Presentation for Lake Superior RAP LRCA Stewardship Projects& Wetland Evaluations 2016 Projects & Wetland Evaluations 2016ntation for Lake Superior RAP – LRCA Stewardship Projects & 1 www.lakeheadca.c • High water levels on Lake Superior have caused ongoing erosion problems at the Mission Island Marsh Conservation Area. The Authority decided to move the shoreline trail away from the shore and plant 47 trees, 50 bushes and 110 aquatic plants. Historical GPS surveys of the shoreline provided a baseline on where to complete plantings, 330 metres of trail were re-routed. • Erosion Control Logs (COIR) and blankets were placed in areas where continued wave action during the current growing season would erode plantings . • The planting was supported by 25 students from Sir Winston Churchill and two MNRF students workers and seven staff from the LRCA. The project was funded by a grant from The Great Lakes Guardian Community fund of $24038. 2 www.lakeheadca.co Great Lakes Guardian Community Fund Projects 1. Mission Island Marsh Conservation Area Shoreline Naturalization – Project #34 3 www.lakeheadca.co CONSERVATION AUTHORITY LAKEHEAD REGION 4 • Lake Superior Water Levels • Average monthly water level since1918: 183.4 metres • A low of 182.8 metres elevation in 2007 • A high of 183.8 metres in 1997 • Current Level September 16, 2016 183.75 (+0.55m) 5 www.lakeheadca.c LAKEHEAD REGION Larger Trees and set backs Of CONSERVATION AUTHORITY 5 6 SLATE RIVER EROSION AND NUTRIENT CONTROL PROJECT#35- Otter Creek This project is designed to improve water quality in the Slate River Valley. We Cattle Crossing believe that the partnerships Farm developed with the Thunder Bay Soil and Crop Association and with local farmers and the North Shore Steelhead Association will lead to future projects which can benefit the water quality of Lake Superior and its tributary watersheds. The methodology involved examining satellite imagery and aerial photographs to discover areas where erosion was occurring or where nutrient runoff was occurring in the Slate River Watershed. Fifteen potential sites were identified. During the Fall of 2015 and Spring of 2016 site visits were completed on 5 areas deemed as a top priority. Strong interest was expressed by two of the farm owners visited. The highest priority site was on the Otter Creek Farm; both in terms of severely eroding stream banks and unrestricted cattle access to the water. This project is also seen as addressing one of the remaining action items in the Thunder Bay RAP. Item 7 in the delisting criteria included a recommendation to reduce nutrient enrichment and erosion in the Slate River Watershed in order to improve benthic habitat downstream in the Kaministiquia River. (Marshall, 2015) 7 www.lakeheadca.co 9.5wa Eta". v.36 $30 228: 955:: \e LAKEHEAD REGION Banks Re-sloped to 2:1 or 1:1 CONSERVATION AUTHORITY ccihln . -74if: Anne-s. - 9 Project Partners: • The Thunder Bay Soil and Crop Improvement Association- advisory and events • The North Shore Steelhead Association- Volunteers for plantings / livestaking • Student Volunteers Sir Winston Churchill Secondary • Jack Hansen – Farmer & Owner of the Otter Creek Farm Project Funding – A $25000 grant was received through the Great Lakes Guardian Community Fund. The project is 90% complete with only the livestaking of red-osier dogwood, willow and poplar remaining. The participation of the farmer and property owner was essential in terms of getting fencing and work on the crossing completed in a cost effective manner. The owner will maintain the crossing in future years. A brief overview of the project was given to about 70 farmers at the July Farm Tour, interest was expressed by those present to see the project continue. The LRCA hopes to be invited to the Spring Farm Show of the Soil and Crop Improvement Association to present the project to the farm community. 10 www.lakeheadca.co Wetland Evaluations & O.W.E.S. • In 2015 the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority completed a Wetland Evaluation of the McVicar Creek Watershed was funded by the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change. • The study of the McVicar Creek Watershed defined a P.S.W. • In 2016 the LRCA is in the process of completing a wetland evaluation in the McIntyre River Watershed. Both projects are being completed under the O.W.E.S. Manual for Northern Ontario. Northern Biosciences won the contracts for both projects under a competitive bid process. • The 2016 study of the McIntyre River Watershed is funded by M.N.R.F.- the results are pending on the completion of the study. • For 2017 we want to continue the process of evaluating wetlands in the Lakehead Watershed. That depends on continued support from senior levels of government. 11 www.lakeheadca.c • McVicar Creek Wetlands Assessment  McVicar Creek reacts quickly to rainfall and is considered to be very“peaky.”  The upper reaches of McVicar Creek which comprise 84% of the basin haven’t yet seen major development.  A new wetlands map layer published by the MNRF better identified wetlands along McVicar Creek and in its watershed.  A wetland assessment was initiated by the LRCA to determine the importance of the wetlands from both ecological and hydrological perspectives.  The study indicates that the McVicar Creek Wetlands fit the criteria for a Provincially Significant Wetland (PSW)- The study scientifically defined the boundaries of interconnected wetland complexes. The McVicar Creek wetland is a complex consisting of 30 wetland units covering a total of 578.9 ha.  The wetland layer as defined by the study has been approved by the M.N.R.F. and is now part of our regulated area. 12 www.lakeheadca.co LAKEHEAD REGION McIntyre River Watershed CONSERVATION AUTHORITY KS Legend I A .- 11.: Hazelwood Watercourse (OH N) Lake . 7 Roads \3 #1 120 buffer - McVicar Creek Wetland McVicar Watershed (modi?ed OFAT) I Other Wetland (LIO) - Evaluated?Provincial Not evaluated per OWES \r A 1: VA 5 l? Silvers . 'Kurvu I I Alton 4 {Dyers (1 Rd 11 elbour b?dga (11/BeLvt'ew Rd A 11pmThunder Bay ?Jl (Lake Superior) 6 Handy! a' I [112,500 5,000 10,000