, , The Salmon River Habitat Strategy
Identifying Priority Sites for Habitat Restoration in the Salmon River Watershed
A project of the Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem in partnership with Lennox & Addington Stewardship Council, Frontenac Stewardship Council, Hastings Stewardship Council, Friends of the Salmon River, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Quinte Conservation
Prepared by Melodie Green October 2005
The Ca"ada-Ootar;o Agreement Respecting Ille G",.t Lakes Baslll EcosYSi"", ~~~ o,\JINl'
October 2005
Author: Melodie F. Green Natural Heritage Planner Kingston Area Office Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
Contributors: BretColman Frontenac Stewardship Council
Kevin Esseltine Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
Alastair Mathers Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem
Peter Mabee Formerly of the Hastings Stewardship Council
Gray Merriam Friends of the Salmon River
Stephen Pitt Lennox & Addington Community Stewardship Council
Nathalie Sorensen Friends of the Salmon River
James Stewart Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
Tim Trustham Quinte Conservation
Nathalie Woodhouse Formerly of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Executive Summary
The Salmon River Habitat Strategy has been designed to help identify the most cost-effective habitat restoration opportunities in the Salmofl River watershed, by using indicators recommended in How Much Habitat is Enough? A Framework for Guiding Habitat Rehabilitation in Great Lakes Areas of Concern (Environment Canada, 2004). The framework provides science-based information about how much wetland, riparian and forest habitat is enough to sustain biological diversity and vital natural processes.
The Salmon River watershed is an area of 921 km 2 that drains into the Bay of Quinte near Shannonville, between Napanee and Belleville. The Bay of Quinte was identified as one of 43 Great Lakes Basin "Areas of Concern" in 1985. The International Joint Commission recognised that several of the Bay's beneficial uses were impaired as a result of industrial, agricultural, municipal and household practices that had contaminated the water. In addition to posing risks to human health, some of the diversity of plant and animal life had been lost.
This study has found that stream bank naturalization presents the greatest opportunity to restore fish and wildlife habitat in the Salmon River watershed, especially in the southern portion. There are also areas surrounding wetlands in need of naturally vegetated buffers. Beyond identifying priority restoration sites, this report presents a broad spectrum of spatial information to assist appreciation and conservation of the watershed's natural wealth.
The Salmon River Habitat Strategy: 5 Identifying Priority Sites for Habitat Restoration in the Salmon River Watershed Table of Contents
Executive Summary ...... 5 List of Tables ...... 7
List of Figures ...... ;' .. ~ .. : .. i: ...... 7 List of Maps ...... 7 1.0 Introduction ...... 8 2.0 Background ...... 8 2.1 Bay of Quinte Area of Concern ...... 8 2.2 Habitat Strategy for Areas of Concern ...... 11 3.0 Study Purpose ...... •...... 12 4.0 Study Area ...... 12 4.1 Location ...... 12 4.2 Size, Surficial Geology and Soils ...... 12 4.3 Crown Land and Municipalities ...... 12 4.4 Lakes, Water Control Structures and Topography ...... 12 4.5 Documented Natural Features of Regional or Provincial Significance ...... 13 5.0 Method ...... 13 5.1 Database Compilation ...... 13 5.2 Wetland Habitat Analysis ...... 14 5.3 Riparian Habitat Analysis ...... 14 5.4 Forest Habitat Analysis ...... 15 5.5 Analysis of Precambrian Shield and Limestone Bedrock Portions of the Watershed ...... 16 6.0 Results ...... 16 6.1 Wetland Habitat...... 18 6.2 Riparian Habitat ...... 19 6.3 Forest Habitat...... 20 6.4 Summary of Existing Habitat Conditions on the Precambrian Shield and Limestone Bedrock Portions of the Watershed ...... 21 7.0 Conclusion ...... 23 References ...... 24 Appendix A - Maps ...... 25 Appendix B - Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest ...... 27 Appendix C - Provincially Significant Wetlands ...... 32 Appendix D - Endangered Species ...... 35
6 The Salmon River Habitat Strategy: Identifying Priority Sites for Habitat Restoration in the Salmon River Watershed List of Tables
Table 1. Impaired Beneficial Uses of the Bay of Quinte Area of Concern Table 2. Minimum Habitat Requirements of any Watershed, According to Environment Canada (2004) " . Table 3. Existing Habitat within the Salmon River Watershed Table 4. Existing Wetland Habitat in the Salmon River Watershed Table 5. Existing Riparian Habitat in the Salmon River Watershed Table 6. Existing Forest Habitat in the Salmon River Watershed Table 7. Existing Habitat Conditions on the Precambrian Shield and Limestone Bedrock Portions of the Watershed
List of Figures
Figure 1. Location ofthe Salmon River Watershed Figure 2. Bay of Quinte Area of Concern Watershed
List of Maps
Map 1. Index to Ontario Base Maps Map 2. Precambrian Shield Map 3. Surficial Geology Map4. Soils Map 5. Crown Land Map 6. Lakes in the Watershed Ranked by Area Map 7. Fisheries Assessment Sites, Salmon River Water Control Structures and Named Creeks Map 8. Digital Elevation Model Map 9. Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest, and Provincially Significant Wetlands Map 10. Landscape Context Map 11. Interior Forest Habitat Map 12. Potential Restoration Sites Map 13. Water Quality Sampling Sites and Potential Restoration Sites
Cover Photo: The Salmon River photographed at Lonsdale by M. Green, October 2004
The Salmon River Habitat Strategy: 7 Identifying Priority Sites for Habitat Restoration in the Salmon River Watershed 1.0 Introduction
The Canadian Wildlife Service of Environment Canada has produced How Much Habitat is Enough? A Framework for Guiding Habitat Rehabilitation in Great Lakes Areas of Concern (2004) in collaboration with the Ontario Ministry, qf thE), Environment and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Currently in its second edition, the framework provides science-based information to help guide decisions regarding:
• How much habitat is needed to support a naturally functioning ecosystem; and
• Priority locations for wetland, riparian and forest rehabilitation and protection across a watershed or landscape,
These habitat guidelines provide benchmarks for evaluating the health of a watershed, using Geographic Information Systems to analyze and portray relevant digital map data.
The present study was undertaken by the Ontario Ministry Natural Resources to reveal priority sites for habitat restoration in the Salmon River watershed. Funding was provided through the Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem and the Stewardship Councils of Lennox and Addington, Frontenac, and Hastings Counties. Additional in-kind support was provided by the Friends of the Salmon River and Quinte Conservation.
2.0 Background
2.1 Bay of Quinte Area of Concern
Recognizing a need to restore and protect the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem, the governments of Canada and the United States signed the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement in 1972, The two nations agreed to give priority attention to the worst areas, called Great Lakes Areas of Concern. The Agreement was renewed in 1978, and directs Canada and the United States to develop a Remedial Action Plan for each Area of Concern, to restore and protect ecosystem health. The International Joint Cornrnission identified the Bay of Quinte as one of 43 Areas of Concern in 1985, as illustrated in Figure 1. The Salmon River watershed is part of the larger Bay of Quinte Area of Concern watershed, illustrated in Figure 2.
8 The Salmon River Habitat Strategy: Identifying Priority Sites for Habitat Restoration in the Salmon River Watershed Figure 1. Great Lakes Areas of Concern Source: International Joint Commission (2003)
Peninsula Hamor St. Marys Spanish Clinton Rlvljr lackfish Bay , River Harbour St. ,cljlir~Rlv.~r . < Wheatley Harbour Nipigon Bay Severn Sound(deli:::ted) Thunder Bay Toronto and Region Torl:h Lake ,Port Hope Bay of Quinte Deer lake - ROl:hester Embayment Carp Creek/River St. Louis Bay/River
Manistique St. LallU'ence River RIYer (Cornwall/ Massena) !'Ienomlnee River Oswego River fOM Riverl Lower Green Bay Eighteen ~Ule Creek Sheboygan RiYer Niagara River Hllwaukee Estuary
White Lake Buffalo River Waukegan Harbor , Hamilton Harbour Huskegon Lake Presque Isle Bay Grand calumet Riverl River Detroit· Ashtabula River Indiana Harbor Canal Raisin River Cuyahoga River Kalamazoo River Maumee Rouge Black River Saginaw Bay River River
In 1986, the federal and provincial governments coordinated the development of a Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan, through rigourous technical evaluation and extensive public participation. The Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan defined the beneficial uses of water which have been impaired, and established an action plan to restore these beneficial uses. Table 1 lists the beneficial use impairments of the Bay of Quinte Area of Concern, as defined by the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.
In Ontario, the commitments of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement are implemented through the Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem (COA). Provincially, COA is led by the Ministry of the Environment with the Ministry of Natural Resources being a key partner in implementing many aspects of the agreement. COA projects funded through the Ministry of Natural Resources aim to protect biodiversity, restore fish and wildlife species and their habitats, and enhance our knowledge of aquatic ecosystems. In 2004 and 2005, COA invested in the present research initiative to help environmental groups and private landowners clean up and restore fish and wildlife habitats within the Salmon River watershed.
The Salmon River Habitat Strategy: 9 Identifying Priority Sites for Habitat Restoration in the Salmon River Watershed Figure 2. Bay of Quinte Area of Concern Watershed Source: Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan (2003)
',,·hrl,"h~·'"'''' \ , ""'""''''N-'',"'''''''__ '''~''''_ \ Bay of Qulnte Area of Concern Watershed "1''''!'-'''~''''«'~'''''' !ai town, TKon } \ , , , - MajDl Roads ~ CON5tKVATION Major Walercourses ~~ ~ _-: County Boundaries , . \ \ .... - '----"1\ \ Walerbodiea /\"'. \,.._ D9ayolQu;r>leWalershed ::s \ , \, -. \ \ , \ \ 41 ) \ .,-~-- , . ! , \~, '\ Ha tings \ , \ j ~ \.\ j 62 \ , , \ 1__ -"\ \\ . , ) , ' , " , '. , \ '-/ \, '. ' , T.... ~"d \ \ , ~ \ Lennox \ \, _~~ and,,~ \ Addington \ \ .#' 'Ill ,#'¥ \ # ' ,- • t1"fla" ••
, Dur am \ Kilometers , \ 4{l\ o- 9 18
Table 1. Impaired Beneficial Uses of the Bay of Quinte Area of Concern
Restrictions on fish and wildlife consumption Degradation of fish and wildlife populations Degradation of benthos Restrictions on dredging activities Eutrophication or undesirable algae Restrictions on drinking water consumption, or taste and odour problems Beach closures Degradation of aesthetics Degradation of phytoplankton and zooplankton populations Loss of fish and wildlife habitat
Source: Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan Coordinating Committee (1993), p. 13
10 The Salmon River Habitat Strategy: Identifying Priority Sites for Habitat Restoration in the Salmon River Watershed 2.2 Habitat Strategy for Areas of Concern
Environment Canada has prepared How Much Habitat is Enough? A Framework for Guiding Habitat Rehabilitation in Great Lakes Areas of Concern (2004) to help measure progress toward restoring the beneficial uses of Great Lakes Areas of Concern. The , ~. ~ ' ..>, , framework spells out the minimum amount of wetland, riparian and forest habitat every watershed needs to sustain healthy fish and wildlife populations, based on the best available scientific knowledge. Assessing a watershed according to these guidelines reveals the locations where restoration efforts can be most beneficial to the health of the watershed. Table 2 lists the habitat guidelines used in this study to help identify priority restoration sites within the Salmon River watershed.
Table 2. Watershed Habitat Guidelines Adopted for this Study
Guideline
Amount of More than 10% of the watershed area should be wetland wetland habitat
Natural vegetation Uplands within 100 metres of wetlands should have adjacent to natural vegetation (forest cover) wetlands
Percent of stream 75% of stream length should be naturally vegetated naturally vegetated
Natural vegetation Streams should have a minimum 30 metres wide naturally adjacent to vegetated adjacent-lands area on both sides streams
Amount of At least 30% of the watershed should be in forest cover forest cover
Size of the largest The watershed should have at least one forest patch that forest patch is >200 ha in area and >500 m wide
Interior forest More than 5% of the watershed should have forest cover habitat 200 metres or further from the forest edge
Proximity to other To be of maximum use to species such as forest-interior forested patches birds, forest patches should be within two kilometres of one another or other supporting habitat features
Adapted from Environment Canada (2004), p. 6
The Salmon River Habitat Strategy: 11 Identifying Priority Sites for Habitat Restoration in the Salmon River Watershed 3.0 Study Purpose The purpose of this study is to create a baseline assessment of the health of the Salmon River watershed and identify priority sites for wetland, riparian and forest habitat rehabilitation, according to the most current spatial data available. ,~. '.'
4.0 Study Area 4.1 Location
The Salmon River begins at Cloyne, just south of Bon Echo Provincial Park, and flows through Lennox and Addington, Frontenac and Hastings Counties before emptying into the Bay of Quinte near Shannonville. An index of the Ontario Base Maps for locations within the Salmon River watershed is included as Map 1.
4.2 Size, Surficial Geology and Soils
The Salmon River watershed spans an area of 921 square kilometres, with the northern 57 per cent on the Precambrian Shield and the remaining 43 per cent on limestone bedrock, as illustrated by Map 2. More detailed information about the watershed's surficial geology is provided in Map 3.
Map 4 identifies the range and distribution of soils in the watershed. Soils on the limestone bedrock portion ofthe watershed are predominantly loam, clay loam and clay. Soils on the Precambrian Shield portion of the watershed, in contrast, are predominantly sandy loam and loamy sand with a great deal of exposed bedrock. Hydric soils appear in patches throughout the watershed.
4.3 Crown Land and Municipalities
About 18 per cent of the watershed is Provincial Crown land, as illustrated in Map 5. All of the Crown Land is located in the northern half of the watershed, on the Precambrian Shield. Nine municipalities have jurisdiction within the Salmon River watershed. The 2 Township of Central Frontenac has the most land within the watershed (303 km ), 2 2 2 followed by Stone Mills (290 km ), Tyendinaga (116 km ), Addington Highlands (90 km ), 2 2 Greater Napanee (87 km ), North Frontenac (26 km ), the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory 2 2 2 (7.3 km ), Tweed (1.7 km ) and Belleville (0.04 km ).
4.4 Lakes, Water Control Structures and Topography
There are a remarkable number of lakes in the Salmon River watershed. The fifty-seven lakes in the watershed whose names are known to the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) are identified in Map 6, ranked by surface area. The largest is
12 The Salmon River Habitat Strategy: Identifying Priority Sites for Habitat Restoration in the Salmon River Watershed 2 2 2 Beaver Lake (5.5 km ), followed by Kennebec Lake (5.1 km ), Big Clear Lake (3.2 km ), 2 2 Hungry Lake (2.7 km ), and White Lake (1.8 km ).
Map 7 identifies the creeks whose names are known to the OMNR, along with the locations of water control structures on the Salmon River and the sites where the Salmon River watershed's fisheries were assessed by the OMNR in 2004 and 2005. The findings of this recent fisheries research will be published in a forthcoming companion document entitled Fisheries and Fish Habitat of the Salmon River Watershed: A State of the Resource Report, 2004-2005.
The topology of the Salmon River watershed is represented by a Digital Elevation Model in Map 7. The northern reaches of the watershed have a rugged topography of,. rocky ridges and valleys, while the southern portion is characterized by more gently undulating hills and a gradual descent toward the Bay of Quinte. Notice that the midpoint of the watershed's elevation is shown in lemon yellow.
4.5 Documented Natural Features of Regional or Provincial Significance
The watershed is rich with natural treasures, and includes many Provincially Significant Wetlands (PSWs) and Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSls), as shown on Map 9. Furthermore, the quality of wildlife habitat is complemented by significant natural areas to the east and to the west of the watershed. The watershed's landscape context is presented in Map 10. Brief descriptions of the watershed's Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest and Provincially Significant Wetlands are included at the end of this document, as Appendices Band C.
5.0 Method
5.1 Database Compilation
The spatial data for this study were obtained from the Natural Resources & Values Information System (NRVIS), which provides data from Ontario Base Maps in digital form. The Ontario Base Map data for the Salmon River watershed were derived from early 1990s aerial photography, and referenced to the North American Datum 1983 Universal Transverse Mercator projection. The digital map data were analyzed and portrayed using ESRI ArcMAP 8.2 software.
The Salmon River Habitat Strategy: 13 Identifying Priority Sites for Habitat Restoration in the Salmon River Watershed 5.2 Wetland Habitat Analysis
Amount of wetland habitat The amount of wetland habitat in the watershed was calculated by merging the NRVIS evaluated wetland layer with the wetland layer, removing areas that overlapped the , ~, ' ".' . water layer, and trimming the combined wetland layer to the watershed boundary. Watershed wetland sizes were then calculated and summed.
Natural vegetation adjacent to wetlands Adjacent lands within 100 metres of wetlands were identified by creating a 1~O-metre buffer around the combined wetland layer, removing the areas that overlapped the combined wetland layer itself and the water layer, and trimming to the watershed boundary. Wooded adjacent lands were identified by isolating areas where the adjacent lands overlapped the forest layer. Unwooded adjacent lands were identified by removing areas where adjacent lands overlapped the forest layer.
5.3 Riparian Habitat Analysis
Proportion of stream length naturally vegetated The proportion of the watershed's stream lengths that are naturally wooded were identified by making a 1O-centimetre filled buffer around features of the rivers-and streams layer, trimming to the watershed boundary, removing areas where streams overlapped the combined wetlands layer created for this study and also the water layer to locate lands within 10 centimetres of streams, and then isolating areas where the resulting stream layer overlapped the forest layer.
Natural vegetation adjacent to streams Riparian areas within 30 metres of streams were identified by making a 3D-metre buffer around features of the rivers-and-streams layer, trimming it to the watershed boundary, and removing areas that overlapped the combined wetlands layer created for this study and the water layer. Wooded riparian areas within 30 metres of streams were identified by isolating areas where the resulting riparian layer overlapped the forest layer. Unwooded riparian areas within 30 metres of streams were identified by removing areas where the riparian layer overlapped the forest layer. Special consideration was then given to the Precambrian Shield portion of the watershed: most unwooded riparian areas on the Shield were recognized as probable natural rock barrens, and so were considered to be in their natural state.
Naturally vegetated riparian areas within 30 metres of lakes are also important to the health of the watershed, so although they are not included among the habitat statistics suggested by the Environment Canada guidelines, unwooded riparian areas within 30
14 The Salmon River Habitat Strategy: Identifying Priority Sites for Habitat Restoration in the Salmon River Watershed metres of lakes were included on the map of potential restoration sites. The procedure for identifying these potential stream bank restoration sites followed the method of identifying potential stream bank restoration sites described above.
5.4 Forest Habitat Analysis . ,
Amount of forest cover The amount of forest habitat in the watershed was calculated by trimming the forest layer to the watershed boundary, removing areas that overlapped the water layer, and then calculating and summing the area covered by the resulting forest layer.
Size of the largest forest patch To reflect the actual size of the watershed's continuous forest patches, the size of the largest forest patches were calculated after removing the water layer from the forest layer, but without trimming the forest layer to the watershed boundary.
Interior forest habitat An innovative approach was developed to identify interior forest patches. Because the Salmon River watershed is richly laced with streams and wetlands, the nature of the forest edge merits special attention. Two-hundred metre interior forest patches have conventionally been identified as the core areas 200 metres or more from the edge of a forest patch. However, this convention does not take into consideration what happens when a narrow area of water or wetland divides an otherwise continuous area of forest. Usually in forested systems, a gap must be at least one tree height wide to be considered an edge. Gaps of less than 20 metres would not create a forest edge if they are created by open water or wetlands, but roadways more than 15 metres wide would (OMNR Biologist Dawn Burke, e-mail communication, 17 December 2004). The following strategy was designed to measure interior forest habitat, with a more realistic definition of what creates a forest edge:
• First, areas that overlapped the water layer were removed from the forest layer;
• Second, an eight-metre filled buffer of the resulting forest layer was created (to make a layer showing areas up to eight metres outside of forest patches merged with the forest patches themselves);
• Third, this expanded forest layer was trimmed back 208 metres around all expanded forest patches (by drawing a -208 metre filled buffer);
• The resulting layer was then trimmed to the extent of the original forest layer, to produce a layer representing interior forest patches.
The Salmon River Habitat Strategy: 15 Identifying Priority Sites for Habitat Restoration in the Salmon River Watershed Proximity to other forest patches To determine which of the watershed's forest patches were within two kilometres of another forest patch, a two-kilometre filled buffer was created around the forest layer, conglomerating all forest patches within two kilometres of one another. , , 5.5 Analysis of Precambrian Shield and Limestone Bedrock Portions of the Watershed
Wildlife habitats on the Precambrian Shield and limestone bedrock components of the watershed were assessed both together and individually to reveal the contrasting habitat conditions on the Precambrian Shield and limestone bedrock components of the watershed. Most of the residents of the Salmon River watershed live in the southern portion, which is underlain by limestone bedrock, The northern portion of the watershed rests upon the Precambrian Shield, and is largely covered with natural successional second growth vegetation.
The Precambrian Shield and limestone bedrock portions of the watershed was defined by surficial geology as identified in the Ontario Geological Survey special report on the physiography of Southern Ontario (Chapman & Putnam, 1984). The analysis of the wetland, riparian and forest habitats on the Precambrian Shield and limestone bedrock components followed the habitat analysis procedures that were applied to the watershed as a whole,
6.0 Results
The Salmon River watershed meets most of the minimum habitat requirements suggested by Environment Canada, as shown in Table 3. The priority sites for restoration effort are unwooded adjacent lands within 100 metres of wetlands and unwooded riparian areas within 30 metres of streams. Most of these potential rehabilitation sites are on the limestone bedrock portion of the watershed, as shown in Maps 12 and 13.
16 The Salmon River Habitat Strategy: Identifying Priority Sites for Habitat Restoration in the Salmon River Watershed Table 3. Existing Conditions of the Salmon River Watershed
Salmon River Guideline Watershed , . Amount of More than 10% of the watershed area 11.7% wetland habitat should be wetland Natural vegetation Uplands within 100 metres of wetlands 92.3%' adjacent to should have natural vegetation (forest wetlands cover)
Proportion of 75% of stream length should be naturally 78.9% stream length vegetated naturally vegetated Natural vegetation Streams should have a minimum 30 80.7% adjacent to metres wide naturally vegetated adjacent streams lands area on both sides
Amount of At least 30% of the watershed should be 70.3% forest cover in forest cover Size of the largest The watershed should have at least one 15122 ha forest patch forest patch that is >200 ha in area and >500 mwide
Interior forest More than 5% of the watershed should 27.8% habitat have forest cover 200 metres or further from the forest edge
Proximity to other To be of maximum us to species such as All forest forested patches forest-interior birds, forest patches should patches are be within two kilometres of one another or within 2 km of other supporting habitat features another forest patch
Guidelines adapted from Environment Canada (2004), p. 6 Data Source: 1991-1996 aerial photography digitized for Ontario Base Maps
1 Unwooded adjacent lands on the Precambrian Shield that were identified as probable natural rock barrens were not considered potential restoration s;tes
The Salmon River Habitat Strategy: 17 Identifying Priority Sites for Habitat Restoration in the Salmon River Watershed 6.1 Wetland Habitat
Amount of wetland habitat Environment Canada recommends that there be more than ten per cent of the area of a watershed as wetland habitat. The existing conditions of the Salmon River watershed narrowly surpasses this minimum requirement, with wetland habitat making up 11.7% of the total watershed area. The wetlands are well distributed across the watershed, and the minimum requirements are met on both the Precambrian Shield and limestone bedrock portions of the watershed, as shown in Table 4.
Natural vegetation adjacent to wetlands Less than ten per cent of the adjacent areas within 100 metres of wetlands appear to lack forest cover, and are included among the priority sites for restoration illustrated in Maps 12 and 13. Table 4 shows the stark contrast that exists between the Precambrian Shield and limestone bedrock portions of the watershed, in terms of forest cover adjacent to wetlands. The limestone bedrock portion of the watershed shows a need for reforestation around wetlands, with only 64.3% forest cover on the adjacent lands within 100 metres of wetlands.
Table 4. Existing Wetland Habitat in the Salmon River Watershed
Entire Precambrian Limestone Guideline Watershed Shield Portion Portion (921 km') (529 km') (392 km')
Amount of wetland >10% 11.7% 12.1% 11.1% habitat
Natural vegetation 100% of 92.3%' 99.7%' 64.3% adjacent to upland areas wetlands within 100 m
Guidelines adapted from Environment Canada (2004). p. 6 Data Source: 1991-1996 aerial photography digitized for Ontario Base Maps Unwooded adjacent lands on the Precambrian Shield that were identified as probable natural rock barrens were not considered potential restoration sites
18 The Salmon River Habitat Strategy: Identifying Priority Sites for Habitat Restoration in the Salmon River Watershed 6.2 Riparian Habitat
Proportion of stream length naturally vegetated Environment Canada recommends that at least 75% of a watershed's total stream length be naturally vegetated. The existing conditions of the Salmbn:"River watershed narrowly surpasses this minimum requirement, with 78.9% of the watershed's total stream length passing through forest cover. However, streams on the Precambrian Shield portion of the watershed have far more forest cover than do streams on the limestone bedrock portion, as shown in Table 5. This indicates a need for restoration effort along stream banks in the southern part of the watershed.
Natural vegetation adjacent to streams Some of the adjacent lands within 30 metres of streams appear to lack forest cover, and are included among the priority sites for restoration illustrated in Maps 12 and 13. Table 5 shows a striking contrast between the Precambrian Shield and limestone bedrock portions of the watershed, in terms of forest cover along stream banks.
On the limestone bedrock portion of the watershed, only 38.1 % of the adjacent lands within 30 metres of streams have forest cover. This finding underscores the need for restoration effort along stream banks in the southern part ofthe watershed.
Table 5. Existing Riparian Habitat in the Salmon River Watershed
Entire Precambrian Limestone Guideline Watershed Shield Portion Portion (921 km') (529 km') (392 km')
Proportion of >75% 78.9% 89.1% 52.5% stream length naturally vegetated Natural vegetation 100% of 80.7% 98.4% 38.1% adjacent to upland areas streams within 30 m
Guidelines adapted from Environment Canada (2004), p. 6 Data Source: 1991·1996 aerial photography digitized for Ontario Base Maps Unwooded adjacent lands on the Precambrian Shield that were identified as probable natural rock barrens were not considered potential restoration sites
The Salmon River Habitat Strategy: 19 Identifying Priority Sites for Habitat Restoration in the Salmon River Watershed 6.3 Forest Habitat
Amount of forest cover Environment Canada recommends that there be forest cover on more than 30% of a watershed's total area. The existing conditions of the Sallil6nRiverwatershed satisfy this minimum requirement, with natural second growth forest covering 70.3% of watershed's total area. Impressively, there is forest cover on most of the northern part of the watershed, on the Precambrian Shield. However, only about half ofthe land on the southern, lirnestone bedrock portion of the watershed currently has forest cover, as shown in Table 6.
Size of the largest forest patch Both the Precambrian Shield and limestone bedrock portions of the watershed have large areas of contiguous forest cover that easily surpass the recommended 200-hectare minimum size.
Interior forest habitat Environment Canada suggests that 200-metre interior forest habitat should extend over more than 5% of a watershed's total area. The existing conditions of the Salmon River watershed exceed this minimum requirement, with 200-metre interior forest habitat covering 27.8% of the watershed's total area. However, there is a strong contrast between the interior forest habitat conditions on and off the Precambrian Shield, as illustrated in Map 11. There is almost three times as much interior forest habitat on the Precambrian Shield as there is on the limestone bedrock portion of the watershed, with interior forest habitat covering 38.6 and 13.4% of the land, respectively. The quality of the forest interior was not assessed.
Proximity to other forest patches All of the watershed's forest patches are less than two kilometres away from another forest patch.
20 The Salmon River Habitat Strategy: Identifying Priority Sites for Habitat Restoration in the Salmon River Watershed Table 6. Existing Forest Habitat in the Salmon River Watershed
Entire Precambrian Limestone Guideline Watershed' 'Shield Portion Portion (921 km') (529 km') (392 km')
Amount of >30% 70.3% 85.6% 49.5% forest cover
Size of the largest >200 ha 15122 ha 15122 ha 3825 ha forest patch
Interior forest >5% 27.8% 38.6% 13.4% habitat
Proximity to other Within 2 km of forested patches another forest patch
Guidelines adapted from Environment Canada (2004), p. 6 Data Source: 1991-1996 aerial photography digitized for Ontario Base Maps
6.4 Summary of Existing Habitat Conditions on the Precambrian Shield and Limestone Bedrock Portions of the Watershed
Almost all of the priority sites for habitat restoration are found on the limestone bedrock portion ofthe watershed, as shown on Maps 12 and 13. A comparison of the wetland, riparian and forest habitat conditions in the watershed are presented in Table 7, with the greatest opportunities for improvement identified in bold. There is a clear need to restore forest cover within 30 metres of streams and within 100 metres of wetlands on the limestone bedrock portion of the watershed.
The Precambrian Shield portion of the watershed appears to be providing high quality fish and wildlife habitat, according to the guidelines recommended by Environment Canada. However, many potential wetland and riparian habitat rehabilitation sites have been identified on the limestone bedrock portion of the watershed. It is easy to see that at present, the Salmon River watershed's most important habitat restoration priority should be stream bank reforestation in the limestone bedrock portion of the watershed.
The Salmon River Habitat Strategy: 21 Identifying Priority Sites for Habitat Restoration in the Salmon River Watershed Table 7. Existing Conditions On the Precambrian Shield and Limestone Bedrock Portions of the Salmon River Watershed
Entire Precambrian Limestone Guideline Watershed, ·ShieldPortion Portion 2 2 2 (921 km ) (529 km ) (392 km )
Amount of wetland >10% 11.7% 12.1% 11.1% habitat Natural vegetation 100% of 92.3%' 99.7%' 64.3% adjacent to upland areas wetlands within 100 m
Proportion of >75% 78.9% 89.1% 52.5% stream length naturally vegetated Natural vegetation 100% of 80.7% 98.4% 38.1% adjacent to upland areas streams within 30 m
Amount of >30% 70.3% 85.6% 49,5% forest cover Size of the largest >200 ha 15122ha 15122 ha 3825 ha forest patch
I nterior forest >5% 27.8% 38,6 13.4% habitat
Proximity to other Within 2 km of forested patches another forest patch
Guidelines adapted from Environment Canada (2004), p. 6 Data Source: 1991-1996 aerial photography digitized for Ontario Base Maps Unwooded adjacent lands on the Precambrian Shield that were identified as probable natural rock barrens were not considered potential restoration sites
22 The Salmon River Habitat Strategy: Identifying Priority Sites for Habitat Restoration in the Salmon River Watershed 7.0 Conclusion
This study has found that stream bank reforestation presents the greatest opportunity to restore fish and wildlife habitat in the Salmon River watershed. There are also areas adjacent to wetlands where naturally vegetated buffers should,be established to protect water quality and enhance wildlife habitat. Almost all of the priority restoration sites are located on the limestone bedrock portion of the watershed.
The expansive wetland and forest areas of the Precambrian Shield portion of the watershed provide important ecological services to residents downstream. In addition to providing quality wildlife habitat, these natural areas alleviate flooding and drought. Appreciation, conservation and restoration of the Salmon River watershed's natural wealth will ensure that it remains a healthy watershed home for a rich diversity of living things, including people.
The Salmon River Habitat Strategy: 23 Identifying Priority Sites for Habitat Restoration in the Salmon River Watershed References
Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan Coordinating Committee (1993). The Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan Stage Two Report: Time to Act. , , Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan (2003). Map of Bay of Quinte Area of Concern. Accessed on 24 March 2005. www.bgrap.ca/downloads/AOC%20map.pdf
Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem (2002), Accessed on 24 March 2005. www.on.ec.gc.ca/laws/coa/agreemente.html
Chapman, LJ., and Putnam, D,F. (1984). Ontario Geological Survey Special Volume 2: The Physiography of Southern Ontario, 3rd edition, Toronto: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.
Environment Canada (2004). How Much Habitat is Enough? A Framework for Guiding Habitat Rehabilitation in Great Lakes Areas of Concern, Second Edition, Downsview, Ontario: Canadian Wildlife Service. Available on-line at www.on.ec.gc.ca/wildlife/publications-e.html
Environment Canada (2005). Species at Risk. Accessed on 23 October 2005. www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca
International Joint Commission (2003). The Status of Restoration Activities in the Great Lakes Areas of Concern. Accessed on 21 March 2005, www.ijc.org/php/publications/html/aocrep/english/reportlindex.html
Natural Heritage Information Centre (2005), Natural Areas List. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources - Science and Information Branch. Accessed on 23 October 2005. nhic.mnr.gov.on.ca/MNR/nhic/areas/areaslist.cfm
24 The Salmon River Habitat Strategy: Identifying Priority Sites for Habitat Restoration in the Salmon River Watershed Appendix A - Maps
, ,
The Salmon River Habitat Strategy: 25 Identifying Priority Sites for Habitat Restoration in the Salmon River Watershed 1018335049600 1018340049600 1993 1993 1993
1993 1018355049550 i
1018355049500 1993 1991
1018330lJ49400 1993
Index to Ontario Base Maps
1018350049650 Ontario Base Map Sheet
1991 ~1996 Year of OBM Air Photography
Natural Second Growth Forests
1018330049250 Wetlands 1996 The Salmon River
Water
The Salmon River Watershed
Sa'e
'i'M,< "'''P "·,,,p/"(!pw'"
o 5 10 -====o"'''''======>, Kilometres 1018320049050 1018340049050 1993 1991 1991
10183200490.00 '1018330049000 1993" 1993 I Napanee Kingston• 20000 360000 370000
i I. :·1 'I !'I
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il II
Precambrian Shield
Precambrian Shield Portion Limestone Bedrock Portion • Buildings The Salmon River Water
Il,,_," d~'n !Cwo Dbtau,odJl1"'! Ih~ Onwri" Di!!i!all'vl''''Ic"pn" [J{J,,,b(l,e. uori,"
"/1,;, "'''I' i, ill""rUiWe""I!/. DO' ,wi '-.:/Y"" ir", h"'''9'' 1"'"'-;>" j"dkU! '1M, "'''I' ,,,,_, )""I1",."d hy Me/odie G"OCHi'n'- the Sal",,,,, Rn",,' II"bil~' S"."n.'9~ a rmjecl~ftl"'C"""d,,-O"t l>ul>lishc<'! Oolobe,' 2003 o 5 10 ---- Kilometres f)Ontario © 2005, Queen's Printer fo1' Ontario and its licensors. J\lJuy 110t be repl'oduced withoutpcrmission. •Cloyne Mountain Grove • , , I 'I Kala'dar • !I Surficial Geology Precambrian deposits (800 to 544 million years ago) Igneous and metamorphic rocks Paleozoic Deposits (544 to 230 million years ago) Ordovician limestone Pleistocene Deposits (2 million to 11,000 years ago) Sandy, extremely stony till Glaciofluvial outwash of gravel and sand • Glaciofluvial Ice-contact deposits of gravel and sand Sandy silt till Sand and silty sand till Glaciolacustrine deposits of sand and gravel Silt, clay and sand Recent Deposits Peal, muck and marl Nvl,'_" IIQ," d~", were nbrau,ed ft""" Ihe O"wr;o Di(I;,,,l T"l'ogmpl,ic D"I"ll~'", Jo,i,,"dfmm 199"'" "c"a/p/,aluynJIJII.' I"" ,;cale ~"':1O ","'_ UTILfGri This ""'I' ;., i/l!L,o"am" "nlv. V" not "01[1 "" i, ".' being a p,,,d,,' illdica!OI' ~{"OI1'O' I"cati"m ~(re"nrrcs, 110,'a> u 911;U[' (~rrat'iY(lllvll, TIIL< mdl' ,"'as pl"epm'ro i>y Melodio Gl'oolljVI' tlw Salmon Rwel' /labltat Stn''''9Y, a p!'~j.ct ,,{the ['aaduu-Oll/acj" '\~I'c"m~n/ lk'p",'n'1I9 the Gn' o 5 10 ;.,""===""..;=====,;, Kilometres Shahnonvi11e • © 2005, Queen's Pl'illi'er fol' OntaJ'io and its licensoJ's. wI ay not be rep10 0duced without pelomission. ®Ontario I Soils Rock Outcrop' Sandy Loam L Farmington Loam --" : Peat : Dummer Loam I Other Hydric Soils i ~!!! ~ Otonahee Loam st. Peters Gravelly Sandy Loam f Rock Outcrop Emily Loam White Lake Gravelly Sandy Loam Hinchinbrooka Loam I Wendigo Loamy Sand I Rock Outcrop SOlmesville Clay Loam Cramahe Gravelly Loam -l Amellasburg Clay Loom Monteagle Sandy Loam! Rock Outcrop Sidney Clay Tweed Sandy loam ~ OlherClay Tioga Sandy Loam Waler SUlI, data ""'re obtained from S"'-l'e_~, cuJ!d""'''Gj(W the OmW1Q Mj",'_,rry ,!fAyr-;",,/hnT amll';JoIdjmm 1945'" ''''''3. °Othe,.d~y"j"'·I!ld"'M~"'''w. 1:7mb,ouk. Il'uupu". S{)/"'e_,uii/,', Sm,th [J~'I, Si,inql@d Lim/_'''v d(,-~> '1M" mup i_< ill!L "/1,;s mop u:as 1"'CJ"""c/ by ;1Ie/odi" Ut"m'.Im· the Salmm' llie",· Ilobitat ~"'Qf"9Y. "Jl'"<{iedqftho C(lrwc/ o 5 10 ... Kilometres Ii i I ,I!I II. Crown Land Crown Land Provincial Parks Conservation Authority Lands Wetlands Natural Second Growth Forests Water • Buildings Municipal Boundaries The Salmon River Watershed Il",,-C dam ,,',... " "I,I"",edj,-"", the OntQriu Di!l;'a/ T"pogmphic Databu>e. dem'cu/m", '990'.< uel'tl/pl,,,'a9I'tll,iL, "''' _,mlen,-,,,,,,,,,,,_ (T,ll IMd X,,"e ,8, N.-I/> ",N;; 11,;.' ""')1 i,- iII"-,n·,,ri,~, ""Iy. Du "''' ,-e/y c'n II ,<> bel""" p,-e";se ,,,J!c,I/OI' t.,-,,,u«-, l(Jmti,.,,_, 'If/canw!!." ",,1" U.< " guide /" ,w"'!I"riv .. , This mup ".'" ''''''PlIl"cd r,y .\Ie/oldIe /;cc' o 5 10 EH Kilometres 57 37 4 7 30 34 Mountain Grove • , , 54 10 3' 27 20 6 25 H 29 53 1948 '39 3544 8 9 '3 Lakes in the Watershed Ranked by Area 1 Beatie,. Lnke 21 RockLake 41 Biddy's Lake 2 Kennebe,' Lnke 22 C"unbrI'I'Y Lake 42 Ron's Lake :> Big Clear Lake 23 CuI/Lake 48 Perry's Lake ~ Hungry Lake 24 Sto/'y Lakr~ 44 McNeil Mud Lake 5 WIii/eLak!! 2S Dutch Lake 45 Shedwick Lake 6 B,,/I Lake 26 Cl'rJtch Lake 46 Benny's Lake Tamworth55 7 iHinkLake 27 Big Mm-[ Lake 47 Bishop Lake • 8 Puzzl~ Lake 28 A"dell Lake 48 Lillie McNeil Lake 9 Sheffield Long Lake 29 iHcNeil Lukes 49 Nol'ww; Mud Lake 10 BuckLake 30 Long Narrow l,ake 50 Rp.id L~kes 11 Horseshoe Lake 31 L09M Lake 51 Hannah Lake 12 IHud Lake 32 Kellar Lake 52 Lillie Bishop Lake 13 Norway Lake 33 West CrunbflTY Lake 53 Lyman Luke 14 Garrison Lake 3.J BWTsLah' 54 Little kIm-J Lake 15 Wal/bridge Lake 35 Littl~ NOl'lmy Lake 55 Hughes Lake 16 Cux's Lake 36 Carie Lake 56 Dry Lake i Croydon 17 South Cranberry} Lake 37 fl1kLake 57 CH('wnber [(lke • 18 Smali Clem' Lake 38 Cedar Lake 56 19 Big McNeil Lake S9 P/eas(lllt Lake 20 Thompson Lflke 40 Little Gull Lake 43 n", 11';_, '~"I' ,,:u, p",'p,,,..,d iJU Mehlie fil""'''}'''' the S(limon U,,'O" !labiwt S'lml{!IY, {1 I"Wect ~f tI,o Cm",du-OnWl'ioAqc"omenr /k'pectmFJ 'he (;''''''( u,ke" Bu"" ","",,),10'" _4 1'"b1i,I,ea V<-"ol,<', ~005 o 5 10 EF95!::::EF95!::::EF9======:::l' Kilometres •Kingsford Lonsdale • •Shannonville Cloyne • --'") lJ Mountain Grove . ~ 9 "''''~ ""tdan , , 9 9 Kaladar • Fisheries Assessment Sites Water Control Structures and Named Creeks @ Water Control Structures on the Salmon River i9 Fisheries Assessment Sites, Summer 2005 'f1:: Fisheries Assessment Sites, Summer 2004 "eu'; ( TlW./"/W"il'Sd"fa will be P"os~"fed in u co"'J1w Ha.'o dar~ 'C'N,' obt«"led fr'Om IIw 0'1101"" [Jig'la/ T"l'rJgml'hie Database, deri.,,,,dfmm 'Q90',,,,,,-i,,1 ph~lorll'upIL< Iv a .,,,,It' ViI;W OM. UTM GridXm,e ,8, NAI") "1$;;_ 11Ii" map j, ill".,I,.,m',," Olil'l. I)" IiO' "'Iy I}II il'lS od"y" 1m'",,,' 'ndi"(ilurujmilf,·s. {"<"Gri",," '!Ui"wm<. no.' <1.< a 9,,;do 1<, '''''';9~ri(Jn /::' TI"" mup W'iS I"'''pan-d hy Mclod,'c G>"L'Onfm' Iho Saimon !live,' J lab't'lt Stmteyy. f 8 " [,,".fect of Ihe C,,,,,,,i(i·Olltari,, Agl'c<'""",r /le"I"""I'''9 110<' Urell! Luke, Bu"" Em"!lstem. :lddirim,,,( ,',"pie.< ,' o Napanee Kingston. @ . @Shannonville Deseronto ®Ontario @200.'), Queen's •Mountain Grove •Arden , , •Kafadar Digital Elevation Model • The Salmon River Elevation I High: 380 metres I Low: 75 metres .Vare.'· [Jas~ , This ,:,ap i., ;/{~.'rmri,,, only. Du nut ,,,lyon it ag hoing " weds," indiC"<11Q1' ~frou"'-, /omnm,,,. ,,(Je.:,~,",.. ,. no!" as a 9,,;,k to "m"gM,,,,, Tit", map wo.' prcpm-ed by Md",/ic G"~enJ{)r the Salmon Nit'<'" lIab,ral Strateqy, a p"~ieot qfth. Cm'Qc/,,-O"turia A!JT"'me~t Re. Puhlished Oew/,e,· !IOU., o 5 10 EH EH Kilometres ® Ontario @2005, Queen's PI'intel'jm' Ontario and its licens01'S. 1Iiay not be I'CPI'oclllcecl wii"lwlltpcr·mission. Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest and Provincially Significant Wetlands Areas of Natura! and Scientific Interest Provincially Significant Wetlands Wetlands Natural Second Growth Forests Water liliiii Buildings Municipal Boundaries The Salmon River Watershed /la,,,. .1m" W",·~ Dhtain"rlf,.om 11," On/ado Uigital TO/lOYJ""phic DatabOM, dco";,,,,/ ko", JGgo'sao,.ial ph<>wyr"ph, tu a om/" qft-'w 000. UDI G,idZ,,,," 18. NAP 1983. TiIi, mal' i_< ill".,rl'Util'O only_ Do "a! "dy un it 05 b'''''9 a p,'"d.," indicato,- of murc.'. lororio"" ofl""tl.!r"s, "m' fiS (l 9,,;<1,· ,,, nmngatiOlL The, mal' 'V".< pt!!pm"d hy Mdodie G'·'~·n.l;'r 'ho Sa/mol! /Ii,w Hab!tat Stmfeyy, a project 0/1Iw Cw",du-O!,tm;o .'\grW"'"'lt Respooting 110<' fl'''''' Lak",> Ea_,;" 1i Publi. o 5 10 Kilometres Landscape Context Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest Provincially Significant Wetlands Wetlands Natural Second Growth Forests I11III Buildings Water Salmon River Watershed Boundary .V~I{·5. Base data we,." (lhl 11,1> "'''P !5111'L,trur;!'e ,,"/y. Do nut ...,ly m! ,/ as b~i"g a p,,,d,,. ,,,,rica/Dr "frD"'"", /"",,,iuns oj.teature" "m- "" (J puid~ to nm,jg(tli"n. ThIS map was ;"';1'<11<,<1 by MeiDdic G,'""" lor lil~ Salmon IIh'r Habitat Sf! aNgy. a P' ~JCN oj llie Ca""da.()nl 5 10 Kilometres II III .1 II IIi Interior Forest Habitat 200m Interior Forest Patches Natural Second Growth Forests Wetlands Water • Buildings Municipal Boundaries The Salmon River Watershed BU5. <,y,..,pl,ic Data!>,,"". deri,,,,"}i,,,,, 1'!9,,·sac";Qlphoto~raph., ,,, a.,,,,/e qfl:W 000. [ffMG,-id ZOllO ,13. NAD '98:;. 11li.' "lOp ;, m"WnRU" OI,/y. l)~ "oO,,/y 01' it,,, bd"9 " I,,~c,- rhis m"l' was prepar"d by Mdodio G,e""fol" the Salmon Ru'",' Habitat Sh-ute9g. " pO'''i,,,! offl .. ("",,,,",,·OmOlio ..tgr""mc/lt R.'p"oli"g t/," G'"a{ toke_, /l,,_';n lio"-'lI_'fl!m, Additim",l cork' <"" be obtai"." by ,-ontact;"g: Mini,tr-y,!i"Nuru"a/ Re."""",,e', ";"9. Publi. o 5 10 Kilometres ® Ontario © 200,5, Queen's Pl'i.nteJ'fol' Ontm'i.o and its licensOl'S. iI-Jay not be repl"oduced without pm"mission. , \ Potential Restoration Sites • Potential Restoration Sites within 30m of Shorelines II Potential Restoration Sites within 1DOm of Wetlands Provincially Significant Wetlands Wetlands ~jWater • Buildings Municipal Boundaries The Salmon River Watershed Ha. This mal' i_< ilI,L"l".,tirc ""Iy. I)" nat !'ely 0" it ".' or;"g a precis" ;ndiomot" or route, locations ~U"an,,"c.', IH>I" as a g,,;d~ W "aI.igarivIl_ Th!> mup "'". prepared b.u Me/oldie Groe1!furt/wSa/pnan //.it_or Hdb'/a/sn"{]rogy, a pmjtx't ofrhe Canada-O"tw;" "gr"em~nt R<'SpON;Plg the Gl'ca! Lake., no,;n Erosy'/OI" Additim!lllcopjes "'10 b""h1<,ineri by rontactiny: .l'liniso·y ~fNawral H•. 'O"',",'5. Ki".Q,tml,-ll·cQ OJiicc. P. O. /!o_' :"'J43,5llIcak< I.GIIc. k-",y.'I"" ON K;;-M 9Dl Telcphonc: (613) 531-5:0(1 o 5 10 EE3!!!1:::EE3!!!1:::ES::====::Ji Kilometres ~~Or;ta;b __::'CL ______LWL __ ~L"-'0©~2~O;O;;S5:;,(Q),u~e;e;n;;-;;'s~pP;:,.ii,~,"te~"~·fi~O;;l' Onta1'io und its licens01·S. Jl1uy not be repl'oduced withoutpcl·mission. Cloyne • -~N6rthbr6bk ~tainGrove . ' ~en ' • Big CieSf , , Kaladar • Water Quality Sampling Sites and Potential Restoration Sites Water Quality Sampling Sites (MOE, Aug 2005) The Salmon River • Potential Restoration Sites within 30m of Shorelines III Potential Restoration Sites within 100m of Wetlands The Salmon River Watershed "[h" wnt 8Q;C data we". ubtoh,edJi-mn tlw O,,,, ... io !Jig,"t,,1 'ropuympl!,c DClwbu,,,. ,ierill'.,lfrQl" 'Q90',,,et',,,1 pholtJ91'"pils to" .1TI1leu(l:lO ()(W. (IT!I-I G",d20"" 1i1, N.. W ,,,,~.~. 1M, mal' i_< ill". Thi, ",~p !!' o 5 10 c .;,--f'-....J eeaa:::Eeaa:::Eeaa:=====' Kilometres '", ( C," ":{ r , Napanee Kingston. © 2005, Queen's PJointer for Ontario and its licensoJ'S, llfay not be JoepJooduced without permission. Appendix B - Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest The Salmon River watershed includes ten Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI's), listed here by area from the largest to the smallest. The following descriptions have been adapted from the Natural Heritage Informatio(l,Cenlre's on-line Natural Areas List, with supplemental information added where available. The locations of these Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest are identified on Map 9. Hungry Lake Barrens Provincially-Significant Life Science ANSI 4953 hectares within the Salmon River watershed, 5214 hectares total area The Hungry Lake Barrens may be the largest relatively undisturbed granite bedrock barrens area in southern Ontario. Characterized by vast areas of bare granite Upland forests feature predominantly pine, poplar and oak. Extensive Red Oak stands dominate ridges, with White Oak being a locally important co-dominant along the north shore of Hungry Lake. White Pine is common and is particularly well expressed in an almost pure stand on the large island in Hungry Lake. The reason for the existence of this almost pure stand is that it was isolated from the forest fire which affected the surrounding area in the late 1940's. White Pine and Red Pine, although present in the surrounding area, rarely occur in pure stands of more than 10-12 trees and usually have a considerable herb and shrub understory. There is very little development of an understory on the large island in Hungry Lake. More extensive stands of young to medium aged hardwoods (Poplar, Red Oak) occur in the north and east of the Hungry Lake Barrens, with White Pine being frequently co dominant. The Red Oak here is in a parkland-like setting with Large-toothed Aspen and White Oak, which is an unusual situation for this area. Extensive Red Oak - Red Maple - White Pine forests form on slightly more moist sites where some soil has developed in the southwest and northern portions of the site. The majority of aquatic and wetland vegetation was typical of boggy, bedrock controlled acidic situation (such as those also seen in the Elzevir Peatlands and Barrens site). The oak parkland, however, may produce a variety of prairie-like plant species that are rare in this portion of Ontario. Hungry Lake Barrens is southeastern Ontario's only known site of the provincially rare knotweed Polygonum careyi. The Salmon River Habitat Strategy: 27 Identifying Priority Sites for Habitat Restoration in the Salmon River Watershed Puzzle Lake Regionally-Significant Life Science ANSI 2138 hectares within the Salmon River watershed, 2988 hectares total area The Puzzle Lake ANSI is a large, diverse and relatively undisturbed area that features a mosaic of rock barrens, wetlands, coniferous and deciduous fdrest, igneous rock cliffs and many lakes and shorelines. Its wildlife habitat values are enhanced by proximity to other significant natural ecosystems including the Frontenac Provincial Park, Kaladar Jack Pine Barrens and the Mellon Lake ANSI. The boundaries of the newly regulated Puzzle Lake Provincial Park (shown on Map 5) are drawn from property lines and do not match the boundaries of the Puzzle Lake ANSI (shown on Map 9). Puzzle Lake Provincial Park comprises 3724 hectares at the southern edge of the transition between the Precambrian Shield and Lake Ontario Lowlands, which contributes to its rich diversity of undisturbed upland and wetland habitats. The park is home to the provincially rare Shining Sumac, the nationally rare Bear Oak and an endangered plant called Toothcup. The recently discovered Bear Oak and Common Juniper rock barren is the first found in Canada. The park provides habitat to the highest known number of provincially rare species found in any such area in eastern or southern Ontario (16 plants, 1 bird, 2 mammals and 12 rare plant communities). Large portions of the park consist of tilted and alternating layers of erosion-resistant igneous rocks and more easily eroded marbles. The result is a 'ridge and valley' topography consisting of long humpbacked granitiC ridges alternating with valleys of mesic to wet, forests and wetlands. The internal drainage of the granitic rock barrens is complex and is greatly affected by beaver activity. Although exact flow rates are unknown, Puzzle Lake Provincial Park undoubtably contributes significantly to the overall volume and water quality of the Salmon River. Puzzle Lake Provincial Park will be managed by Ontario Parks as a Natural Environment class provincial park. Most recreational activities (e.g. hiking, skiing, tourism related uses, nature appreciation) that have traditionally been enjoyed in the area will continue, provided that these uses do not irnpact on the natural features needing protection. Hunting and fishing is permitted within all new provincial parks, except Nature Reserves, created through Ontario's Living Legacy. Commercial timber harvesting, mining, aggregate extraction and commercial hydroelectric development are prohibited in provincial parks. Careful mineral exploration may occur in specific new provincial parks created through Ontario's Living Legacy, in areas that have provincially significant mineral potential. If a portion of a new provincial park is to be developed for a mine, it will be removed from the park, and appropriate replacement lands will be placed in regulation. Consistent with Ontario's Living Legacy Land Use Strategy the pre-existing mining claim on this site will be managed as a "Forest Reserve" and not included as part of the regulated conservation reserve area. Policies for forest reserves are similar to those for conservation reserves, except that mining activities are permitted. Should the mining claim be retired in the future through normal processes, the claim area will be added to the conservation reserve. The next step for this newly regulated provincial park is for Ontario Parks to undertake a Park Management Plan to determine the long term managernent of this area. 28 The Salmon River Habitat Strategy: Identifying Priority Sites for Habitat Restoration in the Salmon River Watershed Westplain Mud Lake Provincially-Significant Life Science ANSI 941 hectares, entirely within the Salmon River watershed Westplain Mud Lake ANSI is an extensive headwater wetland complex contains the largest extent of open and treed fen in the district. Two lakes ~urrounded by fens, and mixed and deciduous swamp fill an extensive peatland basin. Grassed fens and treed low shrub fens are found at the south end of Mud Lake and between Mud Lake and the small lake to the west. A variety of mixed and deciduous swamp forests, composed of Larch, White Cedar, Red Maple, Silver Maple, Black Ash, White Elm, Balsam Poplar and White Birch, occupy the rest of the peatland basin. Several small uplands within the wetland are forested with Sugar Maple, White Ash and Basswood. Salmon River Alvar Provincially-Significant Life Science ANSI 506 hectares within the Salmon River watershed, 880 hectares total area Alvars are areas of flat limestone pavement with unusual vegetation that is adapted to seasonal flooding, extreme summer drought and calcareous conditions. The Salmon River Alvar is one of the richest Alvars in Ontario. Shallow depressions are flooded in the spring and after heavy rainfall but are bone-dry for much of the summer. There are small sections of open limestone pavement, and the soil depth in the alvar grassland ranges from 0-10 cm. The deepest of these soils support a variety of prairie grasses and herbs. The Salmon River Alvar exhibits the widest range of communities of any alvar within the district, and contains the largest number of provincially rare species of the alvar sites in central and eastern Ontario. Over 500 plant species have been identified, and of these, two are provincially rare, eight are nationally or provincially rare, and one is globally rare (Juniper Sedge). Juniper Sedge was previously known from three sites in Ontario, and only nine other sites world-wide (in southern Ohio and northern Kentucky). The Salmon River Alvar is home to what is almost certainly the world's largest population of Juniper Sedge, numbering several thousand plants (all on private land). Harlowe Bog Regionally-Significant Life Science ANSI 478 hectares within the Salmon River watershed, 614 hectares total area A very large peat bog, raised towards the center with a drier heath-dominated peat mat of high acidity (pH 3.5). Vegetation is dominated by bog heaths, with several species of grasses and sedges and scattered herbaceous plants. The edge of the bog has a more diverse flora. Harlowe Bog is a larger but disturbed example of peatlands found also in the Hungry Lake Barrens. Moss has been extracted from along the northern edge of the bog. The uncommon Eastern Chain-fern is abundant at Harlowe Bog. The Salmon River Habitat Strategy: 29 Identifying Priority Sites for Habitat Restoration in the Salmon River Watershed Roblin Hell Holes Provincially Significant Earth Science & Life Science ANSI 318 hectares, entirely within the Salmon River watershed Roblin Hell Holes is a small but relatively undisturbed natural area that also features well-developed moss, lichen and fern communities, including Walking ferns and Slender Cliffbrake ferns. In terms of earth science, Roblin Hell Holes is a thin-soiled limestone plain at the edge of a river valley, where prehistoric erosion and ground water has formed karst features such as with sink holes, boulder talus, "flower-pots", caves, intermittent springs, underground streams and a 20m limestone escarpment. Karst is a geological topography in which the landscape is marked by underground drainage patterns and there may be no surface drainage at all. This is usually the result of the effect of mildly acidic rainfall caused by carbonic acid on limestone and dolomite (calcarenites)'. This geological process results in distinctive features including sinkholes or dolines (closed basins), vertical shafts, disappearing streams, springs, and after sufficient time complex underground drainage systems (karst aquifers) and extensive caves. The carbonic acid which causes these features is formed as rain passes through the atmosphere picking up carbon dioxide, which dissolves in the water. Once the rain reaches the ground, it passes through the soil, gathering up more carbon dioxide to form a carbonic acid solution. This mildly acidic water naturally begins to dissolve any cracks in the rock. Over time these enlarge and the bedrock begins to dissolve. Openings in the rock increase in size, and an underground drainage system begins to develop, allowing more water to pass through, accelerating the formation of karst features. Marlbank Esker Provincially-Significant Earth Science ANSI 65 hectares within the Salmon River watershed, 258 hectares total area The Marlbank Esker is a large branching esker formed by the erosion of large blocks of bedrock due to Late Wisconsinan glacial movement. The sand and gravel components of the esker show the transition from the Canadian Shield to Paleozoic bedrock. Ore Chimney Mine Provincially-significant Earth Science ANSI 14 hectares, entirely within the Salmon River watershed Ore Chimney Mine ANSI exhibits Neohelikian, Grenville Province, Flinton Group, Bishop Corners Formation metasedimentary sequence Type Localities and Grenville Supergroup, Hermon Group, Tudor Formation metabasalt. The Ore Chimney Mine (Bey Mine) deposit was discovered in 1902. Extensive underground development was carried out between 1909 and 1915 by the Ore Chimney Mining Company. The site is currently under remediation. 30 The Salmon River Habitat Strategy: Identifying Priority Sites for Habitat Restoration in the Salmon River Watershed Shannonville Inlier Provincially-significant Earth Science ANSI 9 hectares within the Salmon River watershed, 12 hectares total area The Shannonville Inlier is an isolated hill of Precambrian bedrock situated more than 20 kilometres south of the Precambrian Shield. . , Bishop Corners Provincially-significant Life Science and Earth Science ANSI 5 hectares, entirely within the Salmon River watershed Bishop Corners features large pure stands of White Cedar in sandy soil, especially in areas that were under cultivation in the 1930's and 40's but which have been subsequently abandoned. Balsam Fir and White Elm are locally co-dominant iii low lying areas, and there are also Paper Birch and Black Cherry on upland sites. The patterns of vegetation developing on the glacial spillway sands appear to be highly dependent on land use history and reveal interesting patterns of secondary succession on relatively uniform soil. The Salmon River Habitat Strategy: 31 Identifying Priority Sites for Habitat Restoration in the Salmon River Watershed Appendix C - Provincially Significant Wetlands The Salmon River watershed includes five Provincially Significant Wetlands, listed here by area from the largest to the smallest. The information provided below was gathered from wetand evaluation reports and digital spatial data. The. locations of these Provincially Significant Wetlands are illustrated in Maps 9 al"1d~12: Kennebec Wetland Complex The Kennebec Wetland Complex extends over a vast area roughly bordered by Kennebec Lake in the south, by Big Gull Lake in the north, by Hungry and Mink Lakes in the east and by Highway 41 in the west. It is made up of hundreds of small wetlands, which added together would total over 3500 hectares (not including the areas of dry land in between). All four wetland types are represented (bog, fen, marsh and swamp), and it was determined to be a Provincially Significant Wetland even though the evaluators report having been "extremely conservative in scoring many of the evaluation categories." The Kennebec Wetland Complex serves a important reservoir for the Salmon River, easing periods of drought downstream while also protecting against flooding. (It received a flood attenuation score of 95 out of a possible 100.) The wetland evaluation was completed by Rob Snetsinger and Dale Kristensen in 1993. Mud Lake Wetland The Mud Lake wetland is a large area (943 hal featuring bog (12%), fen (7%), swamp (73% and marsh (8%) components. It is known to have provided habitat to a provincially significant animal species (Northern harrier) and seven regionally significant species (Pitcher Plant, Scheuchzeria palustris, Rhynchospora alba, Carex livida, Bog Goldenrod, Salix candida, and Dwarf Birch). The wetland evaluation was completed by Ted Mosquin and John R. Wilson in 1985. Mud Creek Wetland Situated southeast of Roblin, the Mud Creek wetland extends over five kilometres in length and 329 hectares in area. It is composed of swamp (59%) and marsh (41%), and is known to have provided habitat to four provincially significant species (Least Bittern, Marsh Wren, Pied-billed Grebe, Northern Harrier), and two regionally significant species (Virginia Rail, Green Heron). The wetland evaluation was completed by Pamela Burns and Laura Gartner in 1985. Pennell's Creek Wetland Pennell's Creek wetland is a 220-hectare wetland complex including fen (4%), swamp (72%) and marsh (24%) wetland types. It receives some of its water inputs from the Ingle bog wetland complex. It is known to have provided habitat to Least Bittern, Marsh Wren, Pied-billed Grebe and River Otter provincially significant animal species, and six regionally significant species: Virginia Rail, Green Heron, Swamp Sparrow, Drooping 32 The Salmon River Habitat Strategy: Identifying Priority Sites for Habitat Restoration in the Salmon River Watershed Wood reed, Capitate Spikerush, and Grass-of-Parnassus. It has also notable as a site for Brook Trout and Pumpkinseed spawning and rearing. The wetland evaluation was completed in 1991 by Vivian Brownell. At that time, the author indicated that the wetland complex was experiencing disturbance due to cattle grazing . . , Otter Creek Wetland The Otter Creek wetland is a 146 hectare area of swamp (73%) and marsh (27%) that receives water flowing toward the Salmon River from the Mud Lake wetland (see above). The endangered Loggerhead shrike is known to have been observed at the Otter Creek wetland, in addition to five provincially significant animal species (Pied-billed Grebe, Least Bittern, Northern Harrier, Marsh Wren, River Otter) and four regionally significant animal species (Virginia Rail, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Green Heron and Swamp Sparrow). Brook Trout were observed at the Otter Creek wetland by wetland evaluation al'ithors Pamela Burns and Darrin Richmond in 1986, who also noted disturbance by cattle. White Lake Wetland The White Lake wetland is an area of 134 hectares that has been home to River Otter, Pied-billed Grebe and Black Tern (provincially significant animal species), as well as Osprey, Green Heron, Swamp sparrow, Common Loon, Virginia Rail, Stinkpot Turtle, Mud Sedge, Juncus, Swamp Beggarticks and Small Burreed (regionally significant species). The evaluation was completed by Atkinson & Huizer Biosurveys in 1988. Big Marsh Wetland The 125-hectare Big Marsh wetland is a coastal wetland on the Bay of Quinte that consists of both swamp (57%) and marsh (43%). It has been a significant site for fishing, trapping and duck hunting by the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte, as well as a traditional migration or feeding habitat for Bald Eagles and Golden Eagles, which are listed as endangered species. Four provincially significant animal species are known to have been observed at the Big Marsh: Black Tern, Least Bittern, Caspian Tern and American Coot. The endangered species alone would have been sufficient for the Big Marsh to receive provincially significant status, but two provincially significant plant species (Carex formosa Dewey, Small Beggarticks) and two regionally significant plant species (Willow Herb, Slashed Avens) have also been found growing there. The Big Marsh provides regionally significant fish spawning and nursury habitat, earning it the maximum score of 100 in the fish habitat section of the wetland evaluation. The wetland evaluation was completed in 1995 by Jacques Whitford Environment Limited. Beaver Lake Wetland The Beaver Lake wetland is made up of swamp (89%) and marsh (11 %) components, totalling 96 hectares in area. Marsh Wren and River Otter (provincially significant animal species), and Osprey, Green Heron and Mink Frog (regionally significant animal species), were noted by the wetland evaluation author John Boxall in 1990. The Salmon River Habitat Strategy: 33 Identifying Priority Sites for Habitat Restoration in the Salmon River Watershed Biddy's Lake Wetland Biddy's Lake wetland is an area of 78 hectares that has provided habitat to Pied-billed Grebe, Red-shouldered Hawk and Marsh Wren (provincially significant animal species), and also Green Heron, Green-winged Teal, Virginia Rail and Yellow-billed Cuckoo (regionally significant animal species). The wetland evalu'atiOr1 was completed by David White in 1986. Lower Salmon River Wetland The Lower Salmon River wetland is a 73-hectare coastal wetland consisting of marsh (89%) and swamp (11%) wetland types. It has provided habitat for Caspian Terns, a provincially significant anirnal species, and also Narrow-leaved Water Plantain and Small Beggarticks, which are provincially significant plant species. The Lower Salmon River wetland helps to control shoreline erosion into the Bay of Quinte. The wetland evaluation report was completed by Atkinson and Huizer Biosurveys in 1994. 34 The Salmon River Habitat Strategy: Identifying Priority Sites for Habitat Restoration in the Salmon River Watershed Appendix D - Endangered Species As of September 2006, six endangered species are known to rely on habitat in the Salmon River watershed, The following information about these plants and animals has been adapted from background documents available on~lirEl al Environment Canada's Species at Risk website, Juniper Sedge Carex juniperorum A relatively small sedge, with leaves up to 30 cm long, and one of a group of sedges characterized by having leaf-like pistillate scales, few-flowered solitary spikes near the base of the plant, and peduncles which are expanded at their tip, The narrow pistillate scales of the Juniper Sedge lack a translucent margin and have relatively short culms, The Juniper Sedge is unique to southeastern Ontario and the southern Ohio-northern Kentucky region, In Canada, the sedge occurs only in the Salmon River Alvar area of Natural and Scientific Interest, in Lennox and Addington County, Of the fewer than 20 populations known globally for this species, only one population (with three sub populations) is currently known in Canada, The three sub-populations consist of about 600, 1000 and 5000 rhizomatous growths that probably represent far fewer individual plants, This is a sedge of alvars, which is a rare, shallow-soiled, calcareous habitat type sometimes known as cedar glade, Juniper Sedge occurs in alvar habitats that are in relatively open woodland, usually dominated by Red Cedar. Alvar habitats in Ontario are maintained in an open condition by a variety of factors including drought and fire, Alvars are very desirable for quarries, since the limestone bedrock is at or near the surface, At the Salmon River Alvar, Juniper Sedge is threatened by grazing and the expansion of an existing quarry, Gene flow between the three sub-populations is irnpeded by obstacles, even though the distances between them are less than 3 km, All three existing sub-populations of the Juniper Sedge are within a provincially significant Area of Natural and Scientific Interest, but on private land, The Salmon River Habitat Strategy: 35 Identifying Priority Sites for Habitat Restoration in the Salmon River Watershed Toothcup Rota/a ramosior This annual plant may stand erect from the stem, or curve upward from a horizontal base, to reach heights of 10-40 cm. The leaves are lanceolate to oblanceolate in shape, 1-5 cm long, with short distinct petioles. The relatively inconspicuous flowers are small (about 1 mm long), white to pinkish in colour, with a rounded hypanthium. They are usually solitary in the leafaxils. The smooth fruits are about 3 mm long. This annual plant is usually found in periodically inundated areas. The seeds germinate when they become submerged. As the habitat dries out, flowering and fruiting occur. The species is normally self-pollinating. The flowers frequently do not open, but they set copious seed. The flowers are probably visited by Skippers and small bees seeking the nectar produced by the thickened glandular area at the base of the ovary. Toothcup ranges from south central British Columbia and southern Ontario, south through most of the U.S., to Mexico and South America. In Ontario, it exists at two lakes in Lennox and Addington County, but has been extirpated from another nearby lake. The two remaining Ontario sites are open rocky lake shores near the waterline, and are threatened by potential cottage development and water level control. Recovery strategies and action plans for this species are currently being developed. 36 The Salmon River Habitat Strategy: Identifying Priority Sites for Habitat Restoration in the Salmon River Watershed Henslow's Sparrow Ammodramus hens/owN Henslow's Sparrow is a small grassland bird. Males and females cannot be distinguished by appearance. The top of the head, the hind-neck, and the sides of the neck of all adults are pale olive green. There are two black stripes on the bird's crown, on either side of a pale stripe. The species' back is black and the back feathers have white tips. The rump, wings and tail are chestnut, with black in the middle of the feathers, and the breast, sides, and flanks are buff with black streaks. Young Henslow's Sparrows have buff underparts with no streaks. Henslow's Sparrow breeds only in the northeastern United States and southern Canada, and winters in the southern United States in the Gulf coast states and South Carolina. In Canada, it now occurs in southern Ontario. Historical information indicates that the species probably occurred in natural prairie areas and that forest clearing in the 1800s probably lead to an expanded range for a time. Henslow's Sparrows live in open fields with tall grasses interspersed with tall herbaceous plants or shrubs. The sparrow avoids areas that have been grazed or burned, prefering undisturbed areas with dense living grasses and a dense thatch of dead grasses. The species may occupy hayfields, but if the hay is cut early, the nests are destroyed and the resulting losses are severe. Only areas that remain undisturbed for several years appear to be more successfully colonized. The species seems to have been declining since the 1950s. In the 1980s, the Canadian population was estimated at no more than 50 pairs. The latest population estimate available in 2001 counts 2 to 3 pairs of Henslow's Sparrows, with the total population remaining critically small. Male Henslow's Sparrows arrive in the breeding areas ahead of the females in late April and early May. The age at which Henslow's Sparrows first breed is not known. Nests are built on the ground. Clutches contain from 3 to 5 eggs. Several pairs may nest in the same field, forming a small, loose colony. The species prefers to spend time out of The Salmon River Habitat Strategy: 37 Identifying Priority Sites for Habitat Restoration in the Salmon River Watershed sight in the long grass and herbs, and males can be easiest seen as they go to the plant tops to sing. The major limiting factor is loss of habitat, especially habitat used for breeding and habitat used for wintering in the United States. Suitable Henslow's Sparrow habitat is lost through the conversion of grasslands and pastures to'grow crops, or through the intensive use of land leaving very little area undisturbed for periods of time. Drainage of wetlands and wet grasslands, successional change to woodland and shrubland where fires are suppressed, and encroaching urbanization also contribute to the loss of this species' habitat. The vulnerability of this species has now increased because the small remaining populations are isolated from one another. Loggerhead Shrike migrans subspecies Lanius ludovicianus migrans Shrikes are medium-sized black, white, and grey birds with hawk-like habits. The upper parts of the adult Loggerhead Shrike are dark grey, its wings and tail are mostly black, and its under parts are whitish. It has a characteristic black face bar, which extends across the lower forehead. Young Loggerhead Shrikes do not have any black on the forehead, and their breast and sides are lightly barred. Loggerhead Shrikes are slightly smaller than Northern Shrikes, which are otherwise so similar that identification is usually based on geographic location. The species inhabits open areas with some trees and shrubs, which provide nesting sites and perching sites used for hunting. Shrikes use pasture areas because the process of pasturing keeps the grass short. Areas with short grass are good foraging areas for the Loggerhead Shrike. Habitat area size is also important because larger areas allow the birds to nest at a distance from fencelines. This increases reproductive success, probably because predators use these fencelines. Loggerhead Shrikes begin breeding in their first spring, and tend to use the same territory year after year. Clutches contain 4 to 6 eggs. The bird eats large insects and small vertebrates, the latter of which is quite unique among passerine birds. The species uses its sharply hooked beak to dispatch prey, which is often impaled on thorns 38 The Salmon River Habitat Strategy: Identifying Priority Sites for Habitat Restoration in the Salmon River Watershed and other sharp objects. This behaviour also demonstrates the bird's ability to provide food and thus it serves to attract mates. Loggerhead Shrikes have a high reproductive success rate, but this has fallen below their rate of mortality. During the 1990s there has been a steady decline in shrike numbers in the northeastern United States and Canada. In Canada, the eastern subspecies of Loggerhead Shrike occurs mainly in Ontario and southeastern Manitoba and is essentially isolated from the larger populations in the central southern United States. Data suggest that there are at most 10 pairs of Loggerhead Shrikes in Quebec, about 40 pairs in Ontario, and about 50 in Manitoba. Habitat losses resulting from intensive agricultural practices and a shift away from pasturing have contributed to the decline of Loggerhead Shrike numbers in Canada. As it is not known where the Canadian birds winter, the causes of decline have not been more clearly defined. It is thought that habitat losses, increased numbers of roads and increased traffic on roads in wintering areas have contributed to their declining numbers. Pesticides may also be a limiting factor. King Rail Ral/us e/egans The King Rail is a cinnamon-coloured marsh bird with black-and-white barred sides. It has a yellow bill that is long and slightly curved, and its back is streaked with black. The King Rail is the largest species of North American rail - twice the bulk of the more common Virginia rail. It's thin, long-legged form allows it to squeeze through dense vegetation and creep about wetlands with great agility. King Rails are found in a variety of freshwater marshes and marsh-shrub swamp habitats. They require large marshes with open shallow water that merges with shrubby areas, and will only return in successive years to large marshes that are not overgrown with cattails. The King Rail breeds in the eastern United States, southern Canada, along the Caribbean coast of Mexico and in Cuba. The species winters in the Gulf states and The Salmon River Habitat Strategy: 39 Identifying Priority Sites for Habitat Restoration in the Salmon River Watershed along the Atlantic coast of its summer range. In Canada, the species breeds only in the extreme southern part of Ontario. The King Rail arrives in its breeding range from late April to mid-May, and probably begins breeding in its first or second year. Males establish a territory before pairing and will aggressively fend off other males. Once settled in a territory, males begin calling and use courtship feeding to attract and maintain females. They also provide food for their mates thtotlghout the egg-laying and incubation periods. Their nests are deep bowls of grass constructed just above the water in bushes or clumps of marsh vegetation. In Ontario, females lay a single clutch per year and both sexes share the incubation and rearing responsibilities. In 1999, an extensive survey revealed fewer than 30 calling birds. Accurate population estimates are difficult to obtain because of the King Rail's secretive nature, but it is certain that there has been no improvement in the Canadian population ofthe species in recent years. The main limiting factor is habitat loss through pollution and increased cattail abundance due to artificially low water levels. Butternut Jug/ans cinerea Butternut is a small to medium-sized tree with a broad and irregularly shaped crown. It is a member of the walnut family, and is rarely more than 30 m tall and 90 cm in diameter. The bark of younger trees is grey and smooth, becoming irregularly ridged as the trees mature. Unless the soil is shallow, the tree commonly generates a taproot and numerous deep, wide-spreading roots on either side. Butternut is particularly recognizable by its compound leaves, which are made up of 11 to 17 leaflets arranged in a feather-like pattern opposite one another. Leaflets are 9 t015 cm long and are almost stalkless. The Butternut flowers from April to June, depending on the location. Depending on pollination, the fruits develop individually or in clusters of two to five fruits, and reach maturity during the month of September or October. The fruits generally stay on the tree until after the leaves fall. The tree starts to produce nuts around 20 years of age and produces a good crop every two or three years, reaching maximum production between 30 and 60 years of age. The nuts are edible, 4 to 6 cm in length and protected by a rigid 40 The Salmon River Habitat Strategy: Identifying Priority Sites for Habitat Restoration in the Salmon River Watershed green shell with jagged ridges. The seed contained in each nut can be dispersed by water, squirrels and other small rodents. The species can also multiply by means of sprouts produced by young stumps. This species prefers rich, fertile soils, and does not tolerate shade. The Butternut is a relatively short-lived tree, rarely exceeding 75 years. The Butternut is native to northeastern and north central North'America. The species is widespread in Canada and grows in southern Ontario and Quebec, as well as in New Brunswick. The most serious and widespread threat currently faced by the Butternut is Butternut canker. In regions where canker has been present for a long time and where high mortality is observed, it may be that the surviving Butternuts, regardless of whether they are canker-free, possess some resistance. If such is the case, the selection of resistant individuals is one of the most promising avenues for recovery programs. Traditionally, the Butternut was used for medicinal and cultural purposes by the First Nations of North America. Several Aboriginal peoples are currently seeking canker-resistant trees to establish new crops, and ensure that they have future seed sources. Logging and the disappearance of forests for agricultural and urban development purposes are other major limiting factors for the Butternut. Lesser threats include bunch disease, leaf spot, root disease, insect pests, and fire, storm, and frost damage. The Salmon River Habitat Strategy: 41 Identifying Priority Sites for Habitat Restoration in the Salmon River Watershed