2013 Otonabee Region Watershed Report Card Technical Report
Transcription
2013 Otonabee Region Watershed Report Card Technical Report
2013 Otonabee Region Watershed Report Card Technical Report Written and Published by the Otonabee Region Conservation Authority Principal Authors Meredith Carter, Manager, Environmental and Technical Services Erin McGauley, Watershed Biologist Terri Cox, Environmental Technician Kathy Reid, Co-ordinator, Communications and Education Key Contributors Cody Brown, GIS Technologist Jessica Mueller, GIS Technologist 2013 Otonabee Region Watershed Report Card Technical Report Otonabee Region Conservation Authority FINAL April 2013 2013 Otonabee Region Watershed Report Card Technical Report FINAL Table of Contents 1.0 What is a Watershed Report Card and why is it produced? ...............................................1 2.0 How is data assessed in the Watershed Report Card? .......................................................2 3.0 What indicators are used in Watershed Report Cards? .....................................................4 4.0 How was surface water quality evaluated? .......................................................................6 4.1 Total Phosphorus (TP) ........................................................................................................... 7 4.2 Escherichia coli (E. coli) Bacteria ........................................................................................... 7 4.3 Benthic Macroinvertebrates .................................................................................................. 8 4.4 Surface Water Results ........................................................................................................... 9 5.0 How was groundwater quality evaluated? ...................................................................... 10 6.0 How were forest conditions evaluated? ......................................................................... 12 6.1 Percent Forest Cover ........................................................................................................... 12 6.2 Percent Interior Forest ......................................................................................................... 12 6.3 Percent Forested Riparian Zone .......................................................................................... 13 6.4 Forest Conditions Results .................................................................................................... 13 7.0 Wetland Cover ............................................................................................................... 15 8.0 References Cited ............................................................................................................ 17 Appendix A: Surface Water Quality Data, 2007-2011 ................................................................ 18 Appendix B: Benthic Macroinvertebrates Modified Hilsenhoff Index ......................................... 20 Appendix C: Groundwater Quality Data, 2007-2011 .................................................................. 21 Appendix D: Forest Conditions Data ......................................................................................... 22 Appendix E: Evaluated Wetland Cover Data .............................................................................. 24 List of Maps Map Map Map Map 1: Otonabee Region Subwatersheds .......................................................................................... 3 2: Surface Water Quality in the Otonabee Region Watershed .................................................. 9 3: Forest Conditions in the Otonabee Region Watershed ....................................................... 14 4: Wetlands in the Otonabee Region Watershed .................................................................... 16 Otonabee Region Conservation Authority April 2013 2013 Otonabee Region Watershed Report Card Technical Report FINAL 1.0 What is a Watershed Report Card and why is it produced? Watershed Report Cards are an important tool used by Conservation Authorities (CAs) to communicate the state of local watershed conditions and disseminate the environmental monitoring data collected and analyzed by the organization. Watershed Report Cards transfer technical information about local watershed conditions to a wide audience including local residents, agencies, and municipal partners. In addition to providing local stakeholders with information about watershed conditions, the watershed report card also serves as a management and evaluation tool for Otonabee Conservation and other resource management agencies. This resource will enable more informed decision-making to effectively maintain and enhance the health of watersheds in the face of challenges such as climate change, urbanization and pollution. Conservation Ontario, the umbrella agency for Ontario’s 36 Conservation Authorities, developed a set of guidelines in 2011* to standardize the evaluation of data used for watershed report cards and achieve consistency in this form of reporting across the province. This standardization is particularly beneficial for municipalities that span more than one watershed boundary, and to individuals or groups wishing to compare results between different CA jurisdictions. Reporting on the environment is an iterative process. The 2013 Otonabee Region Watershed Report Card is the first of the ‘new generation’ of report cards based on the 2011 guidelines. The 2013 Otonabee Region Watershed Report Card provides a snapshot of conditions in the Otonabee Region Watershed based on available data for the five year period from 2007 through 2011. The Watershed Report Card is meant to be reviewed and updated every five years to ensure it aligns with current best management practices and scientific standards, and to ensure that the information it communicates remains up to date. *Conservation Ontario. 2011 Guide to Developing Conservation Authority Watershed Report Cards. 1 Otonabee Region Conservation Authority April 2013 2013 Otonabee Region Watershed Report Card Technical Report FINAL 2.0 How is data assessed in the Watershed Report Card? The 2011 Guide to Developing Conservation Authority Watershed Report Cards developed by Conservation Ontario recommends assessing and reporting environmental data on a subwatershed scale. The number of subwatersheds chosen is specific to each Conservation Authority, and those subwatersheds used in the assessment are meant to be meaningful and identifiable to a public audience. Twelve subwatersheds as listed below are included in the 2013 Otonabee Region Watershed Report Card and are illustrated on Map 1. 1. Baxter Creek 2. Cavan Creek 3. Squirrel Creek 4. Jackson Creek 5. Otonabee River 6. Indian River 7. Ouse River 8. Trent/Rice Lake 9. Chemong/Pigeon Lake 10. Buckhorn/Lovesick Lake 11. Stoney/Clear Lake 12. Katchewanooka Lake The guidelines also provide a standard grading system as a grade follows: 2 Otonabee Region Conservation Authority April 2013 2013 Otonabee Region Watershed Report Card Technical Report FINAL Map 1: Otonabee Region Subwatersheds 3 Otonabee Region Conservation Authority April 2013 2013 Otonabee Region Watershed Report Card Technical Report FINAL 3.0 What indicators are used in Watershed Report Cards? Conservation Ontario (2011) recommends that Conservation Authorities assess watershed health based on the following three resource categories: Surface Water Quality — Surface water is the water that flows through rivers, lakes and streams and is a source of both municipal and private drinking water supplies. Conservation Authorities typically assess surface water quality in a number of ways including the measurement of water quality indicators such as water chemistry and the benthic organisms that live in the sediment at the bottom of all waterbodies. Where resources permit, some Conservation Authorities also monitor bacteria levels in surface water. Groundwater Quality — Groundwater is the water found beneath the earth’s surface and is a source of both municipal and private drinking water supplies. Groundwater is difficult if not impossible to clean once contaminated, so its’ protection is critical, particularly areas of groundwater recharge. Conservation Authorities typically monitor water chemistry (i.e. nutrients, metals, chloride & nitrates) in groundwater. Forest Conditions — Forests provide habitat and shade; they help to clean our air and water and they protect the soil which promotes water infiltration and reduces both erosion and flooding. Forests also help to cool the land and air. Conservation Authorities assess the area of their watersheds covered by forest, the extent of waterfront areas (riparian zones) that are forested; and the amount of forest “interior” (protected areas that are more than 100 meters from the forest edge which provide critical habitat for many species including songbirds). Conservation Ontario (2011) recommends that these resource categories be evaluated based on the following indicators: Surface Water Quality Total Phosphorus Escherichia coli Bacteria Benthic Macroinvertebrates Groundwater Quality Nitrite + Nitrate Chloride 4 Otonabee Region Conservation Authority Forest Conditions % Forest Cover % Forest Interior % Riparian Zone Forested April 2013 2013 Otonabee Region Watershed Report Card Technical Report FINAL The recommended methodology for evaluating each indicator has also been established by Conservation Ontario (2011) and includes the derivation of point scores and corresponding grades. The 2013 Otonabee Region Watershed Report Card is generally consistent with these guidelines, except in the following two instances: Groundwater quality is not assessed due to data limitations; and An ‘optional’ discussion of wetland cover is included. The following section outlines the methodologies and data used for the development of the 2013 Otonabee Region Watershed Report Card. This Technical Report is intended to provide transparency of process and data to the public and will be a reference tool for future Watershed Report Card updates. 5 Otonabee Region Conservation Authority April 2013 2013 Otonabee Region Watershed Report Card Technical Report FINAL 4.0 How was surface water quality evaluated? Three indicators are recommended by Conservation Ontario (2011) for the assessment of surface water quality: 1. Total Phosphorus; 2. E. coli Bacteria; and 3. Benthic Macroinvertebrates. The following is excerpted from the Conservation Ontario (2011) guidelines and addresses data considerations: These three surface water quality indicators reflect key issues related to surface water quality across the province: nutrients, bacteria/waste, and aquatic health. There should be a water quality monitoring site for each subwatershed that represents the quality of water at the outlet. It is generally recommended that where there is more than one water quality monitoring site in a subwatershed, information from the site closest to the outlet be used for indicator reporting. However, it will be left to the discretion of each Conservation Authority to use the most appropriate surface water quality site or sites to represent conditions in the subwatershed (Section 3.1.4). Data limitations associated with the evaluation of surface water quality for the 2013 Otonabee Region Watershed Report Card are listed below. Total Phosphorus data was not available for Squirrel Creek subwatershed. There was insufficient data in the Otonabee Region watershed to report on E. coli. Benthic macroinvertebrate data was not available for the Chemong/Pigeon Lake and Katchewanooka Lake subwatersheds. Benthic macroinvertebrate data was not available for the Ouse River or Rice Lake/Trent River subwatersheds. To best represent and report on surface water quality conditions, the following four subwatersheds were combined and collectively identified as the Kawartha Lakes subwatershed: Chemong/Pigeon Lake, Katchewanooka Lake, Clear/Stoney Lake and Buckhorn/Lovesick Lake. 6 Otonabee Region Conservation Authority April 2013 2013 Otonabee Region Watershed Report Card Technical Report FINAL 4.1 Total Phosphorus (TP) Total Phosphorous is a nutrient that occurs both naturally and as a result of human activities. It is typically used in fertilizers and is found in municipal waste and from other human sources. TP promotes plant growth which is good for agricultural yields, yet high concentrations can be harmful to the environment by causing algae blooms which can reduce the oxygen available to plants and fish. Surface water samples were collected at various sites throughout the Otonabee Region Watershed as part of Otonabee Conservation’s participation in the Provincial Water Quality Monitoring Network (PWQMN). Data generated through this program was the source of information for the TP indicator. Conservation Ontario (2011) recommends a minimum of monthly sampling data with 30 or more data points for the reporting period. Calculations are to be based on the 75th percentile for the five year period for each subwatershed. Otonabee Conservation data met this criteria. In considering site selection, Otonabee Conservation determined that average values best represented overall subwatershed TP levels rather than did data from the most downstream site in a given subwatershed. In six subwatersheds, data was only available from one location (Baxter Creek, Cavan Creek, Indian River, Jackson Creek, Rice Lake/Trent River, Clear/Stoney Lake). The Otonabee, Buckhorn/Lovesick Lake and Ouse River subwatersheds had data from four, three and three locations, respectively. The 75th percentile for data collected from 2007 through 2011 was calculated for each subwatershed and converted to a corresponding point score based on guidance from Conservation Ontario (2011). Appendix A summarizes the TP data used in the analysis. 4.2 Escherichia coli (E. coli) Bacteria E. coli (Escherichia coli) is a bacteria that is widely accepted as the key indicator of fecal contamination in surface waters. The main sources of E. coli are municipal sewage discharges, runoff from failing septic systems and agricultural operations. 7 Otonabee Region Conservation Authority April 2013 2013 Otonabee Region Watershed Report Card Technical Report FINAL Currently, there is no province-wide program whereby Conservation Authorities collect water samples for E. coli analysis. While the Peterborough County-City Health Unit tests for E. coli at public beaches throughout the Otonabee Region Watershed, the data did not meet Conservation Ontario’s recommendation (2011) as follows: A minimum of monthly sampling data with 40 or more data points for the 5-year reporting period. As a result, there was insufficient data in the Otonabee Region watershed to report on E. coli. 4.3 Benthic Macroinvertebrates Benthic macroinvertebrates live within or on the bottom substrates of watercourses for at least a portion of their life cycle. Benthic macroinvertebrate samples from sites throughout the Otonabee Region Watershed were collected using the protocol established by the Ontario Benthos Biomonitoring Network (OBBN), of which Otonabee Conservation is a member. In addition to this data, Otonabee Conservation collected benthic samples using the Rapid Bio method (Meade Creek, 2011) outlined in the Ontario Stream Assessment Protocol (OSAP). The OBBN and OSAP methods were deemed comparable, based on Borisko et al (2007). All samples were identified to a coarse 27-group taxonomic level, the minimum level of identification required for the OBBN. Conservation Ontario (2011) recommends the Hilsenhoff 1988 Family Biotic Index as modified by New York State (Smith et al. 2009) to analyze surface water quality based on benthic macroinvertebrates. The minimum level of taxon identification required by this measure was not available in the Otonabee Conservation data, therefore a modified index was used to evaluate the benthic macroinvertebrate data. The locally-modified Hilsenhoff Index that was used is included in Appendix A. In considering site selection, Otonabee Conservation determined that benthic data was best represented by the average data from a given subwatershed, rather than from a single, downstream site. The average 2007-2011 locally-modified Hilsenhoff Index value was calculated for each subwatershed and converted to a corresponding point score based on guidance from Conservation Ontario (2011). Appendix A summarizes the benthic macroinvertebrate data used in the analysis. 8 Otonabee Region Conservation Authority April 2013 2013 Otonabee Region Watershed Report Card Technical Report FINAL 4.4 Surface Water Results TP and benthic macroinvertebrate data were analyzed and equally weighted in the assessment of surface water quality (Appendix A). Overall subwatershed grades for surface water quality were calculated by averaging the point scores for each indicator and converting the result to a corresponding Final Grade based on Conservation Ontario (2011). Due to data limitations, the Final Grade for the Ouse River, Rice Lake/Trent River, and Squirrel Creek subwatersheds reflect data from just one indicator. Map 2 illustrates the surface water quality grading results as reported in the 2013 Otonabee Region Watershed Report Card. Map 2: Surface Water Quality in the Otonabee Region Watershed 9 Otonabee Region Conservation Authority April 2013 2013 Otonabee Region Watershed Report Card Technical Report FINAL 5.0 How was groundwater quality evaluated? Two indicators are recommended by Conservation Ontario (2011) for the assessment of groundwater quality: 1. Chloride; and 2. Nitrate + Nitrite. Otonabee Conservation has been a partner in the Provincial Groundwater Monitoring Network (PGMN) since 2002. The Provincial Groundwater Monitoring Network was established in 2002 by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment (MOE) to provide data to characterize groundwater quantity and quality across the province. While it was the intent of the MOE that the PGMN be established as a monitoring network that is representative of area aquifers, the network was established prior to any aquifer characterization in the Otonabee Region. Conservation Ontario (2011) recommends the inclusion and grading of groundwater quality in Watershed Report Cards only where sufficient data exists, and where in the opinion of a hydrogeologist, there are enough wells in the reporting area with a sufficient period of data to provide general comments on the water quality. In general, it is recommended that five or more years of data be used to make general comments on water quality in an aquifer. Data generated through the PGMN program was considered in the assessment of groundwater quality. Data limitations associated with the evaluation of groundwater quality in the Otonabee Region are as follows: Monitoring program not comprehensive enough over 2007 to 2011 reporting period; Chemistry data reflects water quality in the monitoring well and is not necessarily representative of the water quality in the overall aquifer; and, Lack of regional aquifer characterization restricts interpretation of data from monitoring wells. Five years of data for Chloride and Nitrate + Nitrite is not available for each well due to varying parameter analysis by participating laboratories. From 2007 to 2011, groundwater samples were collected and analyzed from seven of twelve PGMN wells located across three subwatersheds: Squirrel Creek, Indian River and Kawartha Lakes. Chloride data was available from one well for each of the five years from 2007 to 2011, 10 Otonabee Region Conservation Authority April 2013 2013 Otonabee Region Watershed Report Card Technical Report FINAL seven wells in both 2008 and 2009, and five wells in both 2010 and 2011. Nitrate + Nitrite data was available from seven wells in 2007 through 2009, and five wells in both 2010 and 2011. Due to data limitations, groundwater quality in the Otonabee Region Watershed was not graded for the 2013 Otonabee Region Watershed Report Card. The available data was reviewed and compared against provincial guidelines such that a general statement of results could be reported. The available groundwater data for 2007 to 2011 is summarized in Appendix C. 11 Otonabee Region Conservation Authority April 2013 2013 Otonabee Region Watershed Report Card Technical Report FINAL 6.0 How were forest conditions evaluated? Three indicators are recommended by Conservation Ontario (2011) for the assessment of forest conditions: Percent Forest Cover; Percent Forest Interior; and, Percent Forested Riparian Zone. The methods Otonabee Conservation used to generate data for these indicators were consistent with those recommended by Conservation Ontario (2011). The Southern Ontario Land Resource Information System Version 1.2 (SOLRIS) was used to generate forest condition statistics for each subwatershed using GIS technology. The SOLRIS definition for ‘Woodland’ was used to identify forest cover: “Woodland describes areas with more than 60% tree cover and greater than 2m in height” (Conservation Ontario 2011, Section 4.0). 6.1 Percent Forest Cover Forest Cover is an area with more than 60% tree cover and where the trees are greater than 2 m in height. To generate forest cover, the following upland forest SOLRIS cover classes: Coniferous Forest, Deciduous Forest, Mixed Forest, Forest, Plantations-Tree Cultiv, and Hedgerow. Minimum forest patch size was 0.5 ha. These classes were selected using the ‘Select by Attribute’ tool and clipped to the Otonabee Region Conservation Authority Boundary. The new Forest Cover layer was dissolved, which eliminated interior boundaries and merged all joined polygons into one polygon. This was done in order to facilitate subsequent forest interior calculations. 6.2 Percent Interior Forest Forest Interior is the forested area that is more than 100 m from the forest edge. The outer 100 m of a forested area is considered ‘edge’ habitat and prone to high predation, sun and wind damage, and is more susceptible to invasive species than the forest interior. Certain wildlife species such as Ovenbirds, Bobcats and Grey wolves require interior forests for their survival. To calculate interior forest, a buffer of 100 m was applied to the inside of the dissolved forest cover layer polygons to generate data regarding the extent of forest interior. No minimum cutoff was set for forest interior. Thus, even a tiny forest interior area of 0.1 ha was counted. 12 Otonabee Region Conservation Authority April 2013 2013 Otonabee Region Watershed Report Card Technical Report FINAL 6.3 Percent Forested Riparian Zone Forested Riparian Zone is a 30 m wide strip of forested land along stream banks or shorelines. These vegetated zones provide important habitat for birds, fish and other wildlife and help improve water quality by naturally filtering sediment and contaminants before they enter surface water. Forested Riparian Zones also help to reduce or prevent flooding and erosion. Data for this indicator was calculated by buffering the watercourse layer using SOLRIS mapping and calculating the percentage of forest/woodland cover within the buffered area for each subwatershed. Appendix D summarizes the data for the three forest condition indicators used in the analysis. 6.4 Forest Conditions Results All three indicators were analyzed and equally weighted in the assessment of forest conditions Otonabee Region Watershed. Overall subwatershed grades for forest conditions were calculated by averaging the point scores for each indicator and converting the result to a corresponding Final Grade based on Conservation Ontario (2011). Environment Canada (2004) recommends that 30% of a watershed be forested and that a watershed include 10% forest interior for specialized wildlife and plant species. To make the forested riparian zone indicator workable at a subwatershed scale using GIS, this target was reinterpreted by Conservation Ontario (2011) to mean that 75% of the 30 m wide riparian zone should be naturally vegetated. Furthermore, since most Conservation Authorities do not have non-forested vegetation types mapped, only that portion of the riparian zone in forest cover can be measured. It was estimated that the proportion of riparian vegetation that is forested is two-thirds, the rest being marsh, meadow, and shrub thicket. Two-thirds of 75% is roughly 50%, thus, the equivalent target is 50% of the riparian zone in forest cover (Conservation Ontario 2011, Section 4.2.4). Map 3 illustrates the forest conditions grading results as reported in 2013 Otonabee Region Watershed Report Card. 13 Otonabee Region Conservation Authority April 2013 2013 Otonabee Region Watershed Report Card Technical Report FINAL Map 3: Forest Conditions in the Otonabee Region Watershed 14 Otonabee Region Conservation Authority April 2013 2013 Otonabee Region Watershed Report Card Technical Report FINAL 7.0 Wetland Cover Wetlands and wetland functions are significant natural heritage features and natural hazards in the Otonabee Region Watershed. Wetlands provide essential wildlife habitat and also perform many water quantity and quality improvement functions including flood retention and sediment filtration. Conservation Ontario (2011) recommends reporting wetland cover as a stand-alone indicator with the caveat that it is often under-estimated due to inherent mapping limitations associated with SOLRIS, the most common source of wetland mapping for Conservation Authorities, including Otonabee Conservation. Wetland cover inclusion and grading in Watershed Report Cards is recommended only where more reliable data exists. Wetland cover in the Otonabee Region Watershed was therefore not assessed or graded for the 2013 Otonabee Region Watershed Report Card; rather, a general measure of wetland cover was included to illustrate the prevalence and importance of wetland cover in the Otonabee Region Watershed. Provincially Significant Wetlands (PSWs) are identified by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) using a science-based ranking system known as the Ontario Wetland Evaluation System (OWES). This standardized method assesses wetland functions and societal values and is used to evaluate wetlands with PSWs being the most valuable. MNR mapping was used to calculate the area of the watershed that has been evaluated as identified wetlands by the OWES system. Additional wetlands may be present, but due to mapping limitations associated with SOLRIS, these have been omitted from the analysis and maps. All evaluated wetlands (PSW and Other Evaluated) in the Otonabee Region Watershed are illustrated on Map 4. This data is based on the MNR wetland GIS layer dated January 24, 2013. Environment Canada (2004) recommends restoring and/or maintaining wetland cover at 10% of a major watershed. For the purposes of the 2013 Otonabee Region Watershed Report Card, the overall area of Otonabee Region Watershed with evaluated wetland cover is 11%. In addition, for the purposes of indicating the importance of the wetland habitat in the watershed, the percentage of wetland cover that has been evaluated as provincially significant is reported, and is 9%. Appendix E summarizes the wetland data used in the analysis and a breakdown of evaluated wetland cover per subwatershed. 15 Otonabee Region Conservation Authority April 2013 2013 Otonabee Region Watershed Report Card Technical Report FINAL Map 4: Wetlands in the Otonabee Region Watershed 16 Otonabee Region Conservation Authority April 2013 2013 Otonabee Region Watershed Report Card Technical Report FINAL 8.0 References Cited Borisko, J.P., B.W. Kilgour, L.W. Stanfield, F.C. Jones. 2007. An Evaluation of Rapid Bioassessment Protocols for Stream Benthic Invertebrates in Southern Ontario, Canada. Water Qual. Res. J. Canada. Vol. 42, No. 3, 184-193. Conservation Ontario. 2011 Conservation Ontario Guide to Developing Conservation Authority Watershed Report Cards. Conservation Ontario, Newmarket, ON. Available at: http://www.conservation-ontario.on.ca/watershed_monitoring/index.html Environment Canada. 2004. How Much Habitat Is Enough? A Framework for Guiding Habitat Rehabilitation in Great Lakes Areas of Concern (Second Edition). Canadian Wildlife Service. Hilsenhoff, W.L. 1988 Rapid field assessment of organic pollution with a family-level biotic index. Journal of the North American Benthological Society. 7(1):65-68 Mandaville, S.M. 2002. Benthic Macroinvertebrates in Freshwaters: Taxa Tolerance Values, Metrics and Protocols. Coil and Water Conservation Society of Metro Halifax, 120 pp. Smith, A., Heitzman, D., Duffy, B. 2009. Standard Operating Procedure: Biological Monitoring of Surface Waters in New York State. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Water. 17 Otonabee Region Conservation Authority April 2013 2013 Otonabee Region Watershed Report Card Technical Report FINAL Indian River Jackson Creek Otonabee River Ouse River Rice Lake/Trent River Squirrel Creek Kawartha Lakes * 75th Percentile Cavan Creek Subwatershed Baxter Creek Appendix A: Surface Water Quality Data, 2007-2011 0.0190 0.0300 0.0190 0.0570 0.0200 0.0230 0.0240 n/a 0.0160 5 4 5 3 4 4 4 n/a 5 5.57 4.91 5.77 5.74 6.59 n/a n/a 5.5 6.16 3 4 2 3 1 n/a n/a 3 2 4.0 4.0 3.5 3.0 2.5 4.0 4.0 3.0 3.5 B B B C C B B C B TP Average Point Score Hilsenhoff Index Benthic Average Point Score Final Point Score Overall Final Grade *Includes four subwatersheds: Buckhorn/ Lovesick Lake, Chemong/ Pigeon Lake, Katchewanooka Lake and Stoney/ Clear Lake 18 Otonabee Region Conservation Authority April 2013 2013 Otonabee Region Watershed Report Card Technical Report FINAL Appendix A continued Benthic Macroinvertebrate Modified Family Biotic Index Index Value Point Score Grade <4.26 5 A 4.26-5.00 4 B 5.01-5.75 3 C 5.76-6.5 2 D >6.5 1 F Total Phosphorus (TP) TP (mg/L) Point Score Grade <0.020 5 A 0.020-0.030 4 B 0.031-0.060 3 C 0.061-0.180 2 D >0.180 1 F Total Phosphorus (mg/L) E. coli (cfu/ 100 mL) Benthic Macroinvertebrates (modified Family Biotic Index) <0.020 0-30 0.020 - 0.030 Point Score Grade Final Point Score Final Grade 0.00 - 4.25 5 A >4.4 A 31 - 100 4.26 - 5.00 4 B 3.5 - 4.4 B 0.031 - 0.060 101 - 300 5.01 - 5.75 3 C 2.5 - 3.4 C 0.061 - 0.180 301 - 1000 5.76 - 6.50 2 D 1.5 - 2.4 D >0.180 >1000 6.51 - 10.00 1 F <1.5 F 19 Otonabee Region Conservation Authority April 2013 2013 Otonabee Region Watershed Report Card Technical Report FINAL Appendix B: Benthic Macroinvertebrates Modified Hilsenhoff Index Invertebrate Taxon Pollution Tolerance Value Coelenterata (Hydra) 5 Platyhelminthes (Flatworms) 4 Nematoda (Roundworms) 5 Oligochaeta (Aquatic Earthworms) 8 Hirudinea (Leeches) 8 Isopoda (Aquatic Sowbugs) 8 Pelecypoda (Clams) 8 Amphipoda (Scuds) 6 Decapoda (Crayfish) 6 Acarina (Water Mites) 6 Ephemeroptera (Mayflies) 5 Anisoptera (Dragonflies) 5 Zygoptera (Damselflies) 7 Plecoptera (Stoneflies) 1 Hemiptera (True Bugs) 5 Megaloptera (Fishflies, Alderflies) 4 Trichoptera (Caddisflies) 4 Lepidoptera (Aquatic Moths) 5 Coleoptera (Beetles) 4 Gastropoda (Snails) 7 Chironomidae (Midges) 7 Tabanidae (Horse and Deer Flies) 6 Culicidae (Mosquitos) 8 Ceratopogonidae (No-See-Ums) 6 Tipulidae (Crane Flies) 3 Simuliidae (Black Flies) 6 Other Diptera (Msic. True Flies) 5 Ostracoda (Seed Shrimp) 7 20 Otonabee Region Conservation Authority April 2013 2013 Otonabee Region Watershed Report Card Technical Report FINAL Appendix C: Groundwater Quality Data, 2007-2011 Nitrate + Nitrite (mg/L) Chloride mg/L) Nitrate + Nitrite (mg/L) Chloride (mg/L) Nitrate + Nitrite (mg/L) Canadian Water Quality Guideline/ Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standard 2011 Chloride (mg/L) Casing ID 2010 Nitrate + Nitrite (mg/L) Well ID 2009 Chloride (mg/L) Aquifer (relative location) 2008 Nitrate + Nitrite (mg/L) Subwatershed 250 mg/L 10 mg/L 250 mg/L 10 mg/L 250 mg/L 10 mg/L 250 mg/L 10 mg/L 250 mg/L 10 mg/L 3 No. 2007 Chloride (mg/L) MOE Identification middle 4502540 W0000192 n/a 0.91 21 2 20.7 1.85 20.7 1.93 no sample no sample Squirrel Creek middle 51090052 W0000225 4 0.06 13 0.05 10 0.05 18.8 <0.05 17.5 <0.25 3 Squirrel Creek shallow 5119205 W0000255-3 n/a <0.06 3.9 <0.05 3.8 <0.05 3.8 <0.05 4.3 <0.05 4 Buckhorn/ Lovesick Lake deep 5116850 W0000193 n/a 20 5.5 0.88 4.2 0.49 6.4 1.75 4.4 0.46 5 Indian River shallow 5117680 W0000195 n/a 0.45 10.8 0.4 7.8 0.32 8.5 0.32 8.8 0.32 6 Indian River shallow 5101076 W0000196 n/a 0.63 4.3 <0.05 13.6 0.4 no sample no sample 8.2 0.2 7 Indian River shallow 5108692 W0000198 n/a <0.06 26.9 <0.05 26 <0.05 no sample no sample no sample no sample 1 Squirrel Creek 2 2 1 Each of the above-noted wells has a dedicated pump installed for monitoring purposes. 1 Well is located on private property. Monitoring equipment removed in 2011 at owner’s request and re-installed in 2012. 2 Well is located on private property. Monitoring equipment removed in 2011 at owner’s request. 3 All samples were analyzed at a Canadian Association for Environmental Analytical Laboratories accredited facility. MOE analysed samples from 2008 to 2011. Samples from 2007 were processed by an external laboratory that did not consistently analyse for Chloride. 21 Otonabee Region Conservation Authority April 2013 2013 Otonabee Region Watershed Report Card Technical Report FINAL Appendix D: Forest Conditions Data Area No. Forest Cover Forest Interior Riparian Zone Forested Average Score Average Grade C 4.3 B 4 B 3.7 B 22.4 2 D 2.0 D 5.5 51.9 4 B 2.3 D F 15.1 34.2 3 C 2.0 D 1 F 6.8 39.2 3 C 2.3 D 0.4 1 F 12.2 51.3 4 B 2.7 C 0.3 0.2 1 F 4.7 42.3 3 C 2.0 D D 0.2 0.1 1 F 6.5 57.6 5 A 2.7 C 4 B 1.3 1.2 1 F 3.6 97.1 5 A 3.3 C 31.3 5 A 0.9 0.9 1 F 3.6 39.1 3 C 3.0 C 8 9.1 2 D 0 0 1 F 4.4 29.3 3 C 2.0 D 288 15.1 - - 22.7 - - - 78.2 - Subwatershed km2 km2 % km2 % km2 % 1 Baxter Creek 92 29 31.8 5 A 9.4 10.2 5 A 5.8 40.4 3 2 Cavan Creek 172 40 23.4 4 B 6.5 3.8 3 C 7.5 56.1 3 Squirrel Creek 41 6 15.2 3 C 0.7 1.7 1 F 2.4 4 Jackson Creek 119 12 10 2 D 0.4 0.3 1 F 5 Otonabee River 382 32 8.3 2 D 0.6 0.2 1 6 Indian River 206 32 15.3 3 C 1.1 0.5 7 Ouse River 285 48 17 3 C 1.3 8 Rice Lake/Trent River 161 12 7.6 2 D 9 Chemong/Pigeon Lake 160 15 9.6 2 10 Buckhorn/Lovesick Lake 106 23 21.2 11 Stoney/Clear Lake 101 31 12 Katchewanooka Lake 83 1906 Total Summary 22 Otonabee Region Conservation Authority Score Grade Score Grade April 2013 Score Grade - 2013 Otonabee Region Watershed Report Card Technical Report FINAL Appendix D: Forest Conditions Data continued 2011 Grading System for Forest Conditions (Conservation Ontario 2011) Overall Forest Condition % Forest Cover % Forest Interior % Riparian Zone Forested Point Score Grade Final Points Final Grade >35.0 >11.5 >57.5 5 A >4.4 A 25.1 - 35.0 8.6 - 11.5 42.6 - 57.5 4 B 3.5 - 4.4 B 15.1 - 25.0 5.6 - 8.5 27.6 - 42.5 3 C 2.5 - 3.4 C 5.0 - 15.0 2.5 - 5.5 12.5 - 27.5 2 D 1.5 - 2.4 D <5.0 <2.5 <12.5 1 F <1.5 F 23 Otonabee Region Conservation Authority April 2013 2013 Otonabee Region Watershed Report Card Technical Report FINAL Appendix E: Evaluated Wetland Cover Data Subwatershed Area (m2) Evaluated-Other Wetland (m2) Evaluated-Provincial Significant (m2) Total Evaluated Wetland (m2) Percent Area Evaluated Wetland Baxter Creek 91,652,385.69 1,811,419.91 1,490,022.83 3,301,442.74 3.60% Buckhorn/Lovesick Lake 106,427,966.23 3,183,267.52 4,250,257.34 7,433,524.86 6.98% Cavan Creek 171,570,741.36 1,728,142.87 12,924,066.75 14,652,209.62 8.54% Chemong/Pigeon Lake 159,520,190.58 2,913,441.02 10,882,154.79 13,795,595.81 8.65% Clear / Stoney Lake 100,457,068.65 1,047,568.36 5,185,595.17 6,233,163.53 6.20% Indian River 205,901,400.00 4,751,263.25 18,960,664.00 23,711,927.25 11.52% Jackson Creek 118,598,180.63 992,774.93 19,949,640.78 20,942,415.71 17.66% Katchewanooka Lake 83,128,372.07 675,380.90 12,775,178.68 13,450,559.58 16.18% Otonabee River 381,837,151.65 5,709,853.79 37,346,921.58 43,056,775.37 11.28% Ouse River 284,854,448.92 6,204,427.69 35,753,613.73 41,958,041.42 14.73% Rice Lake/Trent River 161,246,570.62 993,683.01 15,712,453.17 16,706,136.18 10.36% Squirrel Creek 41,138,380.45 - 1,757,581.26 1,757,581.26 4.27% 1,906,332,856.84 30,011,223.26 176,988,150.08 206,999,373.35 10.85% 1.57% 9.28% TOTAL Otonabee Region Watershed 24 Otonabee Region Conservation Authority Non-PSW and PSW wetland as a percent of watershed area April 2013