ccsp final draft - full document 05182014 part148 community conservation and stewardship plan...

46 COMMUNITY CONSERVATION AND STEWARDSHIP PLAN

Inland Waters

Definition This feature represents all inland aquatic systems including lakes, rivers and streams, and wetlands.

Ecosystem Overview

INLAND LAKES

The plan area includes 39 inland lakes that cover a total area of 1679.67 ha, as well as numerous permanent or

intermittent small ponds. As shown in Table 1, most lakes on the Bruce Peninsula are shallow (<3 m) with small

surface areas (<100 ha), with the exception of Cameron Lake, Emmett Lake, Gillies Lake, and Miller Lake. Gillies

Lake is one of the deepest in southern Ontario which is more than 35m in depth near its eastern end. Although

most of the lakes are small and shallow, they are considered oligotrophic with <10 μg/L total phosphorus

(Environment Canada 2004). Most substrates are soft detritus or marl and support a moderate amount of

vegetation with <50% of the littoral zone covered (Harpur 2008).

Table 2. Morphometry of inland lakes on the Bruce Peninsula (Harpur 2011).

LAKE NAME LENGTH (KM) BREADTH

(km) SURFACE AREA (ha)

MAXIMUM DEPTH (m)

SHORELINE COMPLEXITY

Ague 1.197 0.553 47.62 1.56 1.5

Barney 0.950 0.624 28.14 2.23 2.0

Bartley 0.664 0.191 8.17 3.50 1.6

Britain 2.310 0.919 115.14 3.90 1.9

Cameron 2.407 0.969 157.79 15.00 1.9

Clear 0.483 0.174 4.59 1.13 1.7

Conley 0.532 0.320 11.45 0.61 1.4

Crane 2.230 0.736 96.05 2.10 5.0

Cyprus 1.795 0.602 74.05 8.20 1.7

Emmett 2.790 0.616 94.62 11.13 2.7

George 3.651 0.626 140.71 9.14 4.9

Gillies 3.572 1.410 204.35 34.14 2.8

Horse 0.418 0.243 7.28 1.55 1.2

Ira 0.939 0.695 41.92 0.90 3.2

Loon 0.685 0.267 12.87 0.80 1.5

Lower Andrew 1.680 0.353 20.1 0.79 3.9

Lymburner 0.729 0.563 24.7 0.76 4.0

Marr 0.365 0.192 4.59 1.10 1.3

Miller 4.485 1.091 319.57 8.20 2.2

Moore 1.210 0.587 44.74 1.55 1.7

Mud 0.819 0.440 20.96 1.30 1.6

Otter 2.137 0.510 77.19 1.00 3.8

Scugog 1.410 0.729 37.72 1.30 3.0

Shouldice 1.153 0.359 27.86 2.28 1.7

Upper Andrew 1.460 0.863 57.49 0.98 2.5

47 CHAPTER 3: BIODIVERSITY FEATURES

Map 3.8. Inland lakes on the Bruce Peninsula (Cartoggraphics Ltd 2014).


Several morphological attributes of inland lakes influence the diversity of habitats available for fish, wildlife and

vegetation communities. The habitat diversity in most of the small lakes in the project area is fairly low. However,

some of the larger lakes have greater habitat diversity as they contain some deep and shallow areas with various

substrates and amounts and types of aquatic vegetation. Harpur (2008) found a significant positive relationship

between fish species richness and lake area in 29 lakes on the Bruce Peninsula and suggested that this was

attributed to higher diversity of habitats provided by larger lakes. The complexity of shorelines along lakes also has

a significant influence on available habitat. Shoreline complexity is a measure of the length of a lake’s shoreline

relative to the length of the circumference of a circle of area equal to that of the lake. Lakes with longer, irregularly

shaped shorelines are considered to have greater shoreline complexity, while circular lakes are considered to have

less. A great amount of natural shoreline complexity provides better substrates for plant growth, more habitat for

fish, birds, and other wildlife, and reduced wave energy. Those lakes with the highest shoreline complexity in the

project area include Crane Lake (5.0), George Lake (4.9), Lymburner Lake (4.0), Lower Andrew Lake (3.9), Otter

Lake (3.8), and Ira Lake (3.2). The significant groundwater inputs in many lakes also create additional habitats for

species preferring cooler temperatures and provide a continual source of well-oxygenated water that offers refuge

from winter anoxia.

Riparian areas are critically important to lake ecosystems by providing: particulate organic matter for the food web

through leaf deposition and large deadwood; cover for aquatic organisms; critical habitat components for most

amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds that require or use lacustrine systems, and; allow for seasonal and

diurnal movements between various habitat components. Management and maintenance of natural riparian areas

is very important to the ecological integrity of lakes. The littoral zone provides diverse habitats for aquatic

organisms, and its components are highly important in the overall production and regulation of the lake

ecosystem. Aquatic macrophytes in the littoral zone are an essential habitat component of lake ecosystems and

contribute many benefits to aquatic communities. Macrophytes are important in determining type, structure, and

production of aquatic communities. Submergent plants are used as food by several species of wildlife and act as

substrate for aquatic invertebrates like insects and snails, which are important food sources for many waterbirds.

Emergent plants provide both food and protective cover, plus nest-building material for birds and aquatic

mammals. The distribution and abundance of plants in shallow zones of lakes can directly influence use by species

of dabbling ducks and wading birds, with areas having a “mosaic” or mixture of aquatic plants and open water

often having the highest species diversity and overall use by these bird groups.

WETLANDS

Wetlands are critical to the ecological and hydrological health of a region. Wetlands improve water quality by

trapping sediments, removing or retaining excess nutrients, immobilizing or degrading contaminants, and

removing bacteria. Wetlands also provide essential habitat for a number of species such as migratory waterfowl,

amphibians, reptiles, fish, and insects, wetlands support complex food webs. Wetlands have received significant

attention because of their importance to the ecological and hydrological integrity of watershed, and due to the

significant losses of wetlands that have occurred throughout Ontario. A study by Ducks Unlimited indicated that

41.3%, 56.5%, 84.3%, and 40.4% of wetlands have been lost since 1860 in the former St. Edmunds, Lindsay,

Eastnor, and Albemarle Townships, respectively (Ducks Unlimited, 2012).

The plan area includes 1953 wetland patches occupying a total area of 8531.1 ha. Subwatersheds 2FA-12, 2FA-08,

and 2FA-07 have the largest percentage of wetlands covering 15.39%, 13.03%, and 11.56%, respectively. The Bruce

Peninsula has all four types of wetlands recognized under the Ontario Wetland Evaluation System. Not all wetlands

on the Bruce Peninsula have been assessed under the Ontario Wetland Evaluation System, however, 19 sites that

have been classified as Provincially Significant Wetlands and five have been classified as Locally Significant

Wetlands.

Swamps are wooded wetlands with 25% cover or more of trees or tall shrubs. Standing to gently flowing water

occurs seasonally or persists for long periods on the surface. Swamp is the most abundant wetland type and is a

component of the majority of wetland complexes in the project area. The Eastnor Swamp, located at the southern


parts of the project area, covers over 416 ha while other notable swamp areas include: Spring Creek Wetland

Complex (360 ha); Otter Lake-Cherry Hill-Ira Lake Wetland Complex (511 ha), and; Stokes Bay Wetland (154 ha).

Marshes are wet areas periodically inundated with standing or slowly moving water, and/or permanently

inundated areas characterized by emergent vegetation and, to a lesser extent, anchored floating and submergent

vegetation. Marshes are located along the margins of many lakes such as: Gillies-Lymburner Lakes Wetland

Complex (144 ha); William Henry Marsh (33 ha); Scugog Lake Wetland (37 ha); Horseshoe Marsh-Bartley Lake

Wetland (73 ha); and the Lower Andrew-Upper Andrew Wetland (92 ha). The largest marshland in the project area

is the Otter Lake-Cherry Hill-Ira Lake Wetland Complex, of which 159 ha (23%) is classified as marsh and the

remainder is primarily swamp.

Fens are peatlands characterized by surface layers of poorly to moderately decomposed peat, often with well-

decomposed peat near the base. The waters and peat in fens are less acid than in bogs. Fens are found at more

than fifteen sites in the Bruce Peninsula, but generally occur as part of larger wetland complexes. The largest fen

areas are found at: Dorcas Bay Wetland (24 ha fen); and Lower Andrew/ Upper Andrew Lakes Wetland (60 ha);

Gauley Bay (24 ha); Scugog Lake Wetland (35 ha); and Sadler Creek (21 ha). The Barney Lake Wetland Complex,

located south of Tobermory, has a 28 ha component with bog rosemary and pitcher plants. Bogs are peat-covered

areas or peat-filled depressions with a high water table and a surface carpet of mosses, chiefly Sphagnum. The

water table is at or near the surface in the spring, and slightly below during the remainder of the year. Very few

bogs are located in the Bruce Peninsula. The only evaluated bogs on the Bruce Peninsula is within the Tobermory

Bog Wetland (20 ha) and a portion of the Otter Lake- Cherry Hill- Ira Lake Wetland Complex (3 ha).

Table 3. Wetlands inventory for the Bruce Peninsula (Natural Heritage Information Centre, 2010).

WETLAND NAME AREA (ha) SIGNIFICANCE

Barney Lake 151.1 Provincial

Black Creek Swamp Wetland 37.9 Provincial

Brinkman Creek Wetland 83.5 Provincial

Britain Lake Wetland Complex 175.1 Provincial

Cemetary Bog 56.2 Local

Corisande Bay Wetland 59.6 Provincial

Crane Lake Wetland 4.0 Provincial

Dorcas Bay Wetland 110.1 Provincial

Eastnor Swamp Wetland 442.8 Local

Gauley Bay Wetland 199.1 Provincial

Gillies-Lymburner Lakes Wetland Complex 209.3 Provincial

Greenough Harbour Wetland 27.4 Provincial

Horseshoe-Bartley Wetland 81.3 Local

Lower Andrew/Upper Andrew Lakes Wetland 167.5 Provincial

Old Woman’s River Wetland 72.9 Local

Otter Lake-Cherry Hill-Ira Lake Wetland Complex 693.1 Provincial

Sadler Creek Wetland Complex 261.4 Provincial

Scugog Lake Wetland 73.9 Provincial

Spring Creek Wetland Complex 514.2 Provincial

Stokes Bay Wetland 236.8 Provincial

Tobermory Bog Wetland 56.4 Provincial

Whiskey Still March 14.7 Provincial

William Henry Marsh 36.2 Local

Wingfield Basin Wetland 71.4 Provincial


Map 3.9. Wetland community types on the Bruce Peninsula.


RIVERS AND STREAMS

Tributaries are the primary conduit for drainage of waters from the Bruce Peninsula’s landscape to Lake Huron and

Georgian Bay. Tributaries supply Lake Huron and its associated nearshore ecosystem with water and nutrients, and

provide important fish and wildlife habitat. The tributaries, in turn, depend on upland vegetation to regulate the

nutrients and solids entering the waterways, and for input of energy and material. Biodiversity elements of

tributaries depend upon the oxygenation of water and the balance of nutrients and organic materials to maintain

favourable habitat conditions. Tributaries are critical spawning and nursery habitats for several fishes and provide

important habitat and migration corridors for a myriad of wildlife. Protecting and restoring the accessibility and

function of tributary habitats throughout the Lake Huron basin will ensure that critical fish habitat is available as

well as preserving the genetic diversity of fish and wildlife by maintaining access to these corridors.

There are ten primary river systems on the Bruce Peninsula, although there are also numerous intermittent or

permanent small streams and municipal drain systems. These watercourses include coldwater, coolwater, and

warmwater thermal regimes, which are each associated with specific aquatic communities. Coldwater streams are

particularly sensitive to land use impacts, due to the relatively narrow habitat requirements of coldwater fishes

(e.g., the need for stable groundwater discharge areas, clean cold water, high levels of dissolved oxygen, etc.).

As with lakes, riparian areas are a critical interface providing important ecosystem functions related to water

quality, stream flow regimes, sediment and erosion control, bank stabilization, and terrestrial, fish and aquatic

habitat and movement corridors. Protection of headwaters is essential to maintaining healthy streams.

Headwaters are the uppermost reaches of a drainage network, often defined as where a stream begins. Stream

temperatures remain cool due to groundwater discharge and abundant shade. Headwaters can include

intermittent, seasonal and low-order permanent streams and other drainage features.

Biodiversity The fish communities of inland lakes can be characterized as a warmwater fish fauna, which are species that are

best adapted, prefer or usually occur at water temperatures greater than 25°C (Eakins 2009). Three dominant fish

communities are found in the lakes of the Bruce Peninsula, including cyprinid (e.g. basses), centrarchid (e.g.

minnows and darters), and esocid (e.g. northern pike, walleye). Some of the deeper lakes including Cyprus,

George, Emmett and Crane Lakes, contain a relatively diverse fish species richness comprised of up to 30 species.

Table 4. Overview of river systems on the Bruce Peninsula (Digital Elevation Model 2007; MNR 2000).

WATERCOURSE NAME THERMAL REGIME

CHANGE IN ELEVATION (M)

STREAM LENGTH (KM)

STREAM SLOPE (M/KM)

Black Creek Cool 20.4 7.0 2.9

Brinkman's Creek Cool 24.8 9.4 2.6

Crane River Cold 49.8 22.2 2.2

Judges Creek Cold 12.2 12.0 1.0

Old Woman’s River Cool 13.7 7.6 1.8

Sadler Creek Cold 30.2 9.6 3.2

Sideroad Creek Cool 36.2 10.4 3.5

Spring Creek Cold 34.9 22.6 1.5

Stokes River Cool 24.0 18.0 1.3

Willow Creek Cold 22.4 40.5 0.6

Chin Creek Warm NA NA NA

Dorcas Bay Creek Cold NA NA NA


Map 3.10. Rivers and streams on the Bruce Peninsula.


Map 3.11. Drain systems on the Bruce Peninsula, including municipal drains and tile drains.


Other lakes including Quenlin, Moore and Conley Lakes have a much more restricted fish fauna due to habitat

limitations, particularly those shallow lakes subject to summer water levels and winter low oxygen stress (anoxia).

Harpur (2010) completed a study of the change in fish communities of the inland lakes of the northern Bruce

Peninsula between 1973-74 and 2007-08 which indicated an increase in the proportion of small-bodied wetland

species, which are tolerant of higher temperatures and lower oxygen levels. Truscott (2011) also completed a

study on beaver colonization on the Bruce Peninsula and reported an increase in the density of beaver colonies,

the number of beaver influenced wetlands, and wetland surface area. Both studies indicate a trend in many lakes

towards more wetlands and wetland communities.

Cold water stream habitat is typically considered ideal for brook trout. Rivers and streams support populations of

the native brook trout and other non-native migratory salmonids including rainbow trout, Chinook salmon and

brown trout, which are of interest for recreational fisheries. Resident, non-migratory populations of brown and

brook trout are found in lower and middle reaches of Willow Creek and Crane River. The lower reaches of Willow

Creek also provide some excellent fast flowing riffle habitats over gravel and cobble substrates well suited to the

spawning needs of migratory salmonids in lake Huron – in particular support anadromous runs of rainbow trout,

brown trout, coho salmon, chinook salmon from Lake Huron. These species are dependent on suitable tributary

streams to provide spawning and juvenile rearing habitats in order to maintain their lake populations.

Emergent marshes provide habitat for a broad diversity of aquatic invertebrates, many of which occupy and feed

on decomposing vegetation. The invertebrates support numerous species of fish, amphibians, reptiles, waterfowl,

water birds, and wetland mammals. Muskrats and beaver can profoundly influence the hydrology of emergent

marshes and surrounding wetlands. Muskrats create open water channels, and beavers can cause substantial

flooding through their dam-building activities. Emergent marshes flood seasonally, especially in the spring,

providing temporary habitat and spawning grounds for fish such as northern pike, and many other organisms. The

characteristic lake and wetland bird species which breed on the Bruce Peninsula include red-winged blackbird,

black tern, common loon, American bittern, swamp sparrow, Virginia rail, mallard and blue-winged teal. The inland

lakes are also used during the spring and fall by migrating shorebirds and waterfowl.

Ecological Processes Beavers are an agent of disturbance that create and sustain a diversity of wetlands and wetland processes on the

Bruce Peninsula. Historically beavers were abundant in the region but were likely extirpated during the fur trade as

early as the 18th Century. In the 1950s beaver began to recolonize the area and dramatically change the quantity,

kinds, and spatial diversity of wetlands across the landscape. Between 1970 and 2009 the density of beaver

colonies, measured as the number of active beaver colonies per kilometre of stream length, increased threefold

from 0.22 to 0.68. The number of wetlands created or influenced by beaver activities increased from 45 in 1967 to

603 in 2006. Wetland surface area increased from 1082 hectares to 1767 hectares, or 63%. Beaver activities may

enhance wetland resilience to large scale disturbance, such as climate change, by sustaining processes that

increase wetland community response diversity. However, increased wetland resilience caused by beaver activities

may decrease the ecological integrity of other desirable ecosystem states such as cold water streams. Further,

conflicts between beaver and human infrastructure will continue as long as beaver are present. Beaver activity has

been found to decrease the occurrence of larger bodied fish species by limiting the refuge from anoxic conditions

and access by fish from source populations in larger lakes (Knudsen 1962, Schlosser and Kallemeyn 2000). On the

other hand, the effects of beaver activity on maximum depth, surface area and shoreline can result in increased

habitat types that are preferred by many small-bodied fish species (Scott and Crossman 1998). Average lake

species richness may decrease as more permanent lakes become isolated (Keast and Fox 1990). A decline in the

surface connectivity between geographically close lakes could explain the reduction in the amount of variation. As

lakes begin to lose the ability to exchange species, sparsely represented species (e.g., northern pike) may be lost

via reduced connections between “stepping-stone lakes” or to lakes providing habitat for certain life stages. For

example, species have been lost from small, shallow lakes that likely provided spawning habitat for species that


migrated from larger lakes (e.g., northern pike) by channels no longer passable due to beaver dams (Knudsen

1962) or karst activity.

Inland Waters Assessment

Size

KEA: Size / extent of characteristic communities / ecosystems

Indicator: Percent Wetland Cover per Subwatershed

Current Status: POOR

Description: This indicator is a measure of the percentage of each subwatershed that is in wetland cover.

Environment Canada (2004) recommends that wetland cover should be a minimum of 6% for a subwatershed and

10% of a major watershed, or equivalent to the original percentage of wetlands in a watershed. The thresholds are

adapted from the Conservation Authorities methods and the 10% wetland cover target has been assigned as a

Good rating. This indicator also includes coastal wetlands. Based on 2008 SOLRIS land cover data, there 1953

individual wetland patches covering a total area of 8531.10 ha. These wetlands represent all types, including

swamps (4.74%), marshes (4.10%), fens (0.08%), and bogs (0.002%). Five of the ten subwatersheds within the plan

area do not meet the 6% guideline for wetland cover, including 2FA-02 (2.63%), 2FA-03 (5.96%), 2FA-04 (3.59%),

2FA-05 (4.10%), and 2FA-06 (1.89%). However, it should be noted that 2FA-13 includes the Tobermory Islands and

2FA-04 and 2FA-02 are associated with the Niagara Escarpment where wetlands are less abundant.

Landscape Context S

KEA: Water quality

Indicator: Water Quality Index (WQI) for Streams

Current Status: FAIR

Description: Degradation in water quality can lead to excessive aquatic plant growth, depletion of oxygen, and

changes in abundance and diversity of aquatic invertebrates, fish, and, possibly, birds and mammals dependent on

these habitats (Carpenter et al. 1998). Parks Canada has adopted the Canadian Council of Ministers of the

Environment (CCME) water quality Index (WQI) for reporting on water quality at Crane River and Willow Creek.

The WQI provides a useful tool that allows experts to translate large amounts of water quality monitoring

information into a simple overall rating (i.e., nutrients, dissolved oxygen, metals and chloride, pH, turbidity. The

Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association has adopted CABIN protocols which includes similar parameters and has

implemented monitoring at six streams in the southern watersheds of the Bruce Peninsula, including Black Creek

(control site), Stokes River, Old Woman’s River, Judges Creek, Swan Lake Drain, and Fern Drain.

Based on 13 water samples over two years, there were no causes for concern in Willow Creek and Crane River.

With only one year of sampling, data from the southern streams suggested some levels of disturbance to most of

the streams. However, Judges Creek and Stokes River showed increased signs degradation with Total Phosphorus

(0.05mg/L; 0.045mg/L) and Total Suspended Solids (38.9mg/L; 14.4mg/L).


Condition

KEA: Vegetation Structure

Indicator: Percent Forested Riparian Zone

Current Status: POOR

Description: Riparian areas are regional hot spots that support a disproportionately high number of wildlife species

and provide a wide array of ecological functions and values (Naiman et al. 1993, Fischer and Fischenich 2000,

National Research Council 2002). Riparian buffers protect water quality and serve as a corridor for wildlife

movement. This indicator is a measure of the amount of forest cover within a 30 m of riparian zone adjacent to

each side of an open watercourse. Environment Canada (2004) recommends 75% of stream length be naturally

vegetated and that streams should have a minimum 30 m wide naturally vegetated adjacent-lands area on both

sides, greater depending on site-specific conditions. Based on 2008 SOLRIS land cover data, no streams meet the

guidelines for riparian vegetation. Of particular concern are Old Woman’s River (11.1%), Judges Creek (11.2%), and

Stokes River (16.9%).

KEA: Coldwater Stream Habitat Quality

Indicator: Water Temperature in Coldwater Streams


Description: Brook Trout is native to coldwater streams on the Bruce Peninsula and is an important top predator in

these systems. Brook Trout prefer colder streams (<20°C) (Creaser 1930; Cherry et al. 1977; Peterson et al. 1979)

and avoid warmer temperatures (Gibson 1966; Cunjak et al. 1993); because of the lethality of high temperatures,

Brook Trout are absent from streams where maximum temperatures exceed 24°C (Barton et al. 1985, Picard et al.

2003). This indicator is based on habitat conditions for brook trout, namely water temperature data. Continuously

monitored water temperature data at Willow Creek indicate that a critical threshold of 22oC was exceeded in two

years between 2006 and 2010. Because these temperatures are too warm for brook trout, the measure was

assessed as poor.

KEA: Species abundance and composition

Indicator: Frog species richness


Description: Frogs and toads possess several characteristics that make them a worthwhile subject for ecological

monitoring (Hopkins 2007). Their permeable skin, used for gas exchange and osmoregulation, makes them

particularly sensitive contaminants and certain skin diseases (Rowe et al. 2003). Moreover, frogs and toads rely on

both aquatic and terrestrial habitats, which places them in “double jeopardy” because a disturbance to the quality

or availability of either habitat can disrupt their life cycle and affect populations (Semlitsch and Bodie 2003). The

Amphibian Call Counts survey was initiated by the Ontario Task Force on Declining Amphibian Populations and

coordinated by Environment Canada. Parks Canada has participated in this program since 1993 (Upton 2009). The

measure is derived from data collected at stations along a permanent route, and is sensitive to the number of

species recorded as well as to the dominance of any one species (e.g. Spring Peepers).


Indicator: Inland lake fish community

Current Status: UNRANKED

Description: Fish are an important and diverse component of the inland lakes on the Bruce Peninsula. The

University of Toronto and Parks Canada completed a fish inventory in 2007 for 29 inland lakes building on an

inventory that was done in 1973-4. Although this does not provide information on the condition of inland lake fish

communities, Parks Canada is developing a measure for fish community and will provide data on the state and

trends in the future.

Table 3.5. Viability assessment summary of Inland Waters

KEY ATTRIBUTE INDICATOR RATING

Size Size and extent of

characteristic communities % wetland cover POOR

Landscape Context

Ecosystem Connectivity # Migratory fish barriers UNRANKED

Water quality

Stream water quality index FAIR

Inland Lake water quality index UNRATED

Water temperature FAIR

Hydrologic Regime Stream Base flow UNRATED

Landscape pattern and

structure

% natural land cover in watershed VERY GOOD

% natural land cover within 2km of shoreline VERY GOOD

Road density within watershed UNRANKED

Condition

Vegetation structure

% native wetland plant species UNRANKED

Riparian vegetation within 300m from streams POOR

Species abundance and

composition

Amphibian Index of Biotic Integrity UNRANKED

Marsh Bird Index of Biotic Integrity UNRANKED

Coldwater stream fish communities UNRANKED

Warmwater stream fish communities UNRANKED

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