Central Welland River Watershed Plan - Niagara Peninsula ...

CENTRAL WELLAND RIVER WATERSHED PLANTow Path Drain SubwatershedTable 20:Tow Path Drain Subwatershed CharacteristicsAttribute Description CommentsArea17 sq kmLand UseMix of urban, industrial, naturalareas and agricultureMunicipal Water and SewerServicesYes; partialNorthern portion of the subwatershed. Land use in this area is a mix ofagriculture, rural and industrial.3 CSO‟s and 2 CSO Outfalls in subwatershedRecreation Recreational Trails Steve Bauer Trail, Welland Canal TrailAquatic ResourcesLength of Watercourse 25 km Outlets to Welland Recreational CanalFish HabitatRecreational Canal and one small The remaining watercourses in this catchment have not been evaluatedtributary: importantMunicipal DrainsN/AWater QualityN/AGroundwater Vulnerability Predominantly Low with areas ofMedium and High GroundwaterVulnerabilityNatural Heritage ResourcesRiparian CoverHeadwaters commence on Fonthill Kame-Delta Complex; a significantgroundwater recharge area and an area of high groundwater vulnerability. Inaddition, transport pathways such as private wells (active and inactive),unknown status oil and gas wells and have been identified as posing asignificant threat to groundwater through the SWP Program30% of watercourses have some EC recommends 75% with 30m bufferriparian habitatUpland Habitat 20% is upland habitat EC recommends 30% to support viable wildlife populationWetland Habitat 6% is wetland habitat EC recommends 10% or to historic valueANSI, Conservation Areas N/ARestoration Projects Completed to date: N/AFish Barrier RemovalN/ARestoration Opportunities: Recommended Actions for Public and Private LandsNPCA Water Quality Improvement ProgramRiparianEstablishment/EnhancementUpland and EcologicalLinkages•currently amount of riparian habitat is low (30%).•Welland Recreational Canal•large extents of watercourse flow through agricultural fields with little to no riparian buffer•riparian buffers will help to reduce sediment and contaminant loads from adjacent land uses, and cool the waterto enhance water quality and fish habitat•currently amount of upland habitat is adequate (20%)•suitability mapping indicates very high suitability for enhancement surrounding existing upland and wetlandhabitat in upper subwatershed north of Quaker Road•enhancement surrounding existing uplands; filling in gaps of natural areas reduces forest edge –interior ratio and165