WATERSHED - Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority

CONSERVATION
Rocky Saugeen River
WATERSHED
REPORT CARD
2008
Average Grades
B
C
B
Forest Conditions
N/A
Groundwater Quality
Wetland Conditions
Surface Water Quality
A WATERSHED REPORT CARD is a document which outlines the
general state of forest, wetland, surface water and groundwater
resources of a particular river and its watershed. Data for this
Report Card cover a five year period from 2002 - 2006.
The Rocky Saugeen River Watershed
The Rocky Saugeen River drains 282 square kilometres, flowing
into the Main Saugeen River northwest of Durham. The river is
51.4 kilometres in length with an average gradient of 2.76 metres
per kilometre. Tributaries of the Rocky Saugeen River include
McKechnie Creek, Blacks Creek, Traverston Creek, Barhead
Creek, West Arm Rocky Saugeen River and numerous smaller
unnamed streams.
This watershed is 51% agricultural and 42% forested. It
includes the communities of Markdale and Traverston. There are
a large number of pothole lakes and swamp areas found
throughout the watershed. One of the most forested watersheds,
this system is quite healthy by Southern Ontario standards. It is
characterized by rolling terrain, rocky outcrops and meandering
streams. The headwater areas originate in significant wetlands
(Bells Lake and the Beaverdale Bog), much of which is owned
(1,000 ha) and protected by Saugeen Conservation.
Located entirely within the Horseshoe Moraine, the watershed
exhibits drumlinized till plains and spillways as the predominant
landscape feature. Kame moraines can also be found.
What is a Watershed?
A watershed is an area of land that drains into a river
or stream. The boundary of a watershed is based on
elevation or the natural contours of the land.
GRADE DESCRIPTION
A = Excellent ecosystem conditions. Some protection and
enhancement may be required.
B = Good ecosystem conditions. Some areas may require
enhancement and/or improvements.
C = Ecosystem conditions that warrant general improvements.
D = Poor ecosystem conditions. Overall improvements necessary.
F = Degraded ecosystem. Conditions in need of considerable
improvement.
LEGEND
Benthic
Surface Water Quality
Benthic and Surface Water Quality
Groundwater Monitoring
Wooded Areas
Evaluated Wetlands
Watercourses
Lake
Huron
N
2
Report Card Notes:
The observed
conditions in this
watershed have been
summarized and a
grade assigned based
on indicators
developed by
Conservation Ontario.
The purpose of the
watershed report card
process is to
encourage consistent
reporting of a
standardized set of
environmental
indicators by all
Conservation
Authorities in the
Province of Ontario.
The Rocky Saugeen River Watershed
WATERSHED INFORMATION
Groundwater Aquifer Sources
Area
Guelph Formation
282 sq. km
Municipalities
Municipality of West Grey, Municipality of
Grey Highlands, Township of Chatsworth
Stream Flow (mean)
mean annual flow - 4.7 cubic
metres per second (cms)
Physiography
34% spillway, 29% till plain (drumlinized),
24% kame moraine, 7% till moraine, 3%
drumlin, 2% peat and muck, 1% water
Soils
72% medium to moderately fine loam,
12% organic material, 11% silty loam, 3%
other (may include small percentages of
alluvium, breypan, bottomlands, etc.), 2%
fine to moderately coarse sandy loam
Woodlot Size
Many large forest stands with forest interior exist
within the central and western portion of the
watershed, while the eastern portion contains very
little forest cover.
Stream Flow (low) *
7Q10 flow1 - 1.18 cms
7Q20 flow2 - 1.08 cms
Land Use
51% agriculture; 42% forested;
0.6% urban
Provincially
Significant Natural
Areas
Life Science Areas of Natural
and Scientific Interest Traverston Creek, Rocky
Saugeen River
Rare Species (obtained from the National Heritage
Information Centre (NHIC) Website)
Dams
In total there are 29 dams in this watershed, of
which 8 are considered large dams (greater
than 3 metres in height).
Milk Snake, Eastern Ribbon Snake, Spotted Turtle, Williamson’s
Emerald, Red-shouldered Hawk, Hart’s Tongue Fern, Least Clubtail,
Northern Long-eared Myotis (bat)
Sewage Treatment
Facilities
Markdale
Least Clubtail
Hart’s Tongue Fern
*
1
7Q10 - the lowest mean flow for seven consecutive days that has a 10-year recurrence interval period, or a 1 in 10 chance of occurring in any one year.
2
7Q20 - the lowest mean flow for seven consecutive days that has a 20-year recurrence interval period, or a 1 in 20 chance of occurring in any one year.
3
FOREST
CONDITIONS
The Rocky Saugeen River Watershed
INDICATORS
GRADE
% of
AREA
INDICATOR DESCRIPTION
Forest Cover
A
41.6
Forest cover is the percentage of forest within the watershed. Environment Canada suggests
that 30% forest cover is the minimum needed to support healthy wildlife habitat.
Forest Interior
A
10.5
Forest Interior refers to the protected core area found inside a woodland. It is the sheltered,
secluded environment away from forest edges and open habitats.
Environment Canada recommends that 10% of a watershed should be interior forest cover.
Riparian Cover
C
48
CONDITIONS
SURFACE WATER
QUALITY
EVALUATED WETLAND
AVERAGE GRADE
Grade B indicates good ecosystem conditions. Some areas may require enhancement and/or
improvements.
Wetland Cover
D
4.7
Wetland Cover is the percentage of existing wetland in a watershed.
Environment Canada suggests that 10% wetland cover is the minimum required for a
healthy watershed.
Wetland Buffer
B
61.6
A Wetland Buffer is the vegetated area adjacent to a wetland. Buffers are important to the
maintenance of wetland functions. Environment Canada suggests that wetlands should
have a minimum 100 metre buffer with 100% vegetation.
AVERAGE GRADE
C
INDICATORS
GRADE
RESULT
Benthic
Invertebrates
(FBI)
B
5.20
Benthos or benthic macroinvertebrates are large bottom dwelling insects, crustaceans, worms,
mollusks, and related aquatic animals that live in watercourses. They are good indicators of water
quality responding quickly to environmental stressors, such as pollutants. The Family Biotic Index
(FBI) scores provide stream health information and values range from 1 (healthy) to 10
(degraded).
Total Phosphorus
A
(mg/L)
0.02
Total phosphorus is indicative of nutrient levels within a watercourse. Excess phosphorus
stimulates the growth of aquatic plants and algae and may result in unhealthy stream conditions.
The Provincial Water Quality Objective is 0.03 mg/L.
78
E. coli originate from the wastes of warm blooded animals, including humans, livestock, wildlife,
pets and waterfowl. The Ontario Recreational Water Quality Guidelines suggest that waters
with less than 100 CFUs/100 ml are safe for swimming.
E. coli (Colony
Forming Units)
B
AVERAGE GRADE
GROUNDWATER
QUALITY
B
Riparian Cover is the percentage of forested habitat along a waterway.
Environment Canada suggests that at least 75% of stream length should have 30 metre
forested buffers.
(CFU/
100ml)
B
Grade C indicates ecosystem conditions that warrant general improvements.
INDICATOR DESCRIPTION
Grade B indicates good ecosystem conditions. Some areas may require enhancement and/or
improvements.
Nitrite + Nitrate
N/A
N/A
Nitrates are present in water through the decomposition of plant or animal material, the presence of
fertilizers, domestic sewage or treated wastewater as well as geological formations containing soluble
nitrogen compounds. The Ontario Drinking Water Standard for nitrite + nitrate is 10 mg/L.
Chloride
N/A
N/A
While chloride can be naturally occurring, the presence of elevated levels may indicate
contamination from road salt, industrial discharges, or landfill leachate. The Ontario Drinking
Water Standard for chloride is only for aesthetic purposes with an objective of 250 mg/L.
AVERAGE GRADE
N/A
There are no monitoring wells located within this watershed, however, other monitoring wells in the
vicinity have good water quality achieving an A grade.
Surface water data used for this interpretation were obtained through the
Provincial Water Quality Monitoring Network (PWQMN), the Ontario
Benthos Biomonitoring Network (OBBN) and Saugeen Conservation's
water quality monitoring network. Data used were from 2002 to 2006.
Groundwater data - there are no monitoring wells located in this
watershed.
4
It should be noted that groundwater aquifers do not conform to watershed
boundaries but rather flow in an east to west direction through the
watershed. A general determination of water quality in the area can be
made by looking at other wells in the vicinity.
WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?
FOREST CONDITIONS
With an ‘A’ grade for forest cover (42%), the Rocky Saugeen Watershed exceeds the
Environment Canada guidelines of 30% forest cover. Forest interior also exceeds the guidelines with
an ‘A’ grade. Riparian cover, however, is lacking in this watershed having a ‘C’ grade. It falls well
short of the guidelines.
EVALUATED WETLAND CONDITIONS
This report card summarizes the conditions of ‘evaluated wetlands’ only. This watershed scores a
‘D’ for wetland cover. The few evaluated wetlands that do exist in the watershed have good buffers
resulting in a grade of ‘B’.
SURFACE WATER QUALITY
This watershed scores an average grade of ‘B’ for water quality. Benthic scores range from 4.68 to
5.71 (‘B’ grade), while total phosphorus is below the water quality objective of 0.03 mg/L (’A’ grade).
E. coli is also below the recreational guidelines (’B’ grade), but counts do increase after storm events.
GROUNDWATER QUALITY
There are no monitoring wells in this watershed.
SUGGESTIONS FOR A BETTER WATERSHED
1)
Improve riparian cover. Create buffers or riparian
systems along the Rocky Saugeen’s main waterway and its smaller
tributaries. This would provide additional wildlife habitat and
corridor systems, improve fisheries resources, help filter impurities
and pollutants, assist in the maintenance of cold water habitat,
stabilize eroding banks and prevent the loss of valuable topsoil. It
would also assist in reaching Environment Canada's suggested
target of 75%.
2)
Expand overall forest cover. Increase tree planting
efforts with emphasis on dormant fields, areas too wet to farm or
retired farmland. This will help to maintain the average forest
conditions at the ‘B’ level grade. It will also increase habitat and
species diversity.
3) Allow low lying or wet areas to naturalize.
With the low grade of ‘D’ wetland cover needs to be increased.
Wetlands absorb and slowly release water during runoff and
rainfall, minimizing soil loss due to erosion and improving the
quality of surface and groundwater. For information on possible programs and
Key BMP’s include:
• proper storage and application of manure, fertilizers and
pesticides which would help to decrease phosphorus loadings
and prevent contamination of waterways
• the implementation of farming practices such as strip
cropping, grassed waterways and the use of cover crops to
prevent erosion and reduce the movement of nutrients and
pesticides
• the restriction of cattle from waterways
• the establishment of shelterbelts in farm areas to protect
valuable topsoil, increase wildlife habitat, protect crops against
wind damage, increase energy efficiency of farm buildings, and
increase the value of farm property
For more information on Best Management Practices see
www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/environment/bmp/series.htm
6) Protect your drinking water supply by:
4)
• ensuring that you know the condition of your well and the
risks to your water supply (www.wellwise.ca)
• sample private wells each spring and fall (available through the
local Health Unit)
• keep contaminants away from wells (e.g. Fuel, pesticides,
manure/waste)
• decommission abandoned wells according to Ministry of the
Environment standards
• fix faulty septic systems and establish a septic maintenance
plan
5) Implement Best Management Practices (BMP’s)
NOTE: Landowners near municipally owned and operated drinking water
systems (including wells and intakes), may be eligible for funding to undertake
early actions to protect sources of drinking water. See
www.waterprotection.ca
incentives with Ducks Unlimited Canada see www.ducks.ca
Protect existing wetlands and forests. This can
be accomplished through designations in planning documents,
enforcement of tree cutting bylaws, landowner incentives and
education, and promotion of sustainable recreational uses. This is
important to maintain the good forest condition scores and to
maintain or improve water quality.
One of the primary land uses in the Rocky Saugeen River
Watershed is farming at roughly 51%. The implementation of best
management practices (BMP's) is highly recommended.
5
A ‘Gold Star’ for Current Practices
Did you know that Saugeen Conservation...
> administers its Regulation and Planning programs designed to
protect existing wetlands, as well as riverine systems and hazard
areas
> plants trees (6,500 at three locations in this watershed from 2002 2006), on an annual basis throughout its entire jurisdiction
> implements an intensive conservation education program aimed at
teaching students about the health of the local ecosystem, including
forests, wetlands, endangered species, natural habitats, species
relationships and more
> conducts an extensive water sampling program, both for surface and
groundwater. Three of these surface water stations are located on
the Rocky Saugeen River system
> conducts on-going sampling of aquatic organisms to monitor water
quality
> provides technical support to landowners
Other Initiatives
> Environmental self assessments are now available for the rural non-farm landowner with the release of The Rural Landowner
Stewardship Guide for the Lake Huron Watershed. This guide provides a framework to allow landowners to evaluate their property
and its management. Through completion of the worksheets, landowners will learn what they are doing right, and where they can
improve in protecting the natural environment. See the website http://theguide.huronstewardship.on.ca to find out how to get a guide.
> Happy Trout, a local chapter of Trout Unlimited, has completed several habitat improvement projects in the Rocky Saugeen
watershed. Their goal is increasing the habitat available for trout in the watershed. The group also operates a monitoring project in the
watershed, tracking the thermal stability of watercourses.
> Grey County Forest Stewardship Council endeavours to foster education and new initiatives that promote natural resource
sustainability within Grey County. The main focus is to initiate and support stewardship projects and demonstrations of sustainable
resource management practices.
If you and your organization are working to improve the watershed, please let us know!
For more information contact:
CONSERVATION
261123 Grey Rd. 28, R. R. #1
Hanover ON N4N 3B8
519-364-1255
www.svca.on.ca