Volume 1 1 Introduction
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Watershed Characterization Report St. Clair Region Source Protection Area Volume 1 1 Introduction 2 Watershed Description 2.1 Source Protection Region 2.2 Physical Description 2.3 Hydrology & Climate 2.4 Naturally Vegetated Areas 2.5 Aquatic Ecology 2.6 Human Characterization 2.7 Water Uses Volume 2 3 Water Quality 3.1 Selecting Indicator Parameters 3.2 Raw Water Characterization for Inland Surface Water 3.3 Groundwater Quality 3.4 Raw Water Characterization for Drinking Water Intakes 3.5 Data and Knowledge Gaps for Water Quality Volume 3 4 Water Quantity 4.1 Water Use 4.2 Data and Knowledge Gaps for Water Use 5 Description of Vulnerable Areas 5.1 Identification of Source Protection Areas 5.2 Groundwater: Aquifer Vulnerability, Wellhead Protection Areas & Potential Drinking Water Sources 5.3 Surface Water: Intake Protection Zones 6 Existing Drinking Water Threats Inventories 6.1 Threats to Water Quality 6.2 Known Water Quality Issues 6.3 Data and Knowledge Gaps for Existing Drinking Water Threats Inventories 7 Summary of Identified Issues and Concerns Appendices A: Data Gap Reporting B: List of Acronyms C: References Watershed Characterization Report - St. Clair Region Source Protection Area - Volume 1 i St. Clair Region Source Protection Area Maps Map 1: Thames-Sydenham & Region Source Protection Region Map 2: Drainage Areas Map 3: Bedrock Topography Map 4: Bedrock Geology Map 5: Overburden Thickness Map 6: Surficial Geology Map 7: Physiography Map 8: Soils Information Map 9: Topography Map 10: Environment Canada Climate Stations Map 11: Watershed Hydrologic Conditions Monitoring Map 12: Bedrock Water Table Map 13: Potential Groundwater Discharge Areas Map 14: Provincial Groundwater Monitoring Network Map 15: Permit to Take Water Locations by Type Map 16: Permit to Take Water Locations by Usage Map 17: Intrinsic Susceptibility Index Map 18: Municipal Drain Classifications Map 19: Watercourse Classifications Map 20: Percent Wetland Cover by Subwatershed Map 21: Percent Woodland Cover by Subwatershed Map 22: Electro-fishing Sites Map 23: Benthic Sampling Sites Map 24: Benthic Sampling Analysis Results by Subwatershed Map 25: Generalized Land Cover Map 26: Oil and Gas Wells Map 27: Transportation Map 28: Land Capability for Agriculture Map 29: Water Wells Map 30: Drinking Water Supplies/Intakes Map 31: Wastewater Treatment Map 32: Surface Water Quality Sampling Sites Map 33: Wellhead Protection Areas Watershed Characterization Report - St. Clair Region Source Protection Area - Volume 1 ii Table of Contents - Volume 1 Table of Contents - Volume 1 ........................................................................................................ iii List of Figures - Volume 1 .............................................................................................................. v List of Tables - Volume 1 .............................................................................................................. vi 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Data Sources ................................................................................................................... 3 1.2 Data and Knowledge Gaps.............................................................................................. 3 2 Watershed Description ............................................................................................................ 4 2.1 Source Protection Region ............................................................................................... 4 2.1.1 Stakeholders and Partners ....................................................................................... 6 2.2 Physical Description ....................................................................................................... 9 2.2.1 Bedrock Geology .................................................................................................... 9 2.2.2 Surficial Geology .................................................................................................. 15 2.2.3 Physiography......................................................................................................... 22 2.2.4 Soil Characteristics ............................................................................................... 26 2.2.5 Topography ........................................................................................................... 32 2.2.6 Land Forms and Human Character of the Watershed ........................................... 33 2.3 Hydrology & Climate ................................................................................................... 34 2.3.1 Climate and Meteorological Trends ...................................................................... 34 2.3.2 Hydrogeology ....................................................................................................... 48 2.3.3 Surface Water Hydrology ..................................................................................... 62 2.4 Naturally Vegetated Areas ............................................................................................ 75 2.4.1 Wetlands ............................................................................................................... 76 2.4.2 Riparian Zones ...................................................................................................... 78 2.4.3 Woodlands ............................................................................................................ 79 2.4.4 Watershed Report Cards ....................................................................................... 81 2.5 Aquatic Ecology............................................................................................................ 81 2.5.1 Fisheries ................................................................................................................ 82 2.5.2 Mussels ................................................................................................................. 89 2.5.3 Aquatic (Benthic) Macroinvertebrates .................................................................. 92 2.5.4 Species at Risk .................................................................................................... 100 2.5.5 Invasive Species .................................................................................................. 106 2.6 Human Characterization ............................................................................................. 108 2.6.1 Population Distribution and Density ................................................................... 108 2.6.2 Population Projections ........................................................................................ 111 2.6.3 Land Use and Settlement Areas .......................................................................... 113 2.6.4 Brownfields ......................................................................................................... 118 2.6.5 Landfills .............................................................................................................. 119 2.6.6 Mining/Aggregates ............................................................................................. 121 2.6.7 Oil and Gas ......................................................................................................... 122 2.6.8 Forestry ............................................................................................................... 122 2.6.9 Transportation, Services, & Utilities .................................................................. 123 2.6.10 Wastewater Treatment ........................................................................................ 125 2.6.11 Agriculture .......................................................................................................... 127 2.6.12 Recreation ........................................................................................................... 130 2.6.13 Protected Areas ................................................................................................... 131 2.6.14 Data Gaps Human Characterization.................................................................... 137 Watershed Characterization Report - St. Clair Region Source Protection Area - Volume 1 iii 2.7 Water Uses .................................................................................................................. 137 2.7.1 Drinking Water Sources ...................................................................................... 137 2.7.2 Ecological Water Use ......................................................................................... 143 2.7.3 Permit To Take Water (PTTW) Uses ................................................................. 143 2.7.4 Recreation ........................................................................................................... 145 2.7.5 Agricultural ......................................................................................................... 146 2.7.6 Industrial/Commercial ........................................................................................ 147 2.7.7 Water Use Comparison ....................................................................................... 147 Watershed Characterization Report - St. Clair Region Source Protection Area - Volume 1 iv List of Figures - Volume 1 Figure 1.0-1: Summary of Components for Source Protection