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A GUIDE TO MAINTAINING AND CONSERVING AGRICULTURAL DRAINS AND FISH HABITAT

THE DRAIN PRIMER

Drainage SuperintendentsAssociation of Ontario

Ontario FFederation of AAgriculture

ONTARIO EDITION

Produced by Fisheries and Oceans Canada

in association with Drainage Superintendents Association of Ontario

and Ontario Federation of Agriculture

FISHERIES AND OCEANS CANADAFish Habitat Management Program - Ontario-Great Lakes Area

867 Lakeshore RoadBurlington, ON L7R 4A6

Web site: www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans-habitat/

DRAINAGE SUPERINTENDENTSASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO

260 Clarke StreetPort Colborne, ON L3K 2G5

Web site: www.dsao.net

ONTARIO FEDERATION OF AGRICULTUREOntario Agricentre

100 Stone Road West, Suite 206Guelph, ON N1G 5L3

Web site: www.ofa.on.ca

DFO/2008-1427©Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada 2008

Cat No. Fs23-533/2008E-PDFISBN 978-0-662-48027-3

Cette publication est également disponible en français.

Printed on recycled materials.

TABLE OF CONTENTSPAGE 4

WHAT’S THE SCOOP?GETTING THE INFO ON DRAIN MAINTENANCE

• Open Drain Maintenance - Why is it a normal business practice?• Types of Drains

PAGE 8THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

• Exactly what is fish habitat?• How are the two connected - Why are drains important to fish habitat?

• Why seek approval before doing maintenance on an open drain?• The Fisheries Act (Federal) • The Species at Risk Act (Federal)

• The Drainage Act (Provincial) • The Conservation Authorities Act (Provincial)

PAGE 12HELP!! I NEED SOMEBODY!

• Where do I start? • Open Drain Maintenance Checklist

PAGE 13SPEEDING UP THE PROCESS

• How does the Class Authorization System work?• What if the open ditch is a Private, Mutual Agreement or Creek Drain? - What do I need to do to undertake this work? • Mitigation Measures• Timing • Sediment Controls • Erosion Control and Bank Stabilization

PAGE 22WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?

FARMING AND FISH CAN CO-EXISTACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

PAGE 23CONTACTS

by Cliff Evanitski

PAGE 3

THE DRAIN PRIMER

his primer is a guide to provideinformation for a variety ofgroups in Ontario. For farmersand municipalities, this primer

will assist in finding ways to maintain the effectiveness of open drains whilelimiting the impact on the local

environment. For the general public, the primer explains the necessity ofopen drains and the need to maintainthem. For everyone, this document willdemonstrate that the environment andagriculture can co-exist.

PAGE 4

OPEN DRAIN MAINTENANCE – Why is it a normal businesspractice?

Agriculture, like so many otherindustries, faces not only the challengeof doing business in a worldwide market,but increasingly doing so in a mannerthat is protective of local resources,such as groundwater and habitat.A farmer’s ability to produce high qualityfood for the rest of us depends on thenatural environment – decent weather,productive land and workable soil.However, farmers sometimes have tomodify the natural environment in orderto grow their crops. One of these

changes involves draining surface and subsurface water from their land.

Typically this has been done byconstructing ditches, often referred toas open drains, which effectively removeexcess water from the surrounding land.Improved drainage allows fields to beplanted earlier in the spring, eliminatesexcess water that might hurt plantgrowth, and helps to dry up fields thatnormally would be too wet to supportthe weight of heavy tractors.

For more than a century and up to thepresent day, a network of open drains hasbeen developed throughout Ontario withthe majority being in the southwesternand eastern parts of the province.

TWHAT’S THE SCOOP?

Getting the Info on Drain Maintenance

T H E D R A I N P R I M E R

TYPES OF DRAINS

A ditch is a ditch and a drain is a drain, right? So how can there be“types” of drains? Well, yes of course, a ditch is a ditch, but ditches or drainscan be constructed in different ways that give them different legal status.

Municipal drains are created under theauthority of the Drainage Act and havethree key elements. Firstly, the drain isrequested by the community throughpetition and involves a number of publicmeetings to address landowners’concerns and desires. If the need fordrainage work is there, the municipalityrequests an engineer’s report to identifythe proposed solution to the drainageproblem and how the costs will beshared. Secondly, after any appeals havebeen dealt with, the municipality passesa by-law adopting the engineer’s report,

giving the municipality the legal authorityand responsibility to construct the drain. Finally, once the drain has beenconstructed, the maintenance becomespart of the municipality’s infrastructure.The municipality, through its drainagesuperintendent, is now responsible for repairing and maintaining the drain.

Municipal drains are either openchannels or a closed system of tiles

buried in the ground. Open channelmunicipal drains can either be

completely manmade ditchesor they can be natural

watercourses that havebeen modified throughthe Drainage Act

process to improvedrainage. This latter

type is commonly knownas a “creek drain.”

Private drains are essentiallyditches or a system of underground

tiles that farmers construct on theirown properties in order to drain theirfarmland.

Mutual Agreement Drains are privatedrains that have been constructedthrough an agreement between two or more property owners. To ensure thatthe mutual agreement drain continues toserve its original purpose should one ormore of the benefiting properties changeownership, the agreement is registeredon the property title through the LandRegistry Office.

T Y P E S O F D R A I N S

Excess water can make fieldsunworkable for farmers.


Award drains are drainage systems thathave been constructed under legislationcalled the Ditches and Watercourses Act. This act was repealed in 1963, but some old award drains that wereconstructed prior to that date still exist.Each landowner along an award drain is responsible for maintaining theirsection of the drain. Maintenance of such drains is not the responsibility of the municipality.

No matter the type of drain, they all serve the same purpose - to removeexcess water from agricultural lands.

Regardless of whether the open drainis natural or artificial, sediment graduallystarts to build up in these watercourses.Plants and other vegetation, both in thewater and along the drain’s bank, begin

to take root. Pools start to form and thewatercourse will begin to wander backand forth from one bank to the other.As these various elements start to takeshape, the open drain starts lookingmore like a natural stream. And ofcourse, this natural stream now has the features that provide habitatattractive to fish and other aquatic life.However, the flow of the water throughthe drain also starts to becomerestricted, perhaps to the point where the drain is no longer capable of removing excess water from theneighbouring lands. Thus maintenance,repairs or improvements are required to restore the drain’s function in order to maintain the productivity of theagricultural land.

Landowners along Award Drains are responsible for maintaining theirsection of the ditch.

T Y P E S O F D R A I N S

Municipal Drains are legally part of the local municipality’s infrastructure.

Regardless of whether the drain is Private, such as the one above - or a Municipal, Mutual or Award Drain - all look alike and can easily be mistaken for each other.

Mutual Agreement Drains are registered on the property title to ensure thatregardless of who owns the abutting properties, the original purpose of the drain is protected.


Exactly what is fish habitat?The Fisheries Act is federal legislation

that protects Canada’s fisheriesresources. It defines fish habitat asthose parts of the environment that fishrely upon, directly or indirectly, in orderto go through the various stages of theirlife cycle. This life cycle depends onthree basic elements – food, ability to reproduce, and cover. While thesefeatures can vary depending on the typeof fish, typically all three basic elementsare not always found in the same place.As such, migratory routes are alsoneeded to allow fish to move from one place to another. In addition, fish need good water quality in order to survive, grow and reproduce.

How the two are connected – Why aredrains important to fish habitat?

Open agricultural drains – the drainsthat look like artificially created ditches –may at first glance appear to offer little or no value as fish habitat. That might be true in some cases. However, justbecause fish are absent in the drain, doesnot mean the drain is not fish habitat. Forexample, pike may use seasonally floodedvegetation for spawning in a drain thatmay be dry most of the year. As well, onemust keep in mind that all water flowssomewhere and eventually it is going tofind its way to a place where fish do exist.

There are many open drains, especiallywell established ones that have beenaround a few years and that have notbeen cleaned out on a regular basis,which have developed the characteristicsof providing good fish habitat. Trees,shrubs and other plants growing along thebanks of the ditch not only produce foodfor fish (insects fall off the overhangingbranches into the water) but also shadethe water, providing cooler temperaturesthat are preferable for certain species offish. Branches and other woody debris fall into the water providing cover for fishfrom predators. The meandering of thewaterway from one side of the ditch tothe other changes water flow, whichdepending on the species, can befavourable for spawning and other fishactivities.

Some studies suggest that these older, open drains are important to fishproduction in that they contain largernumbers of fish, as well as a greatervariety of species, when compared to themain watercourses into which they feed.The habitat provided by open agriculturaldrains has also played a significant role in setting a standard of environmentalquality that people have come to expect.After all, a healthy fish community is asign that the local human environment is also in good shape.

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

DRAFT

PAGE 9

T H E R E ’ S N O P L A C E L I K E H O M E

However, people also expect to eatand there often comes a time when opendrains eventually need to be cleaned inorder to enhance the effectiveness offarming operations. Therefore, drain

maintenance must be managed carefullyin order to protect habitat while ensuringthe ability of the drain to functionefficiently.

FOOD – Small fish typicallyeat tiny organisms such asplankton and algae, as wellas insects, larvae anddragonflies. Bigger fish mayfeed on smaller fish, worms,crayfish, insects or otherinvertebrates.

WATER QUALITY – Typically, good waterquality means the water is welloxygenated, cooler in temperature andrelatively clear of silt. However, all fishspecies have specific water qualityrequirements - in fact, coldwater specieshave higher standards than warmwaterspecies. Regardless, local water qualityshould be maintained at levelsacceptable to local fish species.

REPRODUCTION – Most fish need specific surroundings,water temperature and water velocity in order tosuccessfully spawn. For example, coldwater species such as rainbow trout like gravel-bottomed shallows instreams with cooler temperatures and moderate waterflows. Yet, the northern pike, a coolwater species,prefers spawning areas with slow moving water, such as wetlands or submerged, vegetated floodplains.

MIGRATORY CORRIDORS –Migration areas consist ofstreams, creeks or riversallowing passage of fish fromone part of the watershed toanother. Barriers such as beaverdams, perched culverts and lowwater flows can stop fish fromreaching or leaving either theirspawning or over-winteringhabitats. Other barriers includesmall culverts with so muchwater flowing through them thatthe velocity of the waterprevents the fish from reachingupstream spawning areas.

COVER - Rocks, woodydebris, undercut banks,overhanging plants,aquatic vegetationand deep water can allprovide hiding placesfor fish from theirpredators.


Why seek approval before doing maintenance on an open drain?

After time many agricultural ditches,whether they are private, municipal or mutual agreement drains, can startlooking alike. If a property has changedownership, the new landowner may notknow whether the watercourse is a drainor a stream. Even if one does know, thenext question is whether the watercourseis fish habitat. It can get confusing. One may believe that the ditch is poorhabitat for fish and that they are perfectlywithin their rights to clean their ditch out.However, it is better to be safe than tobe sorry. The law may require formalapprovals before any drain maintenancework can be done.

Environmentally, drain maintenancecan often change the characteristics thatmake an open ditch good fish habitat.The removal of plants, shrubs and othervegetation eliminates both food sourcesand cover for fish. Digging a deeper and wider channel may change both the speed of the flow and watertemperature – two important factorscontributing to good fish habitat. While the work is taking place, thedisturbances that are occurring cancreate a barrier for those fish that mightbe attempting to migrate upstream. As well, digging stirs up sediment, whichmakes the watercourse that much lessliveable for fish. Suspended sedimentscloud the water, which can suffocate,cover and destroy spawning habitat as well as making it difficult for fish to breathe and feed.

Aside from the potential damage tofish habitat, landowners may also findthemselves in violation of various

provincial and federal laws should theyproceed without approval. Some of thelaws described below may apply to open drain maintenance.

The Fisheries Act (Federal)The Fisheries Act applies to all fishing

zones, territorial seas and inland waters of Canada and is binding on federal,provincial and territorial governments. It is administered by DFO. Through itsPolicy for the Management of FishHabitat, DFO’s goal is to increase theproductive capacity of fish habitat. This isdone through the conservation of existinghabitat, restoration of damaged habitat,and development of new habitat. Undersection 35 of the Fisheries Act, no onemay carry out a work or undertaking that will cause the harmful alteration,disruption or destruction of fish habitat,also referred to as a “HADD”, unlessauthorized by the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. When it comes to drainmaintenance, it is this section of theFisheries Act that most frequently applies.Unauthorized drain work that results in a HADD could result in a fine of up to$300,000 for a first offence and more fora second or third offence. The amount of the fine may also vary depending onthe severity of the impact. While work onopen drains is done to meet requirementsunder the Drainage Act, requirementsunder the Fisheries Act must also beaddressed.

The Species at Risk Act (Federal)A number of aquatic species have

been identified under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA) and must beconsidered prior to commencing work in

T H E R E ’ S N O P L A C E L I K E H O M E

Changes or alterations to fish habitat may benecessary to improve

drain function. When suchchanges are expected to

result in a HADD, anauthorization is required

to avoid liability.

and around water. In addition to meetingthe requirements of the Fisheries Act, all projects in and around water must be in compliance with the prohibitions of SARA. If your project is in an areawhere there are aquatic species at risk, or you are not sure, contact your localConservation Authority or DFO office toensure that you are in compliance withSARA. For more information on SARA andlisted species, visit www.sararegistry.gc.ca.

The Drainage Act (Provincial)Drainage legislation has been in

existence in Ontario for over 150 years.The current statute, the Drainage Act,is administered by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs(OMAFRA) but it is administered locally by the municipality.

The Drainage Act provides amechanism for landowners to solve their drainage problem by petitioning theirlocal municipality. The process allows alllandowners to provide input to the designand to voice objections to all aspects ofthe project. The Act also ensures that thedrainage system is professionally designedand complies with other applicable laws.Costs are assessed to the landowners in the watershed of the drain.

Once constructed, municipal drains become part of the municipality’sinfrastructure, even when they are locatedon private land. The municipality isresponsible for the maintenance, repairand overall management of the drainagesystem and can be held liable fordamages if they don't fulfill theseresponsibilities.

The Conservation Authorities Act(Provincial)

Conservation Authorities areresponsible for conserving, restoring,developing and managing naturalresources within their jurisdiction. Underthe Province’s Development, Interferencewith Wetlands and Alterations toShorelines and Watercourses Regulation,Conservation Authorities are able toregulate development in river or stream valleys, wetlands, shorelines and hazardous lands and associatedallowances. In addition, they regulate the straightening, changing, diverting orinterfering in any way with the existingchannel of a river, creek, stream,watercourse or for changing or interferingin any way with a wetland. Open drainsare usually reviewed with special interestby Conservation Authorities.


HELP!! I NEED SOMEBODY!

Where do I start?The first step a landowner should

take before starting any kind of ditchmaintenance is to determine the type of drain it is. The local drainagesuperintendent should be contacted in order to determine if the ditch is amunicipal drain constructed under theDrainage Act. If it is, then the landownershould not undertake any maintenanceon the drain since this is a municipalresponsibility and liability. If it is not amunicipal drain, the local municipalitymay also be able to tell the landowner ifit is an Award Drain, Mutual AgreementDrain or a Private Drain. If it is a PrivateDrain, the maintenance of the ditch isthe landowner’s responsibility. If it is anAward Drain or Mutual Agreement Drain,the landowner needs to find

the written records for that drain todetermine who is responsible forperforming maintenance.

If the landowner finds that they areresponsible for maintaining the drain,the next step they should take beforestarting any kind of drain maintenance is to call the local Conservation Authorityor the Ontario Ministry of NaturalResources (MNR) office. Both agenciescan assist in providing informationdealing with reviews and approvals for drain maintenance work that mightimpact fish habitat. Chances are that theConservation Authority will also have theexpertise to help the landowners developa proper drainage maintenance plan.

OPEN DRAIN Maintenance Checklist

What type of drain is it? Contact the clerk or

drainage Superintendent of your local municipality.

Am I responsible for maintaining this drain or is this a

Municipal drain? Check the written records if any.

If I’m responsible for maintaining this drain, what do I

need to do to get my maintenance project started?

Start by contacting your local Conservation Authority or

the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources office.

Does the Fisheries Act apply?

Does the Navigable Waters Act apply?

(please contact Transport Canada)

Does the Conservation Authorities Act apply?

Are Species at Risk present?

PAGE 12

S P E E D I N G U P T H E P R O C E S S

Conservation Authorities, DFO, and other agencies have been workingtogether to develop a Class AuthorizationSystem to streamline the process of reviewing fisheries concerns formaintenance proposals. This ClassAuthorization System is only applicableto Municipal Drains, the ones mostfrequently being maintained acrossOntario. Without this system, all drain maintenance activities thatmight be harmful to fish habitatwould be subject to individualreview and may require a separateauthorization under the FisheriesAct. Since there are manymunicipal drains being maintainedacross Ontario, this could be a verytime consuming process, causingdelays for landowners needingimproved drainage, as well as fordrainage superintendents trying tocoordinate their work schedules.The Class Authorization Systemcuts through much of that redtape. It allows municipalities,through their drainagesuperintendents, to complete work, such as bottom clean outs, on less sensitive drains.

Drainage superintendents can save time on planning since they will know inadvance what kind of work and timing isrequired for certain maintenance projects.The Class Authorization System also helps municipalities and drainagesuperintendents identify projects thatmight need a more in-depth examination.

SPEEDING UP THE PROCESS

PAGE 13

The Class Authorization System is onlyapplicable to Municipal Drains.


How does the ClassAuthorization System work?

While all open drains serve the samefunction of removing excess water fromthe land, not all drains are alike when itcomes to the habitat they provide for fish.Open drains may differ in the type andsensitivity of the habitat they containdepending upon the drain’s characteristics.For habitat management purposes, the Class Authorization System classifiesmunicipal drains according to their flowcharacteristics, water temperatures, fish species present and time since the last full clean out.

Drainage superintendents, ConservationAuthorities and other agencies areclassifying all municipal drains in Ontariowith the goal of incorporating thisinformation into maps to helpmunicipalities and their drainagesuperintendents identify the correct steps in maintaining a particular drain. As characteristics of the drains change, the new information is used to update the classification.

What if I want to do work on aprivate ditch, mutual agreementdrain or a natural watercourse?What do I need to do toundertake this work?

Call your local Conservation Authorityor MNR office before starting any work.They can provide information on anumber of different options for drainmaintenance that are not only endorsedby many agricultural organizations, but are also both environmentally-friendlyand cost about the same as traditionalmethods. When considering theseoptions, a number of different factorsneed to be examined before starting any open drain maintenance project.

You should also call your localmunicipal drainage superintendent to verify that this watercourse is not a municipal drain. If it is a municipal drain, the municipality should undertakethe work.

MITIGATION MEASURES

TimingDigging should be done so as to avoid

local fish spawning or nursing periods. If done at the wrong time, suspendedsediments from the maintenance workmight prevent spawning, smother eggs, or kill young fish.

Option: Do the Project in the Summer

Summer may be a good time to domaintenance work when drains are dry or have little flow. This way the crane orbackhoe operators can see exactly whatneeds to be cleaned out without theobstruction of clouded water. Doing thework when the ditch is relatively dry also

PAGE 14

Call your local drainage superintendent,Conservation Authority or MNR to obtainassistance on how to maintain CreekDrains like the one above.

ensures that little, if any, sediment willfloat downstream where it might impactfish. As well, maintenance should bedone as quickly as possible in order to limit the amount of disruption to fish migration and habitat

Sediment ControlsIf work is undertaken while water is

still flowing in the drain, controls need to be put in place to prevent the flow of sediment downstream. The followingoptions are essentially designed forareas with sandy or sandy loam soils.

Option: Sediment Sand Traps

Sediment sand traps are created bystrategically digging a spot that is deeperin the open drain. Excessive widening ofthe channel should be avoided, howeverthe channel should be widened enoughto stabilize the banks. This larger holeacts as a settling pond, slowing downwater as it drops into the deeper spot.As the water flow decreases, heaviersediments and debris settle to thebottom of the trap, somewhat improvingthe quality of the water leaving the trapand moving downstream.

PAGE 15


Dig a spot that is deeper in a strategicsection of the open drain. Widen channelonly enough to stabilize the banks.

Water flow decreases.

Water flow decreases.

Heavier bits of sediment settle to the bottom of the trap.

Soil excavated from Sediment SandTraps should be placed where it will not wash back into the drain.Stabilize the dirt pile by seeding it.

Sediment Sand Traps provide excellent pool habitat for fish.

Cleaner water exits trap, extendinglife of downstream drain.


The sediment sand trap technique can be low cost when compared to otherconventional methods. Farmers andmunicipalities need only worry aboutcleaning the trap out, which is a lotcheaper than paying for a full-scale cleanout. Less of the drain is disturbed andclean out is quicker. Sand traps should beplaced in spots easily accessible so as toavoid having to drive over planted cropsin order to get maintenance equipmentto the site.

Option: Silt Fences /Straw Bales/Sandbags

Silt fences (those little black curtainswe see between construction sites andwatercourses), straw bales, and sandbagsare inexpensive ways to prevent the flowof sediments downstream. Silt fences orstraw bales need to be staked into placedownstream of the maintenance site.These two options act as filters removing

sediment from water. More than one set of curtains or bales may be required.

Sandbags act much like sand traps.By sandbagging the water back, onecreates a settling pond where heaviersediment can drop out, allowingrelatively cleaner water to flowdownstream.

Any of these light-weight channelflow controls are only good for handlingrelatively low flows in small drainageareas for short periods of time. Theseoptions only work when they areproperly maintained. Care also needs tobe taken when removing these controls.Excess sediment should be removedfrom the entrapment before taking downa sediment control structure. That way,the sediment captured will not bereleased back into the stream.

SANDBAGS

Excess sediment shouldbe removed from theentrapment before takingit down. That way thesediment captured willnot be released back into the stream.

By sandbagging the water back, a settling pond is created. Heaviersediment drops to the bottom, allowing relatively cleaner water to flow downstream.


SILT FENCES

STRAW BALES

Silt fences or straw bales need to bestaked into place downstream of themaintenance site and may require multiple installations.

These two options onlywork when they are properly maintained.

Silt fences and straw bales act as filtersremoving sediment from water movingdownstream from the maintenance site.

Any of these light weightchannel flow controls areonly good for handling relatively low flows in smalldrainage areas for shortperiods of time.


Erosion Control and Bank StabilizationEroding drain banks can be costly

to farmers, municipalities and theenvironment. The more soil collapsesinto a drain, the more that drain’s flow is disrupted. The extra soil entering thesystem is unlikely to be carried very farin the water, resulting in an accumulationof sediment, which in turn fills the drain.Eroding banks may lead to trees andother vegetation falling into thewatercourse, further diverting andslowing water flow and leading to moreerosion. Eventually, the ability of theopen ditch to drain surrounding land is hampered and further maintenance is required sooner than was originallyplanned. To extend the life of the drain,save money, and help the environment,a number of techniques can be used.

Option: Leave the Banks Alone

Bank erosion is best prevented by notdisturbing the banks at all. Stable banksusually have grass, shrubs and treesgrowing along them. Vegetation adjacentto the bank helps slow down runoff from the fields, which in turn helps tominimize erosion of the bank. As well,the root systems of vegetation along the banks hold the sides together andstabilize the slopes. Environmentally, the stalks and leaves from the differenttypes of plants slow down runoff and act as a filter by trapping sediment,pesticides and other pollutants –improving the quality of water enteringthe drain.

To extend drain life, save money onroutine maintenance and enhancefish and wildlife habitat, banks needto be protected from erosion.


Option: Plant Bigger Buffers

Other means to prevent erosion,extend the life of the drain and improvehabitat is to plant shrubs and trees andto increase the size of the vegetatedbuffer between the field and drain.

Bigger buffers can help removemore of the sediment carried byfield runoff into the open ditch,and thus minimize the need for drain maintenance. Thisoption might involve takingproductive land out ofoperation. The alternative maybe to look at planting such cropsas hay or alfalfa as buffers alongthe drain. Once these crops are planted, the land can go a number of years without theneed for being plowed up, cropscan be harvested annually, andthe root systems remainundisturbed.

Option: Work from One Side of Drain

If vegetation needs to be removedfrom a ditch, it would be best to removeit from one side only. That way, one side of the ditch is better protected fromerosion, less movement of equipment isneeded, clean-out is quicker, and thereis less disruption. Where applicable, it is best to leave the south side of thedrainage bank alone as that will ensureshade, cover and food sources for fish.

Option: Remove Vegetation at Intervals

Depending on various circumstances,another option may be to removevegetation at certain intervals. If an opendrain has gone several years withoutmaintenance – trees, shrubs and otherbrush may have grown to the pointwhere removal of vegetation is requiredto allow a crane or backhoe access forproper drain clean out.

Conservation cropping, such as the soybeans planted to the left of the drainabove, can help stabilize the bank, reducefuture drain maintenance, and improvehabitat for a wide variety of species.

Mature or young trees should be left on eitherbank. These trees help stabilize the ditch, providecover and insect food for fish, and shade the banksand the water. The shade from the trees also helpsprevent the growth of vegetation that may createblockages to drain flow.

Rather than clearing out all thevegetation, one can remove for example,20 metres of vegetation on one side of the bank, skip 20 metres, and thencontinue so on down the one side of thedrain. Then to ensure total bottom cleanout, do the same on the opposite bank.Later, when one needs to maintain thedrain, vegetation removal and drainmaintenance can be done from thespots that were originally left untouched.While this option may be a bit morecostly and time-consuming, thelandowner is always guaranteed thatthere will be mature vegetation along the drain to help stabilize it.

Option: Brushing

Brushing involves using large mowersto cut the vegetation along the bank.The trimming of the plants and shrubsshould improve water flow and thus

cause the drain to naturally deepen onits own, as faster water tends to scour a watercourse. As well, runoff from thesurrounding land is less impeded bymature vegetation when entering thedrain. Brushing can also be a helpfulstep in providing access spots formaintenance equipment to the drainbottom. Regardless of the reason forusing the technique, the key to brushingis that it leaves the root systemuntouched. Thus the drain’s banks arestabilized, the mulch from the mowingprotects the surface from wind and rain erosion, and reseeding the slope is unnecessary. Care must be taken to make sure that the mulch from thebrushing that ends up in the waterway is removed so that the drain does notget clogged downstream.

PAGE 20


Brushing leaves the root systems intact,stabilizing the banks from erosion. Debris from the brushing protects thebanks from wind and rain erosion.

Gentle bank slopes help reduce erosionby reducing runoff speed.


Option: Reseeding

As soon as the drain maintenance isdone, one should consider leveling thespoils, or excavated material, createdfrom clear-out and reseed the work areawhile the soil is still moist in order toreestablish vegetation and stabilize thebank. If immediate revegetation is notan option (maybe the growing seasonhas passed) then using filter cloth,various mulches or erosion blanketsmade of natural material might help in protecting the banks from erosion.

Option: Sloping

When maintaining a drain, it ispreferable to have gentle slopes on the banks rather than steep ones. The steeper the grade, the quicker the water enters the drain, the moreunstable banks become, and the morelikely erosion will take place.

Straw blankets, such as the one seenabove, help protect the exposed area from wind and rain erosion, and incorporate natural materials to help vegetation get reestablished.

Natural channel design features can be incorporated into drains where appropriate.Natural channels are efficient at moving both water and sediment, as well asproviding long-term stability for the drain and enhancing fish habitat.


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSFisheries and Oceans Canada would like to gratefully acknowledge the contributions

made by the following groups and individuals in the making of this document: Cliff Evanitski (Author), Robert Bartlett, Bill Baskerville, Dana Boyter,

Peter Bryan-Pulham, Julie Cayley, Ralph Clayton, Dwayne Daniel, Paul Gagnon, Michelle Hartman, Bill Knight, Jane Lewington, Anne Loeffler, Laurie Maynard,

Peter Roberts, Bridget Schulte-Hostedde, Norm Smith, Spriet Associates, Max Stewart,Gilles Therrien, Butch Underhill, Dan Van Londersele, and Sid Vander Veen.

PAGE 22

FARMING AND FISH CAN CO-EXISTIt is hoped that this guide has demonstrated that the needs of farmers and the local

environment can co-exist in a mutually beneficial manner. Farmers are stewards of theland; after all, they live on it, make their living from it and are in contact with it daily. This document is designed simply to show that there are a number of cost-effectiveoptions that incorporate the natural environment, such as vegetation and its rootsystems, which will help minimize drain maintenance costs while protecting theenvironment at the same time. Thanks to farming organizations, concerned individuals,community groups, Conservation Authorities, drainage superintendents and many otherpartners, documents such as this primer and other Best Management Practices havebeen developed to ensure that farming and a healthy environment endure for the benefitof future generations of Canadians.

WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?DFO has developed fact sheets, Operational Statements – DFO’s guidelines for works

around water that pose a low risk to fish habitat – and guides which help people becomebetter informed on ways to avoid negatively impacting fish and fish habitat. For additionalinformation, please visit the DFO Web Site at www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans-habitat/. Once there, click on “Operational Statements” or click on “Infocentre”, then“Documents”, for other publications. These documents are a good source of informationfor anyone working in or around water. By listing some common activities and mitigationtechniques to help with project planning, impacts to aquatic communities can beavoided. Specific to drains, two posters have been developed. One outlines the ClassAuthorization System and the other illustrates the review process under the Fisheries Actfor the development of an engineer’s report. A fact sheet has also been developed:Working Around Water? What You Should Know About Fish Habitat and A ClassAuthorization System for the Maintenance of Agricultural Municipal Drains in Ontario.

The following documents are also available through DFO Ontario offices (listed on page 23):

n Maintenance of Municipal Drains – A Fisheries Act Class Authorization Process forMunicipal Drain Maintenance and Repair Activities under the Drainage Act, and

n Streamlining the Fisheries Act Review and Authorization Process During theDevelopment of the Engineer’s Report for Drainage Projects Authorized by Sections 4 and/or 78 of the Drainage Act.

SOUTHERN ONTARIO DISTRICT

Burlington304-3027 Harvester RoadP.O. Box 85060Burlington, ON L7R 4K3Tel: 905-639-0188Fax: 905-639-3549E-mail: [email protected]

London73 Meg DriveLondon, ON N6E 2V2Tel: 519-668-2722Fax: 519-668-1772E-mail: [email protected]

EASTERN ONTARIO DISTRICT

Peterborough501 Towerhill Road, Unit 102Peterborough, ON K9H 7S3Tel: 705-750-0269Fax: 705-750-4016E-mail: [email protected]

Prescott401 King Street WestPrescott, ON K0E 1T0Tel: 613-925-2865Fax: 613-925-2245E-mail: [email protected]

NORTHERN ONTARIO DISTRICT

Parry Sound28 Waubeek StreetParry Sound, ON P2A 1B9Tel: 705-746-2196Fax: 705-746-4820E-mail: [email protected]

Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie1500 Paris Street, Unit 11Sudbury, ON P3E 3B8Tel: 705-522-2816Fax: 705-522-6421E-mail: [email protected]

Thunder Bay and Kenora425-100 Main StreetThunder Bay, ON P7B 6R9Tel: 807-346-8118Fax: 807-346-8545E-mail: [email protected]

CONTACTSFisheries and Oceans Canada - Ontario-Great Lakes Area Offices

CONSERVATION ONTARIO120 Bayview Parkway, Box 11 Newmarket, ONL3Y 4W3 Tel: 905-895-0716 Fax: 905-895-0751 E-mail: [email protected] site: www.conservationontario.ca

DRAINAGE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO260 Clarke StreetPort Colborne, ONL3K 2G5Tel: 905-834-8255 Fax: 905-835-2939 E-mail: [email protected] site: www.dsao.net

DUCKS UNLIMITED CANADA740 Huronia Road, Unit 1 Barrie, ON L4N 6C6 Tel: 705-721-4444 Fax: 705-721-4999 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.ducks.ca

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS1 Stone Road West Guelph, ON N1G 4Y2 Tel: 1-877-424-1300 Fax: 519-826-3259 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.omafra.gov.on.ca

MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCESNATURAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTREP.O. Box 7000 300 Water Street Peterborough, ON K9J 8M5 Tel: 1-800-667-1940 Fax: 705-755-1677 E-mail: [email protected] site: www.mnr.gov.on.ca

ONTARIO FEDERATION OF AGRICULTUREOntario AgriCentre100 Stone Road West, Suite 206Guelph, ON N1G 5L3Phone: 519-821-8883 or 1-800-668-3276Fax: 519-821-8810Email: [email protected] site: www.ofa.on.ca

See inside back cover for complete listing of DFO Offices.

March 2008

Ontario FFederation of AAgricultureDucks Unlimited Canada