Great Lakes Sustainability Fund Habitat Rehabilitation Program - What Have We Learned?
The Great Lakes Sustainability Fund (GLSF) is a component of the Great Lakes Program's 2020 Action Plan and is administered by Environment Canada on behalf of 8 federal government departments. GLSF provides financial support to projects that implement remedial actions to complete the cleanup and restoration of designated Areas of Concern (AOCs) in the Great Lakes Basin.
GLSF, and its predecessor program (Cleanup Fund) have provided funding and technical support for the restoration of fish and wildlife habitat and the remediation of agricultural non-point source (NPS) pollution since 1991. Overall lessons learned from the GLSF experience are outlined in a fact sheet entitled, Reasons for Success - What Have We Learned in Ten Years? Habitat Rehabilitation and Agricultural NPS Programs (1991-2001).
Consistent with the aquatic focus of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement habitat work focused primarily on the aquatic ecosystem, with less effort being placed on work in upland areas. Coastal habitat projects, including marsh restoration and underwater fish habitat in river mouths and shallow waters, were the most common of GLSF habitat implementation projects.
| GLSF supported 197 habitat restoration projects: 113 were "on the ground" restoration projects and 84 focused on strategy development, habitat protection, etc. GLSF supported $21.3 million towards the $70.1 million that was spent on these projects. |
Highlights and lessons learned from these projects are outlined in this fact sheet, organized by restoration types and approaches:
- Coastal Habitat
- Stream and Large River Restoration
- Riparian and Upland Plantings
- Colonial Waterbirds
- Wetland Restoration
- Targeting Remedial Work and Measuring Progress
The fact sheet closes by noting emerging techniques and issues in GLSF's habitat restoration program. Note that a companion fact sheet entitled, GLSF Non-Point Source Pollution Prevention Program - What Have We Learned? describes GLSF's agricultural non-point source remediation program.
Coastal Habitat -
Re-creating Underwater Fish Habitat in Toronto Harbour
| In the Toronto and Region AOC, the harbour was once a haven for many species of Lake Ontario fish, but with development of the shoreline and filling in of wetlands, most fish habitat has been lost. |  |
Beginning in 1992, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority implemented a number of pilot projects to create underwater fish habitat in waterfront embayment parks and at Toronto Island. Lessons learned from these projects led to the innovative creation of underwater cribwall habitat structures that mimic natural reefs in three embayments off Tommy Thompson Park, a human-made spit of land, stretching into Lake Ontario. In 2002, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada conducted a statistical analysis of Toronto waterfront electrofishing data. To date, fish habitat enhancement in Tommy Thompson Park appears to have been successful for the target species, northern pike, but not as successful as anticipated in diversifying the fish community as a whole. Total amount of fish, average size and weight of fish and northern pike abundance were significantly advanced by the habitat enhancement efforts. As the habitat improvements in Tommy Thompson Park are relatively recent and still ongoing, it is possible that changes in community structure will still be realized.
For more information, please contact the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority at (416) 661-6600 or via e-mail at info@trca.on.ca. Similar projects have been undertaken in other AOCs such as Harbourfront Park project in Hamilton Harbour, and the Goose Bay, St. Rose Beach and Riverfront Waterfront Park Shoreline Stabilization and Habitat Enhancement Projects in the Detroit River.
Stream and Large River Restoration -
Creating Calm Areas to Protect Young Fish in the Fast-Flowing St. Lawrence River
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In 1992, the Raisin Region Conservation Authority and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) identified 18 possible locations for aquatic habitat improvements along eight km of shoreline in the St. Lawrence River AOC. Eight of these sites proposed the installation of reef structures to provide structural habitat diversity. Concepts at other sites included the construction of embayments and installation of submerged rock clusters. |
Sixteen of the original projects (two proved to be unviable locations) have been completed plus several additional sites resulting in over seven km of new riparian habitat, including rock shoals, coves and reefs to provide young of the year and juvenile fish with calm refuge habitat in the high energy St. Lawrence River environment. Additional sites in the eastern portion of the AOC are being investigated for reef installation.
Fish community data was collected at various points, both pre-construction and post-construction of the eight reef structures, using an electrofishing boat. Sites were sampled during both the night and the day. In addition, three control sites were sampled within this reach of the St. Lawrence River at the City of Cornwall. Preliminary monitoring results suggest that the number of fish found in the littoral zone has increased from two to eight times over per-construction conditions. The number of different species of fish present has also increased, with walleye, largemouth bass, and northern pike appearing for the first time in the new habitats. Yellow perch populations (an economically important species in the region) have increased (i.e., from four to 54 individuals caught in reef site 3). However, there has been little species composition change in the control sites (existing habitat), therefore additional analysis is required to fully understand dynamics of the St. Lawrence River fish population.
| For more information, please contact the Raisin Region Conservation Authority at (613) 938-3611 or via email at info@rrca.on.ca. Similar projects have been undertaken in other AOCs such as the East Bayshore Park and Trent River Shoreline projects in the Bay of Quinte, and the Akwasasne Islands project also in the St. Lawrence River. Projects such as the Black Ash Creek stream bioengineering project in Collingwood Harbour and the East Humber River stream restoration project in Toronto provide good examples of stream restoration methods. |  |
Riparian and Upland Plantings -
To Plant or Not to Plant: Experience from the Hamilton Harbour Watershed
The Hamilton Halton Watershed Stewardship Program is a joint initiative of the Hamilton Conservation Authority and Conservation Halton to protect and restore fish and wildlife habitat by working with private landowners throughout the harbour watershed. Since 1994, over 190 private landowners have become involved in various rehabilitation projects on their properties resulting in over 11 km of riparian and almost 44 ha of upland and wetland habitat restoration. Thirty thousand tree and shrub seedlings and 11,300 herbaceous plants were installed on 67 sites by the end of 2000.
Through a monitoring program using photographs of the natural regeneration zone and surrounding landscape, and counting the number of living specimens of planted material, it was found that on upland sites, natural succession (ecosystem development) is just as likely, or more so, to improve future habitat than planting, given close proximity to a natural seed source. Therefore, it may not be worth the investment in labour and funding to plant upland sites. However, many riparian sites responded well to planting. One reason may be that many riparian sites remain moist throughout the growing season. Green ash, silver maple, eastern white cedar, nannyberry, red osier dogwood and black ash had the highest survival rates in riparian areas.
Tending, watering and adjusting tree shelters over seedlings are significant factors affecting seedling survival rates, particularly during the first growing season. Plantings should only be considered where the landowner is committed to undertaking this kind of maintenance. It is very difficult for seedlings to compete with reed canary grass without the use of tree shelters for the first five years or until planted material is taller than the surrounding vegetation .
For more information, please contact the Hamilton-Halton Watershed Stewardship Program at (905) 648-4427 or via email at info@conservationhamilton.on.ca. Similar projects have been undertaken in other AOCs such as the Tributary Restoration project in Severn Sound and numerous planting projects in the Toronto and Region AOC.
Colonial Waterbirds -
Creating Island Habitat for Birds and Fish in Hamilton Harbour
| During the 1990s and earlier, colonial waterbirds nested along Hamilton Harbour's East Port area, where they were vulnerable to predators such as raccoon and fox. To encourage the birds to move to safer habitat, three islands were created in the north-east corner of the harbour. Three beaches and two headlands along 400 m of naturalized shore provide vegetation and habitat for wading birds. |  |
The three islands and a chain of underwater shoals create quiet lagoon areas for fish spawning and nursery habitat. Mudflats exposed in the fall attract migratory shorebirds. Overall, the project incorporates 18.4 ha of fish habitat, 6 ha of wildlife habitat, 2.3 km of littoral edge, 630 m of shoreline revegetation, nine emergent shoals of 225 m, three spawning reefs totaling 2900 m2, 78 fish habitat modules, 590 m of new island shoreline edge habitat, and a cobble beach along shoreline, changing to a coarse sand beach and shoals.
In 2002, six species of colonial nesting birds were observed using the islands: 412 pairs common tern, 426 pairs Caspian terns, 25 pairs of double-crested cormorants, 77 pairs of herring gulls, 4,070 pairs of ring-billed gulls, and 9 pairs of black-crowned night herons. The aquatic plant community has increased from zero plants to at least 50 percent vegetated cover. The fish community has responded to this restoration project with diversity increasing from six to 16 species.
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For more information, please contact the Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan Coordinator at (905) 336-6465. Similar projects have been undertaken in other AOCs such as the Black Tern Nesting Raft projects in the Bay of Quinte, Toronto, and elsewhere in Hamilton Harbour, and the Common Tern Nesting Raft project in Toronto. |
Wetland Restoration -
Using Fencing and Enclosures to Encourage Aquatic Plant Growth in the Rouge River Estuary
| Beginning in 1995, the OMNR in partnership with Ontario Streams prepared a restoration plan for coastal wetlands along the Toronto waterfront. High turbidity at the mouth of the Rouge River in east Toronto, caused in part by carp, Canada geese, and abundance of the invasive exotic purple loosestrife, inhibits the re-growth of native aquatic vegetation. To address the high turbidity, a number of techniques were utilized with success. |  |
Nine Canada geese and carp barriers were installed in March 1999 using an experimental design. The barriers were 2m x 2m in size with 2m between plots several were planted with native plants and others only had the soil turned to expose the seedbed. Statistical analysis showed that planting yielded a much higher production of biomass when grazing by Canada Geese was eliminated, and that there was significantly higher species diversity in the first year of growth when grazing was eliminated. There was a significantly lower abundance of purple loosestrife in the first year of growth when grazing was eliminated with the area being planted. Turbidity levels dropped, especially near the restored shoreline, and are approaching the desired value for submergent plant growth. Chemical measurements suggest an increased rate of photosynthesis allowing for aquatic plant growth in the clearer water found in carp exclosures.
For more information, please contact Ontario Streams at (905) 713-7399. Similar projects have been undertaken in other AOCs such as the Cootes Paradise Marsh Restoration project in Hamilton Harbour, and the McKellar River Lagoon project in Thunder Bay.
Targeting Remedial Work, Measuring Progress, and Linking to Habitat Protection Through Municipal Land Use Planning
In the development of fish and wildlife habitat restoration and enhancement projects, planners need to know what quantity and type of habitat is sufficient for fish and wildlife. In response to this need, Environment Canada's Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS), and the Ontario Ministries of the Environment and Natural Resources, through GLSF funding, developed the Framework for Guiding Habitat Rehabilitation in Great Lakes Areas of Concern in 1998 (hereafter referred to as the Habitat Framework). The Habitat Framework is a set of guidelines, similar to a predictive model, based on scientific literature and field studies on the amount of habitat required to provide for the ecological needs of fish and wildlife in three types of habitat: wetlands, riparian areas and forested areas. The Habitat Framework approach has been used to guide habitat restoration work, to set targets for desired habitat in nine of the 17 Canadian AOCs, and by some Conservation Authorities working on subwatershed plans both within and outside AOCs.
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Through financial support from GLSF, geographic information system (GIS) mapping of current habitat conditions is undertaken to compare against preferred Habitat Framework target conditions, and the resulting maps used to pinpoint "best bet" restoration opportunities in a number of AOCs. In the Bay of Quinte AOC, over 30 hectares of reforestation has occurred based on Habitat Framework guidelines, resulting in more forest interior habitat and larger forest patches. The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority has adopted the Habitat Framework approach in all six of its subwatersheds, and is taking the approach even further in its Terrestrial Natural Heritage Program, currently being adopted by the City of Toronto. This approach uses a computer model to generate habitat restoration and land-use scenarios to evaluate the best possible habitat protection/restoration/development strategy. The City of Hamilton is also applying this approach in the preparation of its new Official Plan.
The Great Lakes Sustainability Fund and CWS are promoting the use of the Habitat Framework in municipal land use planning applications. For example, in a municipality currently with 12 percent forest cover there could be a preamble to the natural heritage section of the official plan that incorporates the Habitat Framework guidelines, possibly suggesting an interim local target of 20 percent forest cover, to be achieved through both protection and restoration policies. This could serve to reinforce the concept of no additional loss of habitat, as well as promoting habitat restoration in strategic areas of the landscape (i.e., reforesting gaps in interior forests, re-vegetating riparian areas). In keeping with current official plan practices of including maps of natural features, a schedule could be provided that outlines a desired future natural heritage system with identified restoration locations.
(The scientific basis for the Habitat Framework has been reviewed and a new version of the document was made available in fall of 2004.)
Conclusion
A number of important ecological restoration considerations have been observed within GLSF's experience.
The use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing technologies has aided project proponents in becoming more strategic in the planning of their restoration projects. Prior to the use of these technologies many projects were opportunity-driven or best guesses at picking the best locations for restoration projects. Today, most project proponents can make a strong case to explain why their project is situated where it is geographically, and how it contributes to overall restoration of the AOC.
| It has been noted that habitat protection is just as critical to maintaining healthy ecosystems as habitat restoration. Through the application of the Habitat Framework, restoration personnel in many AOCs are now working closely with municipal planning staff to both restore natural heritage systems and protect fish and wildlife habitat. |  |
While more pristine habitats are often healthy enough to withstand some perturbations such as the presence of small carp populations and occasional water quality problems, an emerging understanding suggests that degraded ecosystem conditions present in AOCs require a rigorous restoration approach. In order to restore AOC habitats that are not healthy enough to withstand degraded water quality and other concerns, more work may be needed to achieve ambitious short term objectives in order to achieve long-term restoration goals. For example, in Hamilton Harbour it was necessary to eliminate carp altogether from Cootes Paradise marsh in order to give aquatic plants the head start they required to become established.
GLSF has had the great opportunity to learn many lessons in the area of habitat restoration through its support for nearly 200 habitat restoration projects in Great Lakes AOCs. During the 12 years that GLSF's habitat program has been in place there have been new techniques and principles recognized in this field. In the early 1990's many restoration approaches and techniques were being evaluated and modified in pilot projects. Today, full-scale applications of techniques such as stream bioengineering, natural stream channel design, large-scale marsh restoration, and creation of underwater fish habitat are now common across the Great Lakes.
For details on any of the projects or techniques outlined above, please contact the Great Lakes Sustainability Fund by e-mail at glsf@ec.gc.ca.
