F I S H E R I E S H A B I TAT
M A N AG E M E N T P L A N
Nott aw a sag a Valley Co nse r vat ion Auth ority
Area of Jurisdic t ion
Pre pa re d by Nott aw asag a Valley Conser vat ion Auth ority
in par tnership w i th
M a r c h 2009
2 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
88.8 ┃
E X E C U T I V E S U M M A RY
The Nottawasaga Valley Conservation
Authority (NVCA), including its 18 member
municipalities, is involved in the
management of fisheries habitat as part of
its broad mandate for environmental and
aquatic resource management documented
in the Conservation Authorities Act.
Fisheries habitats in the NVCA area of
jurisdiction generate significant economic
revenues by supporting productive sport
and commercial baitfish fisheries. Healthy
aquatic environments and the fish
populations they support, also provide
recreational and cultural values to society.
Fisheries habitat management also forms a
critical component of any water quality
improvement strategy designed to promote
human health and provide for the future
growth of our urban and rural communities.
The NVCA in partnership with
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Ontario
Ministry of Natural Resources and local
environmental interest and stakeholder
groups, has developed the Fisheries
Habitat Management Plan (which will be
referred to as “the plan”), to act as a
strategic document designed to support
aquatic resource protection, watershed
stewardship, fisheries habitat
compensation and land use planning. The
plan represents an extension of the NVCA
Watershed Management Plan, 1996 to
2015, and the 2006 update. The plan
documents habitat protection and
restoration priorities at the whole area of
jurisdiction level. It is intended to provide a
basis for the development of a future
implementation plan which will specify
detailed fisheries habitat management
strategies, tactics and project sites in
specific catchments, river reaches and
tributaries. This current Fisheries Habitat
Management Plan would also provide a
valuable tool to use in the development of
an integrated multi-disciplinary aquatic
resource management plan for the NVCA
area of jurisdiction.
The plan includes an introduction
(Chapter 1) followed by 7 background
information chapters. Chapter 2 documents
a vision and goals for healthy fisheries
habitats. Chapter 3 describes the physical,
biological and cultural setting of the NVCA
area of jurisdiction including major
watercourses, physiography, soil
permeability, terrain, forest cover,
wetlands, land use and barriers to fish
migration. Chapter 4 provides a
classification framework for fisheries
habitats including 7 types, their locations
in the area of jurisdiction and management
strategies for each. Chapter 5 documents
an overview of typical fisheries habitat
impacts and contributing activities. Chapter
6 provides a summary of current legislative
mechanisms for fisheries habitat protection
and associated government agency roles.
Chapters 7 and 8 provide background
information on fisheries habitat restoration
and assessment respectively.
The plan is based on the philosophy
that a detailed understanding of the
relationships between watershed features
and aquatic habitats, must be developed
first before defensible management
priorities can be determined. This
philosophy provides for the development of
perspectives on the historical and potential
restored status of fisheries habitats, rather
than just focusing on the current condition.
An important goal therefore was to develop
a fisheries habitat zone framework for the
NVCA area of jurisdiction, in which each
zone encompassed areas exhibiting similar
current habitat types, future restored
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃3
habitat types and management issues. The
framework was developed in order to
provide a geographical information system
(GIS) based analytical tool that would
support predictions about fisheries habitat
potentials, management issues, land use
impacts, current habitat status and
appropriate management objectives, for any
watercourse in the NVCA area of jurisdiction.
Chapter 9 documents the
methodology which was used to determine
fisheries habitat zones in the framework.
Zone boundaries were determined by
reviewing a wide range of fisheries habitat
background data within each of the 11
fisheries habitat management units
(FHMUs) in the NVCA area of jurisdiction.
Documenting local physiographic and land
use based habitat trends within the
FHMUs, provided the basis for identifying
broad fisheries habitat zones throughout
the NVCA area of jurisdiction.
Chapter 10 documents the fisheries
habitat zone framework developed for the
NVCA area of jurisdiction, using the
methodology documented in Chapter 9.
The framework includes 13 physiographybased fisheries habitat zones. Chapter 10
also provides detailed descriptions of the
characteristics of each zone.
Chapters 11 through 13 document
recommendations for habitat protection,
restoration and assessment/monitoring,
based on the fisheries habitat zone
4 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
framework and new perspectives in
fisheries habitat management. The
recommendations reflect the philosophy
that all human land use practices, in both
urban and rural areas, play a role impacting
fisheries habitats. Therefore all watershed
residents need to play an active part in
developing the plan for a solution. From a
practical perspective, protection activities
may emphasize managing new urban
developments whereas restoration work
may be most effective in addressing
historical and current rural impacts.
Participants in the development of this
plan believed that all watershed residents
who are stakeholders in improving water
quality, can benefit from supporting costeffective fisheries habitat restoration in
rural areas.
Chapter 14 documents fisheries
habitat management objectives which were
developed based on the principle of
promoting the protection, enhancement and
restoration of coldwater habitats, wherever
the physiographic, soil permeability and
groundwater discharge conditions were
suitable for supporting this habitat type.
This principle was applied even where
current land use practices represented a
partial constraint to the restoration of
coldwater habitat. The fisheries habitat
management objectives emphasized the
protection, enhancement and restoration of
warmwater fisheries habitats wherever the
local conditions were not suitable for
supporting coldwater habitat.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
A summary of plan recommendations includes:
1. Emphasizing habitat protection
activities within the Escarpment Natural,
Oak Ridges Moraine, Oro Moraine and Deep
Valley Sand Plain fisheries habitat zones as
well as un-developed natural lake shorelines.
2. Emphasizing fisheries habitat
restoration works within the Shallow
Valley Sand Plain, Southern Clay Plain,
Northern Clay Plain, Drumlinized Clay Plain,
Escarpment Impact, Dundalk Till Plain,
Eastern Uplands, Central Uplands and
Minesing Wetlands habitat zones, and for
developed lake shorelines.
3. Implementing a “Core Fisheries Habitat
Restoration Strategy” targeting
permanently flowing watercourses within
the Sand Plain Shallow Valley, Southern Clay
Plain, Northern Clay Plain and Drumlinized
Clay Plain zones.
4. Using the fisheries habitat zone
framework as a basis for identifying
appropriate sampling station locations
for fisheries habitat surveys and
biomonitoring. Sample locations should be
selected on each watercourse near the
downstream limit of each zone, in order to
best reflect the cumulative positive and
negative impacts to aquatic habitat within
the zone. This approach would facilitate
defensible fish habitat quality and stream
health comparisons between different
watercourses in the NVCA area of jurisdiction.
5. Implementing a study designed to
identify stressors contributing to poor
summer water clarity in the main branch
of the Nottawasaga River, Innisfil Creek and
Marl Creek, and, to determine associated
impacts to fisheries habitat productivity.
6. Generally managing fisheries habitats
in the NVCA area of jurisdiction, consistent
with the protection, restoration and
enhancement of coldwater fisheries
habitats, while protecting local features
which currently provide warmwater
predator fisheries habitat (see following
bullets 7 and 8 for exceptions).
7. Managing the lower Nottawasaga River
reach (with the exception of the
Montgomery Rapids section), Jack’s Lake,
Marl Lake and warmwater tributary streams
within the Northern Clay Plain and Minesing
Wetlands habitat zones, as a warmwater
predator fisheries habitat ecosystem
attached to Nottawasaga Bay, and as an
important migratory route for coldwater fish
species (main river only).
8. Managing Bass Lake (including the North
River), Orr Lake (including the Wye River),
Little Lake (including adjacent reaches of
Willow Creek) and Tottenham Reservoir as
warmwater predator fisheries
habitat ecosystems.
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃5
88.8 ┃
ACKNOWLEDG E M ENTS
The NVCA would like to thank all
watershed residents, environmental
interest groups, stakeholders and partner
agencies which contributed their time and
energy to the development of this
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan. Given
the scope of the document and the size of
the area of jurisdiction, it would have been
very difficult for any single partner to have
compiled the background information or to
have represented the interests and values
of all watershed residents.
Cover photo provided by
Gary Christie
of the Nottawasaga Steelheaders.
6 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
88.8 ┃
TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S
Executive Summary
Acknowledgements
Table of Contents .
Appendices . . . . . .
List of Figures . . . .
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.3
.6
.7
.9
.9
1.0 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
1.1 Purpose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
1.2 Geographical Scope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
1.3 Planning Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
1.4 Plan Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
1.5 Study Methodology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
2.0 Background – Vision and Goals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
3.0 Background – Physical, Biological and Cultural Setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
3.1 Major Watercourses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
3.2 Physiographic Regions, Soil Permeability and Groundwater Discharge . . . . .21
3.3 Terrain and Stream Gradient . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
3.4 Forest Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
3.5 Wetlands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
3.6 Land Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
3.7 Dams and Other Barriers to Fish Migration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
4.0 Background – Fisheries Habitat Types and Management Strategies
4.1 Coldwater Fisheries Habitats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4.2 Coolwater Fisheries Habitats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4.3 Warmwater Predator Fisheries Habitats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4.4 Warmwater Baitfish Fisheries Habitats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4.5 Municipal Drains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4.6 Reservoirs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4.7 Nottawasaga Bay Shoreline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . .37
. . . . . . .38
. . . . . . .39
. . . . . . .40
. . . . . . .43
. . . . . . .44
. . . . . . .46
. . . . . . .47
5.0 Background – Impacts to Fisheries Habitats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
5.1 Riparian Habitat Impacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
5.2 In-stream and Lake Habitat Impacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
5.3 Dissolved Oxygen/Stream Temperature Impacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
5.4 Stream Flow/Water Level Impacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
5.5 Flow Fluctuation Impacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
5.6 Water Quality/Clarity Impacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
5.7 Migratory Route Impacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
5.8 Chemical Contaminant Impacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃7
6.0 Background – Protection Mechanisms for Fisheries Habitats
6.1 Fish Habitat Referral Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6.2 Fish Habitat Compliance Protocol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6.3 Class Authorization System for Agricultural Municipal Drains
6.4 Conservation Authority Permit Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6.5 Ministry of Natural Resources Work Permit Process . . . . . .
6.6 Ministry of the Environment Permit to Take Water Process .
6.7 Tree Cutting Bylaws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6.8 Planning Act Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6.9 Other Acts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .57
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7.0 Background – Restoration Techniques for Fisheries Habitats
7.1 Riparian Restoration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7.2 Stream Bank and Lakeshore Restoration . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7.3 Natural Channel and Floodplain Restoration . . . . . . . . . . . .
7.4 On-stream Dam/Head Pond Removal and Management . . .
7.5 Lake Habitat Restoration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7.6 Municipal Drain Restoration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7.7 Urban Stormwater Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7.8 Nutrient Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .61
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8.0 Background –
Assessment and Monitoring Techniques
8.1 Fish Community Assessment . . . . . .
8.2 Water Temperature Assessment . . .
8.3 Aquatic Invertebrate Assessment . . .
8.4 Aquatic Habitat Inventory . . . . . . . .
for
...
...
...
...
Fisheries Habitats
................
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................
. . . . . . . . .69
. . . . . . . . . .69
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. . . . . . . . . .71
9.0 Methodology –
Development of the Fisheries Habitat Zone Framework . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
10.0 Results – Fisheries Habitat Zone Framework
10.1 Zone Breakdown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
10.2 Zone Description and Delineation . . . . . .
10.3 Fisheries Habitat Characteristics by Zone .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84
11.0 Recommendations – Protection Strategies for Fisheries Habitats . . . . . . .89
8 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
12.0 Recommendations – Restoration Strategies for Fisheries Habitats
12.1 Priority Zones for Restoration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
12.2 Core Restoration Strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
12.3 Migratory Rainbow Trout/Chinook Salmon/Brown Trout
Habitat Restoration Strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
12.4 Resident Brook Trout Habitat Restoration Strategy . . . . . . . . . . . .
12.5 Lower and Middle Nottawasaga River Restoration Strategy . . . . . .
12.6 Natural Lake Habitat Restoration Strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . .93
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. .96
.100
.102
.103
13.0 Recommendations –
Assessment and Monitoring Strategies for Fisheries Habitats . . . . . . . . .105
14.0 Recommendations – Management Objectives for Fisheries Habitats . . . .109
15.0 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114
Appendices
Appendix 1 - Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Appendix 2 - Watercourses in the NVCA Area of Jurisdiction . . . . .
Appendix 3 - Coldwater and Coolwater Fisheries Habitats
in the NVCA Area of Jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Appendix 4 - Biological Conditions of Streams
Nottawasaga River Watershed
Department of Lands and Forests Survey 1961-1962
Appendix 5 - Fish Species in the NVCA Area of Jurisdiction . . . . . .
Appendix 6 - Fisheries Habitat Zone Framework
for the NVCA Area of Jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
List of Figures
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Area of Jurisdiction . . .
Major Drainage Areas .
Physiographic Regions
Soil Permeability . . . .
Terrain Plan View . . . .
Terrain Cross Section .
Forest Cover . . . . . . . .
Wetlands . . . . . . . . . .
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.12
.13
.22
.23
.28
.29
.31
.32
9 Land Use . . . . . . . . . . . .
10 Barriers to Fish Migration
11 Warmwater Predator
Fisheries Habitats . . . . .
12 Municipal Drains . . . . . . .
13 Fisheries Habitat
Management Units . . . . .
14 Target Stream Reaches
for Core Fisheries Habitat
Restoration Strategy . . . .
. . . . . . .34
. . . . . . .35
. . . . . . .41
. . . . . . .45
. . . . . . .75
. . . . . . .94
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃9
1 0 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
1.0
┃ INTRODU CTION
1.1 Purpose
1.2 Geographical Scope
This Fisheries Habitat Management
Plan (FHMP) documents the current status
of fisheries habitats in the Nottawasaga
Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA) area
of jurisdiction located in south-central
Ontario. The plan provides strategic
direction for the protection, enhancement
and rehabilitation of this significant natural
resource. Developed to serve as a stand
alone fisheries habitat management plan,
this report also functions as a natural
extension of the NVCA Watershed
Management Plan, 1996–2015 and the
Watershed Management Plan update
completed in 2006.
The FHMP encompasses the entire
NVCA area of jurisdiction which includes 18
member municipalities and 3 counties
(Figure 1). This area includes the
Nottawasaga River Watershed, the Blue
Mountain Watersheds, the Severn Sound
Tributary Area and part of the
Nottawasaga Bay shoreline (Figure 2). The
Nottawasaga River watershed covers an
area of approximately 3000 km2. The main
river extends 120km (75 miles) from its
headwaters north of Orangeville to the
river mouth at Wasaga Beach on Georgian
Bay (Figure 2). The Blue Mountain
Watersheds located adjacent to the Town
of Collingwood, cover an area of 240 km2
which includes the drainages of the Silver
Creek, Black Ash Creek, Pretty River and
Batteaux Creek (Figure 2). The Severn
Sound Tributary Area (420 km2) includes
the southern (headwater) portions of the
Wye River, Hog Creek, Sturgeon River,
Coldwater River and North River
watersheds (Figure 2). The Nottawasaga
Bay Shoreline within the NVCA area of
jurisdiction extends approximately 35km
from the mouth of Silver Creek on the
western end, to the northern boundary of
the Town of Wasaga Beach on the eastern
end (Figure 2). Along this section, the
NVCA area of jurisdiction extends 5km out
into Nottawasaga Bay. The proximity to the
Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and the
anticipated rate of growth in the next
several decades, both threaten the health
of fisheries habitat resources in the NVCA
area of jurisdiction.
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃1 1
FIGURE
1
NVCA Area of Jurisdiction
➤
LEGEND
N
0
4
8
16
KILOMETERS
1 2 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
FIGURE
2
Major Drainage Areas
➤
LEGEND
N
0
4
8
16
KILOMETERS
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃1 3
1.3 Planning Process
1.4 Plan Format
The development of the FHMP was
initiated in the Fall of 2000 as a
partnership between the NVCA and
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO),
working in cooperation with the Ontario
Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR). The
preliminary plan draft was developed in
cooperation with both a Public Advisory
Committee (PAC) and a Technical Advisory
Committee (TAC). Both committees were
actively involved in all parts of the planning
process through a series of meetings held
between October 2000 and February
2001. The PAC consisted of representatives
from Fish and Game Clubs, Environmental
Groups, landowners, agricultural
organizations, urban developers, municipal
councils, municipal staff, environmental
consultants etc. The TAC included
representatives from DFO, NVCA, Midhurst
District of the Ontario Ministry of Natural
Resources (MNR), the Lake Huron
Management Unit of MNR, the Ontario
Ministry of the Environment, the Niagara
Escarpment Commission and the Ontario
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.
The FHMP has been structured in
order to:
Public involvement was a key element
in the development of the plan. Partners in
this initiative hosted stakeholder meetings
throughout the watershed in order to
receive comments and contributions from
the general public. The feedback received
has been incorporated throughout the
plan. This document reflects the input of
all the individuals and organizations who
participated in its development.
1 4 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
• Provide an introduction and strategic
vision (Chapters 1 and 2).
• Document fisheries habitat
background information and
techniques for protecting, restoring
and assessing/monitoring fisheries
habitats in the NVCA area of
jurisdiction (Chapters 3 through 8).
• Describe a methodology for
developing a physiography-based
fisheries habitat zone framework
(Chapter 9).
• Document the zones in the
framework, boundaries and
characteristics (Chapter 10).
• Identify new recommendations for
fisheries habitat protection,
restoration, assessment/monitoring
and management objectives, based
on the habitat zone framework and
emerging perspectives in fisheries
habitat management (Chapters 11
through 14).
A glossary has been included in this
plan (Appendix 1) in order to facilitate
comprehension by readers from a wide
range of interest groups.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
1.5 Study Methodology
The plan is based on the philosophy
that a detailed understanding of the
relationships between watershed features
and aquatic habitats must be developed
first, before defensible management
priorities can be determined. This
approach provides for the development of
perspectives on the historical and
potential restored status of fisheries
habitats, rather than just focusing on the
current condition. An important goal of
the plan therefore was to identify a
fisheries habitat zone framework for the
NVCA area of jurisdiction, such that each
zone encompasses habitats exhibiting
similar current habitat types, future
restored habitat types and management
issues. The framework was developed in
order to provide a geographical
information system (GIS) based analytical
tool that would support predictions about
fisheries habitat potentials, management
issues, land use impacts, current habitat
status and appropriate management
objectives, for any watercourse in the
NVCA area of jurisdiction.
Chapter 9 documents the methodology
used to develop the framework which
included 13 different physiography-based
fisheries habitat zones. Zone boundaries
were determined by completing an
extensive fisheries habitat background
data review within each of the 11
fisheries habitat management units
(FHMUs) in the NVCA area of jurisdiction.
Documenting local physiographic and land
use-based habitat trends within the
FHMUs provided the basis for identifying
broad fisheries habitat zones throughout
the NVCA area of jurisdiction.
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃1 5
1 6 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
2.0
┃ B A C KG R O U N D
Vision & Goals
The vision of the FHMP is to manage fisheries habitats in a manner that will improve
water quality, enhance stream and lake health, and promote the development of:
1. Coldwater fisheries habitats in the
Nottawasaga River Watershed
supporting one of the largest
spawning populations of wild
migratory rainbow trout and Chinook
salmon in the Great Lakes Basin.
2. Warmwater fisheries habitats in the
lower and middle reaches of the
Nottawasaga River supporting one of
the largest spawning populations of
lake sturgeon in southern Ontario.
3. Warmwater fisheries habitats in the
lower reach of the Nottawasaga River
and tributaries supporting one the
largest populations of wetlandspawning walleye in North America.
4. Warmwater fisheries habitats in the
lower reach of the Nottawasaga River,
tributaries, Jack’s Lake, Marl Lake,
Little Lake and Willow Creek,
supporting strong populations of
northern pike, smallmouth bass,
largemouth bass, walleye and possibly
muskellunge (lower reach
Nottawasaga River only).
5. Coldwater fisheries habitats in the
Nottawasaga River Watershed
supporting healthy populations of
resident brook, brown and rainbow
trout, representing one of the largest
watershed complexes of resident trout
stream habitats in southern Ontario.
6. Coldwater fisheries habitats in the
Blue Mountain Watersheds (including
Silver Cr., Black Ash Cr., Pretty R. and
Batteaux R. Watersheds) supporting
strong spawning populations of
migratory rainbow trout and Chinook
salmon, as well as healthy
populations of native brook trout in
headwater reaches.
7. Warmwater fisheries habitats in Orr
Lake (including the upper Wye River)
supporting healthy populations of
smallmouth bass, largemouth bass
and northern pike.
8. Warmwater fisheries habitats in Bass
Lake (including the upper North River)
supporting healthy populations of
smallmouth bass and largemouth bass.
9. Coldwater fisheries habitats in the
Sturgeon River and Coldwater River
supporting strong spawning
populations of migratory rainbow
trout and Chinook salmon, as well as
healthy populations of native brook
trout in the headwaters of the main
river and in tributary streams.
10. Fisheries habitats along the
Nottawasaga Bay shoreline supporting
significant smallmouth bass
populations, providing localized
habitats supporting northern pike and
walleye, providing spawning/early
rearing habitats for lake trout and lake
whitefish, and, providing seasonal
nursery/adult feeding habitats for
migratory rainbow trout and
Chinook salmon.
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃1 7
1 8 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
3.0
┃ B A C KG R O U N D
Physical, Biological & Cultural Setting
3.1 Major Watercourses (see Appendix 2)
Nottawasaga River Watershed
Blue Mountain Watersheds
Large streams in the Nottawasaga
River Watershed (the bulk of the NVCA
area of jurisdiction) include the Main
Branch of the Nottawasaga River and the
following major tributaries:
Streams in the Blue Mountain
Watersheds in the north-western part of
the NVCA area of jurisdiction include:
1. Willow Creek
2. Mad River
3. Pine River
4. Boyne River
1. Silver Creek
2. Black Ash Creek
3. Pretty River
4. Batteaux Creek
5. Smaller Nottawasaga Bay
shoreline tributaries
5. Innisfil Creek
Natural lakes in the Nottawasaga
River Watershed include:
1. Little Lake
2. Jack’s Lake (a widening of the
Nottawasaga River)
There are no significant natural lakes
in the Blue Mountain Watersheds. The only
large man-made reservoir in the Blue
Mountain Watersheds is Lake of the Clouds
located in the headwaters of Silver Creek.
3. Marl Lake
Large man-made reservoirs in the
Nottawasaga River Watershed include:
1. New Lowell Reservoir
2. Utopia Reservoir
3. Nicolston Head Pond
4. Earl Rowe Reservoir
5. Tottenham Reservoir
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃1 9
Severn Sound Tributary Area
Streams in the Severn Sound
Tributary Area in the north-eastern part of
the NVCA area of jurisdiction include:
1. Wye River
2. Hogg Creek
3. Sturgeon River
4. Coldwater River
5. North River
Natural lakes in the Severn Sound
Tributary Area include:
1. Orr Lake
2. Bass Lake
2 0 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Nottawasaga Bay Shoreline and
Collingwood Harbour
The shoreline of Nottawasaga Bay
(part of Georgian Bay), within the NVCA
area of jurisdiction, is included in the
fisheries habitat management plan area.
It spans approximately 35km of shore
from the mouth of Silver Creek to a point
7 km northeast of the Nottawasaga River
Mouth. The NVCA area of jurisdiction
extends 5km out into Nottawasaga Bay.
This shoreline area includes the mouths
of the Nottawasaga River, Pretty River,
Batteaux Creek, Black Ash Creek and Silver
Creek. Various bays, such as Collingwood
Harbour, are located within this reach of
shoreline habitat.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
3.2 Physiographic Regions, Soil Permeability and Groundwater Discharge
Physiography reflects terrain and soil
permeability characteristics, which
influence stream gradient and groundwater
discharge respectively. Gradient (slope) is
the physical parameter which most directly
influences the structural characteristics of
a stream habitat including bottom
(substrate) material, meander patterns,
riffle/pool sequencing etc. Groundwater
discharge is the major physical parameter
controlling summer flow conditions, and
the location and extent of coldwater and
coolwater fisheries habitats in streams.
The Niagara Escarpment, Oak
Ridges Moraine and Oro Moraine
Physiographic Regions are located in the
western, southern and north-eastern
portions of the NVCA area of jurisdiction
respectively (see Figure 3). All of these
regions exhibit coarse textured sandy and
gravelly soils (see Figure 4) which provide
for the widespread infiltration of
precipitation into the landscape and
support the subsequent discharge of
groundwater into adjacent watercourses.
Abundant groundwater discharge ensures
permanent stream flows and supports cold
and coolwater fisheries habitats. Steeper
landforms and stream gradients in these
three physiographic regions, particularly in
the Niagara Escarpment, support fastflowing watercourses characterized by
gravel, cobble and boulder substrates. The
three physiographic regions encompass
the headwaters of many watercourses
within the NVCA area of jurisdiction.
The Niagara Escarpment
Physiographic Region within the NVCA
area of jurisdiction, is bracketed by the
Horseshoe Moraines Region on both the
west and east sides (Figure 3). Large
portions of both the Niagara Escarpment
and Horseshoe Moraines Regions, function
as forested natural heritage zones,
particularly deep main river valleys carved
into the landscape by glacial melt waters.
From a fisheries habitat perspective, the
Escarpment and adjacent steep-slope
portions of the Horseshoe Moraines Region
function as a single, combined unit area
characterized by healthy streams receiving
significant groundwater discharge.
Generally, within the NVCA area of
jurisdiction, bedrock formations are deeply
buried by overburden material and do not
play a significant role in determining the
locations of groundwater discharge
contributing to fisheries habitats. One
exception to this trend is the presence of
the exposed Amabel formation which
forms a permeable dolostone cap on the
Escarpment. This bedrock feature is a
water-bearing formation supporting the
Amabel aquifer. This aquifer yields
significant groundwater discharge to
Escarpment streams in the NVCA area of
jurisdiction. This discharge tends to flow
into relatively steep reaches of stream
located below the brow of the Escarpment.
Lateral groundwater flow to adjacent
watercourses often occurs at the interface
where the Amabel dolostone layer
intersects the relatively impermeable
bedrock formation underneath known as
the Clinton-Cataract Group.
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃2 1
FIGURE
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Physiographic Regions
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Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃2 3
The discharge of groundwater at the
base of the Amabel formation has been
well documented for coldwater tributary
streams entering Lake of the Clouds, a
1km long on-stream pond located in the
headwaters of Silver Creek southwest of
Collingwood. These short watercourses
receive concentrated groundwater
discharge from the Amabel aquifer
between elevations 455masl and 475masl.
This elevation range documented for Silver
Creek, may be similar to the locations of
concentrated Amabel aquifer discharge for
other Escarpment streams in the NVCA
area of jurisdiction.
West of the Escarpment slopes, the
Horseshoe Moraine Region intersects
the Dundalk Till Plain which is a relatively
flat headwater area encompassing several
large Nottawasaga River tributary streams
including the Mad, Noisy, Pine and Boyne
Rivers as well as the North and South
branches of the Upper Nottawasaga River.
This headwater area generally is
characterized by a significant groundwater
recharge/discharge cycle and supports
coldwater fisheries habitats utilized by
native brook trout. It is interesting to note
that the Dundalk Till Plain in the Grand
River watershed, west of the NVCA area of
jurisdiction, supports predominantly
warmwater fisheries habitats.
In the Dundalk Till Plain region in
the NVCA area of jurisdiction, large
volumes of water often discharge from the
ground in a very concentrated fashion at
specific locations. These large “spring
holes” form the upstream limits for many
high-quality coldwater fisheries habitats.
Several streams in the Dundalk Till Plain
2 4 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
also disappear underground. This
phenomenon may be related to the
presence of fractures in the underlying
Amabel formation, caused by dissolution of
the dolostone bedrock. This process often
results in the development of “Karst
Features” such as sinkholes, which could
account for the disappearing streams.
The Simcoe Lowlands
Physiographic Region dominates the flat
middle portion of the NVCA area of
jurisdiction (Figure 3) extending from the
Nottawasaga Bay shoreline, south to the
community of Beeton. This region consists
mainly of flat-floored areas which were
flooded by former glacial Lake Algonquin.
Vertically, this physiographic region extends
from 176 meters above sea level (masl)
which is the current surface elevation of
Georgian Bay, up to 250masl which was
the former surface elevation of Lake
Algonquin. Extensive sections of this
region are comprised of sandy soils of
glacial origin, although some localized
areas exhibit less permeable soils
associated with more recent deposits of
mud and muck (e.g. Minesing Wetlands).
The Simcoe Lowlands region also
represents a significant portion of the Blue
Mountain Watersheds as well as the
Severn Sound Tributary Area. The Simcoe
Lowlands is the predominant physiographic
region in the Blue Mountain Watersheds
located between the elevated Niagara
Escarpment slopes
and the waters of Nottawasaga Bay. The
Simcoe Lowlands also comprise the broad
flat valley floors of the Severn Sound
tributary watersheds.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Sandy soil portions of the Simcoe
Lowlands Region are characterized by a
potentially robust groundwater
recharge/discharge cycle and can support
coldwater stream habitats. Much of the
groundwater discharge in this region is
associated with the Lake Algonquin Sand
Aquifer. Due to the fact that the average
depth from the ground’s surface to the top
of the water table is typically 3 to 5m
however, permanently flowing small
watercourses originating in this region are
usually located in deeper valley formations.
In this situation, the stream bed elevation
is well below the surface of the local
aquifer, even during the latesummer/early-fall period. Conversely, small
watercourses occupying shallow valley
systems in the Simcoe Lowlands region
often exhibit intermittent flows.
Although the Simcoe Lowlands region
supports coldwater stream habitats, the flat
terrain ensures that most streams exhibit
low gradients which result in slow current
velocities and an abundance of finetextured substrates including sands and
sediment. Although groundwater discharge
may provide flows supporting coldwater
habitat conditions, physical features such
as trout and salmon spawning areas for
example may be limiting.
Unlike the Niagara Escarpment and
elevated moraine formations, the Simcoe
Lowlands Region exhibits intensive
agricultural land use practices as well as
urban land uses in localized areas. As a
result of impacts from these land uses,
several groundwater-influenced
watercourses which were historically
coldwater stream habitats, currently
support warmwater fisheries habitats only.
The potential for land use impacts is more
pronounced for small watercourses in
shallow valley formations. Many of the
larger watercourses such as the main
branch of the Nottawasaga River have
carved deep valleys into the easily eroded
sands of the Simcoe Lowlands. These deep
valley systems generally have not
experienced encroachment from adjacent
land uses and often include significant
riparian forests.
North of Highway 89, the Simcoe
Lowlands exhibit physiographic features
described as “Beaches” and “Shorecliffs”.
These features associated with former
glacial lake Algonquin are often located at
the interface between the Simcoe
Lowlands and the Simcoe Uplands
Regions. At a lower elevation, beaches
created by former glacial Lake Nipissing are
also present within the Simcoe Lowlands
region. Many Simcoe Lowlands
watercourses receive significant
groundwater discharge and make a
transition from an intermittent/warmwater
fisheries habitat to a permanently-flowing
coldwater habitat, where they cross the
predominantly sandy textured “Beach” and
“Shorecliff” features. A significant example
of this habitat transition occurs for Willow
Creek between Little Lake and the
community of Midhurst. Willow Creek is a
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃2 5
warmwater fisheries habitat at St. Vincent
Street north of Barrie and a coldwater
fisheries habitat further downstream at
Findlay Mills Drive in Midhurst.
The Minesing Wetlands are an
internationally recognized wetland complex
located in the Simcoe Lowlands region
north of Highway 90 and the community
of Angus. Due to an abundance of fine
textured, low permeability soils (Figure 4),
many part of the Minesing Wetlands do
not support a groundwater
recharge/discharge cycle providing stable
flows to adjacent watercourses. As a
result, the Nottawasaga River, Mad River,
Willow Creek and tributary streams in the
Minesing Wetlands, support predominantly
warmwater habitats. Due to the
impermeable nature of the clay and
boulder dominated soils in the Edenvale
Moraine located north of Highway 26 and
the Minesing Wetlands (Figure 4), this
elevated feature also supports warmwater
predator habitat in the Nottawasaga River.
The Simcoe Uplands physiographic
region encompasses elevated headwater
areas of many watercourses on the
eastern side of the Nottawasaga River
Watershed (Figure 3) such as Innisfil and
Willow Creeks, as well as the headwaters
of the Severn Sound tributary streams. The
Simcoe Uplands are characterized by wide,
rolling till plains encompassing incised
valley systems. This physiographic feature
exhibits a mixture of both fine and coarsetextured soils (Figure 4), and supports
groundwater discharge and coldwater
stream habitats in local areas, although
not on the scale of the Niagara
Escarpment region. Both rural and urban
land use impacts to fisheries habitat are
common within this physiographic region.
2 6 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
The Simcoe Uplands in Essa and
Innisfil Township supports coldwater
stream habitats in the middle to upper
reaches of Thornton Creek, Egbert Creek,
Innisfil Creek and the Bethesda tributary of
Innisfil Creek. The groundwater source
contributing to these streams may be
associated with the local Thornton Aquifer
system. Of interest is the fact that the
upstream limit of coldwater habitat and
therefore groundwater discharge, occurs
between elevations 274masl and 280masl
for all 4 streams. This elevation range may
represent a transition zone between high
and low permeability soil layers within the
Simcoe Uplands or alternatively it may be
associated with the typical surface
elevation of the Thornton aquifer.
The Peterborough Drumlin Field
covers a significant area of land in the
south-eastern portion of the NVCA area of
jurisdiction, including the municipalities of
Adjala Tosorontio, New Tecumseth, Bradford
West Gwillimbury, Innisfil and Essa. As is the
case with most basal glacial deposition
features, the Drumlin Field and the elevated
drumlin formations are made up
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
predominantly of low permeability, finetextured material. This physiographic region
does however contribute enough
groundwater to adjacent watercourses to
support several coolwater fisheries habitats
utilized by mottled sculpin. As was the case
for the Simcoe Uplands region, rural land use
impacts to fisheries habitats are common.
The Schomberg Clay Plain
physiographic region is located in New
Tecumseth, the southern portion of Adjala
Tosorontio and in Bradford West
Gwillimbury (Figure 3). This region
generally encompasses low permeability
soils (Figure 4) and does not support a
robust groundwater recharge/discharge
cycle. Small streams arising in this
formation typically exhibit intermittent
flows. A lack of groundwater discharge
from this physiographic regions may also
lead to a rapid deterioration of coldwater
habitat conditions in larger permanentlyflowing streams originating in the Oak
Ridges Moraine, such as Bailey and Beeton
Creeks. Significant riparian impacts from
predominant agricultural land use practices
also accelerate the deterioration of
coldwater fisheries habitats traversing the
Schomberg Clay Plain region.
3.3 Terrain and Stream Gradient
Stream gradient is the dominant
parameter determining the physical
characteristics of rivers and streams. Flat
streams exhibit meandering forms and
predominantly fine bed materials (gravels,
sands and sediment). Conversely steep
streams are relatively straight in plan view
but incorporate vertical stepping into the
stream bed in order to moderate flow
velocities and limit scouring of the channel.
Steep gradient streams typically exhibit
higher current velocities than flat streams,
are more turbulent/oxygenated and have
predominantly coarse material (cobble,
boulder or bedrock) exposed as substrate.
Flat stream gradients (less than 0.2%
slope) are typically associated with
meandering channels characterized by
sandy stream bottoms and widely spaced
gravel riffles. Medium stream gradients
(0.2% to 2% slope) correspond to channels
with well defined riffle/pool sequences and
an abundance of gravel and cobblebottomed riffle habitats. Steep stream
gradients (greater than 2% slope) are
associated with relatively straight, cascading
stream channels that incorporate vertical
jumps and plunge-pools into their boulder
and cobble dominated beds.
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃2 7
FIGURE
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Te r r a i n C r o s s S e c t i o n
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Many large river basins (greater than 3,000
km2) in south-central Ontario, including the Grand,
Thames, Maitland and Saugeen River Watersheds
are relatively flat, support predominantly medium
gradient river reaches and exhibit only a moderate
diversity of physical stream habitat types. In
contrast the NVCA area of jurisdiction and the
Nottawasaga River Watershed in particular are very
much “bowl-shaped” (see Figures 5 and 6) with
predominantly steep terrain on the margins and
very flat central portions. As a result, streams in
the NVCA area of jurisdiction exhibit an incredible
diversity of gradients and therefore a diversity of
physical stream habitat characteristics. Cascading
rock bottom tributary streams predominate on the
edges of “the bowl” (e.g. within the Niagara
Escarpment physiographic region), in contrast to
the meandering sand bottom river reaches present
in the middle of the NVCA area of jurisdiction
within the Simcoe Lowlands.
24
28
32
36
40
44
48
The headwaters of most of the larger Niagara
Escarpment streams draining the western side of
the Nottawasaga River Watershed, arise at an
elevation of approximately 500 meters above sea
level (Figure 6), and drain some of the highest
lands in southern Ontario. The main branch of the
Nottawasaga River for example arises at 496masl
in Amaranth Township and drops 320m to its
confluence with Nottawasaga Bay at approximately
176masl. Typical headwater elevations for streams
draining the eastern side of the Nottawasaga River
Watershed (and NVCA area of jurisdiction) are
approximately 300masl (Figure 6), much lower
than on the western side.
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃2 9
3.4 Forest Cover
By providing shade and a stable valley
micro-climate exhibiting limited wind
movement, forest cover can play a
significant role in supporting moderate
summer water temperatures and coldwater
stream habitats. Forest cover plays many
other roles with respect to fish habitat
such as providing woody material inputs
which can serve as a basis for cover
habitats. Woody material may also modify
stream morphology in a potentially positive
manner by diversifying current velocity
profiles and bed material composition.
Deciduous forest cover may even play a
significant role in the stream food web by
providing a leaf litter food source which is
readily assimilated by many invertebrate
fish-food organisms.
Forest cover is distributed in a very
“patchy” manner within the NVCA area of
jurisdiction (Figure 7). Upland areas in the
Niagara Escarpment (e.g. Pine River Valley),
Oak Ridges Moraine and Oro Moraine
physiographic regions still exhibit significant
forest cover and large forest blocks (Figure
7). The same is true for the Minesing
Wetlands, Copeland Forest, protected areas
of Canadian Forces Base Borden and deep
river valley systems within the Simcoe
Lowlands physiographic region.
In contrast however, deforestation of
shallow stream valley corridors in the
Simcoe Lowlands, Schomberg Clay Plain,
Simcoe Uplands and Peterborough Drumlin
Field physiographic regions, has lead to
the elimination of the much of the original
forest cover. Historical agricultural land use
practices and current urban developments
are primary factors which have contributed
to the loss of forest cover.
3.5 Wetlands
Wetlands were historically common features of flat areas within the NVCA Area of
Jurisdiction. They can support significant fisheries habitat features, particularly for
warmwater predator habitats. The internationally recognized Minesing Wetlands located
north of Highway 90 (see Figure 8) provide a very significant protected natural heritage area
which supports an extensive warmwater fisheries habitat complex including northern pike
spawning, nursery and adult habitats. Wetlands may provide many other fisheries habitat
functions such as supporting feeding and adult habitats in coldwater stream ecosystems.
3 0 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
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FIGURE
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Fo r e s t C o v e r
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FIGURE
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Wetlands
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3.6 Land Use
As indicated in the section under
Forest Cover, forested lands still
predominate in the Niagara Escarpment,
Oak Ridges and Oro Moraine Regions as
well as deep riparian valley systems within
the Simcoe Lowlands Region. Agricultural
land uses however predominate
throughout most of the rest of the
watershed (Figure 9). Urban land uses are
present in more localized areas. Urban
municipalities in the NVCA area of
jurisdiction include the City of Barrie, Town
of Collingwood, Town of Wasaga Beach
and the Town of Shelburne (Figure 10).
Other urban communities such as Alliston,
Tottenham, Beeton, Cookstown, Thornton,
Angus, Creemore, Stayner, New Lowell,
Everett, Midhurst and Elmvale are present
located within larger predominantly rural
municipalities. Canadian Forces Base
Borden also includes a significant urban
area. Given the lack of remaining
developable land south of the Oak Ridges
Moraine in the Greater Toronto Area, urban
growth projections for the NVCA Area of
jurisdiction and Simcoe County in
particular, predict enormous growth
pressures in the next two decades.
3.7 Dams and Other Barriers to Fish Migration
Dams not only impact upon the physical characteristics of fisheries habitats but may
eliminate fish migrations within a watercourse. The NVCA area of jurisdiction is
characterized by the presence of many dams and other barriers to fish migration (Figure
10), particularly in the Niagara Escarpment physiographic region. It is interesting to note
however that the bulk of the on-stream dams and barrier falls are located on small streams
in headwater areas, not on main river reaches. As a result, migratory fish species such as
rainbow trout, Chinook salmon and lake sturgeon are able to make extensive movements
out of Georgian Bay upstream into the Nottawasaga River and many tributary streams.
The Nicolston Dam located adjacent to Highway 89 east of Alliston, is the first barrier
that migratory fish encounter on the main branch of the Nottawasaga River moving
upstream from Georgian Bay. The presence of the fish way added to the Nicolston Dam
structure and the fish way on the Earl Rowe Dam located on the Boyne River, have
extended migratory rainbow trout and Chinook salmon access to more than 100 additional
kilometers of stream including extensive reaches of coldwater habitat located within the
Niagara Escarpment physiographic region. The presence of barrier falls, cataracts, dams
and perched culverts within the Niagara Escarpment however has served to partition
rainbow trout, brown trout and Chinook salmon located downstream from barriers, from
resident brook trout inhabiting headwater reaches. Examples of these barriers include
Singing Waters Cataract (South Branch Nottawasaga River), Scott’s Falls (North Branch
Nottawasaga River), Sheldon Mill Dam (Sheldon Creek), Boer Dam/Cataract (South Branch
Pine River), Hornings Mills Dam/Cataract (North Branch Pine River), Lavender Falls (Noisy
River), Glen Huron Dam (Mad River) and the Castle Glen Dam (Silver Creek).
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃3 3
FIGURE
9
Land Use
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Barriers to Fish Migration
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Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃3 5
3 6 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
4.0
┃ B A C KG R O U N D
F i s h e r i e s H a b i t a t Ty p e s &
M anagement Strategies
The following 7 fisheries habitat
types have been identified in the NVCA
area of jurisdiction:
1. Coldwater
2. Coolwater
3. Warmwater Predator
4. Warmwater Baitfish
5. Municipal Drains
6. Reservoirs
7. Great Lakes Shoreline
The presence of these 7 types is a
result of the physical, biological and
human land use characteristics
documented in Chapter 3.0.
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃3 7
4.1 Coldwater Fisheries Habitats
Description
Management Strategy
These groundwater influenced stream
habitats (see Appendices 3 and 4) may
exhibit a cold, cool or warm summer
temperature regime (as defined by
Stoneman and Jones 1996) and provide:
Protect, enhance and restore coldwater
fisheries habitats (streams) supporting
resident brook, brown and rainbow trout,
migratory rainbow trout or Chinook salmon.
Critical habitat components include:
• Cold/cool summer temperatures (or
high dissolved oxygen
concentrations) and/or
thermal/oxygen refuges
• Diverse temperature regimes within
coldwater fisheries habitat
complexes (e.g. cold summer
temperatures in smaller stable flow
tributary habitats which provide
spawning/nursery and thermal refuge
habitats, versus cool summer
temperatures in large productive
valley rivers/wetland reaches which
provide spring/fall feeding habitats,
over wintering habitats etc.)
• Abundant base flow quantity
and high flow stability
• Healthy riparian vegetation
(particularly forest cover)
• Natural channel and floodplain
structure and low width/depth ratios
• High water quality/clarity
• Functional migratory routes
• Complexes of connected habitats
which reduce potential for local
coldwater species extinctions
• Fish-food sources
• A balanced distribution of habitat
components which provides for the
requirements of coldwater species
during different life history stages
and during different seasons
• A representation of feeding/growth,
spawning and over wintering habitats
which optimizes the productive
capacity of the coldwater ecosystem
• Year-round habitats for resident
brook trout and/or brown trout
and/or rainbow trout and/or
• Spawning/nursery habitats for
migratory rainbow trout and/or
Chinook salmon
Where these streams exhibit a
“warm” summer temperature regime,
thermal refuge habitats are provided at
groundwater discharge sites.
Coldwater stream habitats may also
provide habitats for mottled and/or slimy
sculpin, burbot, native minnow species and
many other small stream fish species.
Coldwater habitats can occur in
intermittent stream reaches where
groundwater flow occurs through isolated
deep pool environments (e.g. in headwaters
of Niagara Escarpment streams).
Information documented in the
Nottawasaga River Watershed –
Department of Lands and Forests Survey
1961-1962 provided a valuable resource
for the identification of coldwater fisheries
habitats. The figure titled “Biological
Conditions of Streams” was particularly
useful and has been included in this report
as Appendix 4.
3 8 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
4.2 Coolwater Fisheries Habitats
Description
Management Strategy
These permanently-flowing,
groundwater influenced stream habitats
(see Appendix 3) are characterized by a
cool/cold summer temperature regime (as
defined by Stoneman and Jones 1996)
and/or the presence of coolwater indicator
fish species such as mottled sculpin, slimy
sculpin and burbot. Trout or salmon
species are not present. Access into these
habitats for migratory species such as
rainbow trout, may be limiting. Many of
these habitats could be capable of
providing nursery habitat for migratory
rainbow trout if migratory access and/or
spawning habitat can be provided. These
stream habitats can provide important
cool/cold flow contributions to coldwater
fisheries habitats further downstream.
Protect, enhance and restore coolwater
fisheries habitats (streams) supporting
coolwater fish communities including species
such as mottled sculpin, slimy sculpin and
burbot (abundant pearl dace may be another
coolwater habitat indicator). Critical habitat
components include:
• Cold/cool summer temperatures (or
high dissolved oxygen
concentrations) and/or
thermal/oxygen refuges
• Significant base flow quantity
and stability
• Healthy riparian vegetation
(particularly forest cover)
• Natural channel and floodplain
structure and low width/depth ratios
• High water quality/clarity
• Fish-food sources
• A balanced distribution of habitat
components which provides for the
requirements of coolwater species
during different life history stages
and during different seasons
• A representation of feeding/growth,
spawning and over wintering
habitats which optimizes the
productive capacity of the coolwater
habitat complex
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃3 9
4.3 Warmwater Predator Fisheries Habitats
Description
These lake, river and tributary
fisheries habitats (see Figure 11) support
warmwater predator species including:
• Walleye
• Smallmouth bass
See Appendix 5 for a more complete
list of the fish species present within the
NVCA area of jurisdiction.
Many warmwater river habitats
provide important migratory routes for
coldwater fish including:
• Largemouth bass
• Rainbow trout
• Northern pike
• Chinook salmon
• Muskellunge
Other species which may utilize these
warmwater predator habitats include:
• Lake sturgeon (main branch
Nottawasaga River only)
Warmwater river and lake habitats
may include smaller tributary streams
which provide spawning and nursery
habitats for northern pike, walleye,
smallmouth bass and largemouth bass.
• Yellow perch
• Black crappie
• Pumpkinseed
• Rock bass
• Channel catfish
• Brown bullhead
• White sucker
• Longnose sucker
• Shorthead redhorse
• Golden redhorse
• Common carp
• Bowfin
• Minnow species
4 0 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Warmw ater Predator
Fisheries Habitats
FIGURE
11
➤
LEGEND
N
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KILOMETERS
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃4 1
Management Strategy
Protect, enhance and restore warmwater predator fisheries habitats (lakes, rivers and
tributary streams) supporting warmwater fish communities including top-predator species
such as northern pike, walleye, smallmouth bass, and largemouth bass. The warmwater
fish community in the lower Nottawasaga River reach could potentially include
muskellunge in the future, if water quality and clarity improvements occur. Critical habitat
components include:
• Water quality/clarity
• Base flow quantity and stability
• Natural shoreline diversity (including
bays and backwaters)
• Floodplains
• Natural shorelines
including riparian vegetation
• Attached wetland complexes
and features
• Tributary stream spawning/nursery
habitat areas etc.
• Aquatic vegetation
• Fish food sources
• Migratory routes (used by species
such as rainbow trout, Chinook
salmon etc.)
4 2 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
• Coldwater fisheries habitat features
including coarse gravel-bottomed
riffle and pool tailout areas
providing spawning habitats for
migratory rainbow trout and
Chinook salmon
• Coldwater discharges providing
summer refuge habitats for adult
northern pike
• A balanced distribution of
habitat components which provides
for the requirements of warmwater
predator species during different
life history stages and during
different seasons
• A representation of feeding/growth,
spawning and over wintering
habitats which optimizes the
productive capacity of the
warmwater predator ecosystem
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
4.4 Warmwater Baitfish Fisheries Habitats
Description
Management Strategy
These permanently-flowing and
intermittent stream habitats currently
support populations of native minnow
species including:
Protect, enhance and restore
warmwater baitfish fisheries habitats
(streams) supporting warmwater fish
communities comprised of species such as
creek chub, common shiner, northern
redbelly dace, blacknose dace, longnose
dace, northern pearl dace, river chub and
brassy minnow. Critical habitat
components include:
• Creek chub
• River chub
• Northern pearl dace
• Common shiner
• Blacknose dace
• Riparian vegetation
• Longnose dace
• Bluntnose minnow
• Natural channel structure
(particularly pool habitats which
provide refugia in intermittent
streams)
• Fathead minnow
• Ambient water quality/clarity
• Brassy minnow
• Migratory routes
• Northern redbelly dace
Other species often found in
warmwater baitfish fisheries habitats in
the NVCA area of jurisdiction include:
• White sucker
• Johnny darter
• Rainbow darter
• Iowa darter
• Central mudminnow
• Brook stickleback
• Troutperch
Note these species are often found in
all of the other fisheries habitat types
listed. Factors which may include the small
size of these tributaries, the lack of
permanent flow, the absence of habitat
for large fish (e.g. deep pools), and poor
migratory access, may ensure that
warmwater predator species do not utilize
these stream systems.
• Base flow quantity and stability (less
applicable to intermittent streams)
• Fish-food sources
• Productive bottom substrates (e.g.
gravel and cobble) which provide
spawning habitat and support
invertebrate fish-food organisms.
Investigate the feasibility of
reestablishing coldwater (or coolwater)
fish communities in these tributary
streams where groundwater discharge
provides the potential for coldwater stream
habitat restoration. These small
warmwater streams are common
throughout the NVCA area of jurisdiction,
with many not formally named.
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃4 3
4.5 Municipal Drains
Description
These watercourses have been
designated and maintained as municipal
drains under the Provincial Drainage Act.
Typically municipal drains have been
straightened and deepened in order to
promote more rapid drainage of adjacent
agriculture lands. DFO has developed a
protocol for classifying municipal drains
based on the fisheries habitat types they
support including coldwater, coolwater,
warmwater predator, warmwater baitfish
and intermittent habitats. See the DFO
Fact Sheet “A Class Authorization System
for Agricultural Municipal Drains in the
Southern Ontario Region” for more details
on the drain classification protocol.
Figure 12 documents the locations, and
fisheries habitat classifications for the
approximately 200 municipal drains in the
NVCA area of jurisdiction.
4 4 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Management Strategy
• Partner with DFO and NVCA’s 18
member municipalities to maintain
fisheries habitat classifications
for drains.
• Protect fisheries habitats in drains by
providing class authorizations to
member municipalities and by
assisting DFO with project-specific
drain cleanout proposal review (type
D and E drains only), through the
protocol documented in the DFO fact
sheet noted in the paragraph above.
This management strategy would be
implemented through the Level 2
DFO-NVCA Fish Habitat Referrals
partnership which provides the NVCA
with an opportunity to determine
project-specific mitigation measures
and to provide comments regarding
appropriate fisheries habitat
compensation options.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
FIGURE
12
Municipal Drains
➤
LEGEND
N
0
4
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Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃4 5
4.6 Reservoirs
Description
Management Strategy
Six large artificial reservoirs are
present in the NVCA area of jurisdiction
(Appendix 2). These bodies of water
currently support both warmwater and
coldwater fish species. Generally, artificial
reservoirs in the NVCA area of jurisdiction
have not been intensively managed as
fisheries habitats.
Protect, enhance and restore reservoir
fisheries habitats supporting both
warmwater and coldwater fish communities.
Critical habitat components include:
• Riparian vegetation
• Aquatic vegetation
• Water quality/clarity
• A water level management plan
which protects spawning and
nursery habitats
• Minimum winter pool depths
• Associated wetland habitats
• High dissolved oxygen
concentrations
• Groundwater discharges
• Coldwater spawning and
nursery habitats provided by
tributary streams
The management strategy for
reservoirs should recognize the need to
protect coldwater stream habitats located
downstream from the reservoirs (e.g. the
need to maintain bottom-discharge
structures on dams).
4 6 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
4.7 Nottawasaga Bay (Georgian Bay) Shoreline
Description
Management Strategy
The 35km long shoreline of
Nottawasaga Bay (part of Georgian Bay)
from the mouth of Silver Creek to a point 7
km northeast of the Nottawasaga River
mouth (see Figure 2), provides habitat for
a variety of warm and coldwater fish
species including:
Protect and enhance Nottawasaga
Bay shoreline fisheries habitats supporting
warm and coldwater fish communities
including top-predator species. Critical
habitat components include:
• Natural shorelines including riparian
vegetation and woody cover
• Smallmouth bass
• Aquatic vegetation
• Walleye (predominantly in
Collingwood Harbour)
• Wetlands
• Northern pike (predominantly in
Collingwood Harbour)
• River mouths providing thermal
refuges when deep cold water is
upwelling in near shore areas.
• Yellow perch
• Tributary stream spawning areas
• Rock bass
• Pumpkinseed
• Natural rocky and
gravelly lake substrates
• Rainbow trout
• Boulder clusters
• Lake trout (stocked and wild)
• Existing artificial structures providing
cover and feeding habitats
• Brown trout (stocked)
• Chinook salmon
• White sucker
• Longnose gar
• Lake whitefish
• Round whitefish
• Common carp
• Fish habitat extending up to the
176.96masl elevation determined by
DFO, that may be dewatered during
low lake level conditions and
therefore subjected to increased
development pressures. This criterion
should also be applied to the lower
Nottawasaga River.
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃4 7
4 8 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
5.0
┃ B A C KG R O U N D
Impacts to Fisheries Habitats
5.1 Riparian Habitat Impacts
Description
Destruction of riparian vegetation and
the form/function of riparian zones can
eliminate critical in-stream cover habitats
and fish food habitats. These impacts can
also lead to stream bank erosion causing
sedimentation and negative changes to
stream morphology. Elimination of
vegetation cover can also impair the
function of riparian zones as buffer strips
capable of filtering out sediment and
attached nutrients moving towards aquatic
habitats from upland sources.
Contributing Activities
• Removal of streamside and lakeside
vegetation may occur due to a
variety of practices associated with
backyard/estate maintenance and
golf course management. Lawn
maintenance works may also provide
inputs of nutrients and pesticides
into adjacent watercourses. Irrigation
practices associated with these land
uses can also impact upon summer
base flows in adjacent watercourses.
• Removal of riparian vegetation may
occur due to urban development, but
typically in the NVCA area of
jurisdiction, new urban developments
are required to maintain a minimum
30m buffer between construction
activities and adjacent watercourses.
• Destruction of riparian vegetation
may occur where livestock have
access to watercourses.
• Removal of riparian vegetation
may occur due to encroachment
from tillage practices on adjacent
crop lands.
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃4 9
5.2 In-stream and Lake Habitat Impacts
Description
Destruction of physical habitat
features such as spawning gravel,
invertebrate producing cobble substrates,
boulders and woody debris can eliminate
or impair reproduction, early-rearing and
adult growth/survival for most fish species.
These impacts can also decrease a
watercourse’s ability to assimilate
phosphorus and adapt to various levels of
phosphorus loading. Alteration of natural
channel and floodplain characteristics can
lead to the elimination of complex habitats
such as riffles and pools which may be
replaced with simple habitats such as
sand-bottomed flats. This type of change
can decrease the abundance of fish-food
organisms (e.g. aquatic insects), inhibit
migration and reproduction, and reduce
the survival of large predatory fish.
Excessive sedimentation can infill coarse
bottom materials such as gravels and
cobbles, decrease water circulation and
decrease the oxygen levels available to
incubating fish eggs and bottom dwelling
fish-food organisms.
Contributing Activities
• Construction of hardened river
bank and lakeshore erosion control
structures (e.g. metal sheet pile
and armour stone retaining walls)
may result in the loss of natural
shoreline features.
• Livestock access to watercourses
may result in losses of in-stream
habitat and sedimentation.
• Removal of gravel and cobble from
rivers as a means of aggregate
extraction can create erosion and
expose unproductive substrates such
as underlying clays.
• Removal of woody debris from
watercourses for aesthetics, drainage
and navigation may eliminate critical
fish habitats and attachment
habitats for fish-food organisms.
• Aquatic plant habitat removal is
often implemented for aesthetic
reasons and to provide for
enhanced navigation.
• Aquatic plant destruction and
sediment re-suspension may occur
due to feeding activity by
common carp.
• Erosion of river banks may occur due
to boat wakes.
5 0 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• Municipal drain construction and/or
maintenance and channel
realignments may result in losses in
riffle/pool habitat diversity and
losses in coarse substrates which
provide fish spawning habitats and
invertebrate fish-food habitats.
• Infilling into lakes, rivers and
floodplains may cause elimination of
fisheries habitats.
• Putting small watercourses into
underground pipes and tiles (both
urban and rural activities) can result
in elimination of fisheries habitats.
• Diverting streams into roadside
ditches can promote warming, water
quality impacts, losses in habitat
diversity and the elimination of fish
spawning substrates.
• Dock construction in lakes, rivers and
floodplains can result in fisheries
habitat destruction.
• Dredging channels and boat slips
can eliminate aquatic plant habitats
and result in the removal of fish
spawning habitat substrates.
• Construction of low-head rock
dams can widen streams, decrease
depths, promote upstream
sediment deposition and promote
lateral erosion.
• Inappropriate construction of road
crossings, including bridges and
culverts can result in impacts to fish
migration routes and losses of
riparian and in-stream habitat
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃5 1
5.3 Dissolved Oxygen/Stream Temperature Impacts
Description
Decreases in summer dissolved
oxygen concentrations, often associated
with increases in summer stream
temperatures, can inhibit the respiration,
production and survival of coldwater fish
species such as native brook trout.
Overnight respiration of aquatic plants in
on-stream ponds can also lead to
decreases in dissolved oxygen
concentrations in outlet streams. Overnight
respiration of suspended algae may also
play a similar role in nutrient enriched
stream systems.
In lake and pond habitats dissolved
oxygen decreases are usually associated
with the winter period (hence the term
“winter kill”) and occur as a result of
plant decomposition and a lack of
re-oxygenation and mixing under ice cover.
Oxygen depletion in the hypolimnion or
bottom layer of the water column, can also
occur in lake habitats in the summer and
early-fall due to a lack of mixing with
oxygenated surface waters.
5 2 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Contributing Activities
• Deforestation can increase warming
due to increases in exposure to solar
radiation and convective warming
from heated wind movement.
• Damming and on-stream pond
construction (including beaver
pond construction) can increase
warming by exposing a larger
surface area of water to solar
radiation and convection.
• Nutrient loading from both urban and
rural sources can lead to increases in
aquatic plant growth which decrease
dissolved oxygen concentrations at
night (due to respiration) and in the
fall (due to decomposition).
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
5.4 Stream Flow/Water Level Impacts
5.5 Flow Fluctuation Impacts
Description
Description
Decreases in minimum summer
stream flows and water levels can
decrease the fish carrying capacity of rivers
and lakes by increasing summer warming,
decreasing oxygen concentrations, and,
dewatering shallow nursery habitats and
invertebrate producing substrates.
Flow fluctuation impacts may result in
de-watering of spawning and nursery
habitats. Flow regulation may also dewater productive invertebrate producing
substrates and reduce the living space and
the supply of food available to fish. Flow
regime changes can also lead to stream
bank erosion causing sedimentation and
negative changes to stream morphology.
Contributing Activities
• Water extraction from watercourses
and from groundwater for irrigation,
can reduce stream discharge.
• Compaction of soils during
construction etc. can reduce
recharge rates to underground
aquifers and impact stream flows.
Contributing Activities
• Power generation and
milling operations at dam sites
both contribute towards flow
fluctuation impacts.
• Systematic drainage of agricultural
land may reduce recharge rates to
underground aquifers and impact
stream flows.
• Aggregate extraction below the
water table can reverse the
movement of groundwater away
from adjacent streams.
• Hard-surfacing of urban areas
can reduce recharge rates to
underground aquifers and impact
stream flows.
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃5 3
5.6 Water Quality/Clarity Impacts
Description
Excessive nutrient and sediment
loading to watercourses can decrease
water clarity, particularly during the
summer growing season. Reductions in
water clarity can impact sight-feeding
predator species in particular by reducing
feeding efficiency, decreasing production
and reducing survival. Excess nutrient
loading supports growths of suspended
green algae and diatoms. This process can
reduce overnight and seasonal dissolved
oxygen concentrations by increasing
overnight respiration and decomposition
respectively. Turbid (reduced clarity) water
conditions can also negatively impact
daytime dissolved oxygen concentrations
by increasing absorption of the sun’s rays.
This process leads to increases in daytime
water temperatures and corresponding
decreases in the saturation concentration
levels for dissolved oxygen.
Contributing Activities
• Runoff of sediments and fertilizers
from urban areas following freshets
can promote excess aquatic
plant growth.
• Nutrient discharge from sewage
treatment plants can promote excess
aquatic plant growth, particularly
under low flow conditions and
during the summer growing season.
• Runoff of sludge spread on
cropland can contribute nutrients
to watercourses.
• Manure runoff from pastures,
manure storages and cropland can
contribute nutrients to watercourses.
• Septic tank seepage into
watercourses may contribute
nutrients to adjacent watercourses.
• Aquaculture may contribute
nutrients and suspended solids into
lake ecosystems.
• Some land use practices
associated with ski resort
management may contribute to
accelerated spring runoff, erosion
and sediment discharge.
5 4 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
5.7 Migratory Route Impacts
5.8 Chemical Contaminant Impacts
Description
Description
Negative impacts to migratory habitats
can impact fish populations by eliminating
access to critical spawning, nursery,
feeding/growth and over-wintering habitats.
Eliminating migratory routes can also lead
to fragmentation of fish populations and
increase their susceptibility to local
extinctions. Migratory route impairments
can also reduce the movement of genetic
material which may be important to the
health of some fish populations.
Chemical contaminant discharge can
lead to fish-kills and the elimination of
various fish-food organisms.
Contributing Activities
Contributing Activities
• Industrial discharges may contribute
contaminants to watercourses with
both catastrophic and chronic
impacts to fish populations.
• Discharge from sewage treatment
plants during high flow events, may
impact upon fish populations.
• Construction of on-stream dams
and perched culverts can result in
long-term impacts to fish migrations.
• Pesticide runoff from urban and rural
areas may contribute to impacts to
fish and fish-food organisms.
• Installation of dams, diversions and
pumps designed to provide for
construction “in the dry”, can result in
short-term impacts to fish migrations.
• Leaching from landfill sites may
contribute chemical contaminants to
fisheries habitats.
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃5 5
5 6 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
6.0
┃ B A C KG R O U N D
Protec tion Mec hanisms for Fisheries Habit ats
6.1 Fish Habitat Referral Process
The referrals process addresses the fisheries habitat requirements of Section 35 of
the Federal Fisheries Act, administered by DFO. In order to facilitate the fisheries habitat
referrals process locally, the NVCA has entered into a Level II agreement with DFO. Under
this agreement, the NVCA provides initial fisheries habitat impact screening and mitigation
consultation for local work project submissions. DFO retains the responsibility for
negotiating fisheries habitat compensation where required to address a harmful alteration,
disruption or destruction. The Midhurst office of MNR supports the fish habitat referrals
process and provides timing restriction guidelines for in-water work projects.
The fisheries habitat referrals process provides an effective tool for ensuring that fish
habitat protection measures or fisheries habitat compensation works are incorporated
into the following work projects:
• Channel alterations
and realignments.
• Dock construction
and maintenance.
• Infilling into rivers and lakes.
• Dredging (e.g. marina maintenance,
creation of boat access channels
out into Georgian Bay).
• Burying stream channels and
groundwater discharges into
underground pipes.
• Construction of ponds.
• Construction of groins
along lake shorelines.
• Pond cleanouts and berm/outfall
structure maintenance works.
• Construction of stream crossings
including both culverts and bridges.
• Construction of new erosion control
structures/retaining walls.
• Expansions and maintenance of
existing stream crossings.
• Maintenance works for
erosion control structures/retaining
walls and construction of
replacement retaining walls in
front of older structures.
• Construction of stream crossings
for pipelines.
• Construction of in-stream weirs to
facilitate water taking etc.
• Construction of water intakes
and discharge structures
into watercourses.
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃5 7
6.2 Fish Habitat Compliance Protocol
DFO in partnership with conservation authorities and MNR, coordinates the
implementation of an enforcement program designed to protect fisheries habitats. This
enforcement program is intended to ensure the protection of fisheries habitats against
impacts from the work projects identified above for the Fisheries Habitat Referral Process.
6.3 Class Authorization System for Agricultural Municipal Drains
DFO has developed a Class
Authorization System for Agricultural
Municipal Drains in the Southern Ontario
Region. The fact sheet titled “Working
Around Water – A Class Authorization
System for Agricultural Municipal Drains in
the Southern Ontario Region: Fact Sheet
2” provides more information on the
protocol. This system is designed to ensure
the protection of sensitive municipal drain
fisheries habitats while still providing for
drain maintenance works. In order to
facilitate this system at the local level, the
NVCA has agreed to act as holders of the
class authorizations and to distribute these
authorizations as part of the NVCA permit
process. The NVCA also provides technical
advice to local municipal drainage
superintendents to help them interpret the
requirements of this new class
authorization system. The NVCA works in
partnership with DFO to maintain
classifications for agricultural municipal
drains in the NVCA area of jurisdiction.
6.4 Conservation Authority Permit Process
The NVCA reviews project applications
and issues permits, under Section 28 of
the Conservation Authorities Act. The
requirements of this act and the new
generic regulations, provide many
opportunities for the protection of
fisheries habitats in watercourses,
floodplains and wetlands etc. The
application of the NVCA Ponds Policy also
provides many opportunities for protecting
coldwater stream fisheries habitats.
As part of this permit process, the NVCA
issues letters of advice regarding fisheries
habitat protection to project proponents.
These letters of advice are issued as part
of the joint DFO-NVCA fisheries habitat
referrals process and may also provide
information on timing restrictions for inwater works. These timing restrictions are
based on MNR recommendations for
avoiding impacts to fish populations.
6.5 Ministry of Natural Resources Work Permit Process
MNR reviews project applications and issues permits for works involving dams, under
the Lakes and Rivers Improvement Act. This review and the conditions embedded in the
resulting work permit, provide opportunities for fisheries habitat protection. MNR also
provides timing restriction guidelines for in-water works, intended to protect fish during
critical life history stages.
5 8 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
6.6 Ministry of the Environment Permit to Take Water Process
The Ontario Ministry of the Environment (MOE) implements the review of
applications and issues permits to take water, under the Water Resources Act. The NVCA
provides background information and technical support to MOE regarding fisheries habitat
and base flow characteristics of local watercourses in order to help address fisheries
habitat protection. The permit to take water process represents a significant opportunity
to protect minimum stream flows contributing to fisheries habitats.
6.7 Tree Cutting Bylaws
Many counties and townships have tree cutting bylaws which provide opportunities
for protecting riparian forest cover contributing to fisheries habitats.
6.8 Planning Act Review
6.9 Other Acts
The NVCA reviews development
proposals under the Planning Act.
(environmental protection, stormwater
management, construction setbacks,
greenspace allocations etc). This review
provides opportunities to:
The NVCA plays a commenting
role in the administration of several other
acts relating to fisheries habitat
protection including:
• Facilitate fisheries habitat protection
through application of the 2005
Provincial Policy Statement.
• Environmental Assessment Act
• Aggregate Resources Act
• Niagara Escarpment Planning and
Development Act
• Incorporate fisheries habitat
protection priorities into municipal
official plans.
• Conservation Land Act
• Provide comments on zoning
amendments for aggregate
extraction proposals, in order to
protect stream base flows.
• Greenbelt Act
• Oak Ridges Moraine
Conservation Act
• Places to Grow Act (2005)
• Clean Water Act
Other local initiatives that are relevant for fisheries habitat protection include:
• County and municipal groundwater studies
• Assimilative Capacity Study and Intergovernmental Action Plan for
Simcoe County, Barrie and Orillia (2006)
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃5 9
6 0 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
7.0
┃ B A C KG R O U N D
R e s t o r a t i o n Te c h n i q u e s f o r F i s h e r i e s H a b i t a t s
Fisheries habitat restoration techniques can be broken down into the following categories:
1. Riparian Restoration
2. Stream Bank and
Lakeshore Restoration
3. Natural channel and
Floodplain Restoration
4. On-Stream Dam/Head Pond
Removal and Management
5. Lake Habitat Restoration
6. Municipal Drain Restoration
7. Urban Stormwater
Management
8. Nutrient Control
7.1 Riparian Restoration
Riparian restoration, particularly riparian tree planting, provides relatively
uncomplicated and inexpensive opportunities for fisheries habitat restoration. Unlike other
restoration project types, riparian restoration can often be completed without the need to
obtain permits. Riparian restoration is relatively easy to implement because it is often not
necessary to enter a watercourse. For some types of habitat impacts, riparian work can
provide for full restoration of fisheries habitats following several growing seasons.
Riparian restoration techniques include:
• Establishing of buffer strips through
negotiation of setbacks between
cropland and watercourses (note
that organophosphates used in corn
production for example, may have a
direct toxic effect on fish such as
smallmouth bass).
• Excluding livestock from watercourses
with fencing including development of
alternate watering sources and
stream crossings if required.
Planting trees on southern and
western stream banks may be
particularly effective for increasing
shading adjacent to coldwater
stream habitats. Application of
mulch, mulch blankets or herbicide
treatments may be useful in
riparian areas to suppress intense
grass competition.
• Establishing buffer strips through
negotiation of setbacks in urban
areas (e.g. establishing areas where
grass mowing is not permitted
adjacent to watercourses).
• Planting deciduous trees in riparian
zones in order to enhance the leaflitter food sources contributing
nutrients to the stream. Natural
succession into areas planted with
coniferous trees may partially
address this need.
• Planting coniferous tree seedlings
which may include species such as
white cedar, tamarack, white spruce
and white pine. Planting larger trees
may be required in some areas to
avoid trampling (e.g. in park lands)
although this strategy is expensive.
• Designating the southern and
western sides of municipal drains as
vegetated/forested buffer strips
while ensuring that future
maintenance activities are
implemented from the north and
east sides only.
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃6 1
7.2 Stream Bank and Lakeshore Restoration
Stream bank and lakeshore stabilization may be required as well as riparian
restoration where rapid erosion has the potential to eliminate critical buffer strips or
remove riparian vegetation before new plantings can become established. Many techniques
used to stabilize stream banks and lake shores, particularly the use of woody materials and
live vegetation, can also be very effective at providing in-water fisheries habitats. Wood,
live vegetation and rock can be used to provide nursery cover habitats, adult cover habitats
and attachment habitats for fish-food organisms. Two general categories of stream bank
and lakeshore restoration work and associated techniques include:
• Construction of bank protection
structures at the toe of eroding
slopes, including anchored tree
revetments, cabled log jams, root
wad revetments, rock revetments,
LUNKER structures and,
bioengineered structures such as
fascines and cribwalls incorporating
live willow cuttings.
• Stabilizing the upper portions of the
eroding slopes through grading,
installation of erosion control
blankets, berming the top of the
slope, reseeding, hydroseeding,
sodding (both natural source and
commercial), addition of live willow
stakes and posts, reforestation etc.
Toe protection works are usually implemented as part of any stream bank or
lakeshore restoration project. Conversely stabilizing the upper portion of slopes may not
always be required where bank heights are low or bank slopes are relatively flat.
Stream bank and lakeshore restoration is more challenging to implement than riparian
restoration. This type of work usually requires a work permit and the need to work in the
watercourse. Grading work typically requires the use of heavy machinery such as
excavators and may require trucking to remove fill. Where appropriate natural channel and
floodplain forms still exist, the combination of riparian restoration and stream
bank/lakeshore restoration may be all that is required to fully address habitat impacts.
6 2 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
7.3 Natural Channel and Floodplain Restoration
Natural channel and floodplain restoration work may be required for sites where
natural channel forms have been altered or channels have been realigned by human
activities. In some cases severe erosion generated by significant impacts to stabilizing
riparian vegetation (e.g. due to intensive livestock grazing) can result in the development
of extremely convoluted meander forms which may be very difficult to stabilize without a
natural channel realignment. Where stream beds have downcut and become entrenched
with steep erosive banks, floodplain restoration may be needed to reduce erosive forces
acting on stream banks and to complement stream bank and riparian restoration work.
Where installation of bank toe protection work has resulted in a significant narrowing of
the stream, grading the inside stream bank may be required to reestablish the former
channel width and avoid increasing current velocities. These types of works are challenging
to implement as they require permits, access to the watercourse and the use of heavy
machinery. In many cases, design support from a fluvial geomorphologist or experienced
stream restoration expert is recommended in order to increase the potential for successful
implementation. Natural channel and floodplain restoration techniques include:
• Reestablishment of meanders and
riffle/pool sequences in
straightened reaches of stream.
• Floodplain excavation.
• Riffle construction as well as
boulder placement and vortex
weir installation.
• Construction of new channel
alignments in order to increase
gradient and provide for riffle
construction in impacted flat-land
streams, broaden the radius of
curvature on extreme meanders
or to move watercourses out of
road-side ditches.
Less intensive examples of natural channel restoration techniques that could be
completed without the use of heavy machinery include:
• In-stream debris management as a
means of improving depth and
promoting scouring of fine sediment
and sand on the stream bed.
• Installation of wing deflector
structures designed to promote
meander development and
increase stream depth.
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃6 3
7.4 On-stream Dam/Head Pond Removal and Management
On-stream Dam/Head Pond Removal is a specific type of natural channel and
floodplain restoration work designed to address the many negative impacts of on-stream
ponds on fish habitats, particularly on coldwater stream habitats. Like other natural
channel and floodplain restoration work, this work type requires permits (including
potentially an MNR work permit under the Lakes and Rivers Improvement Act) as well as
the need to access the watercourse. Most dam removal projects require the use of heavy
machinery. Some examples of dam/head pond removal projects include:
• Dam removal and stabilization of
natural stream channels within the
footprint of former head ponds.
impounded. This work may be
complemented by infilling of head
ponds after berm construction.
• Construction of berms designed to
isolate new stream channels within
head ponds, where dam removal is
not possible or where head ponds
were excavated as well as
• Construction of bypass channels
around dam/head pond sites. In
some cases pipes rather than open
channels can be used to route cold
water around head pond sites.
Where dam and head pond
removal is not possible, the following
management techniques can be
used to partially mitigate fisheries
habitat impacts:
• Construction/restoration of bottom
discharge structures or promoting
the use of low level valves.
• Construction of fish passage
structures such as rocky ramps,
downstream from dams.
Note that a combination of
downstream rocky ramps and in-pipe
baffles can also be installed to promote
fish passage through perched culverts.
6 4 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
7.5 Lake Habitat Restoration
The types of fisheries habitats that
can be restored in a stream habitat usually
have to be integrated with the bank
stabilization and natural channel/floodplain
restoration techniques used. For example
placing gravel to create a stream spawning
habitat is usually a waste of time unless a
detailed strategy for managing stream
width, gradient and current velocity can be
developed. Placed gravel would become
buried by sediment in an excessively slow
moving reach of stream or alternatively
scoured away in an excessively high
velocity environment.
Conversely, lake habitat feature
construction may be implemented with
fewer constraints provided by depositional
and erosive processes. Some examples of
this type of fisheries habitat restoration
project include:
• Installation of
bass spawning habitats.
• Construction of
anchored woody cover structures.
• Construction of rock reef and
shoal spawning habitats (e.g. for
walleye and lake trout). Note that
for this habitat type, accounting for
the right “fetch” and associated
wind action may be critical for
keeping rocky spawning substrates
free of fine sediment.
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃6 5
7.6 Municipal Drain Restoration
The restoration of fisheries habitat in
a municipal drain is another specific type of
natural channel restoration that poses
unique constraints due to the need to
maintain the channel’s drainage features
consistent with the provincial drainage act.
The incorporation of natural channel
features, in order to enhance fish habitat in
a municipal drain, may provide significant
opportunities to establish natural sediment
transport processes and minimize
requirements for future drain cleanouts.
Some examples of municipal drain
restoration techniques include:
• Establishment of a continuous
vegetated/forested riparian buffer
zone on south and west banks;
while designating a continuous
maintenance corridor on the opposite
side on north and east banks.
This technique is appropriate for
reducing summer stream
temperatures in a municipal drain
containing coldwater fish species.
• Implementation of partnership works
which will permit construction of
flatter banks that can be vegetated
and stabilized.
• Implementation of partnership
works that will permit construction
of floodplains.
• Negotiation of the retirement of high
gradient reaches of drain that do not
require maintenance and can be
managed as fish habitats.
• Removal of all ditch spoils creating
levees in riparian zones.
• Construction of low flow channels and
meanders in the bottom of drains
through substrate grading, wing
deflector placement and bank shaving.
• Construction of riffles and
rock channel bottom areas that
provide critical fish spawning and
fish-food organism habitats.
6 6 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
7.7 Urban Stormwater Management
7.8 Nutrient Control
Urban storm water enhancement
work can promote the recharge of local
aquifer systems supporting summer base
flows as well as reducing nutrient and
sediment loading to adjacent fisheries
habitats. Urban storm water management
can also be used to reducing peak flow
volumes discharged from urban areas,
capable of generating in-stream erosion in
local watercourses. Urban storm water
management techniques include:
Nutrient management provides a
basis for limiting nutrient loading to
adjacent watercourses and therefore
decreasing excess growths of rooted
aquatic vegetation (including algae) which
can cause overnight and seasonal dissolved
oxygen depletion in fisheries habitats.
Nutrient management can also reduce
growths of suspended single celled plants
(e.g. green algae) which can contribute to
poor water clarity, reduced feeding
efficiency for sight-feeding predator
species and excessive stream warming
rates. Nutrient control techniques include:
• Incorporation of infiltration features
into new stormwater management
systems as required in order to
maintain or enhance the existing
groundwater recharge/discharge
characteristics of the site. This is a
critical strategy for maintaining
coldwater stream habitats in
developing urban areas.
• Retrofitting old urban storm water
management systems and septic
tanks to modern criteria.
• Moving storm water outfall pipes
back from stream banks and
constructing water quality
improvement ponds/wetlands
between the new outfall and the
stream. These ponds must be large
enough to remove nutrients and
sediment from the water.
• Encouraging urban landowners to use
rain barrels as a water supply.
• Enhancing sewage treatment
plant function.
• Upgrading septic tanks.
• Promoting urban stewardship
practices designed to reduce nutrient
inputs to watercourses.
• Implement best nutrient
management practices in partnership
with rural landowners including
livestock exclusion fencing, riparian
buffer strip establishment and
seeding, manure management in
feedlots, upgrades to manure
storages, grassed waterway/filter
strip construction, installation of
eavestrough and clean-water
diversion berms in order to route
storm water away from feedlots and
manure storages.
• Implementing Yellow Fish Road
Program events designed to teach
urban students that deleterious
materials dumped down urban
storm drains can impact
local fisheries habitats.
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃6 7
6 8 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
8.0
┃ B A C KG R O U N D
A s s e s s m e n t & M o n i t o r i n g Te c h n i q u e s
for Fisheries Habitats
The following four assessment/monitoring techniques have been widely used in the
NVCA area of jurisdiction including:
1. Fish Community Assessment
3. Aquatic Invertebrate Assessment
2. Water Temperature Assessment
4. Aquatic Habitat Inventory
8.1 Fish Community Assessment
The availability of detailed information regarding the distribution of various fish
species is of critical importance for effective fish habitat protection and for the
development of detailed habitat restoration plans. This information may be collected in
many ways. Surveys which utilize a backpack electrofisher have provided an effective tool
for collecting small stream fish community data. Larger electrofishing units have been
used effectively in other parts of Ontario for sampling large streams and rivers, although
these pieces of equipment have not been widely used in the NVCA area of jurisdiction.
Some techniques which have been
used for fish community assessment and
monitoring include:
• Backpack electrofishing
(exploratory surveys)
• Backpack electrofishing
(quantitative “biomass” surveys)
• Fishway monitoring
(Earl Rowe and Nicolston Fishways)
• Trapnetting
(Jack’s Lake, Little Lake, Marl Lake)
• Creel surveys (angler catch data)
Maintaining and updating the
NVCA Fish Community Database is a key
strategy for storing and retrieving fish
community data.
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃6 9
8.2 Water Temperature Assessment
8.3 Aquatic Invertebrate Assessment
Water temperature data provides
critical information for evaluating fisheries
habitat potential and for identifying habitat
restoration needs and priorities. Water
temperature may act as a surrogate for
oxygen concentrations, which may limit the
survival of sensitive coldwater fish species.
Some techniques used for temperature
assessment and monitoring in the NVCA
area of jurisdiction include:
This biological monitoring strategy has
been adopted by the NVCA as the primary
approach for determining stream health
status. The NVCA collects information on
bottom-dwelling invertebrates (insects,
crustaceans, mollusks, etc.) according to
the Ontario Benthic Biomonitoring
Network (OBBN) protocol developed by the
Ontario Ministry of the Environment. The
invertebrate family groups sampled, their
sensitivity to habitat impacts and their
relative abundance provide an excellent
indicator of stream health and fisheries
habitat status at a site, particularly for
coldwater stream habitats. The OBBN
protocol provides for the calculation of
several indices relating to stream health.
Declining index scores moving in a
downstream direction indicate impacts to
fisheries habitats and provide a basis for
identifying high priority sites for fisheries
habitat restoration.
• Collection of spot temperature data
using the protocol outlined in
Stoneman and Jones 1996.
• Collection of continuous monitoring
data using computerized
temperature loggers.
• Collection of
temperature information using
maximum/minimum thermometers.
This technique has generally
been replaced by the two
previous techniques.
• Lake temperature monitoring using a
temperature sensor attached to a
digital display by a long cable.
7 0 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
8.4 Habitat Inventory
In the past, stream habitat
assessments have usually been completed
by trained technicians who recorded
habitat information on standardized data
collection sheets. The data collected
however has often been biased by the
perspectives of the surveyors. The MNR
has recently been working to develop a
stream habitat assessment technique with
a high degree of “repeatability” meaning
that the data collected will be the same
regardless of who is doing the survey. This
technique has been incorporated as a
module in the Ontario Stream Assessment
Protocol (OSAP).
The NVCA has completed several
habitat documentation surveys (e.g.
Beeton Creek Survey. 1998) based on the
collection of video footage. This type
of information may be collected by
non-professionals and provides unbiased
information that may be readily interpreted
after data collection by experts from
different disciplines.
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃7 1
7 2 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
9.0
┃ M E T H O D O LO GY
Development of the
Fisheries Habit at Zone Framework
The management of watercourses,
aquatic resources and fisheries habitats
on a watershed basis is an accepted
practice which ensures that downstream
management targets consider upstream
characteristics and impacts. This
approach tends to optimize the success
of strategic habitat protection and
restoration programs. This fisheries habitat
management plan recognizes the
importance of watershed-based planning.
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃7 3
In the NVCA area of jurisdiction, the
variability of fisheries habitat types within
a sub-watershed (a smaller watershed) is
often greater than the variability between
sub-watersheds. For example the high
quality coldwater stream habitats provided
by the Boyne River in the Niagara
Escarpment Physiographic region are much
more similar to those in adjacent reaches
of the Pine River, than to more impacted
downstream sections of the Boyne River in
the Simcoe Lowlands physiographic region.
Common habitat characteristics and
management issues tend to occur within
broad physiographic regions which cross
sub-watershed lines.
This plan therefore embraces the
philosophy that effective fisheries habitat
management in the NVCA area of
jurisdiction can best be achieved through
application of a sub-watershed
management approach which recognizes a
physiography-based habitat zone
framework. In order to implement this
approach, the development of this plan
included a study process designed to
identify and delineate broad fisheries
habitat zones, where each zone
encompassed watercourses exhibiting
similar habitat potentials and
management issues.
The boundaries of the fisheries
habitat zones were generally based on
physiographic region boundaries which
were modified based on a comprehensive
review of 9 habitat parameters including:
1. Transitions in soil permeability
in the watershed and
groundwater discharge
2. Transitions in watercourse gradient
3. Barriers to fish migration
4. Transitions in riparian land use
5. Edges of broad forest cover blocks
6. Transitions between
different fish communities
7. Locations of on-stream dams and
head ponds
8. Transitions in river valley depth
9. Changes in the
fisheries habitat characteristics of
tributary watercourses
The review of fisheries habitat parameters was stratified by fisheries habitat
management unit (FHMU) in order to ensure that the broader fisheries habitat
zone boundaries reflected local sub-watershed trends. The 11 FHMUs in the
NVCA area of jurisdiction are identified in Figure 13.
7 4 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Fisheries Habitat
Management Units
FIGURE
13
➤
LEGEND
N
0
4
8
16
KILOMETERS
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃7 5
7 6 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
10.0 ┃
R E S U LT S
Fisheries Habit at Zone Framework
10.1
Zone Breakdown
The fisheries habitat zone framework
developed for the NVCA area of
jurisdiction (Appendix 6) includes the
following 13 zones:
1. Escarpment Natural
2. Oak Ridges Moraine
3. Oro Moraine
4. Deep Valley Sand Plain
5. Minesing Wetlands
6. Dundalk Till Plain
7. Eastern Uplands
8. Escarpment Impact
9. Shallow Valley Sand Plain
10. Drumlinized Clay Plain
11. Northern Clay Plain
12. Southern Clay Plain
13. Central Uplands
A digital version of the zone locations
and boundaries or “shape file” was
developed for future mapping projects and
to support habitat analysis projects to be
completed in a geographical information
system format.
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃7 7
10.2
Zone Description and Delineation
Escarpment Natural Zone
The Escarpment Natural Zone
encompasses a significant natural heritage
area on the western side of the NVCA area
of jurisdiction (Appendix 6), dominated by
steep slopes and abundant forest cover.
Permeable soils are common although
some impermeable soil types (such as the
Queenston Shales) are also present. It
includes the Niagara Escarpment
physiographic region as well as steep
forested portions of the adjacent
Horseshoe Moraines region (Figure 3). The
western boundary of the Escarpment
Natural Zone was based on the western
margin of the Horseshoe Moraine region,
7 8 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
with modifications made to line-up with
the changes in terrain and stream gradient
as well as barriers to migratory fish
movement, located at the brow of the
Niagara Escarpment. The eastern boundary
of this fisheries habitat zone was based on
the eastern margins of the Horseshoe
Moraine region with modifications made to
reflect the eastward extensions of
contiguous riparian forest cover
downstream into the Simcoe Lowlands
region. The following photograph
documents coldwater fisheries habitat in
the North Branch of the Nottawasaga River
in the Escarpment Natural Zone.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Oak Ridges Moraine Zone
The Oak Ridges Moraine Zone
encompasses an elevated natural heritage
area on the southern margin of the NVCA
area of jurisdiction (Appendix 6),
dominated by permeable soils and
significant forest cover. Its boundaries
generally reflect the boundaries of the Oak
Ridges Moraine physiographic region
(Figure 3). The northern boundaries of this
zone were modified to reflect the
northward extensions of contiguous
riparian forest cover downstream into the
Schomberg Clay Plain region. The following
photograph documents coldwater fisheries
habitat in the upper reaches of Bailey
Creek in the Oak Ridges Moraine Zone.
Oro Moraine Zone
The Oro Moraine Zone encompasses a significant elevated natural heritage area located in the
north-east corner of the NVCA area of jurisdiction (Appendix 6), dominated by permeable soils and
significant forest cover. Its boundaries generally reflect the boundaries of the Oro Moraine physiographic
region (Figure 3). The following photograph documents a coldwater fisheries habitat in the upper
Coldwater River in the Oro Moraine Zone.
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃7 9
Deep Valley Sand Plain Zone
The Deep Valley Sand Plain Zone (Appendix 6) encompasses deep valley systems
located within the Simcoe Lowlands Physiographic region located largely in the middle of
the NVCA area of jurisdiction (Figure 3). Due to the presence of steep valley slopes and
associated constraints to rural and
urban land use encroachment,
these stream sections typically
exhibit abundant riparian forest
cover. The deep valley incision into
the Algonquin Sand Plain Aquifer
tends to promote abundant
groundwater discharge into
watercourses within this zone. The
photograph at left documents
coldwater fisheries habitat in the
lower Nottawasaga River within the
Deep Valley Sand Plain Zone.
Minesing Wetlands Zone
The Minesing Wetlands Zone (Appendix 6) was delineated based on the boundaries
of the internationally recognized Minesing Wetlands natural heritage feature, contained
within the Simcoe Lowlands physiographic region (Figure 3). This large wetland feature is
located in the north-central portion of the NVCA area of jurisdiction. The presence of low
stream banks and active floodplains
is typical of this zone. Soils exhibit a
wide range of permeability within
this zone. The following photograph
documents warmwater predator
fisheries habitat in the Nottawasaga
River in the Minesing Wetland Zone.
8 0 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Dundalk Till Plain Zone
The Dundalk Till Plain Zone is a flat area of land on the western margin of the NVCA
area of jurisdiction (Appendix 6). It exhibits a mix of natural forests and wetlands as well as
significant areas characterized by agricultural land uses. Soils exhibit a wide range of
permeability. Small urban areas are
present in Shelburne and north of
Orangeville. This zone generally reflects
the location of the Dundalk Till Plain
Physiographic Region (Figure 3). The
boundaries of this zone extend from the
western limits of the NVCA area of
jurisdiction, east to the boundaries of
the Escarpment Natural Zone (see
above). The photograph at left
documents coldwater fisheries habitat
in the upper reaches of the North
Branch Nottawasaga River (Melgaard
Drain) within the Dundalk Till Plain Zone.
Eastern Uplands Zone
The Eastern Uplands Zone exhibits a mix of natural
forested areas as well as areas exhibiting significant
rural and urban land use practices, and is located on
the eastern side of the NVCA area of jurisdiction
(Appendix 6). The geographical limits of this zone are
similar to the Simcoe Uplands Physiographic region
(Figure 3). Soils exhibit a wide range of permeability.
The boundaries of this zone extend from the edge of
the Simcoe Lowlands on the west side, to the eastern
limits of the NVCA area of jurisdiction on the east side.
The photograph at right documents coldwater fisheries
habitat in Egbert Creek in the Eastern Uplands Zone.
Escarpment Impact Zone
The Escarpment Impact Zone (Appendix 6)
lies within the boundaries of the Escarpment
Natural Zone and encompasses fragmented
sections of riparian corridor where forest cover has
been removed and stream habitat has been
impacted by rural land use practices such as
livestock grazing. This zone tends to be located in
riparian areas within the eastern portions of the
Escarpment Natural Zone. The photograph at left
documents impacted coldwater fisheries habitat in
the middle reaches of the Boyne River in the
Escarpment Impact Zone.
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃8 1
Shallow Valley Sand Plain Zone
The Shallow Valley Sandplain Zone
(Appendix 6) includes permeable soil
portions of the Simcoe Lowlands
physiographic region (Figure 3), and
encompasses watercourses located in
shallow valley systems where
encroachment from adjacent agricultural
land use practices has heavily impacted
fisheries habitats. Although intensive
agricultural land uses predominate,
some forest cover still exists, particularly within Canadian Forces Base Borden. Several
urban communities such as Alliston are also located within this zone. The boundaries of
this zone include Nottawasaga Bay on the north side and the 250masl contour line
(former water level of Lake Algonquin) on the west, south and eastern margins. The
photograph above documents impacted fisheries habitat in lower Beeton Creek in the
Shallow Valley Sand Plain Zone.
Drumlinized Clay Plain Zone
The Drumlinized Clay Plain Zone is
located in the south-eastern portion of
the NVCA area of jurisdiction (Appendix
6) and encompasses the eastern portion
of the Schomberg Clay Plain
physiographic region including many
elevated glacial features which are part of
the Peterborough Drumlin Field (Figure
3). Agricultural land uses predominate
although some natural forest cover exists,
usually associated with the elevated
drumlin features. Clay soils are common
but some permeable soil areas exist
associated with drumlins.
This zone is bounded by the Oak Ridges Moraine Zone to the south, Southern Clay
Plain to the west, Shallow Valley Sand Plain to the north, Eastern Uplands to the northeast and the limits of the NVCA area of jurisdiction to the south-east. The photograph
above documents coolwater fisheries habitat in the East Branch of Beeton Creek in the
Drumlinized Clay Plain Zone.
8 2 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Northern Clay Plain Zone
The Northern Clay Plain Zone
(Appendix 6) is located in the northcentral portion of the NVCA area of
jurisdiction and includes clay soil
portions of the Simcoe Lowlands
physiographic region as well as the
adjacent clay-dominated Edenvale
Moraine (Figure 3). Agricultural land
use practices dominate in this zone
although small urban communities
such as Elmvale, are also present. The photograph above documents warmwater baitfish
fisheries habitat in Marl Creek in the Northern Clay Plain Zone.
Southern Clay Plain Zone
The heavily agriculturalized Southern
Clay Plain Zone is located in the southern
portion of the NVCA area of jurisdiction
(Appendix 6) and encompasses the western
portion of the Schomberg Clay Plain
physiographic region (Figure 3). This zone is
characterized by impermeable clay soils and
exhibits a gently rolling landscape. Its
boundaries are formed by the Oak Ridges
Moraine Zone to the south, Escarpment
Natural Zone to the west, Shallow Valley
Sand Plain to the north and Drumlinized Clay
Plain to the east. The photograph at left
documents impacted (but recovering)
coldwater fisheries habitat in Bailey Creek in
the Southern Clay Plain Zone.
Central Uplands Zone
The Central Uplands Zone includes elevated
landscape features located within and adjacent to
the Algonquin Sand Plain physiographic region
(Figure 3), located in the middle of the NVCA area
of jurisdiction (Appendix 6). The central uplands
zone exhibits predominant clay soils and
agricultural land uses. The zone boundaries were
delineated based on the location of the 250masl
contour line on the landscape (former level of
Lake Algonquin) and on the limits of low
permeability soil types intersecting more
permeable soils in the Escarpment Natural Zone to
the west. The following photograph documents a
warmwater baitfish fisheries habitat in a
headwater stream in the Central Uplands Zone.
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃8 3
10.3
Fisheries Habitat Characteristics by Zone
This table summarizes the physical and fish habitat characteristics of each zone.
Please note: Table carries over to facing page and continues on following pages.
Fisheries
Habitat Zone
General Status
of Fisheries Habitats
Typical Stream
Gradient
Soil Permeability
Escarpment Natural
Healthy
Medium and High
(>0.2%)
Variable,
high permeability soils common
Oak Ridges Moraine
Healthy
Medium
(>0.2%)
High
Oro Moraine
Healthy
Medium
(>0.2%)
High
Deep Valley Sand Plain
Variable, may be
impacted by upstream
land use
Low and Medium
High
Minesing Wetlands
Variable,
may have been impacted
by historical land use
Low
(<0.2%)
Variable,
low permeability soils common
Dundalk Till Plain
Variable
Low and Medium
Variable
Eastern Uplands
Variable
Medium
Variable
CONTINUES ON PAGE 86
8 4 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Potential
Ground-water Yield
Potential Fisheries
Habitat Types
Land Use Impacts
to Habitat
Current Fisheries
Habitat Types
High,
particularly below
escarpment brow
from Amabel Aquifer
Coldwater
in many stream
reaches
Low, mainly due to
on-stream pond and
perched culvert construction
Coldwater
High
Coldwater
in many stream
reaches
Low, mainly due to
on-stream pond and
perched culvert construction,
and some deforestation
Coldwater
High
Coldwater
in many stream
reaches
Low, mainly due to
on-stream pond and
perched culvert construction,
and some deforestation
Coldwater
High
Coldwater
in many stream
reaches
Low, due to steep valley
slopes limiting potential for
land use encroachment
Coldwater (often impacted)
Warmwater predator
Warmwater baitfish
Low
Warmwater predator
in larger stream/river
reaches
Variable, severe impacts to
the Nottawasaga River have
occurred due to historical land
use practice such as
livestock grazing
Warmwater predator
Warmwater baitfish
Variable
Coldwater
in many stream
reaches
Variable, agricultural land use
impacts common,
some urban impacts
Coldwater (often impacted)
Warmwater baitfish
Variable
Coldwater
in some stream
reaches
Variable, agricultural land use
impacts common,
urban impacts becoming
more intense around the
City of Barrie
Coldwater (often impacted)
Warmwater baitfish
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃8 5
Fisheries
Habitat Zone
General Status
of Fisheries Habitats
Typical Stream
Gradient
Escarpment Impact
Moderately healthy
but below potential
Medium
Variable,
high permeability soils common
Shallow Valley
Sand Plain
Impacted
Low and Medium
High
Drumlinized Clay Plain
Impacted
Low and Medium
Variable,
low permeability soils common
Northern Clay Plain
Impacted
Low and Medium
Low
Southern Clay Plain
Impacted
Low and Medium
Low
Central Uplands
Impacted
Medium
Low
8 6 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Soil Permeability
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Potential
Ground-water Yield
Potential Fisheries
Habitat Types
Land Use Impacts
to Habitat
Current Fisheries
Habitat Types
High
Coldwater
in many stream
reaches
Medium,
significant land use impacts
have occurred, often due
to historical and current
livestock grazing
Coldwater (often impacted)
Variable, due to poor
incision into sand
plain aquifer
Coldwater
in many stream
reaches
High,
impacts associated with
encroachment from adjacent
crop lands common,
some urban impacts
Coldwater (often impacted)
Coolwater
Warmwater predator
Warmwater baitfish
Generally low,
localized
groundwater inputs
occur near
drumlin features
Coolwater,
possibly coldwater
in some stream
reaches
Moderately high,
impacts associated with
encroachment from adjacent
crop lands common,
some urban impacts
Coolwater
Warmwater baitfish
Low
Warmwater predator
in larger river/stream
reaches
High,
particularly due to
encroachment from
adjacent crop lands
Warmwater predator
Warmwater baitfish
Low
Coldwater in stream
reaches adjacent to
the Oak Ridges
Moraine Zone
High,
particularly due to
encroachment from
adjacent crop lands
Coldwater (often impacted)
Warmwater baitfish
Low
Warmwater baitfish
High,
particularly due to
encroachment from
adjacent crop lands
Warmwater baitfish
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃8 7
8 8 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
11.0 ┃
R E C O M M E N D AT I O N S
Protec tion Strategies for Fisheries Habit ats
The following recommendations are based on the new fisheries habitat zone
framework and emerging perspectives in fisheries habitat protection.
Protection Strategy
Emphasize habitat protection
activities as a priority for watercourse
within the following four fisheries habitat
zones (see Appendix 6):
• Escarpment Natural
A balanced emphasis on both habitat
protection and restoration, is the
recommended strategy for watercourses in
the other remaining nine fisheries habitat
zones (see Appendix 6):
• Oak Ridges Moraine
• Minesing Wetlands
• Oro Moraine
• Dundalk Till Plain
• Deep Valley Sand Plain
• Eastern Uplands
• Escarpment Impact
Habitat protection is also a priority
activity for Natural lake shorelines on
Nottawasaga Bay, Little Lake, Orr Lake,
Bass Lake, Marl Lake and Jack’s Lake.
• Shallow Valley Sand Plain
• Drumlinized Clay Plain
• Northern Clay Plain
• Southern Clay Plain
• Central Uplands
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃8 9
Protection Tactics
• Through the DFO-NVCA Fisheries
Habitat Referrals Process, protect
fisheries habitat along the
Nottawasaga Bay shoreline up to and
including at least the 176.96 meters
above sea level elevation criterion and
extending out 5km from the shoreline.
The 176.96 meters above sea level
criterion should also be used as a
minimum protection target for the
lower Nottawasaga River in Wasaga
Beach. From a habitat protection
standpoint, the lower Nottawasaga
River in many ways could be
considered to be an upstream
extension of the Nottawasaga Bay
shoreline in terms of habitat impacts
and management issues.
• Through the DFO-NVCA Fisheries
Habitat Referrals Process, and with
support from MNR, broadly apply a
spring/early summer timing restriction
to in-water work projects to protect
fish during sensitive life history stages
(e.g. spawning, egg incubation, earlyrearing). Apply a more specific fall
through early summer timing
restriction to fisheries habitats
supporting coldwater fish species.
• Provide an exception from in-water
timing restrictions for stream habitat
restoration projects involving hand
labor, where the intent of the project
is to control erosion/sediment loading
and where the potential to release
sediment is very low.
9 0 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
• Through the NVCA planning program,
require new urban developments to
incorporate infiltration structures into
their urban stormwater management
plan, with the goal of maintaining
pre-construction infiltration of
precipitation on the site.
Communicate with municipal councils
and staff about the importance of
infiltration for protecting local
coldwater fisheries habitats. Support
pilot projects for structures which
facilitate maintenance works (e.g. grit
removal) for municipalities and
communicate successes with
municipal staff. Ensure that urban
developments work to replicate or
exceed the pre-development
infiltration capacity of the site, even if
the site only has a moderate potential
for infiltration. Avoid supporting work
plans where the proponent applies a
“broad brush” recommendation to not
incorporate infiltration based on
general impermeable soil texture
characteristics. Support development
planning based on detailed soils and
hydrogeology studies. Encourage
development applications where the
proponent’s design avoids lot
construction on high permeability
potential recharge sites and
strategically applies infiltration
approaches towards these areas.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• Generally encourage above the water
table extraction only for aggregate
removal works. Endorse below the
water table extraction only where the
proponent is able to technically
demonstrate no net impact to the
potential productivity of adjacent
fisheries habitats or develop an
appropriate adaptive management
plan for this purpose. Require
detailed information on local
groundwater gradients documenting
movement towards watercourses.
Decision making should not be based
on broad regional trends in
groundwater movement only, but
should consider detailed local
information about groundwater
movement. Review comments should
address the importance of on-site
infiltration as well as underground
water movement through the site.
• Implement minimum 30 m setback
requirement from all watercourses for
construction work projects (e.g. urban
developments, construction of offstream ponds).
• Encourage the implementation of
stream realignment projects
incorporating natural channel
features, where existing alignments
have been significantly impacted by
channelization or where new
alignments will be moved away from
roadside ditches.
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃9 1
9 2 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
12.0 ┃
R E C O M M E N D AT I O N S
Restorat ion Strategies for Fisheries Habit at s
12.1
Priority Zones for Restoration
Emphasize fisheries habitat restoration
as a high priority for all watercourses
exhibiting significant fisheries habitat
impacts. Impacted habitats are particularly
common within the following nine fisheries
habitat zones:
1. Sand Plain Shallow Valley
2. Southern Clay Plain
3. Northern Clay Plain
4. Drumlinized Clay Plain
5. Escarpment Impact
6. Dundalk Till Plain
7. Eastern Uplands
8. Minesing Wetlands
9. Central Uplands
12.2
Core Restoration Strategy
The recommendation for a core
fisheries habitat restoration strategy for
the NVCA area of jurisdiction, is to
implement targeted rehabilitation work on
permanently-flowing streams and rivers,
with significant base flow, within the
Shallow Valley Sand Plain, Southern Clay
Plain, Northern Clay Plain and Drumlinized
Clay Plain habitat zones (see Figure 14). A
key concept of this core program is to
utilize habitat restoration as a strategy for
extending healthy stream habitats
originating in natural heritage zones
(Niagara Escarpment, Oak Ridges Moraine
and Oro Moraine), downstream into
adjacent land use impact zones (e.g.
Shallow Valley Sand Plain). The authors of
this report believe that emphasizing
restoration work on groundwater-rich
permanently-flowing watercourses
optimizes the “bang for the buck”.
Working on permanently-flowing
watercourses maximizes opportunities for
restoring cold and coolwater fisheries
habitats in tributary streams. This strategy
also optimizes potential water quality
improvements designed to address poor
water clarity further downstream in main
river habitats (both coldwater and
warmwater predator habitats) during the
summer growing season, particularly
under base flow conditions.
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃9 3
FIGURE
Target Stream Reac hes
14
for Core Fisheries Habitat Restoration Strategy
➤
LEGEND
N
0
4
8
16
KILOMETERS
9 4 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Note that the core restoration strategy
target streams are located predominantly in
Simcoe County (Figure 14). Many
watercourses in Dufferin and Grey County
represent locally important opportunities
for habitat restoration, particularly within
the Dundalk Till Plain Zone (Appendix 6),
where both rural and in some cases urban
land use practices have impacted habitat
quality. Watercourses in the Dundalk Till
Plain Zone however were not included as
core restoration strategy targets because
healthy forest cover and groundwater
discharge further downstream in the
Niagara Escarpment Zone, tend to mitigate
headwater habitat impacts. As a result of
this process, habitat improvement work on
watercourses in the Dundalk Till Plain Zone
is less likely to result in extensive
downstream improvements when compared
to restoration work completed in the core
restoration strategy target streams.
Significant opportunities exist, for
implementation of nutrient management
and erosion control projects, on
intermittently-flowing watercourses in all
13 fisheries habitat zones in the NVCA area
of jurisdiction. This approach can play an
important role in reducing downstream
habitat impacts associated with sediment
and attached phosphorus loading during
high-flow periods such as spring runoff and
following large precipitation events
occurring during the rest of the year.
Working on intermittently-flowing streams
however, may be less effective at
addressing water quality issues which occur
under base flow conditions in the summer,
and should be considered a secondary
fisheries habitat priority when compared
with the recommended core strategy.
One key tactic associated with the
core restoration strategy is to initiate work
at the upstream end of the land use
impact zones in the Sand Plain Shallow
Valley or Southern Clay Plain habitat zones
and to implement works moving in a
downstream direction. This tactic may
mean that restoration efforts should
initially focus on reaches where stream
health has declined from “healthy” to
“below potential”, rather than further
downstream in “impaired” reaches.
Working at the upstream end of land use
impact zones means that coldwater fish
and invertebrate species are present
immediately upstream to recolonize
restored sections. This tactic probably
represents the most technically sound
approach for extending coldwater stream
habitat in that it is easier to maintain a
coldwater temperature regime than to drop
stream temperatures after warming has
occurred. Unfortunately, one constraint
associated with this tactic is intensive deer
browse impacts on tree seedlings planted
adjacent to large forest blocks and
associated deer wintering yards.
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃9 5
A second key tactic associated with
the core strategy is to extend stream
habitat restoration work downstream to the
boundary with the Deep Valley Sand Plain
Zone where healthy riparian forest cover is
usually intact. The objective of this
approach is to develop restored coldwater
stream habitats which provide connecting
linkages between coldwater habitats in
upland zones (e.g. Escarpment Natural) and
those in the Deep Valley Sand Plain zones.
A critical aspect of the core
restoration strategy would involve the
restoration of the Nottawasaga and Boyne
12.3
Rivers reaches which are currently impaired
by the Nicolston Head Pond and the Earl
Rowe Reservoir respectively (Appendix 2).
These on-stream reservoirs trap sediment
and nutrients and provide an environment
which promotes warming and a decline in
dissolved oxygen concentrations. Water
quality improvements, associated with core
restoration project works upstream, may
not be effectively propagated downstream
through the two stagnant on-stream pond
environments unless natural channel
restoration can be implemented within or
around these two impoundments.
Migratory Rainbow Trout/Chinook Salmon/Brown Trout
Habitat Restoration Strategy
The core restoration strategy outlined in section 12.2 provides the basis of a
restoration approach targeting coldwater fisheries habitats supporting migratory
rainbow trout, Chinook salmon and resident brown trout. The strategy for these
species represents the application of the core strategy to the Shallow Valley Sand Plain
Zone reaches of several high priority rivers and tributary streams draining the Escarpment
Natural Zone (Appendix 6). The rehabilitation of stream reaches within the Escarpment
Impact Zone (Appendix 6) and dam/head pond decommissioning/bottom discharge
construction within the Escarpment Natural Zone, are not part of the core restoration
strategy but represent important components of a restoration strategy for migratory
rainbow trout, Chinook salmon and resident brown trout habitats.
Many of the streams supporting migratory rainbow trout, Chinook salmon and
resident brown trout provide productive, high quality coldwater fisheries habitats in the
Escarpment Natural Zone. Due to land use impacts, deforestation and possibly a reduction
in groundwater discharge, the productivity and quality of coldwater stream habitats
decline further downstream within the Shallow Valley Sand Plain Zone. For many of these
streams, habitat quality may improve further downstream as the watercourses enter the
Deep Valley Sand Plain Zone where healthy riparian forest cover still exists. Stream
habitat restoration in the Shallow Valley Sand Plain Zone therefore provides an
opportunity to extend healthy coldwater habitats downstream from the
Escarpment Natural Zone and to provide continuity with coldwater habitats in the
Deep Valley Sand Plain Zone.
9 6 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
A similar situation occurs for Bailey
Creek where the healthy coldwater
fisheries habitat present in the Oak Ridges
Moraine Zone, experiences degradation
further downstream due to land use
impacts and a lack of groundwater
discharge in the adjacent Southern Clay
Plain Zone and further downstream in the
Shallow Valley Sand Plain Zone. Stream
habitat restoration in Bailey Creek within
the Southern Clay Plain Zone adjacent to
the Oak Ridges Moraine Zone provides a
significant opportunity to extend coldwater
habitat further downstream.
Applicable stream habitat
restoration techniques to be applied in
the Shallow Valley Sand Plain Zone (and
Southern Clay Plain Zone on Bailey Creek)
to extend migratory rainbow trout,
Chinook salmon and resident brown trout
habitat include:
1. Establishment/development of
buffer strips and reforestation of
riparian zones
2. In-stream habitat enhancement
(e.g. adding woody material to
the stream banks and channel to
increase cover, decrease
channel width and increase
habitat diversity)
3. Stream bank stabilization
4. Natural channel and
floodplain restoration
5. Implementation of municipal drain
best management practices
6. Nutrient management
The recommended strategy for
improving migratory rainbow trout,
Chinook salmon and resident brown
trout habitat in the Nottawasaga River
Watershed is to implement stream
restoration within the Shallow Valley
Sand Plain Zone reaches of the:
1. Boyne River (including its
Tosorontio Creek tributary)
2. Upper Nottawasaga River
3. Sheldon Creek
4. Bailey Creek (including its
Keenansville Creek tributary,
includes restoration in the
Southern Clay Plain Zone)
5. Pine River
(including its Lisle Creek tributary)
This list has been ordered by priority
with the Boyne River representing the
most significant opportunity for improving
production of rainbow trout, Chinook
salmon and brown trout. The Pine River has
been listed as the lowest priority of the five
because overall habitat quality is relatively
high and the level of riparian impact is
relatively low as the Pine River traverses
the Shallow Valley Sand Plain Zone.
The implementation of dam
decommissioning or bottom discharge
installation work at the Mulmur/Adjala
Tosorontio Townline dam on Tosorontio
Creek and on the dam in Lot 10 Concession
6 Adjala on Keenansville Creek would
significantly contribute to the restoration of
coldwater habitats further downstream.
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃9 7
For the Boyne River, Upper
Nottawasaga River and Pine River, a
secondary priority is to implement stream
restoration work designed to address
more localized coldwater habitat
impacts further upstream in the
Escarpment Impact Zone. This secondary
strategy could be implemented to improve
summer stream temperatures discharging
downstream into the Shallow Valley Sand
Plain Zone, particularly on the Boyne River.
The implementation of dam
decommissioning, bottom discharge
construction on dams, and promoting fish
passage through perched culverts within
the Niagara Escarpment Zone represents
a third priority for restoration of migratory
rainbow trout, Chinook salmon and
resident brown trout habitats.
Implementing stream habitat
restoration on the Mad River (and its
Walkers Creek tributary) in the Shallow
Valley Sand Plain Zone and the Escarpment
Impact Zone, is also a viable strategy for
extending coldwater stream habitats
downstream from the Escarpment Natural
Zone and enhancing coldwater habitats
further downstream in the Deep Valley
Sand Plain Zone. Uncertainty exists however
regarding the migratory versus resident
status of the Mad River rainbow trout stock.
It is not clear therefore whether or not the
restoration of coldwater habitat in the Mad
River would play a significant role in
enhancing the rainbow trout sport fishery in
the main branch of the Nottawasaga River.
Stream restoration in the Mad River and its
Walkers Creek and Ley’s Burn tributaries
could however develop a significant
coldwater habitat complex supporting
resident brown trout.
The Escarpment Natural Zone
streams, draining the western portion of
the Nottawasaga River Watershed (plus
Bailey Creek), represent the bulk of the
coldwater habitats supporting migratory
rainbow trout. Significant production of
this species also occurs in the following
smaller Nottawasaga River tributaries
originating in other habitat zones. These
11 tributaries include:
1. MacIntyre Creek
2. Beeton Creek (barrier to migration
currently a problem)
3. Innisfil Creek and its Bethesda
Creek tributary
4. Braden Creek
5. Wilson Creek
6. Egbert Creek
7. Thornton Creek
8. Little Baxter Creek
9. Bear Creek
10. Marl Creek (also supports resident
brown trout)
11. Franks Hood Creek (potential)
Local stream habitat restoration
opportunities for improving migratory
rainbow trout habitat exist for these
smaller tributary streams.
9 8 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
The high permeability of adjacent
soils and robust groundwater discharge
conditions indicate the potential for
providing coldwater nursery habitats
supporting rainbow trout and Chinook
salmon throughout the middle reach of
the Nottawasaga River and in the
Montgomery Rapids section of the
lower river reach. Impacted water quality
(and base flow quantity in the middle
reach) probably limit the current
productivity of these habitats. The
implementation of a water quality
improvement program (including nutrient
management and erosion control) for
smaller tributary streams contributing to
these main river reaches could result in
significant improvements in the quality of
habitats supporting these two species.
Dam decommissioning and the
construction of natural river channels or
bypass channels at the Earl Rowe Dam on
the Boyne River or at the Nicolston Dam
on the Nottawasaga River would represent
important components of a fisheries
habitat improvement program for the main
branch of the Nottawasaga River.
Willow Creek and its Matheson
Creek tributary in the north-eastern portion
of the Nottawasaga River Watershed
provide coldwater stream habitats
supporting significant resident brown trout
populations. These coldwater habitats occur
within Deep Valley Sand Plain and Shallow
Valley Sand Plain Zones. Several Matheson
Creek tributaries also receive groundwater
discharge in their headwaters within the
Oro Moraine. Riparian habitat restoration in
Shallow Valley Sand Plain Zone reaches
(consistent with the Core NVCA Restoration
Strategy) represents a significant
opportunity for improving coldwater
habitats supporting brown trout.
In the Blue Mountain Watersheds,
the restoration of coldwater habitat, in
stream reaches within the Shallow Valley
Sand Plain Zone and the Escarpment
Impact Zone, represent a viable strategy
for improving migratory rainbow trout
habitat in the:
1. Pretty River
2. Silver Creek (Shallow Valley Sand
Plain Zone only)
3. Batteaux River
4. Black Ash Creek
Comparable opportunities for
coldwater habitat restoration exist in the
Severn Sound Tributary Area for
impacted Shallow Valley Sand Plain Zone
reaches of the Sturgeon and Coldwater
Rivers and tributaries. The presence of a
diverse extensive Deep Valley Sand Plain
Zone encompassing the Coldwater River
and many tributary streams may limit the
need for riparian habitat restoration
adjacent to these stream reaches.
Significant riparian habitat impacts have
occurred adjacent to the 9th Line Oro
Medonte however on both the main
branch of the Coldwater River and its
Creighton Tributary. Long reaches of the
Sturgeon River are also located within the
Shallow Valley Sand Plain Zone where
significant land use impacts have occurred.
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃9 9
12.4
Resident Brook Trout Habitat Restoration Strategy
The Core NVCA Restoration Strategy
emphasizing work within the Shallow
Valley Sand Plain and Southern Clay Plain
Zones only partially addresses the need to
restore and enhance resident brook trout
habitats within the NVCA area of
jurisdiction. The implementation of work
projects such as dam decommissioning
within the Escarpment Natural, Oak Ridges
Moraine, Oro Moraine and Eastern Uplands
habitat zones, represents a significant
component of a restoration strategy for
resident brook trout habitat. Stream
habitat restoration in the Dundalk Till Plain
habitat zone was not included in the Core
NVCA strategy because most water quality
impacts in this zone are mitigated by
groundwater inputs further downstream in
the Escarpment Natural Zone and by
nutrient assimilation within healthy
Escarpment stream habitats. The
implementation of stream restoration
in the Dundalk Till Plain does however
represent a significant opportunity for
local water quality improvements as
well a high priority opportunity for
enhancing large diverse brook trout
habitat complexes.
In the western and southern portions
of the Nottawasaga River Watershed, the
distribution of resident brook trout is
largely restricted to the Escarpment
Natural, Oak Ridges Moraine and Dundalk
Till Plain habitat zones. A combination of
habitat degradation and competition with
introduced migratory rainbow trout and
resident brown trout has eliminated brook
trout from most coldwater stream habitats
located in the Shallow Valley Sand Plain
and Deep Valley Sand Plain zones.
1 0 0 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
The Dundalk Till Plain Zone supports
several large brook trout habitat complexes
which represent significant opportunities
for improving the quality and productivity of
coldwater stream habitats. Moderately
robust groundwater discharge supports
extensive brook trout habitats while the flat
landscape provides extensive opportunities
for both agricultural, rural residential and in
some locations urban land use impacts.
Riparian habitat restoration, the
implementation of best management
practices for municipal drains and dam
decommissioning all represent high priority
techniques for restoring brook trout
habitats. High priority candidate streams
for brook trout habitat restoration in
the Dundalk Till Plain Zone include:
1. North Branch Nottawasaga River
and tributaries
2. Mad River
3. Boyne River and tributaries
4. Noisy River and tributaries
Although riparian forest cover is often
abundant, brook trout habitats in the
Escarpment Natural, Oak Ridges Moraine
and Oro Moraine zones and to a lesser
extent the Eastern Upland Zone have been
extensively impacted and fragmented by
dam construction and construction of
perched culverts. Strategic dam
decommissioning, bottom draw installation
and mitigation of perched culverts all
provide opportunities for brook trout
habitat enhancement throughout the
Escarpment Natural zone. The most
significant opportunities for improving
brook trout habitats are likely present in
the Pine River sub-watershed.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
In the Blue Mountain Watersheds,
the distribution of resident brook trout is
restricted to the Escarpment Natural zone
in the Pretty River, Silver Creek, Batteaux
River and Black Ash Creek watersheds. A
combination of habitat degradation and
competition with introduced migratory
rainbow trout has eliminated brook trout
from most coldwater stream habitats
located in the Shallow Valley Sand Plain
and Deep Valley Sand Plain zones. Dam
decommissioning, bottom discharge
installation and providing fish passage
through perched culverts all represent
options for improving brook trout habitats
within the Escarpment Natural Zone.
no longer exist in most streams within the
Shallow Valley Sand Plain Zone on the
eastern side of the Nottawasaga River
Watershed. Brook trout habitats are
generally encompassed within
groundwater-rich sections of the Simcoe
Uplands and Oro Moraine
Zones although some Deep Valley Sand
Plain Zones still support brook trout. Dam
decommissioning and riparian habitat
restoration both provide opportunities for
improving these brook trout habitats.
High priority streams for
restoring brook trout habitats in the
Shallow Valley Sand Plain Zone include:
1. Bear Creek and
headwater tributaries
2. Innisfil Creek and its
Bethesda Creek tributary
3. Coates Creek (Mad River tributary)
4. Spring Creek (Boyne River tributary)
The distribution of resident brook
trout habitats on the eastern side of the
Nottawasaga River Watershed is more
restricted than on the western side. Large
brook trout habitat complexes however are
supported however within the Matheson
Creek, Black Creek (Willow Creek
tributary) and Bear Creek catchments.
Significant reaches of brook trout habitat
are also present within the Thornton,
Egbert and Upper Innisfil Creek
catchments. Several fragmented reaches of
brook trout habitat also exist (e.g. Spring
Creek in Alliston).
As was the case for Niagara
Escarpment tributaries, brook trout
The priority for restoring Bear Creek
would focus on realigning the West Creek
headwater branch out of the road-side
ditch on Simcoe Road 27 and on
implementing riparian restoration in the
Simcoe Road 90 corridor. Innisfil Creek is a
high priority site for implementation of
municipal drain best management practices
as well as riparian buffer restoration
intended to reconnect coldwater habitat in
the Bethesda Creek tributary with the main
branch of Innisfil Creek. Addressing riparian
habitat impacts upstream from ¾ Sideroad
former Sunnidale (Clearview Township)
would be the emphasis for restoring habitat
in Coates Creek while the implementation
of best management practices for urban
water quality and municipal drain
maintenance would form the basis for the
restoration of brook trout habitat in Spring
Creek in the urban community of Alliston.
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃1 0 1
In the Severn Sound Tributary Area, brook trout habitats are present in the
Shallow Valley Sand Plain and Deep Valley Sand Plain zones as well as the Simcoe Uplands
and Oro Moraine Zones. Significant brook trout habitats are present in the Coldwater and
Sturgeon River Watersheds as well as at least two tributaries within the Wye River
Watershed. Brook trout may also be present in groundwater influenced Bass Lake
tributary streams. Brook trout habitat restoration in the Severn Sound Area should focus
on riparian habitat improvement in the Shallow Valley Sand Plain Zone and on dam
decommissioning, bottom discharge installation and perched culvert mitigation in the
Simcoe Uplands and Oro Moraine zones.
12.5
Lower and Middle Nottawasaga River Restoration Strategy
The Core NVCA Restoration Strategy forms the basis for a restoration strategy
targeting water quality improvements in current warmwater predator and coldwater
fisheries habitats (Montgomery Rapids section) in the lower reach of the Nottawasaga
River. The Core Strategy also can be applied for improving the productive capacity of the
coldwater fisheries habitat complex associated with the middle reach of the main branch
of Nottawasaga River and Deep Valley Sand Plain Zone sections of tributary streams in
Essa Township.
As part of the main river restoration strategy, high priority catchments for habitat
rehabilitation, nutrient management and erosion control work within the Shallow Valley
Sand Plain and Southern Clay Plain zones include the following (in addition to those
streams listed in Section 12.2):
1. Innisfil Creek
2. Bailey Creek (see section 12.2)
3. Beeton Creek
4. Cookstown Creek
5. Pennville Creek
6. Willow Creek
(high priority reach for restoration
includes Minesing Wetlands Zone)
7. Marl Creek (high priority reach
includes Northern Clay Plain Zone)
1 0 2 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
8. Lamont Creek/McIntyre Creek
(high priority reach includes
Northern Clay Plain Zone)
9. Other Nottawasaga River
tributary catchments including
Ballantyne tributary (Ballantyne
Municipal Drain), Braden tributary
(Braden Municipal Drain), Wilson
tributary (Wilson Municipal Drain),
Egbert Creek, Thornton Creek,
Little Baxter Creek, Bear Creek
(lower), Crossland Creek, Little
Marl Creek (Municipal Drain),
Franks-Hood tributary (FranksHood Municipal Drain), Trillium
Creek and Sturgeon Creek.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
12.6
Natural Lake Habitat Restoration Strategy
The implementation of nutrient
management and erosion control
techniques in tributary streams draining
into Bass Lake, Orr Lake and Little Lake
represents the key strategy for improving
water quality (including summer water
clarity), maintaining high dissolved oxygen
concentrations and enhancing the
productivity of these warmwater predator
fisheries habitats. This strategy is
encompassed within the NVCA Core
Restoration Strategy for Little Lake and its
Willow Creek tributary. Improving water
quality in Bass Lake and to a lesser extent
Orr Lake would also require the
implementation of nutrient management
and erosion control work on tributary
streams located within the Eastern Uplands
and Oro Moraine Habitat zones. The
implementation of shoreline habitat
restoration work on all three inland lakes
has the potential to complement fisheries
habitat improvements achieved through
restoration of water quality in the tributary
streams. Upgrading shoreline septic
systems and developing natural shoreline
vegetated buffers would further enhance
lake habitat quality by reducing nutrient
loading to the lake environments.
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃1 0 3
1 0 4 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
13.0 ┃
R E C O M M E N D AT I O N S
Assessment & Monitoring Strategies
for Fisheries Habitats
One of the major recommendations
from this fisheries habitat management
plan is to use the fisheries habitat zone
framework as a basis for identifying
appropriate sample station locations
for a wide variety of aquatic resource
studies including fish community
monitoring, stream temperature/dissolved
oxygen surveys, base flow assessments,
aquatic habitat surveys, biomonitoring etc.
Station locations should be selected on
each watercourse near the downstream
limit of each zone, in order to best reflect
the cumulative positive and negative
impacts to aquatic habitat within the zone.
This approach would facilitate defensible
fish habitat quality and stream health
comparisons between different
watercourses in the same zone. This
strategy could also be incorporated as a
key feature of watershed report cards.
The presence of low-visibility water
conditions during the summer growing
season, in the main branch of the
Nottawasaga River, Innisfil Creek, Marl
Creek and several smaller tributary
streams, is a significant issue potentially
contributing to a decrease in the
productivity of fisheries habitats in the
NVCA area of jurisdiction. Therefore the
second major assessment and monitoring
recommendation identified during the
course of developing this plan, is to
implement a study designed to identify
stressors contributing to poor summer
water clarity in the main branch of the
Nottawasaga River and tributary steams,
and to determine associated impacts to
fisheries habitat productivity.
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃1 0 5
The availability of recent fish
community data, collected as part of a
2000/2001 joint DFO/NVCA municipal drain
classification project, was a significant
resource which supported the development
of the habitat zone framework. An
assessment/monitoring recommendation
identified during the development of this
plan is to continue to implement
exploratory fish sampling projects
throughout the NVCA area of
jurisdiction and to maintain and
enhance the NVCA’s fish community
database. Emphasize data collections for
large stream reaches where historical data
was not collected due to constraints
associated with the use of backpack
electro-fishing gear.
Given the collapse in the last decade
of the Nottawasaga River walleye
population, there is a need to implement
a comprehensive study designed to identify
factors contributing to the decline and any
management options which could be
applied to promote a recovery of this
important sportfish. Part of this study
should be to identify any changes in the
status of spawning habitats in the Minesing
Wetlands (vegetation types, floodplain
hydrology etc.) which may have contributed
to the decline in the Nottawasaga River
walleye population. The Ontario Ministry of
Natural Resources would act as the lead
agency on any population study, with NVCA
and DFO playing the lead role in habitat
survey work.
1 0 6 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
The potential to increase the
productivity of coldwater fisheries habitats
through restoration work and watershed
stewardship is very high within the NVCA
area of jurisdiction. The development of
better criteria and objectives for restored
coldwater habitats however would support
more effective restoration efforts. A
detailed study should be implemented
to document relationships between
trout/salmon densities and stream
habitat parameters. Recommended
surveys to be completed in support of this
project would include stream temperature
and oxygen data collections, base flow
assessment, documentation of the spatial
distributions of thermal habitats in main
streams and tributaries, evaluations of
riparian vegetation (meadow versus
coniferous versus deciduous forest), fluvial
geomorphology studies etc.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
The stakeholder consultation
process has flagged the need to
develop a trend through time data set
which will provide a basis for
evaluating a long-term improvement or
degradation of fisheries habitats in
the NVCA area of jurisdiction. The
implementation of biomonitoring (stream
invertebrate assessment work) initiated in
1996 by the NVCA, should be extended
and supported as a key opportunity for
monitoring changes in the health of
fisheries habitats over time. Monitoring
MNR’s trout and salmon biomass stations
should also be continued as a second key
strategy for tracking changes in fish
population status. The development of a
long-term fisheries habitat monitoring
strategy including biomonitoring, trout and
salmon biomass assessment, warmwater
predator fish community inventory, species
at risk (e.g. lake sturgeon) monitoring,
stream temperature/oxygen evaluation,
base flow assessment and physical habitat
monitoring (GIS analysis, interpretation of
aerial photography for riparian vegetation
cover, videotaping stream reaches etc.)
should be completed.
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃1 0 7
1 0 8 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
14.0 ┃
R E C O M M E N D AT I O N S
Management Objec tives for Fisheries Habitats
Fisheries habitat management objectives were developed based on the
principle of promoting the protection, enhancement and restoration of coldwater
habitats, wherever the physiographic, soil permeability and groundwater discharge
conditions were suitable for supporting this habitat type. This principle was applied
even where current land use practices represented a partial constraint to the restoration of
coldwater habitat. Alternatively, fisheries habitat management objectives emphasized the
protection, enhancement and restoration of warmwater fisheries habitats, wherever the
local conditions were not suitable for supporting coldwater habitat.
Fisheries habitat management objectives for each management unit (FHMU) were
developed by applying the habitat zone framework and evaluating the locations, extents
and potentials of the habitat zones contained in each FHMU. The following table includes
a detailed list of fisheries habitat management objectives broken down by FHMU. A
summary version of the fisheries habitat management objectives is provided in plan
recommendations 6, 7 and 8 in the executive summary.
Lower Nottawasaga River Reach and Tributaries (FHMU 1)
Manage the lower Nottawasaga River reach (including Jack’s Lake), Marl Lake and
warmwater tributary streams, consistent with the protection, enhancement and
restoration of the warmwater predator fisheries habitat ecosystem (see next
objective for exception) and a major coldwater fish migratory route. The warmwater
ecosystem in the lower Nottawasaga River should be considered as an inland
extension of the warmwater predator fisheries habitat ecosystem in the near shore
portion of Nottawasaga Bay.
Manage the Montgomery Rapids stretch of the lower Nottawasaga River reach
between Klondike Park Road and the Wasaga Beach Sewage Treatment Plant
(know locally as the “Oxbow”) and tributary streams, consistent with the
protection, enhancement and restoration of the coldwater fisheries habitat
complex, while protecting local features which currently provide warmwater
predator fisheries habitat. The coldwater complex includes groundwater discharge
sites, inflows from coldwater tributary streams, local increases in gradient
supporting oxygenated riffles/rapids, and, gravel-bottom spawning areas currently
utilized by coldwater fish species.
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃1 0 9
Manage McIntyre Creek, Lamont Creek, Warrington Creek, Marl Creek and
potentially Franks-Hood Creek, consistent with the protection, enhancement and
restoration of the coldwater fisheries habitats.
Manage Sturgeon Creek and upper Swaley Creek consistent with the protection,
enhancement and restoration of the coolwater fisheries habitats.
Manage the 2nd Line Municipal Drain which currently receives flow diverted from
the Mad River, consistent with the protection, enhancement and restoration of a
warmwater predator fisheries habitat and a potentially significant coldwater fish
migratory route.
Middle Nottawasaga River Reach and Tributaries (FHMU 2)
Manage the middle Nottawasaga River reach and tributary streams consistent
with the protection, enhancement and restoration of the coldwater fisheries
habitat ecosystem, while protecting local features which currently provide
warmwater predator fisheries habitat.
Upper Nottawasaga River Sub-watershed (FHMU 3)
Manage the upper Nottawasaga River and tributary streams consistent
with the protection, enhancement and restoration of the coldwater fisheries
habitat ecosystem.
Willow Creek Sub-watershed (FHMU 4)
Manage Little Lake, Willow Creek and warmwater tributary streams upstream from
St. Vincent Street, consistent with the protection, enhancement and restoration of
the warmwater predator fisheries habitat ecosystem, while protecting/restoring
local coldwater and coolwater fisheries habitats.
Manage Willow Creek, its Matheson Creek tributary and other Willow Creek
tributary streams entering the main branch between St. Vincent Street and the 9th
Line of former Vespra, consistent with the protection, enhancement and
restoration of the coldwater fisheries habitat ecosystem.
1 1 0 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Manage Willow Creek and warmwater tributary streams downstream from the 9th
Line of former Vespra, consistent with the protection, enhancement and
restoration of the warmwater predator fisheries habitat ecosystem which includes
the lower Nottawasaga River reach.
Manage Black Creek and tributary streams (including former tributary streams west
of Simcoe Road 28), consistent with the protection, enhancement and restoration
of coldwater fisheries habitats.
Mad River Sub-watershed (FHMU 5)
Manage the Mad River and tributary streams upstream from Simcoe Road 10 (as
well as Coates Creek and tributary streams upstream from the New Lowell
Reservoir), consistent with the protection, enhancement and restoration of the
coldwater fisheries habitat ecosystems.
Manage the Mad River and tributary streams downstream from Simcoe Road 10 in
the Minesing Wetlands, consistent with the protection, enhancement and
restoration of the warmwater predator fisheries habitat ecosystem which includes
the lower Nottawasaga River reach, and with the protection of the coldwater fish
migratory route.
Manage Coates Creek and tributary streams downstream from the New Lowell
Reservoir, consistent with the protection, enhancement and restoration of the
warmwater predator fisheries habitat ecosystem which includes the lower Mad
River and the lower Nottawasaga River reach.
Pine River Sub-watershed (FHMU 6)
Manage the Pine River and tributary streams consistent with the protection,
enhancement and restoration of the coldwater fisheries habitat ecosystem.
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃1 1 1
Boyne River Sub-watershed (FHMU 7)
Manage the Boyne River and tributary streams, consistent with the protection,
enhancement and restoration of the coldwater fisheries habitat ecosystem which
includes the middle Nottawasaga River reach immediately downstream.
Protect local features which currently provide warmwater predator fisheries
habitats in the main branch of the Boyne River downstream from the
Earl Rowe dam.
Protect local features which currently support warmwater baitfish fisheries habitats
in the main branch of the Boyne River between the 4th and 6th Lines North of
Adjala Tosorontio.
Innisfil Creek Subwatershed (FHMU 8)
Manage the Innisfil Creek and tributary streams consistent with the protection,
enhancement and restoration of the coldwater fisheries habitat ecosystem which
includes the middle Nottawasaga River reach immediately downstream.
Protect local features which currently
provide warmwater predator fisheries
habitats in the main branch of Innisfil
Creek and tributary streams,
downstream from Highway 89.
Protect local features which currently
provide warmwater baitfish fisheries
habitats in Beeton Creek downstream
from the 7th Line New Tecumseth.
1 1 2 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Blue Mountain Watersheds (FHMU 9)
Manage the Pretty River, Silver Creek, Batteaux Creek, Black Ash Creek, Townline
Creek and tributary streams, consistent with the protection, enhancement and
restoration of the coldwater fisheries habitat ecosystems.
Manage smaller intermittent Nottawasaga Bay tributary streams consistent with
the protection, enhancement and restoration of the warmwater predator fisheries
habitat ecosystem provided by Nottawasaga Bay.
Severn Sound Tributary Headwater Area (FHMU 10)
Manage Orr Lake, the Wye River and warmwater tributary streams, consistent with
the protection, enhancement and restoration of the warmwater predator fisheries
habitat ecosystem, while protecting/restoring local coldwater and coolwater
fisheries habitats provided by some tributary streams.
Manage the upper reaches of Hog Creek and tributary streams, consistent with the
protection, enhancement and restoration of the coldwater fisheries habitats
present further downstream in Tay Township.
Manage the Sturgeon River, Coldwater River and tributary streams consistent
with the protection, enhancement and restoration of the coldwater fisheries
habitat ecosystems.
Manage Bass Lake, the North River and warmwater tributary streams, consistent
with the protection, enhancement and restoration of the warmwater predator
fisheries habitat ecosystem, while protecting/restoring local coldwater and
coolwater fisheries habitats provided by some Bass Lake tributary streams.
Nottawasaga Bay Shoreline (FHMU 11)
Manage the Nottawasaga Bay shoreline and connecting tributary mouths,
consistent with the protection, enhancement and restoration of the overlapping
warmwater predator fisheries habitat and coldwater fisheries habitat ecosystems.
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃1 1 3
15.0 ┃
REFERENCES
1. Nottawasaga River Watershed - Department of Lands and Forests Survey 1961-1962.
2. A Simple Method to Determine the Thermal Stability of Southern Ontario Trout
Streams, Stoneman, C.L. and M.L. Jones. 1996.
3. The Baitfish Primer – Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Bait Association of Ontario.
4. A Class Authorization System for the Maintenance of
Agricultural Municipal Drains in Ontario.
5. A Protocol Detailing the Fish Habitat Referrals Process in Ontario, August 2000.
6. Fish Habitat Compliance Protocol, 2004 Interim Measures.
7. Fish Habitat Management Plan, Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority, April 2001.
8. Grand River Fisheries Management Plan, Grand River Conservation Authority, Ontario
Ministry of Natural Resources, September 1998.
9. Chapman, L.J. and D.F. Putnam. 1984. The Physiography of Southern Ontario, Third
Edition. Toronto. Ministry of Natural Resources.
10. Nottawasaga Valley Watershed Management Plan, 1996 - 2015, Nottawasaga Valley
Conservation Authority, January 1996.
11. Watershed Plan Strategic Review and Update, 1996 – 2015, Nottawasaga Valley
Conservation Authority, November 24, 2006.
1 1 4 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
88.8 ┃
APPENDIX 1
Glossary
Aquatic – associated with water.
Base Flow – lowest stream discharge of the year, typically occurring in July, August or
September following an extended period without precipitation.
Berm – an artificial ridge constructed to alter the flow of water on the landscape.
Fisheries Habitat – physical, chemical and biological components of an aquatic
ecosystem that are critical for supporting the productivity of fish
populations.
Fisheries Habitat Management Unit – a sub-watershed, grouping of small watersheds
or large river reach within a broader area of
jurisdiction.
Fisheries Habitat Zone – an area of land encompassing fisheries habitats exhibiting
similar current habitat types, potential restored habitat types
and management issues.
Fluvial Geomorphologist – an expert in river forms and processes.
Groin – an artificial structure orientated at a 90 degree angle to a shoreline, intended to
reduce wave action and shoreline erosion.
Hydroseeding – the application of grass seed via a liquid medium sprayed on a disturbed
slope.
Hypolimnion – deep relatively cold bottom layer of lake water which does not readily mix
with surface waters during the summer months.
Pool – a deep relatively flat stream habitat.
Riffle – a shallow stream habitat exhibiting a rapid change in elevation.
Riparian – adjective applied to features located adjacent to the banks of streams
and the shores of lakes.
Turbid – adjective describing water that has a murky colour and low clarity.
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃1 1 5
88.8 ┃
APPENDIX 2
Watercourses in the
NVCA Area of Jurisdiction
See folded map in back of report.
88.8 ┃
APPENDIX 3
Coldwater and Coolwater Fisheries Habitats
in the NVCA Area of Jurisdiction
See folded map in back of report.
88.8 ┃
APPENDIX 4
Biologic al Conditions of Streams
Nott aw asag a River Watershed
D e p a r t m e n t o f L a n d s & Fo r e s t s S u r v e y
1 9 6 1-1 9 6 2
See folded map in back of report.
1 1 6 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
88.8 ┃
APPENDIX 5
Fish Species Identified within
the NVCA Area of Jurisdiction
SPECIES
SCIENTIFIC NAME
Confirmed Fish Species
Brook Trout
Rainbow Trout+
Brown Trout+
Lake Trout
Chinook Salmon+
Pink Salmon+
Coho Salmon+
Atlantic Salmon*
Lake Whitefish
Mottled Sculpin
Slimy Sculpin
Burbot
Northern Pike
Walleye
Yellow Perch
Log Perch
Johnny Darter
Rainbow Darter
Iowa Darter
Smallmouth Bass
Largemouth Bass
Rock Bass
Black Crappie
Pumpkinseed
Lake Sturgeon
Bowfin
Longnose Gar
Channel Catfish
Brown Bullhead
White Sucker
Longnose Sucker
Shorthead Redhorse
Golden Redhorse
Common Carp+
Creek Chub
River Chub
Northern Pearl Dace
Longnose Dace
Blacknose Dace
Northern Redbelly Dace
Fathead Minnow
Bluntnose Minnow
Brassy Minnow
(52)
Salvelinus fontinalis
Oncorhynchus mykiss
Salmo trutta
Salvelinus namaycush
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Oncorhynchus gorbuscha
Oncorhynchus kisutch
Salmo salar
Coregonus clupeaformis
Cottus bairdii
Cottus cognatus
Lota lota
Esox lucius
Sander vitreus
Perca flavescens
Percina caprodes
Etheostoma nigrum
Etheostoma caeruleum
Etheostoma exile
Micropterus dolomieu
Micropterus salmoides
Ambloplites rupestris
Pomoxis nigromaculatus
Lepomis gibbosus
Acipenser fulvescens
Amia calva
Lepisosteus osseus
Ictalurus punctatus
Ameiurus nebulosus
Catostomus commersonii
Catostomus catostomus
Moxostoma macrolepidotum
Moxostoma erythrurum
Cyprinus carpio
Semotilus atromaculatus
Nocomis micropogon
Margariscus nachtriebi
Rhinichthys cataractae
Rhinichthys obtusus
Phoxinus eos
Pimephales promelas
Pimephales notatus
Hybognathus hankinsoni
This list does not include
all species found
in Georgian Bay.
+ non-native
and naturalized
* non-native
and not naturalized
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃1 1 7
Common Shiner
Rosyface Shiner
Mimic Shiner
Golden Shiner
Central Mudminnow
Brook Stickleback
Trout-perch
Sea Lamprey+
American Brook Lamprey
Central Stoneroller
Notropis cornutus
Notropis rubellus
Notropis volucellus
Notemigonus crysoleucas
Umbra limi
Culaea inconstans
Percopsis omiscomaycus
Petromyzon marinus
Lampetra appendix
Campostoma anomalum
Probable Fish Species (9)
Muskellunge
Esox masquinongy
Round Whitefish
Prosopium cylindraceum
Alewife+
Alosa pseudoharengus
Rainbow Smelt+
Osmerus mordax
Gizzard Shad
Dorosoma cepedianum
White Bass
Morone chrysops
Goldfish+
Carassius auratus
Emerald Shiner
Notropis atherinoides
Round Goby+
Neogobius melanostomus
Possible Fish Species (14)
Northern Hog Sucker
Hypentelium nigricans
Finescale Dace
Chrosomus neogaeus
Hornyhead Chub
Nocomis biguttatus
Spottail Shiner
Notropis hudsonius
Freshwater Drum
Aplodinotus grunniens
Threespine Stickleback
Gasterosteus aculeatus
Silver Redhorse
Moxostoma anisurum
Greater Redhorse
Moxostoma valenciennesi
Quillback
Carpiodes cyprinus
American Eel*
Anguilla rostrata
Blacknose Shiner
Notropis heterolepis
Blackchin Shiner
Notropis heterodon
Redside Dace
Clinostomus elongates
Silver Lamprey
Ichthyomyzon unicuspis
1 1 8 ┃Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
+ non-native
and naturalized
* non-native
and not naturalized
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
88.8 ┃
APPENDIX 6
Fisheries Habit at Zone Framework
See folded map in back of report.
Fisheries Habitat Management Plan┃1 1 9