wilmot Creek and its tributaries and warmwater habitat in Foster Creek and the lower reaches of Wilmot Creek. Additional information on the physiography, geology and historical anthropogenic influences on the watershed and its fisheries are available in The Wilmot Creek Study: Spatial and Temporal Analysis of Fish Communities in the Wilmot Basin (DesJardins and Stanfield, 2005). Water Quality The major vectors for impaired water quality in a stream include overland runoff (e.g. rainwater from an impervious parking lot), point source pollution (e.g. sewage and stormwater outfalls) and atmospheric deposition (e.g. acid rain). Land use activities have direct implications on local watercourses (See Water Quality and Modeling the Impacts of Land-use on Aquatic Habitats in Lake Ontario Streams in Appendices). Urban runoff from impervious surfaces can carry toxic pollutants into neighbouring streams. Alternatively, land cover like that of forested table lands or vegetated riparian zones act as a buffer and help to mitigate the effect of land uses. In addition to the above, there are a number of stressors that affect water quality including livestock access, leachate from landfill sites, fertilizers and pesticides, excessive erosion from agricultural land and unvegetated stream banks or streams that are not connected with the floodplain. There is a lack of available water quality data for the entire Wilmot Creek watershed. The need for better understanding of water quality and sources of pollution is recognized as an important step to managing the fisheries in Wilmot Creek and recommendation to improve our understanding are addressed in tables of Chapter 3. 20

35 Stream Order Ordering streams based on the method developed by Strahler (1964) is a common practice for grouping watercourses based on similar characteristics (e.g. stream size and flow). Based on this method, single, unbranched tributaries are classified as first order streams. A second order stream starts at the confluence of two first order streams and ends at its confluence with another second order stream, forming a third order stream, and so on. With increasing stream order comes increasing stream size, flow, habitat complexity, instream productivity and fish species diversity. Typically, first to third order streams are headwaters with high gradient and erosion potential. Fourth to sixth order streams are wider with riffle and pool areas, greater depositional substrate (e.g. sand), and the power to move large woody material. Stream order was determined for the Wilmot Creek watershed (Fig. 2.3) using 1:10,000 Ontario Base Map (OBM) data. A summary of stream order can be seen in Table 2.1. Table 2.1. Summary of Strahler stream order in the Wilmot Creek watershed. Stream Order Number of Streams Total Stream Length (km) Proportion of Total Stream Length First Second Third Fourth Fifth TOTAL Stream Slope Stream slope is a major factor in controlling stream morphology including the rate of erosion and deposition of substrate in a watercourse. Watercourses with steep slopes are typically straighter with high velocities and erosion potential than those with low slopes. The resulting habitat characteristics in these streams are high ratios of riffles and larger substrate like cobbles and boulders in reaches with high slopes and high ratios of pools and fine substrates like sands and silts in those with low slopes. A summary and distribution of stream characteristics by stream slope and the proportions of each of these habitat types in the Wilmot Creek watershed can be found in Table 2.2 and Figure 2.4 respectively. 21

36 Chapter 2 Watershed Characteristics Table 2.2. Summary of stream morphology and substrate and the length (km) and proportion (in parentheses) of these attributes in the Wilmot Creek watershed. Slope Stream Characteristics Substrate (%) Length and Proportion typically sinuous; greater pool-to-riffle ratio sands and silts (1.1) (47.2) relatively sinuous; more or less even poolto-riffle ratio gravels and cobbles (51.4) > (0.2) riffles out-number pools; higher water velocities; less sinuous riffles predominate; water velocities and erosional forces high; typically straight stream channel large gravels, cobbles and boulders boulders, cobble and hard clay 22

37 Figure 2.3. Strahler stream order of all watercourses within the Wilmot Creek watershed. 23

38 Chapter 2 Watershed Characteristics Figure 2.4. Stream slope for all watercourses within the Wilmot Creek watershed. 24

39 Instream Barriers Instream barriers can include natural barriers like beaver dams and log jams, and humanbuilt water control structures including culverts, weirs, and dams, which are obstructions to fish migration. These obstructions can sometimes separate upstream fish communities from those downstream, in some cases providing protection from competition. For example, populations of native brook trout in the headwaters are particularly vulnerable to interspecific competition from migratory salmonids and barriers provide a refuge for these communities. However, while the barrier might seem beneficial in this case, the results of long-term isolation can have detrimental effects on genetic diversity (Wofford et al. 2004, Novinger and Rahel 2003). In addition to obstructing fish, these barriers impede the natural passage of wood and sediment and can have an impact on water quality and fish habitat. There are relatively few human-built barriers to fish migration in the Wilmot Creek watershed compared to other watersheds in the GTA. At this time there are three known barriers (Fig. 2.5). These include the Orono Mill Pond dam in Orono Creek, which is a barrier to all fish, and partial barriers (perched culverts, barriers to non-jumping fish) at the CPR crossing on the mainstem of Wilmot Creek below the third concession and at the Highway 35/115 crossing on the east branch of Orono Creek. Figure 2.5. Instream Barriers in the Wilmot Creek watershed. 25

40 Chapter 2 Watershed Characteristics Land Use/Land Cover Land use in the Wilmot Creek watershed is predominantly agricultural (Fig. 2.6). In 2002, approximately 52% of the total land use in the watershed was for agricultural purposes, of which intensive agriculture accounted for over 43%. Other major land use and land cover types include forest, cultural habitats, rural development and urbanized land (Table 2.3). Table 2.3. Proportion of land uses and land cover types in the Wilmot Creek watershed and fisheries management zones. Land use/land cover data was derived from the 2003 GRCA Ecological Land Classification System (ELC). Note that some land cover types (e.g. treed swamps) are included in both forest and wetland habitat groupings. Land Use/Land Cover Watershed Fisheries Management Zones Agriculture Intensive Non-intensive Forest Coniferous Forest Deciduous Forest Mixed Forest Coniferous Treed Swamp Deciduous Treed Swamp Mixed Treed Swamp Cultural Woodlands Cultural Plantations Wetland Meadow Marsh Shallow Marsh Coniferous Treed Swamp Deciduous Treed Swamp Mixed Treed Swamp Thicket Swamp Shallow Aquatic Cultural Habitats Meadow Plantation Savannah Thicket Woodland Rural Development Urban Development Other Open Beach Bar Aggregate Extraction Manicured Open Space Road

41 Figure 2.6. Land use/land cover in the Wilmot Creek watershed. Land use/land cover data was derived from the 2003 GRCA Ecological Land Classification System (ELC). 27

42 Chapter 2 Watershed Characteristics Forest Cover Environment Canada suggests a minimum of 30% forest cover in Areas of Concern (AOC) watersheds (Environment Canada 2004). Currently 24% of the watershed is forested, the majority of which is located along the mainstem and headwaters of Wilmot Creek and in the lower portions of Stalker Creek. While the Environment Canada guideline is largely based on terrestrial species, specifically birds, it is known that more empirical evidence on the effect of forest loss on non-bird species is needed. Nonetheless, these guidelines are suggested for the Wilmot Creek watershed, recognizing that forest cover plays an important role in table lands, assisting in the infiltration of water and resulting maintenance of the hydrograph. Forest cover in the Wilmot Creek watershed was measured using GIS and ELC data. Naturally vegetated coniferous, deciduous and mixed forests, and treed swamp types were included in the analysis, in addition to cultural woodlands and plantations. Wetland Cover It is estimated that by 1982, 33.4% of Durham Region s wetlands had been lost, primarily by conversion to agricultural land (Snell 1988). Currently, just 1.5% of the Wilmot Creek watershed is comprised of wetland cover, most of which is located in the coastal wetland in Fisheries Management Zone One. Based on experience in the Great Lakes Basin, Environment Canada suggests that approximately 10 percent of a watershed should be composed of wetland habitats (Environment Canada 2004). Wetlands are recognized for their ability to store run-off thereby minimizing peak flows and for helping to maintain base flows by aiding in groundwater recharge. In addition to these attributes, wetlands play an important role in improving water quality and providing essential habitat for fish and wildlife. Riparian Habitat Riparian habitat refers to the vegetation or cover along the banks of the stream corridor. Ecologically, riparian vegetation helps to maintain bank stability thereby decreasing erosion and shades the stream helping to maintain coldwater habitat. In addition, the contribution of organic and woody material from riparian vegetation provides cover for aquatic species and helps to maintain sediment regimes. Lastly, it provides habitat for insects which are a food source for fish. Riparian buffers provide greater benefits to smaller order streams (first to third order) due to the characteristics of these watercourses, (e.g. high slope, fast-flowing water, narrow width, etc.). As a result, Environment Canada recommends that riparian plantings be prioritized towards lower order watercourses (Environment Canada 2004). A summary of vegetated stream length by Strahler stream order for the Wilmot Creek watershed can be seen in Table

43 Table 2.4 Proportion of vegetated stream length by Strahler stream order in the Wilmot Creek watershed. Riparian vegetation data was derived from the 2003 GRCA Ecological Land Classification System (ELC) Stream Order 1 st 2 nd 3 rd 4 th 5 th All Riparian Cover Vegetated Other Riparian habitat was measured in the Wilmot Creek watershed using GIS and Ecological Land Classification (ELC) data on 30 metres from each side of the watercourse. Vegetated areas included natural forest and treed swamps habitats in addition to cultural forests (plantations and woodlands). It should be noted that riparian vegetation generally refers to woody vegetation and may not take into account natural grassy vegetation which may be sufficient and possibly preferable in some areas (e.g. on the banks of first order streams). It also should be noted that while all analyses were performed on a 30 metre buffer of the watercourse, which is a commonly accepted minimum width (EC 2004, OMAH 2002), it may be insufficient in some areas (i.e. in some areas sufficient riparian habitat may include the meander belt width plus 30 metres to account for future movement of the watercourse) (See Riparian Vegetation in Appendices). While the 30 metre buffer is a guideline, it is based solely on fisheries values and there is increasing scientific support to extend this guideline to 50 metres (EC 2004). Additional criteria including floodplain area, slope stability and wildlife may result in much wider zones. Land Disturbance Index (LDI) Human land use has direct and indirect effects on physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of streams. In light of future development pressures facing Southern Ontario streams, relating ecological condition to varying levels of development is essential to help predict and mitigate impacts ensuring that irreversible damages do not occur. The use of models to predict the impacts of land disturbance has become a powerful tool and is well represented in scientific literature (Kilgour and Stanfield 2006, Stanfield and Kilgour 2006, Stanfield et al. 2006). To quantify the relationship between land use disturbance and aquatic ecosystem health in southern Ontario streams, Stanfield and Kilgour (2006) developed a locally derived model called the Land Disturbance Index (or LDI) which incorporates fish, benthic invertebrates, in-stream habitat and landscape data from sites across the north shore of Lake Ontario, including Wilmot Creek. The use of LDI will help to generate landscape targets to ensure the maintenance of aquatic health within the Wilmot system. The model predicts a threshold response for fish communities in response to increased land disturbance in which there is a presence of 29

44 Chapter 2 Watershed Characteristics salmonids in streams with low amounts of impervious cover and an absence of salmonids in streams with high amounts of impervious cover (Stanfield and Kilgour 2006) (See Modeling the Impacts of Land-use on Aquatic Habitats in Lake Ontario Streams in Appendices). In the following sections, LDI values (thresholds) are given for each fisheries management zone as they relate to the proportions of land use within and upstream of each catchment. Land Use Planning Like all watersheds in the GTA, Wilmot Creek will see future development. The implications of this development will be additional pressures on the coldwater fishery, which serves as an indicator of ecosystem health. To ensure the long-term health of this ecosystem, any future land use planning must consider appropriate fish habitat protection measures. During the early stages of the planning process, the proponents, DFO, OMNR, OMOE and the GRCA ensure that approved developments meet the legislative requirements of the Planning Act, the Environmental Assessment Act, the Fisheries Act, the Public Lands Act, the Lakes and Rivers Improvement Act, the Ontario Water Resources Act and the Conservation Authorities Act. Construction timing windows for in-water works are set by the OMNR based on periods of fish spawning for warm and coldwater species (Table 2.5). Both warm and cold water fish communities are present in the Wilmot Creek watershed; therefore, any project planning must take these timing windows into account in their respective areas to ensure there is minimal impact to the fishery (Fig. 2.7). Table 2.5. Construction timing windows for in-water works in southern Ontario. Habitat Category Timing Window Conditions Cold Water July 1 st to September 15 th N/A Warm Water July 1 st to March 31 st Where migratory species are present, cold-water timing windows may apply to ensure passage to spawning habitat is maintained. Presence of Species at Risk may result in the requirement of a cold-water timing window. The following sections will describe in detail the attributes of each fisheries management zone, specifically the extent and size of the zones, length of watercourses within the zones and a summary of land use and surficial geology. Accompanying the text are figures to display the extent and location of land use and land cover types for use in understanding the processes at work in the watershed and identifying opportunities for reforestation, riparian plantings, etc. 30

45 Figure 2.7. Thermal Regimes of Wilmot Creek watercourses and their associated construction timing windows for in-water works. 31

46 Chapter 2 Watershed Characteristics Watershed Fish Community Objectives As mentioned in the Fish Community Objectives for Lake Ontario (Stewart et al. 1999), to be effective, fish-community objectives must: Reflect the most-current and complete scientific understanding of the watershed Be responsive to the social, economic, and cultural needs of fishery stakeholders The management recommendations and fish community objectives of the Wilmot Creek FMP are based on current science and a multidisciplinary understanding of the watershed. They also take into account the social, economic and cultural needs of the fishery stakeholders which were identified through the public consultation process. Through this process, we found that the stakeholders of Wilmot Creek greatly value the trout and salmon fishery, specifically native brook trout and migratory naturalized rainbow trout, although species preferences varied among individual anglers and angling clubs. All stakeholders supported the principles of native-species rehabilitation, including expanding the range of resident brook trout. Atlantic salmon, although extirpated and the subject of current restoration initiatives are widely regarded as being one of the most desirable and highly prized salmonids due to their native history in the watershed. The following objectives will guide fisheries management recommendations in Wilmot Creek. Objectives are described for the entire watershed, and each fisheries management zone. Management actions and recommendations to support these fish community objectives are summarized for the entire watershed and by fisheries management zone in Chapter 3. The Wilmot Creek fish community will be composed of diverse, self-sustaining native fish species characterized by: OBJECTIVE 1. Maintenance of a diverse native fish community including both sport and non-sport fishes 2. Maintenance and/or increase of existing brook trout abundance and distribution into favourable habitats 3. Reintroduction of extirpated Atlantic salmon into their historical range 4. Population levels of yellow perch, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and sunfishes attractive to anglers in the lower reaches of the system (e.g. within the coastal wetland) INDICATOR Continued presence and steady abundance of all native fish during monitoring and assessment programs Steady or increased catch rates and presence of brook trout during monitoring and assessment Increased catch rates and presence of Atlantic salmon during monitoring and assessment programs Maintenance of catch rates during assessment programs and in creel surveys of recreational anglers 32

47 5. Protection and restoration of species at risk populations and distribution, including Atlantic salmon and northern brook lamprey, and those species that are identified as being potentially at risk (brassy minnow, rainbow darter and American brook lamprey) Steady or increased catch rates for species at risk during assessment programs The Wilmot Creek native fish community will be supplemented with self sustaining naturalized salmonids characterized by: OBJECTIVE 1. Maintenance and increase of migratory salmonid abundance including rainbow trout and Chinook salmon INDICATOR Steady or increased catch rates and presence of naturalized salmonids during monitoring and assessment 2.1 FISHERIES MANAGEMENT ZONE ONE Characteristics This 0.14km 2 fisheries management zone is located directly adjacent to Lake Ontario and includes the regionally significant Newcastle Coastal Marsh (Fig. 2.8), a designated life science Area of Natural or Scientific Interest (ANSI). The fish community is dominated by warm-water species including yellow perch (Perca flavescens) and northern pike (Esox lucius) from Lake Ontario, however, the area is a migratory corridor and potential staging area for adult and juvenile salmonids and will be managed accordingly. The LDI value in this zone is considered moderate (6.5 to 8.5) and able to support coldwater migratory species like rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The surficial geology in zone one is composed largely of modern river deposits (84%), with Newmarket Till (14%) and silt and clay glacial lake deposits (2%) contributing the remainder. Land cover is dominated by wetland habitats (65%) including shallow marsh, and thicket and deciduous swamps. The remainder of the zone is composed of cultural meadow, deciduous forest and open beach bar. Fourteen percent of this zone is Crown land (Samuel Wilmot Nature Area). 33

48 Chapter 2 Watershed Characteristics Figure 2.8. Wilmot Creek Fisheries Management Zone 1. Fish Community Objectives The Fisheries Management Zone 1 fish community will be composed of diverse, selfsustaining native fish species characterized by: OBJECTIVE 1. Population levels of yellow perch, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and sunfishes attractive to anglers in the lower reaches of the system (e.g. within the coastal wetland) INDICATOR Maintenance of catch rates during assessment programs and in creel surveys of recreational anglers This zone will continue to act as an important migratory route and staging area for salmonids and will facilitate passage to upstream spawning areas. 34

49 2.2 FISHERIES MANAGEMENT ZONE TWO Characteristics This 4.4km 2 fisheries management zone is located upstream from the coastal marsh to the CPR tracks below the 3 rd Concession where the culvert is a barrier to non-jumping fish species moving upstream (Fig. 2.9). The area contains approximately 5.6 kilometres of the mainstem of Wilmot Creek and its tributaries. These waters have moderate to good LDI ratings which can support migratory salmonids, the species that this zone will be managed for. Salmonid spawning does occur in this zone; however, catch from assessment programs has typically been dominated by warm-water species like darters and cyprinids. The zone is also an important staging, fall feeding and over-wintering area, and a migratory route for adult and juvenile salmonids. Additional information on the distribution and abundance of fish species in this zone can be found in the Wilmot Creek background study (DesJardins and Stanfield, 2005). The surficial geology in zone two is composed of silt and clay glacial lake deposits (70%), Newmarket Till (16%) and modern river deposits (14%). This area has been geomorphically unstable with extensive erosion and channel movement (Desjardins and Stanfield 2005). In recent years, a plunge pool which acted as a holding area for migrating fish located downstream of the railway bridge has become filled with material likely originating from the meander cut that occurred immediately upstream of the crossing. The outlet from this pool has been elevated to the point where there is no longer a drop from the culverts to the river. It is uncertain how long this feature will last, because the river continues to down cut into parent material, exposing clay in many areas. Land use in this zone is predominantly agricultural (56%). Urbanized land, roads and rural development from the village of Newcastle account for 13% of this zone. Forest and wetland cover accounts for 13% and 4% respectively. Cultural habitats including meadow, thicket and savannah account for 19%. Located in the area along the creek is a strip of Crown land (Wilmot Creek Fish Area) covering approximately 9% of the zone, of which 49% is the Newcastle Coastal Marsh ANSI extending from zone one to the CNR tracks south of Highway 401. Fish Community Objectives The fish communities of Fisheries Management Zone 2 will be composed of diverse, selfsustaining native fish species characterized by: OBJECTIVE 1. Reintroduction of extirpated Atlantic salmon into their historical range INDICATOR Increased catch rates and presence of Atlantic salmon during monitoring and assessment programs 35

50 Chapter 2 Watershed Characteristics Figure 2.9. Wilmot Creek Fisheries Management Zone 2. 36

51 The fish communities of Fisheries Management Zone 2 will be composed of diverse, selfsustaining naturalized salmonid species characterized by: OBJECTIVE 1. Maintenance and increase of existing migratory salmonid abundance 2. Maintenance and increase of resident brown trout abundance INDICATOR Increased catch rates and presence of rainbow trout and Chinook salmon during monitoring and assessment programs Increased catch rates and presence of brown trout during monitoring and assessment programs 2.3 FISHERIES MANAGEMENT ZONE THREE Characteristics This management zone is the subwatershed of Foster Creek with the exception of the outlet into the coastal marsh. It drains approximately 9.6km 2 of land and contains approximately 15.3 kilometres of watercourses (Fig. 2.10). The Foster Creek subwatershed has LDI values that exceed the threshold at which salmonid species are considered absent (LDI = >8.5). As a result, the fish community is dominated by warmwater species that are more tolerant to high temperatures and other factors that are caused by a high proportion of urbanized land and intensive agriculture, or a lack of sufficient forest and wetland cover. Located within the Foster Creek subwatershed is the village of Newcastle. The majority of this area is currently zoned as medium density, urban, or future urban residential as outlined in the Municipality of Clarington s Official Plan. By area, the Foster Creek catchment contains the largest proportion of urbanized land (12%) of any fisheries management zone, and rural development contributes another 5%. While there is a large proportion of urbanized land, the landscape is dominated by agricultural land (59%). Land cover types in zone three include wetland (6%), forest (9%) and cultural non-forest habitats (8%). The surficial geology in this area is composed of Newmarket Till (45%) and glacial lake deposits including silt and sand (29%), silt and clay (24%) and sand and gravels (2%) substrates. The Foster Creek subwatershed will be managed for migratory salmonids in an attempt to restore a coldwater fishery and protect the coldwater migratory area and regionally significant coastal marsh located downstream. 37

52 Chapter 2 Watershed Characteristics Figure Wilmot Creek Fisheries Management Zone 3. 38

53 Fish Community Objectives The fish communities of Fisheries Management Zone 3 will be composed of diverse, selfsustaining naturalized salmonid species characterized by: OBJECTIVE 1. Maintenance and increase of existing migratory salmonid abundance 2. Increased capacity of Foster Creek to support coldwater fish species INDICATOR Increased catch rates and presence of rainbow trout and Chinook salmon during monitoring and assessment programs Increased presence of coldwater species during monitoring and assessment programs 2.4 FISHERIES MANAGEMENT ZONE FOUR Characteristics This 10.2km 2 catchment will be managed for migratory salmonids. It encompasses approximately 22.3 kilometres of watercourses, including the mainstem of Wilmot Creek from the CPR tracks upstream to the upper extent of the Lake Iroquois shoreline (close proximity to Concession Road 6/ Taunton Road). This zone also includes the mainstem of Orono Creek from its confluence with Wilmot Creek to the full barrier dam at the Orono Mill Pond and east branch of Orono Creek to the crossing at Highway 35/115 where the culvert is a barrier to non-jumping fish species moving upstream (Fig. 2.11). The LDI values in this zone are good in Wilmot Creek and moderate in Orono Creek, likely the result of the large proportion of intensive agriculture occurring upstream in the headwaters of zones 6 and 7. The waters support fish communities dominated by coldwater migratory species including Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and rainbow trout. The production of these species in zone four likely exceeds all other zones. Additional information on the distribution and abundance of fish species in this zone can be found in the Wilmot Creek background study (DesJardins and Stanfield, 2005). Downstream of the 4 th Concession to the 3 rd Concession, the morphology of the river varies ranging from sections with high energy regimes (immediately downstream of the 4th Concession) to highly meandering sections of river with well defined pools and stable banks (Desjardins and Stanfield 2005). Substrates in these areas are characteristic of their respective energy regimes with coarse substrates and an abundance of riffles in high energy areas, to areas that consist of very shallow homogenous substrate (fine gravels and sands) in low energy areas. Downstream of the 3rd Concession to the CPR bridge, the river flows through a stretch where riparian vegetation is mostly meadow interspersed with narrow bands of forest, particularly on the west bank. 39

54 Chapter 2 Watershed Characteristics Figure Wilmot Creek Fisheries Management Zone 4. 40

55 The surficial geology in this zone is comprised of glacial lake deposits including silt, clay, sand and gravel (72%), modern river deposits (24%) and Newmarket Till (4%). Like all other management zones in the watershed, land use is predominantly agricultural (44%). Other major land uses and land cover types include forest (31%), rural development (8%) and cultural meadow, savannah and thicket habitats (10%). Located in this zone north of Concession Road 4 are the Orono Crown Lands (18%). Fish Community Objectives The fish communities of Fisheries Management Zone 4 will be composed of diverse, selfsustaining native fish species characterized by: OBJECTIVE 1. Reintroduction of extirpated Atlantic salmon into their historical range INDICATOR Increased catch rates and presence of Atlantic salmon during monitoring and assessment programs The fish communities of Fisheries Management Zone 4 will be composed of diverse, selfsustaining naturalized salmonid species characterized by: OBJECTIVE 1. Maintenance and increase of existing migratory salmonid abundance 2. Maintenance and increase of resident brown trout abundance INDICATOR Increased catch rates and presence of rainbow trout and Chinook salmon during monitoring and assessment programs Increased catch rates and presence of brown trout during monitoring and assessment programs 2.5 FISHERIES MANAGEMENT ZONE FIVE Characteristics This zone is being managed for migratory salmonids. The waters of this 8.7km 2 catchment include the lower portions of the Hunter Creek and Stalker Creek tributaries, approximately 16.6 kilometres of watercourse that contain moderate and good LDI values respectively. The zone extends from the Wilmot-Stalker Creek confluence to the upper extent of the Lake Iroquois shoreline (Fig. 2.12). This portion of the drainage area is partially utilized by migratory salmonids but in diminished numbers compared to the mainstem of Wilmot Creek. This can likely be attributed to insufficient habitat in some reaches. As in other fisheries management zones, land use is predominantly agricultural (48%), most of which is concentrated around Hunter Creek. This manifests itself through higher water temperatures and lower base flows. 41

56 Chapter 2 Watershed Characteristics Figure Wilmot Creek Fisheries Management Zone 5. In addition to agriculture, this zone also has the highest proportion of forest (36%) in the watershed. Other land uses and land cover types include cultural meadow, savannah and thicket habitats (10%), and rural development (5%). The surficial geology in this area is composed almost entirely of glacial lake deposits including silt and sand (54%), sand and gravel (25%) and silt and clay (13%) with the remainder being evenly distributed between Newmarket Till and modern river deposits. This is slightly different from the geology in the mainstem of Wilmot Creek and likely contributes to the diminished use by migratory salmonids. Fish Community Objectives The fish communities of Fisheries Management Zone 5 will be composed of diverse, selfsustaining native fish species characterized by: OBJECTIVE 1. Reintroduction of extirpated Atlantic salmon into their historical range INDICATOR Increased catch rates and presence of Atlantic salmon during monitoring and assessment 42

57 programs The fish communities of Fisheries Management Zone 5 will be composed of diverse, selfsustaining naturalized salmonid species characterized by: OBJECTIVE 1. Maintenance and increase of existing migratory salmonid abundance 2. Maintenance and increase of resident brown trout abundance INDICATOR Increased catch rates and presence of rainbow trout and Chinook salmon during monitoring and assessment programs Increased catch rates and presence of brown trout during monitoring and assessment programs 2.6 FISHERIES MANAGEMENT ZONE SIX Characteristics This 17.9km 2 fisheries management zone contains approximately 35.3 kilometres of watercourses, including all portions of Hunter and Stalker Creeks and their tributaries north of the Lake Iroquois shoreline and the east branch of Orono Creek north of Highway 35/115 where the culvert is a barrier to non-jumping fish species moving upstream (Fig. 2.13). The LDI values in these waters range from poor to moderate in the headwaters of Orono and Hunter Creeks and good in the headwaters of Stalker Creek. This portion of the watershed is dominated primarily by a degraded coldwater fish community. Rainbow trout have been sampled from the upper portions of Stalker Creek; however, yearly access of spawning adults is questionable. As in all other fisheries management zones, agricultural land (69%) dominates the landscape, but in higher proportions than any other zone. The lack of forested land and appropriate riparian buffers has resulted in increased water temperatures and decreased base flows, attributes which make the habitat insufficient for sensitive salmonids like brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). Many opportunities exist to improve the habitat in this zone (see Chapter 3); therefore, the area is being managed for native brook trout in an attempt to restore the resident coldwater fishery. In addition to agriculture, land uses and land cover types include cultural meadow and thicket habitats (11%), forest (12%), rural development (4%) and wetland (2%). This zone lies primarily within the Newmarket Till (65%) and Halton Till plains (19%). The remainder of the surficial geology is composted of silt and sand glacial lake deposits (10%) and modern river deposits (4%). It is important to note that although the northernmost 34% of this zone lies on the Oak Ridges Moraine, the streams in this zone do not originate from moraine sediments, but rather from the Halton and Newmarket Till. 43

58 Chapter 2 Watershed Characteristics Fish Community Objectives The fish community of Fisheries Management Zone 6 will be composed of diverse, selfsustaining native fish species characterized by: OBJECTIVE 1. Maintenance and/or increase of existing brook trout abundance and distribution into favourable habitats 2. Reintroduction of extirpated Atlantic salmon into their historical range INDICATOR Steady or increased catch rates and presence of brook trout during monitoring and assessment Increased catch rates and presence of Atlantic salmon during monitoring and assessment programs Figure Wilmot Creek Fisheries Management Zone 6. 44

59 2.7 FISHERIES MANAGEMENT ZONE SEVEN Characteristics This largest fisheries management zone covers 46.3km 2 and has the lowest LDI values in the watershed which can likely be attributed to the high percentage of forested land, most of which is concentrated around Wilmot Creek. As a result, this zone will be managed for brook trout. Zone seven includes all waters draining into the mainstem of Wilmot Creek (LDI = good) north of Taunton Road and all waters draining into the mainstem of Orono Creek (LDI = moderate) north of the Orono Mill Pond dam (Fig. 2.14). The combined length of these watercourses is approximately 77.4 kilometres. The waters are dominated by coldwater species with brown trout (Salmo trutta) and slimy sculpin (Cottus cognatus) dominating catches in the mainstem of Wilmot Creek and brook trout being the dominant species in Orono Creek. Additional information on the distribution and abundance of fish species in this zone can be found in the Wilmot Creek background study (DesJardins and Stanfield, 2005). The upper reaches of Wilmot Creek (upstream of Concession 8) appear to be highly stable in terms of flow, morphology and structure (Desjardins and Stanfield 2005). Once off the moraine however, the system runs through long stretches dominated by wood (Concessions 4 7) where, in recent years, the river width has increased in response to what is likely an inability to move the large volumes of wood and sediment. Braids are now common in northern reaches, and substrates which were formally dominated by gravels are now mostly sand. Gravel areas now occur only at tails of pools and upwellings at the bottom end of log-jams. The surficial geology in this zone is composed of Oak Ridges Moraine deposits from fine sand to gravel (29%), Halton Till (26%), sand (10%), Newmarket Till (8%), early postglacial (8%) and modern (5%) river deposits, glacial lake deposits of varying types (7%), silt (4%) and sand and gravel glacial river deposits (1%). Approximately 46% of this zone is agricultural land, much of which is concentrated around the headwaters of Orono Creek, resulting in diminished LDI values. Other major land use and land cover types include forest (30%), cultural meadow and thicket habitats (10%), aggregate extraction (3%), manicured open space (3%), rural development (2%) and urbanized land (2%). The northern most 56% of this zone lies on the Oak Ridges Moraine. Fish Community Objectives The fish community of Fisheries Management Zone 7 will be composed of diverse, selfsustaining native fish species characterized by: OBJECTIVE INDICATOR 1. Maintenance and/or increase of Steady or increased catch rates and existing brook trout abundance and presence of brook trout during distribution into favourable habitats monitoring and assessment 2. Reintroduction of extirpated Atlantic salmon into their historical range Increased catch rates and presence of Atlantic salmon during monitoring and assessment 45

60 Chapter 2 Watershed Characteristics Figure Wilmot Creek Fisheries Management Zone 7. 46

61 Chapter FISHERIES MANAGEMENT Fisheries management needs to address both large and small scales issues within the watershed. This involves implementing management strategies and recommendations that are applicable to numerous management zones within the watershed and implementing management strategies that focus on issues related to a specific management zone or a specific site. During the development of the Wilmot Creek Fisheries Management Plan, a number of issues were identified. The list of issues incorporates those identified through the public consultation process, results of monitoring and fisheries assessment, and knowledge of past, present and estimated future anthropogenic impacts in the watershed. These were summarized and categorized into four broad areas, including: Habitat Issues Biodiversity Issues Resource Use Issues Science and Information Requirements These issues have been further broken down into watershed issues and zone specific issues. Watershed issues are those that are common amongst two or more fisheries management zones, while zone specific issues are unique to a particular management area, requiring their own recommended management actions and implementation strategies. It is important to note that the zone specific issues are listed in addition to the watershed issues which also must be taken into account in each zone. The following tables outline recommended management actions and implementations to address issues identified in the watershed and achieve the goals and objectives of the fisheries management plan. Throughout the tables there are often various strategies and management options that are related (i.e. numerous strategies may help to achieve the same goals). These links are identified in the text where they apply. In order to keep the tables as simple as possible, certain concepts are explained in greater detail in the appendices. These appendices are arranged by broad issue categories similar to how they appear in the tables. 47

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63 Watershed Wide Issues & Management Recommendations Fish Community Objectives The Wilmot Creek fish community will be composed of diverse, self-sustaining native fish species characterized by: OBJECTIVE 1. Maintenance of a diverse native fish community including sport and nonsport fishes 2. Maintenance and/or increase of existing brook trout abundance and distribution into favorable habitats 3. Reintroduction of extirpated Atlantic salmon into their historical range 4. Population levels of yellow perch, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and sunfishes attractive to anglers in the lower reaches of the system (e.g. within the coastal wetland) 5. Protection and restoration of species at risk populations and distribution, including Atlantic salmon and northern brook lamprey, and those species that are identified as being potentially at risk (brassy minnow, rainbow darter and American brook lamprey) INDICATOR Continued presence and steady abundance of all native fish during monitoring and assessment programs Steady or increased catch rates and presence of brook trout during monitoring and assessment Increased catch rates and presence of Atlantic salmon during monitoring and assessment programs Maintenance of catch rates during assessment programs and in creel surveys of recreational anglers Steady or increased catch rates for species at risk during assessment programs The Wilmot Creek native fish community will be supplemented with self sustaining naturalized salmonids characterized by: OBJECTIVE 1. Maintenance and increase of migratory salmonid abundance including rainbow trout and Chinook salmon INDICATOR Steady or increased catch rates and presence of naturalized salmonids during monitoring and assessment 49

64 Fisheries and Ocean Min. of Nat. Resources Min. of Environment Min. of Agri. and Food Min. of Mun. Aff. Hous. Ganaraska Region CA Municipalities Stewards PRIORITY ISSUE STRATEGIES ACTIONS Wilmot Creek FMP Table 3.0: Watershed Wide Issues STAKEHOLDER IMPLEMENTATION TARGET 1.0 HABITAT ISSUES (See Habitat sections in Appendices for descriptions of the topics discussed below) 1.1 Insufficient Forest/ Wetland Cover Maintain or increase forest/wetland cover to satisfy FMZ objectives Work with existing provincial policies, legislation and programs to protect existing forests and optimize reforestation activities Utilize municipal Woodlot Protection Bylaw. Determine optimal areas for reforestation for each FMZ. Utilize existing programs that facilitate reforestation projects (Oak Ridges L P P P P H Moraine Conservation Plan (ORMCP) Greenbelt Plan, CFWIP, Trees Ontario, Natural Heritage Strategy, Durham 4H Forestry Club, GRCA Clean Water - Healthy Land Financial Assistance Program (CWHLFAP), etc.) 1.2 Insufficient Water Quantity Maintain or enhance appropriate hydrograph to satisfy Fish Community Objectives Identify priority areas for reforestation based on land disturbance, patch conductivity, recharge areas Identify areas for potential wetland creation Determine appropriate hydrograph (peak flow and base flow) for each of the management zones P P L P P L L P H Priority areas include Orono, Hunter and Foster Creek and their tributaries (See Figure A6 in Appendices). Inventory historical wetlands to identify areas for rehabilitation. Consider opportunities to convert off-line ponds into wetlands Establish and conduct a base flow and peak flow sampling approach - Sampling approach must be structured to accommodate work underway in other watersheds - E.g.. Creek systems (Wilmot, Ganaraska, Cobourg) intensively sampled on a rotation. - Consider opportunities to utilize public involvement (e.g. regular recording of water levels from stakes in the watercourse) Focus restoration around waters with high Land Disturbance Index (LDI) values (see Figure A6 in Appendices) 30% forest cover by FMZ (Currently at 24.3% or 2,365 hectares). 10% wetland cover by FMZ (Currently at 1.29% or 148 hectares) Sampling design by Field collection to begin Hydrograph for each zone by Watershed Wide Issues L = Lead; P = Partner; H = High Priority 50

65 Fisheries and Ocean Min. of Nat. Resources Min. of Environment Min. of Agri. and Food Min. of Mun. Aff. Hous. Ganaraska Region CA Municipalities Stewards PRIORITY ISSUE STRATEGIES ACTIONS Wilmot Creek FMP Table 3.0: Watershed Wide Issues STAKEHOLDER IMPLEMENTATION TARGET Establish flow regime (peak flow and base flow) objectives based on the results of the hydrograph study Incorporate flow objectives into regulatory framework Develop a better understanding of surface and groundwater interactions and how they are affected by groundwater supply Mitigate areas with altered flow Support and incorporate the results of the water budget (balance water withdrawals with gains) currently under development Assess extent of unpermitted water takings Permit water extractions to avoid adverse impacts to aquatic species and habitats P L L P L L P L P L P L L P P P L P Promote seasonal overland water storage outside of the floodplain (off-line ponds) for irrigation/water taking purposes as opposed to direct withdrawals L P P P Develop zone specific objectives for the hydrograph GRCA will facilitate the incorporation of 2009 the generic guidelines Continue watershed work specifically 2008 hydrogeology modeling to determine areas of significant recharge and discharge, including historical wetland information. Develop project aimed at restoring 2008 natural flow Continue work to complete water budget 2008 Conduct water taking surveys. Coordinate with known unpermitted water takers (those taking less than 50,000 litres per day) to educate and document extent of water extraction. Support ongoing initiatives to permit, monitor and enforce permitted water extractions. Consider increased monitoring and enforcement if necessary. Educate community on existing financial incentive programs and conduct workshops regarding best management practices for water use. Work with stewards to implement. Completed by 2008, into policy Ongoing Ongoing Watershed Wide Issues L = Lead; P = Partner; H = High Priority 51

66 Fisheries and Ocean Min. of Nat. Resources Min. of Environment Min. of Agri. and Food Min. of Mun. Aff. Hous. Ganaraska Region CA Municipalities Stewards PRIORITY ISSUE STRATEGIES ACTIONS Wilmot Creek FMP Table 3.0: Watershed Wide Issues STAKEHOLDER IMPLEMENTATION TARGET 1.3 Degraded Improve water Water Quality quality Reduce overland runoff through maintaining / increasing recharge areas (increase permeability). Link to Strategy P P L P Implement BMPs for stormwater management to reduce peak flow Determine the location and extent of tile drains in the Wilmot catchment and assess the impact on the hydrograph Secure, restore, and or create wetlands for flow regulation (link to Action ) Increase water quality monitoring in Wilmot catchment to identify sources of pollution and other problem areas. L P L P L P L P P P H Maintain or increase permeability of lands through vegetation management/planting (woodlot conservation, agricultural best management practices, reforestation). Use appropriate legislation to acknowledge tax incentives for conservation easements. Municipality to develop or review operational guidelines to manage future development in the watershed for ensuring that site alterations support the hydrograph objectives (Action ) Research Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs information on tile locations Compare existing to historic/ potential wetlands. Set targets for restoration based on differences. Create priority list of areas for wetland restoration projects. Develop and implement a water quality monitoring strategy that considers the FMZs Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing 2008 and on Study design by 2007, Sampling by Ensure that water quality levels meet provincial guidelines (OMOE 1994)(See Table A3 in Appendices) Watershed Wide Issues L = Lead; P = Partner; H = High Priority 52

67 Fisheries and Ocean Min. of Nat. Resources Min. of Environment Min. of Agri. and Food Min. of Mun. Aff. Hous. Ganaraska Region CA Municipalities Stewards PRIORITY ISSUE STRATEGIES ACTIONS Wilmot Creek FMP Table 3.0: Watershed Wide Issues STAKEHOLDER IMPLEMENTATION TARGET Maintain / enhance zone specific thermal regimes Encourage nutrient management and livestock access initiatives on agricultural land Encourage nutrient management initiatives on nonagricultural Promote land buffer strips along watercourses Establish 40% forest/wetland cover in the watershed (link to Strategy 1.1.1) L L P P P L P P P P L P H P L P H Secure, restore, and or create wetlands in priority areas to improve water quality P L P Discourage aesthetic use of pesticides and herbicides P P L P Implement BMPs for stormwater management to reduce impacts to water quality Expand the existing temperature monitoring to ensure that fish community targets are met L P L P Promote stewardship activities and programs (e.g. Community Stream Steward Program, GRCA - CWHL Stewardship Program). Develop strategies to ensure reduction of nutrients In priority areas identified in section , advertise financial incentives and ecological benefits of improving buffer strips Investigate the role of permanent pasture land in maintaining the hydrograph. Identify priority areas for restoration Create priority list of areas for wetland restoration projects. Continue education programs and explore the potential and needs for pesticide bylaws. Promote the construction of stormwater ponds prior to or during land grading to minimize site erosion and sedimentation in streams Temperature loggers at key locations in the four FMZs without loggers Develop nutrient management plans on at least 2 farms per year until utilized on all farms. Control all livestock access in all watercourses by Ongoing Ongoing By 2020 By 2010 Ongoing Ongoing Summer maximum temperature within 1 SD colder than predicted by 2007 Watershed Wide Issues L = Lead; P = Partner; H = High Priority 53

68 Fisheries and Ocean Min. of Nat. Resources Min. of Environment Min. of Agri. and Food Min. of Mun. Aff. Hous. Ganaraska Region CA Municipalities Stewards PRIORITY ISSUE STRATEGIES ACTIONS Wilmot Creek FMP Table 3.0: Watershed Wide Issues STAKEHOLDER IMPLEMENTATION TARGET Prevent the construction of online ponds (link to Action ) Retrofit problem ponds to limit thermal influences (e.g. bottom draws, bypass) (link to Action ) P P L P Ongoing Inventory problem ponds and mitigate Protect and Insufficient In-enhance Stream Habitat Implement BMPs for stormwater management to reduce thermal impacts Ensure watershed approach to addressing in-stream habitat improvements (i.e. address the cause not just deal with site specific "band aid" approaches) P P L P P Conduct surveys to determine where if any in-stream habitat restoration work is required P L P Require mitigation measures for all in-channel works Advocate natural channel approach to watercourse alterations (link to Action ) P L L Promote the innovative techniques to minimize thermal impacts (e.g. french drains, bottom draw, perimeter tree planting) Assessment: Monitor restoration activities establish specific measurable targets to measure success Assessment: Develop a cost effective watershed-wide sampling approach to help track changes in habitat. Consider public education to facilitate involvement in surveys. Appropriate mitigative guidelines and implications of failure to comply to be incorporated into all work permits, tenders and orders. For all in-channel works (See Chapter 1 Section 1.3 and Land Use Planning in Chapter 2) Review all watercourse alterations with consideration for free passage of woody material, sediment, fish, flow, etc. Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing P P L P P Watershed Wide Issues L = Lead; P = Partner; H = High Priority 54

69 Fisheries and Ocean Min. of Nat. Resources Min. of Environment Min. of Agri. and Food Min. of Mun. Aff. Hous. Ganaraska Region CA Municipalities Stewards PRIORITY ISSUE STRATEGIES ACTIONS Wilmot Creek FMP Table 3.0: Watershed Wide Issues STAKEHOLDER IMPLEMENTATION TARGET Balance sediment regime Restrict or mitigate vehicular access L L L P Develop budgets for the movement of sediment and wood P L P Post signage and consider the need for limited access on Public Land, Crown Land and Conservation Areas. Education. Encourage the installation of water crossings on private lands. Develop a sediment and wood supply budget incorporating historic conditions. Post signage on public lands in Insufficient Riparian- Floodplain Habitat Protect and enhance Maintain or enhance downstream movement or deposition of sediment and wood Improve connections of the creek with its floodplain Encourage flood plain connection. Healthy diverse riparian vegetation requires sediment and nutrient inputs provided by regular flooding (link to Action ) Establish a riparian zone size that is a minimum of the meander belt width plus 30m in 3rd order or larger stream segments and 30m minimum riparian zone in 2nd order streams or smaller (See Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan (ORMCP) and the Greenbelt Plan). P L P P L P L P P P P P L P H Explore the feasibility of improving sediment and wood transport through the Orono dam Determine extent of stream entrenchment (areas where the creek is not connected to the floodplain). Restore floodplain connections in areas of adverse channeling. Entrenched areas need to be restored by elevating the creek bed with the use of large woody material or rock Evaluate the current riparian zone size by FMZ. Adopt the incorporation of these guidelines in Official Plan (OP). Stewardship opportunities where appropriate, tax incentives etc. (e.g. Alternative land use system - Norfolk County Stewardship - Ontario Stewardship Council) Increase percentage of wood in areas in need of floodplain connection Achieve the appropriate riparian zone size where needed. Watershed Wide Issues L = Lead; P = Partner; H = High Priority 55

70 Fisheries and Ocean Min. of Nat. Resources Min. of Environment Min. of Agri. and Food Min. of Mun. Aff. Hous. Ganaraska Region CA Municipalities Stewards PRIORITY ISSUE STRATEGIES ACTIONS Wilmot Creek FMP Table 3.0: Watershed Wide Issues STAKEHOLDER IMPLEMENTATION TARGET 1.6 In-stream Barriers, Water Crossings, and Ponds Modify barriers to ensure zone specific strategies are met Identify all barriers and on-line ponds and assess for potential long term impacts to fish, sediment and wood movement Consider retro-fitting/removing problematic on-line ponds and beaver dams Prevent construction of new on-line ponds (link to Action ) P L P H Use GIS to identify potential barriers and 2007 P L P H use watershed residents to help locate problem barriers by participating in barrier surveys and questionnaires. Education about the role of beaver in natural systems (link to Action ) Mitigate with BMPs. Respond to public Ongoing P L P P concern and manage beaver populations as required As per regulatory restrictions of MNR and Ongoing Conservation Authority Identify and mitigate problem water crossings due to narrowing or perching of the watercourse Ensure future work on stream crossings satisfies the strategy P L P P P L P 2.0 BIODIVERSITY ISSUES (See Biodiversity sections in Appendices for descriptions of the topics discussed below) Maintain or Expand knowledge of native enhance native aquatic species distributions and P L H species populations factors limiting production by FMZ 2.1 Restricted Native Species abundance and distribution Ensure all stream crossings enable fish migration, substrate and wood transport Reduce competition on native species by naturalized and invasive species Explore the use of barriers to protect populations of native species from invasive species P L P Schedule upgrades when existing structures are scheduled for replacement Through permitting and plan review of E.A.s including in-water timing windows (See Chapter 1 Section 1.3 and Land Use Planning in Chapter 2) Assessment: Develop a regular, reoccurring, watershed-wide sampling approach to help track aquatic species distribution and trends in abundance Monitoring program will evaluate potential problems with invasives. Conduct a feasibility study for the installation of fish migration control structures to meet specific FMZ objectives As needed Ongoing 2007 Ongoing Watershed Wide Issues L = Lead; P = Partner; H = High Priority 56

71 Fisheries and Ocean Min. of Nat. Resources Min. of Environment Min. of Agri. and Food Min. of Mun. Aff. Hous. Ganaraska Region CA Municipalities Stewards PRIORITY ISSUE STRATEGIES ACTIONS Wilmot Creek FMP Table 3.0: Watershed Wide Issues STAKEHOLDER IMPLEMENTATION TARGET 2.2 Declines in Naturalized Species Abundance 2.3 Naturalized species competition with native species Maintain healthy populations of existing species at risk and re-establish extirpated species Maintain or enhance naturalized fish species (e.g. rainbow trout and brown trout) populations to reflect FMZ objectives Restrict or reduce naturalized salmonid production in areas designated for native salmonid management Document the presence and distribution of aquatic species at risk P P L P Expand the range of restricted populations Support the provincial Atlantic salmon recovery initiatives to create conditions that will facilitate restoration Determine limiting factors to production with consideration of lake effects Address limiting factors (e.g. spawner abundance, habitat, harvest, etc.) Set spawner escapement targets for each migratory species and monitor success P P L L P P L P P L P L P P Explore the use of barriers to protect isolated populations of native species (e.g. above barriers impassable for migratory salmonids) P L P Through monitoring 2007 Through research 2007 Stock appropriate strains and life stages of Atlantic salmon, assess survival, improve habitat and conduct experiments that will help meet restoration goals for Lake Ontario. Through research and partnerships with universities See Implementation for Strategies 1.4.1, 1.4.2, and 3.2.1, 3.2.2, Develop a relationship which maximizes adult numbers to juvenile production with partnerships with universities and others Conduct a feasibility study for the installation of fish migration control structures to meet specific FMZ objectives Ongoing as directed by the Atlantic salmon recovery team Ongoing 2.4 Invasive Species Prohibit movement and or entry of non-native species or genetic variants of existing species in the watershed Monitor for the presence of invasive species L P P H Assessment: Develop a watershed-wide sampling approach to help track fish community trends. Encourage public involvement - promote the Invasive Species Hotline ( ) Ongoing Watershed Wide Issues L = Lead; P = Partner; H = High Priority 57

72 Fisheries and Ocean Min. of Nat. Resources Min. of Environment Min. of Agri. and Food Min. of Mun. Aff. Hous. Ganaraska Region CA Municipalities Stewards PRIORITY ISSUE STRATEGIES ACTIONS Wilmot Creek FMP Table 3.0: Watershed Wide Issues STAKEHOLDER IMPLEMENTATION TARGET Explore the use of barriers to exclude/restrict invasive species from native populations as necessary P L Educate public about impacts of invasive species introductions L P L H Prepare presentations about invasive species. Discuss pond specific issues (escapement of fish from on-line ponds). Ongoing Support any strategies to prevent the interbasin transfer of baitfish Restrict private stocking of salmonids in ponds with the potential for escapement into the system L P P L P P Educational signage, develop volunteer agreements with landowners to restrict use of interbasin baitfish, promote the Invasive Species Hotline. Engage enforcement staff (municipal and provincial) to assist with compliance. Ongoing 3.0 RESOURCE USE ISSUES 3.1 Underutilization harvest opportunities Optimize for under utilized species 3.2 Overharvest Optimize catch and release Consider extending boundaries of fall fishing zone for Chinook, Coho and brown trout Promote angling for nonsalmonid species (warm and cool water species) Encourage harvest of brown trout Encourage catch-release of rainbow trout and brook trout L P P L P L P L P P All efforts to enhance fishery should be monitored to determine if strategies are meeting desired targets, through changes to the fishing regulations. Utilize existing educational material within workshops, urban fishing festivals, etc. Promote the fishery to various media sources Through education and landowner agreements Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing Watershed Wide Issues L = Lead; P = Partner; H = High Priority 58

73 Fisheries and Ocean Min. of Nat. Resources Min. of Environment Min. of Agri. and Food Min. of Mun. Aff. Hous. Ganaraska Region CA Municipalities Stewards PRIORITY ISSUE STRATEGIES ACTIONS Wilmot Creek FMP Table 3.0: Watershed Wide Issues STAKEHOLDER IMPLEMENTATION TARGET Discourage angling of recovering species (e.g. Atlantic salmon) Moratorium on Atlantic salmon harvest from Lake Ontario tributaries L Subject to change on advice from the Atlantic salmon recovery team Reduce harvest rates of rainbow trout Reduce fishing mortality Evaluate the degree to which the new fishing regulations are contributing to the stock recruitment relationship Explore alternative angling techniques (e.g. barbless hooks, artificial bait, wasteful harvest of roe) L L P P Develop a stock recruitment relationship and perform historical analysis. Obtain better creel information Landowner agreements, education and MNR regulations and promotion Ongoing 3.3 Insufficient awareness of aquatic ecosystems 3.4 Insufficient public involvement Optimize viewing and educational opportunities Increase public involvement Promote viewing of aquatic environment to raise profile of aquatic issues Produce or utilize existing educational materials Promote stewardship initiatives Promote community involvement P L P Use of interpretive signs in areas with high spawner densities. Promote viewing opportunities to various media sources. Ongoing Promote spawner viewing to school Ongoing groups (Orono Crown Lands Educational Centre) L L e.g. Yellow Fish Road Program Ongoing L e.g. Adopt a Stream (Ontario Streams) Ongoing Develop a program or utilize existing Ongoing P P P P L programs (e.g. Community Stream Steward Program, GRCA - CWHL Stewardship Program) Signage locations include the Samuel Ongoing Wilmot Nature Area and the Orono Crown Lands P P P P L Watershed Wide Issues L = Lead; P = Partner; H = High Priority 59

74 Fisheries and Ocean Min. of Nat. Resources Min. of Environment Min. of Agri. and Food Min. of Mun. Aff. Hous. Ganaraska Region CA Municipalities Stewards PRIORITY ISSUE STRATEGIES ACTIONS Wilmot Creek FMP Table 3.0: Watershed Wide Issues STAKEHOLDER IMPLEMENTATION TARGET Develop an implementation committee Increase public awareness Establish a committee directed by local community members and landowners with expert input provided by associated agencies Keep public informed P L P P P L P L P Promote public involvement opportunities. Task the committee with holding regular events, projects, workshops, etc. to engage public and maintain interest Produce regular updates (e.g. quarterly state of the watershed/fishery report) to inform public of watershed issues, needs and accomplishments of projects and opportunities for involvement. Initiate in 2007 Ongoing Encourage communities to "Adopt a Reach" or FMZ Create linkages with area stewardship initiatives Offer incentives for public involvement/action Involve community in protection/restoration initiatives Utilize and promote stewardship initiatives to facilitate public involvement in the watershed Conduct Community Stream Steward Workshops Promote existing or newly developed incentives through advertisements or contests P P L P P L L P P P P L Develop an outreach program with partners. Through public meetings, identify key individuals to adopt leadership roles E.g. Monitoring the moraine, Atlantic salmon recovery team, OFAH, Stewardship Ontario, OMAFRA Conduct workshops as a tool for attracting those interested in stream stewardship and increasing awareness and involvement E.g. Develop a "Communities In Action" contest where communities compete for a prize that will enhance the neighbourhood (i.e. a new playground, award, free trees/shrubs, free rain barrels, etc.) by taking action in the watershed (i.e. tree planting, garbage clean-up, etc.). Utilize GRCA CWHLFAP to engange residents. Ongoing Ongoing Watershed Wide Issues L = Lead; P = Partner; H = High Priority 60

75 Fisheries and Ocean Min. of Nat. Resources Min. of Environment Min. of Agri. and Food Min. of Mun. Aff. Hous. Ganaraska Region CA Municipalities Stewards PRIORITY ISSUE STRATEGIES ACTIONS Wilmot Creek FMP Table 3.0: Watershed Wide Issues STAKEHOLDER IMPLEMENTATION TARGET 3.5 Lack of Access for Fishing opportunities Promote the use of existing access areas Develop strategy for reducing litter P P L P Promote ethical practices for anglers P P L Develop a river keepers program P P L Angler groups doing work for the benefit of the landowner P P L Promote responsible public access L L P Create map or signage to inform anglers of public access areas L P Explore landowner user agreements 4.0 SCIENCE AND INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS Identify and address 4.1 Lack of habitat information Improve landowner-angler relationships Activities to enhance the fishery through more access and alternate regulation use need to be monitored to determine if targets are being met. Allows for adaptive management Gaps include comprehensive knowledge of flow regime and water balance as well as rates of habitat change P L P P P L L Clean-up days and signage. Develop a partnership and schedule to clean up access areas. Engage anglers to clean up after themselves and other anglers. Develop a training program and official recognition for river keepers Promote involvement programs and incentives (e.g. CFWIP) Signage and education program Access information provided in signage at Samuel Wilmot Nature Area Investigate the creation of a Blue Ribbon Fishery Explore creative resource user / landowner agreements to increase access to the watercourse and fishery Consider monitoring plan to track changes in resource use and in the fishery Continue progress toward the completion of a water budget As needed As needed Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing Watershed Wide Issues L = Lead; P = Partner; H = High Priority 61

76 Fisheries and Ocean Min. of Nat. Resources Min. of Environment Min. of Agri. and Food Min. of Mun. Aff. Hous. Ganaraska Region CA Municipalities Stewards PRIORITY ISSUE STRATEGIES ACTIONS Wilmot Creek FMP Table 3.0: Watershed Wide Issues STAKEHOLDER IMPLEMENTATION TARGET 4.2 Lack of biodiversity information 4.3 Lack of Resource Use Information Identify and address Determine to what extent fisheries exploitation is occurring in the watershed In light of the need to monitor for environmental change in not only the Wilmot Creek watershed, an adequate sampling approach will need to be structured to provide relevant information across multiple creek systems while remaining cost effective Track habitat change Current data will become outdated. Continued monitoring is essential New monitoring approaches may be explored to help track trends in migratory species Document resource use in those areas lacking information P P L P L P P L P P L P P L P Work towards a cost effective yet reliable monitoring program on all watersheds. Aspects that need to be tracked include: habitat, fish community, base flow, water quality All monitoring must establish measurable targets on which rates and the amount of change can be measured this includes restoration activities so that successes can be documented and replicated Assessment: Establish cost effective sampling approach to detect species trends on multiple watersheds Assessment: Develop a watershed-wide sampling approach to help track fish community trends Example approach : Tessellated random sampling. Standardized repeating stations augmented with variable stations sampled on a random rotation All monitoring and restoration activities must establish measurable targets on which rates and the amount of change can be measured, so that results can be documented and replicated Consider construction of a weir station to help track migratory salmonid status Spawning surveys Creel surveys on main stem of Wilmot Creek to include questions about resource use in the headwaters and Foster, Orono, Hunter, and Stalker creeks. Watershed Wide Issues L = Lead; P = Partner; H = High Priority 62

77 Fisheries Management Zone 1 Issues & Management Recommendations Fish Community Objectives The Fisheries Management Zone 1 fish community will be composed of diverse, self-sustaining native fish species characterized by: OBJECTIVE 1. Maintenance of a diverse native fish community including sport and nonsport fishes 2. Population levels of yellow perch, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and sunfishes attractive to anglers in the lower reaches of the system (e.g. within the coastal wetland) INDICATOR Continued presence and steady abundance of all native fish during monitoring and assessment programs Maintenance of catch rates during assessment programs and in creel surveys of recreational anglers This zone will continue to act as an important migratory route and staging area for salmonids and will facilitate passage to upstream spawning areas. 63

78 Fisheries and Ocean Min. of Nat. Resources Min. of Environment Min. of Agri. and Food Min. of Mun. Aff. Hous. Ganaraska Region CA Municipalities Stewards PRIORITY ISSUE STRATEGIES Wilmot Creek FMP Table 3.1: Zone 1 (Migratory Salmonid Management Area) ACTIONS STAKEHOLDER IMPLEMENTATION TARGET 1.0 HABITAT ISSUES (See Habitat sections in Appendices for descriptions of the topics discussed below) Maintain Continue participation in the Insufficient natural coastal Durham Region Coastal Wetland Water wetland hydrograph Monitoring Project which includes L P Quantity water level documentation Create partnerships to monitor the natural variation in water level L P Assessment: Continue monitoring water levels in Wilmot Marsh Investigate partnerships with the Samuel Wilmot Advisory Committee Ongoing 2007 field season 1.2 Degraded Improve water Water Quality quality Continue participation in the Durham Region Coastal Wetland Monitoring Project L P Assessment: Continue monitoring water quality in Wilmot Marsh Ongoing 1.3 Seasonal Habitat Functions 1.4 Insufficient Riparian- Floodplain Habitat Document seasonal characteristics of wetland fish habitat Expand fish community assessment in marsh habitats to include seasonal sampling to L document species use (if seasonal in nature) Maintain riparian zone and floodplain habitat P L Provide low impact access points P P L P 2.0 BIODIVERSITY ISSUES (See Biodiversity sections in Appendices for descriptions of the topics discussed below) 2.1 Native Species Maintain and enhance native species populations Maintain existing fish community Expand knowledge of native unique to coastal species distributions L P wetlands (including 2.2 Naturalized Species Maintain wetland functions aquatic Maintain species at current migratory routes for naturalized salmonids Link to P L Establish seasonal (May/June and Fall) fish sampling protocol with multiple gear types Impact assessment to establish restoration opportunities Develop an access plan. Build boardwalks to increase angler access and reduce wetland trampling Assessment: Conduct sampling in wetland habitats to increase our knowledge of wetland use by lake species and of warm-water native species assemblages in the lower reaches 2007 field season Zone 1 Issues L = Lead; P = Partner; H = High Priority 64

79 Fisheries and Ocean Min. of Nat. Resources Min. of Environment Min. of Agri. and Food Min. of Mun. Aff. Hous. Ganaraska Region CA Municipalities Stewards PRIORITY ISSUE STRATEGIES Wilmot Creek FMP Table 3.1: Zone 1 (Migratory Salmonid Management Area) ACTIONS STAKEHOLDER IMPLEMENTATION TARGET 2.3 Invasive Species 3.2 Non- Consumptive Use 3.3 Insufficient awareness of aquatic ecosystems Prohibit movement and/or introduction of nonnative species or genetic variants of existing species 3.0 RESOURCE USE ISSUES 3.1 Underutilization Optimize harvest opportunities for under utilized species Optimize viewing opportunities Optimize educational opportunities 3.4 Access Minimize wetland disturbance Monitor for the presence of invasive species Educate public about impacts of invasive species introductions P P P L Promote angling for carp Encourage catch-release of pre-spawning salmonids Provide low impact access to marsh areas to limit disturbance P P L P Use of interpretive signs in marsh and parking lot Continue to support educational activities of the Samuel Wilmot Nature Area Management Advisory Committee Exclude motor vehicle access Control pedestrian access P L L P P P L P L L P P L P Assessment: Conduct sampling in wetland habitats to increase our knowledge of wetland use by invasive species Use of interpretive signs in marsh and parking lot (e.g. Don't dump bait, Invading Species Hotline) Utilize existing educational material within workshops, urban fishing festivals, etc. Through education Develop an access plan. Build boardwalks to increase angler access and reduce wetland trampling Promote watershed health and awareness by developing ecosystem health activities at the Samuel Wilmot Nature Area. Events similar to the recurring Earth day activities Utilize signage and barriers for vehicles Develop an access plan. Build boardwalks to increase angler access and reduce wetland trampling Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing Zone 1 Issues L = Lead; P = Partner; H = High Priority 65

80 Fisheries and Ocean Min. of Nat. Resources Min. of Environment Min. of Agri. and Food Min. of Mun. Aff. Hous. Ganaraska Region CA Municipalities Stewards PRIORITY ISSUE STRATEGIES Wilmot Creek FMP Table 3.1: Zone 1 (Migratory Salmonid Management Area) ACTIONS STAKEHOLDER IMPLEMENTATION TARGET 4.0 SCIENCE AND INFORMATION GAPS 4.1 Lack of information Identify and address information Implement the research plan on the use of gaps and develop a wetlands by research plan migratory salmonids Develop a research plan and identify partners (e.g. universities, Atlantic salmon restoration project) Initiate discussions in 2007 P L L P Zone 1 Issues L = Lead; P = Partner; H = High Priority 66

81 Fisheries Management Zone 2 Issues & Management Recommendations Fish Community Objectives The fish communities of Fisheries Management Zone 2 will be composed of diverse, selfsustaining native fish species characterized by: OBJECTIVE 1. Maintenance of a diverse native fish community including sport and nonsport fishes 2. Reintroduction of extirpated Atlantic salmon into their historical range INDICATOR Continued presence and steady abundance of all native fish during monitoring and assessment programs Increased catch rates and presence of Atlantic salmon during monitoring and assessment programs The fish communities of Fisheries Management Zone 2 will be composed of diverse, selfsustaining naturalized salmonid species characterized by: OBJECTIVE 1. Maintenance and increase of existing migratory salmonid abundance 2. Maintenance and increase of resident brown trout abundance INDICATOR Increased catch rates and presence of rainbow trout and Chinook salmon during monitoring and assessment programs Increased catch rates and presence of brown trout during monitoring and assessment programs 67

82 Fisheries and Ocean Min. of Nat. Resources Min. of Environment Min. of Agri. and Food Min. of Mun. Aff. Hous. Ganaraska Region CA Municipalities Stewards PRIORITY Wilmot Creek FMP Table 3.2: Zone 2 (Migratory Salmonid Management Area) ISSUE STRATEGIES ACTIONS STAKEHOLDER IMPLEMENTATION TARGET 1.0 HABITAT ISSUES (See Habitat sections in Appendices for descriptions of the topics discussed below) Maintain or Work with existing provincial increase policies, legislation and programs to forest/wetland cover protect existing forests and optimize reforestation activities 1.1 Insufficient Forest/ Wetland Cover 1.2 Insufficient Water Quantity and Quality - Future urban development Maintain or enhance appropriate hydrograph and water quality to satisfy Fish Community Objectives Identify priority areas for reforestation based on land disturbance, patch conductivity, recharge areas Identify areas for potential wetland creation Implement BMPs for storm water management to reduce peak flow, maintain thermal and sediment regimes L P P P P P P L P L Utilize municipal Woodlot Protection Bylaw. Determine optimal areas for reforestation. Utilize existing programs that facilitate reforestation projects (e.g. Greenbelt Plan, CFWIP, Natural Heritage Strategy, Durham 4H Forestry Club, GRCA Clean Water Healthy Land Financial Assisstance Program, etc.) Available areas include the Samuel Wilmot Nature Area, Crown Land. Review current agricultural lease of Crown land as possible reforestation area Inventory historical wetlands to identify areas for rehabilitation. Consider opportunities to convert off-line ponds into wetlands Municipality to develop or review operational guidelines to manage future development in the watershed for ensuring that site alterations support the objectives (Action ). Focus restoration around waters with high Land Disturbance Index (LDI) values (see Figure A6 in Appendices) 30% forest cover by FMZ (Currently at 13.4% or 59 hectares). 10% wetland cover by FMZ (Currently at 4.07% or 18 hectares) Ongoing 1.3 In-stream Barriers, Water Crossings, and Ponds Ensure all stream crossings enable fish migration, substrate and wood transport Mitigate problem water crossings due to narrowing or perching of the watercourse P L P Upgrade water crossing (foot bridge) in the Samuel Wilmot Nature Area (banks are eroding at footings) Zone 2 Issues L = Lead; P = Partner; H = High Priority 68

83 Fisheries and Ocean Min. of Nat. Resources Min. of Environment Min. of Agri. and Food Min. of Mun. Aff. Hous. Ganaraska Region CA Municipalities Stewards PRIORITY Wilmot Creek FMP Table 3.2: Zone 2 (Migratory Salmonid Management Area) ISSUE STRATEGIES ACTIONS STAKEHOLDER IMPLEMENTATION TARGET 2.0 BIODIVERSITY ISSUES (See Biodiversity sections in Appendices for descriptions of the topics discussed below) Maintain or Expand knowledge of native enhance native aquatic species distributions and P L species populations factors limiting production 2.1 Restricted Native Species abundance and distribution Maintain healthy populations of existing species at risk and re-establish extirpated species Determine why longnose sucker populations have declined Support the provincial Atlantic salmon recovery initiatives to create conditions that will facilitate restoration P P L P L P P Document the presence and distribution of aquatic species at risk P P L P Assessment: Conduct spawner surveys to document the amount of spawning in this zone and determine amount of spawning success Assessment: Develop a regular, reoccurring, watershed-wide sampling approach to help track aquatic species distribution and trends in abundance This zone would be the desired location to establish a weir to document salmonid production and adult returns (Atlantic salmon) Through monitoring, determine why native darter distributions are restricted 2007 As directed by the Atlantic salmon recovery team Declines in Naturalized Species Abundance 2.3 Invasive Species Maintain or enhance naturalized fish species populations Prohibit movement and or entry of non-native species or genetic variants of existing species Determine limiting factors to production with consideration of lake effects. L P P Set spawner escapement targets for each migratory species and monitor success L P P Monitor for the presence of invasive species P L Through research and partnerships with universities. Spawner survey to rank importance of this zone relative to other zones. This zone would be the desired location to establish a weir to document salmonid production and adult returns Assessment: Develop a watershed-wide sampling approach to help track fish community trends with increased sampling effort in lower reaches to increase our knowledge on exotic species entering the system from Lake Ontario. Ongoing 2007 Zone 2 Issues L = Lead; P = Partner; H = High Priority 69

84 Fisheries and Ocean Min. of Nat. Resources Min. of Environment Min. of Agri. and Food Min. of Mun. Aff. Hous. Ganaraska Region CA Municipalities Stewards PRIORITY Wilmot Creek FMP Table 3.2: Zone 2 (Migratory Salmonid Management Area) ISSUE STRATEGIES ACTIONS STAKEHOLDER IMPLEMENTATION TARGET 3.0 RESOURCE USE ISSUES Optimize Insufficient viewing and awareness of educational aquatic opportunities ecosystems 4.0 SCIENCE AND INFORMATION GAPS 4.1 Lack of Identify and information address information on the use of gaps wetlands by migratory salmonids Explore the use of barriers to exclude/restrict invasive species from native populations as necessary Use of interpretive signs at Samuel Wilmot Hatchery parking lot Work needs to be done to address entrenchment and sediment deprivation issues throughout this zone This zone is ideal to address production questions for all migratory salmonids. The use of a weir would also help document trends in adult returns. P L P L P P L P P L Assessment: If it is decided that an assessment weir is required (for salmonid monitoring), the weir could also be used as a barrier and an assessment station to document invasive species in this zone Consider installation of a goby barrier perhaps at water survey of Canada gauging station just south of Conc. 3. Salmonid spawning sites are found in this zone. Educational opportunities and viewing opportunities exist in MNR lands north of and within the Samuel Wilmot Nature Area This zone should be surveyed to determine best bet scenarios for wood placement and entrenchment mitigation. Re-establishing a counting fence (weir) in this zone will help determine overall system productivity for migratory species and help document trends in returning adults Ongoing Zone 2 Issues L = Lead; P = Partner; H = High Priority 70

85 Wilmot Creek Fisheries Management Plan Fisheries Management Zone 3 Issues & Management Recommendations Fish Community Objectives The fish communities of Fisheries Management Zone 3 will be composed of diverse, selfsustaining native fish species characterized by: OBJECTIVE 1. Maintenance of a diverse native fish community including sport and nonsport fishes INDICATOR Continued presence and steady abundance of all native fish during monitoring and assessment programs The fish communities of Fisheries Management Zone 3 will be composed of diverse, selfsustaining naturalized salmonid species characterized by: OBJECTIVE 1. Maintenance and increase of existing migratory salmonid abundance 2. Increased capacity of Foster Creek to support coldwater fish species INDICATOR Increased catch rates and presence of rainbow trout and Chinook salmon during monitoring and assessment programs Increased presence of coldwater species during monitoring and assessment programs 71

86 Fisheries and Ocean Min. of Nat. Resources Min. of Environment Min. of Agri. and Food Min. of Mun. Aff. Hous. Ganaraska Region CA Municipalities Stewards PRIORITY ISSUE STRATEGIES Wilmot Creek FMP Table 3.3: Zone 3 (Migratory Salmonid Management Area) ACTIONS STAKEHOLDER IMPLEMENTATION TARGET 1.0 HABITAT ISSUES (See Habitat sections in Appendices for descriptions of the topics discussed below) Maintain or Work with existing provincial increase policies, legislation and programs to forest/wetland cover protect existing forests and optimize reforestation activities 1.1 Insufficient Forest/ Wetland Cover L P P P P Utilize municipal Woodlot Protection Bylaw and expand area of application to easterly lands north of Concession 3. Determine optimal areas for reforestation. Utilize existing programs that facilitate reforestation projects (e.g. Greenbelt Plan, CFWIP, Natural Heritage Strategy, Durham 4H Forestry Club, GRCA Clean Water Healthy Land Financial Assisstance Program, etc.) Focus restoration around waters with high Land Disturbance Index (LDI) values (see Figure A6 in Appendices) 1.2 Insufficient Water Quantity and Quality - Future urban development Maintain or enhance appropriate hydrograph and water quality to satisfy Fish Community Objectives Improve water quality Identify priority areas for reforestation based on land disturbance, patch conductivity, recharge areas Identify areas for potential wetland creation Implement BMPs for storm water management to reduce peak flow, maintain thermal and sediment regimes Document extent and location of tile drains (headwaters of this zone) L P Secure, restore, and or create wetlands in priority areas to improve water quality P L P P P L P L Inventory historical wetlands to identify areas for rehabilitation. Consider opportunities to convert off-line ponds into wetlands Municipality to develop or review operational guidelines to manage future development in the watershed for ensuring that site alterations support the hydrograph objectives (Action ) Research Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs information on tile locations Survey Foster Creek headwater wetlands and create priority list of areas for wetland restoration projects. 30% forest cover by FMZ (Currently at 9.1% or 87 hectares) 10% wetland cover by FMZ (Currently at 5.72% or 59 hectares) Ongoing Ongoing As per the provincial water quality guidelines (OMOE 1994) Zone 3 Issues L = Lead; P = Partner; H = High Priority 72

87 Fisheries and Ocean Min. of Nat. Resources Min. of Environment Min. of Agri. and Food Min. of Mun. Aff. Hous. Ganaraska Region CA Municipalities Stewards PRIORITY Wilmot Creek FMP Table 3.3: Zone 3 (Migratory Salmonid Management Area) ISSUE STRATEGIES ACTIONS STAKEHOLDER IMPLEMENTATION TARGET Protect and Insufficient In-enhance Stream Habitat 1.4 Insufficient Riparian- Floodplain Habitat 1.5 In-stream Barriers, Water Crossings, and Ponds Protect and enhance Ensure all stream crossings enable fish migration, substrate and wood transport Conduct surveys in this degraded zone to determine where instream habitat restoration work is P P L P required Mitigate erosion issues along Lions Club Trail in Newcastle Develop strategy for reducing litter (garbage in this zone ranges P P L P from bicycles to couches) Encourage no-mow zones along creek corridor to establish buffers L P Ensure future work on stream crossings satisfies the strategy Use DFO compensation dollars to improve stream habitats and control excessive drainage (sewers, ditches). Foster Stewardship opportunities Conduct erosion control work Clean-up days and signage. Develop a partnership and schedule to clean up access areas. Survey for best bet areas to begin riparian restoration Works are underway to improve railway over foster creek. Ensure new water crossings meet goals of improving fish, sediment and wood transport. Headwater streams north of Concession 3 Ongoing P L P Zone 3 Issues L = Lead; P = Partner; H = High Priority 73

88 Fisheries and Ocean Min. of Nat. Resources Min. of Environment Min. of Agri. and Food Min. of Mun. Aff. Hous. Ganaraska Region CA Municipalities Stewards PRIORITY Wilmot Creek FMP Table 3.3: Zone 3 (Migratory Salmonid Management Area) ISSUE STRATEGIES ACTIONS STAKEHOLDER IMPLEMENTATION TARGET 2.0 BIODIVERSITY ISSUES (See Biodiversity sections in Appendices for descriptions of the topics discussed below) 2.1 Invasive Monitor for the presence of Species invasive species Prohibit movement and or entry of non-native species or genetic variants of existing species 3.0 SCIENCE AND INFORMATION GAPS 3.1 Lack of information Identify and address information Gaps exist in our knowledge of fish species distributions on the use of gaps wetlands by migratory particularly with aquatic invasive species and native species (headwater areas). salmonids Gaps exist in determining the and pollution amount and locations of storm water discharge sites Gaps exist in our knowledge of point source pollution P L P L P P L Assessment: Develop a watershed-wide sampling approach to help track fish community trends with increased sampling effort in lower reaches to increase our knowledge on exotic species entering the system from Lake Ontario. Expand sampling in this zone to better document fish community dynamics Continue work toward completion of a water budget Expand water quality testing to establish baseline values (E. coli, nutrients, other chemicals) Ongoing Ensure that water quality levels meet provincial guidelines (OMOE 1994) P L P Zone 3 Issues L = Lead; P = Partner; H = High Priority 74

89 Fisheries Management Zone 4 Issues & Management Recommendations Fish Community Objectives The fish communities of Fisheries Management Zone 4 will be composed of diverse, selfsustaining native fish species characterized by: OBJECTIVE 1. Maintenance of a diverse native fish community including sport and nonsport fishes 2. Reintroduction of extirpated Atlantic salmon into their historical range INDICATOR Continued presence and steady abundance of all native fish during monitoring and assessment programs Increased catch rates and presence of Atlantic salmon during monitoring and assessment programs The fish communities of Fisheries Management Zone 4 will be composed of diverse, selfsustaining naturalized salmonid species characterized by: OBJECTIVE 1. Maintenance and increase of existing migratory salmonid abundance 2. Maintenance and increase of resident brown trout abundance INDICATOR Increased catch rates and presence of rainbow trout and Chinook salmon during monitoring and assessment programs Increased catch rates and presence of brown trout during monitoring and assessment programs 75

90 Fisheries and Ocean Min. of Nat. Resources Min. of Environment Min. of Agri. and Food Min. of Mun. Aff. Hous. Ganaraska Region CA Municipalities Stewards PRIORITY ISSUE STRATEGIES Wilmot Creek FMP Table 3.4: Zone 4 (Migratory Salmonid Management Area) ACTIONS STAKEHOLDER IMPLEMENTATION TARGET 1.0 HABITAT ISSUES (See Habitat sections in Appendices for descriptions of the topics discussed below) Maintain or Work with existing provincial increase policies, legislation and programs to forest/wetland cover protect existing forests and optimize reforestation activities 1.1 Insufficient Forest/ Wetland Cover 1.2 Degraded Improve water Water Quality quality 1.3 Insufficient Riparian- Floodplain Habitat Protect and enhance Identify priority areas for reforestation based on land disturbance, patch conductivity, recharge areas Identify areas for potential wetland creation Encourage nutrient management and livestock access initiatives on agricultural land Encourage nutrient management initiatives on nonagricultural land Establish a riparian zone size that is a minimum of the meander belt width plus 30m in 3rd order or larger stream segments and 30m minimum riparian zone in 2nd order streams or smaller L P P P P P L P P P L L P P P L P P P P P L P Utilize municipal Woodlot Protection Bylaw. Determine optimal areas for reforestation. Utilize existing programs that facilitate reforestation projects (e.g. Greenbelt Plan, CFWIP, Natural Heritage Strategy, Durham 4H Club, GRCA Clean Water Healthy Land Financial Assisstance Program (CWHLFAP), etc.) Available areas include the Orono Crown Lands. Forest cover in this zone currently meets EC guidelines, however, increased forest cover may account for areas where meeting 30% forest cover is Inventory historical wetlands to identify areas for rehabilitation. Consider opportunities to convert off-line ponds into wetlands Promote stewardship activities and programs (e.g. Community Stream Steward Program, CWHLFAP, etc.). Continue to monitor elevated chloride concentration in Orono Creek Provide education on environmentally friendly lawn care to residents along lower Orono Creek (utilize CWHLFAP) Sections in the lower reaches of this zone (south of Concession 4) could be planted to increase cover and stabilize banks Focus restoration around waters with high Land Disturbance Index (LDI) values (see Figure A6) 30% forest cover by FMZ (Currently at 30.6% or 313 hectares) 10% wetland cover by FMZ (Currently at 0.26% or 3 hectares) Develop nutrient management plans on at least 2 farms per year until utilized on all farms. Control all livestock access in streams by Ongoing Achieve the appropriate riparian zone size where needed. Zone 4 Issues L = Lead; P = Partner; H = High Priority 76

91 Fisheries and Ocean Min. of Nat. Resources Min. of Environment Min. of Agri. and Food Min. of Mun. Aff. Hous. Ganaraska Region CA Municipalities Stewards PRIORITY Wilmot Creek FMP Table 3.4: Zone 4 (Migratory Salmonid Management Area) ISSUE STRATEGIES ACTIONS STAKEHOLDER IMPLEMENTATION TARGET Encourage no-mow zones along creek corridor where the creek passes through manicured open areas. 2.0 BIODIVERSITY ISSUES (See Biodiversity sections in Appendices for descriptions of the topics discussed below) Maintain or Determine why longnose enhance native sucker populations have declined P P L P species populations 2.1 Restricted Native Species abundance and distribution 2.2 Naturalized Species Maintain Document the presence and healthy populations distribution of aquatic species at risk of existing species at risk and re-establish extirpated species Maintain or enhance naturalized fish species populations 3.0 RESOURCE USE ISSUES Optimize Insufficient viewing and awareness of educational aquatic opportunities ecosystems 3.2 Lack of Access for Fishing opportunities Promote the use of existing access areas Determine naturalized salmonid production Promote viewing of aquatic environment to raise profile of aquatic issues Promote the use of existing access areas such as Orono Crown Lands and Thurne Park L P P P L P P L P L P P L P P Promote buffer strips (no-mow zones) in areas where the creeks (Orono and Wilmot) pass through yards Assessment: Develop a regular, reoccurring, watershed-wide sampling approach to help track aquatic species distribution and trends in abundance Through monitoring, determine why native darter distributions are restricted Assessment: Zone 4 is characterized with high spawner densities and is likely one of the most important areas for salmonid production. Conduct spawner surveys to track changes Use of interpretive signs in Orono Crown Lands where there is ample opportunities to view spawning fish. Orono Crown Lands offer great educational opportunities including an educational centre Access information provided in signage Ongoing 2007 Ongoing Ongoing Zone 4 Issues L = Lead; P = Partner; H = High Priority 77

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93 Fisheries Management Zone 5 Issues & Management Recommendations Fish Community Objectives The fish communities of Fisheries Management Zone 5 will be composed of diverse, selfsustaining native fish species characterized by: OBJECTIVE 1. Maintenance of a diverse native fish community including sport and nonsport fishes 2. Reintroduction of extirpated Atlantic salmon into their historical range INDICATOR Continued presence and steady abundance of all native fish during monitoring and assessment programs Increased catch rates and presence of Atlantic salmon during monitoring and assessment programs The fish communities of Fisheries Management Zone 5 will be composed of diverse, selfsustaining naturalized salmonid species characterized by: OBJECTIVE 1. Maintenance and increase of existing migratory salmonid abundance 2. Maintenance and increase of resident brown trout abundance INDICATOR Increased catch rates and presence of rainbow trout and Chinook salmon during monitoring and assessment programs Increased catch rates and presence of brown trout during monitoring and assessment programs 79

94 Fisheries and Ocean Min. of Nat. Resources Min. of Environment Min. of Agri. and Food Min. of Mun. Aff. Hous. Ganaraska Region CA Municipalities Stewards PRIORITY Wilmot Creek FMP Table 3.5: Zone 5 (Migratory Salmonid Management Area) ISSUE STRATEGIES ACTIONS STAKEHOLDER IMPLEMENTATION TARGET 1.0 HABITAT ISSUES (See Habitat sections in Appendices for descriptions of the topics discussed below) Maintain or Work with existing provincial increase policies, legislation and programs to forest/wetland cover protect existing forests and optimize reforestation activities 1.1 Insufficient Forest/ Wetland Cover Identify priority areas for reforestation based on land disturbance, patch conductivity, recharge areas L P P P P H P L Utilize municipal Woodlot Protection Bylaw and expand area of application to include the eastern portion of this zone. Determine optimal areas for reforestation. Utilize existing programs that facilitate reforestation projects (e.g. Greenbelt Plan, CFWIP, Natural Heritage Strategy, Durham 4H Forestry, GRCA Clean Water Healthy Land Financial Assisstance Program, etc.) Priority areas include degraded habitat in Hunter Creek and it's tributaries (see Figure A6 in Appendices) Focus restoration around waters with high Land Disturbance Index (LDI) values (see Figure A6 in Appendices) Current forest cover is greater than EC recommendation of 30% (36.2% or 315 hectares), however, restoration in this zone will benefit watercourses downstream where opportunities for restoration are limited Identify areas for potential wetland creation P P P Inventory historical wetlands to identify areas for rehabilitation. Consider opportunities to convert off-line ponds into wetlands. Key wetland areas south of 4th Concession to be maintained 10% wetland cover by FMZ (Currently at 0.36% or 3 hectares) Zone 5 Issues L = Lead; P = Partner; H = High Priority 80

95 Fisheries and Ocean Min. of Nat. Resources Min. of Environment Min. of Agri. and Food Min. of Mun. Aff. Hous. Ganaraska Region CA Municipalities Stewards PRIORITY Wilmot Creek FMP Table 3.5: Zone 5 (Migratory Salmonid Management Area) ISSUE STRATEGIES ACTIONS STAKEHOLDER IMPLEMENTATION TARGET 1.2 Insufficient Water Quantity Maintain or enhance appropriate hydrograph to satisfy Fish Community Objectives Reduce overland runoff through maintaining / increasing recharge areas (increase permeability). Link to Strategy P P L P Maintain or increase permeability of lands through vegetation management/planting (woodlot conservation, agricultural best management practices, reforestation). Use appropriate legislation to acknowledge tax incentives for conservation easements. Ongoing Secure, restore, and/or create wetlands in key locations Key wetland areas south of 4 th Concession to be maintained Ongoing Determine the location and extent of tile drains in the Wilmot catchment and assess the impact on the hydrograph L P Excessive drainage is an issue in this zone. Tile drainage should be documented and mitigation attempted to reduce the drainage during rain events Ongoing 1.3 Insufficient Riparian- Floodplain Habitat Protect and enhance Establish a riparian zone size that is a minimum of the meander belt width plus 30m in 3rd order or larger stream segments and 30m minimum riparian zone in 2nd order streams or smaller (See Greenbelt Plan). P P L P Riparian areas supporting brook trout in lower Stalker Creek should be restored. Stewardship opportunities where appropriate, tax incentives etc. (e.g. Alternative land use system - Norfolk County Stewardship - Ontario Stewardship Council) 2.0 BIODIVERSITY ISSUES (See Biodiversity sections in Appendices for descriptions of the topics discussed below) Maintain or Enhance brook trout Investigate potential areas for riparian Restricted enhance native population in lower Stalker Creek plantings (landowner contacts) and Native species populations through habitat improvements develop partnerships to implement Species (riparian plantings in cattle pasture abundance that currently holds brook trout). Link and to Action P L P distribution Achieve the appropriate riparian zone size where needed 2007 Zone 5 Issues L = Lead; P = Partner; H = High Priority 81

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97 Fisheries Management Zone 6 Issues & Management Recommendations Fish Community Objectives The fish community of Fisheries Management Zone 6 will be composed of diverse, selfsustaining native fish species characterized by: OBJECTIVE 1. Maintenance of a diverse native fish community including sport and nonsport fishes 2. Maintenance and/or increase of existing brook trout abundance and distribution into favorable habitats INDICATOR Continued presence and steady abundance of all native fish during monitoring and assessment programs Steady or increased catch rates and presence of brook trout during monitoring and assessment 83

98 Fisheries and Ocean Min. of Nat. Resources Min. of Environment Min. of Agri. and Food Min. of Mun. Aff. Hous. Ganaraska Region CA Municipalities Stewards PRIORITY Wilmot Creek FMP Table 3.6: Zone 6 (Brook Trout Management Area) ISSUE STRATEGIES ACTIONS STAKEHOLDER IMPLEMENTATION TARGET 1.0 HABITAT ISSUES (See Habitat sections in Appendices for descriptions of the topics discussed below) 1.1 Insufficient Forest/ Wetland Cover Maintain or increase forest/wetland cover to satisfy FMZ objectives Work with existing provincial policies, legislation and programs to protect existing forests and optimize reforestation activities Utilize municipal Woodlot Protection Bylaw and expand area of application to linclude this zone. Determine optimal areas for reforestation. Utilize existing programs that facilitate reforestation L P P P P H projects (e.g. Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan (ORMCP) Greenbelt Plan, CFWIP, Natural Heritage Strategy, Durham 4H Forestry Club, GRCA Clean Water Healthy Land Financial Assisstance Program, etc.) Focus restoration around waters with high Land Disturbance Index (LDI) values (see Figure A6 in Appendices) 1.2 Insufficient Water Quantity Maintain or enhance appropriate hydrograph to satisfy Fish Community Objectives Identify priority areas for reforestation based on land disturbance, patch conductivity, recharge areas Identify areas for potential wetland creation Reduce overland runoff through maintaining / increasing recharge areas (increase permeability). Link to Strategy P L P P P P P L P Priority areas include degraded habitat in Orono and Hunter Creek headwater streams (see Figure A6 in Appendices) Inventory historical wetlands to identify areas for rehabilitation. Consider opportunities to convert off-line ponds into wetlands Maintain or increase permeability of lands through vegetation management/planting (woodlot conservation, agricultural best management practices, reforestation). Use appropriate legislation to acknowledge tax incentives for conservation easements. 30% forest cover by FMZ (Currently at 12.4% or 222 hectares) 10% wetland cover by FMZ (Currently at 0.85% or 32 hectares) Ongoing Determine the location and extent of tile drains in the Wilmot catchment and assess the impact on the hydrograph L P Excessive drainage is an issue in this zone. Research Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs information on tile locations Ongoing Zone 6 Issues L = Lead; P = Partner; H = High Priority 84

99 Fisheries and Ocean Min. of Nat. Resources Min. of Environment Min. of Agri. and Food Min. of Mun. Aff. Hous. Ganaraska Region CA Municipalities Stewards PRIORITY Wilmot Creek FMP Table 3.6: Zone 6 (Brook Trout Management Area) ISSUE STRATEGIES ACTIONS STAKEHOLDER IMPLEMENTATION TARGET Protect and Insufficient In-enhance Stream Habitat 1.4 Insufficient Riparian- Floodplain Habitat Protect and enhance Improve existing habitat to support future initiatives to enhance brook trout populations in this zone. Ensure watershed approach to addressing in-stream habitat improvements (i.e. address the cause not just deal with site specific "band aid" approaches) Establish a riparian zone size that is a minimum of the meander belt width plus 30m in 3rd order or larger stream segments and 30m minimum riparian zone in 2nd order streams or smaller (See Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan (ORMCP) and the Greenbelt Plan). P P L P P P P L P H 2.0 BIODIVERSITY ISSUES (See Biodiversity sections in Appendices for descriptions of the topics discussed below) Maintain or This zone is proposed as a enhance native brook trout management area. species populations 2.1 Restricted Native Species abundance and distribution Reduce competition on native species by naturalized species Explore the use of barriers to protect populations of native species from naturalized species L P P P L P Approach landowners in areas where brook trout restoration is viable and arrange to conduct habitat improvements if required. Monitor restoration activities establish specific measurable targets to measure success This zone could benefit greatly from riparian restoration and should be considered a priority. Plantings should contain species that would contribute large wood material to creek in future. Stewardship opportunities where appropriate, tax incentives etc. (e.g. Alternative land use system - Norfolk County Stewardship - Ontario Stewardship Council) Expansion of brook trout in this zone could be accomplished through adult transfers. All attempts to rehabilitate brook trout in this zone should be thoroughly monitored to document success Currently not a priority, but may become essential if restoration and expansion of brook trout considered. Achieve the appropriate riparian zone size where needed. Ongoing Ongoing Zone 6 Issues L = Lead; P = Partner; H = High Priority 85

100 Fisheries and Ocean Min. of Nat. Resources Min. of Environment Min. of Agri. and Food Min. of Mun. Aff. Hous. Ganaraska Region CA Municipalities Stewards PRIORITY Wilmot Creek FMP Table 3.6: Zone 6 (Brook Trout Management Area) ISSUE STRATEGIES ACTIONS STAKEHOLDER IMPLEMENTATION TARGET 3.0 RESOURCE USE ISSUES 3.1 Overharvest Likely a limited fishery for brook trout. Discourage angling of recovering species 4.0 SCIENCE AND INFORMATION GAPS 4.1 Lack of Identify and information address information on the use of gaps wetlands by migratory salmonids Consider restricting brook trout harvest from rehabilitation locations if brook trout restoration proceeds Conduct surveys to determine extent of suitable brook trout habitat and where (if any) in-stream habitat restoration work is required Determine extent of brook trout population in this zone and evaluate restoration potential Determine appropriate methods for rehabilitation of brook trout population as required. P P P P L P P L P Agreements with landowners to proceed with restoration work should also include agreements to limit access to fishery until rehabilitation is complete Conduct habitat survey. Utilize partnerships where available. Consider supplementing the regular monitoring surveys with additional sampling to capture extent. Appropriate methods for brook trout restoration (e.g. natural expansion after habitat improvements, adult transfers) will need to be evaluated P L P Zone 6 Issues L = Lead; P = Partner; H = High Priority 86

101 Fisheries Management Zone 7 Issues & Management Recommendations Fish Community Objectives The fish community of Fisheries Management Zone 7 will be composed of diverse, selfsustaining native fish species characterized by: OBJECTIVE 1. Maintenance of a diverse native fish community including sport and nonsport fishes 2. Maintenance and/or increase of existing brook trout abundance and distribution into favorable habitats INDICATOR Continued presence and steady abundance of all native fish during monitoring and assessment programs Steady or increased catch rates and presence of brook trout during monitoring and assessment 87

102 Fisheries and Ocean Min. of Nat. Resources Min. of Environment Min. of Agri. and Food Min. of Mun. Aff. Hous. Ganaraska Region CA Municipalities Stewards PRIORITY Wilmot Creek FMP Table 3.7: Zone 7 (Brook Trout Management Area) ISSUE STRATEGIES ACTIONS STAKEHOLDER IMPLEMENTATION TARGET 1.0 HABITAT ISSUES (See Habitat sections in Appendices for descriptions of the topics discussed below) 1.1 Insufficient Forest/ Wetland Maintain or increase forest/wetland cover to satisfy FMZ Work with existing provincial policies, legislation and programs to protect existing forests and optimize reforestation activities Cover objectives L P P P P H Utilize municipal Woodlot Protection Bylaw and expand area of application to lands north of Concession 6. Determine optimal areas for reforestation. Utilize existing programs that facilitate reforestation projects (e.g. Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan (ORMCP) Greenbelt Plan, CFWIP, Natural Heritage Strategy, Durham 4H Forestry Club, GRCA Clean Water Healthy Land Financial Assisstance Program, etc.) Focus restoration around waters with high Land Disturbance Index (LDI) values (see Figure A6 in Appendices) 1.2 Insufficient Water Quantity Maintain or enhance appropriate hydrograph to satisfy Fish Community Objectives Identify priority areas for reforestation based on land disturbance, patch conductivity, recharge areas Identify areas for potential wetland creation Determine appropriate hydrograph (peak flow and base flow) for this zone P P L P P L L P H Priority areas include Orono Crown Lands and degraded habitat in Orono Creek headwater streams (see Figure A6 in Appendices) Inventory historical wetlands to identify areas for rehabilitation. Consider opportunities to convert off-line ponds into wetlands Detailed assessments of flow regimes and ground water/ surface water interactions in this zone are key to maintaining downstream health. Assessments will help evaluate impacts of potential Highway 407 development. 30% forest cover by FMZ (Currently at 29.5% or 1,367 hectares) 10% wetland cover by FMZ (Currently at 0.49% or 23 hectares) Zone 7 Issues L = Lead; P = Partner; H = High Priority 88

103 Fisheries and Ocean Min. of Nat. Resources Min. of Environment Min. of Agri. and Food Min. of Mun. Aff. Hous. Ganaraska Region CA Municipalities Stewards PRIORITY Wilmot Creek FMP Table 3.7: Zone 7 (Brook Trout Management Area) ISSUE STRATEGIES ACTIONS STAKEHOLDER IMPLEMENTATION TARGET Reduce overland runoff through maintaining / increasing recharge areas (increase permeability). Link to Strategy P P L P Maintain or increase permeability of lands through vegetation management/planting (woodlot conservation, agricultural best management practices, reforestation). Use appropriate legislation to acknowledge tax incentives for conservation easements. Ongoing Protect and Insufficient In-enhance Stream Habitat This zone is designated as a brook trout management zone opportunities to improve brook trout habitat will be explored. Ensure watershed approach to addressing instream habitat improvements (i.e. address the cause not just deal with site specific "band aid" approaches) P P L P P Approach landowners in areas where brook trout restoration is viable and arrange to conduct habitat improvements if required. Monitor restoration activities establish specific measurable targets to measure success Ensure stringent protection measures are in place if Highway 407 project proceeds through this zone Review class environmental assessment, evaluate impacts and ensure appropriate mitigation is identified in the plan. Develop compensation if required. L P P Zone 7 Issues L = Lead; P = Partner; H = High Priority 89

104 Fisheries and Ocean Min. of Nat. Resources Min. of Environment Min. of Agri. and Food Min. of Mun. Aff. Hous. Ganaraska Region CA Municipalities Stewards PRIORITY Wilmot Creek FMP Table 3.7: Zone 7 (Brook Trout Management Area) ISSUE STRATEGIES ACTIONS STAKEHOLDER IMPLEMENTATION TARGET 1.4 Insufficient Riparian- Floodplain Habitat 1.5 In-stream Barriers, Water Crossings, and Ponds Protect and enhance Establish a riparian zone size that is a minimum of the meander belt width plus 30m in 3rd order or larger stream segments and 30m minimum riparian zone in 2nd order streams or smaller (See Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan (ORMCP) and the Greenbelt Plan) Consider retrofitting Orono Mill Pond with a bottom draw structure if thermal impacts are detected Keep Orono Dam structure in place to maintain native species upstream and prevent access of migratory species. P P L P H P L P P 2.0 BIODIVERSITY ISSUES (See Biodiversity sections in Appendices for descriptions of the topics discussed below) Maintain or enhance native species populations 2.1 Restricted Native Species abundance and distribution Modify barriers to ensure zone specific strategies are met Reduce competition on native species by naturalized and invasive species This zone is proposed as a brook trout management area. Evaluate extent and potential for brook trout expansion in this zone Explore the use of barriers to protect populations of native species from naturalized and invasive species L P P P L P This zone could benefit greatly from riparian restoration and should be considered a priority. Plantings should contain species that would contribute large wood material to creek in future. Stewardship opportunities where appropriate, tax incentives etc. (e.g. Alternative land use system - Norfolk County Stewardship - Ontario Stewardship Council) Mitigate with BMPs. Respond to public concern and manage beaver populations as required Maintain the Orono Mill Pond dam Expansion of brook trout in this zone could be accomplished through adult transfers. All attempts to rehabilitate brook trout in this zone should be thoroughly monitored to document success If considered appropriate - placement of a barrier above Taunton Road to limit migratory species access on the mainstem to areas designated for brook trout restoration. Maintain the Orono Mill Pond dam to protect upstream brook trout. Achieve the appropriate riparian zone size where needed. Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing Zone 7 Issues L = Lead; P = Partner; H = High Priority 90

105 Fisheries and Ocean Min. of Nat. Resources Min. of Environment Min. of Agri. and Food Min. of Mun. Aff. Hous. Ganaraska Region CA Municipalities Stewards PRIORITY Wilmot Creek FMP Table 3.7: Zone 7 (Brook Trout Management Area) ISSUE STRATEGIES ACTIONS STAKEHOLDER IMPLEMENTATION TARGET 3.0 RESOURCE USE ISSUES 3.1 Underutilization Optimize harvest opportunities for under utilized species Encourage harvest of brown trout (Link to 2.1.2) L P Promote the exceptional brown trout fishery to various media sources 3.2 Overharvest Discourage angling of recovering species (Likely a limited fishery for brook trout) Consider restricting brook trout harvest from rehabilitation locations if brook trout restoration proceeds P P P Agreements with landowners to proceed with restoration work should also include agreements to limit access to fishery until rehabilitation is complete 4.0 SCIENCE AND INFORMATION GAPS 4.1 Lack of Identify and Determine extent of brook information address information trout population in this zone and on the use of gaps evaluate restoration potential wetlands by migratory salmonids Determine appropriate methods for rehabilitation of brook trout population as required. P L P Consider supplementing the regular monitoring surveys with additional sampling to capture extent. Appropriate methods for brook trout After determining restoration (e.g. natural expansion after extent and habitat improvements, adult transfers) will population need to be evaluated assessment P L P Zone 7 Issues L = Lead; P = Partner; H = High Priority 91

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107 Glossary Area of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI): Areas ranked by the MNR to be either provincially or regionally significant. There are two types of ANSIs, life science and earth science. Life science ANSIs are significant representative segments of Ontario s biodiversity and natural landscapes including specific types of forests, prairies, valleys and wetlands, their native plants and animals, and their supporting environments. Earth science or geological ANSI s are significant representatives of bedrock, fossil and landforms in Ontario and includes examples of ongoing geological processes (OMNR 1999). Base flow: The sustained flow in a channel as a result of groundwater discharge. Best Management Practice (BMP): Structural, non-structural, and managerial techniques recognized to be the most effective and practical means to reduce surface and ground water contamination while still allowing the productive use of resources. Biodiversity: Totality of the number and variability amongst living organisms, including the variability within species (genetic diversity) between species (species diversity) and between ecosystems (ecosystem diversity) Confluence: The point at which two streams converge. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC): A federal agency that determines the national status of wild species, subspecies, varieties and nationally significant populations that are considered to be at risk in Canada. Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO): A provincial agency that determines the provincial status of wild species, subspecies, varieties and provincially significant populations that are considered to be at risk in Ontario. Discharge: The volume of water that passes through a given point per unit time, commonly referred to as flow. Ecological Land Classification: The Canadian classification of lands from an ecological perspective; an approach that attempts to identify ecologically similar areas (Lee et al. 1998). Endangered: Any indigenous species facing imminent extirpation or extinction from a specified area. Entrenchment: Areas where the creek is not connected with the floodplain. 93

108 Glossary Evapotranspiration: Loss of water from the land surface through both transpiration by plants and evaporation. Extinct: A species that no longer exists in the world. Extirpated: Any indigenous species no longer existing in the wild in a particular location but existing elsewhere. Floodplain: Lowland areas adjacent to lakes, wetlands, or rivers, consisting of alluvial sediments, that are susceptible to inundation by water during a flood. Fluvial Geomorphology: The study of the processes and interactions that shape streams and rivers including size, shape and form of watercourses that are produced through interactions among climate, watershed area, geology, topography, vegetation, and land use. Groundwater: Water beneath the Earth s surface, stored by aquifers or running through the soil, fractured rock or sand. Hydrograph: A graphical representation of a hydrological measurement (e.g. water level, groundwater discharge or velocity) over time. Invasive species: Alien species (species that have been moved from an area to which they were native to areas where they did not naturally live and evolve, either intentionally or unintentionally) whose introduction and spread generally threatens the natural environment, in particular native species, and the economy. Land Disturbance Index (LDI): A model which predicts a threshold response of fish communities in streams along the north shore of Lake Ontario in response to increased land disturbance (e.g. urban and agricultural land uses). Marsh: A wetland with mineral or peat substrate inundated by nutrient-rich water and characterized by emergent vegetation (Lee et al. 1998). Meadow Marsh: An area at the wetland-terrestrial interface, which is seasonally inundated with water and usually dominated by grasses or forbs (Lee et al. 1998). Naturalized: An introduced species which is now self-sustaining. Oak Ridges Moraine (ORM): A moraine extending from the Niagara Escarpment to the Trent River that was developed as glaciers retreated across the landscape and melt waters resulted in gravel and sand deposits. 94

109 Official Plan (OP): A municipal document prepared under the Planning Act intended to guide the physical development of a municipality, while having regard to relevant social, economic, and environmental matters. Offline pond: A pond that is situated outside the direct line of the watercourse; however, one or more pipes or channels may join the stream and the pond. Online pond: A pond that is directly in the line of flow of the stream course. Water from the stream flows in at one end of the pond and flows out at the other end. Peak flow: The period of time when the discharge of a stream is at its highest at a given location. Recharge: Process by which water is added to the zone of saturation to replenish an aquifer. Riparian: Terrestrial areas bordering aquatic zones showing an influence of water that is not normally found in adjacent uplands. Savannah: A treed community with 11 to 35% cover in coniferous or deciduous trees (Lee et al. 1998). Shallow marsh: Vegetation communities with a water table that rarely drops below the substrate surface and vegetation composed primarily of broad-leaved or narrow-leaved emergent species (Lee et al. 1998). Species at Risk (SAR): Species that are at risk of extinction, extirpation or endangerment globally or within a jurisdiction or region. Stream order: A classification system that numbers the tributaries of a river beginning with headwater tributaries and increasing the order number as lower order tributaries join the mainstream. Any single, unbranched tributary is considered a first order stream. Two first order streams join to form a second order stream, two second order streams join to form a third order stream, etc. Stream slope: The change in gradient of the stream bed between two points, which can be used to infer characteristics of that watercourse. Surficial geology: The study of surface materials, their formation and distribution. Thicket: A terrestrial vegetation type that is characterized by <10% tree cover and >25% tall shrub cover (Lee et al. 1998). Thicket swamp: A wetland vegetation type that is characterized by <10% tree cover and >25% tall shrub cover (Lee et al. 1998). 95

110 Glossary Water balance: The accounting of water input and output and change in storage of the various components of the hydrologic cycle. Water budget: A summation of input, output, and net changes to a particular water resources system over a fixed period of time. Watershed: The entire physical area characterized by all direct runoff being conveyed to the same outlet (stream system), commonly referred to as a basin, subwatershed, drainage basin, catchment, and catch basin. Wetland: An area of land that is saturated with water long enough to promote hydric soils or aquatic processes as indicated by poorly drained soils, hydrophytic vegetation and various kinds of biological activity that are adapted to wet environments. This includes shallow waters generally <2m deep (Lee et al. 1998). Woodland: A treed community with 35 to 60% cover of coniferous or deciduous trees (Lee et al. 1998). 96

111 References Allen, J.D Landscapes and Riverscapes: The influence of land use on stream ecosystems. Annual Review of Ecology Evolution and Systematics. 35: Allen, J.D., D.L. Erickson, and J. Fay The influence of catchment land use on stream integrity across multiple spatial scales. Freshwater Biology 37: Allen, J.D Stream Ecology: Structure and Function of Running Waters. Chapman and Hall, New York, USA. Allen, T.F., Starr TB Hierarchy: Perspectives for Ecological Complexity. Chicago: Chicago Univ. Press Arnold, C. L., and C. J. Gibbons Impervious surface coverage: the emergence of a key environmental indicator. Journal of American Planning 62: Auble, G.T., J.M. Freidman, and M.L. Scott Relating riparian vegetation to present and future streamflows. Ecological Applications 4: Bagley, M.J., S.E. Franson, S.A. Christ, E.R. Waits, G.P. Toth Genetic Diversity as an Indicator of Ecosystem Condition and Sustainability: Utility for Regional Assessments of Stream Condition in the Eastern United States. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH. Benke, A.C., and C.E. Cushing, eds Rivers of North America. San Diego, CA: Academic/ Elsevier. Bilby, R.E., and P.A. Bisson Function and Distribution of Large Woody Debris. In: River Ecology and Management: Lessons from the Pacific Coastal Ecoregion. Naiman, R.J. and R.E. Bilby Eds. 13: Bogan, A.E Freshwater bivalve extinctions (Mollusca: Unionida): a search for causes. American Zoologist 33: Booth, D.B Stream-channel incision following drainage-basin urbanization. Water Resources Bulletin 26: Bren, L.J Tree invasion of an intermittent wetland in relation to changes in the flooding frequency of the River Murray, Australia. Australian Journal of Ecology 17: Bryant, M.D The role and management of woody debris in west coast salmonid nursery streams. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 3:

112 References Byron, E.R., and Goldman, C.R., 1989, Land-use and water quality in tributary streams of Lake Tahoe, California-Nevada: Journal of Environmental Quality, v. 18, p Buchanan, D.V., P.S. Tate, and J.R. Moring Acute Toxicities of Spruce and Hemlock Bark Extracts to Some Estuarine Organisms in Southeastern Alaska. Journal of the Fisheries Research Board Canada 33: Busch, D.E., and S.D. Smith Mechanisms associated with decline of woody species in riparian ecosystems of Southwestern US. Ecological Monographs 65: Buttle, J.M Hydrological and geomorphological responses to headwater reforestation: the Ganaraska River basin, southern Ontario. In Watershed Management Symposium, National Water Research Institute, Burlington, 6-8 Dec Chein, N Changes in river regime after the construction of upstream reservoirs. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 10: Coates, David Protected Areas and Inland Aquatic Ecosystems. Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD). Biodiversity Issues for Consideration in the Planning, Establishment and Management of Protected Area Sites and Networks. CBD Technical Series No. 15. SCBD, Montreal Quebec. p Connor, W.H., J.G. Grosselink, and R.T. Parrondo Comparison of the vegetation of three Louisiana swamp sites with different flooding regimes. American Journal of Botany 68: Copp, G.H The habitat diversity and fish reproductive function of floodplain ecosystems. Environmental Biology of Fishes 26: Crispen, V., R. House, and D. Roberts Change in instream habitat, large woody debris, and salmon habitat after the restructuring of a coastal Oregon stream. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 13: Cushman, R.M Review of ecological effects of rapidly varying flows downstream of hydroelectric facilities. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 5: Daniels, R.B Entrenchment of the willow drainage ditch, Harrison County, Iowa. American Journal of Science 258: Desjardins, Marc, and Les Stanfield The Wilmot Creek Study: Spatial and Temporal Analysis of Fish Communities in the Wilmot Basin. Report Prepared for the Wilmot Creek Fisheries Plan Steering Committee. 272p. 98

113 Duncan, R.P Flood disturbance and the coexistence of species in a lowland podocarp forest, south Westland, New Zealand. Journal of Ecology 81: Dolloff, C.A Effects of stream cleaning on juvenile Coho salmon and dolly varden in southeast Alaska. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 115: Dunne, T., and L.B. Leopold Water in Environmental Planning. San Francisco:W.H. Freeman and Co. Elliott, S.T Reduction of a dolly varden population and macrobenthos after removal of logging debris. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 115: Environment Canada How Much Habitat is Enough? A Framework for Guiding Habitat Rehabilitation in Great Lakes Areas of Concern. Canadian Wildlife Service. 80p. Online September Available: Environment Canada Canadian Biodiversity Strategy: Canada s Response to the Convention on Biological Diversity, Biodiversity Convention Office, Environment Canada. Hull, Quebec, Canada. 80p. Online September Available: Fausch, K.D., and K.R. Bestgen Ecology of fishes indigenous to the central and southwestern Great Plains. Pages in Knopf FL, Samson FB, eds. Ecology and Conservation of Great Plains Vertebrates. New York:Springer-Verlag. Fausch, K.D., and T.G. Northcote Large Woody Debris and Salmonid Habitat in a Small Coastal British Columbia Stream. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science 49: Fenner, P., W.W. Brady, and D.R. Patten Effects of regulated water flows on regeneration of Fremont cottonwood. Journal of Range Management 38: Fetherston, K.L., R.J. Naiman and R.E. Bilby, Large Woody Debris, Physical Process, and Riparian Forest Succession in Montane River Networks of the Pacific Northwest. Geomorphology 13: Frissel CA, Liss WJ, Warren CE, Hurley MD A hierarchical framework for stream habitat classification: viewing streams in a watershed context. Environmental. Management. 12: Gianessi, L.P., H.M. Peskin, P. Crosson, and C. Puffer Nonpoint source pollution controls: are cropland controls the answer? Resources for the Future, Washington DC. 99

114 References Great Lakes Fishery Commission Fish Community Objectives for Lake Ontario. Online September Available: Great Lakes Fishery Commission A Joint Strategic Plan for Management of Great Lakes Fisheries. Ann Arbor, MI. (Supersedes 1994 version.) Online September Available: Gregory, S., K.L. Boyer, and A.M. Gurnell, Eds The ecology and management of wood in world rivers American Fisheries Society Symposium 37 Bethesda, MD. Gucinski, H., R.T. Lackey, and B.C. Spence Global Climate Change: Policy Implications for Fisheries. Fisheries. 15: Gurin, D Understanding Sprawl: A Citizen s Guide. The David Suzuki Foundation. Vancouver, BC, Canada. Western Printers and Lithographers. 22pp. Hammer, T.R Stream channel enlargement due to urbanization. Water Resources Research 8: Harding, J. S., R. G. Young, J. W. Hayes, K. A. Shearer, and J. D. Stark Changes in agricultural intensity and river health along a river continuum. Freshwater Biology 42: Harms, W.R., H.T. Schreuder, D.D. Hook, C.L. Brown, and F.W. Shropshire The effects of flooding on the swamp forest in Lake Oklawaha, Florida. Ecology 61: Harr, R.D., and F.M. McCorison Initial effects of clearcut logging on size and timing of peak flows in a small watershed in western Oregon. Water Resources Research 15: Hecky, R.E., R.E.H. Smith, D.R. Barton, S.J. Guildford, W.D. Taylor, M.N. Charlton, and T. Howell The nearshore phosphorus shunt: a consequence of ecosystem engineering by dreissenids in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 61: Henley, W.F., M.A. Patterson, R.J. Neves, and A.D. Lemly Effects of sedimentation and turbidity on lotic food webs: a concise review for natural resource managers. Reviews in Fisheries Science 8: Hewlett, J.D Principles of Forest Hydrology. Athens, Georgia. University of Georgia Press. Hoover, M.D Effect of removal of forest vegetation on water yields. American Geophysical Union Transactions 25:

115 Hornbeck, J.W Streamflow response to forest cutting and revegetation. Water Resources Bulletin 11: Horton, J.S The development and perturbation of the permanent tamarisk type in the phreatophyte zone of the Southwest. USDA Forest Service. General Technical Report nr RM-43: House, R.A., and P.L. Boehne Effects of instream structure on salmonid habitat and populations in Tobe Creek, Oregon. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 6: Jackson, C.R., C.A. Strum, and J.M. Ward Timber Harvest impacts on small stream channels in the coast ranges of Washington. Journal of the American Water Resources Association 37(6): Johnson, W.C Woodland expansion in the Platte River, Nebraska: patterns and causes. Ecological Monographs 64: Jones, J.A., and D.A. Post Seasonal and succesional streamflow response to forest cutting and regrowth in the northwest and eastern United States. Water Resources Research 40: Jones, J. B., and C. C. Clark Impact of watershed urbanization on stream insect communities. Water Resources Bulletin 23: Jones, K.B., A.C. Neale, M.S. Nash, R.D. Van Remortel, J.D. Wickham, K.H. Riitters, and R.V. O Neil Predicting nutrient and sediment loadings to streams from landscape metrics: a multiple watershed study from the United States Mid-Atlantic Region. Landscape Ecology 16: Kerr, S. J Brook trout stocking: An annotated bibliography and literature review with an emphasis on Ontario waters. Fish and Wildlife Branch, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, Ontario. 177p. Kilgour, B. W., and D. R. Barton Associations between stream fish and benthos across environmental gradients in southern Ontario, Canada. Freshwater Biology 41: Kilgour, B.W., and L.W. Stanfield Hindcasting Reference Conditions in Streams. Pages in R.M. Hughes, L. Wang, and P.W. Seelbach, editors. Landscape influences on stream habitats and biological assemblages. American Fisheries Society, Symposium 48, Bethesda, Maryland. 101

116 References Klein, R.D Urbanization and stream water quality impairment. Water Resources Bulletin. 15: Knighton, D Fluvial Forms and Processes: A New Perspective. Edward Arnold, London 383pp. Knox, J.C Historical valley floor sedimentation in the Upper Mississippi Valley. Annals of the Association of American Geographers 77(2): Koenig, Brenda Watershed-based Fisheries Management Plan Guideline. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. XXpp. Kondolf, G.M., and R.R. Curry Channel erosion along the Carmel River, Monterey County, California. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 11: Lee, H.T., W.D. Bakowsky, J. Riley, J. Bowles, M. Puddister, P. Uhlig and S. McMurray Ecological Land Classification for Southern Ontario: First Approximation and Its Application. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Southcentral Science Section, Science Development and Transfer Branch. SCSS Field Guide FG-02. Leopold, L.B Hydrology for urban land planning: a guidebook on the hydrologic effects of land use. Reston (Va): US Geological Survey. Circular nr 554. Lestelle, L.C The effects of forest debris removal on a population of resident cutthroat trout in a small, headwater stream. Masters thesis. University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA Lisle, T.E Effects of coarse woody debris and its removal on a channel affected by the 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens, Washington. Water Resources Research 31: Lyons, J., S.W. Trimble, and L.K. Paine Grass versus trees: managing riparian areas to benefit streams of central North America. Journal of the American Water Resources Association 36: MacDonald, L.H., A. Smart, and R.C. Wissmar Monitoring Guidelines to Evaluate the Effects of Forestry Activities on Streams in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. US Environmental Protection Agency Technical Report EPA/910/ Seattle, Washington, USA. May, C.W., R.R. Horner, J.R. Karr, B.W. Mat, and E.B. Welch Effects of urbanization on small streams in the Puget Sound Lowland Ecoregion. Watershed Protection Techniques. 2:

117 McGuinness, J.K., and L.L. Harrold Reforestation influences on small watershed streamflow. Water Resources Research 7: McLaughlin, R.L., L. Porto, D.L.G. Noakes, J.R. Baylis, L.M. Carl, H.R. Dodd, J.D. Goldstein, D.B. Hayes, and R.G. Randall Effects of Low-Head Barriers on Stream Fishes: Taxonomic Affiliations and Morphological Correlates of Sensitive Species. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science 63: McMahon, T.E., and G.F. Hartman Influence of cover complexity and current velocity on winter habitat use by juvenile Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch). Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science 46: Meade, R.H., T.R. Yuzyk, and T.J. Day Movement and storage of sediment in the rivers of the United States and Canada. In Wolman MG, and Riggs HC, eds. The Geology of North America, v 0-1: Surface Water Hydrology. Geological Society of America, Boulder, CO, pp Meador, M.R., J.F. Coales and H. Zappia Fish Assemblage Responses to Urban Intensity Gradients in Contrasting Metropolitan Areas: Birmingham, Alabama and Boston, Massachusetts. American Fisheries Society Symposium 47: Meffe, G.K Effects of abiotic disturbance on coexistence of predator and prey fish species. Ecology 65: Millenium Ecosystem Assessment. 2005a. Ecosystems and Human Well-Being: Volume 1 - Current State and Trends. Findings of the Responses Working Group Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Series. Island Press. Hasman, R., R. Scholes, and N. Ash. 815pp. Millenium Ecosystem Assessment. 2005b. Ecosystems and Human Well-Being: Volume 3 - Policy Responses. Findings of the Responses Working Group Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Series. Island Press. Chopra, K., R. Leemans, P. Kumar, and H. Simons editors. 515pp. Montgomery, D.R., and J.M. Buffington Channel-reach morphology in mountain drainage basins. Geological Association of America Bulletin 109(5): Montgomery, W.L., S.D. McCormick, R.J. Naiman, F.G. Whoriskey, and G.A. Black Spring migratory synchrony of salmonid, catostomid, and cyprinid fishes in Rivière á la Truite, Québec. Canadian Journal of Zoology 61: Moyle, P.B Fish introductions into North America: patterns and ecological impact. Pages in Mooney H.A., Drake J.A., eds. Ecology of biological invasions of North America and Hawaii. New York: Springer-Verlag. 103

118 References Municipality of Clarington Municipality of Clarington Development Changes Background Study. Municipality of Clarington Municipality of Clarington Official Plan. Næsje, T., B. Jonsson, and J. Skurdal Spring flood: a primary cue for hatching of river spawning Coregoninae. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 52: Naiman, R.J., K.L. Fetherston, S.J. McKay, and J. Chen Riparian Forests. In: River Ecology and Management: Lessons from the Pacific Coastal Ecoregion. Naiman, R.J. and R.E. Bilby Eds. 12: Nalbone, J. Date Unknown. Regional Aquaculture and Concepts of Environmental Sustainability. Great Lakes United Fact Sheet. 11p. Nilsson, C Effects of stream regulation on riparian vegetation. Pages in Lillehammer A., Saltveit S.J., eds. Regulated Rivers. New York: Columbia University Press. Novacek, M.J., and E.E. Cleland The Current Biodiversity Extinction Event: Senarios for Mitigation and Recovery. National Academy of Sciences Colloquium, The Future of Evolution held March 16-20, pp. Novinger, Douglas C., and Rahel, Frank J Isolation Management with Artificial Barriers as a Conservation Strategy for Cutthroat Trout in Headwater Streams. Conservation Biology 17 (3): Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters Invading Species Awareness Program. Online September Available: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. 2005a. Protecting What Sustains Us: Ontario s Biodiversity Strategy. Government of Ontario. 44pp. Online September Available: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. 2005b. Our Sustainable Future - Ministry of Natural Resources - Strategic Directions. Government of Ontario. 21pp. Online September Available: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Natural Channel Systems, Adaptive Management of Stream Corridors in Ontario. Toronto. Queen s Printer for Ontario. 104

119 Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Natural Heritage Reference Manual for Policy 2.3 of the Provincial Policy Statement. Queen s Printer for Ontario. 127 pp. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Strategic Plan for Ontario Fisheries - SPOF II- An Aquatic Ecosystem Approach to Managing Fisheries. Queen s Printer for Ontario. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Lindsay District fisheries management plan p. Ontario Ministry of the Environment Reporting Spills and Environmental Emergencies. Online September Available: Ontario Ministry of the Environment Water Management Policies Guidelines Provincial Water Quality Objectives of the Ministry of Environment and Energy. 32p. Online September Available: Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Greenbelt Plan, p. Online September Available: n_final.pdf Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan. 82pp. Online September Available: lannov12001-e.pdf Ourso, R.T., and S.A. Frenzel Identification of linear and threshold responses in streams along a gradient of urbanization in Anchorage, Alaska. Hydrobiologia 501: Paul, M.J., and J.L. Meyer Streams in the urban landscape. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics. 32: Petts, G.E Timescale for ecological concern in regulated rivers. Pages in Craig JF, Kemper JB, Eds, Regulated streams: advances in ecology. New York: Plenum Press. Petts, G.E Impounded rivers: perspectives for ecological management. New York: John Wiley & Sons. Perkins, D.J., B.N. Carlsen, M. Fredstrom, R.H. Miller, C.M. Rofer, G.T. Ruggerone, And C.S. Zimmerman The effects of ground-water pumping on natural spring communities in Owens Valley. Pages in Warner, R.E., Hendrix, K.M., eds. California riparian systems: ecology, conservation, and productive management. Berkeley (CA): University of California Press. 105

120 References Poff, N.L., and J.V. Ward Implications of streamflow variability and predictability for lotic community structure: a regional analysis of streamflow patterns. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 46: Power, M.E., A. Sun, M. Parker, W.E. Dietrich, and J.T. Wootton Hydraulic food chain models: an approach to the study of food web dynamics in large rivers. Bioscience 45: Prestegaard, K.L Morphological controls on sediment delivery pathways. Pages in Walling DE, ed. Sediment Budgets. Wallingford (UK): IAHS Press. International Association of Hydrological Sciences publication nr 174. Prestegaard, K.L., A.M. Matherne, B. Shane, K. Houghton, M. O Connell, and N. Katyl Spatial variations in the magnitude of the 1993 floods, Raccoon River Basin, Iowa. Geomorphology 10: Price, K., and D.S. Leigh Morphological and sedimentological responses of streams to human impact in the southern Blue Ridge Mountains, USA. Geomorphology 78: Quinn, J.M Effects of pastoral development. In New Zealand Stream Invertebrates: Ecology and Implications for management. Ed. Collier KJ, Winterbourn MJ, Christchurch, NZ, Caxton, pp Regional Municipality of Durham Durham Region Official Plan Review Recommended directions for population, employment and urban land. Durham Region Planning Department, 2006 Richards, C., L.B. Johnson, and G.E. Host Landscape-scale influences on stream habitats and biota. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 53: Richardson, A.H A report on the Ganaraska watershed; A study in land use with plans for rehabilitation of the area in the post-war period. Ontario Department of Planning and Development. Robertson, L Water operations on the Pecos River, New Mexico and the Pecos Bluntnose Shiner, a federally-listed minnow. U.S. Conference on Irrigation and Drainage Symposium 1996, pp Rood, S.B., J.M. Mahoney, D.E. Reid, and L. Zilm Instream flows and the decline of riparian cottonwoods along the St. Mary River, Alberta. Canadian Journal of Botany 73:

121 Roy, A.H., A.D. Rosemond, M.J. Paul, D.S. Leigh, and J.B. Wallace JB Stream macroinvertebrate response to catchment urbanisation (Georgia, USA). Freshwater Biology. 48: Saunders, D.L., J.J. Meeuwig and A.C.J. Vincent Freshwater Protected Areas: Strategies for Conservation. Conservation Biology. 1: Scheideggar, I.J., and M.B. Bain Larval Fish in natural and regulated rivers: assemblage composition and microhabitat use. Copia 1995: Schneider, W.J., and G.R. Ayer Effect of reforestation on streamflow in central New York. U.S. Geological Survey Water Supply Paper (Washington DC: U.S. Geological Survey). Schulz, R., and M. Liess A field study of the effects of agriculturally derived insecticide input on stream macroinvertebrate dynamics. Aquatic Toxicology 46: Schumm, S.A The Fluvial System. New York, New York, USA Scott, M.L., G.T. Auble, and J.M. Freidman Flood dependency of cottonwood establishment along the Missouri River, Montana, USA. Ecological Applications 7: Sear, D.A Morphological and sedimentological changes in a gravel-bed river following 12 years of flow regulation for hydro-power. Regulated Rivers: Research and Management 10: Sedell, J.R., J.E. Yuska, and R.W. Speaker Habitats and salmonid distribution in pristine, sediment-rich, river valley systems: South Fork Hoh and Queets River, Olympic National Park. In Meehan WR, Merrel TR,.Jr., Hanley TA, eds. Fish and wildlife relationships in old-growth forests. American Institute of Fishery Research Biologists, Juneau, Alaska, USA. Shankman, D., and D.L. Drake Channel migration and regeneration of bald cypress in western Tennessee. Physical Geography 11: Shirohammadi, A., K.S. Yoon, and W.L. Magette Water quality in a mixed land use watershed- piedmont region. Journal of Environmental Science and Health A31(2): Sioli, H Tropical rivers as expressions of their terrestrial environments. Pages in F.B. Golley and E. Medina, eds. Tropical ecological systems: Trends in terrestrial and aquatic research. Springer-Verlag, New York, New York, USA. 107

122 References Skinner, J.A., K.A. Lewis, K.S. Bardon, P. Tucker, J.A. Catt, and B.J. Chambers An overview of the environmental impact of agriculture in the U.K. Journal of Environmental Management 50: Slaymaker, O Assessment of the geomorphic impacts of forestry in British Columbia. Ambio 29(7): Snell, E.A Recent Wetland Loss Trends in Southern Ontario. pp , in Wetlands: inertia or momentum. Proceedings of a conference held in Toronto, Ontario. M.J. Bardecki and N. Patterson. (Eds.). Sparks, R.E Need for ecosystem management of large rivers and their floodplains. Bioscience 45: Sparks, R.E Risks of altering the hydrologic regime of large rivers. Pages in Cairns J., Niederlehner B.R., Orvos D.R., eds. Predicting ecosystem risk. Vol.XX. Advances in modern environmental toxicology. Princeton (NJ): Princeton Scientific Publishing Co. Stanfield, L.W., and B.W. Kilgour Effects of percent impervious cover on fish and benthos assemblages and instream habitats in Lake Ontario tributaries. American Fisheries Society Symposium 48: , Bethesda MD. Stanfield, L.W., S.F. Gibson, and J.A. Borwick Using a landscape approach to identify the distribution and density patterns of salmonids in Lake Ontario tributaries. American Fisheries Society Symposium 48: , Bethesda MD. Stanford, J.A., J.V. Ward, W.J. Liss, C.A. Frissell, R.N. Williams, J.A. Lichatowich, and C.C. Coutant A general protocol for restoration of regulated rivers. Regulated Rivers: Research & Management 12: Stepenuck, K.F., R.L. Crunkilton, and L.Z. Wang Impacts of urban land use on macroinvertebrate communities in southeastern Wisconsin streams. Journal of the American Water Resources Association.38: Stevens, L.E., J.C. Schmidt, and B.T. Brown Flow regulation, geomorphology, and Colorado River marsh development in the Grand Canyon Arizona. Ecological Applications 5: Strahler, A.N, Quantitative geomorphology of drainage basins and channel networks; section 4-2, in Handbook of Applied Hydrology, Ed. Ven te Chow, McGraw- Hill, New York. 108

123 Stromberg, J.C., T.A. Tress, S.D. Wilkins, and S. Clark Response of velvet mesquite to groundwater decline. Journal of Arid Environments 23: Sutherland, A.B., J.L. Meyer, and E.P. Gardiner Effects of land cover on sediment regime and fish assemblage structure in four southern Appalachian streams. Freshwater Biology 47: Swank, W.T Stream chemistry responses to disturbance. In Swank WT and Crossley, D.A., Jr. Eds. Forest Hydrology and Ecology at Coweeta. Springer-Verlag. New York, pp Taylor, D.W Eastern Sierra riparian vegetation: ecological effects of stream diversion. Mono Basin Research Group Contribution nr 6, Report to Inyo National Forest. Travnichek, V.H., M.B. Bain, and M.J. Maceina Recovery of a warmwater fish assemblage after the initiation of a minimum-flow release downstream from a hydroelectric dam. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 101: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency The Quality of Our Nation s Water: A Summary of the 1988 Water Quality Inventory. EPA Report 440/ , US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. Valantin, S., J.G. Wasson, and M. Philippe Effects of hydropower peaking on epilithon and invertebrate community trophic structure. Regulated Rivers: Research & Management 10: Verry, E.S., J.R. Lewis, and K.N. Brooks Aspen clearcutting increases snowmelt and storm flow peaks in north central Minnesota. Water Resources Bulletin 19: Viessman, W., and G.L. Lewis. eds Introduction to Hydrology. Prentice hall Publishers. Walker, L.C The Southern Forest. University of Texas Press, Austin, Texas, 322pp. Walser, C.A., and H.L. Bart Influence of agriculture on in-stream habitat and fish community structure in Piedmont watersheds of the Chattahoochee River System. Ecology of Freshwater Fish 8: Wang, L., J. Lyons, P. Rasmussen, P. Kanehl, P. Seelbach, T. Simon, M. Wiley, E. Baker, S. Niemela, and M. Stewart Influences of landscape- and reach-scale habitat on stream fish communities in the Northern Lakes and Forest ecoregion. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science 60:

124 References Wang L., J. Lyons, and P. Kanehl Effects of watershed best management practices on habitat and fish in Wisconsin streams. Journal of the American Water Resources Association. 38: Wang, L., J. Lyons, and P. Kanehl Impacts of urbanization on stream habitat and fish across multiple spatial scales. Environmental Management 28: Wang, L., J. Lyons, P. Kanehl, R. Bannerman, and E. Emmons Watershed urbanization and changes in fish communities in south eastern Wisconsin streams. Journal of the American Water Resources Association 36: Wang, L., J. Lyons, P. Kanehl, and R. Gatti Influences of watershed land use on habitat quality and biotic integrity in Wisconsin streams. Fisheries 22:6-12. Ward, B.R., and P.A. Slaney Evaluation of in-stream enhancement structures on the production of juvenile steelhead trout and Coho salmon in the Keogh River: Progress 1977 and Fisheries Technical Circular 45. British Columbia Fish and Wildlife Branch Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Williams, J.G Lost in space: minimum confidence intervals for idealized PHABSIM studies. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 125: Williams, G.P., and M.G. Wolman Downstream effects of dams on alluvial rivers. Reston (Va): US Geological Survey. Professional Paper nr Wittenberg, R., and M.J.W. Cock Invasive alien species. How to address one of the greatest threats to biodiversity: A toolkit of best prevention and management practices. CAB International, Wallingford, Oxon, UK, 215pp. Wofford, John E.B., Gresswell, Robert E. and Michael A. Banks Influence of Barriers to Movement on Within-watershed Genetic Variation of Coastal Cutthroat Trout. Ecological Applications. 15 (2): Wolman, M.G A cycle of sedimentation and erosion in urban river channels. Geografiska Annaler 49A(2-4): Wood, P.J., and P.D. Armitage Biological Effects of fine sediment in the lotic environment. Environmental Management 21: Wootton, J.T., M.S. Parker, and M.E. Power Effects of disturbance on river food webs. Science 273: Yoder, C.O., R.J. Miltner, and D. White Assessing the status of aquatic life designated uses in urban and suburban watersheds. Pages16 28 in A. Everson, editor. National conference on retrofit opportunities for water resource protection in urban 110

125 environments. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Report EPA/625/R-99/002, Washington, D.C. Ziemer, R.R. and T.E. Lisle Hydrology. In River Ecology and Management: Lessons from the Pacific Coastal Ecoregion. R.J. Naiman and Robert E. Bilby (editors). Springer-Verlag, New York Chapter 3, pp

126

127 Legislation All links were accessed and working in September of FEDERAL Fisheries Act, R.S.C Navigable Waters Protection Act ( R.S., 1985, c. N-22 ) PROVINCIAL Aggregate Resources Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. A.8 Conservation Authorities Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. C.27 Drainage Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. D.17 Environmental Assessment Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. E.18 Environmental Bill of Rights, 1993, S.O. 1993, c Environmental Protection Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. E.19 Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997, S.O. 1997, c Greenbelt Act, 2005, S.O. 2005, c. 1 Lakes and Rivers Improvement Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. L.3 Nutrient Management Act, 2002, S.O. 2002, c. 4 Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c

128 Legislation Oak Ridges Moraine Protection Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c. 3 Ontario Water Resources Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. O.40 Pesticides Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.11 Places to Grow Act, 2005, S.O. 2005, c Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.13 Public Lands Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P

129 Appendices This series of appendices were created to provide the reader with background information on the physical and biological processes at work in stream and river environments. It is hoped that this information will establish linkages between the issues identified through public consultation and the implementation strategies prescribed in the tables provided in Chapter 3. As one proceeds through this section it will become apparent that many of the identified stressors will manifest similar effects and as such the reader will be referred back to sections where these processes are described. It may seem at times as though some of the topics discussed in this document have little to do directly with fisheries management; however, stream environments are complicated, dynamic entities influenced by events at multiple scales. Early studies focussed mostly on processes at small spatial scales, often with stream reaches of a few hundred meters and their immediate surroundings; less consideration was given to the importance of larger spatial units. Our current understanding of rivers increasingly incorporates a conceptual framework of spatially nested controlling factors in which climate, geology, and topography at large scales influence processes that shape channels at intermediate scales and thereby create and maintain habitat important to organisms at smaller scales (Allen and Starr 1982, Frissell et al. 1986). For example, human activities that affect water and sediment supply are likely to result in a complex cascade of changes that ultimately manifest in altered and possibly degraded stream habitat which in turn change fish abundance, distribution, size structure, and biodiversity (Allen 2004). Rivers are sentinels and have been compared to our circulatory system (Sioli 1975). The study of rivers, like that of blood, can not only indicate the health of rivers themselves but also that of the landscape. 115

130 Appendices Habitat Water Quantity Stream flow is a crucial variable to understand when managing watersheds and associated ecosystems for it supplies the primary medium and energy source for the movement of water, sediments, woody material, organic material, nutrients, and thermal energy and as such is a primary force shaping aquatic and riparian habitats. Changes in stream flow are frequently linked to changes in watershed characteristics that ultimately alter the dynamics of water storage and transfer and hence the hydrologic cycle (Fig. A1). The hydrologic (water) cycle is powered by solar energy. This energy regulates evaporation and transpiration (collectively termed evapotranspiration), transferring water from the surface on the land, plant tissue, and water bodies (e.g. Lake Ontario) into the atmosphere. Figure A1. Schematic of the hydrologic cycle (taken from the Illinois State Geological Survey). 116

131 Precipitation as rain or snow, transfers water back to the land surface; a significant proportion of which immediately returns to the atmosphere via evapotranspiration. Water that remains after evapotranspiration, drains to stream networks as surface runoff or as groundwater discharge. Land and water use can have serious impacts on all components of the water cycle with direct implications for aquatic health and the provision of adequate and reliable supplies of clean water for public consumption. Therefore, the understanding of the hydrologic cycle and watershed hydrology is an important step in undertaking a comprehensive water management plan and as such a vital element of our conservation works in the Wilmot Creek watershed. To conceptualize and model the movement of water through a watershed, a comprehensive understanding of inputs, outputs, and storage capacity is required. This is done through the creation of water balances and budgets. A water balance is the accounting of water input and output and change in storage of the various components of the hydrologic cycle. A water budget is a summation of input, output, and net changes to a particular water resources system over a fixed period of time. Using this approach managers can determine the amount of water available (e.g. for human use) at any one time in much the same manner, as one manages business finances. See the section on Mitigation, Strategies and Alternatives for more discussion on water budgets and water balances. Stream Flow The amount of water flowing in surface watercourses at any one time is small in terms of a watershed s total water budget, but it is of considerable importance to those concerned with water resource development, supply, and management. A knowledge of the quantity and quality of stream flow is a requisite for municipal, industrial, agricultural water supply projects as well as for flood control, reservoir design and operation, hydroelectric power generation, water-based recreation, engineering of structures (e.g. roads), water and waste water treatment, and fish and wildlife management (Viessman and Lewis 2003). Elements of stream flow of interest include velocity, volume, discharge, and stage height (water level elevation). This information is frequently portrayed using stream flow hydrographs, which characterize stream behaviour through time at any one point in the catchment (e.g. at a gauging station) (Fig. A2). Hydrograph analysis serves as the most widely used method of analyzing surface runoff. Hydrograph Components The rising portion (rising limb) of the hydrograph is known as the concentration curve. The region in the vicinity of the peak is known as the crest segment and the falling portion (falling limb) is the recession portion of the hydrograph. The gap between the time or peak rainfall and peak discharge (highest river level) is called lag time. 117

132 Appendices Figure A2. An example of a hydrograph representing a hypothetical streams response to a flood event Figure A3. Stream flow hydrograph that shows pre- and post- development discharge 118

133 In some drainage basins, discharge and river levels rise very quickly after a storm and are described as having a "flashy" response to precipitation. This can cause frequent, and occasionally serious, flooding. Following a storm in these basins, both discharge and river levels fall almost as rapidly, and after dry spells, become very low. In stream reaches with a high ground water component, the system will seem to maintain a more even flow. See Figure A3 for a hypothetical hydrograph depicting pre and post development stream flow conditions. Some of the factors affecting the responsiveness of a stream and hence the shape of the hydrograph include: 1) Relief steeper slopes reduce infiltration rates and promote surface run-off. 2) Soil Type permeable (sand-gravel) allow more infiltration (e.g. Oak Ridges Moraine) whereas impermeable soils such as clay tills allow only low rates of infiltration resulting in higher rates of surface runoff. 3) Vegetation Type and Amount types and amounts of vegetation will affect transpiration rates (deciduous trees transpire more moisture than coniferous species), and infiltration rates (more extensive root systems allow for a greater rate of infiltration thus reducing run-off). 4) Land Use (Urbanization) increases in impermeable road surfaces, sloping roofs, guttering and underground drainage systems transfer water very quickly to rivers which contributes to the increase responsiveness of river systems. 5) Land Use (Agriculture) drainage improvements including tile drains and ditching increases the speed of water transfer. Down slope ploughing as opposed to contour ploughing funnels water to creek systems. Ploughing on wet land compresses the subsoil creating a "plough pan" which can lead to decreased water holding, infiltration and increased run-off/erosion. 6) River Use building and operating dams to create reservoirs acts to slow down the rate of discharge at peak times as water is held back to protect the low lying land downstream. 7) River Use water extraction (industry and agriculture) is more prevalent during low flow periods and as such will impact base flow hydrograph. 8) Drainage Density in locations with more streams per unit area a steeper hydrograph will result due to a faster rate of response. 9) Nature of Precipitation (Rainfall Intensity) the greater the rate of rainfall per unit of time (millimetres per hour) the lower the infiltration rate, resulting in higher amounts of overland flow and a faster stream response. 119

134 Appendices 10) Nature of Precipitation (Snowfall) Snow pack produces less run-off initially but a sharp rise in temperature may result in a quick thaw and flooding (especially where the ground underneath the snow is frozen and thus the melted snow will reach the river rapidly via overland flow). 11) Season/Time of Year During summer months evapotranspiration rates are higher reducing the amount of water that will likely reach the stream network. Fluvial Geomorphology The size, shape and form of watercourses are produced through interactions among climate, watershed area, geology, topography, vegetation, and land use. The study of these interactions and the processes, which shape streams and rivers, is called fluvial geomorphology. These processes work at various spatial and temporal scales to shape the physical characteristics of streams (i.e. width/depth, channel geometry, frequency and shape of pools, riffles, steps, point bars, meanders, floodplains and terraces). It is necessary to understand the scales at which the processes are operating because different spatial and temporal scales drive different processes. Annual precipitation patterns dictate the discharge regime at the watershed level, whereas stream cross-sectional area controls the extent of habitat available to fishes at the site level. Figure A4. Three levels of geomorphic investigation (From Duffins Creek State of The Watershed Report Geomorphology). 120

135 Cause and effect relationships operating over a variety of scales have led geomorphologists to consider three fundamental levels of influence when conducting stream assessments. These are watershed, stream reach or valley segment, and the site or cross-section level (see Figure A4.). These influences are nested in that site level stream changes can reflect changes at the site, reach, and / or watershed level. The ecoregion (e.g. Lake Ontario ecoregion) exerts influence on terrestrial and aquatic species through its climate and geological characteristics. Climate and geology exert the principal controls on the function and form of watersheds. Climate controls the amount of water delivered and how and when it is delivered. The geology exerts control on the system by dictating how water moves through and across it as well as affecting the resistance and supply of sediment (Schumm 1977). At the reach or valley segment scale, factors that influence the shape of the channel include the valley slope, size of floodplain, riparian structure, vegetation composition, channel material (size) and bank properties (material and stability). Also at operation at this level would be current and historic land use (e.g. the presence of dams - man-made and natural) for land use modifies the movement of water and sediment. These influences regulate the amount of water and sediment delivered to the watercourse. The reach adjusts to changes in the delivery of water and sediment through slope adjustments. Slope changes slowly under natural conditions, maintaining a dynamic equilibrium. Valley or reach features in turn influence site level features such as bed form geometry, meander length, sinuosity, width / depth ratio, and riffle and pool dimensions. Fundamentally from ecoregion to riffle pool sequence, the two processes at work are energy potential and energy dissipation. The amount of water and its velocity are energy inputs. As water moves downhill it possesses a certain amount of energy. Energy is dissipated through friction with the surrounding geology and vegetation (roughness). This interaction determines the shape of the channel and the amounts of erosion and the amount of sediment transported. There exists a balance between the movement of water and the transport of sediment that is critical for the stability of the channel. When flow and sediment amounts are out of balance major changes of site and reach level channel characteristics will follow. The forces of flow and sediment are so influential to channel stability and ultimately fish habitat that they will be discussed in greater detail. See sections on The Natural Flow Regime and The Sediment Regime. It is hoped that these sections will provide context to discussions on the influence of land use on stream environments. 121

136 Appendices The Natural Flow Regime Stream flow quantity and timing are critical components of the ecological integrity of river systems and can be considered as master variables for they are correlated with many physiochemical characteristics of rivers such as water temperature, channel geomorphology, habitat diversity (Power et al. 1995). Historically, stream flow was managed for specific environmental targets such as water quality and the maintenance of minimum flows. However, the maintenance of the dynamic nature of river systems has now become paramount for the conservation of native species and the maintenance of ecological integrity. The natural flow of a river can change within hours, days, or years depending on the geographic setting of the watershed. This is because fluctuations in stream flow show regional patterns that are driven largely by climate, geology, topography, and vegetative cover. Variability in the intensity, timing, and duration of precipitation (rain or snow) and the effects of terrain, geology and soil type, soil moisture, topography (slope), and plant transpiration patterns on the hydrological cycle create local and regional flow patterns. These drivers dictate not only the supply of water but also the pathways with which it reaches the stream channel. For example, one would expect the flow regime of a stream predominantly influenced by ground water to differ for one influenced by snowmelt. The characteristics of these regional influences shape five critical components of the flow regime: magnitude, frequency, duration, timing, and the rate of change (flashiness) (Poff and Ward 1989). It is important to understand the natural variability of flow for it shapes the structure of physical habitats and hence important ecological processes within river systems. Flows organize and define the physical structure of river ecosystems through the movement of water, sediment, material, and nutrients along the channel and between channel and floodplain areas. Physical structure includes the amount size and diversity (heterogeneity) of sediment types (fines vs. cobbles), channel and floodplain morphology (slope, shape and structure, width and depth, distribution of riffle and pool habitats), and other geomorphic variables (e.g. bankfull width/depth, entrenchment). These features develop as materials (sediments and wood) are moved and deposited by flow. Therefore the presence and abundance of these structures depends not only on flow but also with the availability of material to move. It is important to note that a wide range of flows is required to shape and maintain the various habitats. Flows that shape channel habitats may be different than those required to shape floodplain habitats. For example many channel habitats (riffles, point bars, and pools) are formed and maintained by what is termed as bankfull flows. These discharges are flows that can move significant amounts of bank and streambed material and occur frequently enough (every several years) to continually change the channel. The maintenance of floodplain habitats on the other hand may require less frequent larger flows. The result is the consistent maintenance of a mosaic of habitat types (ephemeral to persistent) created by the natural variability in stream flows. 122

137 This habitat diversity has lead to the proliferation of species evolved to exploit not only specific habitats within the mosaic but also a wide array of habitat types. For example, many riverine fish species require different habitat types through their development (Sparks 1995). Furthermore, variation in flow adjusts ecosystem productivity and food web structure ensuring that various species benefit in different years. From an ecological perspective, the maintenance of stream flow variability promotes biological diversity. Human Alterations to the Flow Regime and Effects A human alteration of natural hydrologic processes interferes with the equilibrium between the movement of water and the movement of material (i.e. large wood material) and sediment (Dunne and Leopold 1978). This disruption alters gross and fine scale geomorphic processes that create and maintain aquatic and riparian species. Often it can take in the order of centuries for a new equilibrium to develop and in some instances an equilibrium may never be attained (Petts 1985). Dams like the Orono Mill Pond Dam on Orono Creek are the most obvious modifiers of river flow. They tend to pass only the finer sediments and as such they cause sediment depletion in receiving waters and result in the coarsening of the streambed and excessive erosion in downstream stream reaches. In the case of Wilmot Creek, however, it is land use activities such as livestock grazing, agriculture and urbanization (including improperly design road crossings) that are the primary cause of flow alteration. Converting natural land cover (forests and grasslands) to agricultural and urban lands generally decreases soil infiltration of precipitation resulting in increased overland flow, channel incision, and headwater erosion. See Table A1for an abbreviated list of land use modifiers and effects on the flow regime. Ecological Response to Altered Flow Regimes Modification of natural flow regimes dramatically affects both aquatic and riparian species. Frequently the ecological response is river specific. The ecological effects of flow modification will depend on the degree of change relative to the nature regime and on how specific geomorphologic and ecological processes change with the alteration. Therefore, the same human activity on different river systems may yield different degrees of change. However because most human impacts alter one or many of the five critical components of flow (magnitude, frequency, duration, timing, and the rate of change (flashiness)) and many studies have documented the geomorphic and ecological results, generalities can be made on the likely impacts of altered flow (see Table A2). 123

138 Appendices Table A1. Physical responses to an altered flow regime - taken from Poff et al Sources of alteration Hydrologic change(s) Geomorphic response(s) Reference(s) Dam Dam, diversion Capture sediment moving downstream Reduce magnitude and frequency of high flows Downstream channel erosion and incision Chein 1985, Petts 1984,1985, Williams and Wolman 1984 Bed armouring (coarsening) Chein 1985 Deposition of fines in gravel Sear 1995,Stevens et al Channel stabilization and narrowing Johnson 1994, Williams and Wolman 1984 Reduced formation of point bars, secondary channels, Chein 1985, Copp 1989, Fenner et al oxbows, and changes in channel planiform (shape sinuosity slope) Urbanization, tiling, drainage Increase magnitude and Bank erosion and channel Hammer 1972 frequency of high flows widening Downward incision and Prestegaard 1988 floodplain disconnection Reduced infiltration into soil Reduced base flows Leopold 1968 Levees and channelization Reduced over bank flows Channel restriction causing down cutting Daniels 1960, Prestegaard et al Floodplain deposition and Sparks 1992 erosion prevented Reduced channel migration and formation of secondary channels Shankman and Drake 1990 Ground water pumping Lowered water table levels Stream bank erosion and channel down cutting after loss of vegetation stability Kondolf and Curry 1986 Table A2. Ecological responses to alterations in components of the natural flow regime taken from Poff et al Flow component Alteration Ecological response Reference(s) Magnitude and Frequency Increased variation Wash out and/or stranding Cushman 1985, Petts 1984 Loss of sensitive species Travnichek et al Increased algal scour and wash Petts 1984 out of organic matter Life cycle disruptions Scheidegger and Bain 1995 Flow stabilization Altered energy flow Valentin et al 1995 Invasion and establishment of exotic species leading to local extinction of native species and altered fish communities Moyle 1986, Meffe 1984, Bush and Smith 1995, Stanford et al Reduced water an nutrients to floodplain species causing: Seedling desiccation Ineffective seed dispersal Loss of scoured habitat and secondary channels needed for plant establishment Encroachment of vegetation into channels Timing Loss of seasonal flow peaks Disrupts cue for: fish spawning, Egg hatching, migration Loss of fish access to backwaters Reduction or elimination of riparian recruitment Invasion of exotic riparian species Nillson 1982, Duncan 1993, Scott et al. 1997, Rood et al. 1995, Shankman and Drake 1990 Nilsson 1982, Johnson 1994 Fausch and Bestgen 1997, Montgomery et al 1983,Næsje et al. 1995, Williams 1996 Wooton et al Fenner et al Horton

139 Table A2. Continued. Flow component Alteration Ecological response Reference(s) Duration Prolonged low flows Concentration of aquatic organisms Reduction or elimination of plant cover Diminished plants species diversity Physiological stress leading to reduced plant growth rate, morphological change, or mortality Cushman 1985, Petts 1984 Taylor 1982 Taylor 1982 Perkins et al. 1984, Rood et al. 1995, Stromberg et al. 1992, Kondolf and Curry 1986 Prolonged bas flow spikes Downstream loss of floating Roberton 1997 eggs Altered Inundation duration Altered plant cover types Auble et al Prolonged inundation Change in vegetation Bren 1992, Connor et al functional type Tree mortality Harms et al Loss of riffle habitat for aquatic species Bogan 1993 Cushman 1985, Petts 1984 Rate of change Rapid changes in river stage Wash-out and stranding of aquatic species Accelerated flood recession Failure of seedling establishment Rood et al The Sediment Regime Just as important as the flow regime, the movement and storage of sediment within a channel controls the shape and form of a watercourse. The sediment regime describes the delivery and transport of sediment. In stable channels there is a strong relationship and balance between flows and sediment. This balance is very sensitive and any changes in the sediment regime will result in channel adjustment. Aspects of sediment dynamics that need to be understood include, source or production of sediment, means of delivery, properties of the sediment (size, shape, geology), volume of sediment transported, and the mode of transport (suspended load, bed load). The sediment load that is carried by the channel is derived from either upland terrestrial areas or from the channel itself. Upland sources of sediment result from surface flow from bluffs or gullies and from agricultural fields. Urban areas provide sediment through increased run-off carrying sand from roads and parking lots. Other major sources include sediment from construction sites, housing developments, and road improvements. Sediment production from within the channel results from erosion of bank and bed materials. Generally the production of sediment from upland sources is greater than from in-channel sources. In natural stream systems, sediment is produced in the upper third of the watershed, transported through the middle third, and deposited in the lower third of the watershed. When the amounts of sediment delivered to the stream differ from the capacity of the channel and flow required to move said sediment the channel adjusts to accommodate the 125

140 Appendices changing sediment regime. For example, if a mast wasting of a hill of roadside occurs along a small headwater tributary, the flow will not be able to move the large debris load. The channel will aggrade (accumulate with sediment) resulting in a wide and shallow channel. Alternatively, if a given sediment load is removed (trapped behind a dam or improperly designed culvert) the reach down downstream will be sediment starved resulting in excessive bank and bed scour often leading to stream widening and or stream down cutting. Management targets will be developed based on monitoring programs designed to determine how the sediment regime relates to the flow regime. It may not be a matter of achieving the sediment regime that would naturally be found, but achieving a sediment regime that balances with the current perhaps altered flow regime. Natural Channel Design A natural stream system should exhibit two key characteristics: Physically, from a geomorphological standpoint, the stream system will be dynamically stable. It will exhibit self-regulatory mechanisms that are stable over time and adjust to accommodate changes in water yields and sediment loads. Biologically, the stream and valley system will be self-sustaining and self-regulating. It will exhibit healthy ecological functions, manifested by productive vegetative communities in the valley and healthy aquatic and terrestrial communities supported by diverse habitats (OMNR 1994). Where stream reaches exhibit the above criteria it is the intention of this document to stress preventative management options to maintain ecological health. This can be accomplished through implementing best management practices and good planning (official plans, zoning by-laws), and through the promotion of community ownership and stewardship. Management strategies may include the development of appropriate setbacks to prevent future degradation. For those stream reaches that are not stable, it is the intent of this document to promote natural channel theory toward restoration activities and toward the design and reconstruction of new channels that are severely altered. The design and reconstruction of new channels following a natural channel design will ensure that stream channels and their associated floodplain riparian systems are designed to be naturally functional, stable, healthy, productive, and sustainable. Forest Cover, Agriculture and Urbanization: The Influence of Land Use on Rivers The Wilmot watershed, as with other watersheds on the Oak Ridges Moraine, was extensively forested prior to European settlement. With human settlement came extensive stream degradation. Deforestation and poor farming practices resulted in pronounced wind and water erosion, gulleying of headwater streams, water loss from creek systems and severe flooding (Richardson 1944). Richardson predicted that reforestation would decrease flood flows and increase summer low flows and reduce soil 126

141 erosion. These predictions were founded on the hydrologic effects of basin-wide forest cover. Reforestation and the implementation of agricultural best management practices have gone a long way towards the restoration of Oak Ridge Moraine streams. In today s age, urban expansion is the largest threat to the health of streams originating on the Oak Ridges Moraine. With the expanding growth of the GTA, Wilmot Creek will see significant development pressure. Within the Municipality of Clarington, population has increased from 51,160 to 72,600 between 1991 and 2001 and is expected that the population will more than double to 177,750 by 2031 (Statistics Canada Census, Regional Municipality of Durham 2006). Although the dominant land use has changed within the basin, for the most part, the mode of degradation has not. This is largely due to the overwhelming influence of altered watershed hydrology and sedimentation rates. Hydrology One of the most pronounced influences exerted by basin vegetation on stream health is its influence on the routing of water through the hydrologic cycle. Generally speaking, once precipitation falls to the ground, it will either be lost through evaporation or transpiration (water loss from plants during photosynthesis) or move downhill to streams as either surface run-off, or as ground water following soil infiltration (Allen 1995). Human alteration of naturally forested areas generally results in decreased infiltration of precipitation and increased surface run-off and thus impacts both peak stream flow and low flow. However studies of the effects of changes in forest cover on the extent of peak and low flows are inconclusive (Hewett 1982). See the section on The Natural Flow Regime for more discussion on the importance of components of natural stream flows. Verry et al. (1983) recorded increases in peak discharges from snowmelt and rainfall following clear-cutting. Hornbeck (1975) noted an increase in peak discharges due to snowmelt but not with rainfall. Hoover (1941) found that clear-cutting produced no significant change in peak flow while Harr and McCorison (1979) observed a reduction of peak discharge following clear-cut logging. In Blue Ridge streams of Georgia and Tennessee, Jones and Post (2004) found elevated summer flows following deforestation, while Price and Leigh (2006) documented reduced summer flows in basins with less forest cover. Schneider and Ayer (1961) found no significant change in low flow discharge following reforestation of abandoned farmland in New York State while McGuiness and Harold (1971) found reduced low flows following reforestation in Ohio. Closer to home, Buttle (1995) documented increased base flows and decreased peak flows in the Ganaraska River 40 years after the creation of the Ganaraska Forest in headwater reaches of that basin, confirming Richardson s 1944 predictions. The magnitude of the effects of forest cover removal or addition on stream flow remains difficult to predict. Difficulties arise when hydrologic response is compared across treatment basins that differ in size, flow magnitude, season, climate, stream gradient, 127

142 Appendices geology, type and intensity of land use, and with the age (young vs. older forests) and type of forest affected (deciduous vs. coniferous forests)(ziemer and Lisle 1998). Agricultural practices following forest removal result in additional impacts to the hydrologic regime. Stream hydrological change in agricultural streams varies with crop type (and hence evapotranspiration rates), soil infiltration capacity, the extent of drainage systems, and if there is irrigation, whether from surface or groundwater sources. Storm flows commonly increase in magnitude and frequency, especially where drainage ditches and tile drains are used to enhance run-off. Stream base flows often decline owing to decreased infiltration and the export of stream water where irrigation is used (Richards et al. 1996). Impacts to the hydrologic regime are most pronounced in urban settings. The removal of forest cover, compaction of soils, creation of impervious surfaces (surfaces impenetrable to water, e.g. pavement) coupled with storm water conveyance systems, and the alteration of drainage networks cause larger and more frequent stream peak flows. This flashiness in the flow regime alters channel dynamics and in-stream habitat through increased erosion and displacement of stream sediments. These changes induce a geomorphic response commonly resulting in enlarged unstable channels. Many studies have reported channel widening or incision as a result of urbanization (Hammer 1972, Booth 1990). Increased impervious surface area also tends to prevent water infiltration resulting in reduced base flows. Reduced summer stream flows occupying enlarged channels result in shallower warmer stream habitats. Reduced base flows resulting from urbanization were correlated with degraded warm water fish communities in southeastern Wisconsin streams (Wang et al. 1997, 2000, 2001). Sediment Yields Naturally occurring forests with health understory vegetation stabilize sediments. The removal of the forest canopy for timber harvest or agricultural purposes exposes sediments to increased surface run-off. Along with changes in stream flow, increased sediment production is one of the most serious consequences of forest removal. A common result is intensified hillslope erosion and increased sediment input to streams (Knighton 1998, Slaymaker 2000) particularly during flood events (Wolman 1967, Knox 1987, Meade et al. 1990). Increased sediment input due to disturbance of protective vegetation is accelerated by road construction and poor management practices resulting in larger and more frequent debris flows in steep basins (Walker 1991, Slaymaker 2000, Jackson et al. 2001, Price and Leigh 2006). Although increased sediment yield is well documented at flood events, increases in stream turbidity during base flow conditions have also been reported even at moderate levels of disturbance (Price and Leigh 2006). The U.S. EPA (1990) has identified increased sediment loading due to human activity as a paramount problem affecting surface waters. Some of the impacts from excessive sedimentation include: alteration of instream habitat by channel aggradation (bed elevation due to sediment build up), channel widening, bed 128

143 fining, and pool filling, all of which tends to reduce habitat complexity and channel depth (Montgomery and Buffington 1998, Wood and Armitage 1997). Wang and Lyons (2003) found that channel widening and depth reductions promoted warming, resulting in increased water temperatures. Sediment accumulation fills interstitial areas (as found in gravel and cobble habitats) and as such is harmful to crevice dwelling invertebrates and gravel spawning fishes (Sutherland et al. 2002). Henley et al., (2000) documented losses of suitable substrates required for periphyton and biofilm production, altering food quality and associated food-webs. The overall tendency is towards a reduction in the amounts of diverse habitats and species. Obviously, different rates and amounts of sediment are produced by different land uses. Not surprisingly, agriculture is one of the most significant land uses with regards to sediment yield because it occupies the largest fraction of land area in many developed watersheds (Allen 2004). Benke and Cussing (2004) report that six major drainage basins in the United States all have more than 40% of their area in agriculture: the Lower Mississippi, Upper Mississippi, Southern Plains, Ohio, Missouri, and the Colorado, representing a significant proportion of the continental United States. It is estimated that 46% of sediment in stream habitats is derived through agricultural sources in American waterways (Gianessi et al 1986). As with timber harvest, sediment accumulation from agriculture homogenizes stream habitats. Amounts of stream channel sediments increased with increasing agriculture land use resulting in uniform channel habitats, decreased water depth and declines in fish diversity from Piedmont Region streams in Georgia (Walser and Bart 1999). Increased sediment loads are a symptom of urban development as well, although the pathway of sediment loading is likely different from that documented in agricultural settings. Apart from direct inputs occurring during construction, most sediment is derived from in-stream sources such as bank and bed scour resulting from excessive stream flows, illustrating the importance of hydrology in the urban environment (Booth 1990) Allen et al. (1997) found lower rates of sedimentation in urban environments when compared to agricultural watersheds from southeastern Michigan. However, high external sources of sedimentation have been documented when development occurs on steep or unstable slopes. Byron and Goldman (1989) found a strong correlation between annual average total suspended solids concentrations and the proportion of development on slopes greater than 9%. Water Quality In addition to sediment inputs, many other water quality parameters have been associated with basin vegetation change and land use. The concentrations of many chemical constituents are affected both directly and indirectly by land use (Dunne and Leopold 1976, Jackson et al. 2001). Swank (1988) demonstrated increases in stream nitrate concentration with removal of forest cover. Phosphorous compounds tend to enter the stream bound to sediment during run-off events (Dunne and Leopold 1976, Shirmohamma et al 1996). When examining the effects of forest clearance on the health 129

144 Appendices of headwater streams in the upper Little Tennessee River basin, Price and Leigh (2006) demonstrated that modest decreases in forest cover (18 to 22%) can result in significant degradation of stream water quality. Comparisons between lightly impacted streams (> 90% forest cover) and moderately impacted streams (70 80% forest cover) revealed elevated levels of total suspended and dissolved solids, organic solids, nitrate, and temperature, and declines in dissolved oxygen in those basins with less forest cover. Agricultural run-off is a major source of pollutants to aquatic habitats. The proportion of agriculture within a catchment and forest in the riparian zone explained 65 84% of the variation in yields of nitrogen, dissolved phosphorous, and suspended solids for 78 watersheds across five states in the Mid Atlantic region (Jones et al. 2001). The combined effects of increased nutrient loading, light penetration, and water temperature resulting from agriculture and forest clearing (particularly riparian forests) drastically alter food-chain dynamics, resulting in increased algal production, and altered invertebrate and fish communities. Food webs become driven by autochthonous (within the stream) energy sources rather than by allochthonous (outside the stream) ones (Quinn 2000). Insecticide and herbicide run-off has also been implicated in the loss of aquatic biota from agricultural watersheds (Skinner 1997, Schulz and Liess 1999). The influence of agricultural use of insecticides and herbicides on stream biota may be understated in landscape studies as they are seldomly measured (Allen 2004). Major changes in aquatic habitats associated with urban streams have also been linked to excess nutrient and pollutant loading and increased water temperature resulting from loss of riparian vegetation and warming of surface run-off on exposed surfaces. The effects of the multitude of chemicals released into urban watersheds are rarely detected in landscape level studies of the impacts of urbanization. However, when examining the influence of urbanization on streams in the vicinity of Anchorage Alaska, Ourso and Frenzel (2003) found that declines in intolerant invertebrate taxa were more highly correlated with stream and sediment chemistry than they were with channel and in-stream habitat variables, suggesting the importance of contaminants. Regardless of the land use involved with the delivery of contaminants, their effects on aquatic organisms is well documented and include: increased deformities; increased mortality rates and impacts to abundance, drift, and emergence of invertebrates; depressed growth, reproduction, condition and survival among fishes; endocrine system disruption; and physical avoidance (Allen 2004). Forest removal from the stream margins (riparian zone), whether it be from timber harvest or agriculture, has more direct impacts on stream health. Along with sediment and hydrologic effects, water temperatures tend to increase during summer months resulting from the loss of shade (Quinn 2000). Bank stability may decrease making them more susceptible to erosion during high flows (Lyons et al. 2000). Large wood is no longer available for recruitment into the stream channel reducing the complexity of habitat (Gregory et al. 2003). See the section on the role of Large Woody Material for more discussion on this topic. 130

145 The diversity of fish species within a watershed is a good indicator of ecosystem health (see Biodiversity). For example, each fish species exhibits a different tolerance to water quality parameters and has specific optimal environmental requirements. Therefore, the composition of the fish community in a particular area will indicate the general health of that ecosystem. To facilitate the protection of aquatic life, federal and provincial tools have been created which establish benchmarks for various water quality parameters including the Canadian Water Quality Guidelines (CWQG) and Provincial Water Quality Objectives (PWQO) respectively (Table A3). These guidelines and objectives provide science-based acceptable levels for the most sensitive species of aquatic plants and animals (i.e. indicator species) found in Canadian waters. Table A3. Summary of Provincial and Federal Water Quality Guidelines and Objectives. Water Quality Parameter Objective/ Guideline Sources Effects of Elevated Levels on Aquatic Life Phosphorous 0.03 mg/l Fertilizers, sanitary sewage, and erosion from stream banks, construction sites, and agriculture Ammonia 0.02mg/L Fertilizers, sanitary Nitrite Nitrate 0.6 mg/l 2.9 mg/l sewage, and erosion from stream banks, construction sites, and agriculture Stimulates algae growth and can lead to eutrophication, oxygen depletion (when the algae decomposes) and decreased aesthetics. Nitrogen compounds including ammonia, nitrite (NO2) and nitrate can be lethal to fish in low concentrations (as in the case of ammonia and nitrite), or like phosphorous can stimulate algae growth (as in the case of nitrate). Suspended Sediment Not exceeding 25mg/L Erosion from streambanks, construction sites, and agriculture. Chlorides None Road salting, industrial waste, sanitary sewage Dissolved Oxygen Dependent on life Organic loading stage Degraded fish habitat and spawning areas, abrasion of fish gills, decreased water clarity and aesthetics. Potentially toxic Increased stress, potentially lethal Temperature (critical in summer months) 5-6mg/L for warm-water biota mg/l for cold-water biota Species specific E. coli 100 counts per 100mL Riparian Vegetation Influenced by groundwater, riparian vegetation and land use Faecal matter Increased stress, potentially lethal to fish and benthic invertebrates, promotes eutrophication, and influences other water quality parameters (e.g. dissolved oxygen, ammonia). Health risk The riparian zone refers to the biotic community directly adjacent to waterbodies including streams, rivers, lakes, ponds and wetlands that serve as an interface between terrestrial and aquatic environments. This area strongly influences both in-stream environments (especially lower order streams) and adjacent ecological systems. As a result, Environment Canada recommends that at least 75% of the stream length should be naturally vegetated in Area of Concern (AOC) watersheds (EC 2004). 131

146 Appendices Riparian vegetation assists in the maintenance of the physical stream environment. The contribution of large woody material to the stream system from riparian vegetation strongly influences the patterns of water and sediment transport (see section on Large Woody Material). Root systems help to maintain stream bank stability and capture and holds particles that would otherwise flow directly into the stream from surface runoff (Nainam et al. 1998). In addition to the physical impacts, riparian vegetation helps to maintain healthy water quality. The removal of riparian vegetation can result in alteration to hydrologic regimes, sediment regimes, solar radiation, nutrient and organic inputs, and in-stream habitat, all of which can indirectly impact water quality (e.g. temperature, ph, turbidity, oxygen concentration, pollutants) (MacDonald et al. 1991). Determining sufficient riparian zone size has been a problem for resource managers. The delineation of riparian zones is difficult given their variable physical composition, function and community structure. The spatial extent of riparian vegetation is a function of valley morphology, hydrology, soil, and disturbances related to the variable stream environment including flooding, erosion and sediment deposition, and physical abrasion (Naiman et al. 1998). Currently, there is a commonly accepted minimum guideline for the maintenance of a 30m naturally vegetated riparian buffer for the protection of coldwater streams (EC 2004, OMAH 2002). However, there has been increasing scientific support to extend this guideline further (EC 2004). Ideally, the guideline would recognize that the dynamics of riparian zones vary longitudinally and laterally throughout the drainage network as a function of valley morphology, physical processes, vegetative legacies, and life history strategies, thereby promoting riparian health throughout the watershed. In the Wilmot Fisheries Management Plan we are proposing that at a minimum the riparian zone should be of sufficient size to allow for the recruitment of mature trees to the stream to promote the input of large woody material. Large Woody Material The contribution of large wood from riparian vegetation can influence the geomorphology of watercourses by manipulating the patterns of flow and sediment transport, and facilitate the creation and maintenance of diverse in-stream habitats. Typically, large wood is deposited into streams as a result of bank cutting, windthrow and stem depression and is removed by leaching, microbial decomposition, fragmentation or downstream transport (Bilby and Bisson 1998). However, downstream transport is often interrupted by accumulation above human-built barriers (See section on In-stream Barriers and Water Crossings). The ecological roles of large woody material include the contribution of particulate organic matter (leaves, needles, branches) that serve as a seasonal food source for aquatic 132

147 invertebrates, which serve as a food source for larger fish. Large wood also provides nursery habitat for additional riparian vegetation (an adaptation of riparian vegetation to the high energy, erosive stream environment). The erosional and depositional environments in and around woody material greatly influences channel meandering and bank stability, and provide a substrate for early successional plant species to grow. Further, the contribution of large wood dictates the colonization, composition and spatial distribution of floodplain vegetation and, in some cases, the formation of landmasses (Fetherston et al. 1995). If undisturbed, the accumulation of wood and sediment and subsequent colonization of vegetation can coalesce into floodplain habitat. Large wood plays an important role in the creation of fish habitat, especially in lower order streams, by altering channel width and depth, and forming and maintaining gravel bars and waterfalls (Bilby and Bisson 1998). Woody material is also a primary determinant in the creation of pools, a preferred habitat for many salmonids. Large woody material influences pool size and frequency. The deepest pools tend to be associated with large roughness elements like large woody material. Average pool depth decreased following the experimental removal of large woody material from several streams following the eruption of Mt. St. Helens (Lisle 1995). Fausch and Northcote (1992) found that streams lacking large woody material were shallower and less sinuous than those with higher amounts of large woody material. Fish populations are typically larger in streams with plenty of large woody material. Standing stocks of juvenile Coho salmon and cutthroat trout were five times higher in stream reaches with large amounts of wood than from reaches with little wood in British Columbia streams (Fausch and Northcote 1992). When examining winter populations of juvenile Coho salmon populations from 54 streams in Southeast Alaska, Murphy et al. (1985) found that the average Coho salmon density in streams with wood volume less than 50m 3 per 30m stream length was only 25% of the average density in streams with greater wood volumes. Declines in fish abundance have been documented following wood removal from channels throughout the Pacific Northwest (Lestelle 1978, Bryant 1983, Dolloff 1986, Elliot 1986). Deliberate additions of large woody material to streams resulted in increased abundance of juvenile salmonids in Oregon and British Colombia streams (Ward and Slaney 1979, House and Boehne 1986). The addition of woody material to coastal Oregon streams led to the increased survival of juvenile Coho salmon resulting in larger adult returns (Crispen et al. 1993). Sedell et al. (1984) found that more fish were attracted to complex wood structures than to single logs. In Kloiya creek, British Columbia, 99% of Coho fry and 85% of steelhead parr were associated with root wads placed in mid-channel habitats where cover was previously lacking. McMahon and Hartman (1989) determined that woody cover was not only important for promoting pool habitats, but also that it served as important refuge habitat during periods of high flows. Large woody material has also been known to affect water quality. The turbulence created by the water flowing around wood facilitates oxygenation of water from the 133

148 Appendices atmosphere; however, reduced oxygen levels have also been attributed to slow flowing streams above logjams (Bilby and Bisson 1998). The type of tree species can also affect water quality as some species leach toxic compounds in low concentrations and can reduce the ph (Buchanan et al. 1976). As mentioned earlier, large woody material greatly impacts the geomorphology of streams through altering the patterns of flow and sediment. As such it can be used as a tool to alter undesirable trends in stream geomorphology. The addition of woody material to stream reaches that are sediment starved and entrenched (e.g. lower reaches of Wilmot Creek) would promote sediment storage, thereby elevating the stream bed in currently degrading (stream segments that are down cutting) channel habitats. In entrenched stream segments this would also serve to allow the stream access to its floodplain. Modelling the Impacts of Land-use on Aquatic Habitats in Lake Ontario Streams Human land use has direct and indirect effects on physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of streams. In light of future development pressures facing southern Ontario streams, relating ecological condition to varying levels of development is essential to help predict and mitigate impacts and helping to ensure that irreversible damages do not occur. The use of models to predict the impacts of land disturbance has become a powerful tool and is well represented in scientific literature. A variety of land use descriptors have been used to relate disturbance to ecological condition such as catchment population density (Jones and Clark 1987), amount of agriculture (Harding et al 1999), and land use / land cover (Kilgour and Barton 1999). Many of these studies focus on particular disturbances and fail to integrate various types of development activities. One metric that has emerged from the scientific literature as a useful environmental indicator is the percentage of impervious surface coverage (PIC) within a watershed (Arnold and Gibbons 1996). Leopold (1968) recognized that conversion of forests to agriculture and urban landscapes resulted in increased impervious surfaces leading to reduced infiltration of precipitation into soils and increased overland flow. Leopold found that streams in disturbed catchments respond faster to storm events (flashy), had lower base flows, were wider and shallower, and were warmer and more polluted than undisturbed streams. These conclusions have been substantiated through multiple studies across different scales (size watersheds) and geographic regions. However the degree of ecosystem response to percent impervious cover has varied. Declines in fish species diversity and indices of biotic integrity (IBI) were documented when impervious area reached 8 %-12% in Wisconsin Watersheds (Stepenuck et al. 2002, Wang et al. 2000), 8%-15% in Delaware catchments (Paul and Meyer 2001), > 12% in Maryland (Klein 1979), and 15% in Georgia streams (Roy et al. 2003). 134

149 Responses at thresholds as low as 5 8% impervious area have been reported for benthic macroinvertebrates (May et al. 1997) while geomorphic response has been documented at only 4% percent impervious cover (Leopold 1978). Stanfield and Kilgour (2006) believe that the range in threshold values can be attributed to differences in stream resilience between ecoregions and/or how response variables are measured and imperviousness is estimated. To quantify the relationship between land use disturbance and aquatic ecosystem health in southern Ontario streams, Stanfield and Kilgour (2006) developed a locally derived model incorporating fish benthic invertebrates, in-stream habitat and landscape data from sites across the north shore of Lake Ontario. This model incorporates data from the Wilmot watershed and as such will be used to help generate landscape targets to ensure the maintenance of aquatic health within the Wilmot system. Results from the Lake Ontario modelling agree with those reported for other watersheds. Landscape measures (surficial geology (influencing base flow), catchment size, slope, and land use disturbance (measured as percent impervious cover (PIC)) accounted for significant variability in the responses of fish and benthos communities, in-stream temperature, and some in-stream habitat measures (width:depth ratios, and percent stable banks). When the influence of slope, surficial geology, and catchment size were removed, land use disturbance as measured as percent impervious cover was a significant modifier. Land use disturbance was a significant predictor for fish community composition (Figure 5.). Sites with abundant salmonids tended to have lower PIC values, higher forest cover, and higher base flow ratings, whereas sites lacking salmonids tended to have higher PIC values, lower forest cover, and lower base flow ratings. Species richness (number of species present) was highest at 5 10% impervious area. The model predicts the presence of salmonids in streams with low amounts of impervious cover and the absence of salmonids in streams with high amounts of impervious cover (Stanfield and Kilgour 2006). The model predicts a threshold response for fish communities along the north shore of Lake Ontario in response to increased land disturbance. At disturbance levels less than 10 percent, large changes to the fish community can be expected as levels of disturbance change. Once watershed disturbance levels cross the 10% threshold, smaller changes in the fish community are seen. This reflects the loss of sensitive species and the dominance of disturbance tolerant species at levels of disturbance greater than 10 percent (Figure 5.). Similar results were seen when benthos community composition was compared across varying levels of disturbance. Tolerant taxa (chironomids, platyhelminths, oligocheates, isopods etc.) were generally found at sites with higher land use disturbance and lower base flow scores. Sensitive taxa (Plecoptera, Ephemeroptera, Coleoptera) were generally found in streams with higher forest cover, and higher base flow scores. 135

150 Fish Community Index Appendices Minnows and Darters 3 Tolerant to Disturbance 1-1 Trout and Sculpins -3 Intolerant to Disturbance % Imperviousness (Land disturbance Index) Lake Ontario Tributaries Wilmot Creek Figure A5. Relationship between percent impervious cover (PIC) and fish community scores from sites across the study area and site within the Wilmot watershed. Few geomorphic variables were associated with land use disturbance apart from width:depth ratio and percent stable banks. This likely reflects an insufficient number of sites with stable geomorphic conditions. A lengthy stabilization period is required for streams to re-establish a geomorphic equilibrium following disturbance (hundreds to thousands of years depending on the degree of disturbance). Considering that much of the study area was deforested in the 1800s and received serious in-stream modifications, current stream morphologies probably reflect historic disturbances. Overall, Stanfield and Kilgour (2006) found that biological and physical conditions were influenced by the combined effects of agriculture and urbanization and that there is value in developing an overall metric for land disturbance such as percent impervious cover or a land use disturbance index. The use of a land disturbance index is an improvement over simplistic targets such as the 30 percent land cover as forest proposed by Environment Canada (2006) How Much Habitat is Enough. Results from the modelling indicate that working to achieve a single target such as 30 % forest cover tends to overlook the benefits of other non-forested land uses such as grasslands and prairies. It also assumes that achieving this forest target is enough to improve a catchment regardless of the other land uses present (e.g. 30% forest and 70% urban). Therefore the Wilmot Fisheries Management Plan will be promoting targets based on lowering land use disturbance values which can involve plans to increase forest cover. 136

151 When examining the Stanfield and Kilgour model, Wilmot creek ranks well in relation to many other Lake Ontario tributaries (Figure 5.). All stream segments, apart from the lower sections of Foster Creek, are below their 10 % threshold. Many sites within the catchment, however, are close to the 10 % disturbance threshold. Therefore it will be important to monitor land use activities to ensure that the valuable fisheries resources of this watershed are not lost. As such, the use of the Stanfield and Kigour model will aid with the implementation of the Wilmot Creek Fisheries Management Plan through the establishment of zone specific targets to support fisheries management goals. For example, Stanfield et al. (2006) found that their model was useful for determining species specific thresholds. Their 10% PIC threshold was refined following species specific distribution and abundance modelling. Rainbow trout were absent from stream reaches where catchment disturbance was greater than 8.9% while brook trout were absent from stream reaches with disturbance levels greater than 6.58 %. These species related thresholds could then be used to help establish zone specific targets. Fisheries Management Zones 6 and 7 are designated as brook trout management zones. These areas will need to have relatively low land use disturbance scores to achieve the goal of self-sustaining brook trout populations. Using the land disturbance modelling (Figure 6.) to identify catchments in need of stewardship, we can see that sections of Orono and Hunter Creeks are in need of landscape improvements to improve their LDI scores. It is important to note that improving the scores in these creeks will have a net benefit to the condition of the lower mainstem of Wilmot Creek (below the confluence of Orono and Stalker Creeks). It also should be noted that the data used to estimate land use disturbance in the Stanfield and Kilgour model is based on 1996 provincial land cover information. New mapping layers with improved resolution are being developed through provincial initiatives such as SOLRIS (Southern Ontario Land Resource Information System) which use medium resolution satellite imagery. Stanfield and Kilgour are currently re-analyzing fish and benthic data with the new land cover data. As new improved data sets are generated it is likely that the thresholds identified will change. However, the exact thresholds are not as important as the relationship that exists between land disturbance and aquatic health. If efforts are made to reduce the levels of disturbance on the landscape eventually aquatic communities will respond regardless of the exact percentages. 137

152 Appendices Land Use Improvements Healthy Restore In Trouble Fisheries Management Zones Area of Land Use Improvements Figure A6. A break down of stream segments in need of improvement from a landscape perspective. Streams are scores based on their LDI rank. Good streams (blue) have LDI values of 6.5 or less. Streams in need of improvements have LDI values between 6.5 and 8.9. Streams with segments very close to 10 % threshold or exceeding the threshold are marked in red. 138