Birch River Watershed Baseline Study Derek Clarke A hcticum Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies in Partial Fuifilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Natural Resources Management Natural Resources hstitute University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2 December 1998 National Library BbIio#èque nationale du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographie Services senrices bibliographiques 395 WeETiStreet 395, Ne weuingtm OtrawaON KfAûN4 OttawaON K1AON4 Canada CaMda The airthor has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant à la National Lîbrary of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or sell reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis m microfom, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous papa or electronic formats. la forme de rnicrofiche/nlm, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. 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Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts fkom it Ni la thése ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or othewise de celleci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation, THE UNIVERSITY OF MANiTOBA FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES ***** COPYRIGaT PERbIISSION PAGE BIRCH RIVER WATERSHED BASELINE STUDY BY DEREK CLARKE - - A Thesis/Practicum submitted to the Faculty of Gradnate Studies of The University of Manitoba in partial fulfïïiment of the requirements of the degree of bLASTER OF NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT DEREK CLARKE 01998 Permission bas been granted to the Library of The University of Manitoba to lend or seil copies of this thesis/practicum, to the National Library of Canada to microfilm this thesis and to lend or seil copies of the film, and to Dissertations Abstracts International to publish an abstract of this thesis/practicum. The author reserves other publication rights, and neither this thesisfpracticum nor extensive extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's written permission. Abstract The goal of this project was to collect baseline data pertaining to the Birch-Boggy Rivers. Badine data was collected through a review of existing documents and data, a survey of the river and riparian area for point source impacts, a survey of area residents to obtain local ecological knowledge and determine their use of the river, an examination of the hyàrology of the area, an examination of the water quality of the nven, and collections of aquatic biota. Twelve substantial point source impacts were identified along the 8 1 km of river investigated. Local interest in the river was probably high as over 50% of residents responded to the survey, and residents used the river for a variety of recreational and domestic purposes. Exarniuation of the hydrologicd data detemineci that with the current data it is not possible to predict water discharge rates from the Birch River. Overall the water quality was very good, but turbidity levels greater than 5 ntu and fecal coliform bacteria counts as high as 190 fcu/ 100 ml indicate water must be carefully treated prior to drinking. Oxygen levels were also low during winter and summer, probably explaining the seasonal absence of spordish fiom the river during these periods. Collections of biota indicate fish composition remains unchanged From previous midies, and invertebrate collections provide insight to composition for fitture researchen. Overall baseline data collected for this study provides a reasonably comprehensive description of the current condition of the riverine ecosystem. The collection of baseline data has also identified areas where more research needs to be conducted. Recommendaîions are presented which will mitigate the effects of negative point source impacts, improve conditions for recreational and domestic use of the river, and suggest areas in which more researcb is needeti. Acknowledgements This project was made possible by the Birch River Renewal Association which secured hding, and, more importantly, expressed a desire for the collection of more information regarding the river in their back yards. Without the initial interest expressed by this group the project would never have been initiated. Special thanks go to the Arnes, Bilans, Wasylnuks and Youngs, who were aiways available to assist with field work, even on very short notice. Thanks to the members of my cornmittee whose comments helped guide this study. Cornmittee members for the study were: Professor Thomas Hedey, Naturai Resource Institute, University of Manitoba; Mr. Keith Kristofferson, Regional Fisheries Manager, DNR,Lac Du Bonnet; Dr. Ken Stewart, University of Manitoba Zoology; and Mr. David Young, Birch River Renewal Association Board Member. Thanks also go to Jarrett Powen of PFRA Beausejour for creating maps, Wendy Ralley and Dwight Williamson of Manitoba Environment for answenng water quality questions, and Audrey Young for editing punctuation in this document. Support in kind for the project was received from the Freshwater Institute, the Department of Natural Resources, and the University of Manitoba in the fom of equipment loans. Most of dl, th& to Heather and my farnily for their patience and understanding. Table of Contents 1.0introduction ......................................................... 1 1.1 Problem Statement .............................................. 1 12Objectives ..................................................... 7 1.3PreviousStudies ................................................ 2 1.4SîudyArea .................................................... 4 1SScopeofWork ................................................. 7 2.0 Review of Related Litemture ............................................ 9 2.1 Assessing the Biotic htegrity of Strearns ........................... -9 2.7 Published Impacts to Birch River Fish Populations ................... 10 2.2.1 TransCanada Pipeline Crossing ........................... 10 2.2.2 Riparian Emsion ....................................... 11 2.2.3 Stream Blockage ....................................... 12 2.3RockWeirs .................................................. 13 7.4RiparianBufferStrip ........................................... 14 2.5Agriculture ................................................... 15 2.5.1 Agriculhd Chernicals .................................. 16 2.5.7 Livestock ............................................. 18 2.6 Residential Waste Management .................................. 19 2.7 Recreationally Important Fish .................................... 19 2.7.1 Wdleye - Ststeovitreum ............................ 19 2.7.3 Northern Pike - Esox fuciuY .............................. 22 2.7.3 Rock Bass - Amblopl ites mpestris ......................... 23 2.8 Rovincially Significant Species .................................-23 2.8.1 Northern Brook Lamprey - Ichthyomyzon fossor .............. 24 2.8.2 Homeyhead Chub - Nocomis biguttatu ..................... 25 2.8.3 Rosyface Shiner - Notropis r-ubeIlus ....................... -25 2.9 Forage Species ................................................ 26 2.9.1 Central Mudminnow - Wrahi ........................ -26 2.9.2 Common Shiner - Notropis Cornutus ....................... 27 2.9.3 White Sucker - Catostomtrs commersoni .................... 27 2.9.4 Shorthead Redhorse - Moxostoma macrolepzdotum ...........-28 2.9.5 JobyDarter - Ethostoma nignrm ........................ -28 2.9.6 Blackside Darter - Percina mculata .......................29 3.0 Upland Cover and Riparian Impacts .................................... -30 3.1LandUse .................................................... 30 3.2RiparianSurvey .............................................. 33 6.2.1 6 Water Temperature ................................... 108 6.2.17Toxicity ............................................ 108 6.3Summary ................................................... 109 7.0Biota ............................................................. 111 7.1 Results of Fish Collections ..................................... 111 7.1.1 Results of Boggy River Fish Collections ................... 115 7.1.2 Results of Birch River Fish Collections . .. ................. 115 7.1.3 Results of Whitemouth River Fish Collections .............. 120 7.2 Stomach Content Analysis ...................................... 120 7.3AgeandMaturity ............................................. 123 7.4 Fish Collection Methods and Effort ............................... 124 7.4.1 Boggy River Fish Collection Effort ...................... 129 7.4.2 Birch River Fish Collection Effort ........................ 131 7.4.3 Whitemouth River Fish Collection Effort .................. 133 7.5 Results of Invertebrate Collections ...... .. ....................... 134 7.6 Invertebrate Collection Methods ................................. 134 7.7 Previous Collections .......................................... 138 7.8Stocking .................................................... 140 7.9 Discussion .................................................. 145 8.0 Summary and Conclusions ......................................... 150 8.1Summary ................................................... 150 8.1.1 Summary Conclusion .................................. 151 8.2StudyArea .................................................. 151 8.2.1 Study Area Conclusion ................................. 152 8.3 Water