Lower East Sydenham Watershed Features Lower East Sydenham Watershed Report Card 2013 Area 397 km2, 9.6% of the St. Clair Region watershed Municipalities Chatham-Kent (245 km2), Dawn-Euphemia (150 km2), St. Clair (2 km2) First Nations None This report card summarizes surface water quality and forest condition in the Lower East Sydenham watershed within the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority jurisdiction from 2001 to 2010. The summary is intended to provide citizens, community groups, 42% bevelled till plain; 37% sand plain; 21% clay plain Physiography municipalities, industries and agencies with information so they can take actions to protect or enhance the environmental features Soil Type 63% silt and clay; 18% sand loam; 7% loam; 6% silt and clay loam; 4% bottom land and beach; 2% not mapped of the watershed. The ongoing monitoring will be reported on a five-year cycle which will help local people manage their local The mean annual flow in the Sydenham at the top of this watershed was 12.61 cms in Florence and from 2006-2010, annual environment. This card uses the 2011 guidelines and updated grading system for Conservation Authority Watershed Report Cards. flows varied widely from 7.46 to 19.6 cms. The river bottom is at lake level by Dawn Mills therefore flow at Dresden and These new province-wide standards have a more stringent grading system and result in generally lower grades in the intensely Streamflow downstream is influenced by lake levels and wind effects. The mean annual flow measured at Dresden is 16.80 cms and developed regions of southwestern Ontario. ranged widely, from 8.33 to 27.30 cms from 2006-2010. The previous period, from 2003-2005, flows were usually below the means, with 8.57, 11.9 and 12.2 cms at Florence and 11.40, 11.1 and 22.3 cms at Dresden. This report card is part of a larger report entitled the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority Watershed Report Card (2013) available The average annual precipitation at Wallaceburg from 2002-2010 was 887 mm. From 2006-2010, levels were usually below at www.scrca.on.ca. Further information including methodology, comparisons with the other 13 St. Clair Region watersheds, Precipitation this value, and ranged from 848 to 1022 mm. The previous period, from 2002-2005, was at or below the mean, ranging from regional maps and summary tables are also found in that document. 749 to 963 mm. The average annual temperature at Wallaceburg is 10.3°C. From 2006 to 2010, average annual temperatures were close to the Air Temperature normal, ranging from 10.1 to 11.4°C. The previous period of record, 2002-2005, was cooler with a range of 9.2 to 10.5°C. Tileage 22% randomly tiled; 59% systematically tiled; 19% unkown drainage Improving Watercourse Total length: 594 km SURFACE WATER QUALITY C Length & Type Watercourse type: 18% natural; 68% open municipal drain; 1% buried; 13% unclassified Lower East St. Clair Dams and Barriers 2 dams, including 1 public dam Provincial Indicator Sydenham Region Indicator Description Sewage Treatment An environmental assessment has been started for a municipal treatment system for Florence. The Dresden Wastewater Guideline Treatment Plant (WWTP) outlets treated effluent to the Sydenham River at the downstream end of Dresden. The Wallaceburg 2005 2010 2010 Plants WWTP outlets treated effluent to the Sydenham River at the downstream end of Wallaceburg. Total 0.08 Phosphorus is found in products such as detergents, fertilizer 51 fish species and 26 freshwater mussel species have been recorded. Game fish include Northern Pike, Largemouth and 0.13 Fisheries Resources Smallmouth Bass, and Walleye. Phosphorus 0.13 D 0.03 and pesticides, and contributes to excess algae and low oxygen D in streams and lakes. Plants: Butternut, Dense Blazingstar, Kentucky Coffee-tree, Purple Twayblade, Eastern Flowering Dogwood (mg/L) Improving Reptiles: Northern Map Turtle, Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle, Snapping Turtle Fecal bacteria are found in human and animal (livestock/ Birds: Bobolink 50 100 Species at Risk Bacteria (#E. 169 wildlife) waste. Their presence in water indicates fecal Fish: Pugnose Minnow, Blackstripe Topminnow, Eastern Sand Darter, Spotted Sucker 86 B (recreational coli/100mL) C contamination and is a strong indicator that other disease- Mussels: Kidneyshell, Mudpuppy Mussel, Northern Riffleshell, Rayed Bean, Round Hickorynut, Round Pigtoe, Snuffbox, use) Mapleleaf, Threehorn Wartyback Steady causing organisms are in the watercourse. Stewardship 13 stewardship projects have been completed in this watershed from 2006 to 2010, including the planting of 3,170 trees and 5.5 Benthic invertebrates are small animals without backbones shrubs. Memorial Forest and Conservation Area tree planting from 1988 to 2012 includes an additional project (84 trees and shrubs). Benthic 5.9 that live in stream sediments. The Family Biotic Index (FBI) Projects 5.5 C None Score (FBI) D scores each taxa according to its pollution tolerance and ranges The groundwater that occurs at the bedrock interface is very patchy in distribution and has elevated sodium levels. There are Steady some shallow wells in the scattered sand lenses. Most of the area is serviced by municipal piped water from the Lake Huron from 1 (healthy) to 10 (severely degraded). Groundwater intake at Sarnia. Wallaceburg has an intake on the Chenal Ecarte. Dresden and Tupperville are supplied by the Chatham-Kent intake on Lake Erie. No wetlands are identified in this watershed by MNR. 4 ha (0.01% of the watershed) are identified by SCRCA as potential Wetland Cover wetlands. FOREST CONDITION F Largest Number of Total Woodland % of Total Woodland Lower East St. Clair Size Category % of Woodlots Woodlot Woodlots Area (ha) Area Indicators (ha) Sydenham Region Indicator Description <5 ha 209 63 446 21 60 2005 2010 2010 Woodlot Size 5-10 ha 60 18 433 20 Forest Cover is the percentage of a watershed that is forested. Environment Forest 5.4 11.4 10-30 ha 54 16 824 39 5.9 Canada recommends that 30% of a watershed should be forest and other Cover % D D natural cover to sustain native plants and animals. >30 ha 10 3 436 20 Forest Interior is the core area inside a woodlot that some bird species need 333 2,139 Forest 0.4 2.0 Total 0.4 to breed successfully. The outer 100 m perimeter of a woodlot is prone to high Interior % F F predation, sun and wind damage, and alien species invasion. Forested No data 12.3 21.2 Forested Riparian Buffer is the 30 m area that is forested on both sides of an Riparian open watercourse. Natural cover in this area aids in sediment and nutrient St. Clair Region Conservation Authority F D 205 Mill Pond Crescent, Strathroy ON N7G 3P9 Buffer % removal. E-mail: [email protected] The changes in forest condition percentages between the two time periods may reflect more accurate mapping, rather than an actual gain or loss of forest cover. Web site: www.scrca.on.ca Phone (519) 245-3710 F C Forest Condition Surface Water Quality Improving Highlights Since 2005 The three forest condition indicators score a D, The surface water quality indicators score D, B and C F and F, producing an overall grade of F. This producing an overall grade of C (using the provincial watershed has poor forest cover, poor riparian • Dresden Horticultural Society increased appreciation of native grading system). This grade is better than the St. Clair cover and very poor forest interior. The majority Region average and has improved since the last report trees and the Sydenham River through maintaining native card. The improved Surface Water Quality values of the woodlands are less than 5 hectares in size. trees and the Trillium Trail in Dresden The percent forest cover (5.4%) is the lowest in the may be due to increased dilution from increased precipitation in the region, and from the St. Clair River St. Clair Region and too low for sustainability. The • Sydenham Field Naturalists worked with Chatham-Kent to target for southern Ontario is 30% forest cover. The waters entering the lower Sydenham via Running Creek. percent forest interior (0.4%) is very low indicating protect and manage public woodlands that the few existing woodlots are too narrow • Private landowners in the watershed completed 13 Levels of phosphorus have improved significantly to support area sensitive species such as Scarlet stewardship projects, including a wetland restoration since 2005, although they remain high at almost Tanager and Ovenbird. The target for southern three times the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) Ontario is 10% forest interior. The percentageCourt rofigh tthe Alvinston guideline. Oil City riparian zone that is forested (12.3%) is the second XW Brigden Fecal bacteria have decreased slightly since 2005, and lowest in the St. Clair Region and much lower than continue to indicate ongoing contamination from the target of 50%. human and animal waste. p The forest condition is very poor, with indicator L o w e r E a s tt S y d e n h a m Oil Springs Water quality based on benthic scores has remained values at less than half of the average for the St. Forested Riparian Buffer consistent since 2005. The score continues to be a XY Benthic Sampling Site XW Clair Region. Even the largest woodlot is small by p Wetland C grade, which is better than the St. Clair Region p Surface Water Quality Monitoring Site regional standards. 80% of the watershed’s forest Potential Wetlands average. cover is provided by woodlots smaller than 30 ha. p Ground Water Quality Monitoring Site Forest Interior

d

a

XW Municipal Boundaries Dawn-Euphemia o Forest

Tree plantings have largely been linear windbreaks, R

h

p t r Local Solutions to Improve rather than areas of sufficient acreage to support 0 2.25 4.5 9 o

rw

e

t

t woodland values. Kilometers a Ü W Water Quality Sombra

d

a

o • Implement Environmental Farm Plans,

R

Local Solutions to Improve r o Shetland L l

O y Pi N a n particularly for fertilizer and nutrient G e N R C d Forest Condition R E E management, to reduce nutrient loss t K S r Langba e nk Line k c • Fix faulty septic systems and establish u d T

a

St. Clair o XW

• Plant trees as windbreaks for erosion R

rs a septic maintenance plan

e

rn control o p

C

• Municipalities should use Best

s

' d

f

f

R

• Consider joining the Lambton County u

n p i H

d Management Practices along d

m

a

d R u

Florence o l a

R

d o d Woodlot Owners Association, to tour R p

n o

n R

s Sa e

h l a municipal drains to reduce sediment l

y d i s

M a g s Sc

M

a XW w f h IN ra local woodlands and meet woodlot n DRA Bri TLER m U s B

i s

w

d r R loss, shade the watercourse and hold CREEK I ra a

D R d T

N D O Kent Line N Bothwell n owners AI a K DR C

E h M Y CRE a KE c d DAN s on to soil and nutrients

d a h M l R

d m d

R l

C Zone Centre Line e R U l R o re

• Volunteer with local citizens to d

o R o e d d d

l R l o K R h l D R i E d u h R y E

o R rv e rt Sc

n l C r l e Sc

d d e G L D o t e L t a plant and maintain native trees on l u b s

E R R ln

ry V a a h n W

t Es t i W

e O d 6

H n n R u b e Mcc in c C re R ary Line l L e o l

i w n C M er n Pa

a d e 4 R i d C d

o public properties in Wallaceburg and R C r D roto n Line R R e E Z o

V l Wallaceburg I Gro n ve M e e i F d R lls Li n l e o

d

n

d M a R A Z

a

R d H d R

J

d N Dresden k ry k R E

e

p R a c e t D

t i n SY O 1 e h o .

E Bri

s

e

m Impacts of Climate Change W

p XW n e

o

m C Dresden Base Z e Line Si Tupperville in L Bo w o rd b e El r • We can expect more severe weather: more storms with R d e n Li intensee rainfall or snow; and more extended droughts. F sh n ra a i b e L s a in n e L ri r W n u R p Chatham-Kent o • WeT can expect flooding conditions more often s d a M L i tt throughout the summer. le J o h n • Warmer R temperatures will result in shifts in species d

E diversityy and will put pressure on species at risk. Orford w O H Sarnia rf 1 ! Strathroy o 40 e p ! • rd Less predictablein weather increases the need to carry L R s Petrolia d g ! in st a outH stewardship projects and improved stormwater

Ki managementn M to help protect watersheds. g a S p t le N St e Wallaceburg in ! L tt o Sc XW !Chatham Mitchell's Bay T Howard o w e r R d e in L es ev le C

Chatham-Kent Ridgetown Lower East Sydenham Watershed Features Lower East Sydenham Watershed Report Card 2013 Area 397 km2, 9.6% of the St. Clair Region watershed Municipalities Chatham-Kent (245 km2), Dawn-Euphemia (150 km2), St. Clair (2 km2) First Nations None This report card summarizes surface water quality and forest condition in the Lower East Sydenham watershed within the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority jurisdiction from 2001 to 2010. The summary is intended to provide citizens, community groups, 42% bevelled till plain; 37% sand plain; 21% clay plain Physiography municipalities, industries and agencies with information so they can take actions to protect or enhance the environmental features Soil Type 63% silt and clay; 18% sand loam; 7% loam; 6% silt and clay loam; 4% bottom land and beach; 2% not mapped of the watershed. The ongoing monitoring will be reported on a five-year cycle which will help local people manage their local The mean annual flow in the Sydenham at the top of this watershed was 12.61 cms in Florence and from 2006-2010, annual environment. This card uses the 2011 guidelines and updated grading system for Conservation Authority Watershed Report Cards. flows varied widely from 7.46 to 19.6 cms. The river bottom is at lake level by Dawn Mills therefore flow at Dresden and These new province-wide standards have a more stringent grading system and result in generally lower grades in the intensely Streamflow downstream is influenced by lake levels and wind effects. The mean annual flow measured at Dresden is 16.80 cms and developed regions of southwestern Ontario. ranged widely, from 8.33 to 27.30 cms from 2006-2010. The previous period, from 2003-2005, flows were usually below the means, with 8.57, 11.9 and 12.2 cms at Florence and 11.40, 11.1 and 22.3 cms at Dresden. This report card is part of a larger report entitled the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority Watershed Report Card (2013) available The average annual precipitation at Wallaceburg from 2002-2010 was 887 mm. From 2006-2010, levels were usually below at www.scrca.on.ca. Further information including methodology, comparisons with the other 13 St. Clair Region watersheds, Precipitation this value, and ranged from 848 to 1022 mm. The previous period, from 2002-2005, was at or below the mean, ranging from regional maps and summary tables are also found in that document. 749 to 963 mm. The average annual temperature at Wallaceburg is 10.3°C. From 2006 to 2010, average annual temperatures were close to the Air Temperature normal, ranging from 10.1 to 11.4°C. The previous period of record, 2002-2005, was cooler with a range of 9.2 to 10.5°C. Tileage 22% randomly tiled; 59% systematically tiled; 19% unkown drainage Improving Watercourse Total length: 594 km SURFACE WATER QUALITY C Length & Type Watercourse type: 18% natural; 68% open municipal drain; 1% buried; 13% unclassified Lower East St. Clair Dams and Barriers 2 dams, including 1 public dam Provincial Indicator Sydenham Region Indicator Description Sewage Treatment An environmental assessment has been started for a municipal treatment system for Florence. The Dresden Wastewater Guideline Treatment Plant (WWTP) outlets treated effluent to the Sydenham River at the downstream end of Dresden. The Wallaceburg 2005 2010 2010 Plants WWTP outlets treated effluent to the Sydenham River at the downstream end of Wallaceburg. Total 0.08 Phosphorus is found in products such as detergents, fertilizer 51 fish species and 26 freshwater mussel species have been recorded. Game fish include Northern Pike, Largemouth and 0.13 Fisheries Resources Smallmouth Bass, and Walleye. Phosphorus 0.13 D 0.03 and pesticides, and contributes to excess algae and low oxygen D in streams and lakes. Plants: Butternut, Dense Blazingstar, Kentucky Coffee-tree, Purple Twayblade, Eastern Flowering Dogwood (mg/L) Improving Reptiles: Northern Map Turtle, Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle, Snapping Turtle Fecal bacteria are found in human and animal (livestock/ Birds: Bobolink 50 100 Species at Risk Bacteria (#E. 169 wildlife) waste. Their presence in water indicates fecal Fish: Pugnose Minnow, Blackstripe Topminnow, Eastern Sand Darter, Spotted Sucker 86 B (recreational coli/100mL) C contamination and is a strong indicator that other disease- Mussels: Kidneyshell, Mudpuppy Mussel, Northern Riffleshell, Rayed Bean, Round Hickorynut, Round Pigtoe, Snuffbox, use) Mapleleaf, Threehorn Wartyback Steady causing organisms are in the watercourse. Stewardship 13 stewardship projects have been completed in this watershed from 2006 to 2010, including the planting of 3,170 trees and 5.5 Benthic invertebrates are small animals without backbones shrubs. Memorial Forest and Conservation Area tree planting from 1988 to 2012 includes an additional project (84 trees and shrubs). Benthic 5.9 that live in stream sediments. The Family Biotic Index (FBI) Projects 5.5 C None Score (FBI) D scores each taxa according to its pollution tolerance and ranges The groundwater that occurs at the bedrock interface is very patchy in distribution and has elevated sodium levels. There are Steady some shallow wells in the scattered sand lenses. Most of the area is serviced by municipal piped water from the Lake Huron from 1 (healthy) to 10 (severely degraded). Groundwater intake at Sarnia. Wallaceburg has an intake on the Chenal Ecarte. Dresden and Tupperville are supplied by the Chatham-Kent intake on Lake Erie. No wetlands are identified in this watershed by MNR. 4 ha (0.01% of the watershed) are identified by SCRCA as potential Wetland Cover wetlands. FOREST CONDITION F Largest Number of Total Woodland % of Total Woodland Lower East St. Clair Size Category % of Woodlots Woodlot Woodlots Area (ha) Area Indicators (ha) Sydenham Region Indicator Description <5 ha 209 63 446 21 60 2005 2010 2010 Woodlot Size 5-10 ha 60 18 433 20 Forest Cover is the percentage of a watershed that is forested. Environment Forest 5.4 11.4 10-30 ha 54 16 824 39 5.9 Canada recommends that 30% of a watershed should be forest and other Cover % D D natural cover to sustain native plants and animals. >30 ha 10 3 436 20 Forest Interior is the core area inside a woodlot that some bird species need 333 2,139 Forest 0.4 2.0 Total 0.4 to breed successfully. The outer 100 m perimeter of a woodlot is prone to high Interior % F F predation, sun and wind damage, and alien species invasion. Forested No data 12.3 21.2 Forested Riparian Buffer is the 30 m area that is forested on both sides of an Riparian open watercourse. Natural cover in this area aids in sediment and nutrient St. Clair Region Conservation Authority F D 205 Mill Pond Crescent, Strathroy ON N7G 3P9 Buffer % removal. E-mail: [email protected] The changes in forest condition percentages between the two time periods may reflect more accurate mapping, rather than an actual gain or loss of forest cover. Web site: www.scrca.on.ca Phone (519) 245-3710