Kettle Creek Watershed Characterization Report DRAFT January 2008 Prepared by: Lake Erie Source Protection Region Technical Team Kettle Creek Watershed Characterization Report January 2008 – Revision 2.0 Table of Contents 1.0 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Kettle Creek Source Protection Area.................................................................1 1.2 Lake Erie Source Protection Region .................................................................4 1.3 Watershed Partners and Stakeholders..............................................................6 1.3.1 Municipalities .............................................................................................6 1.3.2 Kettle Creek Conservation Authority .........................................................6 2.0 PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION................................................................................. 11 2.1 Bedrock Geology.............................................................................................11 2.2 Physiography and Quaternary Geology ..........................................................13 2.2.1 Mount Elgin Ridges .................................................................................13 2.2.2 Ekfird Clay Plain ......................................................................................13 2.2.3 Norfolk Sand Plain...................................................................................14 2.2.4 Quaternary Geology ................................................................................14 2.2.5 Nissouri Stade .........................................................................................14 2.2.6 Erie Interstadial........................................................................................16 2.2.7 Bruce Stade.............................................................................................16 2.2.8 Mackinaw Interstade................................................................................17 2.2.9 Huron Stade ............................................................................................17 2.3 Soils.................................................................................................................17 2.4 Topography .....................................................................................................18 2.5 Natural Heritage ..............................................................................................20 2.5.1 Valley Lands ............................................................................................20 2.5.2 Woodlands and Vegetated Riparian Areas .............................................20 2.5.3 Wetlands..................................................................................................22 2.5.4 Environmentally Significant Areas ...........................................................22 2.5.5 Flora and Fauna ......................................................................................34 2.5.6 Birds ........................................................................................................36 2.6 Climate ............................................................................................................37 2.6.1 Climate Data Gaps ..................................................................................41 2.7 Hydrology ........................................................................................................42 2.7.1 Water Quantity Monitoring.......................................................................42 2.7.2 Surface Water Hydrology ........................................................................42 2.7.3 Hydrogeology ..........................................................................................46 2.7.4 Surface and Groundwater Interactions....................................................52 2.8 Water Quality Summary ..................................................................................56 2.8.1 Water Quality Monitoring .........................................................................56 2.8.2 Surface Water Quality Conditions and Trends ........................................61 2.8.3 Regional Groundwater Quality Conditions and Trends ...........................67 2.9 Aquatic Ecology...............................................................................................71 2.9.1 Fisheries ..................................................................................................71 2.9.2 Aquatic Macroinvertebrates.....................................................................76 2.9.3 Species at Risk........................................................................................77 2.9.4 Invasive Species......................................................................................77 i Kettle Creek Watershed Characterization Report January 2008 – Revision 2.0 3.0 HUMAN CHARACTERISTICS............................................................................ 83 3.1 Settlement History ...........................................................................................83 3.1.1 Avon ........................................................................................................83 3.1.2 Belmont ...................................................................................................83 3.1.3 Central Elgin (Yarmouth) .........................................................................83 3.1.4 Harrietsville..............................................................................................84 3.1.5 London.....................................................................................................84 3.1.6 Malahide ..................................................................................................84 3.1.7 Middlesex Centre.....................................................................................84 3.1.8 Paynes Mills ............................................................................................84 3.1.9 Port Stanley .............................................................................................84 3.1.10 Southwold................................................................................................85 3.1.11 St. Thomas ..............................................................................................85 3.1.12 Talbotville ................................................................................................85 3.2 Municipalities and Municipal Structure ............................................................86 3.3 Population Trends in the Kettle Creek Watershed ..........................................88 3.3.1 Population Distribution.............................................................................88 3.3.2 Population Forecasts...............................................................................90 3.4 General Land Use ...........................................................................................91 3.4.1 Settlement Areas .....................................................................................91 3.4.2 Industrial and Commercial Sectors Distribution.......................................94 3.4.3 Forestry ...................................................................................................94 3.4.4 Brownfields ..............................................................................................94 3.4.5 Mining and Aggregate Extraction ............................................................94 3.4.6 Agricultural Sector Distribution ................................................................95 3.5 Infrastructure ...................................................................................................99 3.5.1 Landfills ...................................................................................................99 3.5.2 Transportation .......................................................................................102 3.5.3 Wastewater Treatment ..........................................................................103 3.5.4 Stormwater Management ......................................................................106 3.6 Implications of Geology and Land Use for Source Water Protection ............107 4.0 WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLAN ............................................................. 109 4.1 Comprehensive Strategies and Watershed Plans.........................................109 4.1.1 The 1967 Conservation Report and Water Resources Report..............109 4.1.2 Dalewood Reservoir ..............................................................................110 4.1.3 Union Pond............................................................................................110 4.1.4 Lake Whittaker.......................................................................................112 4.1.5 Kirk-Cousins Pond.................................................................................112 4.1.6 Other Watershed Reservoir Facilities....................................................112 4.2 The 1983 KCCA Watershed Plan..................................................................113 4.3 The 1994 Conservation Strategy...................................................................113 4.4 Subwatershed Planning ................................................................................114 4.5 The Dodd Creek Community-based Watershed