Agricultural Headwater Streams and Agricultural Headwater Streams and Restoration OpportunitiesRestoration Opportunities

Bradley WrightBradley Wright City of OttawaCity of OttawaFebruary 25, 2011February 25, 2011

Are small, but as much as 70% Are small, but as much as 70% of water in large rivers is of water in large rivers is derived from first to third order derived from first to third order streams (Vought streams (Vought et al., et al., 1995)1995)

Account for a significant portion Account for a significant portion of total stream length within of total stream length within watersheds (Sidle watersheds (Sidle et al., et al., 2000)2000)

Provide habitat for unique and Provide habitat for unique and diverse assemblages of aquatic diverse assemblages of aquatic organisms (Dietrich and organisms (Dietrich and Anderson, 1995)Anderson, 1995)

Headwater Streams

Source: Kevin Cover, City of Ottawa

Stream order characteristics in the City of Ottawa

Stream Order

Total Length (km)

Percentage of Total Length (%)

1 2,979 512 1,407 243 752 134 412 75 196 36 88 27 69 1

Total 5,902

Agricultural Headwater Streams

70% of North American streams 70% of North American streams are impaired due to agricultural are impaired due to agricultural non-point source pollution (US non-point source pollution (US EPA, 1996)EPA, 1996)

Loss of riparian vegetation, lack Loss of riparian vegetation, lack of substrate heterogeneity, of substrate heterogeneity, reduced water qualityreduced water quality

Channel removal, piping, Channel removal, piping, straightening and realignmentstraightening and realignment

Agricultural Headwater Streams

80% of agricultural land in 80% of agricultural land in southern Ontario artificially southern Ontario artificially drained (Spaling and Smit, 1995)drained (Spaling and Smit, 1995)

Contaminant pathway for Contaminant pathway for nutrients, pesticides and bacterianutrients, pesticides and bacteria

Cumulative, large scale change to Cumulative, large scale change to sediment and hydrologic regimessediment and hydrologic regimes

River Continuum Concept

Headwater streams are at the interface of the aquatic-terrestrial continuum

Degradation and loss of headwaters and their connectivity to ecosystems downstream threaten the biological diversity of entire river networks

•What is farming?“Designing and manipulating an

ecological system to create a surplus of ecosystem goods for human consumption.”1

•What are ecosystem goods and services? “Goods are given monetary value in the

marketplace, whereas services are valued, but are rarely bought or sold.”2

Definitions

Source: 1Swinton, 2008; 2Brown et al., 2006

“Design and management procedures that work with natural processes to conserve resources and minimize waste and environmental damage, while maintaining or improving farm profitability. Working with natural soil processes is of particular importance. Sustainable agriculture systems are designed to take maximum advantage of existing soil nutrient and water cycles, energy flows, beneficial soil organisms, and natural pest controls.”

What is Sustainable Agriculture?

Source: EAP, McGill University

•Between 1995 and 2005 farm debt has increased by more than 90% to reach $51 billion1

•Higher input costs, lower commodity prices (or price volatility)

•High capital start up costs & land prices

• From 1991 to 2006, Canada lost over 60% of its farmers under the age of 352

•Canadians spend 12% of income on food3

Socio-Economic Trends

Source: 1 National Farmers Union; 2 Statistics Canada, 3Canadian Federation of Agriculture

Input Costs

Net Farm Income

Source: Statistics Canada

Solutions for Headwater Streams and Agriculture - Policy

1975 Drainage Act – many headwater 1975 Drainage Act – many headwater streams under municipal jurisdiction streams under municipal jurisdiction

Section 2.3 of the Provincial Policy Section 2.3 of the Provincial Policy Statement - protection or Statement - protection or enhancement of headwater streamsenhancement of headwater streams

The issue of tile drainage as a The issue of tile drainage as a contaminant pathway needs to be contaminant pathway needs to be addressed in the Nutrient addressed in the Nutrient Management ActManagement Act

• Component of source water protection• Implement agricultural BMPs• Implement watershed/subwatershed

plans• Education & stewardship• Agricultural Land Trusts• Incentives for ecosystem services• ALUS (Alternative Land Use Services)

Solutions for Headwater Streams and Agriculture – City/CA’s

• The McVean New Farmers project is a partnership between Toronto and Region Conservation (TRCA) and FarmStart

Solutions for Headwater Streams and Agriculture – Partnerships

• Best Management Practices – research, funding, policies and success stories

• Raising awareness of consumers to support sustainable agriculture

Solutions for Headwater Streams and Agriculture – Research

•Buy local, buy organic• Farmers Market•Know a farmer• Support local food NGO’s•Make the connection between food

security, human health and natural systems

Solutions for Headwater Streams and Agriculture – Grassroots

““What we do to the land is What we do to the land is reflected in the water.” Aldo reflected in the water.” Aldo LeopoldLeopold