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Rainy Lake, Ontario Life Science Inventory of Rainy Lake, Ontario Prepared for: Rainy Lake Conservancy Prepared by: Allan Harris Robert Foster Michael Oldham Wasyl Bakowsky January 2002 Rainy Lake Life Science Inventory __________________________________________________________ Abstract A preliminary life science inventory of Rainy Lake was competed between 1995 and 2001. This report encompasses the 2000 report (Harris et al. 2000) and updates it with results of 2001 fieldwork. In 2000, fieldwork was concentrated on the East Arm and central portions of the lake. The 2001 fieldwork sampled 266 locations in 23 person-days in the field. Survey effort focused on Northwest Bay, North Arm, Redgut Bay, East Arm and Grassy Portage Bay. The flora of Rainy Lake consists of 514 vascular plant species, including 21 provincially rare species. Dwarf bulrush (Lipocarpha macrantha) is known from only two other sites in Canada and is proposed as Endangered at the national level. Aquatic pigmyweed (Crassula aquatica) was previously known from only one other site in Ontario. Six other plants discovered on Rainy Lake are new for Rainy River District. Significant fauna included American white pelicans, black terns, five provincially rare dragonflies (horned clubtail, lilypad clubtail, midland clubtail, pronghorn clubtail and forcipate emerald), two provincially rare tiger beetles (beach-dune tiger beetle and Cicindela denikei) and one provincially rare butterfly (tawny crescent). A bird survey completed in 2001 tallied 90 bird species, 86 of which nest in the area. The bird community includes species characteristic of the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Forest Region such as Baltimore oriole, scarlet tanager, great crested flycatcher and white-breasted nuthatch, along with boreal species such as black-backed woodpecker and gray jay. A number of significant sites supporting rare species, significant plant communities, or otherwise with high biodiversity values are identified. A summary of human impacts on the Rainy Lake ecosystem was compiled from the literature. Conservation considerations include the potential impacts of water level regulations on dwarf bulrush and other shoreline species, consideration of habitat values during Crown land disposition, and potential damage to sensitive habitats by increased recreational use of shorelines. Acknowledgements Funding for the 2000 fieldwork was provided by the Rainy Lake Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy Canada, the Natural Heritage Information Centre, and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (Fort Frances District). The 2001 life science inventory was supported by a generous grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, an agency of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Recreation which receives annually $100 million of government funding generated through Ontario’s charity casino initiative. __________________________________________________________ Northern Bioscience Page i January 2002 Rainy Lake Life Science Inventory __________________________________________________________ We thank Sue Bryan, Darryl MacLeod, and Darren Elder for help with fieldwork. Darren Elder and Colin Jones helped identify dragonfly specimens. Steve Marshall of the University of Guelph provided the photograph of Cicindela denikei. Paul Pratt provided the photograph of pronghorn clubtail. We especially thank Dale and Phyllis Callaghan, and other members of the Rainy Lake Conservancy for their support, assistance, and hospitality. __________________________________________________________ Northern Bioscience Page ii January 2002 Rainy Lake Life Science Inventory __________________________________________________________ Table of Contents Abstract .................................................................................................................................i Acknowledgements...............................................................................................................i List of Figures .....................................................................................................................iii List of Tables ......................................................................................................................iv List of Appendices ..............................................................................................................iv Introduction.........................................................................................................................1 Methods............................................................................................................................... 1 The Rainy Lake Environment.............................................................................................5 Provincially Rare Plants.................................................................................................... 12 Regionally Rare Plants...................................................................................................... 21 Significant Fauna .............................................................................................................. 22 Significant Sites ................................................................................................................ 24 Rice Bay Wetland ......................................................................................................... 24 Rat River Wetland......................................................................................................... 24 Pound Net Bay Sandbar ................................................................................................ 25 Oak Point Island............................................................................................................ 25 Sandpoint Island............................................................................................................ 25 Old Growth Pine Stands................................................................................................ 25 Environmental Quality...................................................................................................... 29 Water Level Regulation................................................................................................ 29 Exotic Species............................................................................................................... 29 Logging......................................................................................................................... 30 Land Tenure and Development..................................................................................... 30 Summary........................................................................................................................... 34 Conservation Considerations ........................................................................................ 34 Literature Cited ................................................................................................................. 36 List of Figures Figure 1. The Rainy Lake watershed................................................................................. 3 Figure 2. Field sampling locations 1995 - 2001. ............................................................... 4 Figure 3. Land cover classes of the Rainy Lake shoreline. ............................................... 9 Figure 4. Bedrock geology of Rainy Lake....................................................................... 10 Figure 5. Surficial geology of Rainy Lake ...................................................................... 11 Figure 6. Dwarf bulrush (Lipocarpha micrantha) discovered at Pound Net Bay. ........... 15 Figure 7. Dwarf bulrush habitat at Pound Net Bay.......................................................... 15 Figure 13. Aquatic pigmyweed (Crassula aquatica) discovered at Copenhagen Island. 23 Figure 14. Leonard's small skullcap (Scutellaria leonardii) discovered at Bleak Bay..... 23 Figure 15. Prairie onion (Allium stellatum) is relatively common on Rainy Lake. ......... 24 Figure 16. Slender beard-tongue (Penstemon gracilis) was discovered in 2001.............. 24 Figure 17. Green darner (Anax junius) from Grassy Portage Bay. .................................. 25 Figure 18. Pronghorn clubtail (Gomphus graslinellus) ................................................... 25 Figure 19. A provincially rare tiger beetle (Cicindela denikei) was discovered at five sites on Rainy Lake................................................................................................... 31 __________________________________________________________ Northern Bioscience Page iii January 2002 Rainy Lake Life Science Inventory __________________________________________________________ Figure 20. Lilypad clubtail (Arigomphus furcifer), a provincially rare dragonfly from Redgut Bay................................................................................................................ 31 Figure 21. Rock barren with common ground juniper. Scott Islands, Rainy Lake........ 32 Figure 22. Bur oak community. Grassy Portage Bay, Rainy Lake................................. 32 Figure 23. Devil’s Cascade with American White Pelican. ............................................. 33 Figure 24. Wetland in Grassy Portage Bay. ..................................................................... 33 Figure 25. Land tenure of the Rainy Lake shoreline. ...................................................... 36 Figure 26. Human use in the Rainy Lake area................................................................
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