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

LAKE ERIE NORTH SHORE WATERSHED PLAN
the longitudinal profile is steep then there will be a more rapid response on the
hydrograph. Overtime, sediment deposited on the bed may change this profile
and drain maintenance would be required to remove the sediment in order to
have the proper longitudinal profile. Relatively deep, unconsolidated sediment
was identified at various field sites.
5. Vegetation in and along the channel bed will influence how quickly the water
moves through the channel. Some
instream vegetation growth and
debris jams were noted at field sites,
but this variable will depend on drain
maintenance schedules.
The majority of the field sites visited during
the summer 2008 had some water present
in the channel but they were classified as
having low to no flow. Algae and turbid
water were identified at numerous sites
during that time period as well (Van Riezen
2010).
Water Quality
NPCA Water Quality Monitoring Program
The Ontario Ministry of Environment (MOE) has established a set of Provincial Water
Quality Objectives (PWQO) that are intended to be used to guide respective agencies
when making water quality management decisions. The surface water quality
management goal is “To ensure that the surface waters of the province are of a quality
which is satisfactory for aquatic life and recreation” [MOE 1994 (Section 3.1)]. Table 7
summarizes indicator parameters that are the most useful in assessing relative stream
water quality. They include: total phosphorus, nitrate, copper, lead, zinc, Escherichia
coli, chloride, suspended solids and benthic invertebrates (NPCA 2010). These
parameters are useful indicators but other non-chemical factors such as for example,
loss of habitat, sedimentation, and indigenous species must also be considered when
assessing ecosystem health.
In the Lake Erie North Shore study area, the NPCA monitors surface water quality at
seven stations along the north shore of Lake Erie through the collection of monthly grab
samples (Figures 16a and 16b). All stations are located at the watershed outlets to
capture the cumulative water quality impacts for their respective drainage areas, except
for the station located at the Wainfleet Wetlands Conservation Area; this is a large
abandoned quarry owned by the NPCA. Sampling was initiated in April of 2007 and
samples are collected on a monthly basis during the ice-free season and analyzed for
several parameters including nutrients, metals, bacteria, suspended solids, and general
chemistry.
The Water Quality Index (WQI) is used by the NPCA to summarize water quality data
collected from NPCA surface water quality monitoring stations for reporting and
communication purposes. The WQI was developed by a sub-committee established
under the Canadian Council for Ministers of the Environment (CCME) Water Quality
Guidelines Task Group to provide a convenient means of summarizing complex water
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