Canada’s RAP Progress Report 2003

Niagara River

The Niagara River flows 60 kilometres from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. Downstream from Niagara Falls the river flows for a 15 kilometre stretch through a 100 metres deep and 1 kilometre wide gorge. The binational AOC extends the entire length of the Niagara River and includes the Welland River drainage basin on the Canadian side. The Niagara River passes through heavily industrialized areas, residential and parkland interspersed with remnant natural areas, and drains extensive farmland on the Canadian side. More than half of the flow of the river is diverted for electric power generation on both sides of the river. The gorge and cliff face are habitat for some of the highest concentrations of rare plant species in Ontario. The Niagara River annually supports one of the largest and most diverse concentrations of gulls in the world.

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

Much of the impact to the river is from the U.S. side, specifically from past industrial management practices. Efforts on the US side are addressing the seepage of toxic waste from chemical dumps. Over 200 hazardous wastes sites have been identified including 33 major sources of toxic contamination to the river. Nine municipalities in New York State discharge municipal wastes to the river. The Niagara River Toxics Management Plan (NRTMP) is the mechanism used by the two countries to address toxic loadings.

Most of the environmental issues on the Canadian side of the river are associated with non-point sources within the rural watersheds of the Niagara-Welland basin. Pesticide use, nutrient runoff, wetland and habitat loss, riparian zone impacts and the health of fisheries all remain concerns. The Niagara-Welland basin contributes less than 0.1 percent of the total flow of the river.

There are eight impaired beneficial uses in the Canadian portion of the AOC (Table 1). These include restrictions on fish consumption, degradation of fish populations, bird or animal deformities, bird or animal reproductive problems, degradation of benthos, restrictions on dredging activities, eutrophication, beach closings, and loss of fish and wildlife habitat. The status of the following four impairments is not fully known: restrictions on wildlife consumption, degradation of wildlife populations, fish tumours and deformities, degradation of phyto/zooplankton populations.

RAP STATUS

Canada and the United States have agreed to develop Remedial Action Plans independently for the Niagara River within a broader context of intergovernmental cooperation. Joint participation includes the Niagara River Toxics Management Plan (NRTMP), Important Bird Area program and the International Board of Control under the Niagara River Treaty. The Canadian RAP was initiated in 1989.

The NRTMP was established in 1987 and specifically targets 18 priority toxics for reduction. Monitoring results show that there have been statistically significant reductions in the concentrations in the river for most of these 18 substances. In many cases reductions have been more than 50 percent. The results of monitoring Ontario point sources for ten years between 1986 and 1995 show loading reduction estimates of 99 percent for the 18 chemicals of concern.

Environment Canada and MOE are the agencies responsible for the delivery of the Canadian RAP. To facilitate RAP implementation an agreement was signed in 1999 with the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA) to assume responsibility for coordinating the continued development and implementation of the RAP. The NPCA with public input developed an Implementation Annex that provides a practical strategy for local implementation.

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT

In 1995, following consultation with the Public Advisory Committee (PAC) and public review, a set of 36 recommendations was officially adopted for the RAP to restore the desired beneficial uses and achieve environmental goals. The Niagara Restoration Council (formerly known as the PAC) continues to play a role as the RAP moves into the implementation phase. The council now focuses on specific projects within the AOC, including the naturalization of Baden Powell Park, Grassybrook Creek Watershed Regeneration Project and fundraising activities. The Conservation Authority also plays a role encouraging community involvement and monitoring progress towards restoring the beneficial uses in the Niagara River AOC.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Since 1990, the GLSF has provided $3.9M towards 24 restoration projects in the AOC. More than 41 partnerships have been created with $12.8M in direct partner funding, $2.3M through in-kind contribution and personnel participation valued at $234K.

CITY OF NIAGARA FALLS

To reduce stormwater flows, 4300 urban homeowners in Niagara Falls were asked to disconnect their roof downspouts. A survey by the City, followed by an intensive public education campaign gained an 85 percent response rate and was more effective than using a non-voluntary legislative approach. The City continues to actively promote water conservation through a newly developed corporate water conservation strategy. Ongoing homeowner projects include a rain barrel subsidy and a weeping tile disconnection program (each $100K annually). Through technology demonstrations, the City of Niagara Falls was able to identify a significant savings for innovative High Rate Treatment of combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and is now proceeding with full scale implementation. Another large scale initiative is an ongoing program ($2M annually) to separate domestic and storm sewers to reduce combined sewer overflow events.

WELLAND RIVER WATERSHED STRATEGY

Under the Welland River Strategy a rural watershed heritage strategy is being implemented. Actions have included the planting of more than 96 000 trees, rehabilitation of 10.5 hectares of wetland habitat, the installation of over 18 kilometres of fencing to protect riparian habitat adjacent to watercourses and the reduction of phosphorus entering local watercourses by more than 1 500 kilograms per year. In 1995, approximately 10 000 cubic metres of contaminated sediments were remediated in a section of the Welland River adjacent to Atlas Specialty Steels. Biological sampling since the sediments were remediated indicates that this section of the river is recovering as anticipated.

The NPCA has been actively involved with local landowners since 1994 to improve water quality in streams. Each year the NPCA strives to increase forest cover by 100 acres, establish five additional kilometres of riparian buffer strips and restore five acres of wetlands. At present nearly 15 percent of the Welland River watershed is forest cover and eight percent of the area is wetland. By 2002, 135 projects were completed with a total cost of $2.9M including in-kind contributions from local landowners valued at $1.1M. Activities to date have increased forest cover on 90 hectares of land, restored 21 kilometres of riparian habitat and seven hectares of wetlands. Nutrient and bacterial loadings have been reduced through livestock fencing and manure storage projects.

REMOVAL OF NIAGARA RIVER WATERSHED FISH BARRIERS

The Niagara Restoration Council is undertaking a project to remove all barriers to fish passage in the watersheds within the Niagara AOC. In 2001, all barriers to fish passage were identified, mapped and classified by type and size. Removal of these barriers began in 2002 and it is anticipated that the majority of barriers will be removed or mitigated by 2005, thus making hundreds of kilometres of upstream fish habitat available to spawning fish. A public outreach campaign is being conducted in conjunction with this work to educate the public about the effects of these barriers and encourage voluntary removal of existing privately owned barriers.

FUTURE ACTIVITIES

RAP IMPLEMENTATION ANNEX

The development of the Implementation Annex is a concrete step in moving towards restoring impaired beneficial uses in the AOC. A major strength of the Annex is in the use of established partnerships that will enable integration of the RAP with activities of the NPCA, the NRTMP, and the two senior levels of government. A strategic implementation workplan has been developed to:

• address toxic contaminant discharges;
• improve sediment quality and benthic health;
• reduce nutrient and bacterial loadings;
• protect and restore fish and wildlife habitat;
• reduce agricultural non-point sources;
• improve groundwater quality;
• sustain the recreation amenities of the area, and
• extend education and outreach.

Total estimated costs of proposed partnerships exceed $6M.

The NPCA is taking a lead role for implementation in a number of the areas. Through a grant program, the NPCA will provide incentives to local landowners within the Niagara-Welland basin in order to foster best management practices for agriculture, create habitat and protect ecologically sensitive land. To assess overall progress, the NPCA will develop and administer a tributary water quality monitoring program. Government partners will continue the Niagara River point source monitoring program. The City of Welland will undertake to remove sediments in the Old Welland Canal siphons. Ontario Power Generation will assess impacts of its water fluctuations and review options to implement solutions in the Welland River.

Potential projects for the future are development of CSO control strategies throughout the Region, a study to identify options to upgrade the Welland STP and a program to assist rural landowners with upgrading failing septic systems.

IMPORTANT BIRD AREA DESIGNATION

The Niagara River corridor was named as a binationally Important Bird Area (IBA) in 1996. As much as 20 percent of the global population of gulls use the corridor over the fall and winter months. The large populations of gulls that use the river will face increasing pressures from urbanization. A conservation plan for this IBA is being developed through a coalition of interested groups. Important considerations in the plan are the retention of habitat and land use planning.

OUTSTANDING ISSUES

Based on the contaminated sediments sites identified in the Stage 2 Niagara River RAP report, the NPCA has submitted a management proposal for all known sites. Recently government agencies have assessed Lyon’s Creek for PCB contamination of sediments to accurately pinpoint locations and to assess the quality of the sediments to determine if remediation is warranted. Pending the results, agencies will develop recommendations for remediation.

Full implementation of remedial actions in the Niagara River AOC will require many years and is contingent on federal, provincial and/or municipal funding availability and in some cases private sector involvement. Environment Canada is working to complete federal actions by 2007. Participation of the conservation authority and other local partners is expected to continue beyond that date.

A current large scale initiative for Niagara Region and the City is the Niagara Falls-Muddy Run CSO treatment facility. Muddy Run is the largest volume CSO in the Niagara Region. Other smaller CSOs in the Region will be addressed, as resources are available. Total project costs including the High Rate Treatment (vortex technology), construction of a pumping station, and property acquisition are estimated at $13M. The CSO project at Muddy Run is in the design phase and the City of Niagara Falls is seeking funding. The project is expected to be completed within five years.

The City of Welland has begun to address its wet weather flow bypass problem. In cooperation with the Regional Municipality of Niagara, the City is undertaking a study to investigate high-rate treatment options for combined sewer overflow and determine the most suitable technology for treating CSOs within the City of Welland. The knowledge gained from this work will also be used in the development of a Combined Sewer Overflow Treatment Manual that can be used by other AOC municipalities to address their CSO problems. CSO characterization and the initial phases of the Environmental Assessment process have been completed, however the municipality will need to raise $13M for construction of a new facility.

U.S. ACTIVITIES

Activities to clean up seeping hazardous wastes have led to a reduction in contaminant levels in Niagara River water approaching 60 percent. The work to construct isolation barriers has now been completed at 16 of 26 sites identified for remediation. The barriers effectively isolate the sites preventing further migration of toxic contaminants to the river. The effort has cost over US $380M with most of this paid for by the companies responsible, with the remainder funded by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and the U.S. EPA. Improvement to the remaining ten sites are estimated to be US $250 M and will be addressed by 2003. Although contaminant levels in Niagara River fish are lower, sportfish consumption advisories continue to be issued. Considerable quantities of contaminants remain in the sediments and these will continue to be available to the food chain.

DELISTING OUTLOOK FOR THE CANADIAN SIDE

The process to refine delisting criteria and set more specific targets on the Canadian side is now underway and will be conducted with public input. Monitoring information will be required to support decisions regarding the delisting targets.

The extensive loss of fish and wildlife habitat in the AOC is being addressed by the NPCA and the Niagara Restoration Council. Habitat restoration is ongoing and significant progress has been made towards meeting delisting criteria. Following the completion of recommended projects, time will still be required for the natural environment to recover.

Remediation of CSO discharges is essential to complete RAP implementation and several large infrastructure needs have been identified. Infrastructure costs are estimated at $26M for high rate treatment of combined sewer overflows for the cities of Niagara Falls and Welland. A full-scale demonstration project is underway for Niagara Falls with funding from the Provincial Water Protection Fund. These projects are long term and will require significant investment from the community and all levels of government.

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