Attachment 10: Fish Barrier Map and Table L:\Buffalo\Niagara_River_Habitat_Strategy\maps\MXD\deliverables\deliverable_greenway_fish_barrier_rev1.mxd
Lake Ontario
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C s H op kin e l i C reek x m TOWN OF Si PORTER
anch k TOWN OF st B r e Ea ile r e lvem C LEWISTON Tw e VILLAGE OF LEWISTON
TUSCARORA olt erg h z reeRkESERVATION B 25F ish C ay uga k 24 C Cree ee Gill C r k Creek
19 TOWN OF NIAGARA TOWN OF 23 9 WHEATFIELD Bu ll ek 26 Cre 14 17
CITY OF 16 Sa 18 w NIAGARA FALLS C y 15 r e e r e N k iaga ra R iv er N naw an d a iag To ar a R Creek ive r CITY OF 12 NORTH TONAWANDA E 13 Spicer llico tt 7 Cre1ek Creek Ontario, Canada TOWN OF 3 2 4 GRAND ISLAND CITY OF TONAWANDA
T 8
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5 o C m
r e i l e e TOWN OF 6 k 11 10 TONAWANDA VILLAGE OF BARRIERS TO FISH MOVEMENT KENMORE
First impassable fish barrier 22 Impasable fish barrier 21
Accessible stream segment CITY OF Impassable stream segment BUFFALO Complete accessiblity observed Stream not surveyed (intermittent)
Buffal o River Lake Erie 20
0 1.25 2.5 5 Miles
Copyright: ©2012 Esri, DeLorme, NAVTEQ
SOURCE: FIELD DATA (ENE) 2012 Potential Point First Latitude Longitude Creek Category Subcategory Source Severity Description Mitigation Photo Full Notes ID Barrier Measures
o Stream bed is degraded and heavily vegetated.
o Water level is very shallow (less than 3 inches) and deposition of sediment is evident – minimizing flow rate.
o Passage would be limited on a seasonal basis and would likely restrict Dense passage during periods of low flow. Spicer ENE Field vegetation - 1 43.02235 78.90877 Yes Biological vegetation Seasonal Vegetation removal Creek Data, 2012 seasonal barrier
Spicer Creek - Whitehaven Rd vegetation blockage.jpg
o Stream bed is rocky with dense aquatic and terrestrial vegetation.
o Water level is low (less than 3 inches), but flow is evident.
o As approaching the nearby bridge, vegetation becomes thicker as is likely to Dense restrict passage of fish on a seasonal basis. Spicer ENE Field vegetation - 2 43.01857 78.92075 No Biological vegetation Seasonal Vegetation removal Creek Data, 2012 Seasonal barrier
Spicer Creek - Vegetation block - Forest Creek road.jpg
o Extremely shallow water depth (less than 2 inches in most areas) in a muddy stream bed.
o Dense phragmities present likely restricts fish passage on a seasonal basis.
Dense o At this location, the stream functions essentially as a drainage ditch. Spicer ENE Field vegetation - 3 43.01693 -78.92557 No Manmade vegetation Seasonal Vegetation removal Creek Data, 2012 Seasonal barrier
Spicer Creek - W of Harvey Road Veg block.jpg
o Culvert is long and flat; suggestive of high velocity flow.
o Large sediments and rocks at the downstream end of the culvert are evidence of high velocity flow.
o During regular flow, velocity of water likely to restricts passage of fish upstream.
Big Sixmile ENE Field High velocity 4 43.02085 -79.01036 Yes Manmade flow Impassable Creek Data, 2012 flow
Big Sixmile Creek - S under Whitehaven road bridge.jpg
o Water depth approximately 3 inches.
o Heavily vegetated by terrestrial species throughout the streambed.
o Banks are heavily vegetated, and do not appear eroded.
o No evidence of high water mark – during high water, area likely floods. Dense Big Sixmile ENE Field vegetation - 5 43.00684 -78.98843 No Biological vegetation Seasonal Vegetation removal Creek Data, 2012 seasonal barrier
Big Sixmile Creek - N of Staley Road.jpg Potential Point First Latitude Longitude Creek Category Subcategory Source Severity Description Mitigation Photo Full Notes ID Barrier Measures
o Water depth approximately 3 inches with extremely dense aquatic and terrestrial vegetation throughout the streambed and banks (vegetation includes invasive phragmites).
o At this point, the stream appears to function as a drainage ditch and may have lost much of its biological value (regarding fish passage).
Dense o Passage of fish is likely restricted due to the density of the vegetation – if fish Big Sixmile ENE Field vegetation - 6 42.99574 -78.98228 No Biological vegetation Seasonal Vegetation removal are present here, passage is likely limited to high water events to overcome Creek Data, 2012 Seasonal the dense wall of vegetation. barrier
Big Sixmile Creek - N side of Love Road.jpg
o Low water depth (less than 2 inches).
o Culvert is long with a small opening, suggesting high velocity during normal flow conditions.
Little High veolocity, o Evidence of high water mark was not visible. ENE Field 7 43.02823 -79.00961 Sixmile Yes Manmade flow Impassable no pools, long Installation of baffles Data, 2012 Creek culvert o Culvert is not flush with the stream bed and during low flow would require jumping (thus likely limited to cool-season fishes).
o More likely, due to the length of the culvert and high velocity flow, fish passage is improbable year-round.
Little Sixmile Creek - Facing E off of River road.jpg
o Culvert is long, flat, and wide, suggesting potentially high velocity.
o High water marks (approximately 1.2 feet) and large cobbles and rocks at the downstream end of the culvert further suggest high velocity flow during normal conditions. Low flow and
Twomile ENE Field small jump - 8 43.00478 -78.90569 Yes Manmade flow Seasonal Step pool installation o An approximately 6 inch ledge is present at the downstream end of the culvert Creek Data, 2012 limiting warm that is likely impassable to warm-season fish species. season fishes
o However, due to the likelihood of high velocity under this culvert and the lack of pools at the upstream and downstream ends of the culvert, fish passage is probably restricted year-round.
wk of 10-18 004.jpg
o Culvert appears to be in good condition; however, the site is heavily vegetated with phragmites and water flow appears to be low
o the culvert, which is wide and long, lacks the presence of pools at either end.
o Passage through this culvert is likely restricted due to the lack of pools at either end Bergholtz ENE Field Low flow 9 43.10222 -78.89039 Yes Manmade flow Seasonal Step pool installation and the length of the culvert, which appears to have low water flow. Creek Data, 2012 conditions
wk of 10-18 023.jpg
o Culvert is likely high velocity flow during normal conditions.
o Large rocks are evidence of high flow through this culvert, which likely restricts passage of fish year-round. Unnamed High velocity Tributary ENE Field flow as 10 42.98088 -78.951563 Yes Manmade flow Impassable Installation of baffles (Grand Data, 2012 evidenced by Island) large rocks
wk of 10-18 002.jpg Potential Point First Latitude Longitude Creek Category Subcategory Source Severity Description Mitigation Photo Full Notes ID Barrier Measures
o Culvert is likely high velocity flow during normal conditions.
o Large rocks are evidence of high flow through this culvert, which likely restricts passage of fish year-round. Unnamed High velocity Tributary ENE Field flow as 11 42.979867 -78.96252 No Manmade flow Impassable Installation of baffles (Grand Data, 2012 evidenced by Island) large rocks
wk of 10-18 004.jpg
o Shallow water depth (less than 1 inch) with extremely dense vegetative cover throughout the streambed.
o Dense vegetation likely restricts passage of fish on a seasonal basis.
Dense Woods ENE Field vegetation - 12 43.046304 -78.971946 Yes Biological vegetation Seasonal Vegetation removal Creek Data, 2012 Seasonal barrier
10-18-004
o Muddy stream bottom and presence of a long culvert with small gradient to it (1 – 2%) and is heavily vegetated on both sides.
o During normal flow, velocity of flow (as evidenced by presence of rocks at downstream end) is likely to restrict passage of fish. High velocity Woods ENE Field flow as 13 43.039174 -78.976175 No Manmade flow Impassable Installation of baffles Creek Data, 2012 evidenced by large rocks
wk of 10-18 010.jpg
o Drainage ditch. No fish passage will occur here.
o This ditch occurs at the point where the perennial stream becomes intermittent. Therefore, the entirety of the perennial stream is considered barrier free.
Sawyer ENE Field 14 43.091586 -78.940476 Yes Manmade ditch Impassable Drainage ditch None Creek Data, 2012
wk of 10-18 011.jpg
o At current water levels, passage by fish would not be possible due to rocks in No pools Black ENE Field stream bed and presence of dense vegetation. 15 43.08555 -78.944905 Yes Manmade culvert Impassable beyond culvert Step pool installation No Photo Taken Creek Data, 2012 for fish access o Likely more restrictive to warm-season fish versus cool-season fish.
Potential Point First Latitude Longitude Creek Category Subcategory Source Severity Description Mitigation Photo Full Notes ID Barrier Measures
o Drainage ditch. No fish passage will occur here.
o Field Work determined that water flow at this location is not actually connected to Black Creek, nor any other tributary, and therefore is not applicable to this study.
Black ENE Field 16 43.083966 -78.933847 No Manmade ditch Impassable Drainage ditch None Creek Data, 2012
wk of 10-18 019.jpg
o Heavy sediment deposition occurring under culvert with little water passage beneath the culvert at the current water level.
o Mostly muddy stream bed with dense vegetation (primarily phragmites) within the stream bed. Access would be seasonally limited based on the limited Dense amount of water flow. Sawyer ENE Field vegetation - 17 43.087164 -78.889658 No Biological vegetation Seasonal Vegetation removal Creek Data, 2012 seasonal barrier
wk of 10-18 021.jpg
o Very shallow water depth (less than 2 inches).
o Heavy deposition of sediment is present under culvert. Extremely dense phragmites throughout stream bed Low flow and dense Multiple efforts would be o No presence of pools at either the upstream or downstream end of the culvert. Sawyer ENE Field 18 43.077823 -78.865607 No Manmade flow Seasonal vegetation - required - creek acts very Creek Data, 2012 sedimentation much as a drainage ditch. o Fish passage is likely restricted year round. evident.
wk of 10-18 022.jpg
o A long manmade culvert is present at this location and is long (extending across Mapleton Road) with little water flow.
o The lack of pools at either end of the culvert hinders fish access the culvert.
Unnamed – ENE Field Installation of Baffles 19 43.12180 -78.83831 Yes Manmade Culvert Impassable Culvert Bull Creek Data, 2012 and/or new culvert.
DSC04005.jpg
o A natural waterfall is present across the entire stream.
o The waterfall creates high velocity water flow, in addition to a physical block that fish would be unable to pass during any time of year.
Cazenovia ENE Field Natural 20 42.84962 -78.80894 Yes Natural Waterfall Impassable Not Applicable Creek Data, 2012 Waterfall
DSC03981.jpg Potential Point First Latitude Longitude Creek Category Subcategory Source Severity Description Mitigation Photo Full Notes ID Barrier Measures
o A manmade dam is present at mirror lake that stretches across the entire stream, creating an impassable barrier to fish all year round.
Scajaquada ENE Field Mirror Lake Inclusion of passage 21 42.93468 -78.87612 No Manmade Dam Impassable Creek Data, 2012 Dam through dam?
DSC03985.jpg
o A manmade dam is present across the entire stream that would limit fish passage upstream; although, water is allowed to flow downstream.
o Fish would be unable to swim upstream at any time of the year.
Scajaquada ENE Field Inclusion of passage 22 42.93790 -78.88549 Yes Manmade Dam Impassable Dam Creek Data, 2012 through dam?
DSC03988.jpg
o Niagara Falls Air Force Reserve Station, downstream
o Impassable to large fish species. Also fence contributes to sediment barrier on upstream end if not maintained.
o Previously identified as "large debris jam" - E & E went to point of previously identified barrier; the barrier no longer exists in that location. GPS coordinates were collected at the site of what is believed to be the location of the previously identified barrier - at the crossing of a relict single lane bridge.
o There is a riffle in this area with a slight grade change but area does not represent a barrier.
o At extreme low water, passage may be difficult for larger fish but there are likely hundreds of examples in many of the smaller Niagara River tributaries or in the upper reaches of the larger tributaries that reflect the same condition.
Vegetation and sediment o E & E walked reaches upstream and downstream of the location of where the removal will increase coordinates were collected to identify any other barriers in the near vicinity, probability for smaller fish Impassable including the trailer park where there had been some form of a pipeline E & E field species upstream- Cayuga Fence and Accreted (see Fencing into crossing that is either not there anymore or has been lowered and positioned 23 43.103148 -78.956697 Yes Manmade data 11-21- downstream movement. Creek Vegetation/Sediments description in creek channel under the creek channel. 12 It is anticipated that the Notes) fence will remain for the o First impassable barrier is at the downstream end of the Niagara Falls Air maintenance of security Force Reserve Station. for the station and airfield.
o Barrier to upstream movement is due to metal coil gauge fence that is positioned from a horizontal beam (maintaining the orientation of the rest of the boundary fencing across the creek channel) vertically down into the stream and presumably buried into the creek sediments across the cross section of the creek channel.
o The fence likely is for security of the air base and air field. The fencing acts as a sediment and debris catch as sediments, branches, leaves, and vegetation wash down from upstream areas.
o During the time of observation there appeared to be a wall of sediments, creating a dam at the upstream side of the fencing. Only small fish could go from downstream to upstream and vice versa. The fencing is impassable to larger-bodied fish even if sediments and debris barrier would be removed. A regular maintenance schedule at the upstream of the fence would allow greater migration flexibility for some species of fish.
Potential Point First Latitude Longitude Creek Category Subcategory Source Severity Description Mitigation Photo Full Notes ID Barrier Measures
o Fish Creek makes its way through Niagara Falls Country Club via a trapezoidal causeway and then goes underground until its discharge at a point near the trailhead of the River’s Edge Trail in Artpark State Park.
o The elevation at the trail is approximately 360 feet according to GPS estimate Geological in the field. The creek flow issues from a large culvert/pipe and flows down a High gorge wall at barrier broad cement spillway structure into the river. It is doubtful that fish passage Impassable – discharge point into the ENE Field although a has occurred at this site in recent geologic times. 24 43.16186 79.04447 Fish Creek Yes Geologic all season Not Applicable river, manmade Data, 2012 manmade (see Notes) sluiceway now spillway type o It appears that the stream historically took another path into the gorge, of structure however the high gorge walls and the slope of even a natural ravine/creek was probably not used by fish for upstream migration.
o Consequently, determination is made that this is a natural geological barrier, in IMG_3593.jpg spite of the existence of a manmade spillway structure. Overall fall is approximately 110 feet.
o E & E walked from the downstream crossing at private drive up to Route 104 at the box culvert crossing and did not identify any overt fish barriers.
Previously Both crossings o It is possible in drought or near drought conditions that one or both of these identified as include culverts could inhibit fish passage, however fish use in and on both sides of seasonal; culverts, Removal of debris and these crossings was observed in the field. appeared circular piping ENE Field accumulated sediments at 25 43.160596 -79.009 Fish Creek 25 Manmade Culvert passable in all at the Data 2012 upstream ends of o There appears to be migration back and forth between the upstream and but extreme downstream crossings. downstream ends of the Route 104 box culvert. The overall relative dryness of low water location; box this calendar year and the flow observed led to the determination that the conditions in culvert in barriers are likely passable in all seasons but may not be in extreme low water 11/12 upstream. conditions, as would be true for other culverts, riffles, logjams, and natural grade changes within tributary streams. The downstream location at the IMG_3600.jpg (downstream location intersection private drive will tend to collect branches, logs, leaves, and other debris given private drive) its design and configuration. IMG_3604.jpg (upstream from other location along Route 104)
Dam with o Impounding wall and dam structure with spillway at set elevation level. spillways at downstream o There are slots for gates to raise the level in the lake but it does not appear point of Gill that gates have been used in a while. Park maintenance could be contacted to Creek at Hyde determine management regime, if any. Park; vertical Potential for fishway or ENE Field is o 26 43.095675 -79.023512 Gill Creek 26 Manmade Dam Impassable fish ladder/side flow Dam points functions at outlet from Hyde Park Lake back into Gill Creek. Data 2012 approximately channel. 6 feet high from base elevation at downstream point to top of structure IMG_3617.jpg