Upper Welland River Watershed Plan - Niagara Peninsula ...

UPPER WELLAND RIVER WATERSHED PLANBuckhorn Creek SubwatershedTable 15: Buckhorn Creek Subwatershed CharacteristicsAttribute Description CommentsArea 24.3 km 2Land Use Agriculture Hamlet of BlackheathMunicipal Water and SewerServicesAquatic ResourcesLength of Watercourse 75.4km Outlets to Welland RiverFish Habitat Not evaluated The watercourses within Haldimand County have not been evaluated interms of importance for fish habitatMunicipal DrainsWater QualityGroundwater VulnerabilityN/A2 Stations:Station:BU000Water Quality Index: PoorBioMAP Rating: ImpairedStation:BU001Water Quality Index: PoorBioMAP Rating: ImpairedMix of Low and MediumGroundwater Vulnerability withpockets of high vulnerability togroundwater contaminationpresent98Factors affecting water quality include exceedances of E.coli, chloride andtotal phosphorus. E.coli and chloride concentrations frequently exceed theguideline for irrigation water. Sources of E.coli include runoff from urbanand agricultural land use, sewage discharges, and the presence ofwaterfowl. Sources of chloride include storm water runoff, de-icing saltapplied to roads, and sewage discharges (NPCA 2010)The area around Blackheath has been identified with a mediumvulnerability to groundwater contamination. In addition, several pocketshave been identified with a high vulnerability to groundwatercontamination. These areas include transport pathways such as privatewells (active and inactive), unknown status oil and gas wells and havebeen identified as posing a high vulnerability to groundwater through SWPProgramNatural Heritage ResourcesRiparian Cover 35.3% EC recommends 75% with 30m bufferUpland Habitat 12.0% EC recommends 30% to support viable wildlife populationWetland Habitat 5.4% EC recommends 10% or to historic valueANSI, Conservation Areas Sinclairville Meander Basin Life Science ANSI along outlet of subwatershedSwamp ANSIRestoration Projects Completed to dateRiparian Enhancement 3 projects:1998 (2), 2000 Planted 3400 Bare root trees, installed 11 180 ft of streamside fencing,and retired 5 acres of riparian buffer; 4500 Bare root trees planted, 500 ftof fencing and an alternate water supply; Installation of 8900 ft ofstreamside fencing, retired 6 acres of riparian buffer, and planted 4500bare root treesWetland Creation/Enhancement 1 project in 2000 Lowland shrubs planted