The Thames River Watershed: a Background Study for Nomination Under the Canadian Heritage Rivers System 1 9 9 8
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Canadian Heritage Rivers System The Thames River Watershed: A Background Study for Nomination under the Canadian Heritage Rivers System 1 9 9 8 The Canadian Heritage Rivers System T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S i The Thames River Watershed: A Background Study for Nomination under the Canadian Heritage Rivers System 1998 Written by the Thames River Background Study Research Team Published by the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority for the Thames River Coordinating Committee Principal Authors: Ian Wilcox Introduction and Conclusion Cathy Quinlan Natural Heritage Cathy Rogers Human Heritage Michael Troughton Human Heritage, Pre-contact Ian McCallum First Nations Heritage Andrea Quenneville Recreation Eleanor Heagy Editing Don Dool Layout and Graphics Copies of this report may be obtained from: The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority 1424 Clarke Road, London Ont. N5V 5B9 Phone: (519) 451-2800 Fax: (519) 451-1188 E-mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://www.thamesriver.org Copyright © Upper Thames River Conservation Authority 1998 ISBN 1-894329-00-7 T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S i Acknowledgments The Thames River Background Study is the product of a large team of agencies, community groups and individuals. As with any community based project, there is rarely time or space to adequately thank all who have offered their time, finances and writing and editorial skills. In light of this, the Background Studies Subcommittee for the Thames River Nomina- tion extends a blanket thank-you to all who contributed to this project. And of course, there are always those deserving particular recognition. The following individuals and organiza- tions assumed responsibilities essential to the completion of the Background Studies Re- port. For their leadership roles, we are truly thankful. • Dr. Douglas Bocking, Chair, Thames River Coordinating Committee • Dr. Gerry Killan, Chair, Background Studies Subcommittee Background Study Team (Principle Authors): • Cathy Quinlan • Cathy Rogers • Andrea Quenneville • Ian McCallum Members of the Background Studies Subcommittee: Bonnie Carey, John Lindsay, Dave Martin, Jack McCallum, Karma McClenaghan, Hal Schraeder, Dan Shrubsole, Glenn Stott, Michael Troughton, and Ian Wilcox. Funding Organizations: • Canadian Heritage Rivers System, Parks Canada • The Richard Ivey Foundation • The London Community Foundation • The Richard and Jean Ivey Fund • Human Development and Resources Canada Administrative Support: • Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority • Upper Thames River Conservation Authority • University of Western Ontario • Mr. John Fisher, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Ontario Parks • Mr. Brian Grimsey, Parks Canada The Richard Ivey Foundation LONDON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION UPPER THAMES RIVER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY The Canadian The Richard and Jean Ivey Fund Heritage Rivers System Human Resources Developpement des Development Canada ressources humaines Canada T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S ii Table of Contents ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ..................................................................................................................... i TABLE OF CONTENTS ...................................................................................................................... ii LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................................. viii LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................................. ix LIST OF APPENDICES ................................................................................................................... xii CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Description of the Thames .......................................................................... 2 1.2 Structure ......................................................................................................... 6 1.3 Scope ........................................................................................................ 6 1.4 Benefits of CHR Designation ..................................................................... 6 1.5 Feasibility of Managing the Thames as a CHR ....................................... 7 1.6 Methodology ................................................................................................ 7 1.7 Assumptions and Limitations .................................................................... 8 1.8 Community Support .................................................................................... 9 1.9 Fundraising ................................................................................................. 11 1.10 Post-Nomination Public Consultation ................................................... 12 PART I NATURAL HERITAGE ...................................................................................................... 14 CHAPTER 2 HYDROLOGY ......................................................................................................... 15 2.1 Discharge Volume ....................................................................................... 15 2.2 Velocity ........................................................................................................16 2.3 Discharge Regimes .................................................................................... 16 2.4 Water Properties .......................................................................................... 18 CHAPTER 3 PHYSIOGRAPHY ................................................................................................... 20 3.1 Glacial History ........................................................................................... 20 3.2 Valley Configuration .................................................................................21 3.3 Geological Materials ................................................................................. 21 3.4 Neighbouring Structures ........................................................................... 23 3.5 Ongoing Geological Processes ................................................................ 23 3.6 Glaciers and Permafrost ............................................................................. 23 CHAPTER 4 RIVER MORPHOLOGY ........................................................................................ 24 4.1 Channel Pattern ......................................................................................... 24 4.2 Erosional and Depositional Forms .......................................................... 25 4.3 Adjacent Landforms ...................................................................................25 4.4 Waterfalls and Rapids ................................................................................ 26 4.5 Lakes and Ponds ......................................................................................... 26 CHAPTER 5 FLORA ................................................................................................................... 27 5.1 The Carolinian Forest Region ................................................................. 27 5.2 Cross-sectional Zones ............................................................................... 28 5.2.1 In-stream Vegetation ....................................................................... 29 5.2.2 Riparian Vegetation ........................................................................ 29 T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S iii 5.2.3 Valley Vegetation ............................................................................ 30 5.3 Rare Plant Species ...................................................................................... 31 CHAPTER 6 FAUNA ................................................................................................................... 32 6.1 Fish ............................................................................................................... 32 6.2 Mammals ..................................................................................................... 34 6.3 Birds ............................................................................................................ 35 6.4 Reptiles and Amphibians - Herpetofauna .............................................. 37 6.5 Invertebrates ............................................................................................... 38 6.5.1 Freshwater Mussels ......................................................................... 38 6.5.2 Dragonflies and Damselflies .......................................................... 39 6.5.3 Crayfish ............................................................................................. 39 CHAPTER 7 AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS ..................................................................................... 41 7.1 Riverine Systems ........................................................................................ 41 7.2 Lacustrine (Lake) Systems .........................................................................41 7.3 Estuarine Systems .......................................................................................42 7.4 Palustrine (Wetland) Systems ................................................................... 42 CHAPTER 8 LANDSCAPES ...................................................................................................... 43 8.1 Visible Distance