Atlantic Coastal Plain Flora Treasures in Southwest Nova Scotia

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1 Atlantic Coastal Plain Flora Treasures in Southwest Nova Scotia Project Update and Volunteer Appreciation Event 2012

2 The Atlantic coastal plain The relatively flat land along the Atlantic Coast from Florida to Nova Scotia and around the Great Lakes Although coastal habitat is includedthis flat land extends inwards and also refers to freshwater lakes, wetlands and rivers

3 Atlantic Coastal Plain Flora A group of unrelated plant species mainly restricted to the coastal plain Pink Coreopsis and NS False Foxglove, Megan Crowley Tubercled-Spikerush, Sherman Boates

4 90 ACPF species found in Nova Scotia Over 1/3 are found nowhere else in Canada! Almost half are listed as at risk or sensitive by the NS General Status Ranks 11 of these are listed under the Species at Risk Act and NS Endangered Species Act Four species ranked as either globally imperilled or very rare

5 Atlantic Coastal Plain Flora Project Project idea from ACPF Recovery Team, led by the Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute (MTRI) with partners (Parks Canada, ACCDC, NS DNR, TREPA, NSNT, etc). Closely tied to ACPF Recovery Strategy Travis with sundew, M. Crowley Funding currently approved for three years of the five year project Three main parts to proposal: Stewardship (hands-on efforts) Science (Water quality monitoring, Lake Atlas, habitat mapping) ACPF Atlas, M Crowley Education (door-to-door, increasing awareness)

6 LAKE WATERSHED ACTIVITY # SPECIES RESULTS TO DATE- Tusket Lakes All 36 high priority lakes visited 32 lakes atlased (27 completely, 5 partial) 160 visits to take water samples over 3 years and 13 lakes Agard Tusket AT 2 (PC, PG) Salmon Tusket AT, WQ 1 (PC) Sloans Tusket AT, WQ, PM, LC 1 (PC) Pleasant Tusket AT 2 (PC, EL) Bennetts Tusket WQ, PM, LC 2 (PC, PG) Kegeshook Tusket WQ, PM 1 (PG) Fanning Tusket AT, WQ, PM, LC 1 (PG) Third Tusket AT, PM, LC 1 (PG) Wilson s Tusket AT, WQ, PM, LC 4 (WP, PC, PG, LB) Gillfillan Tusket AT, PM, LC 2 (PC, PG) Raynards Tusket AT, WQ 1 (PC) Pearl Tusket WQ, PM 1 (PG) Travis Tusket PM 1 (PG) Lac de l ecole Tusket AT 2 (PG, LB) Canoe Tusket AT (ACCC) 1 (SP) Louis Tusket AT 1 (SP) Kempt Snare Tusket AT - Great Pubnico Barr/Clyde AT, LC 2 (TS, LB) Black= 2010 Blue= 2010 & 11 Red= 2011 Green= 2011 & 12 Purple=2010 & 11 &12 Gray=2012 AT= Atlas WQ= Water Quality PM= Photo Mapping LC= Landowner Contact Barrington Barr/Clyde AT, PM, LC 1 (TS) Harpers Barr/Clyde AT, LC, PM 2 (TS, LB) Gold Roseway AT, LC, PM 1 (TS) Belliveau Grosses Coques AT 1 (SP

7 RESULTS TO DATE- Medway Lakes 14 lakes entirely photo mapped, 1 partial Landowner contact on 20 lakes- chatted with 278 people 16 community events On track to be completed in 5 years LAKE WATERSHED ACTIVITY # SPECIES Molega Medway AT, LC 1 (RR, LB) Ponhook Medway AT, WQ, LC 3 (GC, RR, LB) Little Ponhook Medway AT, WQ, PM 3 (GC, RR, LB) Hog Medway AT, WQ 3 (GC, RR, LB) Cameron Medway AT, WQ 1 (RR) Shingle Medway AT, WQ, PM 2 (GC, LB) 1 st Christopher Medway AT, LC, PM 2(RR, LB) Beartrap Medway AT 1 (RR) Moosehorn Medway AT 1 (LB) Mill Medway AT 1 (SP) Pretty Mary Medway AT 1 (SP) Mudflat Medway AT 1 (SP) Kejimkujik Mersey AT 2 (WP, LB) Fancy Petite Rivière AT 1 (GC) Black= 2010 Blue= 2010 & 11 Red= 2011 Green= 2011 & 12 Purple=2010 & 11 &12 Gray=2012 AT= Atlas WQ= Water Quality PM= Photo Mapping LC= Landowner Contact

8 Science: ACPF Lake Atlas P. Hudson Goal: Botanists, researchers, and volunteers will atlas the 36 lakes over 5 years. High quality maps will be created and shared. Results to date: Protocol developed and reviewed 250 km surveyed along 18 lakes in km along 32 lakes in 3 years! Botanists share their expertise with researchers and volunteers Protocols to record occupied and potential habitat improved and tested Pat Hudson

9 2010 field results Lakes fully surveyed (8): Hog, Pleasant, Sloans, Agard, Barrington, Salmon, First Christopher, Little Ponhook Lakes partially surveyed (3): Ponhook, Molega, Great Pubnico,

10 2011 field results Lakes fully surveyed (6): Fanning, Gillfillan, Third, Shingle, Wilsons, Lac de l ecole Lakes partially surveyed (5): Molega, Ponhook, Great Pubnico, Raynards, Kejimkujik

11 2012 field results Lakes fully surveyed (12): Gold, Western, Harpers, Kempt Back, Louis, Belliveau, Moosehorn, Cameron, Beartrap, Mill, Pretty Mary, Mudflat Lakes partially surveyed (6): Molega, Ponhook, Great Pubnico, Raynards, Kejimkujik, Fancy

12 Tusket Watershed

13 Great Pubnico Lake Area

14 Medway Watershed (plus Keji, Fancy)

15 Once potential habitat is incorporated maps of the lakes surveyed will be shared and posted online at Hoping to have up this fall! Developing so personalized maps can be created online for lakes/species

16 Science: Habitat Photo Mapping Plymouth Gentian, Megan Crowley *2010: Wilson, Third, Sloans, Fanning, Gillfillan, Bennetts, 2011: Kegeshook, Pearl, Travis, Barrington, 2012: Gold, Harers, Little Ponhook, Shingle West Project Goal: To map the habitat of the 36 high priority ACPF lakes to better understand the needs of ACPF species, how this changes over time and what habitat is suitable for ACPF Results to date: 15 (14 complete, 1 partial) lakes photo mapped for habitat with the help of researchers and volunteers

17 Science: Water Quality Monitoring Volunteer Johnny Horton recording data (Lindsey Beals) Water Quality Monitoring Training Session participants (Megan Crowley)

18 Water Quality 13 of the 36 high priority lakes sampled Samples taken four times each year (May, July, Aug, Oct) Intent to involve landowners that live around the lakes in the collection process Share results with community and landowners LAKE WATERSHED # SPECIES Salmon* Tusket 1 (PC) Sloans* Tusket 1 (PC) Bennetts* Tusket 2 (PC, PG) Kegeshook* Tusket 1 (PG) Fanning* Tusket 1 (PG) Wilson s* Tusket 4 (WP, PC, PG, LB) Raynards* Tusket 1 (PC) Pearl* Tusket 1 (PG) Ponhook- 2 samples * Medway 3 (GC, RR, LB) Little Ponhook Medway 3 (GC, RR, LB) Hog Medway 3 (GC, RR, LB) Cameron* Medway 1 (RR) Shingle- 2 samples Medway 2 (GC, LB) * Also sampled by Eaton (2002)

19 Parameters Measured Parameter Field Methods Laboratory Techniques Weather conditions Visual observation none Water temperature YSI lowered at intervals none Water clarity Secchi disk none Water colour * Sample collection (clear bottle) Keep chilled and send to lab for processing ph YSI lowered at intervals none Dissolved Oxygen YSI lowered at intervals none Total Phosphorus Sample collection (clear bottle) Keep chilled and send to lab for processing Nitrate and nitrite Sample collection (clear bottle) Keep chilled and send to lab for processing Conductivity YSI lowered at intervals none Salinity YSI lowered at intervals none Alkalinity* Sample collection (clear bottle) Keep chilled and send to lab for processing Chlorophyll a Sample collection (brown bottle) Membrane filtration; freeze filter paper and send to lab. Turbidity YSI lowered at intervals none

20 Water Quality Background Oligotrophic Mesotrophic Eutrophic

21 Water Quality Results: Past and Present AVERAGE TSI 2002 AVERAGE TSI 2010 AVERAGE TSI 2011 AVERAGE TSI *Using the TSI (Trophic State Index)

22 Lake 2002 TSI 2010 TSI 2011 TSI 2012 TSI 2002 Status 2010 Status 2011 Status TROPHIC STATUS 2012 TSI Change( ) Status Change( ) Bennetts Oligotrophic Oligotrophic Eutrophic Oligotrophic Cameron Mesotrophic Eutrophic Mesotrophic Eutrophic Fanning Mesotrophic Eutrophic Eutrophic Mesotrophic Hog N/A Mesotrophic Mesotrophic Mesotrophic Kegeshook Oligotrophic Mesotrophic Oligotrophic Oligotrophic Little Ponhook Oligotrophic Mesotrophic Oligotrophic Oligotrophic Pearl Mesotrophic N/A Eutrophic Mesotrophic N/A Ponhook-Site 1 "The S" N/A N/A Mesotrophic Oligotrophic N/A Ponhook-Site 2 "Ponhook Point" N/A N/A Oligotrophic Oligotrophic N/A Raynards N/A Eutrophic Eutrophic Mesotrophic Salmon Mesotrophic Mesotrophic Mesotrophic Mesotrophic Shingle (East) N/A N/A Oligotrophic Oligotrophic N/A Shingle (West) N/A N/A Mesotrophic Oligotrophic N/A Sloans Oligotrophic Mesotrophic Oligotrophic Oligotrophic Wilsons Oligotrophic Oligotrophic Mesotrophic Oligotrophic

23 Exciting news! Lindsey is at Trent University this year starting her Masters to study water quality in the Tusket! Project still in the beginning stages. The overall goal is to add to predictability of the total phosphorus-chlorophyll a relationship, specifically, by adding to the existing knowledge of how dark lakes differ in their response to phosphorus increases. It's a big goal, but an important part of predicting blooms and managing lakes. Megan Crowley Lindsey Beals

24 Additional Sampling TREPA- Adopt-a-stream Complementary sampling at eight additional points along and adjacent to the main Tusket, looking in particular for nutrient upticks Lindsey Beals John Sollows

25 Long term monitoring? Interest among landowners and municipality? Broader monitoring (more than ACPF lakes) John Sollows

26 Education BBQs and plant walks at Great Pubnico Lake Landing and Ponhook Lake Landing Community Coordinator Pat chatted with 48 landowners on 7 lakes (Kegeshook, Raynards, Gold, 1st Christopher, Shingle, Molega, Pubnico Lake) ACPF Herald Newsletter 4 th edition hot off the press! Training Events: Habitat Mapping Volunteer Monitoring Pat Hudson

27 Stewardship Lindsey Beals Hands-on participation to learn first hand about ACPF by 40+ volunteers totalling almost 600 hours To date: 60+ volunteers dedicated over 1700 hours of their time towards the project! THANK YOU! Megan Crowley

28 ACPF Tools If you do not have a copy of the ACPF guide please let us know! Pictures and info on (currently being updated and will include maps)

29 Lakeshore Owner of the Year Created to highlight and recognize the landowners that are being stewards of their land Winners will receive a plaque and an original painting of their property by a local artist Nomination yourself or someone you know today! Contact us or forms online at: J. McKinnon from Healthy lakes and wetlands for tomorrow

30 Many thanks to our partners and volunteers!