Lake Erie North Shore Watershed Plan - Niagara Peninsula ...

LAKE ERIE NORTH SHORE WATERSHED PLAN
6. Regional Road 3 (LBTa-2): This section of watercourse is managed as a municipal drain; Little Marsh
Drain. It has been channelized and lacks any depositional features along the bed which indicate little flow
diversity within the channel. Relatively deep unconsolidated sediment is deposited along the channel bed. An
odour was emitted from the sediment when it was disturbed which could be caused by decaying vegetation.
Few to no pools exist along the bed but there is stagnant water present throughout the field site. A number of
small tributaries and possibly rills/gullies exist along the watercourse. A full reforestation project has been
completed on this property in partnership with the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (completed in
2008). Projects to prevent and limit further development of rills adjacent to the watercourse should be
implemented. Some examples include grassed waterways, chute spillways, tile drainage outlets, and proper
tillage and cropping practises (OMAFRA, 1997a, and OMAFRA, 1997b). Monitoring the accumulation of
sediment along the channel bed can be done by the use of sediment traps throughout the watercourse. All
recommendations should be discussed with the Drainage Superintendent.
7. Townline Road (LBTa-3): This section of watercourse is managed as a municipal drain; Little Marsh
Drain. It has been channelized and lacks any depositional features along the stream bed which indicate little flow
diversity within the channel. There are few to no pools along the streambed. A number of small tributaries and
possibly rills/gullies exist along the watercourse. Measurements taken at channel cross sections would indicate
that the watercourse at this field site has moderate and minor entrenchment which results in flood waters having
limited to no access to the floodplain. Therefore, the energy within the flow is contained in the channel.
Recommendations for this site include not grading the channel banks too steep during the dredging process so
that deep rooted vegetation can become established along the banks and stabilize the soil. Projects to prevent
and limit further development of rills adjacent to the watercourse should be implemented. Some examples
include grassed waterways, chute spillways, tile drainage outlets, and proper tillage and cropping practices
(OMAFRA, 1997a, and OMAFRA, 1997b). Alternatives to traditional drainage design, such as wetland creation,
floodplain development, and increasing channel curvature should also be considered. All recommendations
should be discussed with the Drainage Superintendent.
8. Hutchinson Road (LBTb): This section of the watercourse has been channelized and lacks any
depositional features along the stream bed which indicate little flow diversity within the channel. The
watercourse along this field site is not managed as a municipal drain. The small buffer zone along the right
bank, as well as the lack of large trees impact cover and habitat along this channel. Some bank instability is
present adjacent to the garage in the form of bare soil extending up the bank. There may also be some
slumping occurring as well. Measurements taken at channel cross sections would indicate that the watercourse
at this field site is moderately entrenched which results in flood waters having limited to no access to the
floodplain. Therefore, the energy within the flow is contained in the channel. Recommendations for this site
include not grading the channel banks too steep during the dredging process so that deep rooted vegetation can
become established along the banks and stabilize the soil. The presence of bank slumping usually indicates
that vegetative roots are too shallow to stabilize the bank. Proper bank protection measures should be
implemented along the right bank to ensure adequate stabilization of the bank adjacent to the garage.
Increasing the variety and diversity of native plant species within the buffer zone will provide cover and habitat
for fish, insects, and invertebrate along the watercourse.
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