Middle Rideau

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The Middle Rideau Subwatershed, as its name suggests, is nicely nestled in the middle of the Rideau system. Water flows from the higher, rocky lake country of the Rideau Lakes Subwatershed into the flatter farmland of the Middle Rideau Subwatershed. Water flows through the Middle Rideau on to the Lower Rideau at Burritts Rapids.

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Catchment Reports

The RVCA produces individual reports on the Rideau watershed’s catchments. These catchment reports are a compilation of data collected through the RVCA’s watershed monitoring and land cover classification programs.

Catchment information is used to develop subwatershed reports that summarize the health of the Rideau’s six main subwatersheds.

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Middle Rideau Subwatershed Report 2015

BARBERS CREEK CATCHMENT

The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority produces individual reports for ten catchments in the Middle Rideau subwatershed. Using data collected and analysed by the RVCA through its watershed monitoring and land cover classification programs, surface water quality conditions are reported for Barbers Creek along with a summary of environmental conditions for the surrounding countryside every six years.

This information is used to better understand the effects of human activity on our water resources, allows us to better track environmental change over time and helps focus watershed management actions where they are needed the most to help sustain the ecosystem services (cultural, aesthetic and recreational values; provisioning of food, fuel and clean water; regulation of erosion/natural hazard protection and water purification; supporting nutrient/water cycling and habitat provision) provided by the catchment’s lands and forests and waters (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005).

The following pages of this report are a compilation of that work and contain information on surface water quality, riparian conditions, land cover, stewardship activity and hazard land and water resources protection.

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1. Catchment Facts

General Geography

• The Rideau River flows through the heart of the Middle Rideau and is a focal point for residents and visitors to the area. It extends from the outlet of Lower Rideau Lake at Poonamalie (where there is one dam and one lock) to Burritts Rapids (where there is also a dam and lock), at which point it enters the Lower Rideau on its way to Rideau Falls. The Rideau River is also an integral part of the Rideau Canal National Historic Site of Canada and is a significant tourist attraction which draws boaters, cottagers, and campers to the area
• Smiths Falls, Merrickville and Burritts Rapids are the main settlements in the Middle Rideau subwatershed. The Barbers Creek catchment is predominantly rural in character with agriculture being the main land use
• Parks Canada staff manage water levels for recreational purposes along the Rideau Canal/Waterway that flows by the catchment, ensuring 1.5 metres of draft during the navigation season. In this managed system, water levels on the Rideau Canal are manipulated by operation of numerous dams. In the Middle Rideau subwatershed, Parks Canada staff operate 9 dam and lock complexes with 13 locks for a fall of 36.2 metres over 35.6 kilometres. Water levels are maintained as close as possible to set objectives through the May to October navigation season. The levels are lowered through the rest of October and into November and held at the winter levels until the spring freshet in late March or early April naturally increases inflows to the system. To reduce the impact of the higher flows in the spring, the amount of snow water equivalent, forecast rain, ice cover, flows and levels are assessed and the dams in the Middle Rideau reach are operated accordingly to quickly pass as much water as possible. In late April and early May, the dams are gradually closed and water levels are brought up to be ready, once again, for the navigation season

Physical Geography

• All of the Barbers Creek catchment and the rest of the Middle Rideau subwatershed primarily resides within the Smith Falls Limestone Plain, which in this area, consists mainly of older Paleozoic quartz sandstone and dolostone of the March Formation. Oxford Formation dolostone is, however, found at the northern tip of the catchment. A small area of the bedrock in the lower (northern) catchment is overlain with a rocky, sandy glacial till plain, which may host drumlins. The rest of the bedrock in the catchment is overlain by a thin veneer of glacial sediment, referred to as ‘drift’ that is generally less than a metre in thickness along with organic deposits underlying the two main wetlands in the catchment
• Sixty percent of the catchment lies within the Village of Merrickville-Wolford and 40 percent within the Township of Elizabethtown-Kitley
• Barbers Creek catchment drainage area is 48 square kilometres and occupies about six percent of the Middle Rideau subwatershed and one percent of the Rideau Valley watershed

Vulnerable Areas

• Lower reach of Barbers Creek is subject to a flooding hazard during the regional storm flood (the 100 year flood). Surveys and studies undertaken in accordance with provincial standards have determined that the 100 year flood elevation in this area ranges from 108.7 metres above mean sea level at Barber Road to 103.8 metres above mean sea level at its outlet to the Rideau River
• The Assessment Report developed under the Ontario Clean Water Act identifies the upper bedrock aquifer underlying all of the catchment area as a Highly Vulnerable Aquifer, although, where sediments are thicker in a local area, the vulnerability would be less

Development

• Land uses in the catchment are Rural and Agriculture with some Wetland

Conditions at a Glance

Water Quality

• Surface chemistry water quality rating in Barbers Creek is “Fair” over two reporting periods (2003-2008 and 2009-2014). Elevated bacterial counts and nutrient concentrations from inflows of nutrients (from private septic systems, agricultural and residential surface water runoff) are a feature of Barbers Creek. Decreased nutrient and bacterial counts are needed to improve the overall health of the creek
• Instream biological water quality conditions at the Barbers Creek sample location range from “Very Poor” to “Good” from 2003 to 2014 (using a grading scheme developed by Ontario Conservation Authorities in Ontario for benthic invertebrates) with an overall benthic invertebrate water quality rating of “Poor” to “Good” determined for this period

Instream and Riparian

• Overall instream and riparian condition for the Barbers creek catchment as assessed by the stream characterization and headwater drainage feature assessment programs show that Barbers Creek and its tributaries are in generally fair condition. The majority of the system has low erosion levels and a healthy riparian corridor. Instream diversity of aquatic habitat is fairly uniform. An opportunity was identified along one of the headwater drainage features to enhance riparian habitat conditions
• The Barbers Creek catchment has 28 species of recreational and bait fish and is classified as having a warm/cool water thermal guild that supports the Barbers Creek/Rideau River fishery
• In the Barbers Creek catchment, the riparian buffer (30 m. wide strip along the shoreline of all lakes and streams) is comprised of wetland (46 percent), crop and pastureland (34 percent), woodland (17 percent), roads (two percent) and settlement areas (one percent)

Land Cover

• Dominant land cover is crop and pastureland (40 percent), followed by wetland (29 percent), woodland (26 percent), settlement areas (three percent) and roads (two percent). From 2008 to 2014, there was an overall change of 102 hectares (from one land cover class to another). While a large portion of change for Barbers Creek is a result of the conversion of woodland to crop and pastureland, it also appears that a similar proportion of change is associated with crop and pastureland emerging as young woodland
• Woodland cover in the catchment has decreased by 13 hectares between 2008 and 2014 and interior forest habitat has increased by six hectares
• Wetland cover has decreased by four percent (209 ha) from pre-settlement times to the present and now occupies 29 percent of the catchment area

Other

• Approximately 98 in-use water wells with provincial records exist in this catchment. While most water wells are used for domestic water supply, several are also used for agricultural purposes along with one other that is used as a public water supply
• There are no active Permits to Take Water or Environmental Compliance Approvals in the catchment; nor are there any open or closed aggregate operations in the catchment

Catchment Care

• Eight stewardship projects have been completed with assistance from the RVCA’s Rural Clean Water and Tree Planting Programs (see Section 5 of this report for details)
• Barbers Creek surface water quality has been monitored by the RVCA through its Baseline Monitoring Program since 2003. The surface water quality at site BAR-01 is monitored once a month from April to November
• RVCA has been collecting benthic invertebrates in Barbers Creek at the Weedmark Road site since 2003
• RVCA conducted a fish survey along Barbers Creek in 2014
• RVCA completed a stream characterization survey on Barbers Creek in 2014, working upstream to the headwaters from the mouth of the creek where it empties into the Rideau River taking measurements and recording observations on instream habitat, bank stability, other attributes and preparing a temperature profile
• RVCA completed five headwater drainage feature assessments at road crossings in the Barbers Creek catchment in 2014. This protocol measures zero and first order headwater drainage features and is a rapid assessment method characterizing the amount of water, sediment transport, and storage capacity within headwater drainage features
• A watershed model developed by the RVCA in 2009 was used to study the hydrologic function of wetlands in the Rideau Valley Watershed, including those found in the Barbers Creek catchment
• The Township of Elizabethtown-Kitley and the Village of Merrickville-Wolford have land use planning policies and zoning provisions - on water setbacks, frontage and naturalized shorelines and wetland protection - and in some instances use site plan control to implement these policies and provisions. Together with RVCA, these municipalities work with landowners on a case by case basis to enable new development while ensuring the scale is suitable on the lot, impacts on neighbours are minimized and development maximizes the watercourse setback
• Development in and adjacent to the Provincially Significant Wetlands in the catchment (Barber’s Creek Marsh, Irish Lake-Barber Creek, Wolford Bog Part 1) are subject to Ontario Regulation 174-06 (entitled “Development, Interference with Wetlands and Alterations to Shorelines and Watercourses”) that protects the hydrologic function of the wetland and also protects landowners and their property from natural hazards (flooding, fluctuating water table, unstable soils) associated with them

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2. Surface Water Quality Conditions

Surface water quality conditions in the Barbers Creek catchment are monitored by the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority’s (RVCA) Baseline Water Quality Monitoring Program. The Baseline Water Quality Program focuses on streams; data is collected for 22 parameters including nutrients (total phosphorus, total Kjeldahl nitrogen and ammonia), E. coli, metals (like aluminum and copper) and additional chemical/physical parameters (such as alkalinity, chlorides, pH and total suspended solids). Figure 1 shows the location of the monitoring site in the catchment.

Barbers Creek Water Quality

Water Quality Rating

The water quality ratings for the Barbers Creek catchment is “Fair” (Table 1) as determined by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) Water Quality Index CCME and is largely influenced by high nutrient concentrations, metals and high bacterial counts. A "Fair" rating indicates that water quality is usually protected but is occasionally threatened or impaired; conditions sometimes depart from natural or desirable levels. Each parameter is evaluated against established guidelines to determine water quality conditions. Those parameters that frequently exceed guidelines are presented below. Analysis of the data has been broken into two periods; 2003 to 2008 and 2009 to 2014 for the stream monitoring site located on Barbers Creek (BAR-01) to examine if conditions have changed between these periods. Table 1 shows the overall rating for the monitored surface water quality site within the Barbers Creek catchment and Table 2 outlines the Water Quality Index (WQI) scores and their corresponding ratings.

Nutrients

Total phosphorus (TP) is used as a primary indicator of excessive nutrient loading and may contribute to abundant aquatic vegetation growth and depleted dissolved oxygen levels. The Provincial Water Quality Objective (PWQO) is used as the TP Guideline and states that in streams concentrations greater than 0.030 mg/l indicate an excessive amount of TP.

Total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) and ammonia (NH3) are used as secondary indicators of nutrient loadings. RVCA uses a guideline of 0.500 mg/l to assess TKN^[1] and the PWQO of 0.020 mg/l to assess NH3 concentrations in Barbers Creek.

Tables 3, 4 and 5 summarize average nutrient concentrations at monitored sites within the Barbers Creek catchment and show the proportion of results that meet the guidelines.

Elevated TP results were a regular occurrence at site BAR-01; 43 percent of samples were below the guideline in the 2003-2008 period (Figure 2); this increased to 49 percent of samples in the 2009-2014 period (Figure 3). The average TP concentration also decreased slightly from 0.064 mg/l (2003- 2008) to 0.052 mg/l (2009-2014).

Figure 2 Total phosphorous concentrations in Barbers Creek, 2003-2008

Figure 3 Total phosphorous concentrations in Barbers Creek, 2009-2014

 

TKN data show that the majority of results exceeded the guideline (Figures 4 and 5); there were very few samples (4 percent) below the guideline in the 2003-2008 period and this declined to no samples below the guideline in the 2009-2014 period. The average concentration increased from 1.011 mg/l (2003-2008) to 1.127 mg/l (2003-2008) (Table 4).

Figure 4 Total Kjeldahl nitrogen concentrations in Barbers Creek, 2003-2008

Figure 5 Total Kjeldahl nitrogen concentrations in Barbers Creek, 2009-2014

 

NH3 data also reported regular instances of exceedances and results at this site were generally above the guideline of 0.020 mg/l (Figures 6 and 7); the proportion of samples below the guideline declined slightly from 38 percent to 33 percent. The average concentration in the 2003-2008 monitoring period was 0.068 mg/l, well above the PWQO. In the 2009-2014 period the average concentration declined to 0.018 mg/l which is still slightly above the PWQO (Table 5).

Figure 6 Ammonia concentrations in Barbers Creek, 2003-2008

Figure 7 Ammonia concentrations in Barbers Creek, 2009-2014

 

Summary

The data shows that nutrient enrichment is a characteristic of Barbers Creek. High nutrient concentrations can help stimulate the growth of algae blooms and other aquatic vegetation in a waterbody and deplete oxygen levels as the vegetation dies off. 

E. Coli

E. coli is used as an indicator of bacterial pollution from human or animal waste; in elevated concentrations it can pose a risk to human health. The PWQO of 100 colony forming units/100 milliliters (CFU/100 ml) is used to assess E. coli. Counts greater than this guideline indicate that bacterial contamination may be a problem within the watercourse.

Table 6 summarizes the geometric mean^[2] for the monitored site on Barbers Creek and shows the proportion of samples that meet the E. coli guideline of 100 CFU/100 ml. The results of the geometric mean with respect to the guideline for the two periods, 2003-2008 and 2009- 2014, are shown in Figures 8 and 9 respectively.

E. coli counts at site BAR-01 indicate an improvement with regard to bacterial contamination. The proportion of samples below the guideline increased from 24 percent (Figure 8) to 41 percent (Figure 9) and the count at the geometric mean decreased from 215 (2003-2008) to 193 (2009-2014) CFU/100ml.

Figure 8 Geometric mean of E.coli counts in Barbers Creek, 2003-2008

Figure 9 Geometric mean of E.coli counts in Barbers Creek, 2009-2014

 

Summary

This data shows that bacterial contamination is a concern on Barbers Creek. There has been an improvement from the 2003-2008 to the 2009-2014 monitoring period, however the count at the geometric mean is above the PWQO for both monitoring periods. Properly maintaining septic systems, enhancing shoreline buffers and restricting cattle access can help to improve E.coli levels in Barbers Creek.

Metals

Of the metals routinely monitored in Barbers Creek, aluminum (Al), iron (Fe) and copper (Cu) occasionally reported concentrations above their respective PWQOs. In elevated concentrations, these metals can have toxic effects on sensitive aquatic species.

Tables 7, 8 and 9 summarize metal concentrations at site BAR-01 and show the proportion of samples that meet guidelines. Figures 10 to 15 show metal concentrations with respect to the guidelines for the two periods of interest, 2003–2008 and 2009–2014. The guideline metal concentrations as described by the PWQO are 0.75mg/L Al, 0.300mg/L Fe and 0.005mg/L Cu.

Results from BAR-01 shows that Al concentrations had some exceedances with 63 percent of samples below the guideline in the 2003-2008 period (Figure 10). This improved to 84 percent of samples in the 2009-2014 period (Figure 11). The average concentration of Al was 0.120 mg/l from 2003-2008 which exceeds the guideline. From 2009-2014 the average concentration improved to 0.031 mg/l which is below the guideline.

Figure 10 Aluminum concentrations in Barbers Creek, 2003-2008

Figure 11 Aluminum concentrations in Barbers Creek, 2009-2014

 

Concentrations of Fe also exceeded the PWQO guideline at times but were generally lower than Al. The proportion of Fe samples below the guideline increased from 67 percent to 96 percent (Figures 12 and 13). Although there were observed exceedances, the average concentration of Fe did not exceed the guideline in both monitoring periods; 0.280 mg/l in 2003-2008 and .083 mg/l in 2009-2014. 

Figure 12 Iron concentrations in Barbers Creek, 2003-2008

Figure 13 Iron concentrations in Barbers Creek, 2009-2014

 

Copper concentrations have occasionally exceeded the guidelines. In the 2003-2008 period 93 percent of samples were below the guideline (Figure 14) and declined to 88 percent of samples in the 2009–2014 period (Figure 15). This contributed to an increase in the average concentration from 0.002 mg/l (2003–2008) to 0.009 mg/l (2009–2014). 

Figure 14 Copper concentrations in Barbers Creek, 2003-2008

Figure 15 Copper concentrations in Barbers Creek, 2009-2014

 

Summary

Aluminum and Iron concentrations declined, while Copper concentrations increased slightly between the two periods of interest. Efforts should continue to be made to identify pollution sources and implement best management practices to reduce any inputs such as runoff, metal alloys, fungicides and pesticides to improve overall stream health and lessen downstream impacts.

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3. Barbers Creek Riparian Conditions

Shoreline Buffer Land Cover Evaluation

The riparian or shoreline zone is that special area where the land meets the water. Well-vegetated shorelines are critically important in protecting water quality and creating healthy aquatic habitats, lakes and rivers. Natural shorelines intercept sediments and contaminants that could impact water quality conditions and harm fish habitat in streams. Well established buffers protect the banks against erosion, improve habitat for fish by shading and cooling the water and provide protection for birds and other wildlife that feed and rear young near water. A recommended target (from Environment Canada’s Guideline: How Much Habitat is Enough?) is to maintain a minimum 30 meter wide vegetated buffer along at least 75 percent of the length of both sides of rivers, creeks and streams.

Figure 16 shows the extent of the naturally vegetated riparian zone along a 30 metre strip of the shoreline of Barbers Creek and its tributaries. This information is derived from a dataset developed by the RVCA’s Land Cover Classification Program through heads-up digitization of 20cm DRAPE ortho-imagery at a 1:4000 scale, which details the catchment landscape using 10 land cover classes.

This analysis shows that the riparian buffer in the Barbers Creek catchment is comprised of wetland (46 percent), crop and pastureland (34 percent), woodland (17 percent), roads (two percent) and settlement areas (one percent). Additional statistics for the Barbers Creek catchment are presented in Table 10. Of particular interest is the observed increase in the area of “Crop and Pasture” along the shoreline of Barbers Creek over a six year period.

Barbers Creek Overbank Zone

Riparian Buffer Width Evaluation

Figure 17 demonstrates the buffer conditions of the left and right banks separately.  Barbers Creek had a buffer of greater than 30 meters along 77 percent of the right bank and 82 percent of the left bank.

Adjacent Land Use

The RVCA’s Stream Characterization Program identifies eight different land uses beside Barbers Creek (Figure 18). Surrounding land use is considered from the beginning to end of the survey section (100m) and up to 100m on each side of the creek. Land use outside of this area is not considered for the surveys but is nonetheless part of the subwatershed and will influence the creek. Natural areas made up 62 percent of the stream, characterized by wetlands, forest, scrubland and meadow. The remaining land use consisted of active agriculture, pasture, residential and infrastructure in the form of road crossings.

Barbers Creek Shoreline Zone

Instream Erosion

Erosion is a normal, important stream process and may not affect actual bank stability; however, excessive erosion and deposition of sediment within a stream can have a detrimental effect on important fish and wildlife habitat.  Poor bank stability can greatly contribute to the amount of sediment carried in a waterbody as well as loss of bank vegetation due to bank failure, resulting in trees falling into the stream and the potential to impact instream migration. Figure 19 shows low levels of erosion along Barbers Creek.

Undercut Stream Banks

Undercut banks are a normal and natural part of stream function and can provide excellent refuge areas for fish. Figure 20 shows that Barbers Creek did not have any undercut banks identified along the system.

Stream Shading

Grasses, shrubs and trees all contribute towards shading a stream. Shade is important in moderating stream temperature, contributing to food supply and helping with nutrient reduction within a stream. Figure 21 shows low to moderate levels of stream shading conditions along Barbers Creek.

Instream Woody Debris

Figure 22 shows that the majority of Barbers Creek had low to moderate levels of instream woody debris in the form of branches and trees. Instream woody debris is important for fish and benthic invertebrate habitat, by providing refuge and feeding areas.

Overhanging Trees and Branches

Figure 23 shows low to moderate levels of overhanging branches and trees along Barbers Creek. Overhanging branches and trees provide a food source, nutrients and shade which helps to moderate instream water temperatures.

Anthropogenic Alterations

Figure 24 shows 95 percent of Barbers Creek remains “unaltered” with no anthropogenic alterations.   Five percent of Barbers Creek was classified as natural with minor anthropogenic changes in the form of road crossings. 

Barbers Creek Instream Aquatic Habitat

Benthic Invertebrates

Freshwater benthic invertebrates are animals without backbones that live on the stream bottom and include crustaceans such as crayfish, molluscs and immature forms of aquatic insects. Benthos represent an extremely diverse group of aquatic animals and exhibit wide ranges of responses to stressors such as organic pollutants, sediments and toxicants, which allows scientists to use them as bioindicators.  As part of the Ontario Benthic Biomonitoring Network (OBBN), the RVCA has been collecting benthic invertebrates at the Weedmark road site on Barbers Creek since 2003. Monitoring data is analyzed for each sample site and the results are presented using the Family Biotic Index, Family Richness and percent Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera.

The Hilsenhoff Family Biotic Index (FBI) is an indicator of organic and nutrient pollution and provides an estimate of water quality conditions for each site using established pollution tolerance values for benthic invertebrates. FBI results for Barbers Creek are separated by reporting period 2003 to 2008 and 2009 to 2014.  “Very Poor” to “Good” water quality conditions being observed at the Barbers Creek sample location for the period from 2003 to 2014 (Fig.25) using a grading scheme developed by Conservation Authorities in Ontario for benthic invertebrates.

Family Richness measures the health of the community through its diversity and increases with increasing habitat diversity suitability and healthy water quality conditions. Family Richness is equivalent to the total number of benthic invertebrate families found within a sample.   Barbers Creek is reported to have “Fair” to “Good” family richness (Fig.26).

Ephemeroptera (Mayflies), Plecoptera (Stoneflies), and Trichoptera (Caddisflies) are species considered to be very sensitive to poor water quality conditions. High abundance of these organisms is generally an indication of good water quality conditions at a sample location.  During more recent sampling years the community structure has been shifting to species that are more tolerant to poor water quality conditions.  As a result, the EPT indicates that Barbers Creek is reported to have “Poor” to “Fair” water quality (Fig.27) from 2003 to 2014.

Conclusion

Overall Barbers Creek aquatic habitat conditions from a benthic invertebrate perspective range from “Poor” to “Fair” from 2003 to 2014.

Habitat Complexity

Streams are naturally meandering systems and move over time; there are varying degrees of habitat complexity, depending on the creek. Examples of habitat complexity include variable habitat types such as pools and riffles as well as substrate variability and woody debris structure.  A high percentage of habitat complexity (heterogeneity) typically increases the biodiversity of aquatic organisms within a system. Only twenty one percent of Barbers Creek was considered heterogeneous, as shown in Figure 28.

Instream Substrate

Diverse substrate is important for fish and benthic invertebrate habitat because some species have specific substrate requirements and for example will only reproduce on certain types of substrate.  Figure 29 shows that 28 percent of the substrate observed on Barbers Creek was dominated by silt.  Overall substrate conditions were highly variable along Barbers Creek.  Figure 30 shows the dominant substrate type observed for each section surveyed along Barbers Creek.

Cobble and Boulder Habitat

Boulders create instream cover and back eddies for large fish to hide and/or rest out of the current.  Cobble provides important spawning habitat for certain fish species like walleye and various shiner species who are an important food source for larger fish.  Cobble can also provide habitat conditions for benthic invertebrates that are a key food source for many fish and wildlife species.  Figure 31 shows where cobble and boulder substrate are found in Barbers Creek.

Instream Morphology

Pools and riffles are important habitat features for fish. Riffles are areas of agitated water and they contribute higher dissolved oxygen to the stream and act as spawning substrate for some species of fish, such as walleye. Pools provide shelter for fish and can be refuge pools in the summer if water levels drop and water temperature in the creek increases. Pools also provide important over wintering areas for fish. Runs are usually moderately shallow, with unagitated surfaces of water and areas where the thalweg (deepest part of the channel) is in the center of the channel. Figure 32 shows that Barbers Creek is fairly uniform; 93 percent consists of runs, 3 percent riffles and 4 percent pools. Figure 33 shows where riffle habitat was observed along Barbers Creek.

Vegetation Type

Instream vegetation provides a variety of functions and is a critical component of the aquatic ecosystem.  For example emergent plants along the shoreline can provide shoreline protection from wave action and important rearing habitat for species of waterfowl.  Submerged plants provide habitat for fish to find shelter from predator fish while they feed.  Floating plants such as water lilies shade the water and can keep temperatures cool while reducing algae growth.  The dominant vegetation type recorded at thirty six percent consisted of algae. Barbers Creek had high levels of diversity for instream vegetation. Figure 34 depicts the plant community structure for Barbers Creek. Figure 35 shows the dominant vegetation type observed for each section surveyed along Barbers Creek.

Instream Vegetation Abundance

Instream vegetation is an important factor for a healthy stream ecosystem. Vegetation helps to remove contaminants from the water, contributes oxygen to the stream, and provides habitat for fish and wildlife. Too much vegetation can also be detrimental. Figure 36 demonstrates that Barbers Creek had common and normal levels of instream vegetation for 50 percent of its length.  Low and rare vegetation was measured at 33 percent, while extensive levels were recorded at 17 percent of stream surveys. 

Invasive Species

Invasive species can have major implications on streams and species diversity. Invasive species are one of the largest threats to ecosystems throughout Ontario and can out compete native species, having negative effects on local wildlife, fish and plant populations. One hundred percent of the sections surveyed along Barbers Creek had invasive species (Figure 37). The invasive species observed in Barbers Creek were European frogbit, purple loosestrife, glossy and common buckthorn, poison/wild parsnip and Manitoba maple.  Figure 38 shows the frequency of the invasive species observed along Barbers Creek.

Water Chemistry

During the stream characterization survey, a YSI probe is used to collect water chemistry information.  Dissolved oxygen, conductivity and pH are measured at the start and end of each section.

Dissolved Oxygen

Dissolved oxygen is a measure of the amount of oxygen dissolved in water. The Canadian Environmental Quality Guidelines of the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) suggest that for the protection of aquatic life the lowest acceptable dissolved oxygen concentration should be 6 mg/L for warmwater biota and 9.5 mg/L for coldwater biota (CCME, 1999).  Figure 39 shows that the dissolved oxygen in Barbers Creek was within the threshold for warmwater biota in most reaches of the system, however areas in the middle reaches were below the warmwater threshold.  The average dissolved oxygen levels observed within the main stem of Barbers Creek was 6. 8 mg/L which is within the recommended levels for warmwater biota.

Conductivity

Conductivity in streams is primarily influenced by the geology of the surrounding environment, but can vary drastically as a function of surface water runoff. Currently there are no CCME guideline standards for stream conductivity; however readings which are outside the normal range observed within the system are often an indication of unmitigated discharge and/or stormwater input. The average conductivity observed within the main stem of Barbers Creek was 311 µs/cm. Figure 40 shows the conductivity readings for Barbers Creek.

pH

Based on the PWQO for pH, a range of 6.5 to 8.5 should be maintained for the protection of aquatic life. Average pH values for Barbers Creek averaged 7.66 thereby meeting the provincial standard (Figure 41).

Thermal Regime

Many factors can influence fluctuations in stream temperature, including springs, tributaries, precipitation runoff, discharge pipes and stream shading from riparian vegetation. Water temperature is used along with the maximum air temperature (using the Stoneman and Jones method) to classify a watercourse as either warm water, cool water or cold water. Figure 42 shows where the thermal sampling sites were located along Barbers Creek. Analysis of the data collected indicates that Barbers Creek is classified as a cool-warm water system with warm water reaches (Figure 43). 

Each point on the graph represents a temperature that meets the following criteria:

• Sampling dates between July 1st and September 7th
• Sampling date is preceded by two consecutive days above 24.5 °C, with no rain
• Water temperatures are collected at 4pm
• Air temperature is recorded as the max temperature for that day

Groundwater

Groundwater discharge areas can influence stream temperature, contribute nutrients, and provide important stream habitat for fish and other biota. During stream surveys, indicators of groundwater discharge are noted when observed. Indicators include: springs/seeps, watercress, iron staining, significant temperature change and rainbow mineral film.  Figure 44 shows an area where one or more of the above groundwater indicators were observed during stream surveys and headwater assessments.

Headwaters Drainage Features Assessment 

The RVCA Stream Characterization program assessed Headwater Drainage Features for the Middle Rideau subwatershed in 2014. This protocol measures zero, first and second order headwater drainage features (HDF).  It is a rapid assessment method characterizing the amount of water, sediment transport, and storage capacity within headwater drainage features (HDF). RVCA is working with other Conservation Authorities and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry to implement the protocol with the goal of providing standard datasets to support science development and monitoring of headwater drainage features.  An HDF is a depression in the land that conveys surface flow. Additionally, this module provides a means of characterizing the connectivity, form and unique features associated with each HDF (OSAP Protocol, 2013). In 2014 the program sampled 5 sites at road crossings in the Barbers Creek catchment area (Figure 45).

Feature Type

The headwater sampling protocol assesses the feature type in order to understand the function of each feature.  The evaluation includes the following classifications: defined natural channel, channelized or constrained, multi-thread, no defined feature, tiled, wetland, swale, roadside ditch and pond outlet.  By assessing the values associated with the headwater drainage features in the catchment area we can understand the ecosystem services that they provide to the watershed in the form of hydrology, sediment transport, and aquatic and terrestrial functions.  The Barbers Creek catchment is dominated by wetland headwater drainage features.  One feature was classified as having been channelized.  Figure 46 shows the feature type of the primary feature at the sampling locations.

Headwater Feature Flow

The observed flow condition within headwater drainage features can be highly variable depending on timing relative to the spring freshet, recent rainfall, soil moisture, etc.  Flow conditions are assessed in the spring and in the summer to determine if features are perennial and flow year round, if they are intermittent and dry up during the summer months or if they are ephemeral systems that do not flow regularly and generally respond to specific rainstorm events or snowmelt.  Flow conditions in headwater systems can change from year to year depending on local precipitation patterns.  Figure 47 shows the observed flow conditions at the sampling locations in the Barbers Creek catchment.

Feature Channel Modifications

Channel modifications were assessed at each headwater drainage feature sampling location.  Modifications include channelization, dredging, hardening and realignments.  Three sampling locations for the Barbers Creek catchment area were classified as having no channel modifications and two appeared to have been historically dredged.  Figure 48 shows the channel modifications observed at the sampling locations for Barbers Creek.

Headwater Feature Vegetation

Headwater feature vegetation evaluates the type of vegetation that is found within the drainage feature.  The type of vegetated within the channel influences the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem values that the feature provides.  For some types of headwater features the vegetation within the feature plays a very important role in flow and sediment movement and provides wildlife habitat.  The following classifications are evaluated no vegetation, lawn, wetland, meadow, scrubland and forest.  The features assessed in the Barbers Creek catchment were classified as wetland or meadow.  Figure 49. Depicts the dominant vegetation observed at the sampled headwater sites in the Barbers Creek catchment.

Headwater Feature Riparian Vegetation

Headwater riparian vegetation evaluates the type of vegetation that is found along the adjacent lands of a headwater drainage feature.  The type of vegetation within the riparian corridor influences the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem values that the feature provides to the watershed.  The sample locations in Barbers Creek were dominated by natural vegetation in the form of meadow, scrubland, forest and wetland vegetation.  Figure 50. Depicts the type of riparian vegetation observed at the sampled headwater sites in the Barbers Creek catchment.

Headwater Feature Sediment Deposition

Assessing the amount of recent sediment deposited in a channel provides an index of the degree to which the feature could be transporting sediment to downstream reaches (OSAP, 2013).  Evidence of excessive sediment deposition might indicate the requirement to follow up with more detailed targeted assessments upstream of the site location to identify potential best management practices to be implemented.  Conditions ranged from no deposition observed to moderate deposition recorded.    Figure 51. Depicts the degree of sediment deposition observed at the sampled headwater sites in the Barbers Creek catchment.

Headwater Feature Upstream Roughness

Feature roughness will provide a measure of the amount of materials within the bankfull channel that could slow down the velocity of water flowing within the headwater feature (OSAP, 2013).  Materials on the channel bottom that provide roughness include vegetation, woody debris and boulders/cobble substrates.  Roughness can provide benefits in mitigating downstream erosion on the headwater drainage feature and the receiving watercourse by reducing velocities.  Roughness also provides important habitat conditions to aquatic organisms. The sample locations in the Barbers Creek catchment area were dominated by extreme roughness conditions.  Figure 52 shows the feature roughness conditions at the sampling locations in the Barbers Creek catchment.

Fish Community

The Barbers Creek catchment is classified as a mixed community of warm and cool water recreational and baitfish fishery with 28 species observed. Figure 53 shows the sampling locations along Barbers Creek. Table 11 lists those species observed in the catchment (Source: MNR/RVCA).

Migratory Obstructions

It is important to know locations of migratory obstructions because these can prevent fish from accessing important spawning and rearing habitat. Migratory obstructions can be natural or manmade, and they can be permanent or seasonal. Figure 54 shows that Barbers Creek had one beaver dam at the time of the survey in 2014.

Riparian Restoration

Figure 55 depicts the location of a riparian restoration opportunity as a result of observations made during the stream survey and headwater drainage feature assessments. One site was identified on a headwater drainage feature.

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4. Land Cover

Land cover and any change in coverage that has occurred over a six year period is summarized for the Barbers Creek catchment using spatially continuous vector data representing the catchment during the spring of 2008 and 2014. This dataset was developed by the RVCA through heads-up digitization of 20cm DRAPE ortho-imagery at a 1:4000 scale and details the surrounding landscape using 10 land cover classes.

As shown in Table 12, the dominant land cover type in 2008 and 2014 was crop and pastureland, followed by wetland and woodland.

From 2008 to 2014, there was an overall change of 102 hectares (from one land cover class to another). While a large portion of change for Barbers Creek is a result of the conversion of woodland to crop and pastureland, it also appears that a similar proportion of change is associated with crop and pastureland (i.e., previously cultivated areas/fallow fields) emerging as young woodland (i.e., regenerative and/or plantation) (see Figure 56 for the location of the major changes).

Table 13 shows the type of land cover change that has taken place between land cover classes/types from 2008 to 2014.

Overall, the net area of woodland change (loss) is small at 13 hectares relative to the remaining area of woodland in the catchment (as of 2014). Similarly, the net area of crop and pastureland change (gain) is also small at eight hectares relative to the remaining area of crop and pastureland in the catchment (as of 2014).

Woodland Cover

In the Environment Canada Guideline (Third Edition) entitled “How Much Habitat Is Enough?” (hereafter referred to as the “Guideline”) the opening narrative under the Forest Habitat Guidelines section states that prior to European settlement, forest was the predominant habitat in the Mixedwood Plains ecozone. The remnants of this once vast forest now exist in a fragmented state in many areas (including the Rideau Valley watershed) with woodland patches of various sizes distributed across the settled landscape along with higher levels of forest cover associated with features such as the Frontenac Axis (within the on-Shield areas of the Rideau Lakes and Tay River subwatersheds). The forest legacy, in terms of the many types of wildlife species found, overall species richness, ecological functions provided and ecosystem complexity is still evident in the patches and regional forest matrices (found in the Middle Rideau subwatershed and elsewhere in the Rideau Valley watershed). These ecological features are in addition to other influences which forests have on water quality and stream hydrology including reducing soil erosion, producing oxygen, storing carbon along with many other ecological services that are essential not only for wildlife but for human well-being.

The Guideline also notes that forests provide a great many habitat niches that are in turn occupied by a great diversity of plant and animal species. They provide food, water and shelter for these species - whether they are breeding and resident locally or using forest cover to help them move across the landscape. This diversity of species includes many that are considered to be species at risk. Furthermore, from a wildlife perspective, there is increasing evidence that the total forest cover in a given area is a major predictor of the persistence and size of bird populations, and it is possible or perhaps likely that this pattern extends to other flora and fauna groups. The overall effect of a decrease in forest cover on birds in fragmented landscapes is that certain species disappear and many of the remaining ones become rare, or fail to reproduce, while species adapted to more open and successional habitats, as well as those that are more tolerant to human-induced disturbances in general, are able to persist and in some cases thrive. Species with specialized-habitat requirements are most likely to be adversely affected. The overall pattern of distribution of forest cover, the shape, area and juxtaposition of remaining forest patches and the quality of forest cover also play major roles in determining how valuable forests will be to wildlife and people alike.

The current science generally supports minimum forest habitat requirements between 30 and 50 percent, with some limited evidence that the upper limit may be even higher, depending on the organism/species phenomenon under investigation or land-use/resource management planning regime being considered/used. 

As shown in Figure 57, 32 percent of the Barbers Creek catchment contains 1252 hectares of upland forest and 279 hectares of lowland forest (treed swamps) versus the 34 percent of woodland cover in the Middle Rideau subwatershed. This is greater than the 30 percent of forest cover that is identified as the minimum threshold required to sustain forest birds according to the Guideline and which may only support less than one half of potential species richness and marginally healthy aquatic systems. When forest cover drops below 30 percent, forest birds tend to disappear as breeders across the landscape.

Woodland (Patch) Size 

According to the Ministry of Natural Resources’ Natural Heritage Reference Manual (Second Edition), larger woodlands are more likely to contain a greater diversity of plant and animal species and communities than smaller woodlands and have a greater relative importance for mobile animal species such as forest birds. 

Bigger forests often provide a different type of habitat. Many forest birds breed far more successfully in larger forests than they do in smaller woodlots and some rely heavily on forest interior conditions. Populations are often healthier in regions with more forest cover and where forest fragments are grouped closely together or connected by corridors of natural habitat. Small forests support small numbers of wildlife. Some species are “area-sensitive” and tend not to inhabit small woodlands, regardless of forest interior conditions. Fragmented habitat also isolates local populations, especially small mammals, amphibians and reptiles with limited mobility. This reduces the healthy mixing of genetic traits that helps populations survive over the long run (Conserving the Forest Interior. Ontario Extension Notes, 2000).

The Environment Canada Guideline also notes that for forest plants that do not disperse broadly or quickly, preservation of some relatively undisturbed large forest patches is needed to sustain them because of their restricted dispersal abilities and specialized habitat requirements and to ensure continued seed or propagation sources for restored or regenerating areas nearby.

The Natural Heritage Reference Manual continues by stating that a larger size also allows woodlands to support more resilient nutrient cycles and food webs and to be big enough to permit different and important successional stages to co-exist. Small, isolated woodlands are more susceptible to the effects of blowdown, drought, disease, insect infestations, and invasions by predators and non-indigenous plants. It is also known that the viability of woodland wildlife depends not only on the characteristics of the woodland in which they reside, but also on the characteristics of the surrounding landscape where the woodland is situated. Additionally, the percentage of forest cover in the surrounding landscape, the presence of ecological barriers such as roads, the ability of various species to cross the matrix surrounding the woodland and the proximity of adjacent habitats interact with woodland size in influencing the species assemblage within a woodland.

In the Barbers Creek catchment (in 2014), forty-one (33 percent) of the 125 woodland patches are very small, being less than one hectare in size. Another 62 (50 percent) of the woodland patches ranging from one to less than 20 hectares in size tend to be dominated by edge-tolerant bird species. The remaining 22 (18 percent of) woodland patches range between 20 and 155 hectares in size. Eighteen of these patches contain woodland between 20 and 100 hectares and may support a few area-sensitive species and some edge intolerant species, but will be dominated by edge tolerant species.

Conversely, four (three percent) of the 125 woodland patches in the drainage area exceed the 100 plus hectare size needed to support most forest dependent, area sensitive birds and are large enough to support approximately 60 percent of edge-intolerant species. No patch tops 200 hectares, which according to the Environment Canada Guideline will support 80 percent of edge-intolerant forest bird species (including most area sensitive species) that prefer interior forest habitat conditions.

Table 14 presents a comparison of woodland patch size in 2008 and 2014 along with any changes that have occurred over that time. A decrease (of 13 ha) has been observed in the overall woodland patch area between the two reporting periods with most change occurring in the 20 to 50 hectare woodland patch size class range.

Forest Interior

The forest interior is habitat deep within woodlands. It is a sheltered, secluded environment away from the influence of forest edges and open habitats. Some people call it the “core” or the “heart” of a woodland. The presence of forest interior is a good sign of woodland health, and is directly related to the woodland’s size and shape. Large woodlands with round or square outlines have the greatest amount of forest interior. Small, narrow woodlands may have no forest interior conditions at all. Forest interior habitat is a remnant natural environment, reminiscent of the extensive, continuous forests of the past. This increasingly rare forest habitat is now a refuge for certain forest-dependent wildlife; they simply must have it to survive and thrive in a fragmented forest landscape (Conserving the Forest Interior. Ontario Extension Notes, 2000).

The Natural Heritage Reference Manual states that woodland interior habitat is usually defined as habitat more than 100 metres from the edge of the woodland and provides for relative seclusion from outside influences along with a moister, more sheltered and productive forest habitat for certain area sensitive species. Woodlands with interior habitat have centres that are more clearly buffered against the edge effects of agricultural activities or more harmful urban activities than those without. 

In the Barbers Creek catchment (in 2014), the 125 woodland patches contain 51 forest interior patches (Figure 58) that occupy five percent (253 ha.) of the catchment land area (which is the same as the five percent of interior forest in the Middle Rideau Subwatershed). This is below the ten percent figure referred to in the Environment Canada Guideline that is considered to be the minimum threshold for supporting edge intolerant bird species and other forest dwelling species in the landscape. 

Most patches (43) have less than 10 hectares of interior forest, 22 of which have small areas of interior forest habitat less than one hectare in size. The remaining eight patches contain interior forest ranging between 10 and 34 hectares in area.

Between 2008 and 2014, there has been a notable change in the number of woodland patches containing smaller areas of interior habitat (Table 15). For example, there has been an increase of 13 woodlands containing less than one hectare of interior forest over this period and seven woodlands with one to 10 hectares of interior habitat. This appears to have occurred as a result of the loss of interior forest habitat in the largest woodland patches in the catchment over this period.

Wetland Cover

Wetlands are habitats forming the interface between aquatic and terrestrial systems. They are among the most productive and biologically diverse habitats on the planet. By the 1980s, according to the Natural Heritage Reference Manual, 68 percent of the original wetlands south of the Precambrian Shield in Ontario had been lost through encroachment, land clearance, drainage and filling.

Wetlands perform a number of important ecological and hydrological functions and provide an array of social and economic benefits that society values. Maintaining wetland cover in a watershed provides many ecological, economic, hydrological and social benefits that are listed in the Reference Manual and which may include: 

• contributing to the stabilization of shorelines and to the reduction of erosion damage through the mitigation of water flow and soil binding by plant roots 
• mitigating surface water flow by storing water during periods of peak flow (such as spring snowmelt and heavy rainfall events) and releasing water during periods of low flow (this mitigation of water flow also contributes to a reduction of flood damage) 
• contributing to an improved water quality through the trapping of sediments, the removal and/or retention of excess nutrients, the immobilization and/or degradation of contaminants and the removal of bacteria
• providing renewable harvesting of timber, fuel wood, fish, wildlife and wild rice
• contributing to a stable, long-term water supply in areas of groundwater recharge and discharge
• providing a high diversity of habitats that support a wide variety of plants and animals 
• acting as “carbon sinks” making a significant contribution to carbon storage
• providing opportunities for recreation, education, research and tourism

Historically, the overall wetland coverage within the Great Lakes basin exceeded 10 percent, but there was significant variability among watersheds and jurisdictions, as stated in the Environment Canada Guideline. In the Rideau Valley Watershed, it has been estimated that pre-settlement wetland cover averaged 35 percent using information provided by Ducks Unlimited Canada (2010) versus the 21 percent of wetland cover existing in 2014 derived from DRAPE imagery analysis. 

Using the same dataset, it is estimated that pre-settlement (historic) wetland cover averaged 32 percent in the Middle Rideau subwatershed versus the 27 percent of cover existing in 2014. This decline in wetland cover is also evident in the Barbers Creek catchment (as seen in Figure 58) where there has been a four percent decrease in the area of wetland cover from pre-settlement times to the present (as summarized in Table 16).

While there has been a reported decrease in wetland cover in the Barbers Creek catchment from pre-settlement times, the remaining wetland cover in 2014 remains above the ecological thresholds cited in the Environment Canada Guideline. Nonetheless, in order to maintain critical hydrological, ecological functions along with related recreational and economic benefits provided by these wetland habitats in the catchment, a “no net loss” of currently existing wetlands should be employed to ensure the continued provision of tangible benefits accruing from them for landowners and surrounding communities.

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5. Stewardship and Protection

The RVCA and its partners are working to protect and enhance environmental conditions in the Middle Rideau Subwatershed. Figure 59 shows the location of all stewardship projects completed in the Barbers Creek catchment along with sites identified for potential shoreline restoration.

Rural Clean Water Projects

From 2003 to 2008, two well decommissionings and one well replacement were completed. Prior to 2003, two manure storage facilities, two livestock fencing projects and one milkhouse washwater treatment facility were completed. No projects were undertaken between 2009 and 2014. Total value of all eight projects is $119,772 with $51,500 of that amount funded through grant dollars from the RVCA.

Tree Planting Projects

Through the RVCA Butternut Recovery Program, 40 butternut trees were planted in the Barbers Creek catchment between 2009 and 2014, as part of efforts to introduce healthy seedlings from tolerant butternuts into various locations across Eastern Ontario.

Valley, Stream, Wetland and Hazard Land Regulation

The Barbers Creek catchment covers 48 square kilometres with 13 square kilometres (or 27 percent) of the drainage area being within the regulation limit of Ontario Regulation 174/06 (Figure 60), giving protection to wetland areas and river or stream valleys that are affected by flooding and erosion hazards.

Wetlands occupy 13.7 sq. km. (or 29 percent) of the catchment. Of these wetlands, 7.7 sq. km (or 56 percent) are designated as provincially significant and included within the RVCA regulation limit. This leaves the remaining 6.0 sq. km (or 44 percent) of wetlands in the catchment outside the regulated area limit.

Of the 60.9 kilometres of stream in the catchment, regulation limit mapping has been plotted along 23.5 kilometers of streams (representing 39 percent of all streams in the catchment). Some of these regulated watercourses (13.8 km or 23 percent of all streams) flow through regulated wetlands; the remaining 9.7 km (or 41 percent) of regulated streams are located outside of those wetlands. Plotting of the regulation limit on the remaining 37.5 km (or 61 percent) of streams requires identification of flood and erosion hazards and valley systems.

Within the regulation limit, “development” and “site alteration” require RVCA permission. The “alteration to waterways” provision of Ontario Regulation 174/06 applies to all watercourses.

Vulnerable Drinking Water Areas

The Barbers Creek drainage catchment is considered to have a Highly Vulnerable Aquifer. This means that the nature of the overburden (thin soils, fractured bedrock) does not provide a high level of protection for the underlying groundwater making the aquifer more vulnerable to contaminants released on the surface. The Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Plan includes policies that focus on the protection of groundwater region-wide due to the fact that most of the region, which encompasses the Mississippi and Rideau watersheds, is considered Highly Vulnerable Aquifer. For detailed maps and policies that have been developed to protect drinking water sources, please go to the Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Region website at www.mrsourcewater.ca to view the Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Plan.

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6. Challenges/Issues

Water Quality

• Surface water quality rating in Barbers Creek is “Fair” over two reporting periods (2003-2008 and 2009-2014) as determined by surface water chemistry data. Frequent exceedances of nutrients and E.coli as well as occasional exceedances of aluminum, copper and iron contributed to the rating
• Instream biological water quality conditions at the Barbers Creek sample location range from “Very Poor” to “Good” from 2003 to 2014 (using a grading scheme developed by Ontario Conservation Authorities in Ontario for benthic invertebrates) with an overall benthic invertebrate water quality rating of “Poor” to “Good” determined for this period

Shorelines/Headwaters

• The riparian buffer along Barbers Creek (30 m. wide strip along the shoreline of all lakes and streams) is comprised of wetland (46 percent), crop and pastureland (34 percent), woodland (17 percent), roads (two percent) and settlement areas (one percent) and (at 63 percent) is below the recommended target to maintain a minimum 30 metre wide, naturally vegetated buffer along at least 75 percent of the length of both sides of rivers, creeks and streams
• Altered instream and riparian conditions exist along Barbers Creek and its tributaries
• Emerald ash borer poses a significant threat to the ecology of the subwatershed, given the prominence of ash trees along shorelines and in riparian and wetland areas. Many tree stands are predominantly ash and with their anticipated loss, it is unclear what will replace them and the overall effect of their collective demise on the physical and natural functions/values they provide for erosion, water quality and fish and wildlife habitat protection

Land Cover

• The catchment contains 602 ha of unevaluated wetland (occupying 13 percent of its total area) that provides many important social, hydrological, biological and ecological functions/services. Although not under imminent threat from development activity, they do remain vulnerable to drainage and land clearing activities in the absence of any regulatory and planning controls that would otherwise protect them

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7. Opportunities/Actions

Water Quality

• Investigate the source of possible pollutants along Barbers Creek and its tributaries and consider implementing measures to reduce nutrient and bacterial loadings
• Implement agricultural best management practices to address the elevated nutrient concentrations, high bacterial counts and occasional metal exceedances on Barbers Creek by restricting livestock access to the creek, limiting the use of fertilizers and pesticide applications and improving or maintaining a shoreline buffer
• Continue to protect Barbers Creek and its tributaries through implementation of municipal and agency land use planning and development policies and practices
• Continue to offer the suite of water quality improvement projects provided by the Rideau Valley Rural Clean Water Program to landowners

Shorelines/Headwaters

• Continue to promote the Rideau Valley Shoreline Naturalization and Tree Planting Programs to landowners
• RVCA and its partners (Township of Elizabethtown-Kitley, Village of Merrickville-Wolford) are to continue educating landowners about the value and importance of headwater drainage features, natural shorelines and waterfront property best management practices with respect to shoreline use and development, septic system installation and maintenance and shoreline vegetation retention and enhancement
• Protect the riparian buffer along the shoreline of Barbers Creek and other catchment streams (headwaters) during the development approvals process through adherence to and enforcement of municipal land-use policies and zoning standards
• Target shoreline restoration at sites identified in this report (shown as “Other riparian land cover” in Figure 16 and “Potential Riparian/Shoreline Restoration” in Figure 55) and explore other restoration and enhancement opportunities along Barbers Creek and its tributaries

Development

• Collectively work with approval authorities (Township of Elizabethtown-Kitley, Village of Merrickville-Wolford, Conservation Authority) to consistently implement current land use planning and development policies for water quality and shoreline protection adjacent to Barbers Creek and other catchment streams (e.g., a minimum 30 metre development setback from water
• Explore ways and means to more effectively enforce and implement conditions of land-use planning and development approval to achieve net environmental gains (particularly with respect to rehabilitating or protecting naturally vegetated shorelines and water quality)
• Municipalities and agencies are encouraged to strengthen natural heritage and water resources official plan policies and zoning provisions (water setbacks, frontage and naturalized shorelines and wetland protection) where deemed appropriate
• Utilize RVCA subwatershed and catchment reports to help develop/revise official plan policies to protect surface water resources and the natural environment (including woodlands, wetlands and shoreline cover)
• Consider establishing RVCA regulations limits to protect additional wetlands

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Full Catchment Report

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Middle Rideau Subwatershed Report 2015

BLACK CREEK CATCHMENT

The RVCA produces individual reports for ten catchments in the Middle Rideau subwatershed. Using data collected and analysed by the RVCA through its watershed monitoring and land cover classification programs, surface water quality conditions are reported for Black Creek along with a summary of environmental conditions for the surrounding countryside every six years.

This information is used to better understand the effects of human activity on our water resources, allows us to better track environmental change over time and helps focus watershed management actions where they are needed the most to help sustain the ecosystem services (cultural, aesthetic and recreational values; provisioning of food, fuel and clean water; regulation of erosion/natural hazard protection and water purification; supporting nutrient/water cycling and habitat provision) provided by the catchment’s lands and forests and waters (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005).

The following pages of this report are a compilation of that work and contain information on surface water quality, riparian conditions, land cover, stewardship activity and hazard land and water resources protection. 

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1. Catchment Facts

General Geography

• The Rideau River flows through the heart of the Middle Rideau and is a focal point for residents and visitors to the area. It extends from the outlet of Lower Rideau Lake at Poonamalie (where there is one dam and one lock) to Burritts Rapids (where there is also a dam and lock), at which point it enters the Lower Rideau on its way to Rideau Falls. The Rideau River is also an integral part of the Rideau Canal National Historic Site of Canada and is a significant tourist attraction which draws boaters, cottagers, and campers to the area
• Smiths Falls, Merrickville and Burritts Rapids are the main settlements in the Middle Rideau subwatershed. Elsewhere, the Black Creek catchment is rural with agricultural land use and wetland
• Parks Canada staff manage water levels for recreational purposes along the Rideau Canal/Waterway that flows by the catchment, ensuring 1.5 metres of draft during the navigation season. In this managed system, water levels on the Rideau Canal are manipulated by operation of numerous dams. In the Middle Rideau subwatershed, Parks Canada staff operate 9 dam and lock complexes with 13 locks for a fall of 36.2 metres over 35.6 kilometres. Water levels are maintained as close as possible to set objectives through the May to October navigation season. The levels are lowered through the rest of October and into November and held at the winter levels until the spring freshet in late March or early April naturally increases inflows to the system. To reduce the impact of the higher flows in the spring, the amount of snow water equivalent, forecast rain, ice cover, flows and levels are assessed and the dams in the Middle Rideau reach are operated accordingly to quickly pass as much water as possible. In late April and early May, the dams are gradually closed and water levels are brought up to be ready, once again, for the navigation season.

Physical Geography

• All of the Black Creek catchment and the rest of the Middle Rideau subwatershed primarily resides within the Smith Falls Limestone Plain, which in this area, happens to consist of older Paleozoic quartz sandstone and dolostone of the March Formation. A small section of the Nepean sandstone, however, is also found along the northern boundary of the catchment. The bedrock in the southern part of the catchment is mainly overlain by a thin veneer of glacial sediment, referred to as ‘drift’ that is generally less than a metre in thickness;, although the landscape is also dotted with organic soils and some glacial till. The bedrock across the northern half of the catchment is mainly overlain by sandy glacial till and organic deposits associated with wetlands. Drumlins are found near the south eastern boundary of the catchment and a geologic fault likely transects the north western corner of the catchment
• Seventy-five percent of the catchment lies within the Township of Drummond/North Elmsley, 13 percent is in Beckwith Township and 12 percent is in the Township of Montague
• Black Creek catchment drainage area is 131 square kilometres and occupies about sixteen percent of the Middle Rideau subwatershed and three percent of the Rideau Valley watershed

Vulnerable Areas

• Lower reach of Black Creek is subject to a flooding hazard during the regional storm flood (the 100 year flood). Surveys and studies undertaken in accordance with provincial standards have determined that the 100 year flood elevation in this area ranges from 122.97 metres above mean sea level at the upper, mapped extent of the regulation limit at Poonamalie Side Road to 122.81 metres above mean sea level at its outlet to the Rideau River
• The Assessment Report developed under the Ontario Clean Water Act identifies the upper bedrock aquifer underlying all of the catchment area as a Highly Vulnerable Aquifer, although, where sediments are thicker in a local area, the vulnerability would be less. It also identifies the area of Nepean Sandstone found at the surface as a Significant Groundwater Recharge area along with a small part of the Village of Merrickville municipal Wellhead Protection Area being located in this catchment. Within a much more narrowly defined area along Poonamalie Road and Carroll Road is an area designated as an Intake Protection Zone to the Smiths Falls water supply and may be subject to Mississippi-Rideau Source Water Protection Zone policies

Development/Trends

• The catchment is dominated by the Township of Drummond/North Elmsley (D/NE). Those inland areas away from the Rideau River include mostly farms (livestock and pasturing) with less cropping than in other parts of the Township. Farming areas interspersed with large Provincially Significant Wetlands and other wooded areas. It should be noted that several hundred acres in the subwatershed has recently been developed with a total of four solar farms. Residential development is very scattered with single family residences and no major subdivisions. There are commercial and industrial uses along County Road 43, including the GIM salvage yard; however, in the larger catchment, other non- residential and non-agricultural uses are small and typically oriented locally and to the farming sector and no significant active recreational or tourism oriented area exists
• The main watercourse through the catchment is Black Creek. As it rarely exceeds 20 feet in width (and has been known to be essentially dry in extremely dry years), it is not a focus of development the way a larger waterbody would be. Impacts of farming on the watercourse are much the same as they are in any other setting
• Residential development in D/NE is generally very scattered with single family residences and no major subdivisions. Along County Road 43 to the west of Smiths Falls, there are some commercial and industrial uses (including GIM salvage yard) and a greater concentration of single family residences. Elsewhere, other non-residential and non-agricultural uses are small and typically oriented locally to the farming sector. No significant, active recreational or tourism oriented areas exist, other than the un-operational Donnybrooke site
• In recent years there has been limited development pressure in the general area (other than the four solar farms), with few severances and no subdivisions. There is a modest amount of development and more often redevelopment of commercial and industrial uses along Highway 43. It is unknown whether there will be a change in development pressure in coming years. For the most part, development in D/NE tends to follow along the Highway 7 corridor and closer to Perth, however if Smiths Falls were to grow there would likely be a spill-over. This area does not have easy or quick access to Ottawa
• Within the Beckwith Township and the Township of Montague areas of the catchment, development is comprised mainly of scattered single family residences along with farms. Gillies Corners is the main settlement in this area of the catchment, located along the Perth Road at its northeastern edge

Conditions at a Glance

Water Quality

• Surface chemistry water quality rating in Black Creek is “Fair” over two reporting periods (2003-2008 and 2009-2014). Elevated bacterial counts and nutrient concentrations from inflows of nutrients (from private septic systems, agricultural and residential surface water runoff) are a feature of Black Creek. Decreased nutrient and bacterial counts are needed to improve the overall health of the creek
• Instream biological water quality conditions at the Black Creek sample location range from “Poor” to “Fair” from 2003 to 2014 (using a grading scheme developed by Ontario Conservation Authorities in Ontario for benthic invertebrates) with an overall benthic invertebrate water quality rating of “Poor” determined for this period

Instream and Riparian

• Overall instream and riparian condition for the Black creek catchment as assessed by the stream characterization and headwater drainage feature assessment programs show that Black Creek and its tributaries are in generally good condition. The majority of the system has low erosion levels, a healthy riparian corridor with good instream diversity of aquatic habitat. The headwater areas in the upper catchment are dominated by wetland habitat and as you move downstream the creek is classified as a municipal drain. There are opportunities along some of the drainage features and smaller tributaries to enhance riparian habitat conditions
• The Black Creek catchment has 26 species of recreational and bait fish and is classified as having a warm/cool water thermal guild that supports the Black Creek/Rideau River fishery
• In the Black Creek catchment, the riparian buffer (30 m. wide strip along the shoreline of all lakes and streams) is comprised of wetland (55 percent), crop and pastureland (28 percent), woodland (12 percent), roads (three percent) and settlement areas (two percent)

Land Cover

• Dominant land cover is crop and pastureland (35 percent) and wetland (35 percent) followed by woodland (23 percent), settlement areas (five percent) and roads (two percent). From 2008 to 2014, there was an overall change of 190 hectares (from one land cover class to another). Within the Black Creek catchment, change is primarily associated with crop and pastureland being converted to settlement (solar farms) and woodland to settlement (solar farms)
• Woodland cover in the catchment has decreased by two hectares between 2008 and 2014 and interior forest habitat has increased by 30 hectares
• Wetland cover has decreased by 16 percent (2181 ha) from pre-settlement times to the present and now occupies 36 percent of the catchment area

Other

• There are approximately 675 in-use water wells with provincial records in this catchment. While most water wells are used for domestic water supply, in this catchment, many are used for agricultural purposes and several are used as commercial, public and municipal water supplies or monitoring wells
• There are no active Permits to Take Water, nor are there any open or closed bedrock quarries in the catchment. There are five sand and gravel pit licenses in the catchment but no primary sand and gravel aggregate resource
• An Environmental Compliance Approval has been issued for a renewable energy system in the vicinity of Armstrong and Glenview Roads

Catchment Care

• Thirty-seven stewardship projects have been completed with assistance from the RVCA’s Rural Clean Water and Tree Planting Programs (see Section 5 of this report for details)
• Black Creek surface chemistry water quality has been monitored by the RVCA through its Baseline Monitoring Program since 2003. The surface chemistry water quality at site COC-02 is monitored once a month from April to November
• RVCA has been collecting benthic invertebrates in Black Creek at the Poonamalie Road site since 2003
• RVCA conducted a fish survey along Black Creek in 2014
• RVCA completed a stream characterization survey on Black Creek in 2014, working upstream to the headwaters from the mouth of the creek where it empties into the Rideau River taking measurements and recording observations on instream habitat, bank stability, other attributes and preparing a temperature profile
• RVCA completed 30 headwater drainage feature assessments at road crossings in the Black Creek catchment in 2014. This protocol measures zero and first order headwater drainage features and is a rapid assessment method characterizing the amount of water, sediment transport, and storage capacity within headwater drainage features
• A watershed model developed by the RVCA in 2009 was used to study the hydrologic function of wetlands in the Rideau Valley Watershed, including those found in the Black Creek catchment
• The Townships of Beckwith, Drummond/North Elmsley and Montague have land use planning policies and zoning provisions - on water setbacks, frontage and naturalized shorelines and wetland protection - and in some instances use site plan control to implement these policies and provisions. Together with RVCA, the Townships work with landowners on a case by case basis to enable new development while ensuring the scale is suitable on the lot, impacts on neighbours are minimized and development maximizes the watercourse setback
• Development in and adjacent to the Provincially Significant Wetlands in the catchment (Black Creek, Port Elmsley No.2) are subject to Ontario Regulation 174-06 (entitled “Development, Interference with Wetlands and Alterations to Shorelines and Watercourses”) that protects the hydrologic function of the wetland and also protects landowners and their property from natural hazards (flooding, fluctuating water table, unstable soils) associated with them

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2. Surface Water Quality Conditions

Surface water quality conditions in the Black Creek catchment are monitored by the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority’s (RVCA) Baseline Water Quality Monitoring Program. The Baseline Water Quality Program focuses on streams; data is collected for 22 parameters including nutrients (total phosphorus, total Kjeldahl nitrogen and ammonia), E. coli, metals (like aluminum and copper) and additional chemical/physical parameters (such as alkalinity, chlorides, pH and total suspended solids). Figure 1 shows the location of the monitoring site in the catchment.

Black Creek Water Quality

Water Quality Rating

The water quality rating for the Black Creek (COC-02) is “Fair” (Table 1) as determined by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) Water Quality Index and is largely influenced by high nutrient concentrations, metals and high bacterial counts. A "Fair" rating indicates that water quality is usually protected but is occasionally threatened or impaired; conditions sometimes depart from natural or desirable levels. Each parameter is evaluated against established guidelines to determine water quality conditions. Those parameters that frequently exceed guidelines are presented below. Analysis of the data has been broken into two periods; 2003 to 2008 and 2009 to 2014 to examine if conditions have changed between these periods. Table 1 shows the overall rating for the monitored surface water quality sites within the Black Creek catchment and Table 2 outlines the Water Quality Index (WQI) scores and their corresponding ratings.

Nutrients

Total phosphorus (TP) is used as a primary indicator of excessive nutrient loading and may contribute to abundant aquatic vegetation growth and depleted dissolved oxygen levels. The Provincial Water Quality Objective (PWQO) is used as the TP Guideline and states that in streams concentrations greater than 0.030 mg/l indicate an excessive amount of TP.

Total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) and ammonia (NH3) are used as secondary indicators of nutrient loadings. RVCA uses a guideline of 0.500 mg/l to assess TKN^[1] and the PWQO of 0.020 mg/l to assess NH3 concentrations in Barbers Creek.

Tables 3, 4 and 5 summarize average nutrient concentrations at monitored sites within the Black Creek catchment and show the proportion of results that meet the guidelines.

The majority of samples at site COC-02 were above the TP guideline for both time periods (Figures 2 and 3), 38 percent of samples were below the guideline in the 2003–2008 period, this declined to 35 percent of samples in the 2009–2014 period. Average TP concentration decreased from 0.037 mg/l (2003–2008) to 0.033 mg/l (2009–2014). 

Figure 2 Total phosphorous concentrations in Black Creek, 2003-2008

Figure 3 Total phosphorous concentrations in Black Creek, 2009-2014

 

All of the TKN results exceeded the guideline for both monitoring periods (2003-2008 and 2009-2014). The average concentration from 2003-2008 in Black Creek was 1.244 mg/l (Figure 4), this decreased to .994 mg/l (Figure 5) from 2009-2014. 

Figure 4 Total Kjeldahl nitrogen concentrations in Black Creek, 2003-2008

Figure 5 Total Kjeldahl nitrogen concentrations in Black Creek, 2009-2014

 

In the 2003-2008 reporting period a majority of NH3 results were below the guideline with an average concentration of 0.017 mg/l (Figure 6). The percentage of results below the guideline decreased from 67 percent in 2003-2008 to 10 percent. The average concentration in 2009-2014 increased to 0.032 mg/l (Figure 7). 

Figure 6 Ammonia concentrations in Black Creek, 2003-2008

Figure 7 Ammonia concentrations in Black Creek, 2009-2014

 

Summary

The data shows that nutrient enrichment continues to be a feature of Black Creek. Water quality guidelines for TP, TKN and NH3 are often exceeded at the monitored site on Black Creek. The frequent elevated TKN concentrations may be influenced by organic matter held by wetland areas found upstream in the Middle Rideau Subwatershed, resulting in naturally high concentrations of organic nitrogen. High nutrient concentrations can help stimulate the growth of algae blooms and other aquatic vegetation in a waterbody and deplete oxygen levels as the vegetation dies off. 

E. Coli

E. coli is used as an indicator of bacterial pollution from human or animal waste; in elevated concentrations it can pose a risk to human health. The PWQO of 100 colony forming units/100 millilitres (CFU/100 ml) is used. E. coli counts greater than this guideline indicate that bacterial contamination may be a problem within a waterbody.

Table 6 summarizes the geometric mean^[2] for the monitored site on Black Creek and shows the proportion of samples that meet the E. coli guideline of 100 CFU/100 ml. The results of the geometric mean with respect to the guideline for the two periods, 2003-2008 and 2009- 2014, are shown in Figures 8 and 9 respectively.

E. coli results at site COC-02 indicate bacterial counts are frequently above the E. coli guideline. The proportion of samples below the guideline decreased from 63 percent (Figure 8) to 47 percent (Figure 9). E.coli counts increased between the two monitoring periods (2003-2008 and 2009-2014) with a geometric mean of 66 CFU/100ml to 104 CFU/100ml (Table 6). 

Figure 8 E.coli concentrations in Black Creek, 2003-2008

Figure 9 E.coli concentrations in Black Creek, 2009-2014

 

Summary

Bacterial contamination continues to be a concern at site COC-02 in Black Creek. E.coli counts have increased between the two monitoring periods (2003-2008 and 2009-2014), with the geometric mean being above the PWQO for the 2009-20014 reporting period. Properly maintaining septic systems, enhancing shoreline buffers and restricting cattle access can help to improve E.coli levels in Black Creek.

Metals

Of the metals routinely monitored in Black Creek, aluminum (Al), copper (Cu) and iron (Fe) occasionally reported concentrations above their respective PWQOs. In elevated concentrations, these metals can have toxic effects on sensitive aquatic species. Tables 7, 8 and 9 summarize metal concentrations at the monitored site and show the proportion of samples that meet guidelines. Figures 10 to 15 show metal concentrations with respect to the guidelines for the two periods of interest, 2003–2008 and 2009–2014. For Al the PWQO is 0.075 mg/l, Cu it is 0.005 mg/l and for Fe it is 0.300 mg/l. 

Results from COC-02 shows that Al concentrations had some exceedances with 22 percent of samples below the guideline in the 2003-2008 period (Figure 10). This improved to 69 percent of samples in the 2009-2014 period (Figure 11). The average concentration of Al was 0.128 mg/l from 2003-2008 which exceeds the guideline. From 2009-2014 the average concentration improved to 0.060 mg/l which is below the guideline. 

Figure 10 Average aluminum concentrations in Black Creek, 2003-2008

Figure 11 Average aluminum concentrations in Black Creek, 2009-2014

 

Copper concentrations occasionally exceeded the PWQO, with 89% of samples below the guideline in 2003-2008 (Figure 12). This decreased to 79% of samples being below the guideline in 2009-2014 (Figure 13). The average concentration of Cu marginally decreased during the two reporting periods from 0.003 mg/l to 0.002 mg/l (Table 8). 

Figure 12 Average copper concentration in Black Creek, 2003-2008

Figure 13 Average copper concentrations in Black Creek, 2009-2014

 

Iron concentrations also surpassed the PWQO guideline. The proportion of samples below the guideline increased from 52 percent to 79 percent (Figures 14 and 15). The average concentration of Fe in 2003-2008 reporting period was 0.309 mg/l which is above the guideline. Between 2009-2014 Fe concentrations decreased below the guideline to an average of 0.130mg/L (Table 9).  

Figure 14 Average Iron concentrations in Black Creek, 2003-2008

Figure 15 Average Iron concentrations in Black Creek, 2009-2014

 

Summary

Overall, a general decline in metal concentrations was observed between the two periods of interest, with the exception of copper which slightly increased. Efforts should continue to be made to identify pollution sources and implement best management practices to reduce any inputs such as runoff, metal alloys, fungicides and pesticides to improve overall stream health and lessen downstream impacts. 

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3. Riparian Conditions

Shoreline Buffer Land Cover Evaluation

The riparian or shoreline zone is that special area where the land meets the water. Well-vegetated shorelines are critically important in protecting water quality and creating healthy aquatic habitats, lakes and rivers. Natural shorelines intercept sediments and contaminants that could impact water quality conditions and harm fish habitat in streams. Well established buffers protect the banks against erosion, improve habitat for fish by shading and cooling the water and provide protection for birds and other wildlife that feed and rear young near water. A recommended target (from Environment Canada’s Guideline: How Much Habitat is Enough?) is to maintain a minimum 30 metre wide vegetated buffer along at least 75 percent of the length of both sides of rivers, creeks and streams.

Figure 16 shows the extent of the naturally vegetated riparian zone along a 30 metre wide strip of shoreline of Black Creek and its tributaries. This information is derived from a dataset developed by the RVCA’s Land Cover Classification Program through heads-up digitization of 20cm DRAPE ortho-imagery at a 1:4000 scale, which details the catchment landscape using 10 land cover classes. 

This analysis shows that the riparian buffer in the Black Creek catchment is comprised of wetland (55 percent), crop and pastureland (28 percent), woodland (12 percent), roads (three percent) and settlement areas (two percent). Additional statistics for the Black Creek catchment are presented in Table 10 and show that there has been very little change in shoreline cover from 2008 to 2014.

Black Creek Overbank Zone

Riparian Buffer Width Evaluation

Figure 17 demonstrates the buffer conditions of the left and right banks separately. Black Creek had a buffer of greater than 30 meters along 100 percent of the right bank and 97 percent of the left bank.

Adjacent Land Use

The RVCA’s Stream Characterization Program identifies eight different land uses beside Black Creek (Figure 18). Surrounding land use is considered from the beginning to end of the survey section (100m) and up to 100m on each side of the creek. Land use outside of this area is not considered for the surveys but is nonetheless part of the subwatershed and will influence the creek. Natural areas made up 92 percent of the stream, characterized by wetlands, forest, scrubland and meadow. The remaining land use consisted of active agriculture and infrastructure in the form of road crossings.

Black Creek Shoreline Zone

Instream Erosion

Erosion is a normal, important stream process and may not affect actual bank stability; however, excessive erosion and deposition of sediment within a stream can have a detrimental effect on important fish and wildlife habitat.  Poor bank stability can greatly contribute to the amount of sediment carried in a waterbody as well as loss of bank vegetation due to bank failure, resulting in trees falling into the stream and the potential to impact instream migration.   Figure 19 shows low to moderate levels of erosion observed along Black Creek.

Undercut Stream Banks

Undercut banks are a normal and natural part of stream function and can provide excellent refuge areas for fish. Figure 20 shows that Black Creek had low to moderate levels of undercut banks.

Stream Shading

Grasses, shrubs and trees all contribute towards shading a stream. Shade is important in moderating stream temperature, contributing to food supply and helping with nutrient reduction within a stream. Figure 21 shows variable stream shading conditions ranging from low levels to high levels along Black Creek.

Instream Woody Debris

Figure 22 shows that the majority of Black Creek had low to moderate levels of instream woody debris in the form of branches and trees. Instream woody debris is important for fish and benthic invertebrate habitat, by providing refuge and feeding areas.

Overhanging Trees and Branches

Figure 23 shows low to high levels of overhanging branches and trees along Black Creek. Overhanging branches and trees provide a food source, nutrients and shade which helps to moderate instream water temperatures.

Anthropogenic Alterations

Figure 24 shows 90 percent of Black Creek remains “unaltered” with no anthropogenic alterations.   Ten percent of Black Creek was classified as natural with minor anthropogenic changes in the form of road crossings. 

Black Creek Instream Aquatic Habitat

Benthic Invertebrates

Freshwater benthic invertebrates are animals without backbones that live on the stream bottom and include crustaceans such as crayfish, molluscs and immature forms of aquatic insects. Benthos represent an extremely diverse group of aquatic animals and exhibit wide ranges of responses to stressors such as organic pollutants, sediments and toxicants, which allows scientists to use them as bioindicators.  As part of the Ontario Benthic Biomonitoring Network (OBBN), the RVCA has been collecting benthic invertebrates at the Poonamalie Road site on Black Creek since 2003. Monitoring data is analyzed for each sample site and the results are presented using the Family Biotic Index, Family Richness and percent Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera.

The Hilsenhoff Family Biotic Index (FBI) is an indicator of organic and nutrient pollution and provides an estimate of water quality conditions for each site using established pollution tolerance values for benthic invertebrates. FBI results for Black Creek are separated by reporting period 2003 to 2008 and 2009 to 2014.  “Poor” to “Fair” water quality conditions being observed at the Black Creek sample location for the period from 2003 to 2014 (Fig.25) using a grading scheme developed by Conservation Authorities in Ontario for benthic invertebrates.

Family Richness measures the health of the community through its diversity and increases with increasing habitat diversity suitability and healthy water quality conditions. Family Richness is equivalent to the total number of benthic invertebrate families found within a sample.   Black Creek is reported to have “Fair” to “Good” family richness (Fig.26).

Ephemeroptera (Mayflies), Plecoptera (Stoneflies), and Trichoptera (Caddisflies) are species considered to be very sensitive to poor water quality conditions. High abundance of these organisms is generally an indication of good water quality conditions at a sample location.  The community structure is dominated by species that are not sensitive to poor water quality conditions.  As a result, the EPT indicates that Black Creek is reported to have “Poor” to “Fair” water quality (Fig.27) from 2003 to 2014.

Conclusion

Overall Black Creek aquatic habitat conditions from a benthic invertebrate perspective range from “Poor” to "Fair" from 2003 to 2014.

Habitat Complexity

Streams are naturally meandering systems and move over time; there are varying degrees of habitat complexity, depending on the creek. Examples of habitat complexity include variable habitat types such as pools and riffles as well as substrate variability and woody debris structure.  A high percentage of habitat complexity (heterogeneity) typically increases the biodiversity of aquatic organisms within a system. Fifty nine percent of Black Creek was considered heterogeneous, as shown in Figure 28.

Instream Substrate

Diverse substrate is important for fish and benthic invertebrate habitat because some species have specific substrate requirements and for example will only reproduce on certain types of substrate.  Figure 29 shows that 28 percent of the substrate observed on Black Creek was dominated by cobble.  Overall substrate conditions were highly variable along Black Creek.  Figure 30 shows the dominant substrate type observed for each section surveyed along Black Creek.

Cobble and Boulder Habitat

Boulders create instream cover and back eddies for large fish to hide and/or rest out of the current.  Cobble provides important spawning habitat for certain fish species like walleye and various shiner species who are an important food source for larger fish.  Cobble can also provide habitat conditions for benthic invertebrates that are a key food source for many fish and wildlife species.  Figure 31 shows where cobble and boulder substrate are found in Black Creek.

Instream Morphology

Pools and riffles are important habitat features for fish. Riffles are areas of agitated water and they contribute higher dissolved oxygen to the stream and act as spawning substrate for some species of fish, such as walleye. Pools provide shelter for fish and can be refuge pools in the summer if water levels drop and water temperature in the creek increases. Pools also provide important over wintering areas for fish. Runs are usually moderately shallow, with unagitated surfaces of water and areas where the thalweg (deepest part of the channel) is in the center of the channel. Figure 32 shows that Black Creek is fairly uniform; 88 percent consists of runs, 7 percent riffles and 5 percent pools. Figure 33 shows where riffle habitat was observed along Black Creek.

Vegetation Type

Instream vegetation provides a variety of functions and is a critical component of the aquatic ecosystem.  For example emergent plants along the shoreline can provide shoreline protection from wave action and important rearing habitat for species of waterfowl.  Submerged plants provide habitat for fish to find shelter from predator fish while they feed.  Floating plants such as water lilies shade the water and can keep temperatures cool while reducing algae growth.  The dominant vegetation type recorded at thirty percent consisted of submerged plants. Black Creek had high levels of diversity for instream vegetation. Figure 34 depicts the plant community structure for Black Creek. Figure 35 shows the dominant vegetation type observed for each section surveyed along Black Creek.

Instream Vegetation Abundance

Instream vegetation is an important factor for a healthy stream ecosystem. Vegetation helps to remove contaminants from the water, contributes oxygen to the stream, and provides habitat for fish and wildlife. Too much vegetation can also be detrimental. Figure 36 demonstrates that Black Creek had sections dominated by common and normal low levels of instream vegetation for fifty two percent of its length.

Invasive Species

Invasive species can have major implications on streams and species diversity. Invasive species are one of the largest threats to ecosystems throughout Ontario and can out compete native species, having negative effects on local wildlife, fish and plant populations. One hundred percent of the sections surveyed along Black Creek had invasive species (Figure 37). The invasive species observed in Black Creek were European frogbit, purple loosestrife, glossy and common buckthorn, banded mystery snail, curly leafed pondweed, flowering rush, bull thistle, honey suckle, wild parsnip and Manitoba maple.  Figure 38 shows the frequency of the invasive species observed along Black Creek.

Black Creek Water Chemistry

During the stream characterization survey, a YSI probe is used to collect water chemistry information.  Dissolved oxygen, conductivity and pH are measured at the start and end of each section.

Dissolved Oxygen

Dissolved oxygen is a measure of the amount of oxygen dissolved in water. The Canadian Environmental Quality Guidelines of the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) suggest that for the protection of aquatic life the lowest acceptable dissolved oxygen concentration should be 6 mg/L for warmwater biota and 9.5 mg/L for coldwater biota (CCME, 1999).  Figure 39 shows that the dissolved oxygen in Black Creek was within the threshold for warmwater biota in most reaches of the system, however areas in the headwaters were below the warmwater threshold.  The average dissolved oxygen levels observed within the main stem of Black Creek was 6.02mg/L which is within the recommended levels for warmwater biota.

Conductivity

Conductivity in streams is primarily influenced by the geology of the surrounding environment, but can vary drastically as a function of surface water runoff. Currently there are no CCME guideline standards for stream conductivity, however readings which are outside the normal range observed within the system are often an indication of unmitigated discharge and/or stormwater input. The average conductivity observed within the main stem of Black Creek was 328 µs/cm. Figure 40 shows that the conductivity readings for Black Creek.

pH

Based on the PWQO for pH, a range of 6.5 to 8.5 should be maintained for the protection of aquatic life. Average pH values for Black Creek averaged 7.5 thereby meeting the provincial standard (Figure 41).

Thermal Regime

Many factors can influence fluctuations in stream temperature, including springs, tributaries, precipitation runoff, discharge pipes and stream shading from riparian vegetation. Water temperature is used along with the maximum air temperature (using the Stoneman and Jones method) to classify a watercourse as either warm water, cool water or cold water. Analysis of the data collected indicates that Black Creek is classified as a cool - warm water system with warm water reaches.  Figure 42 shows the thermal sampling locations.

Each point on the graph represents a temperature that meets the following criteria:

• Sampling dates between July 1st and September 7th
• Sampling date is preceded by two consecutive days above 24.5 °C, with no rain
• Water temperatures are collected at 4pm
• Air temperature is recorded as the max temperature for that day

Groundwater

Groundwater discharge areas can influence stream temperature, contribute nutrients, and provide important stream habitat for fish and other biota. During stream surveys, indicators of groundwater discharge are noted when observed. Indicators include: springs/seeps, watercress, iron staining, significant temperature change and rainbow mineral film.  Figure 44 shows areas where one or more of the above groundwater indicators were observed during stream surveys and headwater assessments.

Headwaters Drainage Features Assessment 

The RVCA Stream Characterization program assessed Headwater Drainage Features for the Middle Rideau subwatershed in 2014. This protocol measures zero, first and second order headwater drainage features (HDF).  It is a rapid assessment method characterizing the amount of water, sediment transport, and storage capacity within headwater drainage features (HDF). RVCA is working with other Conservation Authorities and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry to implement the protocol with the goal of providing standard datasets to support science development and monitoring of headwater drainage features.  An HDF is a depression in the land that conveys surface flow. Additionally, this module provides a means of characterizing the connectivity, form and unique features associated with each HDF (OSAP Protocol, 2013). In 2014 the program sampled 30 sites at road crossings in the Black Creek catchment area (Figure 45).

Feature Type

The headwater sampling protocol assesses the feature type in order to understand the function of each feature.  The evaluation includes the following classifications: defined natural channel, channelized or constrained, multi-thread, no defined feature, tiled, wetland, swale, roadside ditch and pond outlet.  By assessing the values associated with the headwater drainage features in the catchment area we can understand the ecosystem services that they provide to the watershed in the form of hydrology, sediment transport, and aquatic and terrestrial functions.  The Black Creek catchment is dominated by natural channel and wetland headwater drainage features.  However, there were several features classified as channelized, while there were three features that ran along the road.  Two features were classified as not having a defined channel.   Figure 46 shows the feature type of the primary feature at the sampling locations.

Feature Channel Modifications

Channel modifications were assessed at each headwater drainage feature sampling location.  Modifications include channelization, dredging, hardening and realignments.  The sampling locations for the Black Creek catchment were classified with a variety of channel modifications.  Many of the features had no channel modifications, however several were classified as having mixed modifications or had been recently dredged/cleaned out.  Figure 47 shows the channel modifications observed at the sampling locations for Black Creek.

Headwater Feature Vegetation

Headwater feature vegetation evaluates the type of vegetation that is found within the drainage feature.  The type of vegetated within the channel influences the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem values that the feature provides.  For some types of headwater features the vegetation within the feature plays a very important role in flow and sediment movement and provides wildlife habitat.  The following classifications are evaluated no vegetation, lawn, wetland, meadow, scrubland and forest.  Figure 48 depicts the dominant vegetation observed at the sampled headwater sites in the Black Creek catchment.

Headwater Feature Riparian Vegetation

Headwater riparian vegetation evaluates the type of vegetation that is found along the adjacent lands of a headwater drainage feature.  The type of vegetation within the riparian corridor influences the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem values that the feature provides to the watershed.  The majority of the sample locations in Black Creek were dominated by natural vegetation in the form of scrubland, forest and wetland vegetation.  Figure 49 depicts the type of riparian vegetation observed at the sampled headwater sites in the Black Creek catchment.

Headwater Feature Sediment Deposition

Assessing the amount of recent sediment deposited in a channel provides an index of the degree to which the feature could be transporting sediment to downstream reaches (OSAP, 2013).  Evidence of excessive sediment deposition might indicate the requirement to follow up with more detailed targeted assessments upstream of the site location to identify potential best management practices to be implemented.  Conditions ranged from no deposition observed to a site with substantial deposition recorded.  Overall most sites had minimal to moderate levels of sediment deposition.  Figure 50 depicts the degree of sediment deposition observed at the sampled headwater sites in the Black Creek catchment.

Headwater Feature Upstream Roughness

Feature roughness will provide a measure of the amount of materials within the bankfull channel that could slow down the velocity of water flowing within the headwater feature (OSAP, 2013).  Materials on the channel bottom that provide roughness include vegetation, woody debris and boulders/cobble substrates.  Roughness can provide benefits in mitigating downstream erosion on the headwater drainage feature and the receiving watercourse by reducing velocities.  Roughness also provides important habitat conditions to aquatic organisms. Many of the sample locations in the Black Creek catchment area had extreme to moderate levels of feature roughness.  Figure 51 shows the feature roughness conditions at the sampling locations in the Black Creek catchment.

Fish Community

The Black Creek catchment is classified as a mixed community of warm and cool water recreational and baitfish fishery with 26 species observed. Table 11 lists the species observed in the catchment (Source: MNR/RVCA). Figure 52 shows the fish sampling locations for Black Creek.

Migratory Obstructions

It is important to know locations of migratory obstructions because these can prevent fish from accessing important spawning and rearing habitat. Migratory obstructions can be natural or manmade, and they can be permanent or seasonal. Figure 53 shows that the headwaters and the main stem of Black Creek had a beaver dam, perched culvert and a grade barrier at the time of the survey in 2014.

Riparian Restoration

Figure 54 depicts the locations where various riparian restoration activities can be implemented as a result of observations made during the stream survey and headwater drainage feature assessments.  The surveys identified one riparian planting opportunity on a headwater feature.

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4. Land Cover

Land cover and any change in coverage that has occurred over a six year period is summarized for the Black Creek catchment using spatially continuous vector data representing the catchment during the spring of 2008 and 2014. This dataset was developed by the RVCA through heads-up digitization of 20cm DRAPE ortho-imagery at a 1:4000 scale and details the surrounding landscape using 10 land cover classes.

As shown in Table 12, the dominant land cover types in the catchment through 2008 and 2014 were crop and pastureland and wetland followed by woodland.

From 2008 to 2014, there was an overall change of 190 hectares (from one land cover class to another). Change within the Black Creek catchment is primarily associated with ‘crop and pasture’ being converted to ‘settlement’ and ‘woodland’ to ‘settlement’. These areas are largely associated with newly constructed solar farms which are identified as the four large pink polygons in Figure 55.

Table 13 shows the type of land cover change that has taken place between land cover classes/types from 2008 to 2014. 

Overall, the net area of crop and pasture change (loss) is relatively small at 140 hectares relative to the remaining area of crop and pasture in the catchment (as of 2014). Similarly, the net area of woodland change (loss) is very small at 29 hectares relative to the remaining area of woodland in the catchment (as of 2014). 

Woodland Cover

In the Environment Canada Guideline (Third Edition) entitled “How Much Habitat Is Enough?” (hereafter referred to as the “Guideline”) the opening narrative under the Forest Habitat Guidelines section states that prior to European settlement, forest was the predominant habitat in the Mixedwood Plains ecozone. The remnants of this once vast forest now exist in a fragmented state in many areas (including the Rideau Valley watershed) with woodland patches of various sizes distributed across the settled landscape along with higher levels of forest cover associated with features such as the Frontenac Axis (within the on-Shield areas of the Rideau Lakes and Tay River subwatersheds). The forest legacy, in terms of the many types of wildlife species found, overall species richness, ecological functions provided and ecosystem complexity is still evident in the patches and regional forest matrices (found in the Middle Rideau subwatershed and elsewhere in the Rideau Valley watershed). These ecological features are in addition to other influences which forests have on water quality and stream hydrology including reducing soil erosion, producing oxygen, storing carbon along with many other ecological services that are essential not only for wildlife but for human well-being.

The Guideline also notes that forests provide a great many habitat niches that are in turn occupied by a great diversity of plant and animal species. They provide food, water and shelter for these species - whether they are breeding and resident locally or using forest cover to help them move across the landscape. This diversity of species includes many that are considered to be species at risk. Furthermore, from a wildlife perspective, there is increasing evidence that the total forest cover in a given area is a major predictor of the persistence and size of bird populations, and it is possible or perhaps likely that this pattern extends to other flora and fauna groups. The overall effect of a decrease in forest cover on birds in fragmented landscapes is that certain species disappear and many of the remaining ones become rare, or fail to reproduce, while species adapted to more open and successional habitats, as well as those that are more tolerant to human-induced disturbances in general, are able to persist and in some cases thrive. Species with specialized-habitat requirements are most likely to be adversely affected. The overall pattern of distribution of forest cover, the shape, area and juxtaposition of remaining forest patches and the quality of forest cover also play major roles in determining how valuable forests will be to wildlife and people alike.

The current science generally supports minimum forest habitat requirements between 30 and 50 percent, with some limited evidence that the upper limit may be even higher, depending on the organism/species phenomenon under investigation or land-use/resource management planning regime being considered/used.

As shown in Figure 56, 29 percent of the Black Creek catchment contains 2924 hectares of upland forest and 886 hectares of lowland forest (treed swamps) versus the 34 percent of woodland cover in the Middle Rideau subwatershed. This is less than the 30 percent of forest cover that is identified as the minimum threshold required to sustain forest birds according to the Guideline and which may only support less than one half of potential species richness and marginally healthy aquatic systems. When forest cover drops below 30 percent, forest birds tend to disappear as breeders across the landscape.

Woodland (Patch) Size

According to the Ministry of Natural Resources’ Natural Heritage Reference Manual (Second Edition), larger woodlands are more likely to contain a greater diversity of plant and animal species and communities than smaller woodlands and have a greater relative importance for mobile animal species such as forest birds.

Bigger forests often provide a different type of habitat. Many forest birds breed far more successfully in larger forests than they do in smaller woodlots and some rely heavily on forest interior conditions. Populations are often healthier in regions with more forest cover and where forest fragments are grouped closely together or connected by corridors of natural habitat. Small forests support small numbers of wildlife. Some species are “area-sensitive” and tend not to inhabit small woodlands, regardless of forest interior conditions. Fragmented habitat also isolates local populations, especially small mammals, amphibians and reptiles with limited mobility. This reduces the healthy mixing of genetic traits that helps populations survive over the long run (Conserving the Forest Interior. Ontario Extension Notes, 2000).

The Environment Canada Guideline also notes that for forest plants that do not disperse broadly or quickly, preservation of some relatively undisturbed large forest patches is needed to sustain them because of their restricted dispersal abilities and specialized habitat requirements and to ensure continued seed or propagation sources for restored or regenerating areas nearby.

The Natural Heritage Reference Manual continues by stating that a larger size also allows woodlands to support more resilient nutrient cycles and food webs and to be big enough to permit different and important successional stages to co-exist. Small, isolated woodlands are more susceptible to the effects of blowdown, drought, disease, insect infestations, and invasions by predators and non-indigenous plants. It is also known that the viability of woodland wildlife depends not only on the characteristics of the woodland in which they reside, but also on the characteristics of the surrounding landscape where the woodland is situated. Additionally, the percentage of forest cover in the surrounding landscape, the presence of ecological barriers such as roads, the ability of various species to cross the matrix surrounding the woodland and the proximity of adjacent habitats interact with woodland size in influencing the species assemblage within a woodland.

In the Black Creek catchment (in 2014), 152 (37 percent) of the 410 woodland patches are very small, being less than one hectare in size. Another 209 (51 percent) of the woodland patches ranging from one to less than 20 hectares in size tend to be dominated by edge-tolerant bird species. The remaining 49 (12 percent of) woodland patches range between 21 and 271 hectares in size. Forty-four of these patches contain woodland between 20 and 100 hectares and may support a few area-sensitive species and some edge intolerant species, but will be dominated by edge tolerant species.

Conversely, five (one percent) of the 410 woodland patches in the drainage area exceed the 100 plus hectare size needed to support most forest dependent, area sensitive birds and are large enough to support approximately 60 percent of edge-intolerant species. One patch tops 200 hectares, which according to the Environment Canada Guideline will support 80 percent of edge-intolerant forest bird species (including most area sensitive species) that prefer interior forest habitat conditions.

Table 14 presents a comparison of woodland patch size in 2008 and 2014 along with any changes that have occurred over that time. A decrease (of 2 ha) has been observed in the overall woodland patch area between the two reporting periods with most change occurring in the 50 to 100 and 100 to 200 hectare woodland patch size class ranges.

Forest Interior

The forest interior is habitat deep within woodlands. It is a sheltered, secluded environment away from the influence of forest edges and open habitats. Some people call it the “core” or the “heart” of a woodland. The presence of forest interior is a good sign of woodland health, and is directly related to the woodland’s size and shape. Large woodlands with round or square outlines have the greatest amount of forest interior. Small, narrow woodlands may have no forest interior conditions at all. Forest interior habitat is a remnant natural environment, reminiscent of the extensive, continuous forests of the past. This increasingly rare forest habitat is now a refuge for certain forest-dependent wildlife; they simply must have it to survive and thrive in a fragmented forest landscape (Conserving the Forest Interior. Ontario Extension Notes, 2000).

The Natural Heritage Reference Manual states that woodland interior habitat is usually defined as habitat more than 100 metres from the edge of the woodland and provides for relative seclusion from outside influences along with a moister, more sheltered and productive forest habitat for certain area sensitive species. Woodlands with interior habitat have centres that are more clearly buffered against the edge effects of agricultural activities or more harmful urban activities than those without.

In the Black Creek catchment (in 2014), the 410 woodland patches contain 136 forest interior patches (Figure 56) that occupy three percent (423 ha.) of the catchment land area (which is less than the five percent of interior forest in the Middle Rideau Subwatershed). This is below the ten percent figure referred to in the Environment Canada Guideline that is considered to be the minimum threshold for supporting edge intolerant bird species and other forest dwelling species in the landscape.

Most patches (122) have less than 10 hectares of interior forest, 82 of which have small areas of interior forest habitat less than one hectare in size. The remaining 14 patches contain interior forest ranging between 10 and 38 hectares in area.

Between 2008 and 2014, there has been a notable change in the number of woodland patches containing smaller areas of interior habitat (Table 15) with an increase of 56 woodlands containing less than one hectare of interior forest over this period and 10 woodlands with one to 10 hectares of interior habitat. This appears to have occurred as a result of the loss of interior forest habitat in the largest woodland patch in the catchment over this period.

Wetland Cover

Wetlands are habitats forming the interface between aquatic and terrestrial systems. They are among the most productive and biologically diverse habitats on the planet. By the 1980s, according to the Natural Heritage Reference Manual, 68 percent of the original wetlands south of the Precambrian Shield in Ontario had been lost through encroachment, land clearance, drainage and filling.

Wetlands perform a number of important ecological and hydrological functions and provide an array of social and economic benefits that society values. Maintaining wetland cover in a watershed provides many ecological, economic, hydrological and social benefits that are listed in the Reference Manual and which may include:

• contributing to the stabilization of shorelines and to the reduction of erosion damage through the mitigation of water flow and soil binding by plant roots
• mitigating surface water flow by storing water during periods of peak flow (such as spring snowmelt and heavy rainfall events) and releasing water during periods of low flow (this mitigation of water flow also contributes to a reduction of flood damage)
• contributing to an improved water quality through the trapping of sediments, the removal and/or retention of excess nutrients, the immobilization and/or degradation of contaminants and the removal of bacteria
• providing renewable harvesting of timber, fuel wood, fish, wildlife and wild rice
• contributing to a stable, long-term water supply in areas of groundwater recharge and discharge
• providing a high diversity of habitats that support a wide variety of plants and animals
• acting as “carbon sinks” making a significant contribution to carbon storage
• providing opportunities for recreation, education, research and tourism

Historically, the overall wetland coverage within the Great Lakes basin exceeded 10 percent, but there was significant variability among watersheds and jurisdictions, as stated in the Environment Canada Guideline. In the Rideau Valley Watershed, it has been estimated that pre-settlement wetland cover averaged 35 percent using information provided by Ducks Unlimited Canada (2010) versus the 21 percent of wetland cover existing in 2014 derived from DRAPE imagery analysis.

Using the same dataset, it is estimated that pre-settlement (historic) wetland cover averaged 32 percent in the Middle Rideau subwatershed versus the 27 percent of cover existing in 2014. This decline in wetland cover is also evident in the Black Creek catchment (as seen in Figure 57) where there has been a 16 percent decrease in the area of wetland cover from pre-settlement times to the present (as summarized in Table 16).

While there has been a reported decrease in wetland cover in the Barbers Creek catchment from pre-settlement times, the remaining wetland cover in 2014 remains above the ecological thresholds cited in the Environment Canada Guideline. Nonetheless, in order to maintain critical hydrological, ecological functions along with related recreational and economic benefits provided by these wetland habitats in the catchment, a “no net loss” of currently existing wetlands should be employed to ensure the continued provision of tangible benefits accruing from them for landowners and surrounding communities.

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5. Stewardship and Protection

The RVCA and its partners are working to protect and enhance environmental conditions in the Middle Rideau Subwatershed. Figure 58 shows the location of all stewardship projects completed in the Black Creek catchment along with sites identified for potential shoreline restoration.

Rural Clean Water Projects

From 2009 to 2014, two well upgrades, one septic system replacement and one wastewater runoff project were completed. Between 2003 and 2008, six well upgrades, three well decommissionings, one well replacement and one fuel storage and handling facility were completed. Prior to 2003, one livestock fencing project and one manure storage facility were completed. Total value of all 17 projects is $69,105 with $42,133 of that amount funded through grant dollars from the RVCA.

Tree Planting Projects

The location of RVCA Tree Planting Program projects is shown in Figure 58. From 2009 to 2014, 41.880 trees were planted at five sites. Between 2003 and 2008, 13,170 trees were planted at five sites and prior to 2003, 49,810 trees were planted at ten sites, resulting in the reforestation of 56 hectares. Total value of all 20 projects is $299,751 with $80,886 of that amount coming from various fundraising sources.

Through the RVCA Butternut Recovery Program, an additional 60 butternut trees were planted in the Black Creek catchment between 2003 and 2008, as part of efforts to introduce healthy seedlings from tolerant butternuts into various locations across Eastern Ontario.

Valley, Stream, Wetland and Hazard Land Regulation

The Black Creek catchment covers 131 square kilometres with 30 square kilometres (or 23 percent) of the drainage area being within the regulation limit of Ontario Regulation 174/06 (Figure 59), giving protection to wetland areas and river or stream valleys that are affected by flooding and erosion hazards.

Wetlands occupy 46.5 sq. km. (or 36 percent) of the catchment. Of these wetlands, 17.4 sq. km (or 37 percent) are designated as provincially significant and included within the RVCA regulation limit. This leaves the remaining 29.1 sq. km (or 63 percent) of wetlands in the catchment outside the regulated area limit.

Of the 190.1 kilometres of stream in the catchment, regulation limit mapping has been plotted along 50 kilometers of streams (representing 26 percent of all streams in the catchment). Some of these regulated watercourses (32.7 km or 17 percent of all streams) flow through regulated wetlands; the remaining 17.3 km (or 35 percent) of regulated streams are located outside of those wetlands. Plotting of the regulation limit on the remaining 140.1 km (or 74 percent) of streams requires identification of flood and erosion hazards and valley systems.

Within the regulation limit, “development” and “site alteration” require RVCA permission. The “alteration to waterways” provision of Ontario Regulation 174/06 applies to all watercourses.

Vulnerable Drinking Water Areas

The Black Creek drainage catchment is considered to have a Highly Vulnerable Aquifer. This means that the nature of the overburden (thin soils, fractured bedrock) does not provide a high level of protection for the underlying groundwater making the aquifer more vulnerable to contaminants released on the surface. The Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Plan includes policies that focus on the protection of groundwater region-wide due to the fact that most of the region, which encompasses the Mississippi and Rideau watersheds, is considered Highly Vulnerable Aquifer.

The area around the headwaters of Black Creek is also considered a Significant Groundwater Recharge Area. This means that there is a volume of water moving from the surface into the ground and groundwater serves either as a municipal drinking water source or supplies a stream ecosystem. The Plan was not required to include policies to specifically address Significant Groundwater Recharge Areas. 

For detailed maps and policies that have been developed to protect drinking water sources, please go to the Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Region website at www.mrsourcewater.ca to view the Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Plan.

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6. Issues

Water Quality

• Surface water quality along Black Creek is “Fair” over two reporting periods (2003-2008 and 2009-2014) as determined by surface water chemistry data. Frequent exceedances of nutrients and occasional exceedances of E.coli, aluminum, copper and iron contributed to the rating. E.coli counts have increased in the 2009-2014 reporting period
• Instream biological water quality conditions at the Black Creek sample location range from “Poor” to “Fair” from 2003 to 2014 (using a grading scheme developed by Ontario Conservation Authorities in Ontario for benthic invertebrates) with an overall benthic invertebrate water quality rating of “Poor” determined for this period

Shorelines

• The riparian buffer along Black Creek (30 m. wide strip along the shoreline of all lakes and streams) is comprised of wetland (55 percent), crop and pastureland (28 percent), woodland (12 percent), roads (three percent) and settlement areas (two percent) and (at 67 percent) is below the recommended target to maintain a minimum 30 metre wide, naturally vegetated buffer along at least 75 percent of the length of both sides of rivers, creeks and streams
• Altered instream and riparian conditions exist along Black Creek and some tributaries
• Emerald ash borer poses a significant threat to the ecology of the subwatershed, given the prominence of ash trees along shorelines and in riparian and wetland areas. Many tree stands are predominantly ash and with their anticipated loss, it is unclear what will replace them and the overall effect of their collective demise on the physical and natural functions/values they provide for erosion, water quality and fish and wildlife habitat

Land Cover

• The catchment contains 2906 ha of unevaluated wetland (occupying 22 percent of its total area) that provides many important social, hydrological, biological and ecological functions/services. Although not under imminent threat from development activity, they do remain vulnerable to drainage and land clearing activities in the absence of any regulatory and planning controls that would otherwise protect them

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7. Opportunities/Actions

Water Quality

• Investigate the source of pollutants along Black Creek and its tributaries
• Implement agricultural and residential best management practices to address the elevated nutrient concentrations, occasional high bacterial counts and metal exceedances on Black Creek by restricting livestock access to the creek, limiting the use of fertilizers and pesticide applications and improving or maintaining a shoreline buffer
• Continue to offer the suite of water quality improvement projects provided by the Rideau Valley Rural Clean Water Program to landowners
• Continue to protect Black Creek and its tributaries through implementation of municipal and agency land use planning and development policies and practices

Shorelines/Headwaters

• Continue to promote the Rideau Valley Shoreline Naturalization and Tree Planting Programs to landowners
• RVCA and its partners (Beckwith Township, Township of Drummond/North Elmsley, Township of Montague) are to continue educating landowners about the value and importance of headwater drainage features, natural shorelines and waterfront property best management practices with respect to shoreline use and development, septic system installation and maintenance and shoreline vegetation retention and enhancement
• Protect the riparian buffer along the shoreline of Black Creek and other catchment streams (headwaters) during the development approvals process through adherence to and enforcement of municipal land-use policies and zoning standards
• Target shoreline restoration at sites identified in this report (shown as “Other riparian land cover” in Figure 16 and “Potential Riparian/Shoreline Restoration” in Figure 54) and explore other restoration and enhancement opportunities along Black Creek and its tributaries 

Development

• Collectively work with approval authorities (Beckwith Township, Township of Drummond/North Elmsley, Township of Montague, Conservation Authority) to consistently implement current land use planning and development policies for water quality and shoreline protection adjacent to Black Creek and other catchment streams (e.g., a minimum 30 metre development setback from water)
• Explore ways and means to more effectively enforce and implement conditions of land-use planning and development approval to achieve net environmental gains (particularly with respect to rehabilitating or protecting naturally vegetated shorelines and water quality)
• Municipalities and agencies are encouraged to strengthen natural heritage and water resources official plan policies and zoning provisions (water setbacks, frontage and naturalized shorelines and wetland protection) where deemed appropriate
• Utilize RVCA subwatershed and catchment reports to help develop/revise official plan policies to protect surface water resources and the natural environment (including woodlands, wetlands and shoreline cover)
• Consider establishing RVCA regulations limits to protect additional wetlands

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Full Catchment Report

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Middle Rideau Subwatershed Report 2015

DALES CREEK CATCHMENT

The RVCA produces individual reports for ten catchments in the Middle Rideau subwatershed. Using data collected and analysed by the RVCA through its watershed monitoring and land cover classification programs, surface water quality conditions are reported for Dales Creek along with a summary of environmental conditions for the surrounding countryside every six years.

This information is used to better understand the effects of human activity on our water resources, allows us to better track environmental change over time and helps focus watershed management actions where they are needed the most to help sustain the ecosystem services (cultural, aesthetic and recreational values; provisioning of food, fuel and clean water; regulation of erosion/natural hazard protection and water purification; supporting nutrient/water cycling and habitat provision) provided by the catchment’s lands and forests and waters (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005).

The following pages of this report are a compilation of that work and contain information on surface water quality, riparian conditions, land cover, stewardship activity and hazard land and water resources protection.

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1. Catchment Facts

General Geography

• The Rideau River flows through the heart of the Middle Rideau and is a focal point for residents and visitors to the area. It extends from the outlet of Lower Rideau Lake at Poonamalie (where there is one dam and one lock) to Burritts Rapids (where there is also a dam and lock), at which point it enters the Lower Rideau on its way to Rideau Falls. The Rideau River is also an integral part of the Rideau Canal National Historic Site of Canada and is a significant tourist attraction which draws boaters, cottagers, and campers to the area
• Smiths Falls, Merrickville and Burritts Rapids are the main urban settlements in the Middle Rideau subwatershed. The Dales Creek catchment is predominantly rural in character with agriculture being the main land use
• Parks Canada staff manage water levels for recreational purposes along the Rideau Canal/Waterway that flows by the catchment, ensuring 1.5 metres of draft during the navigation season. In this managed system, water levels on the Rideau Canal are manipulated by operation of numerous dams. In the Middle Rideau subwatershed, Parks Canada staff operate 9 dam and lock complexes with 13 locks for a fall of 36.2 metres over 35.6 kilometres. Water levels are maintained as close as possible to set objectives through the May to October navigation season. The levels are lowered through the rest of October and into November and held at the winter levels until the spring freshet in late March or early April naturally increases inflows to the system. To reduce the impact of the higher flows in the spring, the amount of snow water equivalent, forecast rain, ice cover, flows and levels are assessed and the dams in the Middle Rideau reach are operated accordingly to quickly pass as much water as possible. In late April and early May, the dams are gradually closed and water levels are brought up to be ready, once again, for the navigation season

Physical Geography

• All of Dales Creek Catchment and the rest of the Middle Rideau Subwatershed primarily resides within the Smith Falls Limestone Plain, which in this area, happens to consist of Paleozoic dolostone of the Oxford Formation. The bedrock across the catchment is mainly overlain by a thin veneer of glacial sediment, referred to as ‘drift’ that is generally less than a metre in thickness; the landscape is also dotted with organic soils and some glacial till
• Seventy-nine percent of the catchment lies within the Village of Merrickville-Wolford and 21 percent within the Municipality of North Grenville
• Dales Creek catchment drainage area is 39 square kilometres and occupies about five percent of the Middle Rideau subwatershed and one percent of the Rideau Valley watershed

Vulnerable Areas

• The Assessment Report developed under the Ontario Clean Water Act identifies the upper bedrock aquifer underlying all of the catchment area as a Highly Vulnerable Aquifer, although, where sediments are thicker in a local area, the vulnerability would be less. It also identifies the northern half of the catchment being within the Wellhead Protection Area of the Town of Kemptville municipal wells

Development/Trends

• Land uses in the catchment within the Village of Merrickville-Wolford are Rural and Wetland with some Agriculture and Aggregate Resource; within the Municipality of North Grenville, land uses are Rural and Agriculture with some Provincially Significant Wetland

Conditions at a Glance

Water Quality

• Surface chemistry water quality rating in Dales Creek is “Fair” over two reporting periods (2003-2008 and 2009-2014). Elevated bacterial counts and nutrient concentrations from inflows of nutrients (from private septic systems, agricultural and residential surface water runoff) are occasionally a feature of Dales Creek. Decreased nutrient and bacterial counts are needed to improve the overall health of the creek
• Instream (biological) water quality conditions at the Dales Creek sample location range from “Poor” to “Good” from 2003 to 2014 (using a grading scheme developed by Ontario Conservation Authorities in Ontario for benthic invertebrates) with an overall benthic invertebrate water quality rating of “Poor” to “Good” determined for this period

Instream and Riparian

• Overall instream and riparian condition for the Dales creek catchment as assessed by the stream characterization and headwater drainage feature assessment programs show that Dales Creek and its tributaries are in generally good condition. The majority of the system has low erosion levels, a healthy riparian corridor with good instream diversity of aquatic habitat. An opportunity was identified along one of the headwater drainage features to enhance riparian habitat conditions
• The Dales Creek catchment has 24 species of recreational and bait fish and is classified as having a warm/cool/cold water thermal guild that supports the Dales Creek/Rideau River fishery
• In the Dales Creek catchment, the riparian buffer (30 m. wide strip along the shoreline of all lakes and streams) is comprised of wetland (72 percent), woodland (13 percent), crop and pastureland (12 percent), roads (two percent) and settlement areas (one percent)

Land Cover

• Dominant land cover is woodland (43 percent) and wetland (32 percent) followed by crop and pastureland (19 percent), settlement areas (three percent), roads (two percent) and aggregate (one percent). From 2008 to 2014, there was an overall change of 64 hectares (from one land cover class to another). Within the Dales Creek catchment, change is primarily associated with wetland encroaching into woodland and the transitioning of crop and pastureland to woodland and conversion to settlement
• Woodland cover in the catchment has decreased by 13 hectares between 2008 and 2014 and interior forest habitat has decreased by 38 hectares
• Wetland cover has increased by one percent (22 ha) from pre-settlement times to the present and now occupies 32 percent of the catchment area

Other

• There are approximately 197 in-use water wells with provincial records in this catchment. While most water wells are used for domestic water supply many are used for agricultural activities in this catchment; and several are also used for commercial, industrial, and public water supplies or heating and cooling
• There are two active bedrock quarry licenses in the catchment and one active Permit to Take Water for dewatering at a local bedrock quarry located along the northern catchment boundary and no active Environmental Compliance Approvals. There is one active sand and gravel pit and several closed pits and a small reserve of material of secondary significance

Catchment Care

• Six stewardship projects have been completed with assistance from the RVCA’s Rural Clean Water and Tree Planting Programs (see Section 5 of this report for details)
• Dales Creek surface water quality has been monitored by the RVCA through its Baseline Monitoring Program since 2003. The surface water quality at site DAL-01 is monitored once a month from April to November
• RVCA has been collecting benthic invertebrates in Dales Creek at the Haskins Road site since 2003
• RVCA conducted a fish survey along Dales Creek in 2014
• RVCA completed a stream characterization survey on Dales Creek in 2014, working upstream to the headwaters from the mouth of the creek where it empties into the Rideau River taking measurements and recording observations on instream habitat, bank stability, other attributes and preparing a temperature profile
• RVCA completed seven headwater drainage feature assessments at road crossings in the Dales Creek catchment in 2014. This protocol measures zero and first order headwater drainage features and is a rapid assessment method characterizing the amount of water, sediment transport, and storage capacity within headwater drainage features
• A watershed model developed by the RVCA in 2009 was used to study the hydrologic function of wetlands in the Rideau Valley Watershed, including those found in the Dales Creek catchment
• The Village of Merrickville-Wolford and Municipality of North Grenville have land use planning policies and zoning provisions - on water setbacks, frontage and naturalized shorelines and wetland protection - and in some instances use site plan control to implement these policies and provisions. Together with RVCA, these municipalities work with landowners on a case by case basis to enable new development while ensuring the scale is suitable on the lot, impacts on neighbours are minimized and development maximizes the watercourse setback
• Development in and adjacent to the Wolford Bog Provincially Significant Wetland in the catchment is subject to Ontario Regulation 174-06 (entitled “Development, Interference with Wetlands and Alterations to Shorelines and Watercourses”) that protects the hydrologic function of the wetland and also protects landowners and their property from natural hazards (flooding, fluctuating water table, unstable soils) associated with them

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2. Surface Water Quality Conditions

Surface water quality conditions in the Dales Creek catchment are monitored by the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority’s (RVCA) Baseline Water Quality Monitoring Program. The Baseline Water Quality Program focuses on streams; data is collected for 22 parameters including nutrients (total phosphorus, total Kjeldahl nitrogen and ammonia), E. coli, metals (like aluminum and copper) and additional chemical/physical parameters (such as alkalinity, chlorides, pH and total suspended solids). Figure 1 shows the location of the monitoring site in the catchment. 

Dales Creek Water Quality

Water Quality Rating

The water quality ratings for the Dales Creek catchment is “Fair” (Table 1) as determined by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) Water Quality Index and is largely influenced by high nutrient concentrations, metals and high bacterial counts. A "Fair" rating indicates that water quality is usually protected but is occasionally threatened or impaired; conditions sometimes depart from natural or desirable levels. Each parameter is evaluated against established guidelines to determine water quality conditions. Those parameters that frequently exceed guidelines are presented below. Analysis of the data has been broken into two periods; 2003 to 2008 and 2009 to 2014 for the stream monitoring site located on Dales Creek (DAL-01) to examine if conditions have changed between these periods. Table 1 shows the overall rating for the monitored surface water quality site within the Dales Creek catchment and Table 2 outlines the Water Quality Index (WQI) scores and their corresponding ratings.

Nutrients

Total phosphorus (TP) is used as a primary indicator of excessive nutrient loading and may contribute to abundant aquatic vegetation growth and depleted dissolved oxygen levels. The Provincial Water Quality Objective (PWQO) is used as the TP Guideline and states that in streams concentrations greater than 0.030 mg/l indicate an excessive amount of TP.

Total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) and ammonia (NH3) are used as secondary indicators of nutrient loadings. RVCA uses a guideline of 0.500 mg/l to assess TKN^[1] and the PWQO of 0.020 mg/l to assess NH3 concentrations in Dales Creek.

Tables 3, 4 and 5 summarize average nutrient concentrations at monitored sites within the Creek catchment and show the proportion of results that meet the guidelines.

Elevated TP results were an occasional occurrence in the 2003-2008 and 2009-2014 monitoring periods at site DAL-01. The 2009-2014 monitoring period saw a marginal improvement with less exceedances. Site DAL-01 had 83 percent of samples that were below the guideline in the 2003-2008 period (Figure 2); this increased to 89 percent of samples in the 2009-2014 period (Figure 3). The average TP concentration for both reporting periods were below the PWQO which slightly decreased from 0.021 mg/l to 0.020 mg/l (Table 3).

Figure 2 Total Phosphorous concentrations in Dales Creek, 2003-2008

Figure 3 Total phosphorous concentrations in Dales Creek, 2009-2014

 

TKN concentrations show that the bulk of results exceeded the guideline (Figures 4 and 5); there were few samples (15 percent) below the guideline in the 2003-2008 period and this slightly increased to 19 percent in the 2009-2014 period. The average concentration was generally elevated and increased from 0.663 mg/l to 0.737 mg/l (Table 8).

Figure 4 Total Kjeldahl nitrogen concentrations in Dales Creek, 2003-2008

Figure 5 Total Kjeldahl nitrogen concentrations in Dales Creek, 2009-2014

 

Occasional elevated nutrients were observed in NH3 data. The proportion of results that were below the guideline were 82 percent in 2003-2008 (Figure 6); this decreased to 75 percent in the 2009-2014 reporting periods (Figure 7). The average NH3 concentration slightly increased from 0.007 mg/l to 0.008 mg/l (Table 5).

Figure 6 Ammonia concentrations in Dales Creek, 2003-2008

Figure 7 Ammonia concentrations in Dales Creek, 2009-2014

 

Summary

The data shows that nutrient enrichment is a feature of Dales Creek. Total phosphorous and NH3 occasionally exceed the guidelines while TKN concentrations frequently exceeded the guideline. Elevated TKN concentrations may be influenced by organic matter held by wetland areas found upstream in the Middle Rideau Subwatershed, resulting in naturally high concentrations of organic nitrogen. High nutrient concentrations can help stimulate the growth of algae blooms and other aquatic vegetation in a waterbody and deplete oxygen levels as the vegetation dies off. It is important to reduce human impacts wherever possible. Strategies to reduce nutrient inputs may include diversion of runoff to the creek and enhanced shoreline buffers.

E. Coli

E. coli is used as an indicator of bacterial pollution from human or animal waste; in elevated concentrations it can pose a risk to human health. The PWQO of 100 colony forming units/100 millilitres (CFU/100 ml) is used. E. coli counts greater than this guideline indicate that bacterial contamination may be a problem within a waterbody.

Table 6 summarizes the geometric mean^[2] for the monitored site on Dales Creek and shows the proportion of samples that meet the E. coli guideline of 100 CFU/100 ml. The results of the geometric mean with respect to the guideline for the two periods, 2003-2008 and 2009- 2014, are shown in Figures 8 and 9 respectively.

E. coli results at site DAL-01 indicate bacterial counts are occasionally above the E. coli guideline. The proportion of samples below the guideline increased from 34 percent (Figure 8) to 51 percent (Figure 9). E.coli counts decreased slightly between the two monitoring periods (2003-2008 and 2009-2014) with a geometric mean of 81 CFU/100ml to 79 CFU/100ml (Table 6).

Figure 8 Geometric mean of E.coli counts in Dales Creek, 2003-2008

Figure 9 Geometric mean of E.coli counts in Dales Creek, 2009-2014

 

Summary

This data shows that E.coli results occasionally exceed the guidelines at site DAL-01 in Dales Creek. The geometric mean is below the PWQO for both monitoring periods and there has been a decrease in E.coli counts between 2003-2008 and 2009-2014. Properly maintaining septic systems, enhancing shoreline buffers and restricting cattle access can help to improve E.coli levels in Dales Creek.

Metals

Of the metals routinely monitored in Dales Creek, aluminum (Al), iron (Fe) and copper (Cu) occasionally reported concentrations above their respective PWQOs. In elevated concentrations, these metals can have toxic effects on sensitive aquatic species.

Tables 7, 8 and 9 summarize metal concentrations at site DAL-01 and show the proportion of samples that meet guidelines. Figures 10 to 15 show metal concentrations with respect to the guidelines for the two periods of interest, 2003–2008 and 2009–2014. For Al, the PWQO is 0.075 mg/l, Cu it is 0.005 mg/l and Fe it is 0.300 mg/l.

Results from DAL-01 show that Al concentrations had few exceedances with 85 percent of samples below the guideline in the 2003-2008 period (Figure 10). This improved to 100 percent of samples in the 2009-2014 period (Figure 11). The average concentration of Al was 0.046 mg/l from 2003-2008 and 0.010 mg/l from 2009-2014 which are both below the guideline. 

Figure 10 Average aluminum concentrations in Dales Creek, 2003-2008 

Figure 11 Average aluminum concentrations in Dales Creek, 2009-2014

 

Copper concentrations occasionally exceeded the PWQO, with 89 percent of samples below the guideline in 2003-2008 (Figure 12). This decreased to 84 percent of samples being below the guideline in 2009-2014 (Figure 13). The average concentration of Cu was 0.002 mg/l for both reporting periods (Table 8). 

Figure 12 Average copper concentrations in Dales Creek, 2003-2008

Figure 13 Average copper concentrations in Dales Creek, 2009-2014

 

Iron concentrations also surpassed the PWQO guideline. The proportion of samples below the guideline increased from 89 percent to 96 percent (Figures 14 and 15). Although there were observed exceedances, the average concentration did not exceed the guideline in both monitoring periods; 0.225 mg/l in 2003-2008 and .071 mg/l in 2009-2014. 

Figure 14 Average iron concentrations in Dales Creek, 2003-2008

Figure 15 Average iron concentrations in Dales Creek, 2009-2014

Summary

Overall, a general decline in metal concentrations was observed between the two periods of interest, with the exception of copper which slightly increased. Efforts should continue to be made to identify pollution sources and implement best management practices to reduce any inputs such as runoff, metal alloys, fungicides and pesticides to improve overall stream health and lessen downstream impacts.

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3. Riparian Conditions

Shoreline Buffer Land Cover Evaluation

The riparian or shoreline zone is that special area where the land meets the water. Well-vegetated shorelines are critically important in protecting water quality and creating healthy aquatic habitats, lakes and rivers. Natural shorelines intercept sediments and contaminants that could impact water quality conditions and harm fish habitat in streams. Well established buffers protect the banks against erosion, improve habitat for fish by shading and cooling the water and provide protection for birds and other wildlife that feed and rear young near water. A recommended target (from Environment Canada’s Guideline: How Much Habitat is Enough?) is to maintain a minimum 30 meter wide vegetated buffer along at least 75 percent of the length of both sides of rivers, creeks and streams.

Figure 16 shows the extent of the naturally vegetated riparian zone along a 30 metre strip of the shoreline of Dales Creek and its tributaries. This information is derived from a dataset developed by the RVCA’s Land Cover Classification Program through heads-up digitization of 20cm DRAPE ortho-imagery at a 1:4000 scale, which details the catchment landscape using 10 land cover classes.

This analysis shows that the riparian buffer in the Dales Creek catchment is comprised of wetland (72 percent), woodland (13 percent), crop and pastureland (12 percent), roads (two percent) and settlement areas (one percent). Additional statistics for the Dales Creek catchment are presented in Table 10 and show that there has been very little change in shoreline cover from 2008 to 2014.

Dales Creek Overbank Zone

Riparian Buffer Width Evaluation

Figure 17 demonstrates the buffer conditions of the left and right banks separately. Dales Creek had a buffer of greater than 30 meters along 95 percent of the right bank and 89 percent of the left bank (Figure 17).

Adjacent Land Use

The RVCA’s Stream Characterization Program identifies seven different land uses beside Dales Creek (Figure 18). Surrounding land use is considered from the beginning to end of the survey section (100m) and up to 100m on each side of the creek. Land use outside of this area is not considered for the surveys but is nonetheless part of the subwatershed and will influence the creek. Natural areas made up 96 percent of the stream, characterized by wetlands, forest, scrubland and meadow. The remaining land use consisted of pasture, residential and infrastructure in the form of road crossings.

Dales Creek Shoreline Zone

Instream Erosion

Erosion is a normal, important stream process and may not affect actual bank stability; however, excessive erosion and deposition of sediment within a stream can have a detrimental effect on important fish and wildlife habitat.  Poor bank stability can greatly contribute to the amount of sediment carried in a waterbody as well as loss of bank vegetation due to bank failure, resulting in trees falling into the stream and the potential to impact instream migration.   Figure 19 shows low levels of erosion are dominant along Dales Creek.

Undercut Stream Banks

Undercut banks are a normal and natural part of stream function and can provide excellent refuge areas for fish. Figure 20 shows that Dales Creek was dominated by low levels of undercut banks with an area in the middle reach having high levels of undercut banks.

Stream Shading

Grasses, shrubs and trees all contribute towards shading a stream. Shade is important in moderating stream temperature, contributing to food supply and helping with nutrient reduction within a stream. Figure 21 shows highly variable stream shading conditions ranging from low levels to high levels along Dales Creek.

Instream Woody Debris

Figure 22 shows that the majority of Dales Creek had low to moderate levels of instream woody debris in the form of branches and trees. Instream woody debris is important for fish and benthic invertebrate habitat, by providing refuge and feeding areas.

Overhanging Trees and Branches

Figure 23 shows low to moderate levels of overhanging branches and trees along Dales Creek. Overhanging branches and trees provide a food source, nutrients and shade which helps to moderate instream water temperatures.

Anthropogenic Alterations

Figure 24 shows 81 percent of Dales Creek remains “unaltered” with no anthropogenic alterations.   Nineteen percent of Dales Creek was classified as natural with minor anthropogenic changes in the form of road crossings. 

Instream Aquatic Habitat

Benthic Invertebrates

Freshwater benthic invertebrates are animals without backbones that live on the stream bottom and include crustaceans such as crayfish, molluscs and immature forms of aquatic insects. Benthos represent an extremely diverse group of aquatic animals and exhibit wide ranges of responses to stressors such as organic pollutants, sediments and toxicants, which allows scientists to use them as bioindicators.  As part of the Ontario Benthic Biomonitoring Network (OBBN), the RVCA has been collecting benthic invertebrates at the Haskins Road site on Dales Creek since 2003. Monitoring data is analyzed for each sample site and the results are presented using the Family Biotic Index, Family Richness and percent Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera.

The Hilsenhoff Family Biotic Index (FBI) is an indicator of organic and nutrient pollution and provides an estimate of water quality conditions for each site using established pollution tolerance values for benthic invertebrates. FBI results for Dales Creek are separated by reporting period 2003 to 2008 and 2009 to 2014.  “Poor” to “Excellent” water quality conditions being observed at the Dales Creek sample location for the period from 2003 to 2014 (Fig.25) using a grading scheme developed by Conservation Authorities in Ontario for benthic invertebrates.

Family Richness measures the health of the community through its diversity and increases with increasing habitat diversity suitability and healthy water quality conditions. Family Richness is equivalent to the total number of benthic invertebrate families found within a sample.   Dales Creek is reported to have “Fair” to “Good” family richness (Fig.26).

Ephemeroptera (Mayflies), Plecoptera (Stoneflies), and Trichoptera (Caddisflies) are species considered to be very sensitive to poor water quality conditions. High abundance of these organisms is generally an indication of good water quality conditions at a sample location.  During certain sampling years the community structure has a relatively high number of species that are sensitive to poor water quality conditions.  As a result, the EPT indicates that Dales Creek is reported to have “Poor” to “Good” water quality (Fig.27) from 2003 to 2014.

Conclusion

Overall Dales Creek aquatic habitat conditions from a benthic invertebrate perspective are highly variable ranging from “Poor” to “Good” from 2003 to 2014.

Habitat Complexity

Streams are naturally meandering systems and move over time; there are varying degrees of habitat complexity, depending on the creek. Examples of habitat complexity include variable habitat types such as pools and riffles as well as substrate variability and woody debris structure.  A high percentage of habitat complexity (heterogeneity) typically increases the biodiversity of aquatic organisms within a system. One hundred percent of Dales Creek was considered heterogeneous, as shown in Figure 28.

Instream Substrate

Diverse substrate is important for fish and benthic invertebrate habitat because some species have specific substrate requirements and for example will only reproduce on certain types of substrate.  Figure 29 shows that 29 percent of the substrate observed on Dales Creek was dominated by bedrock.  Overall substrate conditions were highly variable along Dales Creek.  Figure 30 shows the dominant substrate type observed for each section surveyed along Dales Creek.

Cobble and Boulder Habitat

Boulders create instream cover and back eddies for large fish to hide and/or rest out of the current.  Cobble provides important spawning habitat for certain fish species like walleye and various shiner species who are an important food source for larger fish.  Cobble can also provide habitat conditions for benthic invertebrates that are a key food source for many fish and wildlife species.  Figure 31 shows where cobble and boulder substrate are found in Dales Creek.

Instream Morphology

Pools and riffles are important habitat features for fish. Riffles are areas of agitated water and they contribute higher dissolved oxygen to the stream and act as spawning substrate for some species of fish, such as walleye. Pools provide shelter for fish and can be refuge pools in the summer if water levels drop and water temperature in the creek increases. Pools also provide important over wintering areas for fish. Runs are usually moderately shallow, with unagitated surfaces of water and areas where the thalweg (deepest part of the channel) is in the center of the channel. Figure 32 shows that Dales Creek is highly variable; 64 percent consists of runs, 22 percent riffles and 15 percent pools. Figure 33 shows where riffle habitat was observed along Dales Creek.

Vegetation Type

Instream vegetation provides a variety of functions and is a critical component of the aquatic ecosystem.  For example emergent plants along the shoreline can provide shoreline protection from wave action and important rearing habitat for species of waterfowl.  Submerged plants provide habitat for fish to find shelter from predator fish while they feed.  Floating plants such as water lilies shade the water and can keep temperatures cool while reducing algae growth.  The dominant vegetation type recorded at thirty six percent consisted of algae. Dales Creek had high levels of diversity for instream vegetation. Figure 34 depicts the plant community structure for Dales Creek. Figure 35 shows the dominant vegetation type observed for each section surveyed along Dales Creek.

Instream Vegetation Abundance

Instream vegetation is an important factor for a healthy stream ecosystem. Vegetation helps to remove contaminants from the water, contributes oxygen to the stream, and provides habitat for fish and wildlife. Too much vegetation can also be detrimental. Figure 36 demonstrates that Dales Creek had common and normal low levels of instream vegetation for only 34 percent of its length.  Low, rare and no vegetation was dominate for a total of 65 percent of stream sections.  Part of the reason for low levels of vegetation could be due to a high percentage of the stream bottom consisting of bedrock which does not allow aquatic vegetation to become established.

Invasive Species

Invasive species can have major implications on streams and species diversity. Invasive species are one of the largest threats to ecosystems throughout Ontario and can out compete native species, having negative effects on local wildlife, fish and plant populations. One hundred percent of the sections surveyed along Dales Creek had invasive species (Figure 37). The invasive species observed in Dales Creek were European frogbit, purple loosestrife, glossy and common buckthorn, curly leafed pondweed, flowering rush, Eurasian milfoil and Manitoba maple.  Figure 38 shows the frequency of the invasive species observed along Dales Creek.

Water Chemistry

During the stream characterization survey, a YSI probe is used to collect water chemistry information.  Dissolved oxygen, conductivity and pH are measured at the start and end of each section.

Dissolved Oxygen

Dissolved oxygen is a measure of the amount of oxygen dissolved in water. The Canadian Environmental Quality Guidelines of the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) suggest that for the protection of aquatic life the lowest acceptable dissolved oxygen concentration should be 6 mg/L for warmwater biota and 9.5 mg/L for coldwater biota (CCME, 1999).  Figure 39 shows that the dissolved oxygen in Dales Creek was within the threshold for warmwater biota in most reaches of the system, however areas in the headwaters were below the warmwater threshold.  The average dissolved oxygen levels observed within the main stem of Dales Creek was 6. 29mg/L which is within the recommended levels for warmwater biota.

Conductivity

Conductivity in streams is primarily influenced by the geology of the surrounding environment, but can vary drastically as a function of surface water runoff. Currently there are no CCME guideline standards for stream conductivity; however readings which are outside the normal range observed within the system are often an indication of unmitigated discharge and/or stormwater input. The average conductivity observed within the main stem of Dales Creek was 354 µs/cm. Figure 40 shows the conductivity readings for Dales Creek.

pH

Based on the PWQO for pH, a range of 6.5 to 8.5 should be maintained for the protection of aquatic life. Average pH values for Dales Creek averaged 7.95 thereby meeting the provincial standard.

Thermal Regime

Many factors can influence fluctuations in stream temperature, including springs, tributaries, precipitation runoff, discharge pipes and stream shading from riparian vegetation. Water temperature is used along with the maximum air temperature (using the Stoneman and Jones method) to classify a watercourse as either warm water, cool water or cold water. Figure 42 shows the locations of the thermal sampling sites along Dales Creek.  Analysis of the data collected indicates that Dales Creek is classified as a cool water system with cool to warm water reaches (Figure 43). 

Each point on the graph represents a temperature that meets the following criteria:

• Sampling dates between July 1st and September 7th
• Sampling date is preceded by two consecutive days above 24.5 °C, with no rain
• Water temperatures are collected at 4pm
• Air temperature is recorded as the max temperature for that day

Groundwater

Groundwater discharge areas can influence stream temperature, contribute nutrients, and provide important stream habitat for fish and other biota. During stream surveys, indicators of groundwater discharge are noted when observed. Indicators include: springs/seeps, watercress, iron staining, significant temperature change and rainbow mineral film.  Figure 44 shows areas where one or more of the above groundwater indicators were observed during stream surveys and headwater assessments.

Headwaters Drainage Features Assessment 

The RVCA Stream Characterization program assessed Headwater Drainage Features for the Middle Rideau subwatershed in 2014. This protocol measures zero, first and second order headwater drainage features (HDF).  It is a rapid assessment method characterizing the amount of water, sediment transport, and storage capacity within headwater drainage features (HDF). RVCA is working with other Conservation Authorities and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry to implement the protocol with the goal of providing standard datasets to support science development and monitoring of headwater drainage features.  An HDF is a depression in the land that conveys surface flow. Additionally, this module provides a means of characterizing the connectivity, form and unique features associated with each HDF (OSAP Protocol, 2013). In 2014 the program sampled 7 sites at road crossings in the Dales Creek catchment area. Figure 45 spring photos of two sample locations in the Dales Creek catchment from 2014.

Feature Type

The headwater sampling protocol assesses the feature type in order to understand the function of each feature.  The evaluation includes the following classifications: defined natural channel, channelized or constrained, multi-thread, no defined feature, tiled, wetland, swale, roadside ditch and pond outlet.  By assessing the values associated with the headwater drainage features in the catchment area we can understand the ecosystem services that they provide to the watershed in the form of hydrology, sediment transport, and aquatic and terrestrial functions.  The Dales Creek catchment is dominated by natural channel and wetland headwater drainage features.  One feature was classified as having been channelized.  Figure 46 shows the feature type of the primary feature at the sampling locations.

Headwater Feature Flow

The observed flow condition within headwater drainage features can be highly variable depending on timing relative to the spring freshet, recent rainfall, soil moisture, etc.  Flow conditions are assessed in the spring and in the summer to determine if features are perennial and flow year round, if they are intermittent and dry up during the summer months or if they are ephemeral systems that do not flow regularly and generally respond to specific rainstorm events or snowmelt.  Flow conditions in headwater systems can change from year to year depending on local precipitation patterns.  Figure 47 shows the observed flow conditions at the sampling locations in the Dales Creek catchment.

Feature Channel Modifications

Channel modifications were assessed at each headwater drainage feature sampling location.  Modifications include channelization, dredging, hardening and realignments.  The sampling locations for the Dales Creek catchment area were classified as having no channel modifications.  Figure 48 shows the channel modifications observed at the sampling locations for Dales Creek.

Headwater Feature Vegetation

Headwater feature vegetation evaluates the type of vegetation that is found within the drainage feature.  The type of vegetated within the channel influences the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem values that the feature provides.  For some types of headwater features the vegetation within the feature plays a very important role in flow and sediment movement and provides wildlife habitat.  The following classifications are evaluated no vegetation, lawn, wetland, meadow, scrubland and forest.  The features assessed in the Dales Creek catchment were classified as having wetland or meadow vegetation in the feature.  Figure 49. Depicts the dominant vegetation observed at the sampled headwater sites in the Dales Creek catchment.

Headwater Feature Riparian Vegetation

Headwater riparian vegetation evaluates the type of vegetation that is found along the adjacent lands of a headwater drainage feature.  The type of vegetation within the riparian corridor influences the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem values that the feature provides to the watershed.  The majority of the sample locations in Dales Creek were dominated by natural vegetation in the form of meadow, scrubland, forest and wetland vegetation.  Figure 50. Depicts the type of riparian vegetation observed at the sampled headwater sites in the Dales Creek catchment.

Headwater Feature Sediment Deposition

Assessing the amount of recent sediment deposited in a channel provides an index of the degree to which the feature could be transporting sediment to downstream reaches (OSAP, 2013).  Evidence of excessive sediment deposition might indicate the requirement to follow up with more detailed targeted assessments upstream of the site location to identify potential best management practices to be implemented.  Conditions ranged from no deposition observed to a site with substantial deposition recorded.  Overall the sites had minimal to moderate levels of sediment deposition.  Figure 51. Depicts the degree of sediment deposition observed at the sampled headwater sites in the Dales Creek catchment.

Headwater Feature Upstream Roughness

Feature roughness will provide a measure of the amount of materials within the bankfull channel that could slow down the velocity of water flowing within the headwater feature (OSAP, 2013).  Materials on the channel bottom that provide roughness include vegetation, woody debris and boulders/cobble substrates.  Roughness can provide benefits in mitigating downstream erosion on the headwater drainage feature and the receiving watercourse by reducing velocities.  Roughness also provides important habitat conditions to aquatic organisms. The sample locations in the Dales Creek catchment area had variable roughness conditions ranging from extreme to minimal levels.  Figure 52 shows the feature roughness conditions at the sampling locations in the Dales Creek catchment.

Fish Community

The Dales Creek catchment is classified as a mixed community of warm and cool water recreational and baitfish fishery with 24 species observed.  Table 11 lists those species observed in the catchment (Source: RVCA).  Figure 53 depicts the fish sampling locations along Dales Creek.

Migratory Obstructions

It is important to know locations of migratory obstructions because these can prevent fish from accessing important spawning and rearing habitat. Migratory obstructions can be natural or manmade, and they can be permanent or seasonal. Figure 54 shows that Dales Creek had several beaver dams at the time of the survey in 2014.

Riparian Restoration

Figure 55 depicts the location of a riparian restoration opportunity as a result of observations made during the stream survey and headwater drainage feature assessments.

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4. Land Cover

Land cover and any change in coverage that has occurred over a six year period is summarized for the Dales Creek catchment using spatially continuous vector data representing the catchment during the spring of 2008 and 2014. This dataset was developed by the RVCA through heads-up digitization of 20cm DRAPE ortho-imagery at a 1:4000 scale and details the surrounding landscape using 10 land cover classes. 

As shown in Table 12, the dominant land cover types in 2008 and 2014 were woodland along with wetland.

From 2008 to 2014, there was an overall change of 64 hectares from one land cover class to another. Change within the Dales Creek catchment is primarily associated with wetland encroaching into woodland and the transitioning of crop and pastureland to woodland and conversion to settlement (see Figure 56 for the location of the major changes).

Table 13 shows the type of land cover change that has taken place between land cover classes/types from 2008 to 2014. Overall, the net area of crop and pasture change (loss) is relatively small at 24 hectares relative to the remaining area of crop and pasture in the catchment (as of 2014). Similarly, the net area of woodland change (loss) is very small at 17 hectares relative to the remaining area of woodland in the catchment (as of 2014).

Woodland Cover

In the Environment Canada Guideline (Third Edition) entitled “How Much Habitat Is Enough?” (hereafter referred to as the “Guideline”) the opening narrative under the Forest Habitat Guidelines section states that prior to European settlement, forest was the predominant habitat in the Mixedwood Plains ecozone. The remnants of this once vast forest now exist in a fragmented state in many areas (including the Rideau Valley watershed) with woodland patches of various sizes distributed across the settled landscape along with higher levels of forest cover associated with features such as the Frontenac Axis (within the on-Shield areas of the Rideau Lakes and Tay River subwatersheds). The forest legacy, in terms of the many types of wildlife species found, overall species richness, ecological functions provided and ecosystem complexity is still evident in the patches and regional forest matrices (found in the Middle Rideau subwatershed and elsewhere in the Rideau Valley watershed). These ecological features are in addition to other influences which forests have on water quality and stream hydrology including reducing soil erosion, producing oxygen, storing carbon along with many other ecological services that are essential not only for wildlife but for human well-being.

The Guideline also notes that forests provide a great many habitat niches that are in turn occupied by a great diversity of plant and animal species. They provide food, water and shelter for these species - whether they are breeding and resident locally or using forest cover to help them move across the landscape. This diversity of species includes many that are considered to be species at risk. Furthermore, from a wildlife perspective, there is increasing evidence that the total forest cover in a given area is a major predictor of the persistence and size of bird populations, and it is possible or perhaps likely that this pattern extends to other flora and fauna groups. The overall effect of a decrease in forest cover on birds in fragmented landscapes is that certain species disappear and many of the remaining ones become rare, or fail to reproduce, while species adapted to more open and successional habitats, as well as those that are more tolerant to human-induced disturbances in general, are able to persist and in some cases thrive. Species with specialized-habitat requirements are most likely to be adversely affected. The overall pattern of distribution of forest cover, the shape, area and juxtaposition of remaining forest patches and the quality of forest cover also play major roles in determining how valuable forests will be to wildlife and people alike.

The current science generally supports minimum forest habitat requirements between 30 and 50 percent, with some limited evidence that the upper limit may be even higher, depending on the organism/species phenomenon under investigation or land-use/resource management planning regime being considered/used.

As shown in Figure 57, 47 percent of the Dales Creek catchment contains 1659 hectares of upland forest and 182 hectares of lowland forest (treed swamps) versus the 34 percent of woodland cover in the Middle Rideau subwatershed. This is greater than the 30 percent of forest cover that is identified as the minimum threshold required to sustain forest birds according to the Guideline and which may only support less than one half of potential species richness and marginally healthy aquatic systems. When forest cover drops below 30 percent, forest birds tend to disappear as breeders across the landscape.

Woodland (Patch) Size

According to the Ministry of Natural Resources’ Natural Heritage Reference Manual (Second Edition), larger woodlands are more likely to contain a greater diversity of plant and animal species and communities than smaller woodlands and have a greater relative importance for mobile animal species such as forest birds.

Bigger forests often provide a different type of habitat. Many forest birds breed far more successfully in larger forests than they do in smaller woodlots and some rely heavily on forest interior conditions. Populations are often healthier in regions with more forest cover and where forest fragments are grouped closely together or connected by corridors of natural habitat. Small forests support small numbers of wildlife. Some species are “area-sensitive” and tend not to inhabit small woodlands, regardless of forest interior conditions. Fragmented habitat also isolates local populations, especially small mammals, amphibians and reptiles with limited mobility. This reduces the healthy mixing of genetic traits that helps populations survive over the long run (Conserving the Forest Interior. Ontario Extension Notes, 2000).

The Environment Canada Guideline also notes that for forest plants that do not disperse broadly or quickly, preservation of some relatively undisturbed large forest patches is needed to sustain them because of their restricted dispersal abilities and specialized habitat requirements and to ensure continued seed or propagation sources for restored or regenerating areas nearby.

The Natural Heritage Reference Manual continues by stating that a larger size also allows woodlands to support more resilient nutrient cycles and food webs and to be big enough to permit different and important successional stages to co-exist. Small, isolated woodlands are more susceptible to the effects of blowdown, drought, disease, insect infestations, and invasions by predators and non-indigenous plants. It is also known that the viability of woodland wildlife depends not only on the characteristics of the woodland in which they reside, but also on the characteristics of the surrounding landscape where the woodland is situated. Additionally, the percentage of forest cover in the surrounding landscape, the presence of ecological barriers such as roads, the ability of various species to cross the matrix surrounding the woodland and the proximity of adjacent habitats interact with woodland size in influencing the species assemblage within a woodland.

In the Dales Creek catchment (in 2014), thirty-seven (41 percent) of the 91 woodland patches are very small, being less than one hectare in size. Another 35 (38 percent) of the woodland patches ranging from one to less than 20 hectares in size tend to be dominated by edge-tolerant bird species. The remaining 19 (21 percent of) woodland patches range between 24 and 321 hectares in size. Fifteen of these patches contain woodland between 20 and 100 hectares and may support a few area-sensitive species and some edge intolerant species, but will be dominated by edge tolerant species.

Conversely, four (four percent) of the 91 woodland patches in the drainage area exceed the 100 plus hectare size needed to support most forest dependent, area sensitive birds and are large enough to support approximately 60 percent of edge-intolerant species. Two patches top 200 hectares, which according to the Environment Canada Guideline will support 80 percent of edge-intolerant forest bird species (including most area sensitive species) that prefer interior forest habitat conditions.

Table 14 presents a comparison of woodland patch size in 2008 and 2014 along with any changes that have occurred over that time. A decrease (of 13 ha) has been observed in the overall woodland patch area between the two reporting periods with most change occurring in the 100 to 200 hectare woodland patch size class range.

Forest Interior

The forest interior is habitat deep within woodlands. It is a sheltered, secluded environment away from the influence of forest edges and open habitats. Some people call it the “core” or the “heart” of a woodland. The presence of forest interior is a good sign of woodland health, and is directly related to the woodland’s size and shape. Large woodlands with round or square outlines have the greatest amount of forest interior. Small, narrow woodlands may have no forest interior conditions at all. Forest interior habitat is a remnant natural environment, reminiscent of the extensive, continuous forests of the past. This increasingly rare forest habitat is now a refuge for certain forest-dependent wildlife; they simply must have it to survive and thrive in a fragmented forest landscape (Conserving the Forest Interior. Ontario Extension Notes, 2000).

The Natural Heritage Reference Manual states that woodland interior habitat is usually defined as habitat more than 100 metres from the edge of the woodland and provides for relative seclusion from outside influences along with a moister, more sheltered and productive forest habitat for certain area sensitive species. Woodlands with interior habitat have centres that are more clearly buffered against the edge effects of agricultural activities or more harmful urban activities than those without.

In the Dales Creek catchment (in 2014), the 91 woodland patches contain 56 forest interior patches (Figure 57) that occupy 11 percent (423 ha.) of the catchment land area (which is greater than the five percent of interior forest in the Middle Rideau Subwatershed). This is above the ten percent figure referred to in the Environment Canada Guideline that is considered to be the minimum threshold for supporting edge intolerant bird species and other forest dwelling species in the landscape.

Most patches (47) have less than 10 hectares of interior forest, 26 of which have small areas of interior forest habitat less than one hectare in size. The remaining nine patches contain interior forest ranging between 16 and 121 hectares in area.

Between 2008 and 2014, there has been a change in the number of woodland patches containing smaller areas of interior habitat (Table 15). For example, there has been an increase of 19 woodlands containing less than one hectare of interior forest over this period and 12 woodlands with one to 10 hectares of interior habitat. 

Wetland Cover

Wetlands are habitats forming the interface between aquatic and terrestrial systems. They are among the most productive and biologically diverse habitats on the planet. By the 1980s, according to the Natural Heritage Reference Manual, 68 percent of the original wetlands south of the Precambrian Shield in Ontario had been lost through encroachment, land clearance, drainage and filling.

Wetlands perform a number of important ecological and hydrological functions and provide an array of social and economic benefits that society values. Maintaining wetland cover in a watershed provides many ecological, economic, hydrological and social benefits that are listed in the Reference Manual and which may include:

• contributing to the stabilization of shorelines and to the reduction of erosion damage through the mitigation of water flow and soil binding by plant roots
• mitigating surface water flow by storing water during periods of peak flow (such as spring snowmelt and heavy rainfall events) and releasing water during periods of low flow (this mitigation of water flow also contributes to a reduction of flood damage)
• contributing to an improved water quality through the trapping of sediments, the removal and/or retention of excess nutrients, the immobilization and/or degradation of contaminants and the removal of bacteria
• providing renewable harvesting of timber, fuel wood, fish, wildlife and wild rice
• contributing to a stable, long-term water supply in areas of groundwater recharge and discharge
• providing a high diversity of habitats that support a wide variety of plants and animals
• acting as “carbon sinks” making a significant contribution to carbon storage
• providing opportunities for recreation, education, research and tourism

Historically, the overall wetland coverage within the Great Lakes basin exceeded 10 percent, but there was significant variability among watersheds and jurisdictions, as stated in the Environment Canada Guideline. In the Rideau Valley Watershed, it has been estimated that pre-settlement wetland cover averaged 35 percent using information provided by Ducks Unlimited Canada (2010) versus the 21 percent of wetland cover existing in 2014 derived from DRAPE imagery analysis.

Using the same dataset, it is estimated that pre-settlement (historic) wetland cover averaged 32 percent in the Middle Rideau subwatershed versus the 27 percent of cover existing in 2014. This decline in wetland cover is not evident in the Dales Creek catchment (as seen in Figure 58) where there has been a very slight increase (of less than one percent) in the area of wetland cover from pre-settlement times to the present (as summarized in Table 16).

While there has been a reported increase in wetland cover in the Dales Creek catchment from pre-settlement times and wetland cover in 2014 remains above the ecological thresholds cited in the Environment Canada Guideline, a “no net loss” of currently existing wetlands should be employed to maintain critical hydrological and ecological functions and to ensure the continued provision of related recreational and economic benefits provided by these wetland habitats in the catchment for landowners and surrounding communities.

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5. Stewardship and Protection

The RVCA and its partners are working to protect and enhance environmental conditions in the Middle Rideau Subwatershed. Figure 59 shows the location of all stewardship projects completed in the Dales Creek catchment along with sites identified for potential shoreline restoration.

Rural Clean Water Projects

From 2009 to 2014, two well decommissionings were completed for a total project value of $2,260 with $1,900 of that amount funded through grant dollars from the RVCA. No projects were carried out before 2009 in the catchment.

Tree Planting Projects

The location of RVCA Tree Planting Program projects is shown in Figure 59. From 2009 to 2014, 24,600 trees were planted at three sites. Prior to 2003, 4,000 trees were planted at one site, resulting in the reforestation of 14 hectares. Total value of all four projects is $99,734 with $31,143 of that amount coming from various fundraising sources. No projects were carried out in the catchment between 2003 and 2008.

Through the RVCA Butternut Recovery Program, an additional 10 butternut trees were planted in the Dales Creek catchment between 2009 and 2014, as part of efforts to introduce healthy seedlings from tolerant butternuts into various locations across Eastern Ontario.

Valley, Stream, Wetland and Hazard Land Regulation

The Dales Creek catchment covers 39 square kilometres with 10.5 square kilometres (or 27 percent) of the drainage area being within the regulation limit of Ontario Regulation 174/06 (Figure 60), giving protection to wetland areas and river or stream valleys that are affected by flooding and erosion hazards.

Wetlands occupy 12.5 sq. km. (or 32 percent) of the catchment. Of these wetlands, 7.1 sq. km (or 57 percent) are designated as provincially significant and included within the RVCA regulation limit. This leaves the remaining 5.4 sq. km (or 43 percent) of wetlands in the catchment outside the regulated area limit.

Of the 46.5 kilometres of stream in the catchment, regulation limit mapping has been plotted along 17.5 kilometers of streams (representing 38 percent of all streams in the catchment). Some of these regulated watercourses (15.5 km or 33 percent of all streams) flow through regulated wetlands; the remaining 2 km (or 11 percent) of regulated streams are located outside of those wetlands. Plotting of the regulation limit on the remaining 29 km (or 62 percent) of streams requires identification of flood and erosion hazards and valley systems.

Within the regulation limit, “development” and “site alteration” require RVCA permission. The “alteration to waterways” provision of Ontario Regulation 174/06 applies to all watercourses.

Vulnerable Drinking Water Areas

The Dales Creek drainage catchment is considered to have a Highly Vulnerable Aquifer. This means that the nature of the overburden (thin soils, fractured bedrock) does not provide a high level of protection for the underlying groundwater making the aquifer more vulnerable to contaminants released on the surface. The Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Plan includes policies that focus on the protection of groundwater region-wide due to the fact that most of the region, which encompasses the Mississippi and Rideau watersheds, is considered Highly Vulnerable Aquifer. For detailed maps and policies that have been developed to protect drinking water sources, please go to the Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Region website at www.mrsourcewater.ca to view the Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Plan.

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6. Challenges/Issues

Water Quality

• Surface water quality along Dales Creek is “Fair” over two reporting periods (2003-2008 and 2009-2014) as determined by surface water chemistry data. Frequent exceedances of total Kjeldahl nitrogen and occasional exceedances of total phosphorous, E.coli, aluminum, copper and iron contributed to the rating
• Instream (biological) water quality conditions at the Dales Creek sample location range from “Poor” to “Good” from 2003 to 2014 (using a grading scheme developed by Ontario Conservation Authorities in Ontario for benthic invertebrates) with an overall benthic invertebrate water quality rating of “Poor” to “Good” determined for this period

Shorelines

• Emerald ash borer poses a significant threat to the ecology of the subwatershed, given the prominence of ash trees along shorelines and in riparian and wetland areas. Many tree stands are predominantly ash and with their anticipated loss, it is unclear what will replace them and the overall effect of their collective demise on the physical and natural functions/values they provide for erosion, water quality and fish and wildlife habitat protection

Land Cover

• The catchment contains 250 ha of unevaluated wetland (occupying six percent of its total area) that provides many important social, hydrological, biological and ecological functions/services. Although not under imminent threat from development activity, they do remain vulnerable to drainage and land clearing activities in the absence of any regulatory and planning controls that would otherwise protect them

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7. Opportunities/Actions

Water Quality

• ​Investigate “Fair” surface water quality rating along Dales Creek and its tributaries
• Implement agricultural and residential best management practices to address the elevated total Kjeldahl nitrogen concentrations and occasional high bacterial counts and metal exceedances on Dales Creek by restricting livestock access to the creek, limiting the use of fertilizers and pesticide applications and improving or maintaining a shoreline buffer
• Continue to offer the suite of water quality improvement projects provided by the Rideau Valley Rural Clean Water Program to landowners
• Continue to protect Dales Creek and its tributaries through implementation of municipal and agency land use planning and development policies and practices

Shorelines/Headwaters

• Continue to promote the Rideau Valley Shoreline Naturalization and Tree Planting Programs to landowners
• RVCA and its partners (Village of Merrickville-Wolford, Municipality of North Grenville) are to continue educating landowners about the value and importance of headwater drainage features, natural shorelines and waterfront property best management practices with respect to shoreline use and development, septic system installation and maintenance and shoreline vegetation retention and enhancement
• Protect the riparian buffer along the shoreline of Dales Creek and other catchment streams (headwaters) during the development approvals process through adherence to and enforcement of municipal land-use policies and zoning standards
• Target shoreline restoration at sites identified in this report (shown as “Other riparian land cover” in Figure 16 and “Potential Riparian/Shoreline Restoration” in Figure 55) and explore other restoration and enhancement opportunities along Dales Creek and its tributaries

Development

• Municipalities and agencies are encouraged to strengthen natural heritage and water resources official plan policies and zoning provisions (water setbacks, frontage and naturalized shorelines and wetland protection) where deemed appropriate
• Collectively work with approval authorities (Village of Merrickville-Wolford, Municipality of North Grenville, Conservation Authority) to consistently implement current land use planning and development policies for water quality and shoreline protection adjacent to Dales Creek and other catchment streams (e.g., a minimum 30 metre development setback from water)
• Explore ways and means to more effectively enforce and implement conditions of land-use planning and development approval to achieve net environmental gains (particularly with respect to rehabilitating or protecting naturally vegetated shorelines and water quality)
• Utilize RVCA subwatershed and catchment reports to help develop/revise official plan policies to protect surface water resources and the natural environment (including woodlands, wetlands and shoreline cover)
• Consider establishing RVCA regulations limits to protect additional wetlands

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Full Catchment Report

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Middle Rideau Subwatershed Report 2015

HUTTON CREEK CATCHMENT

The RVCA produces individual reports for ten catchments in the Middle Rideau subwatershed. Using data collected and analysed by the RVCA through its watershed monitoring and land cover classification programs, surface water quality conditions are reported for Hutton Creek along with a summary of environmental conditions for the surrounding countryside every six years.

This information is used to better understand the effects of human activity on our water resources, allows us to better track environmental change over time and helps focus watershed management actions where they are needed the most to help sustain the ecosystem services (cultural, aesthetic and recreational values; provisioning of food, fuel and clean water; regulation of erosion/natural hazard protection and water purification; supporting nutrient/water cycling and habitat provision) provided by the catchment’s lands and forests and waters (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005).

The following pages of this report are a compilation of that work and contain information on surface water quality, riparian conditions, land cover, stewardship activity and hazard land and water resources protection.

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1. Catchment Facts

General Geography

• The Rideau River flows through the heart of the Middle Rideau and is a focal point for residents and visitors to the area. It extends from the outlet of Lower Rideau Lake at Poonamalie (where there is one dam and one lock) to Burritts Rapids (where there is also a dam and lock), at which point it enters the Lower Rideau on its way to Rideau Falls. The Rideau River is also an integral part of the Rideau Canal National Historic Site of Canada and is a significant tourist attraction which draws boaters, cottagers, and campers to the area
• Smiths Falls, Merrickville and Burritts Rapids are the main settlements in the Middle Rideau subwatershed. The Hutton Creek catchment is predominantly rural in character with agriculture being the main land use
• Parks Canada staff manage water levels for recreational purposes along the Rideau Canal/Waterway that flows by the catchment, ensuring 1.5 metres of draft during the navigation season. In this managed system, water levels on the Rideau Canal are manipulated by operation of numerous dams. In the Middle Rideau subwatershed, Parks Canada staff operate 9 dam and lock complexes with 13 locks for a fall of 36.2 metres over 35.6 kilometres. Water levels are maintained as close as possible to set objectives through the May to October navigation season. The levels are lowered through the rest of October and into November and held at the winter levels until the spring freshet in late March or early April naturally increases inflows to the system. To reduce the impact of the higher flows in the spring, the amount of snow water equivalent, forecast rain, ice cover, flows and levels are assessed and the dams in the Middle Rideau reach are operated accordingly to quickly pass as much water as possible. In late April and early May, the dams are gradually closed and water levels are brought up to be ready, once again, for the navigation season

Physical Geography

• All of Hutton Creek Catchment and the rest of the Middle Rideau Subwatershed primarily resides within the Smith Falls Limestone Plain. The northern part of this catchment is underlain by dolostone of the Oxford Formation; while the central catchment is underlain by the quartz sandstone and dolostone of the March Formation and a small section of the upper watershed is underlain by the Nepean Formation sandstones. The bedrock across the catchment is mainly overlain by a thin veneer of glacial sediment, referred to as ‘drift’ that is generally less than a metre in thickness; although the landscape is also dotted with organic soils and some glacial till and sand. A geologic fault likely cut through the western part of the catchment
• Eighty-six percent of the catchment lies within the Township of Elizabethtown-Kitley and 14 percent within the Township of Rideau Lakes
• Hutton Creek catchment drainage area is 62 square kilometres and occupies seven percent of the Middle Rideau subwatershed and one percent of the Rideau Valley watershed
• Parks Canada staff manage water levels for recreational purposes along the Rideau Canal/Waterway that flows by the catchment, ensuring 1.5 metres of draft during the navigation season. In this managed system, water levels on the Rideau Canal are manipulated by operation of numerous dams. In the Middle Rideau subwatershed, Parks Canada staff operate 9 dam and lock complexes with 13 locks for a fall of 36.2 metres over 35.6 kilometres. Water levels are maintained as close as possible to set objectives through the May to October navigation season. The levels are lowered through the rest of October and into November and held at the winter levels until the spring freshet in late March or early April naturally increases inflows to the system. To reduce the impact of the higher flows in the spring, the amount of snow water equivalent, forecast rain, ice cover, flows and levels are assessed and the dams in the Middle Rideau reach are operated accordingly to quickly pass as much water as possible. In late April and early May, the dams are gradually closed and water levels are brought up to be ready, once again, for the navigation season

Vulnerable Areas

• The Assessment Report developed under the Ontario Clean Water Act identifies the upper bedrock aquifer underlying all of the catchment area as a Highly Vulnerable Aquifer, although, where sediments are thicker in a local area, the vulnerability would be less. It also identifies the area of Nepean Sandstone found at the surface in this catchment as a Significant Groundwater Recharge area along with a small part of the Village of Merrickville municipal Wellhead Protection Area

Development

• Land uses in the catchment are Rural with Natural Heritage-Provincially Significant Wetland along with some Agriculture

Conditions at a Glance

Water Quality

• Surface chemistry water quality rating in Hutton Creek is “Fair” over two reporting periods (2003-2008 and 2009-2014). Elevated bacterial counts and nutrient concentrations from inflows of nutrients (from private septic systems, agricultural and residential surface water runoff) are a feature of Hutton Creek. Decreased nutrient and bacterial counts are needed to improve the overall health of the creek
• Instream biological water quality conditions at the Hutton Creek sample location range from “Fair” to “Poor” from 2010 to 2014 (using a grading scheme developed by Ontario Conservation Authorities in Ontario for benthic invertebrates) with an overall benthic invertebrate water quality rating of “Fair” determined for this period

Instream and Riparian

• In the Hutton Creek catchment, the riparian buffer (30 m. wide strip along the shoreline of all lakes and streams) is comprised of wetland (67 percent), woodland (16 percent), crop and pastureland (15 percent), roads (one percent) and settlement areas (one percent)
• Overall instream and riparian condition for the Hutton Creek catchment as assessed by the stream characterization and headwater drainage feature assessment programs show that Hutton Creek and its tributaries are in good condition. The majority of the system has low erosion levels, a healthy riparian corridor with good instream diversity of aquatic habitat
• The Hutton Creek catchment has 14 species of recreational and bait fish and is classified as having a warm/cool water thermal guild that supports the Hutton Creek/Rideau River fishery

Land Cover

• Dominant land cover is crop and pastureland (37 percent), followed by woodland (30 percent), wetland (27 percent), settlement areas (four percent) and roads (two percent). From 2008 to 2014, there was an overall change of 73 hectares (from one land cover class to another). Within the Hutton Creek catchment, change is primarily associated with the conversion of crop and pastureland to settlement (a large solar farm) and transition into woodland along with wetland encroaching into woodland
• Woodland cover in the catchment has decreased by 11 hectares between 2008 and 2014 and interior forest habitat has decreased by 26 hectares
• Wetland cover has decreased by one percent (95 ha) from pre-settlement times to the present and now occupies 27 percent of the catchment area

Other

• There are approximately 230 in-use water wells with provincial records in this catchment. While most water wells are used for domestic water supply, in this catchment, several are also used for commercial, agricultural, and public water supplies; cooling; or monitoring
• There are no active Permits to Take Water or Environmental Compliance Approvals in the catchment
• There are two bedrock aggregate licenses located in this catchment

Catchment Care

• Thirty-two stewardship projects have been completed with assistance from the RVCA’s Rural Clean Water and Tree Planting Programs (see Section 5 of this report for details)
• Hutton Creek surface water quality has been monitored by the RVCA through its Baseline Monitoring Program since 2003. The surface water quality at site HUT-02 is monitored once a month from April to November
• RVCA has been collecting benthic invertebrates in Hutton Creek at the Kitley South Elmsley Line site since 2010
• RVCA conducted a fish survey along Hutton Creek in 2014
• RVCA completed a the stream characterization survey on Hutton Creek in 2014, working upstream to the headwaters from the mouth of the creek where it empties into the Rideau River taking measurements and recording observations on instream habitat, bank stability, other attributes and preparing a temperature profile
• RVCA completed six headwater drainage feature assessments at road crossings in the Hutton Creek catchment in 2014.Tthis protocol measures zero and first order headwater drainage features and is a rapid assessment method characterizing the amount of water, sediment transport, and storage capacity within headwater drainage features
• A watershed model developed by the RVCA in 2009 was used to study the hydrologic function of wetlands in the Rideau Valley Watershed, including those found in the Hutton Creek catchment
• RVCA has built a new “berm-like” water control structure at Motts Mills, replacing the older, non-operational “stop-log” structure dating from 1952. This will now permit the manipulation of water levels in the Hutton Creek Provincially Significant Wetland (located behind the new structure), as outlined in the wetland management plan and water control structure operational plan describing that activity
• The Township of Elizabethtown-Kitley and the Township of Rideau Lakes have land use planning policies and zoning provisions - on water setbacks, frontage and naturalized shorelines and wetland protection - and in some instances use site plan control to implement these policies and provisions. Together with RVCA, these municipalities work with landowners on a case by case basis to enable new development while ensuring the scale is suitable on the lot, impacts on neighbours are minimized and development maximizes the watercourse setback
• Development in and adjacent to the Provincially Significant Wetlands in the catchment (Otter Creek, Otter Lake-Hutton Creek Complex) are subject to Ontario Regulation 174-06 (entitled “Development, Interference with Wetlands and Alterations to Shorelines and Watercourses”) that protects the hydrologic function of the wetland and also protects landowners and their property from natural hazards (flooding, fluctuating water table, unstable soils) associated with them

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2. Surface Water Quality Conditions

Surface water quality conditions in the Hutton Creek catchment are monitored by the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority’s (RVCA) Baseline Water Quality Monitoring Program. The Baseline Water Quality Program focuses on streams; data is collected for 22 parameters including nutrients (total phosphorus, total Kjeldahl nitrogen and ammonia), E. coli, metals (like aluminum and copper) and additional chemical/physical parameters (such as alkalinity, chlorides, pH and total suspended solids). Figure 1 shows the location of the monitoring site in the catchment.

Hutton Creek Water Quality

Water Quality Rating

The water quality rating for the Hutton Creek catchment is “Fair” (Table 1) as determined by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) Water Quality Index  and is largely influenced by high nutrient concentrations, metals and high bacterial counts. A "Fair" rating indicates that water quality is usually protected but is occasionally threatened or impaired; conditions sometimes depart from natural or desirable levels. Each parameter is evaluated against established guidelines to determine water quality conditions. Those parameters that frequently exceed guidelines are presented below. Analysis of the data has been broken into two periods; 2003 to 2008 and 2009 to 2014 for the stream monitoring site located on Hutton Creek (HUT-02) to examine if conditions have changed between these periods. Table 1 shows the overall rating for the monitored surface water quality site within the Hutton Creek catchment and Table 2 outlines the Water Quality Index (WQI) scores and their corresponding ratings.

Nutrients

Total phosphorus (TP) is used as a primary indicator of excessive nutrient loading and may contribute to abundant aquatic vegetation growth and depleted dissolved oxygen levels. The Provincial Water Quality Objective (PWQO) is used as the TP Guideline and states that in streams concentrations greater than 0.030 mg/l indicate an excessive amount of TP.

Total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) and ammonia (NH3) are used as secondary indicators of nutrient loadings. RVCA uses a guideline of 0.500 mg/l to assess TKN^[1] and the PWQO of 0.020 mg/l to assess NH3 concentrations in Hutton Creek.

Tables 3, 4 and 5 summarize average nutrient concentrations at monitored sites within the Creek catchment and show the proportion of results that meet the guidelines.

Elevated TP results were a regular occurrence at site HUT-02; 45 percent of samples were below the guideline in the 2003-2008 period (Figure 2); this increased to 65 percent of samples in the 2009-2014 period (Figure 3). The average TP concentration increased slightly from 0.035 mg/l (2003- 2008) to 0.037 mg/l (2009-2014).

Figure 2 Total phosphorous concentrations in Hutton Creek, 2003-2008

Figure 3 Total phosphorous concentrations in Hutton Creek, 2008-2014

 

The bulk of TKN results have exceeded the guideline (Figure 4 and 5), with 15 percent of samples below the guideline in the 2003-2008 period and only 5 percent of samples below the guideline from 2009-2014. The average concentration increased from 0.846 mg/l in 2003-2008 to 0.901 in 2009-2014 mg/l (Table 4).

Figure 4 Total Kjeldahl nitrogen concentrations in Hutton Creek, 2003-2008

Figure 5 Total Kjeldahl nitrogen concentrations in Hutton Creek, 2009-2014

 

NH3 results occasionally exceeded the RVCA guideline. The proportion of results that were below the guideline were 67 percent in 2003-2008 (Figure 6); this increased to 83 percent in the 2009-2014 reporting periods (Figure 7). The average NH3 concentration decreased from 0.025 mg/l to 0.008 mg/l (Table 5). 

Figure 6 Ammonia concentrations in Hutton Creek, 2003-2008

Figure 7 Ammonia concentrations in Hutton Creek, 2008-2014

Summary

The data shows that nutrient enrichment is a feature of Hutton Creek. Average nutrient concentrations with the exception of Ammonia all slightly increased over the two reporting periods. Elevated nutrients may result in nutrient loading downstream. High nutrient concentrations can help stimulate the growth of algae blooms and other aquatic vegetation in a waterbody and deplete oxygen levels as the vegetation dies off. Best management practices such as an enhanced shoreline buffer, preventing the use of fertilizers and restricting cattle access can help to reduce nutrient enrichment in Hutton Creek. 

E. Coli

E. coli is used as an indicator of bacterial pollution from human or animal waste; in elevated concentrations it can pose a risk to human health. The PWQO of 100 colony forming units/100 millilitres (CFU/100 ml) is used. E. coli counts greater than this guideline indicate that bacterial contamination may be a problem within a waterbody.

Table 6 summarizes the geometric mean^[2] for the monitored site on Hutton Creek and shows the proportion of samples that meet the E. coli guideline of 100 CFU/100 ml. The results of the geometric mean with respect to the guideline for the two periods, 2003-2008 and 2009- 2014, are shown in Figures 8 and 9 respectively.

E. coli counts at site HUT-02 indicate a slight improvement with regard to bacterial contamination. The proportion of samples below the guideline increased from 40 percent (Figure 8) to 42 percent (Figure 9). The count at the geometric mean decreased from 136 CFU/100ml in 2003-2008 to 121 CFU/100ml (Table 6). Although the count at the geometric mean decreased, the results exceeded the guideline for both reporting periods. 

Figure 8 Geometric mean of E.coli results in Hutton Creek, 2003-2008

Figure 9 Geometric mean of E.coli results in Hutton Creek, 2009-2014

 

Summary

This data shows that bacterial contamination is a concern on Hutton Creek. There has been a slight improvement from the 2003-2008 to the 2009-2014 monitoring period, however the count at the geometric mean is above the PWQO for both monitoring periods. Properly maintaining septic systems, enhancing shoreline buffers and restricting cattle access can help to improve E.coli levels in Hutton Creek.

Metals

Of the metals routinely monitored in Hutton Creek, aluminum (Al) and iron (Fe) occasionally reported concentrations above their respective PWQOs. In elevated concentrations, these metals can have toxic effects on sensitive aquatic species.

Tables 7and 8 summarize metal concentrations at site HUT-02 and show the proportion of samples that meet guidelines. Figures 10 to 13 show metal concentrations with respect to the guidelines for the two periods of interest, 2003–2008 and 2009–2014. For Al, the PWQO is 0.075 mg/l and Fe it is 0.300 mg/l.

Results from HUT-02 shows that Al concentrations had few exceedances with 84 percent of samples below the guideline in the 2003-2008 period (Figure 10). This improved to 100 percent of samples in the 2009-2014 period (Figure 11). The average concentrations for both reporting periods were below the guideline. Aluminum results from 2003-2008 were 0.076 mg/l and from 2009-2014 the average concentration improved to 0.013 mg/l (Table 7). 

Figure 10 Average aluminum concentrations in Hutton Creek, 2003-2008

Figure 11 Average aluminum concentrations in Hutton Creek, 2009-2014

 

Iron concentrations only exceeded the PWQO guideline occassioanly during the monitoring periods. The proportion of samples below the guideline increased from 80 percent to 96 percent (Figures 12 and 13). Although there were observed exceedances, the average Fe concentration did not exceed the guideline in both monitoring periods; 0.271 mg/l in 2003-2008 and .080 mg/l in 2009-2014. 

Figure 12 Average iron concentrations in Hutton Creek, 2003-2008

Figure 13 Average iron concentrations in Hutton Creek, 2009-2014

 

Summary

Overall, a general decline in metal concentrations was observed between the two periods of interest. Efforts should continue to be made to identify pollution sources and implement best management practices to reduce any inputs such as runoff, metal alloys, fungicides and pesticides to improve overall stream health and lessen downstream impacts.

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3. Hutton Creek Riparian Conditions

Shoreline Buffer Land Cover Evaluation

The riparian or shoreline zone is that special area where the land meets the water. Well-vegetated shorelines are critically important in protecting water quality and creating healthy aquatic habitats, lakes and rivers. Natural shorelines intercept sediments and contaminants that could impact water quality conditions and harm fish habitat in streams. Well established buffers protect the banks against erosion, improve habitat for fish by shading and cooling the water and provide protection for birds and other wildlife that feed and rear young near water. A recommended target (from Environment Canada’s Guideline: How Much Habitat is Enough?) is to maintain a minimum 30 metre wide vegetated buffer along at least 75 percent of the length of both sides of rivers, creeks and streams.

Figure 14 shows the extent of the naturally vegetated riparian zone along a 30 metre wide strip of shoreline of Hutton Creek and its tributaries. This information is derived from a dataset developed by the RVCA’s Land Cover Classification Program through heads-up digitization of 20cm DRAPE ortho-imagery at a 1:4000 scale, which details the catchment landscape using 10 land cover classes.

This analysis shows that the riparian buffer in the Hutton Creek catchment is comprised of wetland (67 percent), woodland (16 percent), crop and pastureland (15 percent), roads (one percent) and settlement areas (one percent). Additional statistics for the Hutton Creek catchment are presented in Table 9 and show that there has been very little change in shoreline cover from 2008 to 2014.

Hutton Creek Overbank Zone

Riparian Buffer Width Evaluation

Figure 15 demonstrates the buffer conditions of the left and right banks separately.  Hutton Creek had a buffer of greater than 30 meters along 85 percent of the right bank and 89 percent of the left bank.

Adjacent Land Use

The RVCA’s Stream Characterization Program identifies eight different land uses beside Hutton Creek (Figure 16). Surrounding land use is considered from the beginning to end of the survey section (100m) and up to 100m on each side of the creek. Land use outside of this area is not considered for the surveys but is nonetheless part of the subwatershed and will influence the creek. Natural areas made up 88 percent of the stream, characterized by wetlands, forest, scrubland and meadow. The remaining land use consisted of pasture, active agriculture, recreational and infrastructure in the form of road crossings.

Hutton Creek Shoreline Zone

Instream Erosion

Erosion is a normal, important stream process and may not affect actual bank stability; however, excessive erosion and deposition of sediment within a stream can have a detrimental effect on important fish and wildlife habitat.  Poor bank stability can greatly contribute to the amount of sediment carried in a waterbody as well as loss of bank vegetation due to bank failure, resulting in trees falling into the stream and the potential to impact instream migration.   Figure 17 shows low levels of erosion was observed along Hutton Creek.

Undercut Stream Banks

Undercut banks are a normal and natural part of stream function and can provide excellent refuge areas for fish. Figure 18 shows that Hutton Creek had low levels of undercut banks.

Stream Shading

Grasses, shrubs and trees all contribute towards shading a stream. Shade is important in moderating stream temperature, contributing to food supply and helping with nutrient reduction within a stream. Figure 19 shows variable stream shading conditions ranging from low levels to high levels along Hutton Creek.

Instream Woody Debris

Figure 20 shows that the majority of Hutton Creek had low to moderate levels of instream woody debris in the form of branches and trees. Instream woody debris is important for fish and benthic invertebrate habitat, by providing refuge and feeding areas.

Overhanging Trees and Branches

Figure 21 shows low to high levels of overhanging branches and trees along Hutton Creek. Overhanging branches and trees provide a food source, nutrients and shade which helps to moderate instream water temperatures.

Anthropogenic Alterations

Figure 22 shows 94 percent of Hutton Creek remains “unaltered” with no anthropogenic alterations.   Six percent of Hutton Creek was classified as natural with minor anthropogenic changes in the form of road crossings. 

Hutton Creek Instream Aquatic Habitat

Benthic Invertebrates

Freshwater benthic invertebrates are animals without backbones that live on the stream bottom and include crustaceans such as crayfish, molluscs and immature forms of aquatic insects. Benthos represent an extremely diverse group of aquatic animals and exhibit wide ranges of responses to stressors such as organic pollutants, sediments and toxicants, which allows scientists to use them as bioindicators.  As part of the Ontario Benthic Biomonitoring Network (OBBN), the RVCA has been collecting benthic invertebrates at the Kitley South Elmsley Line site on Hutton Creek since 2010. Monitoring data is analyzed for each sample site and the results are presented using the Family Biotic Index, Family Richness and percent Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera.

Hilsenhoff Family Biotic Index

The Hilsenhoff Family Biotic Index (FBI) is an indicator of organic and nutrient pollution and provides an estimate of water quality conditions for each site using established pollution tolerance values for benthic invertebrates. The Hutton Creek sample location was added to the OBBN network in 2010.  As a result FBI results for Hutton Creek are limited to the most recent reporting period of 2010 to 2014.  “Poor” to “Good” water quality conditions were observed at the Hutton Creek sample location for the period of 2010 to 2014 (Fig.23) using a grading scheme developed by Conservation Authorities in Ontario for benthic invertebrates.

Family Richness

Family Richness measures the health of the community through its diversity and increases with increasing habitat diversity suitability and healthy water quality conditions. Family Richness is equivalent to the total number of benthic invertebrate families found within a sample.   Hutton Creek is reported to have “Fair” to “Good” levels for family richness (Fig.24).

EPT

Ephemeroptera (Mayflies), Plecoptera (Stoneflies), and Trichoptera (Caddisflies) are species considered to be very sensitive to poor water quality conditions. High abundance of these organisms is generally an indication of good water quality conditions at a sample location.  The community structure is mixed with species that are sensitive, moderately tolerant and tolerant to poor water quality conditions.  As a result, the EPT indicates that Hutton Creek is reported to have “Poor” to “Fair” water quality (Fig.25) from 2010 to 2014.

Conclusion

Overall aquatic habitat conditions from a benthic invertebrate perspective for Hutton Creek range from “Fair” to “Poor” from 2010 to 2014.

Habitat Complexity

Streams are naturally meandering systems and move over time; there are varying degrees of habitat complexity, depending on the creek. Examples of habitat complexity include variable habitat types such as pools and riffles as well as substrate variability and woody debris structure.  A high percentage of habitat complexity (heterogeneity) typically increases the biodiversity of aquatic organisms within a system. Seventy one percent of Hutton Creek was considered heterogeneous, as shown in Figure 26.

Instream Substrate

Diverse substrate is important for fish and benthic invertebrate habitat because some species have specific substrate requirements and for example will only reproduce on certain types of substrate.  Figure 27 shows that 25 percent of the substrate observed on Hutton Creek was dominated by cobble.  Overall substrate conditions were highly variable along Hutton Creek.  Figure 28 shows the dominant substrate type observed for each section surveyed along Hutton Creek.

Cobble and Boulder Habitat

Boulders create instream cover and back eddies for large fish to hide and/or rest out of the current.  Cobble provides important spawning habitat for certain fish species like walleye and various shiner species who are an important food source for larger fish.  Cobble can also provide habitat conditions for benthic invertebrates that are a key food source for many fish and wildlife species.  Figure 29 shows where cobble and boulder substrate are found in Hutton Creek.

Instream Morphology

Pools and riffles are important habitat features for fish. Riffles are areas of agitated water and they contribute higher dissolved oxygen to the stream and act as spawning substrate for some species of fish, such as walleye. Pools provide shelter for fish and can be refuge pools in the summer if water levels drop and water temperature in the creek increases. Pools also provide important over wintering areas for fish. Runs are usually moderately shallow, with unagitated surfaces of water and areas where the thalweg (deepest part of the channel) is in the center of the channel.  Figure 31 shows where the riffle habitats are located along Hutton Creek.

Figure 30 shows that Hutton Creek is variable; 73 percent consists of runs, 22 percent riffles and 5 percent pools.

Vegetation Type

Instream vegetation provides a variety of functions and is a critical component of the aquatic ecosystem.  For example emergent plants along the shoreline can provide shoreline protection from wave action and important rearing habitat for species of waterfowl.  Submerged plants provide habitat for fish to find shelter from predator fish while they feed.  Floating plants such as water lilies shade the water and can keep temperatures cool while reducing algae growth.  The dominant vegetation type recorded at forty- eight percent consisted of algae. Figure 32 depicts the plant community structure for Hutton Creek. Hutton Creek had high levels of diversity for instream vegetation. Figure 33 shows the dominant vegetation type observed for each section surveyed along Hutton Creek.

Instream Vegetation Abundance

Instream vegetation is an important factor for a healthy stream ecosystem. Vegetation helps to remove contaminants from the water, contributes oxygen to the stream, and provides habitat for fish and wildlife. Too much vegetation can also be detrimental. Figure 34 demonstrates that Hutton Creek had sections dominated by low levels of instream vegetation for forty eight percent of its length. This is likely due in large part to high amounts of bedrock substrate along the system which does not allow aquatic vegetation to become established.

Invasive Species

Invasive species can have major implications on streams and species diversity. Invasive species are one of the largest threats to ecosystems throughout Ontario and can out compete native species, having negative effects on local wildlife, fish and plant populations. Seventy seven percent of the sections surveyed along Hutton Creek had invasive species (Figure 35). The invasive species observed in Hutton Creek were European frogbit, purple loosestrife, glossy and common buckthorn, and Manitoba maple.  Figure 36 shows the frequency of the invasive species observed along Hutton Creek.

Hutton Creek Water Chemistry

Water Chemistry Measurement

During the stream characterization survey, a YSI probe is used to collect water chemistry information.  Dissolved oxygen, conductivity and pH are measured at the start and end of each section.

Dissolved Oxygen

Dissolved oxygen is a measure of the amount of oxygen dissolved in water. The Canadian Environmental Quality Guidelines of the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) suggest that for the protection of aquatic life the lowest acceptable dissolved oxygen concentration should be 6 mg/L for warmwater biota and 9.5 mg/L for coldwater biota (CCME, 1999).  Figure 37 shows that the dissolved oxygen in Hutton Creek was within the threshold for warmwater biota in most reaches of the system.  The average dissolved oxygen levels observed within the main stem of Hutton Creek was 7.34 mg/L which is within the recommended levels for warmwater biota. 

Conductivity

Conductivity in streams is primarily influenced by the geology of the surrounding environment, but can vary drastically as a function of surface water runoff. Currently there are no CCME guideline standards for stream conductivity, however readings which are outside the normal range observed within the system are often an indication of unmitigated discharge and/or stormwater input. The average conductivity observed within the main stem of Hutton Creek was 288 µs/cm. Figure 38 shows that the conductivity readings for Hutton Creek.

pH

Based on the PWQO for pH, a range of 6.5 to 8.5 should be maintained for the protection of aquatic life. Average pH values for Hutton Creek averaged 7.8 thereby meeting the provincial standard.

Thermal Regime

Many factors can influence fluctuations in stream temperature, including springs, tributaries, precipitation runoff, discharge pipes and stream shading from riparian vegetation. Water temperature is used along with the maximum air temperature (using the Stoneman and Jones method) to classify a watercourse as either warm water, cool water or cold water. Analysis of the data collected indicates that Hutton Creek is classified as a warm water system with cool to warm water reaches. 

Each point on the graph represents a temperature that meets the following criteria:

• Sampling dates between July 1st and September 7th
• Sampling date is preceded by two consecutive days above 24.5 °C, with no rain
• Water temperatures are collected at 4pm
• Air temperature is recorded as the max temperature for that day

Groundwater

Groundwater discharge areas can influence stream temperature, contribute nutrients, and provide important stream habitat for fish and other biota. During stream surveys, indicators of groundwater discharge are noted when observed. Indicators include: springs/seeps, watercress, iron staining, significant temperature change and rainbow mineral film.  Figure 42 shows areas where one or more of the above groundwater indicators were observed during stream surveys and headwater assessments.

Headwaters Drainage Features Assessment 

The RVCA Stream Characterization program assessed Headwater Drainage Features for the Middle Rideau subwatershed in 2014. This protocol measures zero, first and second order headwater drainage features (HDF).  It is a rapid assessment method characterizing the amount of water, sediment transport, and storage capacity within headwater drainage features (HDF). RVCA is working with other Conservation Authorities and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry to implement the protocol with the goal of providing standard datasets to support science development and monitoring of headwater drainage features.  An HDF is a depression in the land that conveys surface flow. Additionally, this module provides a means of characterizing the connectivity, form and unique features associated with each HDF (OSAP Protocol, 2013). In 2014 the program sampled 6 sites at road crossings in the Hutton Creek catchment area shown in Figure 43.

Headwater Feature Type

The headwater sampling protocol assesses the feature type in order to understand the function of each feature.  The evaluation includes the following classifications: defined natural channel, channelized or constrained, multi-thread, no defined feature, tiled, wetland, swale, roadside ditch and pond outlet.  By assessing the values associated with the headwater drainage features in the catchment area we can understand the ecosystem services that they provide to the watershed in the form of hydrology, sediment transport, and aquatic and terrestrial functions.  The Hutton Creek catchment is dominated by natural channel and wetland headwater drainage features.  Figure 44 shows the feature type of the primary feature at the sampling locations.

Headwater Feature Flow Type

The observed flow condition within headwater drainage features can be highly variable depending on timing relative to the spring freshet, recent rainfall, soil moisture, etc.  Flow conditions are assessed in the spring and in the summer to determine if features are perennial and flow year round, if they are intermittent and dry up during the summer months or if they are ephemeral systems that do not flow regularly and generally respond to specific rainstorm events or snowmelt.  Flow conditions in headwater systems can change from year to year depending on local precipitation patterns.  Figure 45 shows the observed flow conditions at the sampling locations in the Hutton Creek catchment.

Feature Channel Modifications

Channel modifications were assessed at each headwater drainage feature sampling location.  Modifications include channelization, dredging, hardening and realignments.  The sampling locations for the Hutton Creek catchment area were classified as having no channel modifications.  Figure 46 shows the channel modifications observed at the sampling locations for Hutton Creek.

Headwater Feature Vegetation

Headwater feature vegetation evaluates the type of vegetation that is found within the drainage feature.  The type of vegetated within the channel influences the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem values that the feature provides.  For some types of headwater features the vegetation within the feature plays a very important role in flow and sediment movement and provides wildlife habitat.  The following classifications are evaluated no vegetation, lawn, wetland, meadow, scrubland and forest.  Figure 47. Depicts the dominant vegetation observed at the sampled headwater sites in the Hutton Creek catchment.

Headwater Feature Riparian Vegetation

Headwater riparian vegetation evaluates the type of vegetation that is found along the adjacent lands of a headwater drainage feature.  The type of vegetation within the riparian corridor influences the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem values that the feature provides to the watershed.  The majority of the sample locations in Hutton Creek were dominated by natural vegetation in the form of scrubland, forest and wetland vegetation.  Figure 48 shows the type of riparian vegetation observed at the sampled headwater sites in the Hutton Creek catchment.

Headwater Feature Sediment Deposition

Assessing the amount of recent sediment deposited in a channel provides an index of the degree to which the feature could be transporting sediment to downstream reaches (OSAP, 2013).  Evidence of excessive sediment deposition might indicate the requirement to follow up with more detailed targeted assessments upstream of the site location to identify potential best management practices to be implemented.  Conditions ranged from no deposition observed to a site with substantial deposition recorded.  Overall most sites had minimal to moderate levels of sediment deposition.  Figure 49 Depicts the degree of sediment deposition observed at the sampled headwater sites in the Hutton Creek catchment.

Headwater Feature Upstream Roughness

Feature roughness will provide a measure of the amount of materials within the bankfull channel that could slow down the velocity of water flowing within the headwater feature (OSAP, 2013).  Materials on the channel bottom that provide roughness include vegetation, woody debris and boulders/cobble substrates.  Roughness can provide benefits in mitigating downstream erosion on the headwater drainage feature and the receiving watercourse by reducing velocities.  Roughness also provides important habitat conditions to aquatic organisms. All of the sample locations in the Hutton Creek catchment area had moderate levels of feature roughness.  Figure 50 shows the feature roughness conditions at the sampling locations in the Hutton Creek catchment.

Fish Community

The Hutton Creek catchment is classified as a mixed community of warm and cool water recreational and baitfish fishery with 14 species observed.  Table 10 lists those species observed in the catchment (Source: MNR/RVCA).  Figure 51 shows the sampling locations along Hutton Creek.