Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Niagara Region, Ontario Project # WW 20101001

Prepared for:

Regional Municipality of Niagara 1815 Sir Isaac Brock Way, Thorold, ON L2V 4T7 5/21/2021

Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Niagara Region, Ontario Project # WW 20101001 Prepared for: Regional Municipality of Niagara 1815 Sir Isaac Brock Way, Thorold, ON L2V 4T7 Prepared by: Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions a Division of Wood Canada Limited 3450 Harvester Road, Suite 100 Burlington, ON L7N 3W5; T: 905-335-2353 North-South Environmental Inc. 101B King Street W. Cambridge, ON N3H 1B5 Canada; T: 905-854-1112 Dougan & Associates – Ecological Consulting & Design 77 Wyndham Street South Guelph, ON, N1E 5R3; T: 519-822-1609 5/21/2021 Copyright and non-disclosure notice The contents and layout of this report are subject to copyright owned by Wood (© Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions a Division of Wood Canada Limited) save to the extent that copyright has been legally assigned by us to another party or is used by Wood under license. To the extent that we own the copyright or other proprietary right in this report, it may not be copied or used without our prior written agreement for any purpose other than the purpose indicated in this report. Any third party who obtains access to this report by any means will, in any event, be subject to the Third Party Disclaimer set out below. Third-party disclaimer Any disclosure of this report to a third party is subject to this disclaimer. The report was prepared by Wood at the instruction of, and for use by, our client named on the front of the report. It does not in any way constitute advice to any third party who is able to access it by any means. Wood excludes to the fullest extent lawfully permitted all liability whatsoever for any loss or damage howsoever arising from reliance on the contents of this report. We do not however exclude our liability (if any) for personal injury or death resulting from our negligence, for fraud or any other matter in relation to which we cannot legally exclude liability.

WW20101001 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Table of contents 1.0 INTRODUCTION AND STUDY PURPOSE ...... 1 1.1 Introduction ...... 1 1.2 Tertiary Watershed Context ...... 3 1.3 Work Plan ...... 4 1.4 NWP (E) Report Structure ...... 7 2.0 NIAGARA WATERSHED CHARACTERIZATION ...... 9 2.1 Overview of Background Information ...... 9 2.2 Watershed and Subwatershed Delineations ...... 11 2.2.1 Provincial Ontario Watershed Boundary Dataset ...... 13 2.3 Watershed Characterization of Existing Conditions ...... 19 2.3.1 Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed ...... 19 2.3.2 Niagara River Tertiary Watershed ...... 90 2.3.3 Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed ...... 140 3.0 CONCLUSION & NWP (E) REPORTING ...... 174

List of figures Figure 1-1: Provincial Mapping – Watershed Delineation Scales ...... 3 Figure 2-1. Niagara Region – Tertiary Watershed Areas ...... 15 Figure 2-2. Niagara Region – Quaternary Watershed Areas ...... 16 Figure 2-3. Niagara Region Subwatershed Areas ...... 17

List of tables Table 2-1: Tertiary and Quaternary Watersheds within Niagara Region ...... 18 Table 2-LO-1: Drainage Areas and Subwatersheds within the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed ...... 20 Table 2-LO-2: Soil Drainage Distribution within the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed .. 23 Table 2-LO-3: Slope Distribution within the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed ...... 24 Table 2-LO-4: Water Quality & Quantity Sensitive Areas within the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed ...... 27 Table 2-LO-5: Natural Hazard Distribution within the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed 30 Table 2-LO-6: Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed Habitat Summary and Thermal Regime ...... 32 Table 2-LO-7: Niagara Region Fish Habitat Classification: Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed ...... 36 Table 2-LO-8: Summary of quaternary watershed habitat, fish species, and movement barriers ...... 37 Table 2-LO-9: Fish Species at Risk within the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed ...... 39 Table 2-LO-10: Natural Ecological Land Classification Community Series Summaries for the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed ...... 42 Table 2-LO-11: Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed Woodland Summary (within Niagara Region) ...... 43 Table 2-LO-12: Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed Wetland Summary (within Niagara Region) ...... 47 Table 2-LO-13: Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed Flora Summary ...... 51

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page i Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Table 2-LO-14: Flora Species at Risk and Species of Conservation Concern by Quaternary Watershed – Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed ...... 52 Table 2-LO-15: Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed Fungi Summary ...... 54 Table 2-LO-16: Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed Amphibian Summary ...... 55 Table 2-LO-17: Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed Bird Summary ...... 56 Table 2-LO-18: Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed Invertebrate (Insect and Crustaceans) Summary ...... 56 Table 2-LO-19: Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed Mammal Summary ...... 57 Table 2-LO-20: Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed Reptile Summary ...... 59 Table 2-LO-21: Fauna Species at Risk and Species of Conservation Concern by Quaternary Watershed ...... 60 Table 2-LO-22: Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed ANSI Summary ...... 63 Table 2-LO-23: ANSIs located in the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed ...... 64 Table 2-LO-24: Municipalities and Urban Areas within the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed ...... 70 Table 2-LO-25: Agricultural Land Base and Constructed Drains within the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed ...... 75 Table 2-LO-26: Climate Monitoring Network within the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed ...... 78 Table 2-LO-27: Streamflow Monitoring Network within the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed ...... 80 Table 2-LO-28: Water Quality Monitoring Network and Grades within the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed ...... 83 Table 2-LO-29: Groundwater Monitoring Network Summary for the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed ...... 87 Table 2-NR-1: Drainage Areas and Subwatersheds within the Niagara River Tertiary Watershed ...... 91 Table 2-NR-2: Soil Drainage Distribution within the Niagara River Tertiary Watershed 93 Table 2-NR-3: Slope Distribution within the Niagara River Tertiary Watershed ...... 94 Table 2-NR-4: Water Quality & Quantity Sensitive Areas within the Niagara River Tertiary Watershed ...... 97 Table 2-NR-5: Natural Hazard Distribution within the Niagara River Tertiary Watershed ...... 98 Table 2-NR-6: Niagara River Tertiary Watershed Thermal Regime ...... 99 Table 2-NR-7: Niagara Region Fish Habitat Classification: Niagara River Tertiary Watershed ...... 102 Table 2-NR-8: Summary of quaternary watershed, fish species, and movement barriers ...... 102 Table 2-NR-9: Fish Species at Risk within the Niagara River Tertiary Watershed ...... 104 Table 2-NR-10: Natural Ecological Land Classification Community Series Summaries for the Niagara River Tertiary Watershed ...... 106 Table 2-NR-11: Niagara River Tertiary Watershed Woodland Summary (within Niagara Region) ...... 107 Table 2-NR-12: Niagara River Tertiary Watershed Wetland Summary (within Niagara Region) ...... 110 Table 2-NR-13: Niagara River Tertiary Watershed Flora Summary ...... 112

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page ii Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Table 2-NR-14: Flora Species at Risk and Species of Conservation Concern by Quaternary Watershed – Niagara River Tertiary Watershed ...... 113 Table 2-NR-15: Niagara River Tertiary Watershed Fungi Summary ...... 115 Table 2-NR-16: Niagara River Tertiary Watershed Amphibian Summary ...... 116 Table 2-NR-17: Niagara River Tertiary Watershed Bird Summary ...... 117 Table 2-NR-18: Niagara River Tertiary Watershed Invertebrate (Insects and Crustaceans) Summary ...... 117 Table 2-NR-19: Niagara River Tertiary Watershed Mammal Summary ...... 118 Table 2-NR-20: Niagara River Tertiary Watershed Reptile Summary ...... 118 Table 2-NR-21: Fauna Species at Risk and Species of Conservation Concern by Quaternary Watershed ...... 119 Table 2-NR-22: Niagara River Tertiary Watershed ANSI Summary ...... 121 Table 2-NR-23: ANSIs located in the Niagara River Tertiary Watershed ...... 121 Table 2-NR-24: Municipalities and Urban Areas within the Niagara River Tertiary Watershed ...... 124 Table 2-NR-25: Agricultural Land Base and Constructed Drains within the Niagara River Tertiary Watershed ...... 128 Table 2-NR-26: Climate Monitoring Network within the Niagara River Tertiary Watershed ...... 131 Table 2-NR-27: Streamflow Monitoring Network within the Niagara River Tertiary Watershed ...... 133 Table 2-NR-28: Water Quality Monitoring Network and Grades within the Niagara River Tertiary Watershed ...... 135 Table 2-NR-29: Groundwater Monitoring Network Summary for the Niagara River Tertiary Watershed ...... 138 Table 2-LE-1: Drainage Areas and Subwatersheds within the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed ...... 141 Table 2-LE-2: Soil Drainage Distribution within the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed ...... 143 Table 2-LE-3: Slope Distribution within the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed ...... 144 Table 2-LE-4: Water Quality & Quantity Sensitive Areas within the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed ...... 146 Table 2-LE-5: Natural Hazard Distribution within the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed ... 147 Table 2-LE-6: Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed Thermal Regime ...... 148 Table 2-LE-7: Niagara Region Fish Habitat Classification: Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed ...... 149 Table 2-LE-8: Summary of Lake Erie Quaternary Watershed fish species and thermal classes ...... 150 Table 2-LE-9: Fish species at risk within the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed ...... 150 Table 2-LE-10: Natural Ecological Land Classification Community Series Summaries for the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed ...... 151 Table 2-LE-11: Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed Woodland Summary (within Niagara Region) ...... 152 Table 2-LE-12: Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed Wetland Summary (within Niagara Region) ...... 153 Table 2-LE-13: Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed Flora Summary ...... 154

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page iii Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Table 2-LE-14: Flora Species at Risk and Species of Conservation Concern within the Lake Erie Shoreline Quaternary Watershed ...... 156 Table 2-LE-15: Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed Fungi Summary ...... 157 Table 2-LE-16: Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed Amphibian Summary ...... 158 Table 2-LE-17: Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed Bird Summary ...... 158 Table 2-LE-18: Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed Invertebrate (Insects and Crustaceans) Summary ...... 159 Table 2-LE-19: Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed Mammal Summary ...... 159 Table 2-LE-20: Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed Reptile Summary ...... 160 Table 2-LE-21: Fauna Species at Risk and Species of Conservation Concern within the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed ...... 161 Table 2-LE-22: Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed ANSIs Summary ...... 164 Table 2-LE-23: ANSIs located in the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed ...... 164 Table 2-LE-24: Municipalities and Urban Areas within the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed ...... 165 Table 2-LE-25: Agricultural Land Base and Constructed Drains within the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed ...... 168 Table 2-LE-26: Climate Monitoring Network within the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed 170 Table 2-LE-27: Water Quality Monitoring Network and Grades within the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed ...... 172

List of Attached Drawings Drawing WR1 – Drainage System Summary Drawing WR2 – Soils Summary Drawing WR3 – Slope Summary Drawing WR4 – Groundwater & Source Water Protection Summary Drawing WR5 – Natural Hazards Summary Drawing WR6 – Urban Land Use Summary Drawing WR7 – Agricultural Land Use Summary Drawing WR8 – Monitoring Summary Drawing NH1 – Aquatic Habitat Drawing NH2 – Watercourse Permanency and Barriers Drawing NH3 – Thermal Regimes Drawing NH4 – Ecological Land Classification Drawing NH5 – Woodlands Drawing NH6 – Wetlands Drawing NH7 – Flora Species Drawing NH8 – Fauna Species Drawing NH9 – Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest

Appendices Appendix A-1 – Niagara Watershed Characterization

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page iv Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan

1.0 INTRODUCTION AND STUDY PURPOSE 1.1 Introduction Niagara Region is preparing a new Niagara Official Plan (NOP) which will achieve conformity with provincial plans and provide relevant guidance to local area municipalities. As part of this work, a Natural Environment Work Program (NEWP) is being undertaken, which is focusing on establishing a regional-scale natural heritage system (NHS) and water resource system (WRS), including policies and mapping, which will be implemented through the new NOP. As part of the NEWP, a Watershed Planning Discussion Paper (WPDP, October 3, 2019) was prepared to better understand the Provincial requirement that watershed planning must inform land use planning. The Discussion Paper was largely based on the Draft, Provincial Watershed Planning guidance document “Watershed Planning in Ontario – Guidance for Land-use Planning Authorities” (MOECC, MNRF 2018) highlighting its influence on how best to inform growth and infrastructure planning through the Official Plan process. The Draft Provincial Watershed Planning guidance document, as well as the Growth Plan (2020) and Greenbelt Plan (2017), acknowledge the concept of leveraging equivalent information from existing documents, thereby offering the opportunity for re- use for informing growth planning. The Discussion Paper discussed the possibility of preparing an “equivalency” document at a tertiary level, informed by a review of existing reports available from the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA), Region of Niagara, local area municipalities (LAMs) and other organizations. Notably, based on the terminology in the Provincial Guidance, the “tertiary” level of watersheds refers to those lands draining to Lake Ontario, Lake Erie and the Niagara River for Niagara Region. The Niagara Watershed Plan Equivalency document (NWP (E)) is being prepared as a watershed planning equivalency document in accordance with provincial direction in the Growth Plan which allows for the use of legacy data in watershed planning. The document builds on the guidance from the previously completed Watershed Planning Discussion Paper (WPDP); notably the WPDP outlined the status of watershed-oriented data across Niagara, specific to mapping, data and reporting. The WPDP also outlined the status of the available data/information and associated gaps. As noted, the NWP (E) builds on this understanding and further mines the available information, in order to better characterize the resources in the areas being planned for growth, and to inform the new NOP on constraints and opportunities, where the information is sufficient. Where there are information gaps, the NWP (E) has outlined those gaps and provided high-level scope for execution at the subsequent planning stages (i.e., Quaternary Watershed Plan or local OP). The NWP (E) has not filled any data gaps, through confirmatory field work, nor has it involved any analytical modelling of water systems (hydrology, hydraulics, hydrogeology); again, this effort is considered more appropriate at the subsequent planning stages. As noted, a core element of the Niagara Watershed Plan (NWP (E)) study has involved gathering and reviewing existing information (GIS-based mapping and data) which has been mined from the legacy studies, as well as the current NEWP, to support the area

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 1 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan characterization (without field work and modelling analysis) and the establishment of growth scenarios to 2041 (proposed to be amended by the Province to 2051), while also providing management guidance at the tertiary scale. Key data sources have included: • Legacy Reports ­ Watershed Plans ­ Subwatershed Plans ­ Master Drainage Plans ­ Source Protection Plan • Data ­ Natural systems ­ Water quality and quantity • Mapping ­ Hazards ­ Resources The following graphic presents the high-level relationship between the respective initiatives supporting the new NOP, including the key information flow amongst the initiatives. Relationship of the Niagara Watershed Plan (E) to New Niagara Official Plan

Natural Watershed Planning Niagara Environment Discussion Paper Watershed Work Plan (E) Hazards WRS Watershed refinements Planning

NHS + WRS Policies • High Level Constraints

including policies • Best Practices • Management Requirements and mapping Growth • Future Studies Plans • Direction for Next Steps • Inform land use planning as New Niagara required by provincial Official Plan direction

In addition, the Niagara Watershed Plan (E) has summarized stakeholder-driven issues, particularly in priority growth areas defined by the Region. Niagara Region staff has provided an initial outline of issues which has been further expanded as part of subsequent study tasks and consultation activities.

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 2 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan 1.2 Tertiary Watershed Context The Draft Provincial guidance for Watershed Planning (MNRF, MECP 2018) advocates for the use of existing data available from Provincial, Municipal, and Conservation Authorities, to establish the limits of watersheds and subwatersheds. Provincial mapping delineates watersheds at the primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary levels, representing nested levels of drainage areas, from largest (primary) to smallest (quaternary) (ref. Figure 1-1). Current watershed and subwatershed information in Niagara, available from legacy documents and the NPCA do not explicitly align with the common industry understanding of “watersheds” or “subwatersheds”. Figure 1-1: Provincial Mapping – Watershed Delineation Scales

Secondary Primary (e.g., Northern Lake Tertiary (e.g., St. Lawrence) Ontario and Niagara River) (e.g., Niagara River)

The WPDP states that Niagara Region is comprised of two secondary watersheds: Lake Ontario and Niagara Peninsula, and Northern Lake Erie. Also, while the majority of land in Niagara Region, and portions of Hamilton and Haldimand County, drain northerly into Lake Ontario, the southern part of the Region drains into the Lake Erie watershed. Further, Niagara Region drains into 3 tertiary watersheds, where the subject lands drain either into Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, or the Niagara River. This delineation reflects the unique hydrologic and ecological functions of the receivers, specific to the Lakes verses the Niagara River. Based on this approach, the NWP (E) has been structured to report at a tertiary watershed scale, where the lands in Niagara have been characterized and discussed based upon the three (3) tertiary receivers, including Lake Ontario, Lake Erie and the Niagara River. Moreover, Provincial mapping cited in the WPDP identifies ten (10) quaternary watersheds within Niagara Region (Note: Table/Mapping has 10 however text refers to 9). At issue is that while these quaternary watersheds largely follow drainage divides, many of the quaternary watersheds which border the Lake Ontario or Lake Erie shorelines, or the Niagara River, include smaller drainage basins or hydrologic units which do not drain to a watercourse or river by way of a tributary, but rather outlet

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 3 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan directly to the associated receiving waterbody. In the Provincial nomenclature cited above, this would make these drainage basins, by definition, individual watersheds. The Province released an updated watershed boundary dataset on May 8th, 2020, which is collectively called Ontario Watershed Boundary (OWB). The boundaries relevant to Niagara Region were based on the recent Ontario Integrated Hydrology (OIH) data produced in the spring/fall of 2019 for areas within Ontario. Refinements to these OWB boundaries have been made by the Niagara Region, in consultation with the NWP (E) team, based upon more detailed knowledge of drainage systems and catchment boundaries for the quaternary watersheds and tertiary watershed systems. Further discussion regarding these data sets and the delineation process applied for the drainage systems within the Niagara Region, which have been carried throughout the NWP (E) study and reporting, can be found in Section 2.2.

1.3 Work Plan The NWP (E) has been completed through five (5) primary tasks: Task 1 Confirm Boundaries & Establish Priorities • Task 1-1 Confirm & Collect Available Data & Reports | The Natural Environment Work Program (NEWP) collected, considered and summarized an extensive range of datasets (geospatial) and reports that have informed or been used in analyses of the current Niagara Watershed Plan Equivalency project. The Wood Team has worked with the Region to confirm that the list of available data and reports represents the most current and ‘best available’ data and information for use in the Niagara Watershed Plan Equivalency document. • Task 1-2 Watershed and Sub-watershed Delineation | The Wood Team has worked with the Region to confirm or refine watershed and subwatershed mapping for the Region based upon available sources. Substantive mapping and modelling have been undertaken as part of separate studies and as such, has required consolidation of existing mapping and rationalizing any minor mapping discrepancies to produce appropriate and supportable watershed and sub-watershed delineations for the purpose of the Niagara Watershed Plan Equivalency document. • Task 1-3 Establish Priority Areas | While the Watershed Plan Equivalency document broadly characterizes the tertiary watersheds in their entirety, identification of more localized priority areas within Niagara’s watersheds has allowed for an opportunity to focus guidance and direction for the subsequent tasks and work effort of the Wood Team. Priority watershed areas and subwatersheds include those which have been informed by the new NOP work being completed by the Region (e.g., known or potential settlement expansion areas), known areas experiencing higher levels of development or resource pressure, or are known to have functional concerns related to management of water quality or quantity.

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 4 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Task 2 Characterization of Existing Conditions • Task 2-1 Data Mining & Gap Analysis | Existing legacy datasets and reports (as outlined in the WPDP and others) have been mined, pulling from the various formats, geospatially referenced datasets and information that can be used to characterize existing conditions across the tertiary watersheds. Focus has been given to priority areas identified through Tasks 1-1 to 1-3 to refine the level of understanding within these critical areas for land use planning within the Region. Through this data mining and review exercise, the Wood Team has identified gaps or deficiencies including age, quality / accuracy and/or availability, for its use in prioritizing recommendations for future work. • Task 2-2 Stakeholder Consultation #1 | Issues & Opportunities Workshop | Extensive stakeholder engagement was undertaken as part of the NEWP and continued through the new NOP process. This engagement has identified that protection of the environment, and water specifically, are amongst the community’s top priorities. This stakeholder engagement was conducted as a remote public meeting in 2020 due to the pandemic, involving numerous community participants; this session provided an introduction to the project and solicited input on topics, themes, goals and objectives, and encouraged knowledge sharing to inform the project and identify potential gaps/issues. Task 3 Set Watershed Plan Equivalency Goals & Objectives • Task 3-1 Policy Review & Identification of Key Conformity Support | The key purpose of the Niagara Watershed Plan Equivalency document is to provide tertiary watershed planning direction to inform the new NOP. In support of this, the Wood Team has reviewed applicable provincial policies, plans and guidance documents (i.e., specifically the “Watershed Planning in Ontario – Guidance for Land-use Planning Authorities”, 2018) related to watershed planning, natural heritage and water resource systems to identify key areas of conformity. This review has directly informed the goals and objectives of the Niagara Watershed Plan Equivalency document. • Task 3-2 Watershed Equivalency Goals & Objectives | Drawing on work completed through primary Tasks 1, 2 and 3-1, the Wood Team has worked with the Region’s Project Team to establish goals and objectives for the Niagara Watershed Plan Equivalency document. This effort has provided key direction on scope and prioritization of outcomes for the report to ensure that it meets the needs of the Region and Stakeholders. Task 4 Integrate the Natural Heritage System & Inform the Water Resource System This task has built on the work completed through the NEWP to support the Niagara Watershed Plan Equivalency document and also has drawn upon data mined through Task 2-1, to refine and inform the WRS within priority areas. Through this task, key elements of the systems supporting the tertiary watersheds of the Niagara Region have been confirmed to inform the development of recommendations and implementation priorities.

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 5 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan • Task 4-1 Integrating the Preferred Natural Heritage System | A key input to watershed planning is the natural heritage system prepared as part of the NEWP. The interrelationship between natural heritage and water resource systems is recognized in the PPS and is an essential component informing watershed planning. A preliminary preferred option and associated system mapping was completed in March 2021. Additional consultation occurred through April 2021 with an anticipated confirmation of the preferred system in Q3 2021. • Task 4-2 Informing the Water Resource System | Through the NEWP, initial options for a WRS have been identified based on sources of information to inform the WRS through watershed planning (per the WPDP). This task has used data ‘mined’ from existing sources (Task 2-1) to further inform and refine the preliminary WRS discussed through the NEWP. This task has focused on informing the WRS within priority areas identified through Tasks 1-3 to maximize the utility of project resources and ensure effective input and direction for land use planning for the new NOP. Task 5 Watershed Plan Elements & Best Practices Drawing on work completed through the preceding tasks, the Wood Team has identified and developed recommendations for prioritizing gap filling in the future and establishing implementation priorities. In their development, the Wood Team has explored best practices associated with those key elements that influence land use planning at a tertiary watershed planning scale to inform the new NOP. Section 6 of the “Watershed Planning in Ontario – Guidance for Land-use Planning Authorities”, 2018, outlines the expectations and scope associated with defining those elements which typically constitute a Watershed Plan. Given the scope of the current project, an “equivalency” approach has been advocated to optimize the use of existing desktop resources to address the respective items to the extent possible and thereby develop informed tertiary guidance for the new NOP. A brief summary of key watershed plan elements is provided in the tasks which follow: • Task 5-1 Water Management Guidance (Quantity / Quality) | The Source Protection Plan and available watershed and subwatershed plans have been used to establish a tertiary understanding of conceptual water budgets and water quality for the respective systems (no modelling was conducted). This information has been used to prioritize locations where land use change and supporting growth would be anticipated to have low, medium and high impacts. • Task 5-2 Climate Change Guidance | Numerous municipalities, including Niagara Region, are actively involved in considering the potential impacts due to climate change on infrastructure and growth. The Wood Team has used “lessons learned” from Ontario-based initiatives, as well as other local examples, to provide guidance on best practices to consider climate change influences in the new NOP. • Task 5-3 Natural Hazards | Earlier tasks (ref. Task 2.1) have collected mapping and background to NPCA’s hazard delineation in its watersheds. These data are understood to be contemporary and reflect the best available information. As part of this task the information has been checked against other on-going and future initiatives to ensure the information is current and consistent, with acknowledgement of future updates and/or refinements to come through other studies.

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 6 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan • Task 5-4 Cumulative Impact Guidance | For a study of this scale (tertiary watersheds) and scope, a fulsome cumulative effects study was not feasible. Rather, in order to provide direction/guidance related to cumulative impacts, the characterization established earlier (ref. Task 2.1) has been used to identify sensitivities through which, existing development and proposed growth, have been overlain to define areas anticipated to be under the greatest impact due to past, current and proposed development, in the form of a screening lens. • Task 5-5 Land Use Impact Management | Best practices for managing impacts due to urbanization are well documented. Current trends and approaches, particularly those in Niagara, have been reviewed to provide appropriate insights for the new NOP. Balanced consideration of grey/green infrastructure is considered important to inform the new NOP, building from acceptable local area municipal approaches. The categories of management include: NHS, watercourses and water (surface and ground). • Task 5-6 Future Studies / Priorities | The Wood Team has mined the available desktop resources of information related to the NHS, WRS and associated resource/water-focused data. As is clearly understood and outlined in the WPDP, numerous gaps exist. Furthermore, numerous future studies will be required to support growth (notably Quaternary Watershed plans and/or Subwatershed Studies); strategies and experiences from these types of studies have been outlined to appropriately inform the new NOP. • Task 5-7 Monitoring / Adaptive Management | As part of this task, it was required to determine those aspects of the NHS and WRS, and associated natural and water- based resources, which should be monitored as part of broad-scale growth plans. The Wood Team has outlined a framework and requirements for developing both local and holistic monitoring strategies for large scale development over extended periods (10 years +/-) for the Niagara Region. Each of these tasks represented an important milestone in the background review, consultation, data collection, analysis and developing the framework for the resulting NWP (E); each task has been completed individually and submitted to the Region under separate cover (Technical Memoranda) for review and approval, prior to the compilation of the current final NWP (E).

1.4 NWP (E) Report Structure The NWP (E) has been structured as an overall framework which provides an overview of existing data sets and has developed an outline for subsequent quaternary watershed plans. The findings from each project task outlined in the previous section have been integrated into the following report volumes which represent the contents of the three (3) NWP (E) documents, which together constitute the NWP (E): • Volume 1: Characterization ­ Niagara Watersheds Characterization (Lake Ontario, Niagara River, Lake Erie) ♦ Drainage Systems ♦ Surficial Soils ♦ Slopes / Topography

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 7 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan ♦ Groundwater System & Source Water Protection ♦ Natural Hazards ♦ Natural Heritage (Fish & Terrestrial) ♦ Land Uses (Urban & Agricultural) ♦ Watershed Monitoring (Climate, Streamflow, Water Quality and Groundwater) • Volume 2: Niagara Watershed Management ­ Goals & Objectives ­ Integrating the Natural Heritage System (NHS) & Water Resource System (WRS) ­ Watershed Plan (Equivalency) Guidance ♦ Water Management Guidance (Quantity/Quality) ♦ Climate Change Guidance ♦ Natural Hazards ♦ Cumulative Impacts ♦ Land Use Impact Management & Preliminary Guidance ­ Future Studies & Monitoring • Volume 3: Growth Analysis ­ Growth Scenarios / Priority Areas ♦ Total Potential Growth ♦ Priority Areas ♦ Growth Area Screening Matrix

The contents of the current report pertain to Volume 1: Characterization, which provides a review of existing data sources and outlines the existing conditions of the three (3) tertiary watershed systems present within the Niagara Region. The findings from the Characterization help to inform the subsequent management requirements, outlined in Volume 2, as well as the analysis of potential growth across the Niagara Region, outlined in Volume 3. These report volumes encompassing the final NWP(E) have been compiled to improve the understanding of the natural and water-based systems present within the Niagara Region. The information also helps inform the new NOP and provides direction for the subsequent studies, which will be required to support future quaternary watershed planning and local subwatershed planning initiatives in the Niagara Region.

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 8 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan 2.0 NIAGARA WATERSHED CHARACTERIZATION The characterization of the watershed systems across the Niagara Region has involved a detailed desktop review of available information to provide insights related to the natural systems and water systems; this desktop analysis has been completed in order to establish an understanding of relative sensitivity of area resources and thereby inform Regional land use planning. Further, where information was not available this has been noted as a gap for future study through the Regional quaternary watershed studies and/or through local subwatershed studies. Further details regarding the sources used, and the methodologies applied in the desktop characterization, have been outlined in the subsequent sections.

2.1 Overview of Background Information The characterization of the resources associated with the natural and water-based systems within Niagara Region’s watersheds has been developed based upon a review of available information sources, either received from the Region or NPCA for use in this study, or sourced from other online resources (open-source data). The characterization has been based upon a desktop review of reports and data at varying scales (watershed, regional and local) for the respective watersheds and associated systems. The Natural Environment Work Program (NEWP), complemented by the WPDP, collected, considered and catalogued an extensive range of datasets (geospatial) and reports / studies at various scales (Provincial, Regional, Watershed, Subwatershed, Local, etc.), with respect to the Niagara Region that have informed, or been used in, the current NWP (E). The Team has prepared a worksheet termed a Data/Information Tracking Chart (ref. Appendix A-1) to document the list of available data and reports received as part of the current work. These datasets and reports / studies have been reviewed as part of the NWP (E) to ensure accurate and “best available” information has been identified and used in the preparation of the current NWP (E). Further description and discussion regarding the various data sources and their uses in the current study has been outlined in the subsequent and respective sections. As informed by the WPDP, the reports used as part of this background review and characterization have included the following: Watershed Plans • 15-16-18 Mile Creeks Watershed Plan (NPCA, 2008) • Beaverdams and Shriners Creek Watershed Plan Phase One (NPCA, 2011) • Central Welland River Watershed Plan (NPCA, 2010) • Fort Erie Creeks - Watershed Plan (Philips Engineering, 2008) • Lake Erie North Shore Watershed Management Plan (NPCA, 2010) • Lower Welland River Characterization Report (May, 2011) • Niagara-on-the-Lakes Creeks Watershed Plan (Aquafor Beech, 2008) • South Niagara Falls Watershed Report (NPCA, 2008) • Twelve Mile Creek Watershed Plan (NPCA, 2006) • Twenty Mile Creek Watershed Plan (NPCA, 2006) • Upper Welland River Watershed Plan (March 2011)

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 9 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Regional Level and Other Reports • Niagara Source Protection Plan & Assessment Report (2013 update) (NPCA, 2013b) • Watershed Report Cards (NPCA, 2012) • Watershed Report Cards (NPCA, 2018) • Water Availability Study (WAS) (AquaResource Inc 2009a – i) • NPCA Groundwater Study Final Report (Waterloo Hydrogeologic Inc., 2005) • Niagara Water Quality Protection Strategy Report Phase 1-4 (NPCA, 2003) • Niagara Peninsula Tier 1 Water Budget and Water Quantity Stress Assessment (NPCA, 2010) • Adapting to Climate Change: Challenges for Niagara (Penney, 2012) • NPCA Water Quality Monitoring Program Annual Report (NPCA, 2019) • Climate Change Discussion Paper (Niagara Region, 2019) • Niagara River Watershed Fish Community Assessment: 1997 to 2011 (MNRF 2012) • The Healthy Twelve Mile Creek Project (website) (Trout Unlimited Canada)

In addition to the reports outlined above, supplemental mapping and data have been used to characterize the Niagara Region watershed system, outline potential constraints to development and identify future data needs for subsequent studies and watershed planning. In addition to the base mapping data, the following has been used in the characterization of Niagara’s watershed system: Spatial Data: • Tertiary Watershed Boundaries (Provincial Mapping Unit Ontario, 2020) • Quaternary Watershed Boundaries (Provincial Mapping Unit Ontario , 2020) • Subwatershed Boundaries (NPCA, 2019) • Municipalities Boundaries (Niagara Region, 2020) • Future Land Uses (MCR2051) (Niagara Region, 2020) • OMAFRA Soil Mapping (OMAFRA, 2019) • Ontario Integrated Hydrology Data – Digital Elevation Model (DEM) (MNRF, 2019) • NPCA Monitoring Network (climate stations, streamflow stations, water quality locations) (NPCA, 2019) • Provincial Groundwater Monitoring Network (PGMN) (MECP, • Intake Protection Zones (NPCA, 2019) • Significant Groundwater Recharge Areas (NPCA, 2019) • Highly Vulnerable Aquifers (Region of Niagara, 2021) • Constructed Drains (OMAFRA, 2019) • Agricultural Land Base for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (OMAFRA, 2018) • Flora and Fauna Records (Global Biodiversity Information Facility1, 2021)

1 The Global Biodiversity Information Facility is an international network and data infrastructure which provides open access to information on species and biodiversity.

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 10 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan • Ecological Land Classification for Niagara Region (Region of Niagara, 2020) • Contemporary Mapping of Watercourses (Region of Niagara, 2016) • CNH Fish Habitat (Niagara Region, 2020) • Ontario Hydrologic Network Watercourses (Ministry of Natural Heritage and Forestry, 2019) • Woodland and Wetland mapping (Ministry of Natural Resources, 2019) • Regulated Wetlands (NPCA, 2019) 2.2 Watershed and Subwatershed Delineations Based on the WPDP and consultation with Region staff, it is understood that the Region’s current role in watershed planning is to assume the lead in preparing watershed plans, a prior function of NPCA. These watershed plans will provide high- level guidance on resource and water management related to anticipated land use changes at a high level, supporting the new NOP and future Regional OPAs. At the tertiary scale, these studies (as per the NWP (E) provide guidance on objectives, goals and targets that would address federal and provincial policy and acts (e.g., Great Lakes Strategy); this in turn informs future quaternary watershed planning by the Region, and subwatershed planning (at the local level) and provides for a collation of existing information to assess overall condition status of the tertiary watershed. Further, the Growth Areas currently being considered by the Region as part of the new NOP in the various local area municipalities, will in the future need to be accompanied by more detailed subwatershed studies to provide specific guidance on NHS and WRS amendments/refinements, water management criteria and other resource management specifics. On this basis, it is important that the delineation of watersheds be clearly established in the NWP (E) and that these be logical and sufficiently comprehensive, so as to provide a representative and adequate assessment unit for the intended purpose. On this basis, it is similarly important to acknowledge the various subwatersheds which form part of the larger watershed plan units (tertiary and quaternary level), as it is these that will ultimately need to be studied in greater detail at the local level, through future Secondary planning. The WPDP reviewed the matter of Watershed and Subwatershed delineation in more detail. Specifically, the WPDP highlighted that a “watershed” is defined as an area that is drained by a river and its tributaries, while a “subwatershed” is an area drained by an individual tributary to the main watercourse (ref. MOE and MNR, 1993; Hardy et al., 1994; MMAH, 2014). The intent of focusing on smaller areas within a watershed is to allow for the more detailed analyses and assessments to support growth planning decision-making and the derivation of management guidance (e.g., planning for stormwater and environmental management based on subwatershed areas or units) (ref. Conservation Ontario, 2003). Moreover, as noted in the WPDP, it is important to

Data is drawn from an extensive list of sources – historic and contemporary and can be obtained based on search parameters. Relevant sources to the Niagara Region include: eBird, iNaturalist, Natural Heritage Information Centre, herbarium records, and species atlases among many others. A complete list of sources is provided in the reference section.

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 11 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan recognize that Watersheds are typically cross jurisdictional, meaning that they are based on functional drainage areas rather than political boundaries. The discussion on what constitutes a “watershed” vs “subwatershed” is further complicated by the approach previously used by by NPCA (2013), which divided Niagara Region (and the headwaters in Hamilton and Haldimand County) into seventeen (17) spatial units generally referred to as “watersheds”. These “Watersheds” however do not consistently meet the Provincial technical definitions cited in the introduction to this section. For instance, some of the NPCA “watersheds” could constitute quaternary watersheds, while others would be more accurately defined as quaternary subwatersheds. Notably some areas also consider geographical/municipal boundaries, which based on the provincial terminology (Conservation Ontario, 2003) could be considered environmental management units. Some of this nomenclature and structure was born out of the Niagara Water Quality Protection Strategy (2003), completed in response to the Walkerton Tragedy which termed these units as Local Management Areas (LMAs), as a logical means of organizing data in a form relevant to stakeholders and the public. This approach needs to be reconsidered now that the Region and local area municipalities have more of a lead role in watershed planning, with the goal to be consisten across the Province. The Province has also used drainage basin size, as a means to distinguish its hierarchal level. Specifically, the drainage area-based definitions from Conservation Ontario (2003) suggest that tertiary watersheds would be defined as “watersheds” since they are > 1000 km2, while quaternary watersheds would be defined as “subwatersheds” since they are between 50 and 200 km2 in area and Tributary planning refers to areas between 2 and 10 km2. Notwithstanding, there is not a true 1:1 reflection of these sizes and terms in Niagara’s watersheds and subwatersheds. As noted earlier, the nomenclature and associated assumptions in their application needs to be clearly understood to ensure that subsequent activities are properly referenced to support the new NOP. Based on these issues, the Wood Team has worked with the Region to establish a methodology which: • Reflects provincial datasets • Adopts the 2018 (Draft) terminology • Builds on the WPDP • Provides Guidance for the Region and LMAs in future watershed/subwatershed planning Appendix A-1 contains the content of a technical memorandum prepared by Region staff with input from the NWP (E) team. The following subsections provide a summary of key findings and assumptions leading to the recommended delineation approach.

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 12 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan 2.2.1 Provincial Ontario Watershed Boundary Dataset As outlined in previous sections, the Province released an updated watershed boundary dataset on May 8th, 2020. The new watershed boundaries are collectively called Ontario Watershed Boundary (OWB). The boundaries relevant to Niagara Region were based on the recent Ontario Integrated Hydrology (OIH) data produced in the spring/fall of 2019 for areas within Ontario.

2.2.1.1 Provincial Nomenclature As noted earlier, the Province has a hierarchal approach which considers drainage at multiple scales termed: Primary (e.g. St. Lawrence), Secondary (e.g. Lake Ontario), Tertiary (e.g. Niagara River), Quaternary (e.g. Twenty Mile Creek). Notably, Niagara Region is not subdivided into multiple watersheds until the tertiary watershed level where the lands in Niagara are identified to drain to one (1) of three (3) receivers – Lake Ontario, Lake Erie or the Niagara River. At the quaternary watershed level, Niagara Region is further subdivided. As noted earlier, it is important to stress that Provincial data documentation point out that while the reference to the term “watershed” is applied, some of these delineations may refer to hydrologic units that are not actually watersheds but actually sub-units of a greater watershed.

2.2.1.2 Niagara Region Tertiary Watershed Delineation In the review of the OWB Tertiary level spatial data, numerous inconsistencies and adjustments have been recommended by the Region based on factors such as: true catchments for Welland Canal, Welland River, siphons and other local characteristics (ref. Appendix A-1 for details). Through the application of these adjustments, a new map at a tertiary scale has been prepared (ref. Figure 2-1). The current NWP (E) is being largely conducted at the Tertiary scale however for clarity and ease of guidance, it also has considered data/information at a more resolute scale for the purpose of establishing a sound framework for future watershed planning by the Region at the Quaternary scale and LMAs at the subwatershed scale.

2.2.1.3 Niagara Region Quaternary Watershed Delineation Similar to the Provincial data at the tertiary scale, Region staff, in consultation with the NWP (E) team, determined that the OWB quaternary level spatial data, while further dividing the landscape of Niagara Region into six (6) areas, results in issues with clear representation of these areas, again due to factors associated with drainage continuity and logic amongst the respective drainage units. On the basis of these adjustments (detailed in Appendix A-1), the delineation for the quaternary level watersheds in Niagara Region results in twelve (12) separate watershed areas. These areas are important since they will represent the next stage of Watershed planning to be conducted by the Region to support future growth and resource management in those areas, and ultimately provide the necessary guidance to the next tier of study (subwatershed) associated with Secondary Plans at the LMA level.

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 13 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan The resulting hierarchy of applying the Provincial datasets, adjusted due to local factors and characteristics, yields the following delineation, as presented in Figure 2-2 and Table 2-1. This mapping and nomenclature have been used and referenced throughout the remainder of the NWP (E).

2.2.1.4 Subwatershed Delineations As documented in the previous sections, there were some discrepancies with regards to the delineation and boundaries for the watersheds and subwatersheds within the Niagara Region based on the various digital mapping bases. It should be noted that the subwatersheds currently discussed and delineated as part of the tertiary and quaternary watershed characterizations are based on the subwatershed information/delineation provided by the NPCA. As a result of the provincial mapping update to the three (3) tertiary and twelve (12) quaternary watershed boundaries, refinements are required to the overall boundaries (tertiary, quaternary and subwatershed) for consistency in data sources and overall drainage networks, which are proposed to be addressed as part of future quaternary watershed and subwatershed plans. As agreed with Region staff, a “hybrid” approach to delineating the respective limits has been advocated whereby only the outer subwatershed boundaries, overlapping a tertiary or quaternary boundary, have been updated to the provincial delineation as part of this study for reporting and visual purposes. Therefore, all inner subwatershed boundaries remain as per the original and current NPCA delineation. With updated source elevation data and watercourse mapping proposed for the Niagara Peninsula watershed proposed in the coming years (2021 and 2022), both inner and outer boundaries are expected to be reviewed/refined as part of future quaternary scale watershed plans and local subwatershed plans for consistency in data sources and drainage networks. The subwatershed delineations for the Niagara Region across all tertiary and quaternary watersheds have been presented on Figure 2-3.

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Figure 2-1. Niagara Region – Tertiary Watershed Areas

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Figure 2-2. Niagara Region – Quaternary Watershed Areas

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Figure 2-3. Niagara Region Subwatershed Areas

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 17 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Table 2-1: Tertiary and Quaternary Watersheds within Niagara Region Quaternary Watershed Tertiary Watershed Name Overlapping (Total Area/Niagara (Total Area / Municipalities Region Area) Niagara Region Area) Lake Ontario 1. West Lake Ontario Lincoln, Grimsby, (1184.7 km2 / Shoreline West Lincoln 913.1 km2) (228.7 km2 / 139.4 km2) Lake Ontario 2. Jordan Harbour – Lincoln, Grimsby, (1184.7 km2 / Twenty Mile Creek West Lincoln 913.1 km2) (303.5 km2 / 193.4 km2) Lake Ontario 3. Fifteen and St. Catharines, Lincoln, (1184.7 km2 / Sixteen Mile Creeks Pelham, West Lincoln 913.1 km2) (136.5 km2 / 136.5 km2) Lake Ontario 4. Twelve Mile Creek St. Catharines, Lincoln, (1184.7 km2 / (148.4 km2 / 148.4 km2) Pelham, Thorold 913.1 km2) Lake Ontario Niagara-on-the-Lake, St. 5. Welland Canal North (1184.7 km2 / Catharines, Niagara Falls, (92.4 km2 / 92.4 km2) 913.1 km2) Thorold, Welland, Pelham Lake Ontario Niagara-on-the-Lake, 6. Four Mile Creek and NOTL (1184.7 km2 / St. Catharines, (126.4 km2 / 126.4 km2) 913.1 km2) Niagara Falls Lake Ontario 7. Welland Canal South Welland, Port Colborne, (1184.7 km2 / (77.4 km2 / 77.4 km2) Wainfleet 913.1 km2) Niagara River Pelham, Welland, Port 8. Welland River West (1136.1 km2 / 852.0 Colborne, Wainfleet, (871.6 km2 / 469.0 km2) km2) West Lincoln Niagara River Thorold, Niagara Falls, 9. Welland River East (1136.1 km2 / Welland, Port Colborne, (136.6 km2 / 136.6 km2) 852.0 km2) Fort Erie Niagara River 10. Niagara River North Niagara Falls, (1136.1 km2 / (62.2 km2 / 62.2 km2) Niagara-on-the-Lake 852.0 km2) Niagara River 11. Niagara River South Fort Erie, Port Colborne, (1136.1 km2 / (185.4 km2 / 185.4 km2) Niagara Falls 852.0 km2) 12. Northeast Lake Erie Lake Erie Wainfleet, Port Colborne, Shoreline (137 km2 / 116.8 km2) Fort Erie (137 km2 / 116.8 km2)

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 18 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan 2.3 Watershed Characterization of Existing Conditions A baseline characterization of the hydrologic features and systems within the Niagara Region watershed system has been developed based upon a desktop review of the background information provided and available for this study. This review has characterized the existing drainage systems, soils, slopes, groundwater systems and land use conditions organized under a tertiary watershed basis, focusing on lands draining to Lake Ontario, Niagara River, Lake Erie. This tertiary level review has provided a high-level characterization to inform the new Niagara Official Plan, guide future watershed planning objectives, and identify the data sources to be used for identification of potential constraints to future development, as well as to establish the information gaps which will need to be filled as part of future work.

2.3.1 Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed 2.3.1.1 Drainage Systems The Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed is primarily located along the northern portion of Niagara Region, with hydrologic connections extending towards the southern limits of Lake Erie. This tertiary watershed encompasses a drainage area of over 1,185 km2 (+/-), which is represented by seven (7) separate quaternary watersheds present within the Niagara Region. These lands contribute to major watercourses within the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed, with a total length of over 1,040 km (+/-) within the bounds of the Niagara Region. The contributing drainage areas and subwatersheds present within the Lake Ontario tertiary watershed have been summarized in Table 2-LO-1 and on Drawing WR1.

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Table 2-LO-1: Drainage Areas and Subwatersheds within the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed Quaternary Area % of Subwatershed # Subwatershed Names Watershed (km2) Tertiary # Bartlett, Beamsville Creek/KonkleCreek, Campden West Lake Ontario Creek, Forty Mile Creek, Jordan Harbour West, Lake 1 300.1 25% 38 Shoreline Ontario (15A, 17-27, 29-33, 35-44, 44A), Prudhomme Creek, Thirty Mile Creek, Vineland Drain. Jordan Harbour – Gavora Ditch, North Creek, Sinkhole Creek, Spring 2 303.5 26% 6 Twenty Mile Creek Creek, Three Mile Creek, Twenty Mile Creek. Eighteen Mile Creek, Fifteen Mile Creek, Jordan Harbour Fifteen and Sixteen 3 136.5 12% 10 East, Lake Ontario (11, 14, 14A, 15), Sixteen Mile Creek, Mile Creeks Ontario (12, 13). Dicks Creek, Francis Creek, Lake Gibson System, Lower Twelve Mile Creek, Richardson Creek, Upper Twelve 4 Twelve Mile Creek 148.4 13% 9 Mile Creek, Beamer Creek, Spring Garden Creek, Walker Creek. Welland Canal Beaverdams Creek1, Shriners Creek, Ten Mile Creek, 5 92.4 8% 5 North Welland Canal North, Tow Path Drain. Eight Mile Creek, Four Mile Creek, Four Mile Pond, Lake Four Mile Creek 6 126.4 11% 15 Ontario (1, 2, 4, 5, 6A, 8, 9, 10), One Mile Creek, Six and NOTL Mile Creek, Two Mile Creek. Welland Canal Biederman Drain, Indian Creek, Lyons Creek Drain, 7 77.4 7% 4 South Welland Canal South. Note: 1 A portion of Beaverdams Creek discharges under the canal and into Lake Gibson, however majority discharges into the Welland Canal.

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 20 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan The two (2) largest quaternary watersheds represent approximately 50% of the lands within the Lake Ontario tertiary watershed, these include the West Lake Ontario Shoreline encompassing thirty-eight (38) subwatersheds of varying size, and the Jordan Harbour – Twenty Mile Creek which encompasses six (6) larger subwatershed systems. Both of these quaternary watersheds are within the north-western extents of the Niagara Region, with portions extending beyond the Region’s limits, into the neighboring City of Hamilton jurisdiction. The remaining five (5) quaternary watersheds represent relatively similar drainage areas, with Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks, Twelve Mile Creek and Four Mile Creek and Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL) representing approximately 10-13% of the overall tertiary watershed; each of these systems are represented by a similar number of subwatershed systems, ranging from 9 to 15. The Welland Canal is divided into two (2) separate quaternary watersheds, north and south of the Welland River, representing approximately 15% of the tertiary watershed area. The Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed is composed of a total of eighty-seven (87) separate Subwatersheds, each of which would require individual (or in combination) study and review for proposed future development, in order to evaluate the potential local impacts and mitigation strategies.

2.3.1.2 Surficial Soils The surficial soils present within the Niagara Region have been sourced from the OMAFRA Soil Complex Survey mapping, which is a compilation of soil surveys completed on a county-by-county basis between 1929 and 2002 at a variety of map scales (ref. Land Information Ontario Data Description, Soil Complex Survey, OMAFRA, 2012). Across the Niagara Region, there are over 50 different surficial soil types varying in composition, properties, and hydrologic condition. In order to provide a meaningful characterization at the tertiary watershed scale, the soils types have been summarized based upon their Drainage Classes, which provide an indication of the soil’s ability to drain water and therein create runoff. This classification can infer the soil’s potential response to urbanization, as well as the applicability and suitability for select stormwater management (SWM) practices should future development advance (i.e. source controls for best management practices). The Drainage Classes assigned in OMAFRA’s Soil Complex Survey include the following: • – = Not Applicable • MW = Moderately Well • VA = Variable • I = Imperfectly • R = Rapidly • P = Poorly • W = Well • VP = Very Poorly The drainage class “not applicable (–)” typically represents areas of unclassified soils, or areas underlying water features and therefore drainage classifications have not been assigned. Soils with “variable (VA)” drainage capacities are typically found within, or near, the bounds of existing urban areas, as these are disturbed soils as a result of existing urban development.

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 21 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan The soils types denoted as “rapidly (R)”, “well (W)” and “moderately well (MW)” drainage classes would represent higher infiltrative soils and thereby constitute areas that may be more sensitive to urbanization, as the impervious coverage resulting from urban development would generate a more significant change in the local hydrologic relationships. These could include sensitivity to changes in peak flows to receiving systems, impacts to the local water balance, as well as higher susceptibility for urban contaminants draining within the soils and potentially entering the subsurface systems. On the contrary, the soil types with “poorly (P)” and “very poorly (VP)” designations may indicate areas less sensitive to urban development, seeing as under the current or native soil conditions, poorly drained soils generally consist of less permeable material and would typically produce higher runoff in their in-situ condition. These soil types can also provide indications of pre-settlement wetland extents and can be utilized as part of wetland restoration targets. Due to the poorly drained nature of these soils, an impervious condition from urban development may not result in as significant hydrologic changes when compared to the well-drained soils. An additional consideration of poorly drained soil conditions is the potential limitations to SWM options or on-site controls (i.e., infiltrative BMPs), should urban development be advanced in these areas. The remaining drainage category of “imperfectly (I)” drained soil types, is a mix between well-drained and poorly drained conditions and would therefore generally represent characteristics of both categories. For the purpose of ascribing a level of sensitivity to the respective soils, four (4) designations have been applied which have been referred to as: Unknown (this represents a potential information gap), High (this relates to the soils of highest permeability), Medium (soils of moderate permeability) and Low (least permeable soils). The distribution of the surficial soils has been summarized based on drainage classes across the Lake Ontario tertiary watershed and the seven (7) respective quaternary watershed areas, as shown in Table 2-LO-2. A visual representation of the drainage class distribution across all the Lake Ontario tertiary watershed is presented on Drawing WR2.

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Table 2-LO-2: Soil Drainage Distribution within the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed Soil Drainage Soil Drainage Soil Drainage Soil Drainage Soil Drainage Soil Drainage Soil Drainage Soil Drainage Class & Class & Class & Class & Class & Class & Class & Class & Sensitivity Sensitivity Sensitivity Sensitivity Sensitivity Sensitivity Sensitivity Sensitivity Tertiary Quaternary Distribution Distribution Distribution Distribution Distribution Distribution Distribution Distribution (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) Unknown Unknown High High High Med Low Low (– ) (VA) (R) (W) (MW) (I) (P) (VP) Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Lake Ontario 7.8 5.1 3.5 2.4 12.7 49.4 18.6 0.3 Creeks Four Mile Creek and Lake Ontario 1.3 14.4 1.2 1.2 4.4 48.2 29.0 0.0 NOTL Jordan Harbour - Lake Ontario 8.2 3.1 0.6 8.3 6.3 49.4 23.9 0.1 Twenty Mile Creek Lake Ontario Twelve Mile Creek 4.3 42.3 2.5 6.6 9.1 29.2 5.7 0.1 Lake Ontario Welland Canal North 8.5 38.4 0.1 1.3 2.5 36.4 12.8 0.0 Lake Ontario Welland Canal South 4.8 42.9 2.8 0.0 0.1 7.6 35.5 6.2 West Lake Ontario Lake Ontario 1.4 12.1 3.9 1.9 6.8 43.4 30.4 0.0 Shoreline Lake Ontario Tertiary Average for Unknown = 23.2 High = 12.7 Med = 41.2 Low = 22.6 Watershed

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As demonstrated in Table 2-LO-2, over 60% of the soils present within the Lake Ontario tertiary watershed are classified as imperfectly or poorly drained (low to medium sensitivity to urbanization), approximately 13% of soil coverage classified as well draining (high sensitivity), and an additional 23% classified as variable (unknown), which are largely attributed to the existing urban centers, including St. Catharines, Welland, NOTL and Grimsby. There are varying distributions of drainage conditions across the individual quaternary watersheds and the associated subwatersheds, therefore, this information has been used in subsequent study tasks (ref. NWP (E) - Volume 3: Growth Analysis) to identify any potential constraints or unfavourable conditions for urbanization/development with respect to the potential growth areas, which can help to inform future watershed planning objectives.

2.3.1.3 Slopes / Topography The ground slopes at the surface within the Lake Ontario tertiary watershed have been characterized based upon the Hydrology Enforced Digital Elevation Model (DEM) (OIH, 2019) for use in this study. It should be noted that a more refined Digital Terrain Model (DTM) is available from NPCA for use in subsequent quaternary and subwatershed studies, for higher resolution purposes (DTM update proposed in 2021). For the current study being completed at the Regional scale, the provincial DEM is considered to be sufficient for establishing trends and topographic characterization. The information provided in the provincial DEM mapping has been processed and classified in order to characterize the land surface areas based upon specified thresholds, demonstrating, mild (0-2%), medium (2-10%) and steep slopes (>10%), which can indicate a measure related to suitability for development, and any construction / material management implications (i.e., excessive cut/fill). Typically, milder slopes are more conducive to urbanization and provide less constraints for major landform alteration than those areas with steeper landscapes. The ground slopes within the Lake Ontario tertiary watershed and the seven (7) respective quaternary watershed areas have been established in the three (3) general categories as-noted, as summarized in Table 2-LO-3 with a visual representation depicted on Drawing WR3. Table 2-LO-3: Slope Distribution within the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed Surface Surface Surface Slopes Slopes Slopes Tertiary Quaternary Distribution Distribution Distribution 0 – 2 % 2 – 10 % >10% Fifteen and Sixteen Lake Ontario 65 30 6 Mile Creeks Four Mile Creek and Lake Ontario 80 17 4 NOTL Jordan Harbour - Lake Ontario 73 27 1 Twenty Mile Creek Lake Ontario Twelve Mile Creek 56 33 13 Lake Ontario Welland Canal North 68 30 3

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 24 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Surface Surface Surface Slopes Slopes Slopes Tertiary Quaternary Distribution Distribution Distribution 0 – 2 % 2 – 10 % >10% Lake Ontario Welland Canal South 77 20 4 West Lake Ontario Lake Ontario 65 31 5 Shoreline Lake Ontario Average for 68 27 5 Tertiary Watershed

As demonstrated in Table 2-LO-3, the majority of the Lake Ontario tertiary watershed area (68%) has been categorized as having a mild surface slope (under 2%), with an additional 27% of land area within the medium slope category, varying from greater than 2% up to 10% surface slope. The remaining 5% land area is categorized as steep (>10%), which is largely attributed to the landscapes near watercourse features and/or the escarpment (ref. Drawing WR3). It should be noted that majority of quaternary watersheds share similar slope distributions, with the exception of Four Mile Creek and NOTL being predominately mild (80%) and Twelve Mile Creek having a larger proportion of land areas with steep slopes (13%). As such, this information has been used in subsequent study tasks (ref. NWP (E) - Volume 3: Growth Analysis) to identify any potential constraints or unfavourable conditions for development with respect to the potential growth areas, which can help to inform future watershed planning objectives.

2.3.1.4 Groundwater System and Source Water Protection The groundwater system is of vital importance to the Niagara Region for both the rural residents, who rely on private wells as a source of drinking water, as well an important system supporting those environmental features reliant on groundwater contributions to sustain a diverse community of terrestrial and aquatic species. The groundwater system in portions of Niagara Region consists of highly sensitive groundwater features and areas where groundwater is the primary source of water supply and where little to no natural protection is provided by the surficial soils. As such these areas are considered more susceptible to impacts from development and contamination (ref. NPCA Groundwater Study, 2005). The areas of high susceptibility include high permeability overburden units with little, or no, low conductivity layers overlying the aquifer for protection. These designations include the Fonthill Kame-Delta Complex (surficial overburden), which consists of sand/gravel glacial deposits and due to its highly permeable nature, it is known to be a significant groundwater recharge area. Other susceptible systems consisting of surficial overburden include the St. David’s Buried Gorge, the Iroquois Sandplain below the Niagara Escarpment, as well as the Dunnville Sandplain (ref. NPCA Groundwater Study, 2005). An additional category of high susceptibility includes areas where there are bedrock outcrops or there are thin layers of deposits (<5 m), resulting in higher risk of contamination and vulnerability. These features include the Niagara and Onondaga Escarpments, which consist of bedrock outcrops / bedrock at surface aquifers, with thin

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 25 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan deposit layers resulting in hydro-geologically sensitive areas (ref. NPCA Groundwater Study, 2005). The groundwater system was studied in detail as part of the NPCA Groundwater Study completed in 2005, which provided a characterization of the groundwater system through analyses and associated recommendations regarding the limitation/elimination of risks to groundwater sources, management of resources to ensure sustainable uses, and promotion of water conservation. In terms of the Lake Ontario tertiary watershed, the hydrogeological areas of interest consist of: • Niagara Escarpment • Iroquois Sandplain • Fonthill Kame-Delta Complex (shared with Niagara River tertiary watershed) • St. David’s Buried Gorge (shared with Niagara River tertiary watershed) For the purposes of the current study, there are a variety of mapping sources available to identify the potential at-risk areas which may be more susceptible to contamination and/or impacts associated with development, and as such may require special consideration and management. These at-risk and/or sensitive areas include groundwater quantity/quality, as well as surface water (lake-based) zones, both of which have been delineated as part of the NPCA Source Water Protection Assessment Report (2010), resulting in the following: • Surface Water Intake Protection Zones (IPZs) – Municipal Water Treatment Plants (lake-based) • Highly Vulnerable Aquifers (HVAs) – Groundwater Quality • Significant Groundwater Recharge Areas (SGRA) – Groundwater Quantity

Based upon the Source Water Protection Mapping (ref. Drawing WR4), both HVAs and SGRAs are prevalent in the Lake Ontario tertiary watershed, particularly south of the Niagara Escarpment along the Lake Ontario shoreline. The Fonthill Kame-Delta Complex is also of particular importance to this tertiary watershed, as it is a known and critical recharge area which feeds the Twelve Mile Creek, the only identified cold water stream in the NPCA Watershed. The Twelve Mile Creek watershed supports a diverse and rare community of aquatic species, and as such is a priority for protection in the NPCA watershed (ref. NPCA Groundwater Study, 2005). Mapping of these resources/protection areas helps to identify potential constraints to growth locations which may require special consideration and management strategies in order to accommodate development. The mapping of the IPZs and SGRAs are made publicly available for download by NPCA, and HVA mapping has been provided by the Region for use in the current study. These data sources are to be utilized to develop appropriate mapping of intrinsic vulnerability and thereby identify potential constraints in relation to the potential growth areas, to be completed as part of subsequent study tasks. Based upon this information, the distribution of IPZs, SGRAs and HVAs within the Lake Ontario tertiary watershed has been summarized in Table 2-LO-4, and on Drawing WR4.

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 26 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Table 2-LO-4: Water Quality & Quantity Sensitive Areas within the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed Quality & Quality & Quality & Quantity Quantity Quantity Sensitivity Sensitivity Sensitivity Tertiary Quaternary Distribution Distribution Distribution (%) (%) (%) IPZ SGRA HVA Fifteen and Sixteen Lake Ontario - 43 25 Mile Creeks Four Mile Creek and Lake Ontario - 34 35 NOTL Jordan Harbour - Lake Ontario - 4 30 Twenty Mile Creek Lake Ontario Twelve Mile Creek 5.6 34 39 Lake Ontario Welland Canal North 3.6 7 28 Lake Ontario Welland Canal South 7.5 0.7 28 West Lake Ontario Lake Ontario 0.4 25 31 Shoreline Lake Ontario Average for 1.6 21 31 Tertiary Watershed

As demonstrated in Table 2-LO-4, the Lake Ontario tertiary watershed has localized occurrences of IPZ areas which would be vulnerable to surface water contamination; these are primarily located along the Welland Canal and within the Twelve Mile Creek quaternary watershed. With respect to groundwater quantity sensitive areas, SGRAs are identified throughout approximately 21% of the Lake Ontario tertiary system. The largest proportion of land areas with SGRA designations are within the Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks, Four Mile Creek and NOTL, Twelve Mile Creek and the West Lake Ontario Shoreline quaternary watersheds. With respect to groundwater quality sensitive areas, HVAs are identified throughout approximately 31% of the Lake Ontario tertiary system; this is relatively consistent across all quaternary watersheds, with the HVA coverage exceeding 30% in the Four Mile Creek and NOTL, Jordan Harbour – Twenty Mile Creek, Twelve Mile Creek, and the West Lake Ontario Shoreline quaternary watersheds. This information has been used in subsequent study tasks (ref. NWP (E) - Volume 3: Growth Analysis) to identify any potential constraints or unfavourable conditions for development with respect to the potential growth areas, which can help to inform future watershed planning objectives. 2.3.1.5 Natural Hazards Watercourse and drainage systems have associated natural hazards which can impact the safety of the public and as such should be avoided when determining areas for future development. Natural hazards include those related to underground drainage systems through soluble rocks, known as karst topography, as well as both flooding risks and erosion hazards for significant watercourses, and geotechnical setbacks for valley systems and wetland environmental protection areas (ref. NHS section), and

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 27 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan therefore often are subject to Conservation Authority regulations and setbacks to ensure public safety and wellbeing. These regulations are typically applied to open natural systems which would remain open and protected in their present condition and location, with the exception of select localized sites where rehabilitation may be of benefit to the system. For the purpose of the current study, regulatory mapping has been provided by the NPCA and downloaded from the Ontario Geological Survey (OGS) for the following natural hazards: • Karst Topography • Regulated Floodplains • Regulated Shorelines • Top of Slope (NPCA Allowance) An additional natural hazard of note is the presence of back dunes in coastal settings, which lie detached from the shoreline by other dune types. These features have not been included in the current natural hazard inventory due to a lack of mapping data; however, they are assumed to be in close proximity to the regulated shoreline features present within the Lake Ontario and Lake Erie tertiary watersheds. The OGS is a provincial government organization responsible for the collection, interpretation, documentation and dissemination of public geoscience data and information; this includes a focus on Ontario’s bedrock geology, surficial geology, geological processes which shape the landscape, and the Earth resources (groundwater, minerals, metals, aggregates, hydrocarbons) that occur within the geological framework (ref. Ontario Geological Survey: Update of Strategic Perspective for 2019-2020). Part of the activities completed by OGS includes mapping of karst topography across southern Ontario, which depicts the nature and regional distributions of karstification of Paleozoic bedrock units within thin drift and exposed bedrock regions; these areas can include features such as caves, sinkholes, karren which are formed through water sinking and circulating underground, resulting in chemical erosion of bedrock. These landforms are indications of vulnerable/susceptible areas which may pose constraints to urban development and/or have specific management requirements. The mapping of karst topography across southern Ontario was completed by the OGS in 2008, with updates to the mapping proposed to be completed in the coming years (ref. Project SO-19-006 Karst Map of Southern Ontario: An Update, OGS, 2019). Based upon the available karst mapping published in 2008, the data are divided into three (3) main karst features (ref. Southern Ontario Karst Map, OGS, 2008): • Known Karst – Observed, measured field data or data from published reports. Key features include: karren, cave types and associated precipitates, sinkholes and disappearing streams.

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 28 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan • Inferred Karst – Regions of carbonate bedrock units highlighted as most vulnerable or susceptible to karstification, where direct field observations have not been made by OGS staff or other sources. A natural extrapolation of the known karst areas for given rock units. • Potential Karst – Areas of carbonate rock units identified as most susceptible to karst processes. The presence of known, inferred and potential karst landforms provides further indication of vulnerable areas which can be used to identify potential constraints to future development and potential growth areas within the Niagara Region. The existing watercourse systems are constraints to potential development due to their physical traits (steep banks, watercourse width, ecological value etc.) but also due to the limits of the regulated floodplains which are prone to inundation during major storm events and represent formal hazards due to their associated flood risks. The floodplain delineations are typically based upon hydraulic modelling analyses to determine the flood inundation limits associated with the regulatory event, which for most of the NPCA jurisdiction is the 100-year event, with some systems in Niagara Falls managed by the Regional Storm event (Hurricane Hazel); those systems regulated by the Regional Storm include portions of Beaverdams Creek, Shriners Creek and Ten Mile Creek within the Niagara Falls municipal boundary (ref. Riverine Floodplain Mapping (shapefile), NPCA). It should be noted that technical criteria from MNRF dictate that surface water reaches draining greater than 125 hectares be considered as part of the riverine flood hazard, therefore not all watercourses within the Niagara Region would fall under this regulation. The delineation of natural erosion hazard limits associated with river and valley systems allows for the natural processes of lateral and downstream channel migration for unconfined features though the floodplain, and the estimated top of slope for confined valleys, based upon apparent valley wall criteria. Planning around such hazards allows for natural stream form and function to continue, while avoiding erosion risk to property or infrastructure. The top of slope, plus associated setbacks represent a constraint to development and land use planning and are largely integrated in the development of the Natural Heritage System (NHS). It should be noted that a meander belt delineation has not been completed for the watercourses within the NPCA jurisdiction and is a notable gap to be addressed in addition to continuous improvements to the Riverine Erosion Hazard decision support dataset via updated DTM data and future studies at the quaternary and/or subwatershed scale. Mapping of these natural hazards has been used to determine the distribution across the Lake Ontario tertiary watershed, as shown on Drawing WR5 and summarized in Table 2-LO-5.

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Table 2-LO-5: Natural Hazard Distribution within the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed Natural Natural Natural Natural Natural Natural Hazard Hazard Hazard Hazard Hazard Hazard Distribution Distribution Distribution Distribution Distribution Distribution Tertiary Quaternary of Total WS of Total WS of Total WS of Total WS of Total WS of Total WS (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) Karst 1 Karst 1 Karst 1 Floodplain Shoreline Top of Slope K I P Fifteen and Lake Ontario Sixteen Mile 0.6 0 71.0 6.4 0.7 4.1 Creeks Four Mile Creek Lake Ontario 0.2 0 4.8 5.3 1.5 2.2 and NOTL Jordan Harbour - Lake Ontario 1.9 0 95.7 9.0 <0.1 1.4 Twenty Mile Creek Lake Ontario Twelve Mile Creek 0.3 0 42.3 2.5 0.6 3.4 Welland Canal Lake Ontario 0 0 82.7 3.2 <0.1 0.8 North Welland Canal Lake Ontario 1.8 27.7 2.1 4.5 0.2 <0.1 South West Lake Ontario Lake Ontario 4.9 0 31.5 1.3 0.5 0.7 Shoreline Lake Ontario Average for Tertiary 2.0 1.8 53.1 4.8 0.5 1.7 Watershed Note: 1 Karst mapping sourced from Ontario Geological Survey (OGS) publication in 2008 – Known (K), Inferred (I), Potential (P) Karst.

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 30 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan As demonstrated in Table 2-LO-5, the natural hazard distribution within the Lake Ontario tertiary watershed is found to be largely attributed to the presence of known, inferred and potential karst, with an average of over 50% of the Lake Ontario tertiary system having one type of karst designation. Known karst has been identified in majority of the quaternary watersheds, with the most significant occurrences being Jordan Harbour – Twenty Mile Creek, Welland Canal South and West Lake Ontario Shoreline, ranging from 1.8% to 4.9% known karst coverage. Only the Welland Canal South watershed system consists of an inferred karst landscape, with 27.7% of its land area being suspected of karst geological features. The distribution of potential karst features is widespread across the Lake Ontario tertiary system, with majority of the quaternary watershed systems consisting of over 30% potential karst areas; West Lake Ontario Shoreline and Twelve Mile Creek range from approximately 30% to 40% potential karst land cover, and the most significant being Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks, Welland Canal North and Jordan Harbour – Twenty Mile Creek, which all exceed 70% of their land cover having a potential karst landscape. With respect to the delineated floodplains, the largest proportion of floodplain areas (> 4% total area) is found in Jordan Harbour – Twenty Mile Creek, Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks, Four Mile Creek and NOTL and Welland Canal South quaternary watersheds. The regulated Lake Ontario shoreline is reported as a smaller proportion of the natural hazards, seeing as it is limited along the northern limits of the quaternary systems. The top of slope allowances is found along similar reaches as the floodplain hazards, however with the largest proportion of erosion hazard lands being within the Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks and Twelve Mile Creek quaternary watersheds. This information has been used in subsequent study tasks (ref. NWP (E) - Volume 3: Growth Analysis) to identify any potential constraints or unfavourable conditions for development with respect to the potential growth areas, which can help to inform future watershed planning objectives. 2.3.1.6 Natural Heritage The following sections present a summary of existing conditions for the tertiary watersheds based on available secondary source data. Information presented has been used to identify and inform potential management and/or policy direction through the Watershed Plan Equivalency process. Fish & Fish Habitat Habitat Characterization The Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed encompasses seven (7) separate quaternary watersheds; West Lake Ontario Shoreline, Jordan Harbour – Twenty Mile Creek, Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks, Twelve Mile Creek, Welland Canal North, Four Mile Creek and Niagara on the Lake (NOTL), and Welland Canal South. The watercourses in these Tertiary watersheds are comprised of permanent and intermittent watercourses, with permanency generally increasing as catchment area increases. The vast majority of watercourses are warmwater. For the coldwater watercourses, Twenty Mile Creek contains the majority, within its upper reaches; one coldwater watercourse resides within Stoney Creek of the West Lake Ontario Shoreline. Available habitat mapping is shown on Drawings NH1 (Aquatic Habitat), NH2 (Watercourse Permanency and Barriers), and NH3 (Thermal Regime).

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Table 2-LO-6: Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed Habitat Summary and Thermal Regime Quaternary Thermal Regime Habitat Movement Barriers Watershed (%) • This watershed consists mainly of Warm Water warmwater watercourses. There is one 76% coldwater watercourse: Stoney Creek. Cool Water West Lake Many of the headwaters begin along the None identified through 0 Ontario Niagara Escarpment the watercourses secondary source information Cold Water Shoreline outlet into Lake Ontario. 1% • Majority of the watercourses its tributaries Unclassified are classed as important fish habitat. 23% • Majority of watercourses are considered warmwater, the remainder are unclassified. • Majority of Twenty Mile Creek and its Warm Water tributaries are classed as critical and 92% Jordan important fish habitat2. Cool Water Harbour – 0 • The watershed includes many Within the Erosion and sedimentation2 Twenty Mile watershed there is the Fortino Drain Cold Water Creek (Class A), the Fulton Road Drain (Class 0 F), Kupitz Drain (Class F), located in the Unclassified Spring Creek subwatershed, and a 8% portion of Gavora Ditch (Class F), situated in the Gavora Ditch subwatershed2. Warm Water • Majority of watercourses have not been Niagara Escarpment acts as a 28% classified by thermal regime. Of the 28% natural barrier to fish movement Cool Water Fifteen and with thermal classification, all are in the watershed3 0 Sixteen Mile considered warmwater. Cold Water Creeks • Fifteen Mile Creek, Sixteen Mile Creek Dams, weirs, floodgates, road 0 and many of their tributaries have been crossings, erosion and Unclassified classed as critical fish habitat. sedimentation3 72%

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Quaternary Thermal Regime Habitat Movement Barriers Watershed (%) • There is a diverse warmwater fish community3, fish migration is likely from Lake Ontario to the Niagara Escarpment, and the embayments at Lake Ontario may be used for spawning by white sucker and lake chub3. • Majority of Twelve Mile Creek and its tributaries are classed as critical and important fish habitat2. • The watershed has an atypical overall flow regime, with a relatively constant rate of flow throughout the year. There is a lack of reservoirs and significant control structures, therefore, the steady flow is likely caused by substantial groundwater Warm water discharge4. This presence of coldwater 35% watercourses generally supports the Cool Water presence of groundwater inputs within the Twelve Mile Dams, erosion and 0 system. Creek sedimentation4 Cold Water • The watershed headwaters form a 23% complex incised series of valleys in the Unclassified Fonthill Kame-Delta Complex. This Short 42% Hills area contains the St. John’s and Effingham branches, which originate within the headwaters of the creek are identified as coldwater streams and they contain naturally reproducing brook and brown trout populations4. • There is substantial interest in this watershed and includes the Healthy Twelve-Mile Creek project by Trout

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Quaternary Thermal Regime Habitat Movement Barriers Watershed (%) Unlimited Canada aimed at supporting the local brook trout population through thermal and water quality efforts. • Majority of the watercourses are identified as warmwater. • The main channels and the larger tributaries of Ten Mile Creek, Beaverdams Creek and Shriners Creek Warm Water have all been classed as important fish 81% habitat; and the Welland Canal is classed Cool Water Weirs, dams, erosion and Welland Canal as marginal fish habitat5. 0 sedimentation5 North Cold Water • Singers Drain is located on the west side of the Welland Canal and has been 0 classed as a Type E municipal drain Unclassified which has a permanent flow with 19% warmwater temperatures and top predators (e.g., largemouth bass, northern pike, muskellunge, and crappie) present in the drain5. • Majority of the thermal regime is considered warmwater. • Majority of the watercourses have been Warm Water classified as important fish habitat. A 93% subwatershed within this area, One Mile Cool Water Four Mile Creek, is classified as Type 3 fish habitat Weirs, dams, erosion and 0 Creek and which supports marginal fish habitat. sedimentation6 Cold Water NOTL Type 3 watercourses generally are 0 intermittent in nature and provide Unclassified supporting habitat to fish communities 7% downstream. They are generally too small to support “fishable” populations but

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Quaternary Thermal Regime Habitat Movement Barriers Watershed (%) may provide permanent or seasonal habitat for a variety of small minnows6. • Landsdowne Pond is considered by MNR to represent an important link to Lake Ontario fish populations, as it offers potential nursery habitat for Lake Ontario resident species, such as white suckers3. Warm Water 85% • Majority of the thermal regime is Cool Water Welland Canal considered warmwater. 0 Dams South • Majority of the watershed have been Cold Water classified as marginal fish habitat. 0 Unclassified 15% Note: 1- MNR Thermal Regimes Dataset 2- Twenty Mile Creek Watershed Plan (NPCA, 2006) 3- 15-16-18 Mile Creeks Watershed Plan (NPCA, 2008) 4- Twelve Mile Creek Watershed Plan (NPCA, 2006) 5- Beaverdams and Shriners Creek Watershed Plan Phase One (NPCA, 2011) 6- Niagara-on-the-Lakes Creeks Watershed Plan (Aquafor Beech, 2008) 7- One Mile Creek Watershed Strategy Final Report (Aquafor Beech, 2005)

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 35 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Within Niagara Region, fish habitat has been categorized as Critical, Important and Marginal. A summary of habitat classifications and the proportion of each quaternary watershed that occurs within the Region’s municipal boundary is provided in Table 2- LO-7. Table 2-LO-7: Niagara Region Fish Habitat Classification: Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed

m) Habitat Habitat Quaternary Watershed fication Critical Critical Marginal Marginal Total Total (%) Total (%) Total (%) Important Important Length (k Length (km) Length (km) Length Classification Classification Classification Classification Classification Classi Natural Fish Habitat Natural Fish Habitat Natural Fish Habitat Natural Fish Habitat Natural Fish Habitat Natural Fish

West Lake Ontario 7.5 4% 129.4 74% 37.6 22% Shoreline Jordan Harbour – 104.4 33% 204.2 65% 4.6 1% Twenty Mile Creek Fifteen and Sixteen 106.8 45% 126.9 54% 1.3 1% Mile Creeks Twelve Mile 98.9 42% 128.4 55% 7.5 3% Creek Welland 2.2 2% 100.0 80% 23.3 19% Canal North Four Mile Creek and 12.1 13% 74.6 82% 4.1 5% NOTL Welland Canal 0.1 <1% 9.4 18% 43.5 82% South

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A summary highlighting the quaternary watersheds general watercourse characteristics, fish species found in the area, and fish movement barriers is provided in Table 2-LO-8. Table 2-LO-8: Summary of quaternary watershed habitat, fish species, and movement barriers Quaternary Thermal Fish Species1 Watershed Classes Blacknose Dace, Bluegill, Bluntnose Minnow, Brassy Minnow, Brook Stickleback, Brown Bullhead, Brown Trout, Central Mudminnow, Chinook Salmon, Common Carp, Common Shiner, Fish species West Lake Creek Chub, Emerald Shiner, Fathead Minnow, composition is Ontario Golden Shiner, Goldfish, Green Sunfish, Lake reflective of a Shoreline Chub, Largemouth Bass, Logperch, Longnose predominantly Dace, Mottled Sculpin, Northern Redbelly Dace, warmwater fish (37 species) Northern Pike, Pumpkinseed, Rainbow Darter, habitat regime. Rainbow Trout, Rock Bass, Round Goby, Spottail Shiner, Tessellated Darter, Threespine Stickleback, White Crappie, White Perch, White Sucker, Yellow Bullhead, Yellow Perch Alewife, Black Crappie, Banded Killifish, Black Bullhead, Black Crappie, Blacknose Dace, Bluegill, Bluntnose Minnow, Bowfin, Brook Silverside, Brook Stickleback, Brown Bullhead, Brown Trout, Central Mudminnow, Channel Catfish, Chinook Jordan Salmon, Coho Salmon, Common Carp, Common Fish community Harbour – Shiner, Creek Chub, Emerald Shiner, Fathead is Twenty Mile Minnow, Freshwater Drum, Gizzard Shad, Golden representative Creek Shiner, Goldfish, Green Sunfish, Iowa Darter, of a tolerant Johnny Darter, Largemouth Bass, Logperch, warmwater (50 species) Longnose Gar, Longnose Sucker, Northern Pike, fishery. Pumpkinseed, Quillback, Rainbow Trout, Rock Bass, Round Goby, Sand Shiner, Shorthead Redhorse, Smallmouth Bass, Spottail Shiner, Tadpole Madtom, Walleye, White Bass, White Crappie, White Perch, White Sucker, Yellow Perch Alewife, Black Crappie, Blacknose Dace, Bluegill, Bluntnose Minnow, Brassy Minnow, Brook Fifteen and Silverside, Brown Bullhead, Central Mudminnow, There is a Sixteen Mile Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Emerald Shiner, diverse Creeks Fathead Minnow, Finescale Dace, Freshwater warmwater fish Drum, Gizzard Shad, Golden Shiner, Green community. (33 species) Sunfish, Johnny Darter, Largemouth Bass, Longnose Dace, Northern Hog Sucker, Pumpkinseed, Rainbow Trout, Rock Bass, Round

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 37 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Quaternary Thermal Fish Species1 Watershed Classes Goby, Spottail Shiner, Tadpole Madtom, Walleye, White Crappie, White Perch, White Sucker, Yellow Perch Alewife, Black Bullhead, Black Crappie, Blacknose Dace, Blacknose, Shiner, Blackside Darter, Bluegill, Bluntnose Minnow, Brook Silverside, Brook Trout, Brown Bullhead, Brown Trout, Fish species Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Common Shiner, composition is Creek Chub, Emerald Shiner, Fantail Darter, reflective of a Twelve Mile Fathead Minnow, Freshwater Drum, Hornyhead predominantly Creek Chub, Gizzard Shad, Golden Shiner, Goldfish, warmwater fish Green Sunfish, Johnny Darter, Largemouth Bass, habitat regime. (48 species) Logperch, Longnose Dace, Northern Hog Sucker, Upper reaches Northern Pike, Pumpkinseed, Quillback, Rainbow of are coldwater Darter, River Chub, Rock Bass, Round Goby, . Shorthead Redhorse, Smallmouth Bass, Spottail Shiner, Striped Shiner, Stonecat, Threespine Stickleback, White Crappie, White Perch, White Sucker, Yellow Perch Alewife, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Bluntnose Minnow, Brook Silverside, Brown Bullhead, Common Carp, Emerald Shiner, Fantail Darter, Fish species Fathead Minnow, Freshwater Drum, Golden Welland composition is Shiner, Goldfish, Largemouth Bass, Longnose Canal North reflective of a Dace, Longnose Gar, Northern Hog Sucker, predominantly Northern Pike, Pumpkinseed, Quillback, Rainbow (32 species) warmwater fish Darter, River Chub, Rock Bass, Round Goby, habitat regime. Shorthead Redhorse, Smallmouth Bass, Spottail Shiner, Striped Shiner, Stonecat, White Crappie, White Sucker, Yellow Perch Alewife, Banded Killifish, Bluegill, Bluntnose Minnow, Brown Bullhead, Brown Trout, Chinook Fish species Four Mile Salmon, Common Carp, Common Shiner, Creek composition is Creek and Chub, Emerald Shiner, Fathead Minnow, Gizzard reflective of a NOTL Shad, Golden Shiner, Goldfish, Green Sunfish, predominantly Lake Chub, Largemouth Bass, Longnose Dace, warmwater fish (28 species) Pumpkinseed, Rainbow Trout, Round Goby, habitat regime. Smallmouth Bass, Spottail Shiner, Striped Shiner, White Perch, White Sucker, Yellow Perch Alewife, Banded Killifish, Black Bullhead, Black Welland Fish species Crappie, Bluegill, Bluntnose Minnow, Bowfin, Canal South composition is Brook Silverside, Brook Stickleback, Brown reflective of a Bullhead, Central Mudminnow, Common Carp, (33 species) predominantly Emerald Shiner, Fathead Minnow, Freshwater

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 38 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Quaternary Thermal Fish Species1 Watershed Classes Drum, Golden Shiner, Green Sunfish, Largemouth warmwater fish Bass, Longnose Gar, Northern Hog Sucker, habitat regime. Northern Pike, Pumpkinseed, Quillback, Rock Bass, Rosyface Shiner, Shorthead Redhorse, Smallmouth Bass, Spottail Shiner, Striped Shiner, Tadpole Madtom, White Crappie, White Sucker, Yellow Perch Note: 1- MNR Thermal Regimes Dataset 2- Twelve Mile Creek Watershed Plan (NPCA, 2006) 3- One Mile Creek Watershed Strategy Final Report (Aquafor Beech, 2005) Fish Species at Risk Numerous aquatic Species at Risk listed in the updated DFO Species at Risk mapping (DFO, 2020) occur within the Lake Ontario Tertiary watershed (Table 2-LO-9). Species at Risk are organized by the quaternary watersheds in which records were found. Status and general location of mapped habitat is summarized. Table 2-LO-9: Fish Species at Risk within the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed Quaternary Presence in Fish Species Name1 Status2 Watershed Watershed Deepwater Sculpin SARA - SC West Lake Ontario (Myoxocephalus Lake Ontario COSEWIC - Shoreline thompsonii) SC SARA - END West Lake Ontario Eastern Pondmussel Hamilton Harbour COSEWIC - Shoreline (Ligumia nasuta) END SARA - END West Lake Ontario Lilliput Jordan Harbour COSEWIC - Shoreline (Toxolasma parvum) END SARA - SC West Lake Ontario Mapleleaf Jordan Harbour COSEWIC - Shoreline (Quadrula quadrula) SC SARA - END West Lake Ontario Shortnose Cisco Lake Ontario COSEWIC - Shoreline (Coregonus reighardi) END North Creek, Grass Pickerel Tributary of SARA - SC Jordan Harbour – (Esox americanus Twenty Mile COSEWIC - Twenty Mile Creek vermiculatus) Creek, Twenty SC Mile Creek Jordan Harbour, SARA - END Jordan Harbour – Lilliput Twenty Mile COSEWIC - Twenty Mile Creek (Toxolasma parvum) Creek END

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 39 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Quaternary Presence in Fish Species Name1 Status2 Watershed Watershed Jordan Harbour, SARA - SC Jordan Harbour – Mapleleaf Twenty Mile COSEWIC - Twenty Mile Creek (Quadrula quadrula) Creek SC Fifteen and SARA - END Lilliput Sixteen Mile Jordan Harbour COSEWIC - (Toxolasma parvum) Creeks END Fifteen Mile Fifteen and SARA - SC Mapleleaf Creek, Jordan Sixteen Mile COSEWIC – (Quadrula quadrula) Harbour, Sixteen Creeks SC Mile Creek Twelve Mile Creek N/A N/A N/A SARA - END Welland Canal Eastern Pondmussel Welland River COSEWIC - North (Ligumia nasuta) END SARA - SC Welland Canal Mapleleaf Welland River COSEWIC - North (Quadrula quadrula) SC Four Mile Creek N/A N/A N/A and NOTL SARA - END Welland Canal Eastern Pondmussel Welland River COSEWIC - South (Ligumia nasuta) END Wainfleet Bog Grass Pickerel SARA - SC Welland Canal Conservation (Esox americanus COSEWIC - South Area, Welland vermiculatus) SC River Kidneyshell SARA - END Welland Canal (Ptychobranchus Welland River COSEWIC - South fasciolaris) END SARA - SC Welland Canal Mapleleaf Welland River COSEWIC - South (Quadrula quadrula) SC SARA - END Welland Canal Round Hickorynut Welland River COSEWIC - South (Obovaria subrotunda) END SARA - SC Welland Canal Spotted Sucker Welland River COSEWIC - South (Minytrema melanops) SC Note: 1- SAR species gathered from DFO Species at Risk mapping (DFO, 2020) 2- Species at risk Status gathered from https://wildlife- species.canada.ca/species-risk-registry/species/

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 40 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Terrestrial Vegetation Communities Ecological Land Classification (ELC) within the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed is presented on Drawing NH4. Woodlands across the watersheds are shown on Drawing NH5 and wetlands are shown on Drawing NH6. In order to summarize vegetation communities across the watershed (i.e., within and extending beyond the Region), several sources of information were used: ELC mapping from the Region (coverage across the Region), ELC mapping from the NAI project (NPCA, 2011), and MNR datasets were used for woodlands and wetlands where ELC data were not available. Where ELC mapping was not available across the watershed, other feature types are likely underrepresented due to this sampling limitation. A total of 48 community types have been mapped. A general summary of natural ELC community series is provided in Table 2-LO-10. The natural areas within the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed are dominated by woodland, wetland and successional communities. Seven vegetation community series within the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed are considered rare in Ontario including Open Bluff, Shrub Bluff, Treed Bluff, Treed Cliff, Open Rock Barren, Treed Talus, and Treed Sand Barren and Dune. Additionally, some community types within other series (e.g., FOD, SWD, etc.) may be considered rare in Ontario.

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Table 2-LO-10: Natural Ecological Land Classification Community Series Summaries for the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed Area (ha) Area (ha) Area (ha) Area (ha) Area (ha) Area (ha) (% of Area (ha) (% of (% of (% of (% of (% of ELC Watershed) (% of Watershed) Watershed) Watershed) Watershed) Watershed) Community Jordan Watershed) Fifteen and Four Mile Welland Welland West Lake Series Harbour - Twelve Sixteen Creek and Canal Canal Ontario Twenty Mile Mile Creek Mile Creeks NOTL North South Shoreline Creek Woodland 2206 (16%) 1077 (9%) 3957 (13%) 2625 (18%) 1053 (13%) 1396 (18%) 2855 (10%) Wetland 1410 (10%) 371 (3%) 2968 (10%) 572 (4%) 703 (8%) 2204 (18%) 1242 (4%) Successional 334 (2%) 498 (4%) 1064 (4%) 790 (5%) 721 (8%) 804 (10%) 933 (3%) Shoreline 3 (<1%) 2 (<1%) <1 (<1%) 6 (<1%) 1 (<1%) 0 (0%) 6 (<1%) Rock Barren <1 (<1%) 0 (0%) <1 (<1%) <1 (<1%) <1 (<1%) <1 (<1%) 1 (<1%) Open Aquatic 1 (<1%) 1 (<1%) 114 (<1%) 14 (<1%) 1 (<1%) 0 (0%) 13 (<1 %) Talus 1 (<1%) 0.00 (0%) <1 (<1%) 6 (<1%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 3 (<1%) Treed Sand Barren and 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 1 (<1%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) Dune Bluff 8 (<1%) 1 (<1%) 0 (0%) 2 (<1%) 0 (0%) 0.00 (0%) 3 (<1%) Cliff 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 15 (<1%) Note: Areas and percent cover are rounded to the nearest whole number for the purposes of this characterization.

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 42 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Woodlands For the portion of the watershed within Niagara Region, a , a total of 4,856 woodland ELC units comprising 2,895 features (i.e., contiguous woodlands which may include multiple ELC unit types) have been mapped, encompassing an area of 13,231 ha. This represents 14% of the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed that occurs within Niagara Region (91,451 ha). Ten ELC community types were identified as occurring within the region: • Coniferous Forest • Deciduous Forest • Mixed Forest • Coniferous Swamp • Deciduous Swamp • Mixed Swamp • Treed Agriculture • Coniferous Woodland • Deciduous Woodland • Mixed Woodland Woodland areas within this tertiary watershed are generally concentrated along watercourses. Within Niagara Region, the quaternary watersheds in order of highest woodland cover are Jordan Harbour- Twenty Mile Creek, Twelve Mile Creek, Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creek, West Lake Ontario Shoreline, Welland Canal South, Four Mile Creek and NOTL, and Welland Canal North (Table 2-LO-11). Table 2-LO-11: Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed Woodland Summary (within Niagara Region) ELC Description ELC Code Count Area (ha) Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks: FOC 63 38.1 Coniferous Forest Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks: FOD 371 922.3 Deciduous Forest Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks: FOM 64 110.6 Mixed Forest Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks: SWC 1 0.1 Coniferous Swamp Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks: SWD 377 907.0 Deciduous Swamp Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks: SWM 15 115.5 Mixed Swamp Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks: TAG 61 44.8 Treed Agriculture Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks: WOC 13 10.0 Coniferous Woodland Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks: WOD 70 39.9

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 43 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan ELC Description ELC Code Count Area (ha) Deciduous Woodland Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks: WOM 33 17.9 Mixed Woodland Four Mile Creek and NOTL: FOC 10 5.6 Coniferous Forest Four Mile Creek and NOTL: FOD 329 694.0 Deciduous Forest Four Mile Creek and NOTL: FOM 16 17.2 Mixed Forest Four Mile Creek and NOTL: SWD 143 256.1 Deciduous Swamp Four Mile Creek and NOTL: SWM 1 0.1 Mixed Swamp Four Mile Creek and NOTL: TAG 34 16.4 Treed Agriculture Four Mile Creek and NOTL: WOC 2 2.3 Coniferous Woodland Four Mile Creek and NOTL: WOD 100 79.4 Deciduous Woodland Four Mile Creek and NOTL: WOM 9 5.3 Mixed Woodland Jordan Harbour – Twenty Mile Creek: FOC 44 25.6 Coniferous Forest Jordan Harbour – Twenty Mile Creek: FOD 607 954.8 Deciduous Forest Jordan Harbour – Twenty Mile Creek: FOM 37 45.1 Mixed Forest Jordan Harbour – Twenty Mile Creek: SWD 600 1693.9 Deciduous Swamp Jordan Harbour – Twenty Mile Creek: SWM 5 3.0 Mixed Swamp Jordan Harbour – Twenty Mile Creek: TAG 66 55.7 Treed Agriculture Jordan Harbour – Twenty Mile Creek: WOC 8 5.2 Coniferous Woodland Jordan Harbour – Twenty Mile Creek: WOD 111 41.2 Deciduous Woodland Jordan Harbour – Twenty Mile Creek: WOM 7 2.4 Mixed Woodland Twelve Mile Creek: FOC 80 54.4 Coniferous Forest

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 44 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan ELC Description ELC Code Count Area (ha) Twelve Mile Creek: FOD 419 1702.3 Deciduous Forest Twelve Mile Creek: FOM 76 349.1 Mixed Forest Twelve Mile Creek: SWC 1 7.0 Coniferous Swamp Twelve Mile Creek: SWD 175 342.5 Deciduous Swamp Twelve Mile Creek: SWM 13 15.0 Mixed Swamp Twelve Mile Creek: TAG 42 32.2 Treed Agriculture Twelve Mile Creek: WOC 11 10.2 Coniferous Woodland Twelve Mile Creek: WOD 124 92.1 Deciduous Woodland Twelve Mile Creek: WOM 27 20.4 Mixed Woodland Welland Canal North: FOC 30 17.5 Coniferous Forest Welland Canal North: FOD 326 470.4 Deciduous Forest Welland Canal North: FOM 9 3.3 Mixed Forest Welland Canal North: SWD 193 460.4 Deciduous Swamp Welland Canal North: SWM 1 0.4 Mixed Swamp Welland Canal North: TAG 25 14.7 Treed Agriculture Welland Canal North: WOC 6 1.0 Coniferous Woodland Welland Canal North: WOD 110 65.8 Deciduous Woodland Welland Canal North: WOM 21 19.4 Mixed Woodland Welland Canal South: FOC 4 0.8 Coniferous Forest Welland Canal South: FOD 74 110.3 Deciduous Forest Welland Canal South: FOM 2 1.1

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 45 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan ELC Description ELC Code Count Area (ha) Mixed Forest Welland Canal South: SWC 1 1.0 Coniferous Swamp Welland Canal South: SWD 245 1188.1 Deciduous Swamp Welland Canal South: SWM 7 7.3 Mixed Swamp Welland Canal South: TAG 11 14.8 Treed Agriculture Welland Canal South: WOC 12 30.3 Coniferous Woodland Welland Canal South: WOD 32 33.5 Deciduous Woodland Welland Canal South: WOM 8 9.3 Mixed Woodland West Lake Ontario Shoreline: FOC 10 6.5 Coniferous Forest West Lake Ontario Shoreline: FOD 327 1107.7 Deciduous Forest West Lake Ontario Shoreline: FOM 21 35.4 Mixed Forest West Lake Ontario Shoreline: SWD 242 776.7 Deciduous Swamp West Lake Ontario Shoreline: SWM 5 3.2 Mixed Swamp West Lake Ontario Shoreline: TAG 50 42.4 Treed Agriculture West Lake Ontario Shoreline: WOC 2 1.3 Coniferous Woodland West Lake Ontario Shoreline: WOD 77 69.9 Deciduous Woodland West Lake Ontario Shoreline: WOM 4 3.4 Mixed Woodland Total 10 6020 13231.1 Note: Treed swamps are identified under both woodland and wetland categories. Not all swamps will meet the required canopy cover for woodland but are captured here as they have the potential to meet the required criteria.

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 46 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Wetlands For the portion of the watershed within Niagara Region, Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed, a total of 3,979 wetland units, comprising 2,135 features (i.e. contiguous wetlands areas which may include multiple ELC unit types) have been mapped, encompassing an area of 8,510 ha. This represents 9% of the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed that occurs within Niagara Region (91,451 ha). Eleven ELC community types were identified as occurring within Niagara Region: • Shrub Bog (BOS) • Treed Bog (BOT) • Meadow marsh (MAM) • Shallow marsh (MAS) • Floating-leaved shallow aquatic (SAF) • Mixed shallow aquatic (SAM) • Submerged shallow aquatic (SAS) • Coniferous swamp (SWC) • Deciduous swamp (SWD) • Mixed swamp (SWM) • Thicket swamp (SWT) Wetland areas are concentrated in the most interior areas of this tertiary watershed and are also generally concentrated along watercourses. Within Niagara Region, the quaternary watersheds in order of highest wetland cover are Jordan Harbour-Twenty Mile Creek, Welland Canal South, Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creek, West Lake Ontario Shoreline, Welland Canal North, Twelve Mile Creek, and Four Mile Creek and NOTL (Table 2-LO-12). Table 2-LO-12: Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed Wetland Summary (within Niagara Region) ELC ELC Description Count Area (ha) Code Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks: MAM 219 164.7 Meadow Marsh Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks: MAS 135 96.0 Shallow Marsh Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks: SAF 9 9.7 Floating-leaved Shallow Aquatic Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks: SAM 5 7.7 Mixed Shallow Aquatic Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks: SWC 1 0.1 Coniferous Swamp Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks: SWD 377 907.0 Deciduous Swamp Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks: SWM 15 115.5 Mixed Swamp

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 47 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan ELC ELC Description Count Area (ha) Code Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks: SWT 149 109.4 Thicket Swamp Four Mile Creek and NOTL: MAM 72 61.7 Meadow Marsh Four Mile Creek and NOTL: MAS 19 21.1 Shallow Marsh Four Mile Creek and NOTL: SAF 5 9.3 Floating-leaved Shallow Aquatic Four Mile Creek and NOTL: SAM 2 5.2 Mixed Shallow Aquatic Four Mile Creek and NOTL: SWD 143 256.1 Deciduous Swamp Four Mile Creek and NOTL: SWM 1 0.1 Mixed Swamp Four Mile Creek and NOTL: SWT 18 18.0 Thicket Swamp Jordan Harbour – Twenty Mile Creek: MAM 299 240.0 Meadow Marsh Jordan Harbour – Twenty Mile Creek: MAS 117 126.5 Shallow Marsh Jordan Harbour – Twenty Mile Creek: SAF 8 35.5 Floating-leaved Shallow Aquatic Jordan Harbour – Twenty Mile Creek: SAM 6 22.3 Mixed Shallow Aquatic Jordan Harbour – Twenty Mile Creek: SAS 1 0.1 Submerged Shallow Aquatic Jordan Harbour – Twenty Mile Creek: SWD 600 1693.9 Deciduous Swamp Jordan Harbour – Twenty Mile Creek: SWM 5 3.0 Mixed Swamp Jordan Harbour – Twenty Mile Creek: SWT 104 158.7 Thicket Swamp Twelve Mile Creek: MAM 107 89.9 Meadow Marsh Twelve Mile Creek: MAS 48 47.1 Shallow Marsh Twelve Mile Creek: SAF 1 0.7 Floating-leaved Shallow Aquatic Twelve Mile Creek: SAM 3 3.9 Mixed Shallow Aquatic

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 48 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan ELC ELC Description Count Area (ha) Code Twelve Mile Creek: SAS 19 20.2 Submerged Shallow Aquatic Twelve Mile Creek: SWC 1 7.0 Coniferous Swamp Twelve Mile Creek: SWD 175 342.5 Deciduous Swamp Twelve Mile Creek: SWM 13 15.0 Mixed Swamp Twelve Mile Creek: SWT 83 45.3 Thicket Swamp Welland Canal North: MAM 165 122.6 Meadow Marsh Welland Canal North: MAS 67 49.6 Shallow Marsh Welland Canal North: SAM 1 0.6 Mixed Shallow Aquatic Welland Canal North: SAS 2 1.9 Submerged Shallow Aquatic Welland Canal North: SWD 193 460.4 Deciduous Swamp Welland Canal North: SWM 1 0.4 Mixed Swamp Welland Canal North: SWT 74 67.7 Thicket Swamp Welland Canal South: BOS 2 97.7 Shrub Bog Welland Canal South: BOT 2 216.1 Treed Bog Welland Canal South: MAM 64 92.8 Meadow Marsh Welland Canal South: MAS 56 62.0 Shallow Marsh Welland Canal South: SAS 1 11.7 Submerged Shallow Aquatic Welland Canal South: SWC 1 1.0 Coniferous Swamp Welland Canal South: SWD 245 1188.1 Deciduous Swamp Welland Canal South: SWM 7 7.3 Mixed Swamp

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 49 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan ELC ELC Description Count Area (ha) Code Welland Canal South: SWT 169 527.0 Thicket Swamp West Lake Ontario Shoreline: MAM 116 89.4 Meadow Marsh West Lake Ontario Shoreline: MAS 21 34.5 Shallow Marsh West Lake Ontario Shoreline: SAS 1 0.6 Submerged Shallow Aquatic West Lake Ontario Shoreline: SWD 242 776.7 Deciduous Swamp West Lake Ontario Shoreline: SWM 5 3.2 Mixed Swamp West Lake Ontario Shoreline: SWT 57 65.9 Thicket Swamp Total 11 4252 8510.3 Flora Data presented in this section are based on available secondary source data. Sources reviewed to compile flora records are outlined in Section 2.1 and record coverage is illustrated on Drawing NH7. The most comprehensive coverage of flora records was in the Twelve Mile Creek, West Lake Ontario Shoreline and Four Mile Creek and NOTL quaternary watersheds. The lowest coverage of floral records was in Welland Canal North and Jordan Harbour- Twenty-Mile Creek quaternary watersheds. Overall, while the volume of records is moderate to high, overall coverage is relatively low and distribution across taxa is skewed to birds and flora. Records occurrences are generally concentrated around watercourses and natural areas. A detailed list a flora records associated with the various tertiary watershed areas is provided in Appendix A-1 (NH- A). A total of 959 flora species occurred within the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed. This represents 56.54% of the total flora diversity noted in Niagara Region (1696 taxa including species, subspecies, varieties and hybrids) (Oldham 2010). Of the quaternary watersheds Twelve Mile Creek had the highest flora species diversity, followed by West Lake Ontario Shoreline and Four Mile Creek and NOTL. The lowest diversity of floral species recorded in a quaternary watershed was noted in Welland Canal South. Floral diversity appears to be correlated with the coverage of records; as such, apparent floral diversity may be inaccurately represented due to a lack of data in certain quaternary watersheds.

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 50 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Table 2-LO-13: Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed Flora Summary Quaternary watershed # of records # species recorded Fifteen and Sixteen Mile 489 223 Creeks Four Mile Creek and NOTL 918 323 Jordan Harbour - Twenty Mile 537 277 Creek Twelve Mile Creek 2311 572 Welland Canal North 352 185 Welland Canal South 287 171 West Lake Ontario Shoreline 2378 561 Total 7272 959

The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) was used as the source for secondary source data. Per Section 2.1, this platform draws from a range of platforms (e.g., eBird, iNaturalist, herbarium records, Natural Heritage Information Centre [NHIC]). While this platform is extensive, the occurrence records do not necessarily reflect a comprehensive or exhaustive list of species or the actual abundance within the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed. Some species / taxa will be better represented due to public interest, ease or difficulty in identification, and ability to observe them (e.g., trees). Due to the inclusion of NHIC data, the number of records may have a higher bias towards rare or SAR species (e.g., Cucumber Tree, Pawpaw and Eastern Flowering Dogwood), and therefore is not representative of the actual abundance of these species relative to other species present within the tertiary watershed (i.e., it is skewed towards some rare species). It is noted however that overall, the dataset provides a good general indication of biodiversity within the watershed when the complete species list is taken into consideration. A summary of flora species sorted by number of occurrences (high to low) within the database obtained from GBIF and NHIC is presented in Appendix A-1 (NH-B). Species at Risk and Species of Conservation Concern The quaternary watersheds in order of highest number of Species at Risk/ Species of Conservation Concern are Twelve Mile Creek (25 species), Four Mile Creek and NOTL (25 species), West Lake Ontario (18 species), Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks (16 species), Jordan Harbour - Twenty Mile Creek (16 species), Welland Canal North (14 species) and Welland Canal South (7 species) (Table 2-LO-14).

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Table 2-LO-14: Flora Species at Risk and Species of Conservation Concern by Quaternary Watershed – Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed

Jordan 15&16 4 Mile Welland Welland West Lake N S Niagara Harbour - 12 -Mile Scientific Name Common Name COSEWIC SARO Mile Creek & Canal Canal ON Rank Rank Region 20 Mile Creek Creeks NOTL North South Shoreline Creek Actaea racemosa Black Snakeroot N2 S2 R X Aesculus glabra Ohio Buckeye N1 S1 IR X Asimina triloba Pawpaw N3 S3 RH X X X X X Aureolaria flava Smooth Yellow False Foxglove N2? S2? RH X Aureolaria pedicularia Fern-leaved Yellow False N2? S2? RH X X Foxglove Betula lenta Cherry Birch END N1 END S1 R X Bidens trichosperma Crowned Beggarticks N2 S2 R X Campsis radicans Trumpet Creeper N2N3 S2? IR X Carex albicans White-tinged Sedge N4 S3 X X X X X Carex amphibola Eastern Narrow-leaved Sedge N2 S2 R X Carex appalachica Appalachian Sedge N3 S2S3 R X Carex hirsutella Hairy Green Sedge N3 S3 R X Carex seorsa Weak Stellate Sedge N2 S2 U X Carex virescens Ribbed Sedge N3 S3 R X Carya glabra Pignut Hickory N3 S3 U X X X X Carya laciniosa Shellbark Hickory N3 S3 R X X X X X Cornus florida Eastern Flowering Dogwood END N2 END S2? U X X X X X X X Crataegus brainerdii Brainerd's Hawthorn N2 S2 X Crataegus coccinioides Kansas Hawthorn NNR S2 R X X Crataegus persimilis Plum-leaved Hawthorn NNA S1 X Euonymus atropurpureus Eastern Burning Bush N3 S3 R X X X Eurybia schreberi Schreber's Aster N2N3 S2 R X X X Gleditsia triacanthos Honey-locust N2 S2? R X X X X X Hibiscus moscheutos Swamp Rose-mallow SC N3 SC S3 R X X X Juglans cinerea Butternut END N3N4 END S2? U X X X X Justicia americana American Water-willow THR N2 THR S2 R X Linum striatum Ridged Yellow Flax N1 S1 X Magnolia acuminata Cucumber Tree END N2 END S2 R X X X X X X Mertensia virginica Virginia Bluebells N3 S3 R X X Mirabilis nyctaginea Wild Four-o'clock N4 S2 IR X X X Monarda didyma Scarlet Beebalm N3 S3 RH X X X X Morus rubra Red Mulberry END N2 END S2 R X X X X X Muhlenbergia sylvatica Woodland Muhly N2N3 S2? X Nyssa sylvatica Black Gum N3 S3 U X X X X X Oenothera gaura Biennial Gaura N3 S3 R X Oenothera pilosella Meadow Evening Primrose N2 S2 R X Persicaria arifolia Halberd-leaved Smartweed N3N4 S3 U X

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Jordan 15&16 4 Mile Welland Welland West Lake N S Niagara Harbour - 12 -Mile Scientific Name Common Name COSEWIC SARO Mile Creek & Canal Canal ON Rank Rank Region 20 Mile Creek Creeks NOTL North South Shoreline Creek Phegopteris Broad Beech Fern SC N3 SC S3 RH X X X hexagonoptera Polygala verticillata Whorled Milkwort N4 S3? R X Potentilla canadensis Canada Cinquefoil N3? S2? X Ptelea trifoliata Common Hop-tree SC N3 THR S3 R X Quercus shumardii Shumard Oak SC N3 SC S3 R X X X X Ratibida pinnata Gray-headed Prairie Coneflower N3 S3 X Saururus cernuus Lizard's-tail N3 S3 R X X X Sceptridium oneidense Blunt-lobed Grapefern N3 S3? R X Schoenoplectiella Weak-stalked Bulrush N1N2 S1? RH X purshiana Silphium laciniatum Compass Plant N1 S1 IR X Silphium perfoliatum Cup Plant N2 S2 IR X Smilax rotundifolia Round-leaved Greenbrier THR N3 THR S2 R X Suaeda calceoliformis Horned Sea-blite N5 S2 IR X Symphyotrichum Bushy Aster N2 S2 R X dumosum Thalictrum thalictroides Rue-anemone NNR S3 R X Tradescantia ohiensis Ohio Spiderwort N2 S2 X Uvularia perfoliata Perfoliate Bellwort N1 S1S2 R X X X Vaccinium stamineum Deerberry THR N1 THR S1 R X Vernonia gigantea Giant Ironweed N1N2 S1? RH X X

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This group is not often reported on, however as it was present in some quantity in the dataset, it has been included accordingly. The data available on fungi occurrence and distribution of observations within the Lake Ontario Tertiary Subwatershed are low. This is expected given that it is less commonly reported group. A total of 302 fungi species were documented (Table 2-LO-15). Records include mushrooms and lichens. A list of observed species in order of occurrence records is provided in Appendix A-1 (NH-B). Table 2-LO-15: Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed Fungi Summary Quaternary Watershed # of records # of species recorded Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks 82 66 Four Mile Creek and NOTL 51 29 Jordan Harbour - Twenty Mile Creek 41 30 Twelve Mile Creek 201 131 Welland Canal North 43 26 Welland Canal South 74 40 West Lake Ontario Shoreline 188 110 Total 680 302

Fauna Data presented in this section are based on available secondary source data. Sources reviewed to compile flora records are outlined in Section 2.1 and record coverage is illustrated on Drawing NH8. The most comprehensive coverage of flora records was in the Twelve Mile Creek, West Lake Ontario Shoreline and Four Mile Creek and NOTL quaternary watersheds. The lowest coverage of floral records was in Welland Canal North and Jordan Harbour- Twenty-Mile Creek quaternary watersheds. While the volume of records is moderate to high, overall coverage is relatively low and distribution across taxa is skewed to birds and flora. Records occurrences are generally concentrated around watercourses and natural areas. A detailed list a flora records associated with the various tertiary watershed areas is provided in Appendix A-1 (NH- A). A total of 482 fauna species occurred within the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed. This represents 35% of the total fauna diversity noted in Niagara Region (1367 species) (iNaturalist 2021). The most common group of taxa was birds (336 species), followed by invertebrates (96 species), mammals (29 species), amphibians (14 species) and reptiles (7 species). This corresponds to the number of records for these taxa suggesting that certain taxa, such as invertebrates, are data deficient/under reported within the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed. Fauna records are typically associated with site-specific sampling of natural areas and may be biased towards higher-quality natural areas that are monitored for conservation and management, or are publicly accessible, increasing the likelihood of records through public data platforms (e.g., eBird, iNaturalist). Apparently low diversity in some

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 54 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan watersheds may be a result of fewer natural areas, less public land and/or a lack of monitoring. The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) was used as the source for secondary source data. Per Section 2.1, this platform draws from a range of platforms (e.g., eBird, iNaturalist, herbarium records, Natural Heritage Information Centre [NHIC]). While this platform is extensive, the occurrence records do not necessarily reflect a comprehensive or exhaustive list of species or the actual abundance within the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed. Some species will be better represented due to public interest, ease or difficulty in identification, and ability to observe them (e.g., birds). Amphibians A total of 463 records were available for amphibians in this tertiary watershed. Secondary source information available for characterization does not include survey methodology used (e.g., via a formal amphibian call survey or as an incidental / opportunistic observation). Some species groups which are more cryptic in in their behavior (e.g., salamanders, newts, mudpuppies) are likely under-represented in the dataset. What are expected to be common species appear are well represented in the number of records (Table 2-LO-16). The diversity of amphibian species appears to be fairly well represented because 73.68% of the total species diversity reported within the Niagara Region by citizen science has been noted (iNaturalist 2021). West Lake Ontario Shoreline and Twelve Mile Creek are the quaternary watersheds with the most comprehensive coverage of amphibian records. A species list by occurrence records is provided in Appendix A-1 (NH-B). Amphibians are an important indicator of wetland/woodland integrity. Amphibian breeding habitat and movement corridors may qualify as Significant Wildlife Habitat (SWH), depending on the diversity and abundance present in an area. SWH is not assessed in this report. Table 2-LO-16: Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed Amphibian Summary

Quaternary Watershed # of records # of species recorded Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks 28 7 Four Mile Creek and NOTL 38 6 Jordan Harbour - Twenty Mile Creek 35 7 Twelve Mile Creek 162 13 Welland Canal North 16 5 Welland Canal South 98 11 West Lake Ontario Shoreline 86 12 Total 463 14

Birds A total of 336 bird species were documented within the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed (Table 2-LO-17). Species diversity of this group is believed to be well represented since the species recorded represent 90% of the total bird species diversity within the Niagara Region (Avibase 2021). The diversity of birds appears to be well

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 55 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan documented across all quaternary watersheds. The number of records was highest in the West Lake Ontario Shoreline quaternary watershed; however, this did not result in a significantly higher number of species. Bird species documented include species with a variety of habitat preferences including but not limited to wetlands, successional habitats, agricultural habitats, forests/woodlands and habitat generalists. A species list by occurrence records is provided in Appendix A-1 (NH-B). Table 2-LO-17: Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed Bird Summary Quaternary Watershed # of records # of species recorded Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks 9255 214 Four Mile Creek and NOTL 70741 283 Jordan Harbour - Twenty Mile Creek 12200 238 Twelve Mile Creek 67342 253 Welland Canal North 39971 250 Welland Canal South 16644 224 West Lake Ontario Shoreline 261241 313 Total 477394 336

Invertebrates The data available on invertebrate occurrence and distribution within the Lake Ontario Tertiary Subwatershed are lacking. Invertebrate records included butterflies, dragonflies, damselflies, bees and beetles. A total of 96 invertebrate species were documented in Table 2-LO-18. This represents only 10% of the total number of invertebrate species noted within the Niagara Region by citizen science (iNaturalist 2021). West Lake Ontario Shoreline and Twelve Mile Creek are the quaternary watersheds with the most comprehensive coverage of invertebrate records. A species list by occurrence records is provided in Appendix A-1 (NH-B). Table 2-LO-18: Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed Invertebrate (Insect and Crustaceans) Summary # of species Quaternary Watershed # of records recorded Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks 25 16 Four Mile Creek and NOTL 75 28 Jordan Harbour - Twenty Mile Creek 43 24 Twelve Mile Creek 720 72 Welland Canal North 27 17 Welland Canal South 46 26 West Lake Ontario Shoreline 407 73 Total 1343 96

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A total of 29 mammal species have been recorded within the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed. It is considered that mammal diversity is well represented for this tertiary watershed because the records include 93.54% of the total number of mammal species noted within the Niagara Region by citizen science (iNaturalist 2021). However, certain quaternary watersheds, such as Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks and Welland Canal North do appear to be lacking in mammal data. The most comprehensive coverage of mammal records was in the West Lake Ontario Shoreline quaternary watersheds. A species list by occurrence records is provided in Appendix A-1 (NH-B). Table 2-LO-19: Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed Mammal Summary

Quaternary Watershed # of records # of species recorded Fifteen and Sixteen Mile 6 4 Creeks Four Mile Creek and NOTL 21 13 Jordan Harbour - Twenty Mile 17 10 Creek Twelve Mile Creek 103 17 Welland Canal North 7 7 Welland Canal South 12 10 West Lake Ontario Shoreline 130 24 Total 296 29

Reptiles Data available for reptiles within the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed are considered to be deficient with very few species represented. A total of 7 reptile species were documented within this Tertiary Watershed. Of these turtles (5 species) represents the most diverse group followed by snakes (2 species) (

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 57 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Table 2-LO-20). This represents 53.85% of the total number of reptile species recorded in Niagara Region by citizen science (13 species) (iNaturalist 2021). It is likely that additional species occur within this tertiary watershed because common species including Eastern Gartersnake and Midland Painted Turtle are not represented in the records. The most comprehensive coverage of reptile records was in the West Lake Ontario Shoreline quaternary watersheds. A species list by occurrence records is provided in Appendix A-1 (NH-B).

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 58 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Table 2-LO-20: Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed Reptile Summary Quaternary Watershed # of records # of species recorded Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks 3 2 Four Mile Creek and NOTL 5 3 Jordan Harbour - Twenty Mile Creek 9 4 Twelve Mile Creek 17 3 Welland Canal North 2 1 Welland Canal South 15 4 West Lake Ontario Shoreline 29 4 Total 80 7 Species at Risk and Species of Conservation Concern Quaternary watersheds in order of the highest number of fauna Species at Risk and Species of Conservation Concern are West Lake Ontario Shoreline (72 species), Four Mile Creek and NOTL (62 species), Twelve Mile Creek (56 species), Welland Canal North (52 species), Welland Canal South (51 species), Jordan Harbour- Twenty Mile Creek (48 species) and Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks (38 species) (Table 2-LO-21).

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Table 2-LO-21: Fauna Species at Risk and Species of Conservation Concern by Quaternary Watershed

Jordan 15&16 4 Mile Welland Welland West SARA ESA Harbour - 12- Mile Scientific Name Common Name COSEWIC S Rank Mile Creek & Canal Canal Lake ON Status Status 20 Mile Creek Creeks NOTL North South Shoreline Creek Aechmophorus occidentalis Western Grebe SC SC SNA X X Ambystoma jeffersonianum Jefferson Salamander END END END S2 X X X Ammodramus savannarum Grasshopper Sparrow SC SC SC S4B X X X X X X X Anaxyrus fowleri Fowler's Toad END END END S2 X X Antrostomus vociferus Eastern Whip-poor-will THR THR THR S4B X X X X Aquila chrysaetos Golden Eagle NAR END S2B X X X Ardea alba Great Egret S2B X X X X X X X Asio flammeus Short-eared Owl SC SC SC S2N,S4B X X X X X X X Aythya americana Redhead S2B,S4N X X X X X X X Aythya valisineria Canvasback S1B,S4N X X X X X X X Bombus affinis Rusty-patched Bumble Bee END END END S1 X X Bombus citrinus Lemon Cuckoo Bumble Bee S3S4 X X X Bombus fervidus Golden Northern Bumble S3S4 X X Bee Bombus pensylvanicus American Bumble Bee SC S3S4 X Buteo lagopus Rough-legged Hawk NAR NAR S1B,S4N X X X X X X X Buteo regalis Ferruginous Hawk THR THR SNA X Calcarius lapponicus Lapland Longspur S3B X X X X X X X Calidris pusilla Semipalmated Sandpiper S3B,S4N X X X X X X X Cardellina canadensis Canada Warbler THR THR SC S4B X X X X X X X Chaetura pelagica Chimney Swift THR THR THR S4B,S4N X X X X X X X Chelydra serpentina Snapping Turtle SC SC SC S3 X X X X X X X Chen rossii Ross's Goose S1B X X X X X X Chlidonias niger Black Tern NAR SC S3B X X X X X Chordeiles minor Common Nighthawk THR THR SC S4B X X X X X X X Clangula hyemalis Long-tailed Duck S3B X X X X X X X Clemmys guttata Spotted Turtle END END END S2 X Colinus virginianus Northern Bobwhite END END END S1 X Contopus cooperi Olive-sided Flycatcher THR THR SC S4B X X X X X Contopus virens Eastern Wood-Pewee SC SC SC S4B X X X X X X X Corvus ossifragus Fish Crow S1S2 X X X X Coturnicops noveboracensis Yellow Rail SC SC SC S4B X Danaus plexippus Monarch SC END SC S2N,S4B X X X X X X X Dolichonyx oryzivorus Bobolink THR THR THR S4B X X X X X X X Empidonax virescens Acadian Flycatcher END END END S2S3B X X X X X X Emydoidea blandingii Blanding's Turtle THR END THR S3 X Epiaeschna heros Swamp Darner S2S3 X Euphagus carolinus Rusty Blackbird SC SC S4B X X X X X X

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Jordan 15&16 4 Mile Welland Welland West SARA ESA Harbour - 12- Mile Scientific Name Common Name COSEWIC S Rank Mile Creek & Canal Canal Lake ON Status Status 20 Mile Creek Creeks NOTL North South Shoreline Creek Falco peregrinus Peregrine Falcon SC NAR SC S3B X X X X X X X Gavia pacifica Pacific Loon S3B X X Gavia stellata Red-throated Loon S1N,S3B X X X X Graptemys geographica Northern Map Turtle SC SC SC S3 X X Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald Eagle NAR SC S2N,S4B X X X X X X X Hirundo rustica Barn Swallow THR THR THR S4B X X X X X X X Histrionicus histrionicus Harlequin Duck SC SC SNA X X X Hydroprogne caspia Caspian Tern NAR NAR S3B X X X X X X X Hylocichla mustelina Wood Thrush THR THR SC S4B X X X X X X X Ixobrychus exilis Least Bittern THR THR THR S4B X X X X X X X Larus marinus Great Black-backed Gull S2B X X X X X X X Libellula semifasciata Painted Skimmer S2 X X X Limnodromus griseus Short-billed Dowitcher S3B,S4N X X X X X X Limosa haemastica Hudsonian Godwit S3B,S4N X X X X Melanerpes erythrocephalus Red-headed Woodpecker THR THR SC S4B X X X X X X X Myotis lucifugus Little Brown Myotis END END END S3 X Numenius americanus Long-billed Curlew SC SC SNA X Numenius phaeopus Whimbrel S3B,S4N X X X X X X Nycticorax nycticorax Black-crowned Night-Heron S3B,S3N X X X X X X X Oreoscoptes montanus Sage Thrasher END END SNA X X X Pagophila eburnea Ivory Gull END END SNA X Parkesia motacilla Louisiana Waterthrush SC THR THR S3B X X X X Pelecanus erythrorhynchos American White Pelican NAR THR S2B X X X X X Perimyotis subflavus Tri-colored Bat END END END S3? X Phalaropus lobatus Red-necked Phalarope ? SC SC S3S4B X X X Phalaropus tricolor Wilson's Phalarope S3B X X X X Pluvialis dominica American Golden-Plover S2B,S4N X X X X X Podiceps auritus Horned Grebe SC SC SC S1B,S4N X X X X X X X Podiceps grisegena Red-necked Grebe NAR NAR S3B,S4N X X X X X X Progne subis Purple Martin S3S4B X X X X X X X Protonotaria citrea Prothonotary Warbler END END END S1B X X X Rallus elegans King Rail END END END S2B X Riparia riparia Bank Swallow THR THR THR S4B X X X X X X X Setophaga cerulea Cerulean Warbler END END THR S3B X X X X X Setophaga discolor Prairie Warbler NAR NAR S3B X X X X X Setophaga kirtlandii Kirtland's Warbler END END END S1B X X Somateria mollissima Common Eider S2B X Stercorarius parasiticus Parasitic Jaeger S2B X X X Sterna forsteri Forster's Tern DD DD S2B X X X X X X X

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Jordan 15&16 4 Mile Welland Welland West SARA ESA Harbour - 12- Mile Scientific Name Common Name COSEWIC S Rank Mile Creek & Canal Canal Lake ON Status Status 20 Mile Creek Creeks NOTL North South Shoreline Creek Sturnella magna Eastern Meadowlark THR THR THR S4B X X X X X X X Sturnella neglecta Western Meadowlark S3B X X X Sympetrum corruptum Variegated Meadowhawk S3 X Tyrannus verticalis Western Kingbird S1B X X Tyto alba Barn Owl END END END S1 X X X Urocyon cinereoargenteus Gray Fox THR THR THR S1 X Vermivora chrysoptera Golden-winged Warbler THR THR SC S4B X X X X X X Vireo griseus White-eyed Vireo S2B X X X X X Xanthocephalus Yellow-headed Blackbird S2B X xanthocephalus Zonotrichia querula Harris's Sparrow SC SNA X X X X

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 62 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI)

A total of 62 ANSIs are located in the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed (Drawing NH9). This includes 24 Earth Science ANSI and 38 Life Science ANSI representing 1438.75 and 3459.72 hectares, respectively. ANSIs are found primarily along watercourses. The highest coverage of ANSIs is in the West Lake Ontario Shoreline and Twelve Mile Creek quaternary watersheds (Table 2-LO-22). A list of ANSIs within the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed is provided in Table 2-LO-23. Some ANSIs cross over watershed boundaries; they are represented in all watersheds in which they occur in the tables below. ANSI area includes only that portion of an ANSI which occurs within the watershed. Table 2-LO-22: Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed ANSI Summary

ANSI type # of features ANSI area (ha) Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks: 6 82.3 Earth Science Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks: 9 858.3 Life Science Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks: 15 940.7 Total Four Mile Creek and NOTL: 3 242.5 Earth Science Four Mile Creek and NOTL: 6 169.2 Life Science Four Mile Creek and NOTL: 9 411.8 Total Jordan Harbuor – Twenty Mile Creek: 5 229.2 Earth Science Jordan Harbuor – Twenty Mile Creek: 12 719.4 Life Science Jordan Harbuor – Twenty Mile Creek: 17 948.6 Total Twelve Mile Creek: 14 496.2 Earth Science Twelve Mile Creek: 17 514.6 Life Science Twelve Mile Creek: 31 1010.8 Total Welland Canal North: 1 0.8 Earth Science Welland Canal North: 1 9.2 Life Science Welland Canal North: 2 10.0 Total Welland Canal South: 3 2.3 Earth Science

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 63 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan ANSI type # of features ANSI area (ha) Welland Canal South: 2 197.8 Life Science Welland Canal South: 5 200.1 Total West Lake Ontario Shoreline: 10 385.3 Earth Science West Lake Ontario Shoreline: 14 991.2 Life Science West Lake Ontario Shoreline: 24 1376.5 Total

Table 2-LO-23: ANSIs located in the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed ANSI Area Type ANSI Name (ha) Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks: Fifteen and Sixteen Mile 0.08 ANSI, Earth Science Creek Mouths Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks:ANSI, Rockway Falls 2.4 Earth Science Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks:ANSI, Fonthill Kame Delta 43.0 Earth Science Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks:ANSI, Fifteen and Sixteen Mile 0.7 Earth Science Creek Mouths Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks:ANSI, Sixteen Mile Creek near 0.8 Earth Science Escarpment Brow Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks:ANSI, Rockway Falls 35.3 Earth Science Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks:ANSI, Fifteen and Sixteen Mile 525.4 Life Science Creek Valleys Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks:ANSI, Jordan Valley 67.1 Life Science Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks:ANSI, Northwest Fenwick Forest 117.3 Life Science Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks:ANSI, North Bismark Slough Forest 10.0 Life Science Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks:ANSI, South St Anns Slough Forest 89.5 Life Science Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks:ANSI, North Fenwick Footslope 12.2 Life Science Forest Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks:ANSI, Fifteen and Sixteen Mile 0.7 Life Science Creek Valleys Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks:ANSI, Fifteen and Sixteen Mile 0.8 Life Science Creek Valleys

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 64 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan ANSI Area Type ANSI Name (ha) Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks:ANSI, Fifteen and Sixteen Mile 35.3 Life Science Creek Valleys Four Mile Creek and NOTL: Lake Ontario Bedrock Gorge 9.4 ANSI, Earth Science Four Mile Creek and NOTL: St Davids Buried Gorge 179.1 ANSI, Earth Science Four Mile Creek and NOTL: Lake Ontario Bedrock Gorge 54.0 ANSI, Earth Science Four Mile Creek and NOTL: Paradise Grove Plain 3.9 ANSI, Life Science Four Mile Creek and NOTL: Homer Escarpment 46.3 ANSI, Life Science Four Mile Creek and NOTL: Queenston Escarpment 6.2 ANSI, Life Science Four Mile Creek and NOTL: Two Mile and Four Mile Creek 47.4 ANSI, Life Science Plain Four Mile Creek and NOTL: McNab Marsh 11.3 ANSI, Life Science Four Mile Creek and NOTL: Queenston Escarpment 54.0 ANSI, Life Science Jordan Harbour – Twenty Mile Creek: Eramosa Karst 1.6 ANSI, Earth Science Jordan Harbour – Twenty Mile Creek: Balls Falls Bedrock Gorge 0.5 ANSI, Earth Science Jordan Harbour – Twenty Mile Creek: Twenty Mile Creek Drowned 126.3 ANSI, Earth Science River Mouth Jordan Harbour – Twenty Mile Creek: Balls Falls Bedrock Gorge 2.2 ANSI, Earth Science Jordan Harbour – Twenty Mile Creek: Twenty Mile Creek Drowned 98.7 ANSI, Earth Science River Mouth Jordan Harbour – Twenty Mile Creek: Twenty Mile Creek Meander B 54.5 ANSI, Life Science Jordan Harbour – Twenty Mile Creek: Jordan Valley 119.3 ANSI, Life Science Jordan Harbour – Twenty Mile Creek: Beamsville Escarpment 0.01 ANSI, Life Science Jordan Harbour – Twenty Mile Creek: East Caistor Centre Slough 123.1 ANSI, Life Science Forest Jordan Harbour – Twenty Mile Creek: East Smithville Slough Forest 199.0 ANSI, Life Science Jordan Harbour – Twenty Mile Creek: Grassie Slough Forest 13.2

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 65 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan ANSI Area Type ANSI Name (ha) ANSI, Life Science Jordan Harbour – Twenty Mile Creek: Grimsby Centre Forest East 15.9 ANSI, Life Science Jordan Harbour – Twenty Mile Creek: North Caistor Centre Slough 27.0 ANSI, Life Science Forest Jordan Harbour – Twenty Mile Creek: Twenty Mile Creek Meander C 31.6 ANSI, Life Science Jordan Harbour – Twenty Mile Creek: Spring Forest Creek 35.0 ANSI, Life Science Jordan Harbour – Twenty Mile Creek: Jordan Valley 2.2 ANSI, Life Science Jordan Harbour – Twenty Mile Creek: Jordan Valley 98.7 ANSI, Life Science Twelve Mile Creek: Dry Falls and Creek Valleys 64.5 ANSI, Earth Science Twelve Mile Creek: McSherry Lane 10.8 ANSI, Earth Science Twelve Mile Creek: Lake Iroquois Shoreline 0.8 ANSI, Earth Science Twelve Mile Creek: Rockway Falls 0.2 ANSI, Earth Science Twelve Mile Creek: Terrace Creek 21.0 ANSI, Earth Science Twelve Mile Creek: DeCew Falls Generating 0.8 ANSI, Earth Science Station Twelve Mile Creek: DeCew Falls 0.5 ANSI, Earth Science Twelve Mile Creek: Fonthill Kame Delta 255.2 ANSI, Earth Science Twelve Mile Creek: Dry Falls and Creek Valleys 19.7 ANSI, Earth Science Twelve Mile Creek: McSherry Lane 98.3 ANSI, Earth Science Twelve Mile Creek: Rockway Falls 0.9 ANSI, Earth Science Twelve Mile Creek: DeCew Falls 1.1 ANSI, Earth Science Twelve Mile Creek: Terrace Creek 22.1 ANSI, Earth Science Twelve Mile Creek: Twelve Mile Creek Valley 101.6 ANSI, Life Science

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 66 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan ANSI Area Type ANSI Name (ha) Twelve Mile Creek: Fifteen and Sixteen Mile 4.3 ANSI, Life Science Creek Valleys Twelve Mile Creek: St Johns Valley Conservation 49.1 ANSI, Life Science Area Twelve Mile Creek: North Pelham Valley 43.2 ANSI, Life Science Twelve Mile Creek: DeCew Gorge 39.2 ANSI, Life Science Twelve Mile Creek: Effingham Forest 76.2 ANSI, Life Science Twelve Mile Creek: Twelve Mile Creek 31.2 ANSI, Life Science Bottomlands Twelve Mile Creek: Short Hills Provincial Park 19.0 ANSI, Life Science Area 12 Twelve Mile Creek: Terrace Creek 3.6 ANSI, Life Science Twelve Mile Creek: Fonthill Sandhill Valleys 4.2 ANSI, Life Science Twelve Mile Creek: Swazye Creek 0.7 ANSI, Life Science Twelve Mile Creek: Swazye Creek 19.7 ANSI, Life Science Twelve Mile Creek: Fonthill Sandhill Valleys 98.3 ANSI, Life Science Twelve Mile Creek: Fifteen and Sixteen Mile 0.9 ANSI, Life Science Creek Valleys Twelve Mile Creek: DeCew Gorge 1.1 ANSI, Life Science Twelve Mile Creek: Terrace Creek 22.1 ANSI, Life Science Welland Canal North: St Davids Buried Gorge 0.9 ANSI, Earth Science Welland Canal North: Kunda Park Forest 9.2 ANSI, Life Science Welland Canal South: Salina Formation 0.8 ANSI, Earth Science Welland Canal South: Onondaga Escarpment 0.8 ANSI, Earth Science Welland Canal South: Bertie Formation 3 0.2 ANSI, Earth Science

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 67 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan ANSI Area Type ANSI Name (ha) Welland Canal South: Humberstone Muck Basin 197.6 ANSI, Life Science Swamp Forest Welland Canal South: Wainfleet Bog 0.8 ANSI, Life Science West Lake Ontario Shoreline: Devils Punch Bowl 4.3 ANSI, Earth Science West Lake Ontario Shoreline: Vinemount Moraine 376.3 ANSI, Earth Science West Lake Ontario Shoreline: Vinemount Quarry 0.8 ANSI, Earth Science West Lake Ontario Shoreline: Cave Springs Farm 0.7 ANSI, Earth Science West Lake Ontario Shoreline: Twenty Mile Creek Drowned 0.5 ANSI, Earth Science River Mouth West Lake Ontario Shoreline: Beamers Falls 0.8 ANSI, Earth Science West Lake Ontario Shoreline: Vinemount Moraine 1.2 ANSI, Earth Science West Lake Ontario Shoreline: Cave Springs Farm 0.05 ANSI, Earth Science West Lake Ontario Shoreline: Ice Moulded Bedrock 0.8 ANSI, Earth Science West Lake Ontario Shoreline: Zimmerman Valley 0.5 ANSI, Life Science West Lake Ontario Shoreline: Niagara Section Escarpment 356.3 ANSI, Life Science West Lake Ontario Shoreline: Beamsville Escarpment 123.9 ANSI, Life Science West Lake Ontario Shoreline: Grassie Slough Forest 51.8 ANSI, Life Science West Lake Ontario Shoreline: Fruitland Escarpment 66.9 ANSI, Life Science West Lake Ontario Shoreline: Thirty Mile Creek Headwater 78.2 ANSI, Life Science Forest West Lake Ontario Shoreline: Grimsby Centre Forest East 47.7 ANSI, Life Science West Lake Ontario Shoreline: Grimsby Centre Forest West 90.0 ANSI, Life Science West Lake Ontario Shoreline: Mountainview Valentino 85.9 ANSI, Life Science Escarpment West Lake Ontario Shoreline: Grimsby Terrace Valleys 87.8

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 68 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan ANSI Area Type ANSI Name (ha) ANSI, Life Science West Lake Ontario Shoreline: Niagara Section Escarpment 1.2 ANSI, Life Science West Lake Ontario Shoreline: Beamsville Escarpment 0.05 ANSI, Life Science West Lake Ontario Shoreline: Mountainview Valentino 0.8 ANSI, Life Science Escarpment Total 99 4898.5

2.3.1.7 Land Uses The land uses present within the Lake Ontario tertiary watershed are consistent with the others across Niagara Region, including formal urban areas (residential, commercial, institutional, etc.), agricultural lands, and natural heritage and protected areas. For the purpose of the current study, the focus has been placed upon the locations of urban land uses, the potential for urban growth and urban area boundary expansions, as well as a high-level summary of the agricultural land uses present across the Niagara Region. It should be noted that as part of subsequent quaternary watershed and subwatershed studies, a more detailed analysis into the various existing and planned land uses, their associated impacts on water quantity / quality and the required management strategies throughout the watershed systems, should be completed. Urban Land Uses The Lake Ontario tertiary watershed has parts of it within eleven (11) out of the twelve (12) area municipalities within Niagara Region (all except Fort Erie). Additionally, there are ten (10) Hamlets which are located within, or on the border of, the Lake Ontario tertiary boundary. Of these communities, there are twenty-three (23) existing defined urban areas, which are currently proposed to provide approximately 50% of the future growth. In addition to the existing urban areas, there are a total of twenty-four (24) designated Secondary Plan areas, which are proposed for future development within the Lake Ontario tertiary watershed. The status of these secondary plan areas has been defined as either Adopted, Approved, In Process or Draft. Per guidance from Niagara Region Planning, these Secondary Plan areas are noted to be guided by established policy and requirements set out by the local municipality and regulatory agencies and this has been documented in the respective Secondary Plans. As such, these areas will inherently not be guided by the recommendations of the current NWP (E). A summary of the municipalities and known urban areas for the Lake Ontario tertiary watershed is summarized in Table 2-LO-24 and on Drawing WR6.

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 69 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Table 2-LO-24: Municipalities and Urban Areas within the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed % of Secondary Plans Municipality Urban Areas Hamlets Tertiary1 & Status Grimsby GO Hub (Approved), Kemp Mountain (Approved), Winston Grimsby 7% Grimsby Kemp Road Neighbourhood (Approved), Grimsby Land Use Study (In Progress) Beamsville GO Hub Beamsville, (Approved), Campden, Campden Jordan, Jordan (Approved), Lincoln 18% Station, Tintern Prudhommes Prudhomes, (Approved, east Vineland, side of Jordan Vineland South Harbour deferred) 2 Niagara Falls 4% Niagara Falls N/A - Glendale Glendale, NOTL Secondary Plan Niagara-on- (Old Town), 13% N/A (Approved) 4, the-Lake Queenston, St. Glendale District David’s, Virgil Plan (Approved) 4 East Fonthill Fenwick, North Pelham, (Approved), Pelham 8% Fonthill Ridgeville North West Fonthill (Approved) 3 Port Colborne 5% Port Colborne Bethel - Port Dalhousie (under appeal), Glendale District Plan (Approved) 4, St. Catharines 11% St. Catharines N/A St. Catharines GO Hub (Approved), Brock District Plan (Approved) 5 Brock District Plan Port Robinson, (Approved) 5, Thorold 9% Thorold North, N/A Brock Business Thorold South Park Area (Approved) 6,

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 70 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan % of Secondary Plans Municipality Urban Areas Hamlets Tertiary1 & Status Port Robinson (Approved) 7, Rolling Meadows (Approved) Wainfleet 1% N/A N/A - Northwest Welland Welland 4% Welland N/A (In Process) East Smithville (In Process), Northwest Quadrant Fulton, Grassie, (Approved), Grimsby Centre, Northwest West Lincoln 21% Smithville Regional Road Smithville 12, St. Ann’s, (Approved), Silverdale Spring Creek Heights (Approved) 8, Wade Road (Approved) Note: 1 Percentage calculation based on tertiary land area within the Niagara Region boundaries. 2 East side of Jordan Harbour deferred. 3 North West Fonthill Secondary Plan area crosses into Niagara River tertiary watershed. 4 Glendale District Plan is shared by both St. Catharines and NOTL. The existing Glendale Secondary Plan will be updated to comply with the District Plan and St. Catharines will need to complete a Secondary Plan for its small portion of the District Plan Area 5 Brock District Plan will see two Local Municipal Secondary Plans being undertaken in near future. District Plan Area Plan area is shared by both St. Catharines and Thorold. 6 Brock Business Park Area Secondary Plan undergoing update to conform to Brock District Plan. 7 Port Robinson West Secondary Plan - Phase 1 (easterly portion) permitted to advance, Phase 2 (westerly portion) subject to additional environmental study work. 8 Spring Creek Heights Secondary Plan presently subject of policy updates. As demonstrated in Table 2-LO-24, the Lake Ontario tertiary watershed is by area, largely represented by the municipalities of West Lincoln (21%) and Lincoln (18%), with a generally consistent distribution across the remainder of the municipalities. The Lake Ontario tertiary watershed has a number of Secondary Plans established across the majority of the municipalities, indicating the form and location of currently approved and expected level of growth across these tertiary lands. In addition to these proposed

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 71 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan development lands, there is further opportunity for urban growth and development in this tertiary system; a summary of designated growth areas within the tertiary watersheds is discussed further in NWP (E) - Volume 3: Growth Analysis. Agricultural Land Uses The Niagara Region is a known agricultural region in the Greater Horseshoe area and the province of Ontario as a whole; as such, agriculture has significant importance, as well as cultural and economic value across the Region. According to the Niagara Agriculture Profile (Niagara Region, 2017) based upon the 2016 Census of Agriculture, the top three (3) farm types across the Region included Fruit and tree nut farming; oilseed and grain farming; and greenhouse, nursery and floriculture production. There are also a substantial number of various animal farms, as well as other crops (tobacco, hay, combination, maple, vegetable and melon, etc.); all of these agricultural types contribute to Niagara’s agriculture economy and resource production (ref. Niagara Agriculture Profile, 2017). There were over 1,800 farms (+/-) located within the Niagara Region in 2016, which range from approximately 50 to 400 farms located in each of the various local municipalities encompassing the Region. Seeing as the Lake Ontario tertiary watershed has parts of it within eleven (11) out of the twelve (12) municipalities, agriculture and farming practices are an important aspect of this tertiary system. Of particular interest to the Lake Ontario tertiary watershed is the municipalities of West Lincoln, Lincoln, NOTL and Welland/Thorold which were among the top five (5) municipalities ranked by total farmland area in 2016; each of these municipalities are either located wholly or partially within the Lake Ontario tertiary watershed. There are several environmental benefits to agriculture which can be achieved through sustainable farming practices. Sustainable agriculture can provide positive ecological services to strengthen the agro-ecosystem, including improvements to biodiversity of plants and animals, opportunity for pollination and habitats, as well as benefits to nutrient cycling and overall soil structure. Soil building practices such as crop rotations, minimum tillage, organic fertilizers, etc., can further encourage soil fauna and flora, improving soil structure and system stability which ultimately can reduce soil erosion and improve both water and nutrient retention (ref. Organic Agriculture FAQs, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations). Agricultural activities can also have significant impacts to the health of watersheds if not properly managed; these effects can include degradation in water quality (i.e. excess phosphorous, E. coli bacteria, etc.) through non-point source pollution (i.e. fertilizers, agricultural/livestock runoff), as well as changes to local water quantity and flow patterns of downstream systems through irrigation and drainage, which are vital components of agricultural practices. As such, land use planning and natural resource management need to be integrated holistically, in a manner which benefits both the agricultural sector and the local environment. The governments of Canada and Ontario provide support to farmers in their efforts for environmentally sustainable farming operations to help limit the impacts on the natural environment; this is accomplished through initiatives including grants and funding support through programs offered by OMAFRA, the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 72 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Association (OSCIA) and the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. The federal and provincial governments have committed cost-share support to over 2,500 eligible projects through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership since 2018, in an effort to support eligible Ontario farming sectors to continue to innovate and grow sustainably, while benefiting the local natural resources (ref. Helping Ontario Farmers Improve the Environment, OMAFRA, December 11, 2019). Additional details regarding initiatives specific to the Lake Erie watershed can be found in Section 2.3.3.7. Provincial data have been downloaded from the OMAFRA open-source catalogue for use in the current study in order to characterize the existing agricultural land uses across the tertiary and quaternary watershed systems. These data include the following (ref. Ontario GeoHub): • Agricultural Land Base for the Greater Golden Horseshoe – This mapping is comprised of designated agricultural uses and rural lands in three (3) categories, including Candidate Area (CA) Prime Agricultural Area (PAA) and Specialty Crop Area (SCA). ­ The province has issued this agricultural land base mapping as enabled by Greenbelt Plan, 2017; the Growth Plan, 2017; the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan, 2017; and the Niagara Escarpment Plan, 2017. The agricultural land base mapping is to be used in conjunction with the Agricultural System policies in provincial plans, Implementation Procedures for the Agricultural System in the Greater Golden Horseshoe, and the Agricultural System Portal as a framework to protect farmland, while supporting the viability of the agri-food sector (ref. OMAFRA metadata). ­ It should be noted that Niagara Region is currently working with local municipalities to refine this mapping, which is proposed to include decisions as to whether the candidate area (CA) lands will be PAA or Rural designations, with some minor refinements proposed to the PAA extents. The results of this review process will be brought forward with the completion of the ROP and can, at that point, update the characterization. For the current Watershed Planning exercise, the provincial data are considered sufficient for use, acknowledging that updates are pending. • Constructed Drains – This mapping represents watercourses in the form of ditches and/or natural watercourses that have been modified to improve drainage or buried tile systems. These may include either open or closed/tiled drain types. These data can provide a representation of the drainage systems relied upon through agricultural practices and associated irrigation/drainage needs. In terms of the constructed drains within the Niagara Region, the vast majority are classified as Municipal Drains (constructed by a municipality under the Drainage Act through petition or requisition). The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), with support from Drainage Superintendents and Conservation Authorities, has developed a classification of Municipal Drains in order to streamline approvals under the Fisheries Act and SARA for certain types of drains (ref. Guidance of Maintaining and Repairing Municipal Drains in Ontario, 2017). Based upon the drain’s sensitivity, including parameters such as fish presence and flow periods, the resulting classifications include

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 73 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan seven (7) different classes which refer to different authorization processes for maintenance of the drainage features. These classes include the following: • Drain Class A-C, E: The Class Authorization Process • Drain Class D, Unrated and Drains Containing SAR Species: The Site-Specific Review Process • Drain Class F: No review criteria specified. ­ Only applicable for intermittent watercourses dry for at least 3 months of the year – maintenance works to be completed during dry periods and following the DFO BMPs. Depending on the type of drain classification, the maintenance activities and uses of the drainage features may be limited in order to protect the fish species and/or higher quality habitat present within the drains. This is a known concern in the agricultural industry, particularly in NOTL and other jurisdictions, as limitations are placed upon the uses of municipal drains for designated agricultural purposes as a result of important aquatic habitat, however, are still essential for irrigation and drainage of agricultural lands. While not incompatible, it is important to acknowledge the rights of property owners attributed to the Municipal Drains through the Drainage Act process and acknowledge these in land use planning. Concurrently it is equally important to identify the important ecological functions these systems serve in terms of water conveyance and riparian zones, for aquatic and terrestrial habitat, and apply appropriate management, including DFO guidance cited above. The details of these management needs (agricultural and natural) should be further assessed at the quaternary and Subwatershed scales in order that the form and function of these systems can be optimized. Both the agricultural land base and constructed drains mapping has been analysed on a quaternary watershed basis in order to document the distribution of designated agricultural land categories, as well as the existing drainage features utilized through agricultural practices. The results of this analysis for the Lake Ontario tertiary watershed are presented in Table 2-LO-25 and a visual representation has been prepared on Drawing WR7.

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Table 2-LO-25: Agricultural Land Base and Constructed Drains within the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed Agricultural Agricultural Agricultural Agricultural Land Base Land Base Land Base Land Base Constructed Constructed Distribution Distribution Distribution Distribution Drains Drains Tertiary Quaternary of Total WS of Total WS of Total WS of Total WS

(%) (%) (%) (%) km Classes

CA PAA SCA N/A Fifteen and Lake Ontario Sixteen Mile 0 33.1 60.7 6.3 33.3 C,E,NR Creeks Four Mile Creek 112.6 C,D,F,NR Lake Ontario 0 0.2 84.8 15.0 and NOTL Jordan Harbour - 17.6 C,E,F,NR Lake Ontario 0.2 79.1 9.4 11.3 Twenty Mile Creek Lake Ontario Twelve Mile Creek 0 5.4 38.1 56.5 0 - Welland Canal 4.1 C,E,F,NR Lake Ontario 0 33.4 10.0 56.7 North Welland Canal 33.6 C,E,F,NR Lake Ontario 1.7 33.0 0 65.3 South West Lake Ontario 31.6 C,D,F,NR Lake Ontario 0 12.1 42.5 45.3 Shoreline Lake Ontario Average for Tertiary 0.2 32.6 34.8 32.4 232.9 C,D,E,F,NR Watershed Note: 1 Agricultural Land Base sourced from OMAFRA Open-Source Data – Candidate Area (CA), Prime Agricultural Area (PAA), Specialty Crop Area (SCA), No Applicable Land Designation (N/A).

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 75 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan As demonstrated in Table 2-LO-25, the agricultural land base distribution across the Lake Ontario tertiary watershed is generally evenly split between prime agricultural, specialty crop and non-agricultural land (i.e., urban areas). This demonstrates that over 65% of the total drainage area is designated land base for agricultural practices, with the Lake Ontario tertiary watershed containing the vast majority of the specialty crop area within the Region. The specialty crop areas are largely concentrated in the northern watershed below the Niagara Escarpment, which has ideal climatic conditions (milder temperatures, longer frost-free period, and less annual precipitation) required to support these types of crops. The quaternary watersheds with the largest proportion of total agricultural land base include Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks, Four Mile Creek and NOTL, and Jordan Harbour – Twelve Mile Creek, all of which have an agricultural land base proportion of over 85%; Four Mile Creek and NOTL have the largest proportion of specialty crop area, with 84.8%. In terms of constructed drains, there are over 230 km (+/-) of constructed municipal drains within the Lake Ontario tertiary watershed, which as noted earlier are vital features for agricultural practices. The Four Mile Creek and NOTL quaternary watershed contains almost 50% of the constructed drains, which is supporting the large proportion of specialty crop areas in the Region; these include vineyards, tender fruit farms and orchard crops. The majority of the quaternary watersheds contain drains with classifications requiring the Class Authorization Process (Classes C, E), unrated drains which may require a site-specific review (Class NR), and drains which do not require a specific review (Class F). Only two (2) quaternary watersheds contain drains with a classification of D, which would require a site-specific review process, these are Four Mile Creek and NOTL, and the West Lake Ontario Shoreline. This information has been used in subsequent study tasks (ref. NWP (E) - Volume 3: Growth Analysis) to identify any potential constraints or unfavourable conditions for development with respect to the potential growth areas, which can help to inform future watershed planning objectives.

2.3.1.8 Watershed Monitoring A desktop review of information from NPCA has been completed to inventory the existing hydrometeorological datasets available for Niagara Region, which include climate stations, streamflow monitoring and water quality monitoring across the various watersheds under NPCA jurisdiction. Providing a summary of monitoring locations allows for the identification of potential information gaps or data deficiencies which may need to be addressed as part of future studies, particularly the quaternary-level watershed plans to be conducted by Niagara Region. It should be noted that several monitoring networks owned/operated by others, such as Environment Canada and the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) have also been included in the desktop review, as available through partnership programs with NPCA. For the current assessment, the NPCA monitoring network and additional monitoring conducted at the provincial level, provides a high-level indication of existing watershed coverage and data availability for future studies (quaternary and subwatershed).

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 76 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Climate Stations Climate data are critical to validating and calibrating the hydrologic and hydrogeologic/groundwater system modelling to characterize the surface and subsurface water systems, as well as the respective interactions of water movement in the watersheds and respective subwatersheds, for which potential growth areas are proposed. Depending upon the nature of available datasets (Tiers of coverage, methodologies and protocols), more robust and informative analyses may be completed (i.e. long-term continuous simulation and frequency analyses), rather than the use of more simplistic synthetic design storm events. The existing climate stations are owned/operated by NPCA with select locations in partnership with Environment Canada’s Water Survey Canada (WSC) program, as well as with the Niagara Region. The existing climate stations present within the Lake Ontario tertiary watershed have been summarized on a quaternary/subwatershed basis to demonstrate the coverage across the tertiary scale. It should be noted that the time- steps and period of record for the data have been provided by NPCA for use in this study, to characterize the utility of the data set for potential use in completing multi- seasonal, multi-year assessments for each of the watersheds as part of future studies. The results of this review are summarized in Table 2-LO-26. A monitoring location plan has been prepared for the Lake Ontario tertiary watershed, as shown on Drawing WR8.

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Table 2-LO-26: Climate Monitoring Network within the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed Quaternary Tertiary Subwatershed Station ID Station Name Data Type WL Stage Time Step Period of Record (# of Subs) No Climate No Climate No Climate No Climate No Climate No Climate No Climate Stations Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Stations Located in Stations Located in Stations Located in Stations Located in Stations Located in Stations Located in Lake Ontario Located in Quaternary Creeks (10) Quaternary Quaternary Quaternary Quaternary Quaternary Quaternary Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Four Mile Creek and Four Mile Creek at Lake Ontario Four Mile Creek FMCV01_SP Rain Yes 15 min 2009-2021 NOTL (15) Virgil 1 Jordan Harbour - Twenty 20 Mile Creek at Lake Ontario Twenty Mile Creek 20MCS01_SP Rain Yes 15 min 2009-2021 Mile Creek (6) Smithville 1 Jordan Harbour - Twenty Balls Falls Climate Lake Ontario Twenty Mile Creek BALLSFCS01_P Precip Yes 15 min 2013-2021 Mile Creek (6) Station2 Jordan Harbour - Twenty Lake Ontario North Creek NC01_SP North Creek 4 Precip Yes N/A N/A Mile Creek (6) 12 Mile Creek at Lake Ontario Twelve Mile Creek (9) Upper Twelve Mile Creek 12MCD01_SP Rain Yes 15 min 2009-2021 Decew 1 Lake Ontario Twelve Mile Creek (9) Lower Twelve Mile Creek PD01_P Port Dalhousie 3 Precip - 5 min 2011-2021 Kalar Road SPS Lake Ontario Welland Canal North (5) Shriners Creek KRSPS01_P Precipitation Precip - 5 min 2010-2021 Station 3 Lake Ontario Welland Canal South (4) Welland Canal South SEAW01_P Seaway 3 Precip - 5 min 2011-2021 West Lake Ontario Lake Ontario Bartlett (Lincoln) LTH01_P LincolnTH 3 Precip - 5 min 2011-2021 Shoreline (38) Note: 1 In partnership with Environment Canada – Water Survey Canada (WSC) (3). 2 In partnership with MECP (2). 3 In partnership with Niagara Region (4) – Period of Record stated in the above table refers to the NPCA database. Niagara Region database may extend beyond those stated above to the limits of the archive – Lower Twelve Mile Creek, Shriners Creek and Welland Canal South gauges were installed in 1991, with archived data beginning in 1998, Bartlett gauge archived data beginning in 2006. 4 The North Creek climate gauge is operated by the MNRF and/or the MECP – no shared access to data has been provided to the NPCA to date.

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 78 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan As demonstrated by Table 2-LO-26, the NPCA operates a climate monitoring network consisting nine (9) monitoring stations located across six (6) out of the seven (7) quaternary watersheds of the Lake Ontario tertiary system; the Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks quaternary watershed currently does not have an existing NPCA climate station located within its bounds. The data type recorded at each of the climate stations can include either rainfall or total precipitation depths, which can be useful for long-term hydrologic simulation including winter months. Out of the nine (9) stations, five (5) are co-located with a streamflow monitoring gauge, which further helps to characterize the hydrologic conditions/response and relationships for those systems. The recorded time-steps at the individual stations are evenly split between 15 minute or 5 minute intervals, both of which are sufficiently resolute and can be utilized as part of hydrologic model calibration/validation. Recognizing that continuous simulation and frequency analysis requires a minimum of 20 years of rainfall for hydrologic modelling, the noted period of record for the stations located throughout the Lake Ontario tertiary watershed demonstrate an 8-to-12-year duration in terms of the NPCA database; for gauges operated in partnership with other governing bodies including Niagara Region, MECP and WSC, there may be additional opportunities to extend these periods of record through supplemental databases. For example, there are four (4) stations operating in partnership with the Niagara Region; these stations may have up to an additional 12+ years of monitoring data which could be utilized in developing a long-term data set for continuous simulation as part of subsequent hydrologic studies. This information has been mined further in subsequent study tasks (ref. NWP (E) - Volume 2: Niagara Watershed Management) in order to identify potential monitoring gaps related to future studies’ data needs, required to evaluate the impact of potential growth areas, at subsequent study stages. Streamflow Monitoring In addition to climate data, stream flow monitoring is required for hydrologic model calibration/validation, as well as overall characterization of the runoff relationships in the respective watershed systems. The NPCA operates a streamflow monitoring network across the Niagara Peninsula Watershed, with select locations being co-located with existing climate gauges, as noted earlier. Select streamflow monitoring locations are partnered with Environment Canada’s Water Survey Canada (WSC) program. All streamflow monitoring data can be viewed in real-time via the NPCA “stream chart” feature, which are web-linked to the mapping data publicly available from NPCA (individual weblinks per station), as well as in the provincial WSC database (as available). Similar to the climate data, stream flow monitoring networks owned/operated by NPCA have been reviewed and summarized on a quaternary watershed basis to provide an indication of existing monitoring locations which can be used for future studies. Further, time-steps and period of record for each of the flow monitoring locations have been provided by NPCA to further characterize the applicability of the data for use in future studies. The results of this review for the Lake Ontario tertiary watershed are summarized in Table 2-LO-27, and in the monitoring location summary plan, as shown on Drawing WR8.

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Table 2-LO-27: Streamflow Monitoring Network within the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed Quaternary Period of Tertiary Subwatershed Station ID Station Name Data Type Precip Status Time Steps (# of Subs) Record No Streamflow No Streamflow No Streamflow No Streamflow No Streamflow No Streamflow No Streamflow No Streamflow Fifteen and Gauges Located Gauges Located Gauges Located Gauges Located Gauges Located Gauges Located Gauges Located Gauges Located Lake Ontario Sixteen Mile in Quaternary in Quaternary in Quaternary in Quaternary in Quaternary in Quaternary in Quaternary in Quaternary Creeks (10) Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Four Mile Creek Four Mile Creek Lake Ontario Four Mile Creek FMCV01_SP WL Yes Active 5 min 2005-2021 and NOTL (15) at Virgil* Jordan Harbour - Twenty Mile 20 Mile Creek at Lake Ontario Twenty Mile 20MCS01_SP WL Yes Active 5 min 1986-2021 Creek Smithville* Creek (6) Jordan Harbour - Twenty Mile 20 Mile Creek at Lake Ontario Twenty Mile 20MCW01_S WL - Active 15 min 2016-2021 Creek Woodburn Creek (6) Jordan Harbour - Twenty Mile 20 Mile Creek at Lake Ontario Twenty Mile 20MCBF01_SP WL Yes Active 5 min 1957-2021 Creek Balls Falls* Creek (6) Jordan Harbour - Lake Ontario Twenty Mile North Creek NC01_SP North Creek* WL Yes Active 5 min 2014-2021 Creek (6) Twelve Mile Upper Twelve 12 Mile Creek at Lake Ontario 12MCD01_SP WL Yes Active 5 min 2005-2021 Creek (9) Mile Creek Decew* 12 Mile Creek Twelve Mile Upper Twelve Lake Ontario 12MCEB01_S Effingham WL - Active 15 min 2009-2021 Creek (9) Mile Creek Branch 12 Mile Creek Twelve Mile Upper Twelve Lake Ontario 12MCSJB01_S St. Johns WL - Not Active 15 min 2009-2013 Creek (9) Mile Creek Branch Twelve Mile Lake Ontario Walkers Creek WC01_S Walkers Creek WL - Active 5 min 2009-2021 Creek (9) No Streamflow No Streamflow No Streamflow No Streamflow No Streamflow No Streamflow No Streamflow No Streamflow Welland Canal Gauges Located Gauges Located Gauges Located Gauges Located Gauges Located Gauges Located Gauges Located Gauges Located Lake Ontario North (5) in Quaternary in Quaternary in Quaternary in Quaternary in Quaternary in Quaternary in Quaternary in Quaternary Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed No Streamflow No Streamflow No Streamflow No Streamflow No Streamflow No Streamflow No Streamflow No Streamflow Welland Canal Gauges Located Gauges Located Gauges Located Gauges Located Gauges Located Gauges Located Gauges Located Gauges Located Lake Ontario South (4) in Quaternary in Quaternary in Quaternary in Quaternary in Quaternary in Quaternary in Quaternary in Quaternary Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed No Streamflow No Streamflow No Streamflow No Streamflow No Streamflow No Streamflow No Streamflow No Streamflow West Lake Gauges Located Gauges Located Gauges Located Gauges Located Gauges Located Gauges Located Gauges Located Gauges Located Lake Ontario Ontario Shoreline in Quaternary in Quaternary in Quaternary in Quaternary in Quaternary in Quaternary in Quaternary in Quaternary (38) Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Note: * In partnership with EC WSC – Streamflow monitoring locations in partnership with EC WSC include Four Mile Creek (1), Twenty Mile Creek (2), Twelve Mile Creek (1) and North Creek (1).

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 80 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan As demonstrated in Table 2-LO-27, the NPCA operates a streamflow monitoring network consisting of nine (9) monitoring stations located across three (3) out of the seven (7) quaternary watersheds of the Lake Ontario tertiary system, within five (5) designated subwatershed systems. The data measurements include water level, which can be converted to flow based on rating curve relationships for each of the drainage systems. Similar to the climate stations, the recorded time steps are either a 15 minute or 5 minute interval, both of which are sufficiently resolute and can be utilized as part of hydrologic model calibration/validation. The length of the period of record for streamflow gauges is not as crucial when compared to the climate stations which are required for developing large input data sets, however long-term streamflow monitoring can provide the opportunity for single site frequency analyses to aid in the corroboration of the results of hydrologic modelling, with observed data. Having sufficient active streamflow gauge locations will be important for the selection and evaluation of calibration/validation events for subsequent hydrologic modelling studies. The watershed systems without streamflow monitoring include the Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Creeks, Welland Canal North/South, and the West Lake Ontario Shoreline quaternary systems. It is important to note that the Lake Ontario tertiary system is comprised of over eighty (80) separate subwatersheds; therefore, the current streamflow monitoring network represents only approximately 6% of the subwatersheds. As such, it is highly likely that for assessing the impacts of future potential growth areas, additional monitoring will be required in order to characterize the local system and thereby be used in future model calibration/validation. This information has been mined further in subsequent study tasks (ref. NWP (E) - Volume 2: Niagara Watershed Management) in order to identify potential monitoring gaps related to future studies required to evaluate the potential growth areas, at subsequent study stages. Water Quality Monitoring The purpose of the existing surface water quality monitoring network, operated by NPCA and MECP, is to characterize the aquatic health of the subwatersheds and associated watercourses and tributaries with respect to contaminant loadings under existing and future land use conditions. The review of this existing network has included a summary of the surface water monitoring locations throughout the Lake Ontario tertiary watershed to identify potential data gaps for establishing future surface water quality monitoring plans, relative to the potential growth areas as part of subsequent study components. The NPCA currently collects surface water samples eight times a year, on a monthly basis, during ice-free periods from a network of 80 surface water sampling sites across the Niagara Peninsula Watershed. The NPCA tests the samples for numerous parameters, including general chemistry, nutrients, metals and bacteria. This water chemistry program is operated in partnership with the Provincial Water Quality Monitoring Network (PWQMN) (13 sites or 16% of monitoring network) and the Niagara Region (10 sites or 8% of monitoring network), who assist with the laboratory analysis of the sites within their respective partnership agreements; the majority of the monitoring network is operated/funded by the NPCA directly (over 70% of the monitoring network). For the surface water quality monitoring locations partnered with the MECP, locations

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 81 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan and annual results are made publicly available as part of the PWQMN databases, in addition to those provided by NPCA through data requests. As documented in the NPCA Water Quality Monitoring Program Summary Report (2019), details relating to the type of sampling method, conditions of sampling (wet/dry), as well as the specific sampling parameters at each site are outlined in order to summarize exceedances and trends throughout the monitored watershed systems, related to the following indicator parameters: • Chloride • Lead • Nitrate • Zinc • Total Phosphorous • Escherichia Coli • Suspended Solids • Benthic Invertibrate • Copper This information helps to identify the range of water quality issues that are likely to be encountered in the respective watersheds and can provide further insights into the relative stream quality. This information, as well as additional results established through existing and future monitoring programs, should be utilized as part of future studies to evaluate growth and watershed impacts at a smaller scale. In addition to the existing monitoring locations, the Surface Water Quality Grades resulting from the 2012 and 2018 Watershed Report Cards, completed as part of the Conservation Ontario initiative to showcase Conservation Authorities monitoring capacity across the province, have been summarized for each of the monitored subwatersheds (as available). This provides an indication as to surface water quality and can identify if there have been any changes to surface water quality in the six (6) years between report cards. It should be noted that the analyses completed for the Watershed Report Cards are not as detailed as those presented in the annual water quality monitoring reports completed by the NPCA, however the Watershed Report Card results are considered to be sufficient for the current monitoring summary, given the regional scale of this study, and it is recommended that detailed analysis be completed as part of subsequent quaternary watershed plans. According to NPCA, the surface water quality has been graded using three (3) primary indicators, determined by Conservation Ontario (ref. Guide to Developing Watershed Report Cards, 2011). These include the following: • Phosphorus (contributions from excessive fertilizer use and wastewater discharge) • E. coli bacteria (found in the intestines of humans and other animals) • Benthic macroinvertebrates community (small animals without a backbone that live at the bottom of streams). These animals have a range of tolerances to water pollution. Their quantity and variety can provide an indication of the level of water pollution. The combination and associated interpretation of these water quality indicators can result in one of the following water quality grades: • A – Excellent • C – Fair • F – Very Poor • B – Good • D – Poor • (-) Insufficient Data

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 82 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan The results of the review for the Lake Ontario tertiary watershed are summarized in Table 2-LO-28, and in the monitoring location summary plan, as shown on Drawing WR8. Table 2-LO-28: Water Quality Monitoring Network and Grades within the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed

# of WQ Grade WQ Grade Quaternary Tertiary Subwatershed Active (2012 Report (2018 Report (# of Subs) WQ Sites Card) Card) 2 Fifteen and Lake Eighteen Mile Sixteen Mile 1 D D Ontario Creek Creeks (10) Fifteen and Lake Fifteen Mile Sixteen Mile 1 D D Ontario Creek Creeks (10) Fifteen and Lake Sixteen Mile Sixteen Mile 1 D D Ontario Creek Creeks (10) Four Mile Lake Eight Mile Creek and 1 D D Ontario Creek NOTL (15) Four Mile Lake Four Mile Creek and 1 F D Ontario Creek* NOTL (15) Four Mile Lake Creek and One Mile Creek 1 D F Ontario NOTL (15) Four Mile Lake Creek and Six Mile Creek 1 D D Ontario NOTL (15) Four Mile Lake Creek and Two Mile Creek 2 F D Ontario NOTL (15) Jordan Lake Harbour - Gavora Ditch 1 - - Ontario Twenty Mile Creek (6) Jordan Lake Harbour - North Creek 1 D D Ontario Twenty Mile Creek (6) Jordan Lake Harbour - Spring Creek 1 D D Ontario Twenty Mile Creek (6)

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 83 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan # of WQ Grade WQ Grade Quaternary Tertiary Subwatershed Active (2012 Report (2018 Report (# of Subs) WQ Sites Card) Card) 2 Jordan Twenty Mile Lake Harbour - Creek (Upper / 2 / 5 D / C D / C Ontario Twenty Mile Lower)* Creek (6) Lake Twelve Mile Beaver Dams 1 D D Ontario Creek (9) Creek Lake Twelve Mile Francis Creek 1 - - Ontario Creek (9) Lake Twelve Mile Richardson 1 - - Ontario Creek (9) Creek Twelve Mile Lake Twelve Mile Creek (Upper / 8 / 1 C / B C / B Ontario Creek (9) Lower)* Lake Twelve Mile Walkers Creek 1 - F Ontario Creek (9) Welland Lake Canal North Shriners Creek 1 D D Ontario (5) Welland Lake Canal North Welland Canal 1 - A Ontario (5) Welland Lake Canal South Welland Canal 1 - A Ontario (4) West Lake Lake Forty Mile Ontario 1 D D Ontario Creek* Shoreline (38) West Lake Lake Prudhommes Ontario 1 - - Ontario Drain Shoreline (38) West Lake Lake Thirty Mile Ontario 1 - C Ontario Creek Shoreline (38) West Lake Lake Ontario Bartlett Creek 1 1 - - Ontario Shoreline (38) Note: * In partnership with MECP – According to PWQMN database, WQ monitoring locations in partnership with MECP include Four Mile Creek (1), Twenty Mile Creek (2), Twelve Mile Creek (4) and Forty Mile Creek (1). 1 Monitoring station added in Bartlett Creek Subwatershed by NPCA in 2019. 2 2018 Water Quality Grade rendered to demonstrate trends in comparison to the 2012 Water Quality Grades, where: blue = improving, purple = declining, black = unchanged and/or N/A.

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 84 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan As demonstrated by Table 2-LO-28, the NPCA operates an expansive water quality monitoring network, with over thirty-five (35) water quality monitoring stations, with locations in each of the quaternary watersheds representing the Lake Ontario tertiary system. Some of the larger subwatersheds have multiple water quality stations (i.e. Twenty Mile Creek and Twelve Mile Creek), in order to better represent the extent of the system and associated tributaries. These monitoring programs have allowed for the characterization of the aquatic health of the surface water systems across the subwatersheds; the results indicate that the vast majority of subwatershed systems are rated as being of Poor/Very Poor (D/F) quality, with some occurrences of Fair/Good (C/B) quality, as part of the 2012 Watershed Report Cards. Based upon the 2018 Watershed Report Card results, it is evident that the majority of the watersheds have maintained their respective 2012 water quality rating, with the exception of Two Mile Creek and Four Mile Creek, which both achieved an improved water quality rating over the six-year period, and One Mile Creek which demonstrated a decrease in water quality. Additional water quality grades were reported as part of the 2018 Watershed Report Cards for both Walkers Creek and the Welland Canal, which likely had insufficient data in 2012. Those indicated with no rating are likely due to insufficient data at the time of the 2012 and/or 2018 Report Cards; nonetheless these monitoring stations and associated results may be included as part of the annual water quality monitoring and reporting program completed by the NPCA, which can be used to infer any quality issues. This information has been mined further in subsequent study tasks (ref. NWP (E) - Volume 2: Niagara Watershed Management) in order to identify potential monitoring gaps related to future studies required to evaluate the potential growth areas, as part of subsequent studies. Groundwater Monitoring A network of groundwater monitoring wells has been established by NPCA across the Niagara Peninsula Watershed in order to monitor the quality and quantity of the groundwater resources in the watershed, in partnership with the Provincial Groundwater Monitoring Network (PGMN). Data from these wells are used to make informed decisions about water testing and treatment of private wells, water allocation (under the MECP’s Permit To-Take-Water program), drinking water source protection planning and potential climate change impacts. According to NPCA, in 2012-2013 the NPCA began a partnership with the Ontario Geologic Survey (OGS) to construct monitoring wells in three (3) buried bedrock valleys within the NPCA watershed to characterize the aquifers and monitor Lake Erie's role in recharging these aquifer systems. This program was later expanded to include other portions of the NPCA, through a special project which added nearly thirty-five (35) groundwater monitoring wells (overburden/bedrock) to the NPCA jurisdiction. This project continues to be managed as part of the NPCA’s Source Water Protection initiative and consists of annual sampling in the Fall over the past five (5) years; this OGS partnership program is separate from the PGMN program. In terms of the well locations included in the OGS program, sampling and analysis was completed as part of the 2020 monitoring period for select bedrock/contact zone aquifer

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 85 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan locations; detailed data summary and/or comparisons to previous years has yet to be completed, however NPCA has provided the 2020 water quality laboratory results for review and inclusion in this study as it pertains to known groundwater quality contaminants and/or issues. A review of the current existing PGMN and OGS partnership well locations within the Lake Ontario tertiary watershed has been completed in order to identify potential data gaps for establishing future groundwater monitoring plans, relative to the potential growth areas as part of subsequent study components. The NPCA has been monitoring groundwater levels at all PGMN wells since 2003. This allows for data collection and analysis in order to develop characterizations of the rises/falls of the subsurface water levels and identify seasonal patterns; this monitoring period has currently captured dry years (such as 2007 and 2016) and wet years (such as 2009) to gain a deeper understanding of the groundwater system’s response to precipitation and inform future watershed planning. Groundwater quality samples as part of the PGMN network were first collected by the NPCA and then the MOE between 2002 and 2005, with routine groundwater sampling commencing in 2006. The groundwater quality samples are analyzed for bacteria, nutrients, metals and general chemistry. Any exceedances of the Ontario Drinking Water Standards (MOE, 2003) are flagged by the MECP and are reported to the NPCA, Region of Niagara and local municipalities. Wells with exceedances are re-sampled and analyzed further by MECP to determine the initial exceedance and infer the potential cause. In terms of the well locations included in the OGS partnership program, sampling and analysis for water chemistry has been completed for the past five (5) years. As part of the 2020 monitoring period, this sampling and analysis was completed for select bedrock/contact zone aquifer locations only; detailed data summary of the 2020 results and/or comparisons to previous years has yet to be completed, however NPCA has provided the 2020 water quality laboratory results for review and inclusion in this study as it pertains to known groundwater quality contaminants and/or issues. Based upon the results from the 2018 Watershed Report Card, the water quality at most of the NPCA groundwater monitoring wells is scored as “Good (B)”, with some wells exceeding the Ontario Drinking Water Standards. A summary of the current existing PGMN and OGS partnership wells located within the Lake Ontario tertiary watershed, as well as the key findings from the 2019 NPCA Water Quality Monitoring Summary Report (PGMN Network) and the 2020 results from the OGS partnership project (as available), are presented in Table 2-LO-29. A monitoring summary location plan has been prepared, as shown on Drawing WR8.

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Table 2-LO-29: Groundwater Monitoring Network Summary for the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed Quaternary Exceedance (2019 Tertiary Subwatershed Program Well ID Township Aquifer Type Formation (# of subs) / 2020 Results) No PGMN Gauges No PGMN Gauges No PGMN Gauges No PGMN Gauges No PGMN Gauges No PGMN Gauges No PGMN Gauges Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Located in Located in Located in Located in Located in Located in Located in Lake Ontario Creeks (10) Quaternary Quaternary Quaternary Quaternary Quaternary Quaternary Quaternary Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Lake Ontario Fifteen Mile Creek OGS BH06 (7226317) West Lincoln Bedrock Eramosa Fluoride, Sulphate Creeks (10) Fifteen and Sixteen Mile Lake Ontario Fifteen Mile Creek OGS BH97 (7295432) Pelham Bedrock Lockport None Creeks (10) Four Mile Creek and Lake Ontario Four Mile Creek PGMN W0000384-1 Niagara Overburden Iroquois Sandplain Nitrate NOTL (15) Jordan Harbour - Twenty Lake Ontario Twenty Mile Creek PGMN W0000288-1 Glanford Bedrock Guelph-Lockport Sodium Mile Creek (6) Upper Twelve Mile Lake Ontario Twelve Mile Creek (9) PGMN W0000361-2 Pelham Overburden Fonthill Kame Nitrate Creek 3 Upper Twelve Mile Fonthill Kame Lake Ontario Twelve Mile Creek (9) PGMN W0000361-3 Pelham Overburden Sodium Creek 3 Upper Twelve Mile Fonthill Kame Lake Ontario Twelve Mile Creek (9) PGMN W0000362-2 Pelham Overburden Sodium Creek 3 Upper Twelve Mile Fonthill Kame Lake Ontario Twelve Mile Creek (9) PGMN W0000362-3 Pelham Overburden None Creek 3 Lake Ontario Twelve Mile Creek (9) Richardson Creek OGS BH33 (7233498) St. Catharines Bedrock Queenston N/A No PGMN Gauges No PGMN Gauges No PGMN Gauges No PGMN Gauges No PGMN Gauges No PGMN Gauges No PGMN Gauges Located in Located in Located in Located in Located in Located in Located in Lake Ontario Welland Canal North (5) Quaternary Quaternary Quaternary Quaternary Quaternary Quaternary Quaternary Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed BH09 (5) 4 Welland Canal Lake Ontario Welland Canal North (5) OGS (7226393 & Pelham Bedrock Gasport Fluoride North 7260091) BH09 (5) 4 Welland Canal Lake Ontario Welland Canal North (5) OGS (7226393 & Pelham Overburden Gasport N/A North 7260091) Welland Canal Lake Ontario Welland Canal North (5) OGS BH28 (7228876) Welland Bedrock Salina N/A South 2 No PGMN Gauges No PGMN Gauges No PGMN Gauges No PGMN Gauges No PGMN Gauges No PGMN Gauges No PGMN Gauges Located in Located in Located in Located in Located in Located in Located in Lake Ontario Welland Canal South (4) Quaternary Quaternary Quaternary Quaternary Quaternary Quaternary Quaternary Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed BH14 (3) 5 Wainfleet & Overburden / Lake Ontario Welland Canal South (4) Biederman Drain OGS (7226391 & Salina N/A Welland Townline Bedrock Interface 7260092)

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Quaternary Exceedance (2019 Tertiary Subwatershed Program Well ID Township Aquifer Type Formation (# of subs) / 2020 Results) BH14 (3) 5 Overburden / Wainfleet & Lake Ontario Welland Canal South (4) Biederman Drain OGS (7226391 & Weathered Clay Salina N/A Welland Townline 7260092) Water Table West Lake Ontario Lake Ontario Forty Mile Creek PGMN W0000027-1 Saltfleet1 Bedrock N/A N/A Shoreline (38) West Lake Ontario Lake Ontario Forty Mile Creek PGMN W0000073-1 Grimsby Bedrock Guelph-Lockport Sodium Shoreline (38) Note: 1 PGMN Well W027-1 is located west of the NPCA jurisdictional boundary, as such it is not included in NPCA’s monitoring program and/or summary reports. This well is likely monitored through the MECP / Hamilton Conservation Authority. 2 The Welland Canal South Subwatershed has been divided according to the provincial quaternary watershed; therefore the portion of the Welland Canal South Subwatershed north of the Canal, falls within the updated Welland Canal North Quaternary Watershed. 3 The four (4) PGMN wells located in the Upper Twelve Mile Creek Subwatershed are in only two (2) locations; W361-2 and W361-3, as well as W362-2 and W362-3, have the same geographic coordinates, however they are reported on individually as part of the NPCA monitoring reporting. 4 OGS Well BH09 has five (5) well recordings in the same location – these include one (1) site at ID 7226393 named GlynnAGreen and four (4) sites at ID 7260091 named GlynnAGreen 1, 2A, 2B, 3, with varying depths. 5 OGS Well BH14 has three (3) well recordings in the same location – these include (1) site at ID 7226391 named Townline and two (2) sites at ID 7260092 named Townline-M and Townline-S, with varying depths.

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 88 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan As demonstrated in Table 2-LO-29, the NPCA operates an expansive groundwater quality/level monitoring network in partnership with both the MECP and OGS; as part of the PGMN program, NPCA operates eight (8) groundwater monitoring stations located in four (4) out of the seven (7) quaternary watersheds, representing the Lake Ontario tertiary system. The Upper Twelve Mile Creek subwatershed has a total of four (4) PGMN monitoring wells recording at varying depths, as it is located in the Fonthill Kame formation, which is known to be at-risk for contamination. In addition to the PGMN network, an additional twelve (12) stations are monitored by NPCA as part of the OGS partnership program, also located in four (4) out of the seven (7) quaternary watersheds representing the Lake Ontario tertiary system; these locations were selected to monitor three (3) primary groundwater systems, including a background system, the Erigan Channel and the Chippawa/Niagara Falls Channel present within this area. These stations combined with the PGMN stations consist of a total of twenty (20) groundwater monitoring stations, located in all seven (7) quaternary watersheds encompassing the Lake Ontario tertiary watershed. The results of the 2019 monitoring completed for the PGMN wells (ref. NPCA Water Quality Monitoring Program Summary Report, 2019) found that elevated sodium concentrations were observed in four (4) of the wells present within the Lake Ontario tertiary watershed. The MECP has attributed these exceedances to natural groundwater conditions and impacts from road salts and are not considered by MECP to be of major public health concern. Elevated nitrate concentrations were observed at two (2) of the monitoring wells, one located in Four Mile Creek and the other in Upper Twelve Mile Creek; these results are unnatural occurrences, which MECP has deemed to be linked to human influences such as agricultural land use and/or faulty septic systems. In response to these exceedances, local private wells were sampled in 2008 and 2009 by the NPCA in partnership with the Niagara Region, which found no nitrate exceedances in relation to the PGMN wells. The results of the 2020 sampling and analysis completed for the OGS partnership wells found exceedances at two (2) out of the three (3) tested wells; these exceedances included fluoride and sulphate. It should be noted that only three (3) out of the twelve (12) OGS wells were included in the 2020 sampling assessment, as NPCA noted only select bedrock/contact-zone aquifers were included in the most recent sampling. This information has been mined further in subsequent study components (ref. NWP (E) - Volume 2: Niagara Watershed Management) in order to identify potential monitoring gaps related to future studies required to evaluate the potential growth areas.

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 89 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan 2.3.2 Niagara River Tertiary Watershed 2.3.2.1 Drainage Systems The Niagara River Tertiary Watershed is primarily located along the central portion of Niagara Region, with hydrologic connections extending across the Region from the west into Hamilton, across to the eastern Canada-US border. This tertiary watershed encompasses a drainage area of over 1,200 km2 (+/-), which represents two (2) primary systems, the Welland River and the Niagara River. These areas are further separated into a total of four (4) quaternary watersheds, which contribute to major watercourses within the Niagara River tertiary watershed, with a total length of over 880 km (+/-) within the bounds of the Niagara Region. The contributing drainage areas and subwatersheds present within the Niagara River tertiary watershed have been summarized in Table 2-NR-1 and on Drawing WR1.

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Table 2-NR-1: Drainage Areas and Subwatersheds within the Niagara River Tertiary Watershed Quaternary Area % of Subwatershed # Subwatershed Names Wate rshed (km2) Tertiary # Beaver Creek, Beezor Drain, Big Forks Creek, Black Ash Creek, Buckhorn Creek, Chick Hartner Drain, Coyle Creek, Draper Creek, East Kelly Drain, Ellsworth Drain, Elsie Creek (2), James Drain, Lake Erie (7-10, 8A, 9A)1, Little Forks Creek, Welland 8 868.5 66% 38 Little Wolf Creek, Mill Creek, Mill Race Creek, Mitchner Drain, River West Moores Creek, North Forks Drain, Oswego Creek, Parker Creek, Sucker Creek, Sugar Creek Drain, Unnamed Creek (2), Welland River, Wilson Creek, Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek Drain East / West Grassy Brook, Hunters Drain, Lyons Creek, Tee Creek, Welland 9 136.6 12% 7 Thompson Creek, Welland River, Welland River between River East Canal. Niagara Andre’s Drain, Chippawa Power Canal, Epp Drain, Niagara 10 62.2 5% 8 River North River (1, 3, 4, 6, 7). Baker Creek, Bayers Creek, Beaver Creek, Black Creek, Niagara 11 185.4 16% 22 Frenchmans Creek, Miller Creek, Niagara River (9-11, 11A-C, River South 12-15, 17, 18, 18A-C), Usshers Creek. Note: 1 Based upon the NPCA subwatershed mapping, the subwatersheds Lake Erie (7-10, 8A, 9A) are delineated to drain into Lake Erie; however, based upon the updated provincial tertiary watershed delineation, these subwatershed systems fall primarily within the Niagara River tertiary system. These drainage boundaries are recommended to be reviewed and refined through future quaternary and/or subwatershed studies utilizing the DTM and watercourse mapping proposed to be updated in the coming years.

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 91 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan As demonstrated in Table 2-NR-1, the largest quaternary watersheds present within the Niagara River tertiary system is the Welland River West watershed, which represents 2/3 of the tertiary system drainage area encompassing thirty-eight (38) separate subwatershed systems and extends beyond the western limit of the Niagara Region jurisdiction. The remaining three (3) quaternary watersheds are of a much smaller size, with the Welland River East and Niagara River South each encompassing approximately 12- 16% of the overall tertiary area, and the Niagara River North being the smallest quaternary system, at approximately 5%. The Welland River East and Niagara River North systems are each represented by 7-8 subwatersheds, whereas the Niagara River South system encompasses a large number of systems, with a total of twenty-two (22) subwatersheds. In total, the Niagara River tertiary system is represented by seventy-five (75) separate subwatersheds, each of which would require individual (or in combination) study and review for proposed future development in order to evaluate the potential local impacts and mitigation strategies.

2.3.2.2 Surficial Soils The surficial soils present within the Niagara Region have been sourced from the OMAFRA Soil Complex Survey mapping, which is a compilation of soil surveys completed on a county-by-county basis between 1929 and 2002 at a variety of map scales (ref. Land Information Ontario Data Description, Soil Complex Survey, OMAFRA, 2012). Across the Niagara Region, there are over 50 different surficial soil types varying in composition, properties, and hydrologic condition. In order to provide a meaningful characterization at the tertiary watershed scale, the soils types have been summarized based upon their Drainage Classes, which provide an indication of the soil’s ability to drain water and therein create runoff. This classification can infer the soil’s response to urbanization, as well as the applicability and suitability for select stormwater management (SWM) practices should future development advance (i.e. source controls for best management practices). The Drainage Classes assigned in OMAFRA’s Soil Complex Survey include the following: • – = Not Applicable • MW = Moderately Well • VA = Variable • I = Imperfectly • R = Rapidly • P = Poorly • W = Well • VP = Very Poorly

Further details and discussions regarding each of the soil drainage classes can be found in the Lake Ontario tertiary watershed section (ref. Section 2.3.1.2). The distribution of the surficial soils has been summarized based on drainage classes across the Niagara River tertiary watershed and the four (4) respective quaternary watershed areas, as shown in Table 2-NR-2. A visual representation of the drainage class distribution across the Niagara River tertiary watershed is presented on Drawing WR2.

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Table 2-NR-2: Soil Drainage Distribution within the Niagara River Tertiary Watershed Soil Drainage Soil Drainage Soil Drainage Soil Drainage Soil Drainage Soil Drainage Soil Drainage Soil Drainage & Sensitivity & Sensitivity & Sensitivity & Sensitivity & Sensitivity & Sensitivity & Sensitivity & Sensitivity Distribution Distribution Distribution Distribution Distribution Distribution Distribution Distribution Tertiary Quaternary (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) Unknown Unknown High High High Med Low Low - VA R W MW I P VP Niagara River Niagara River North 6.6 67.1 0.1 0.9 0.1 15.3 8.8 0.0 Niagara River Niagara River South 4.8 10.5 2.8 0.0 0.6 21.9 58.4 0.8 Niagara River Welland River East 5.6 14.2 0.0 0.0 2.9 34.2 42.5 0.6 Niagara River Welland River West 2.4 3.1 0.3 1.1 5.8 46.3 38.9 0.8 Niagara River Tertiary Average for Unknown = 12.6 High = 5.8 Med = 39.2 Low = 41.6 Watershed

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As demonstrated in Table 2-NR-2, approximately 80% of the soils present within the Niagara River tertiary watershed are classified as imperfectly or poorly drained (low to medium sensitivity to urbanization), approximately 6% of soil coverage classified as well draining (high sensitivity), with an additional 13% classified as variable, which are largely attributed to the existing urban centres, of Niagara Falls and Welland. There is varying distributions of drainage conditions across the individual quaternary watersheds and associated subwatersheds, therefore this information has been used in future study tasks (ref. NWP (E) - Volume 3: Growth Analysis) to identify any potential constraints or unfavourable conditions for urbanization/development with respect to the potential growth areas, which can help to inform future watershed planning objectives.

2.3.2.3 Slopes / Topography The ground slopes at the surface within the Niagara River tertiary watershed have been characterized based upon the Hydrology Enforced Digital Elevation Model (DEM) (OIH, 2019). It should be noted that a more refined Digital Terrain Model (DTM) is available from NPCA for use in subsequent quaternary and subwatershed studies, for higher resolution purposes (DTM update proposed in 2021). For the current study being completed at the Regional scale, the provincial DEM is considered to be sufficient for establishing trends and topographic characterization. The information in the provincial DEM mapping has been processed and classified in order to characterize the land surface areas based upon specified thresholds, demonstrating, mild (0-2%), medium (2-10%) and steep slopes (>10%), which can indicate a measure related to suitability for development, and any construction / material management implications (i.e., excessive cut/fill). Typically, milder slopes are more conducive to urbanization and provide less constraints for major landform alteration than those areas with steeper landscapes. The ground slopes within the Niagara River tertiary watershed and the four (4) respective quaternary watershed areas have been established in the three (3) general categories as-noted, as summarized in Table 2-NR-3, with a visual representation depicted on Drawing WR3. Table 2-NR-3: Slope Distribution within the Niagara River Tertiary Watershed Surface Surface Surface Slopes Slopes Slopes Tertiary Quaternary Distribution Distribution Distribution 0 – 2 % 2 – 10 % >10% Niagara River Niagara River North 66 26 9 Niagara River Niagara River South 88 12 1 Niagara River Welland River East 81 19 1 Niagara River Welland River West 85 15 1 Niagara River Average for 80 19 1 Tertiary Watershed

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 94 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan As demonstrated in Table 2-NR-3, the majority of the Niagara River tertiary watershed area (80%) has been categorized as having a mild surface slope (under 2%), with an additional 19% of land area within the medium slope category, varying from greater than 2% up to 10% surface slope. The remaining 1% land area is categorized as steep (>10%), which is largely attributed to the landscapes near watercourse features and/or the escarpment (ref. Drawing WR3). It should be noted that majority of quaternary watersheds share similar slope distributions (largely mild), with the Niagara River North quaternary watershed, which has a larger proportion of land areas with medium slope (26%) and steep slopes (9%) categories, which is largely attributed to Niagara Falls. As such, this information has been used in subsequent study tasks (ref. NWP (E) - Volume 3: Growth Analysis) to identify any potential constraints or unfavourable conditions for development with respect to the potential growth areas, which can help to inform future watershed planning objectives.

2.3.2.4 Groundwater System and Source Water Protection The groundwater system is of vital importance to the Niagara Region for both the rural residents, who rely on private wells as a source of drinking water, as well an important system supporting those environmental features reliant on groundwater contributions to sustain a diverse community of terrestrial and aquatic species. The groundwater system in portions of Niagara Region consists of highly sensitive groundwater features and areas where groundwater is the primary source of water supply and where little to no natural protection is provided by the surficial soils. As such these areas are considered more susceptible to impacts from development and contamination (ref. NPCA Groundwater Study, 2005). The areas of high susceptibility include high permeability overburden units with little, or no, low conductivity layers overlying the aquifer for protection. These designations include the Fonthill Kame-Delta Complex (surficial overburden), which consists of sand/gravel glacial deposits and due to its highly permeable nature, it is known to be a significant groundwater recharge area. Other susceptible systems consisting of surficial overburden include the St. David’s Buried Gorge, the Iroquois Sandplain below the Niagara Escarpment, as well as the Dunnville Sandplain (ref. NPCA Groundwater Study, 2005). An additional category of high susceptibility includes areas where there are bedrock outcrops or there are thin layers of deposits (<5 m), resulting in higher risk of contamination and vulnerability. These features include the Niagara and Onondaga Escarpments, which consist of bedrock outcrops / bedrock at surface aquifers, with thin deposit layers resulting in hydrogeologically sensitive areas (ref. NPCA Groundwater Study, 2005). The Onondaga Escarpment has been noted as an area of concern due to well contamination; with heightened pressure from urban development, contamination associated with faulty septic systems continues to threaten the water resources of the Onondaga Escarpment (ref. NPCA Groundwater Study, 2005). A notable aquifer of concern in the area of the Onondaga Escarpment is the highly vulnerable South Niagara Aquifer, which has been a point of public concern as a result of a recent quarry proposal in Port Colborne. This highly vulnerable aquifer spans throughout the municipalities of Wainfleet, Port Colborne and Fort Erie and serves as an

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 95 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan important and vital source of water to the rural residents of these communities; as such, this important resource is to be protected through the regional planning processes (ref. PEDC January 15, 2020). The groundwater system was studied in detail as part of the NPCA Groundwater Study completed in 2005, which provided a characterization of the groundwater system through analyses and associated recommendations regarding the limitation/elimination of risks to groundwater sources, management of resources to ensure sustainable uses, and promotion of water conservation. In terms of the Niagara River tertiary watershed, the hydrogeological areas of interest consist of: • Onondaga Escarpment & South Niagara Aquifer (shared with Lake Erie tertiary watershed) • Dunnville Sandplain • Fonthill Kame-Delta Complex (shared with Lake Ontario tertiary watershed) • St. David’s Buried Gorge (shared with Lake Ontario tertiary watershed) For the purposes of the current study, there are a variety of mapping sources available to identify the potential at-risk areas which may be more susceptible to contamination and/or impacts associated with development, and as such may require special consideration and management. These at-risk and/or sensitive areas include groundwater quantity/quality, as well as surface water (lake-based) zones, both of which have been delineated as part of the NPCA Source Water Protection Assessment Report (2010), resulting in the following: • Surface Water Intake Protection Zones (IPZs) – Municipal Water Treatment Plants • Highly Vulnerable Aquifers (HVAs) – Groundwater Quality • Significant Groundwater Recharge Areas (SGRA) – Groundwater Quantity Based upon the Source Water Protection Mapping (ref. attached Drawing WR4), both HVAs and SGRAs are prevalent within the Niagara River tertiary watershed, particularly in the headwaters of Big Forks Creek, and the Central Welland River systems, which lays partially within the bounds of the highly sensitive Fonthill Kame-Delta Complex, as well as portions of the Onondaga Escarpment located within the vicinity of Fort Erie, and the Dunnville Sandplain in Wainfleet / Haldimand County. Other areas of interest include the overburden aquifers consisting of sand and gravel along the floodplain of the Welland River, sand deposits beneath the western portion of Niagara Falls, and the presence of bedrock outcrops (ref. NPCA Groundwater Study, 2005). Mapping of these resources/protection areas helps to identify potential constraints to the growth locations which may require special consideration and management strategies in order to accommodate development. The mapping of the IPZs and SGRAs are made publicly available for download by NPCA, and HVA mapping has been provided by the Region for use in the current study. These data sources are to be utilized to develop appropriate mapping of intrinsic vulnerability and thereby identify potential constraints in relation to the potential growth areas, to be completed as part of subsequent study tasks. Based upon the available information on hand, a distribution of IPZs and SGRAs

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 96 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan within the Niagara River tertiary watershed has been summarized in Table 2-NR-4 below, and on Drawing WR4. Table 2-NR-4: Water Quality & Quantity Sensitive Areas within the Niagara River Tertiary Watershed Quality & Quality & Quality & Quantity Quantity Quantity Sensitivity Sensitivity Sensitivity Tertiary Quaternary Distribution Distribution Distribution (%) (%) (%) IPZ SGRA HVA Niagara River Niagara River North <0.1 9 52 Niagara River Niagara River South 2.3 35 34 Niagara River Welland River East 0.3 6 3 Niagara River Welland River West - 19 13 Niagara River Average for 0.4 19 17 Tertiary Watershed

As demonstrated in Table 2-NR-4, the Niagara River tertiary watershed has localized occurrences of IPZ areas which would be vulnerable to surface water contamination, these are primarily located along the Niagara River, in the Niagara River South quaternary watershed. With respect to groundwater quantity sensitive areas, SGRAs are identified throughout approximately 19% of the Niagara River tertiary system. The largest proportion of land areas with SGRA designations are within the Niagara River South and Welland River West quaternary watersheds. With respect to groundwater quality sensitive areas, HVAs are identified throughout approximately 17% of the Niagara River tertiary system; this is largely attributed to the Niagara River North and South quaternary watersheds, which both have an HVA land cover of over 30%. The HVA distribution is smaller across the Welland River East and West quaternary watersheds, with only 3% and 13%, respectively. This information has been used in subsequent study tasks (ref. NWP (E) - Volume 3: Growth Analysis) to identify any potential constraints or unfavourable conditions for development with respect to the potential growth areas, which can help to inform future watershed planning objectives.

2.3.2.5 Natural Hazards Watercourse and drainage systems have associated natural hazards which can impact the safety of the public and as such should be avoided when determining areas for future development. Natural hazards include those related to underground drainage systems through soluble rocks, known as karst topography, as well as both flooding risks and erosion hazards for significant watercourses, and geotechnical setbacks for valley systems and wetland environmental protection areas (ref. NHS section), and therefore often are subject to Conservation Authority regulations and setbacks to ensure public safety and wellbeing. These regulations are typically applied to open natural systems which would remain open and protected in their present condition and location, with the exception of select localized sites where rehabilitation may be of benefit to the system.

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 97 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan For the purpose of the current study, regulatory mapping has been provided by the NPCA and downloaded from the Ontario Geological Survey (OGS) for the following natural hazards: • Karst Topography (Known, Inferred, Potential) • Regulated Floodplains • Regulated Shorelines • Top of Slope (NPCA Allowance) Further discussion regarding each of the natural hazards can be found in the Lake Ontario tertiary watershed section. Mapping of these natural hazards has been used to determine the distribution across the Niagara River tertiary watershed, as shown on Drawing WR5 and summarized in Table 2-NR-5. Table 2-NR-5: Natural Hazard Distribution within the Niagara River Tertiary Watershed

1 1 1

I P Tertiary Quaternary K ibution (%) Karst Karst Karst Shoreline Floodplain Top of Slope Top of Natural Hazard Natural Hazard Natural Hazard Natural Hazard Natural Hazard Natural Hazard Distribution (%) Distribution (%) Distribution (%) Distribution (%) Distribution Distr (%) Distribution Niagara Niagara River 0.8 0 76.3 0.7 0.1 0.7 River North Niagara Niagara River 0.7 21 12.5 5.9 0.1 0.6 River South Niagara Welland River 0 0 21.4 8.3 - 1.9 River East Niagara Welland River 0 2.6 31.8 3.2 - 1.6 River West Niagara River Average Tertiary 0.1 4.9 30.0 4.0 <0.1 1.4 for Watershed Note: 1 Karst mapping sourced from Ontario Geological Survey (OGS) – Known (K), Inferred (I), Potential (P) Karst. As demonstrated in Table 2-NR-5, the natural hazard distribution within the Niagara River tertiary watershed is found to be largely attributed to the presence of known, inferred and potential karst, with an average of over 30% of the Niagara River tertiary system. Known karst has been identified in only two (2) of the quaternary watersheds, the Niagara River North and Niagara River South quaternary systems, both of which have a known karst coverage of less than 1%. Only the Niagara River South and Welland River West watershed systems consists of an inferred karst landscape, with the Niagara River South watershed consisting of 21%, and Welland River West with less than 3% of its land area being suspected of karst geological features. The distribution of potential karst features is wide spread across the Niagara River tertiary system, with

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 98 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan majority of the quaternary watershed systems consisting of over 20% potential karst areas; Welland River East and Welland River West range from approximately 20% to 30% potential karst land cover, and the Niagara River South consisting of 12.5% and the Niagara River North being the most significant, with an approximately 76% land coverage having a potential karst landscape. With respect to the delineated floodplains, with the largest proportion of floodplain areas (> 5% total area) being found in the Niagara River South and Welland River East quaternary watersheds. There are minimal regulated shoreline hazards along the Niagara River, as the NPCA regulated shorelines are predominately focused upon the Lake Ontario and Lake Erie shorelines. The top of slope allowances is found along similar reaches as the floodplain hazards, however with the largest proportion of erosion hazard lands being within the Welland River East and Welland River West quaternary watersheds. This information has been used in subsequent study tasks (ref. NWP (E) - Volume 3: Growth Analysis) to identify any potential constraints or unfavourable conditions for development with respect to the potential growth areas, which can help to inform future watershed planning objectives. 2.3.2.6 Natural Heritage Niagara The following sections present a thorough summary of existing conditions for the tertiary watershed based on available secondary source data. Information presented here has been used to identify and inform potential management and/or policy direction through the Watershed Plan Equivalency process. Fish & Fish Habitat Habitat Characterization The Niagara River Tertiary Watershed encompasses four separate quaternary watersheds; Welland River West, Welland River East, Niagara River North, and Niagara River South. These watercourses are comprised of permanent and intermittent watercourses, with permanency generally increasing as catchment area increase. All watercourses with known thermal regimes are warmwater, the remainder are currently unclassified. Available habitat mapping is shown on Drawings NH1 (Aquatic Habitat), NH2 (Watercourse Permanency and Barriers), and NH3 (Thermal Regime). Table 2-NR-6: Niagara River Tertiary Watershed Thermal Regime Quaternary Movement Thermal Habitat Watershed Barriers Regime (%) • According to the thermal regime, Warm Water this watershed consists mainly of 76% warmwater watercourses. Cool Water • Majority of the waterbodies and its Welland Erosion and 0% tributaries are classed as important River West canal syphons. Cold Water fish habitat. 0% • Transient large schools of Unclassified migrating minnows and other 24% smaller fish appear to be absent

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 99 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Quaternary Movement Thermal Habitat Watershed Barriers Regime (%) upstream of the syphons since their construction4. • The GIP control structure results in water level fluctuations and the Old Canal Syphons introduce flow that overwhelms natural downstream flow in the lower Welland River. This can influence fish community distribution and homing cues4. • Lack of emergent marsh edge and well-developed riparian area have negatively altered the fish communities.4. • All of the known thermal regime is considered warmwater, they rest are unclassified. • Thompson Creek represents the only tributary large enough to sample, one of the two branches contributing to this tributary intercept groundwater from the Niagara Falls moraine. The other branch receives augmented flow from the Welland River through Dams, weirs, industrial processing. The Warm Water floodgates, combination results in a warm 28% perched thermal plume4. Cool Water culverts, road Welland • Majority of Welland River East and 0% crossings, River East its tributaries are classed as critical Cold Water debris, log and important fish habitat. 0% jams, erosion, Unclassified • The main channel of Bayers and 72% Creek, Usshers Creek, Tee Creek, sedimentation2 Hunters Drain and Grassy Brook have been classed as Type 1 habitat. The majority of Lyons Creek has been classed as Type 1 habitat with the exception of some of the upper tributaries, which have been classed as Type 2 habitat2. • Lack of emergent marsh edge and well developed riparian area have negatively altered the fish communities.4.

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 100 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Quaternary Movement Thermal Habitat Watershed Barriers Regime (%) • Majority of the thermal regime is unclassified, and the remaining 16% is considered warmwater. • Majority of Niagara River North and its tributaries are classed as marginal fish habitat (74%) and the Warm Water remaining as critical fish habitat 16% (26%). Cool Water Dams, Niagara 0% • Outlets are lined with rock rip rap erosion, and River North Cold Water erosion protection and wetland sedimentation vegetation is absent at the 0% tributary/river interface. Further Unclassified upstream from the tributary outlet 84% area vegetation can be found but the loss of wetland habitat at the tributary mouths creates a biological disconnect between the river and the tributaries4. • Majority of the thermal regime is unclassified, and the remaining 16% is considered warmwater. • The Niagara River South as mainly critical fish habitat (68%) and important habitat (30%). • The clay soils and relatively flat Warm Water topography of the area has 24% resulted in generally low gradient Cool Water Dams, erosion Niagara watercourses and swamp habitats. 0% and River South This has resulted in few barriers to Cold Water sedimentation3 fish movement either at natural 0% topographic breaks or at Unclassified infrastructure crossings such as 76% roads, railways, pipelines, etc. Black, Beaver, and Baker Creeks are the lowest gradient watercourses, while the remainder have slightly higher gradients that are reflected in their fish communities3. Note: 1- MNR Thermal Regimes Dataset 2- Regional Municipality of Niagara, 2006 3- Fort Erie Creeks - Watershed Plan (Philips Engineering, 2008) 4- Yagi A.R. and C. Blott. (2012)

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 101 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Within Niagara Region, fish habitat has been categorized as Critical, Important and Marginal. A summary of habitat classifications and the proportion of each quaternary watershed that occurs within the Region’s municipal boundary is provided in Table 2-NR-7.

Table 2-NR-7: Niagara Region Fish Habitat Classification: Niagara River Tertiary Watershed

Quaternary

Watershed ritical Critical C Marginal Marginal Total Total (%) Total (%) Total (%) Important Important Length (km) Length (km) Length (km) Length Classification Classification Classification Classification Classification Classification Niagara Habitat Fish Niagara Habitat Fish Niagara Habitat Fish Niagara Habitat Fish Niagara Habitat Fish Niagara Habitat Fish

Welland 143.4 24% 459.4 76% N/A N/A River West Welland 64.2 44% 84.0 56% 0.02 <1% River East Niagara N/A N/A 6.6 26% 18.3 74% River North Niagara 105.0 68% 46.3 30% 2.5 2% River South

Fish Species A summary highlighting the quaternary watersheds general watercourse characteristics, fish species found in the area, and fish movement barriers is provided in Table 2-NR-8 below. Table 2-NR-8: Summary of quaternary watershed habitat, fish species, and movement barriers Quaternary Fish Species1 Thermal Classes Watershed Black Bullhead, Black Crappie, Blackside Darter, Bluegill, Bluntnose Minnow, Bowfin, Brook Stickleback, Brook Silverside, Brown Bullhead, Central Mudminnow, Channel Fish species Welland Catfish, Common Carp ,Common Shiner, Creek Chub, composition is River West Emerald Shiner, Fathead Minnow, Freshwater Drum, reflective of a Gizzard Shad, Golden Shiner, Goldfish, Green Sunfish, predominantly (42 species) Johnny Darter, Largemouth Bass ,Logperch, Mimic warmwater fish Shiner, Northern Pike, Pumpkinseed, Quillback, Rock habitat regime. Bass, Rudd, Rosyface Shiner, Shorthead Redhorse, Smallmouth Bass, Tadpole Madtom, Tessellated Darter,

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 102 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Quaternary Fish Species1 Thermal Classes Watershed Walleye, White Bass, White Crappie, White Perch, White Sucker, Yellow Bullhead, Yellow Perch The fish community Alewife, Banded Killifish, Black Bullhead, Black Crappie, is representative of Bluegill, Bluntnose Minnow, Bowfin, Brook Silverside, a tolerant Brook Stickleback, Brown Bullhead, Central Mudminnow, warmwater fishery, Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Common Shiner, Creek which includes Chub, Emerald Shiner, Fathead Minnow, Freshwater different species of Welland Drum, Gizzard Shad, Golden Shiner, Green Sunfish, fish that have River East Hornyhead Chub, Johnny Darter, Largemouth Bass, varying tolerances Logperch, Longnose Gar, Mottled Sculpin, Muskellunge, to environmental (48 species) Northern Hog Sucker, Northern Pike, Pumpkinseed, change. Therefore, Quillback, Rainbow Darter, Rainbow Smelt, Rainbow they are considered Trout, Rock Bass, Round Goby, Rudd, Shorthead valuable indicators Redhorse, Smallmouth Bass, Spottail Shiner, Striped of environmental Shiner, Tadpole Madtom, Walleye, White Bass, White and ecosystem Crappie, White Perch, White Sucker, Yellow Perch health2. Alewife, Banded Killifish, Black Bullhead, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Bluntnose Minnow, Brown Bullhead, Brown Trout, Channel Catfish, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Common Carp, Common Shiner, Creek Chub, Emerald Shiner, Fathead Minnow, Freshwater Drum, Gizzard Fish species Niagara River Shad, Golden Shiner, Goldfish, Green Sunfish, composition is North Hornyhead Chub, Johnny Darter, Largemouth Bass, reflective of a Muskellunge, Northern Hog sucker, Northern Pike, predominantly (45 species) Pumpkinseed, Rainbow Darter, Rainbow Smelt, Rainbow warmwater fish Trout, River Chub, Rock Bass, Rosyface Shiner, Round habitat regime. Goby, Sand Shiner, Shorthead Redhorse, Silver Redhorse, Smallmouth Bass, Stonecat, Spottail Shiner, White Bass, White Crappie, White Perch, White Sucker, Yellow Perch Alewife, Banded Killifish, Black Bullhead, Black Crappie, Black nose Dace, Bluegill, Bluntnose Minnow, Brassy Minnow, Brook Silverside, Brook Stickleback, Brown Bullhead, Central Mudminnow, Central Stoneroller, Fish species Common Carp, Common Shiner, Creek Chub, Emerald Niagara River composition is Shiner, Fathead Minnow, Freshwater Drum, Gizzard South reflective of a Shad, Golden Shiner, Golden Shiner, Goldfish, Green predominantly Sunfish, Hornyhead Chub, Iowa Darter, Johnny Darter, (54 species) warmwater fish Largemouth Bass, Logperch, Longnose Dace, Mimic habitat regime. Shiner, Mottled Sculpin, Muskellunge, Northern Hog Sucker, Northern Pike, Pumpkinseed, Quillback, Rainbow Darter, Rock Bass, Round Goby, Shorthead Redhorse, Silver Redhorse, Smallmouth Bass, Spottail Shiner,

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 103 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Quaternary Fish Species1 Thermal Classes Watershed Spotfin Shiner, Spottail Shiner, Striped Shiner, Tadpole Madtom, Tessellated Darter, White Bass, White Crappie, White Perch, White Sucker, Yellow Perch Note: 1- MNR Thermal Regimes Dataset 2- Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority 1995 (NVCA, 1995) Fish Species at Risk Numerous aquatic Species at Risk listed in the updated DFO Species at Risk mapping (DFO, 2020) occur within the Niagara River Tertiary Watershed (Table 2-NR-9). Species at Risk are organized by the quaternary watersheds in which records were found. Status and general location of mapped habitat is summarized. Table 2-NR-9: Fish Species at Risk within the Niagara River Tertiary Watershed Quaternary Fish Species Name Presence in Watershed Status Watershed Welland Eastern Pondmussel Tributary of Welland River, SARA - END River West (Ligumia nasuta) Welland River COSEWIC - END Welland Fawnsfoot Mill Race Creek, Welland SARA - END River West (Truncilla donaciformis) River COSEWIC - END Beaver Creek, Big Forks Creek, Elsie Creek, Mill Grass Pickerel Welland Creek, Mill Race Creek, SARA - SC (Esox americanus River West Moores Creek, Oswego COSEWIC - SC vermiculatus) Creek, Welland River, Wolf Creek Kidneyshell Welland SARA - END (Ptychobranchus Mill Race Creek River West COSEWIC - END fasciolaris) Grand River, Mill Race Welland Lilliput SARA - END Creek, Oswego Creek, River West (Toxolasma parvum) COSEWIC - END Welland River, Grand River, Mill Race Welland Mapleleaf SARA - SC Creek, Oswego Creek, River West (Quadrula quadrula) COSEWIC - SC Welland River, Welland Eastern Pondmussel SARA - END Welland River River East (Ligumia nasuta) COSEWIC - END Grass Pickerel Lyons Creek, Tea Creek, Welland SARA - SC (Esox americanus Usshers Creek, Welland River East COSEWIC - SC vermiculatus) River Kidneyshell Welland SARA - END (Ptychobranchus Welland River River East COSEWIC - END fasciolaris)

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 104 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Quaternary Fish Species Name Presence in Watershed Status Watershed Welland Lake Chubsucker SARA - END Lyons Creek, Tea Creek River East (Erimyzon sucetta) COSEWIC - END Welland Mapleleaf SARA - SC Welland River River East (Quadrula quadrula) COSEWIC - SC Welland Round Hickorynut SARA - END Welland River River East (Obovaria subrotunda) COSEWIC - END Welland Spotted Sucker SARA - SC Welland River River East (Minytrema melanops) COSEWIC - SC Grass Pickerel Niagara Niagara River, Welland SARA - SC (Esox americanus River North River COSEWIC - SC vermiculatus) Kidneyshell Niagara SARA - END (Ptychobranchus Welland River River North COSEWIC - END fasciolaris) Niagara Round Hickorynut SARA - END Welland River River North (Obovaria subrotunda) COSEWIC - END Niagara Spotted Sucker SARA - SC Welland River River North (Minytrema melanops) COSEWIC - SC Baker Creek, Boyer’s Grass Pickerel Creek, Frenchman’s Niagara SARA - SC (Esox americanus Creek, Miller Creek, River South COSEWIC - SC vermiculatus) Niagara River, Usshers Creek Niagara Northern Brook Lamprey SARA - SC Lake Erie River South (Ichthyomyzon fossor) COSEWIC - SC Niagara Round Pigtoe SARA - END Niagara River River South (Pleurobema sintoxia) COSEWIC - END Note: 1- SAR species gathered from DFO Species at Risk mapping (DFO, 2020); 2- Species at risk Status gathered from https://wildlife- species.canada.ca/species-risk-registry/species/

Terrestrial Vegetation Communities Ecological Land Classification (ELC) within the Niagara River Tertiary Watershed is presented on Drawing NH4. Woodlands across the watersheds are shown on Drawing NH5 and wetlands are shown on Drawing NH6. In order to summarize vegetation communities across the watershed (i.e., within and extending beyond the Region), several sources of information were used: ELC mapping from the Region (coverage across the Region), ELC mapping from the NAI project (NPCA, 2011), and MNR datasets were used for woodlands and wetlands where ELC data were not available. Where ELC mapping was not available across the watershed, other feature types are

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 105 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan likely under-represented due to this sampling limitation. A total of 45 community types have been mapped. A general summary of natural ELC community series is provided in Table 2-NR-10. The natural area within the Niagara River Tertiary Watershed is dominated by woodland, wetland and successional communities. Four vegetation community series within the Niagara River Tertiary Watershed are considered rare in Ontario including Treed Bluff, Treed Cliff, Open Rock Barren and Treed Sand Barren and Dune. Additionally, some community types within other series (e.g., CLO, FOD, SWD, etc.) may be considered rare in Ontario. Table 2-NR-10: Natural Ecological Land Classification Community Series Summaries for the Niagara River Tertiary Watershed Area (ha) Area (ha) Area (ha) Area (ha) ELC (% of (% of (% of (% of Community watershed) watershed) watershed) watershed) Series Niagara River Niagara River Welland Welland North South River East River West Woodland 741 (12%) 4902 (26%) 3548 (26%) 16005 (21%) Wetland 19 (16%) 4727 (25%) 3265 (24%) 14152 (19%) Successional 341 (5%) 832 (4%) 1166 (9%) 1901 (3%) Shoreline 11 (<1%) 28 (<1 %) <1 (<1%) <1 (<1%) Rock Barren 5 (<1%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 1 (<1%) Open Aquatic <1 (<1%) 9 (<1%) 24(<1%) 112 (<1%) Talus 5 (<1%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) Sand Barren 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 1 (<1%) 0 (0%) and Dune Bluff 17 (<1%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) Cliff 31 (<1%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) Note: Areas and percent cover are rounded to the nearest whole number for the purposes of this characterization. Woodlands For the portion of the watershed within Niagara Region, a total of 5,357 woodland ELC units comprising 2,896 features (i.e., contiguous woodlands which may include multiple ELC unit types) have been mapped, encompassing an area of 18,904 ha. This represents 22% of the Niagara River Tertiary Watershed that occurs within Niagara Region (85,320 ha). Ten woodland community series types have been identified as occurring within the region: • Coniferous Forest • Deciduous Forest • Mixed Forest

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 106 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan • Coniferous Swamp • Deciduous Swamp • Mixed Swamp • Treed Agriculture • Coniferous Woodland • Deciduous Woodland • Mixed Woodland Overall, woodland areas within this tertiary watershed are distributed fairly evenly. Within the Niagara Region, the quaternary watersheds in order of highest woodland cover are Welland River West, Niagara River South, Welland River East and Niagara River North (Table 2-NR-11). Woodland cover within quaternary watersheds corresponds to size of the quaternary watershed. The most abundant community series in this tertiary watershed is swamp. Table 2-NR-11: Niagara River Tertiary Watershed Woodland Summary (within Niagara Region) ELC Description ELC Code Count Area (ha) Niagara River North: FOC 20 6.4 Coniferous Forest Niagara River North: FOD 179 434.3 Deciduous Forest Niagara River North: FOM 21 11.5 Mixed Forest Niagara River North: SWD 80 172.0 Deciduous Swamp Niagara River North: SWM 1 0.3 Mixed Swamp Niagara River North: TAG 4 1.0 Treed Agriculture Niagara River North: WOC 4 2.5 Coniferous Woodland Niagara River North: WOD 108 107.5 Deciduous Woodland Niagara River North: WOM 9 5.9 Mixed Woodland Niagara River South: FOC 35 38.7 Coniferous Forest Niagara River South: FOD 337 752.8 Deciduous Forest Niagara River South: FOM 49 116.2 Mixed Forest Niagara River South: SWC 3 0.9 Coniferous Swamp

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 107 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan ELC Description ELC Code Count Area (ha) Niagara River South: SWD 899 3614.1 Deciduous Swamp Niagara River South: SWM 15 44.5 Mixed Swamp Niagara River South: TAG 56 131.7 Treed Agriculture Niagara River South: WOC 6 10.2 Coniferous Woodland Niagara River South: WOD 108 177.2 Deciduous Woodland Niagara River South: WOM 7 15.8 Mixed Woodland Welland River East: FOC 69 52.7 Coniferous Forest Welland River East: FOD 575 804.6 Deciduous Forest Welland River East: FOM 45 48.4 Mixed Forest Welland River East: SWC 13 18.4 Coniferous Swamp Welland River East: SWD 633 2360.2 Deciduous Swamp Welland River East: SWM 12 13.7 Mixed Swamp Welland River East: TAG 64 59.4 Treed Agriculture Welland River East: WOC 25 30.3 Coniferous Woodland Welland River East: WOD 196 130.5 Deciduous Woodland Welland River East: WOM 29 29.3 Mixed Woodland Welland River West: FOC 193 130.8 Coniferous Forest Welland River West: FOD 1108 1080.7 Deciduous Forest Welland River West: FOM 107 129.4 Mixed Forest Welland River West: SWC 18 14.8 Coniferous Swamp Welland River West: SWD 2129 7735.6

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 108 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan ELC Description ELC Code Count Area (ha) Deciduous Swamp Welland River West: SWM 118 243.3 Mixed Swamp Welland River West: TAG 196 189.3 Treed Agriculture Welland River West: WOC 50 34.8 Coniferous Woodland Welland River West: WOD 254 91.8 Deciduous Woodland Welland River West: WOM 72 61.7 Mixed Woodland Total 10 7847 18903.5 Notes: Treed swamps are identified under both woodland and wetland categories. Not all swamps will meet the required canopy cover for woodland but are captured here as they have the potential to meet the required criteria. Some units overlap Quaternary Watershed Boundaries; these units are captured (by count) for each watershed within which they occur. Area calculations are representative of areas within each Quaternary Watershed. Wetlands For the portion of the watershed within Niagara Region, Niagara River Tertiary Watershed, a total of 6,425 wetland units, comprising 2,681 features (i.e. contiguous wetlands areas which may include multiple ELC unit types) have been mapped, encompassing an area of 18,046 ha. This represents 11% of the Niagara River Tertiary Watershed that occurs within Niagara Region (85,320 ha). Eleven wetland community series types have been identified as occurring within Niagara Region: • Shrub Bog (BOS) • Treed Bog (BOT) • Meadow marsh (MAM) • Shallow marsh (MAS) • Floating-leaved shallow aquatic (SAF) • Mixed shallow aquatic (SAM) • Submerged shallow aquatic (SAS) • Coniferous swamp (SWC) • Deciduous swamp (SWD) • Mixed swamp (SWM) • Thicket swamp (SWT) Wetland areas are scattered throughout this tertiary watershed and also generally concentrated along watercourses. Within Niagara Region, the quaternary watershed in order of highest wetland cover are Welland River West, Niagara River South, Welland River East and Niagara River North, which is correlated to quaternary watershed size (Table 2-NR-12). The most abundant wetland type is Deciduous Swamp.

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 109 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Table 2-NR-12: Niagara River Tertiary Watershed Wetland Summary (within Niagara Region) ELC Description ELC Code Count Area (ha) Niagara River North: MAM 15 6.2 Meadow Marsh Niagara River North: MAS 6 1.6 Shallow Marsh Niagara River North: SAM 1 0.3 Mixed Shallow Aquatic Niagara River North: SWD 80 172.0 Deciduous Swamp Niagara River North: SWM 1 0.3 Mixed Swamp Niagara River North: SWT 11 14.0 Thicket Swamp Niagara River South: MAM 130 179.5 Meadow Marsh Niagara River South: MAS 84 123.4 Shallow Marsh Niagara River South: SAF 5 8.9 Floating-leaved Shallow Aquatic Niagara River South: SAS 3 4.7 Submerged Shallow Aquatic Niagara River South: SWC 3 0.9 Coniferous Swamp Niagara River South: SWD 899 3614.1 Deciduous Swamp Niagara River South: SWM 15 44.5 Mixed Swamp Niagara River South: SWT 228 750.6 Thicket Swamp Welland River East: MAM 179 163.4 Meadow Marsh Welland River East: MAS 148 210.1 Shallow Marsh Welland River East: SAF 6 14.9 Floating-leaved Shallow Aquatic Welland River East: SAM 4 4.1 Mixed Shallow Aquatic Welland River East: SAS 2 1.9 Submerged Shallow Aquatic Welland River East: SWC 13 18.4

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 110 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan ELC Description ELC Code Count Area (ha) Coniferous Swamp Welland River East: SWD 633 2360.2 Deciduous Swamp Welland River East: SWM 12 13.7 Mixed Swamp Welland River East: SWT 295 477.9 Thicket Swamp Welland River West: BOS 1 3.1 Shrub Bog Welland River West: BOT 1 148.3 Treed Bog Welland River West: MAM 793 423.5 Meadow Marsh Welland River West: MAS 491 356.6 Shallow Marsh Welland River West: SAF 12 30.3 Floating-leaved Shallow Aquatic Welland River West: SAM 6 14.9 Mixed Shallow Aquatic Welland River West: SAS 14 7.4 Submerged Shallow Aquatic Welland River West: SWC 18 14.8 Coniferous Swamp Welland River West: SWD 2129 7735.6 Deciduous Swamp Welland River West: SWM 118 243.3 Mixed Swamp Welland River West: SWT 744 881.6 Thicket Swamp Total 11 7100 18045.6 Note: Some units overlap Quaternary Watershed Boundaries; these units are captured (by count) for each watershed within which they occur. Area calculations are representative of areas within each Quaternary Watershed. Flora Data presented in this section is based on available secondary source data. Sources reviewed to compile flora records are outlined in Section 2.1 and record coverage is illustrated on Drawing NH7. The most comprehensive coverage of flora records was in the Niagara River North and Welland River West quaternary watersheds. The lowest coverage of floral records was in the Welland River East quaternary watershed. Overall, while the volume of records is moderate to high, coverage is relatively low and is skewed to birds and flora. Flora record occurrences are generally concentrated around

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 111 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Niagara Falls. A detailed list a flora records associated with the various tertiary watershed areas is provided in Appendix A-1 (NH-A). A total of 753 flora species occurred within the Niagara River Tertiary Watershed. This represents 44.40% of the total flora diversity noted in Niagara Region (1696 taxa including species, subspecies, varieties and hybrids) (Oldham 2010). Of the quaternary watersheds Niagara River North and Welland River West had the highest flora species diversity. The lowest diversity of floral species recorded in a quaternary watershed was noted in Welland River East. This does appear to be correlated with the coverage of records; as such, the floral diversity of quaternary watersheds areas may be inaccurately represented due to a lack of data. Table 2-NR-13: Niagara River Tertiary Watershed Flora Summary Quaternary watershed # of records # species recorded Niagara River North 1561 503 Niagara River South 344 193 Welland River East 231 154 Welland River West 754 344 Total 2890 753

The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) was used as the source for secondary source data. Per Section 2.1, this platform draws from a range of platforms (e.g., eBird, iNaturalist, herbarium records, Natural Heritage Information Centre [NHIC]). While this platform is extensive, the occurrence records do not necessarily reflect a comprehensive or exhaustive list of species or the actual abundance within the Niagara River Tertiary Watershed. Some species/ taxa will be better represented due to public interest, ease or difficulty in identification, and ability to observe them (e.g., trees). Due to the inclusion of NHIC data the number of records may have a higher bias towards rare or SAR species (e.g., Eastern Flowering Dogwood), and therefore is not representative of the actual abundance of these species relative to other species present within the tertiary watershed (i.e., it is skewed towards some rare species). We note however that overall, the dataset provides a good general indication of biodiversity within the watershed when the complete species list is taken into consideration. A summary of flora species sorted by number of occurrences (high to low) within the database obtained from GBIF is presented in Appendix A-1 (NH-B).

Species at Risk and Species of Conservation Concern The quaternary watersheds in order of highest number of Species at Risk/ Species of Conservation Concern are Niagara River North (38 species), Welland River West (29 species), Niagara River South (22 species), and Welland River East (16 species) (Table 2-NR-14).

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Table 2-NR-14: Flora Species at Risk and Species of Conservation Concern by Quaternary Watershed – Niagara River Tertiary Watershed

Niagara Niagara Welland Welland S Niagara Scientific Name Common Name COSEWIC N Rank SARO River River River River Rank Region North South East West Actaea racemosa Black Snakeroot N2 S2 R X Aesculus glabra Ohio Buckeye N1 S1 IR X Agrostis mertensii Northern Bentgrass N5 S2 X Amorpha canescens Downy False Indigo N4 S1 X Arisaema dracontium Green Dragon SC N3 SC S3 R X Aristida dichotoma Churchmouse Threeawn Grass N1 S1 IR X Asimina triloba Pawpaw N3 S3 RH X X X X Aureolaria flava Smooth Yellow False Foxglove N2? S2? RH X X Aureolaria pedicularia Fern-leaved Yellow False Foxglove N2? S2? RH X Betula lenta Cherry Birch END N1 END S1 R X Bidens trichosperma Crowned Beggarticks N2 S2 R X Campsis radicans Trumpet Creeper N2N3 S2? IR X Carex albicans White-tinged Sedge N4 S3 X X Carex amphibola Eastern Narrow-leaved Sedge N2 S2 R X Carex annectens Yellow-fruited Sedge N2 S2 R X X Carex glaucodea Blue Sedge NNR S1 - X Carex hirsutella Hairy Green Sedge N3 S3 R X Carex juniperorum Juniper Sedge END N1 END S1 X Carex retroflexa Reflexed Sedge N2 S2 R X Carex seorsa Weak Stellate Sedge N2 S2 U X X Carex tetanica Rigid Sedge N3 S3? R X Carex virescens Ribbed Sedge N3 S3 R X Carya glabra Pignut Hickory N3 S3 U X X Carya laciniosa Shellbark Hickory N3 S3 R X X Castanea dentata American Chestnut END N2 END S1S2 U X Celtis tenuifolia Dwarf Hackberry THR N2 THR S2 X Chimaphila maculata Spotted Wintergreen END N1 END S2 R X Cornus florida Eastern Flowering Dogwood END N2 END S2? U X X X X Crataegus coccinioides Kansas Hawthorn NNR S2 R X Crataegus persimilis Plum-leaved Hawthorn NNA S1 X Echinochloa walteri Walter's Barnyard Grass N3 S3 R X Eleocharis rostellata Beaked Spikerush N3 S3 RH X Euonymus atropurpureus Eastern Burning Bush N3 S3 R X X Eurybia schreberi Schreber's Aster N2N3 S2 R X Gleditsia triacanthos Honey-locust N2 S2? R X X Glycyrrhiza lepidota Wild Licorice N5 S3 RH X Hibiscus moscheutos Swamp Rose-mallow SC N3 SC S3 R X Juglans cinerea Butternut END N3N4 END S2? U X X Juncus acuminatus Sharp-fruited Rush NNR S3 R X

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Niagara Niagara Welland Welland S Niagara Scientific Name Common Name COSEWIC N Rank SARO River River River River Rank Region North South East West Liatris spicata Dense Blazing-star THR N2 THR S2 IR X Linum striatum Ridged Yellow Flax N1 S1 X Lycopus rubellus Taper-leaved Water-horehound N3 S3 R X Lycopus virginicus Virginia Water-horehound N3 S3 R X Magnolia acuminata Cucumber Tree END N2 END S2 R X Mertensia virginica Virginia Bluebells N3 S3 R X Mirabilis nyctaginea Wild Four-o'clock N4 S2 IR X X Monarda didyma Scarlet Beebalm N3 S3 RH X X Monarda punctata Spotted Beebalm N1N2 S1 X Morus rubra Red Mulberry END N2 END S2 R X X Muhlenbergia tenuiflora Slim-flowered Muhly N2 S2 R X Nyssa sylvatica Black Gum N3 S3 U X X X Oenothera gaura Biennial Gaura N3 S3 R X X Oenothera pilosella Meadow Evening Primrose N2 S2 R X Pellaea atropurpurea Purple-stemmed Cliffbrake N3 S3 R X X Peltandra virginica Green Arrow Arum N2N3 S3 R X Persicaria arifolia Halberd-leaved Smartweed N3N4 S3 U X X X Phlox subulata Moss Phlox N1N2 S1? X Polygala verticillata Whorled Milkwort N4 S3? R X Ptelea trifoliata Common Hop-tree SC N3 THR S3 R X X X Quercus shumardii Shumard Oak SC N3 SC S3 R X X X Saururus cernuus Lizard's-tail N3 S3 R X X X Senna hebecarpa Wild Senna N1 S1 RH X Silphium laciniatum Compass Plant N1 S1 IR X Silphium perfoliatum Cup Plant N2 S2 IR X X Smilax rotundifolia Round-leaved Greenbrier THR N3 THR S2 R X Solidago ulmifolia Elm-leaved Goldenrod N1 S1 X Sphenopholis nitida Shiny Wedge Grass N1 S1 RH X Spiranthes ochroleuca Yellow Ladies'-tresses N2N3 S2 R X Suaeda calceoliformis Horned Sea-blite N5 S2 IR X Thalictrum thalictroides Rue-anemone NNR S3 R X Vaccinium stamineum Deerberry THR N1 THR S1 R X X Vitis vulpina Frost Grape N1 S1 X Wolffia brasiliensis Brazilian Watermeal N2? S2? X

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 114 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Fungi This group is not often reported on, however as it was present in some quantity in the dataset, it has been included here. The data available on fungi occurrence and distribution of observations within the Niagara River Tertiary Subwatershed is low. This is expected given that it is a less commonly reported group. A total of 79 fungi species were documented (Table 2-NR-15). Records included mushrooms and lichens. The number of fungi species reported from each quaternary watershed was fairly similar. A list of observed species in order of occurrence records is provided in Appendix A-1 (NH- B). Table 2-NR-15: Niagara River Tertiary Watershed Fungi Summary Quaternary watershed # of records # of species recorded Niagara River North 22 17 Niagara River South 33 23 Welland River East 33 24 Welland River West 29 25 Total 117 79

Fauna Data presented in this section is based on available secondary source data. Records included birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates (butterflies, dragonflies and crustaceans). Sources reviewed to compile fauna records are outlined in Section 2.1 and record coverage is illustrated on Drawing NH8. The most comprehensive coverage of fauna records was in the Niagara River North and Niagara River South quaternary watersheds. The largest quaternary watershed, Welland River West, has scattered observations, but less coverage than Welland River East. Overall, while the volume of records is moderate to high, overall coverage is relatively low and distribution across taxa is skewed to birds and flora. A detailed list a fauna records associated with the various tertiary watershed areas is provided in Appendix A-1 (NH-A). A total of 390 fauna species occurred within the Niagara River Tertiary Watershed. This represents 28.53% of the total fauna diversity noted in Niagara Region (1367 species) (iNaturalist 2021). The most common group of taxa was birds (300 species), followed by invertebrates (48 species), mammals (23 species), amphibians (13 species) and reptiles (6 species). This corresponds to the number of records for these taxa suggesting that certain taxa, such as reptiles, are data deficient/ under reported within the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed. Fauna records are typically associated with site-specific sampling of natural areas and may be biased towards higher-quality natural areas that are monitored for conservation and management. Apparently low diversity in some watersheds may be a result of less natural areas and a lack of monitoring. The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) was used as the source for secondary source data. Per Section 2.1, this platform draws from a range of platforms (e.g., eBird, iNaturalist, herbarium records, Natural Heritage Information Centre [NHIC]). While this platform is extensive, Therefore, the occurrence records do not necessarily

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 115 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan reflect a comprehensive or exhaustive list of species or the actual abundance within the Niagara Region Tertiary Watershed. Some species will be better represented due to public interest, ease or difficulty in identification, and ability to observe them (e.g., birds). Amphibians Amphibian species documented within the Niagara River Tertiary Watershed are listed in Table 2-NR-16. A total of 13 species were documented representing 68.42% of the amphibian species present within the Niagara Region (19 species) (iNaturalist 2021). The number of amphibian records suggest this taxa is fairly comprehensively recorded for this tertiary watershed. Secondary source information available for characterization does not include survey methodology used (e.g., via a formal amphibian call survey or as an incidental / opportunistic observation). Some species groups which are more cryptic in in their behavior (e.g., salamanders, newts, mudpuppies) are likely under- represented in the dataset. Welland River East and Welland River West had the most comprehensive coverage of amphibian records. Amphibians are an important indicator of wetland/woodland integrity. Amphibian breeding habitat and movement corridors may qualify as Significant Wildlife Habitat (SWH), depending on the diversity and abundance present in an area. SWH is not assessed in this report. Table 2-NR-16: Niagara River Tertiary Watershed Amphibian Summary Quaternary watershed # of records # species recorded Niagara River North 38 8 Niagara River South 20 9 Welland River East 107 11 Welland River West 224 10 Total 389 13

Birds A total of 300 bird species were documented within the Niagara River Tertiary Watershed (Table 2-NR-17). This represents 80.43% of the total bird species diversity recorded in the Niagara Region (373 species) (Avibase 2021). Birds are the group of fauna which is the most well documented in the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed. It is believed that the diversity of this group is well represented within this tertiary watershed. Coverage of bird records was highest in the Niagara River North quaternary watershed; however, this did not result in significantly higher number of species. Bird species documented include species with a variety of habitat preferences including but not limited to wetlands, successional habitats, agricultural habitats, forests/woodlands and habitat generalists.

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 116 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Table 2-NR-17: Niagara River Tertiary Watershed Bird Summary Quaternary Watershed # of records # species recorded Niagara River North 147483 267 Niagara River South 44454 246 Welland River East 19152 218 Welland River West 43683 237 Total 254772 300 Invertebrates The data available on invertebrate occurrence and distribution within the Niagara River Tertiary Subwatershed is lacking. Invertebrate records included butterflies, bees, dragonflies and damselflies. A total of 48 invertebrate species were documented Table 2-NR-18. This represents only 5.04% of the total number of invertebrates that have been recorded within Niagara Region (952 species) (iNaturalist 2021). Niagara River North had the most comprehensive coverage of invertebrate records. Table 2-NR-18: Niagara River Tertiary Watershed Invertebrate (Insects and Crustaceans) Summary Quaternary watershed # of records # species recorded Niagara River North 95 30 Niagara River South 24 13 Welland River East 20 11 Welland River West 60 26 Total 199 48 Mammals A total of 23 mammal species have been recorded within the Niagara River Tertiary Watershed. This represents 74.19% of the total mammal diversity recorded in the Niagara Region by citizen science (31 species) (iNaturalist 2021). Mammal diversity is considered to be moderately well documented within this tertiary watershed. It is likely that additional mammal species also occur within this tertiary watershed since common, widespread species such as Coyote were not noted in the secondary source data. Including road mortality data collected by municipal and government agencies may assist in increasing the comprehensiveness of this dataset for large and medium sized mammals. Niagara River North and Welland River West had the most comprehensive coverage of mammal records. Niagara River South and Welland River East were data deficient for this group.

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 117 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Table 2-NR-19: Niagara River Tertiary Watershed Mammal Summary Quaternary watershed # of records # species recorded Niagara River North 113 13 Niagara River South 6 4 Welland River East 6 4 Welland River West 98 17 Total 223 23 Reptiles A total of 6 reptile species were documented within the Niagara River Tertiary Watershed (Table 2-NR-20). Of these turtles and snakes are equally represented. The number of species noted in secondary sources represents 46.15% of the total number of reptile species noted in Niagara Region by citizen science (13 species) (iNaturalist 2021). It is likely that additional reptile species are found within this tertiary watershed because common species, such as Eastern Gartersnake, as not represented in the records. Additionally, Timber Rattlesnake, which was included in the secondary source data, is now a historical record; the species is considered extirpated. Massasauga Rattlesnake is still known to occur within this tertiary watershed. Welland River West had the most comprehensive coverage of reptile records; however, all quaternary watersheds are considered to be data deficient for reptile records. Table 2-NR-20: Niagara River Tertiary Watershed Reptile Summary Quaternary watershed # of records # species recorded Niagara River North 3 2 Niagara River South 2 2 Welland River East 4 2 Welland River West 10 4 Total 19 6

Species at Risk and Species of Conservation Concern Quaternary watersheds in order of the highest number of fauna Species at Risk/ Species of Conservation Concern are Welland River West (53 species), Niagara River North (45 species), Welland River East (40 species) and Niagara River South (36 species) (Table 2-NR-21).

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Table 2-NR-21: Fauna Species at Risk and Species of Conservation Concern by Quaternary Watershed Niagara Niagara Welland SARA ESA Welland Scientific Name Common Name COSEWIC S Rank River River River Status Status River East North South West Aechmophorus occidentalis Western Grebe SC SC SNA X Ambystoma jeffersonianum Jefferson Salamander END END END S2 X X Ammodramus savannarum Grasshopper Sparrow SC SC SC S4B X X X Anaxyrus fowleri Fowler's Toad END END END S2 X X X X Antrostomus vociferus Eastern Whip-poor-will THR THR THR S4B X X X Aquila chrysaetos Golden Eagle NAR END S2B X X Ardea alba Great Egret S2B X X X X Asio flammeus Short-eared Owl SC SC SC S2N,S4B X X X X Asterocampa clyton Tawny Emperor S3 X Aythya americana Redhead S2B,S4N X X Aythya valisineria Canvasback S1B,S4N X X X X Buteo lagopus Rough-legged Hawk NAR NAR S1B,S4N X X X X Calcarius lapponicus Lapland Longspur S3B X X X X Calidris pusilla Semipalmated Sandpiper S3B,S4N X X Cardellina canadensis Canada Warbler THR THR SC S4B X X X Chaetura pelagica Chimney Swift THR THR THR S4B,S4N X X X X Chelydra serpentina Snapping Turtle SC SC SC S3 X X X Chen rossii Ross's Goose S1B X X Chlidonias niger Black Tern NAR SC S3B X X X X Chordeiles minor Common Nighthawk THR THR SC S4B X X X X Clangula hyemalis Long-tailed Duck S3B X X X X Clemmys guttata Spotted Turtle END END END S2 X Colinus virginianus Northern Bobwhite END END END S1 X X Contopus cooperi Olive-sided Flycatcher THR THR SC S4B X X Contopus virens Eastern Wood-Pewee SC SC SC S4B X X X X Corvus ossifragus Fish Crow S1S2 X Danaus plexippus Monarch SC END SC S2N,S4B X X X X Desmognathus ochrophaeus Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander END END END S1 X Dolichonyx oryzivorus Bobolink THR THR THR S4B X X X X Emydoidea blandingii Blanding's Turtle THR END THR S3 X Euphagus carolinus Rusty Blackbird SC SC S4B X X X X Falco peregrinus Peregrine Falcon SC NAR SC S3B X X X X Gavia pacifica Pacific Loon S3B X Gavia stellata Red-throated Loon S1N,S3B X Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald Eagle NAR SC S2N,S4B X X X X Hirundo rustica Barn Swallow THR THR THR S4B X X X X Histrionicus histrionicus Harlequin Duck SC SC SNA X X X X

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Niagara Niagara Welland SARA ESA Welland Scientific Name Common Name COSEWIC S Rank River River River Status Status River East North South West Hydroprogne caspia Caspian Tern NAR NAR S3B X X X X Hylocichla mustelina Wood Thrush THR THR SC S4B X X X X Ixobrychus exilis Least Bittern THR THR THR S4B X Larus marinus Great Black-backed Gull S2B X X X X Limnodromus griseus Short-billed Dowitcher S3B,S4N X Limosa fedoa Marbled Godwit S3B X Melanerpes erythrocephalus Red-headed Woodpecker THR THR SC S4B X X X X Microtus pinetorum Woodland Vole SC SC SC S3? X Numenius phaeopus Whimbrel S3B,S4N X Nycticorax nycticorax Black-crowned Night-Heron S3B,S3N X X Pagophila eburnea Ivory Gull END END SNA X Pelecanus erythrorhynchos American White Pelican NAR THR S2B X X Phalaropus lobatus Red-necked Phalarope ? SC SC S3S4B X X X Phalaropus tricolor Wilson's Phalarope S3B X X Pluvialis dominica American Golden-Plover S2B,S4N X X Podiceps auritus Horned Grebe SC SC SC S1B,S4N X X X X Podiceps grisegena Red-necked Grebe NAR NAR S3B,S4N X Progne subis Purple Martin S3S4B X X X X Protonotaria citrea Prothonotary Warbler END END END S1B X Riparia riparia Bank Swallow THR THR THR S4B X X X X Setophaga cerulea Cerulean Warbler END END THR S3B X X X Setophaga discolor Prairie Warbler NAR NAR S3B X Somateria mollissima Common Eider S2B X Stercorarius parasiticus Parasitic Jaeger S2B X X Sterna forsteri Forster's Tern DD DD S2B X X Sturnella magna Eastern Meadowlark THR THR THR S4B X X Sturnella neglecta Western Meadowlark S3B X Stylurus spiniceps Arrow Clubtail S2 X Tyto alba Barn Owl END END END S1 X Urocyon cinereoargenteus Gray Fox THR THR THR S1 X Vermivora chrysoptera Golden-winged Warbler THR THR SC S4B X Vireo griseus White-eyed Vireo S2B X Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus Yellow-headed Blackbird S2B X Zonotrichia querula Harris's Sparrow SC SNA X

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 120 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI) A total of 21 ANSIs are located in the Niagara River Tertiary Watershed (Drawing NH9). This includes 5 Earth Science ANSI and 16 Life Science ANSI representing 388.33 and 2579.43 hectares, respectively. ANSIs are found primarily along watercourses, such as the Niagara River, and also occur in large patches inland. The highest coverage of ANSIs is in the Welland River West quaternary watershed (Table 2-NR-22). The lowest coverage of ANSIs is in the Niagara River South quaternary watershed. A list of ANSIs within the Niagara River Tertiary Watershed is provided in Table 2-NR-23Error! Reference source not found.. Some ANSIs cross over watershed boundaries; they are represented in all watersheds in which they occur in the tables below. ANSI area includes only that portion of an ANSI which occurs within the watershed. Table 2-NR-22: Niagara River Tertiary Watershed ANSI Summary ANSI type # of features ANSI Area (ha) Niagara River North: Earth Science 3 188.3 Niagara River North: Life Science 5 130.5 Niagara River North: Total 8 318.8 Niagara River South: Earth Science 2 47.3 Niagara River South: Life Science 2 138.6 Niagara River South: Total 4 185.9 Welland River West: Earth Science 2 152.7 Welland River West: Life Science 10 2067.1 Welland River West: Total 12 2219.8 Welland River East: Earth Science 0 0.00 Welland River East: Life Science 2 243.2 Welland River East: Total 2 243.2 Table 2-NR-23: ANSIs located in the Niagara River Tertiary Watershed ANSI type ANSI Name ANSI Area (ha) Niagara River North: ANSI, Niagara River Bedrock Gorge 89.7 Earth Science Niagara River North: ANSI, Niagara River Bedrock Gorge 79.1 Earth Science Niagara River North: ANSI, Niagara River Bedrock Gorge 19.5 Earth Science Niagara River North: ANSI, Niagara Gorge 3.0 Life Science Niagara River North: ANSI, Paradise Grove Plain 27.4 Life Science Niagara River North: ANSI, Queenston Escarpment 1.5 Life Science Niagara River North: ANSI, Niagara Gorge 79.1 Life Science

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 121 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan ANSI type ANSI Name ANSI Area (ha) Niagara River North: ANSI, Queenston Escarpment 19.5 Life Science Niagara River South: ANSI, Ridgewood Raised Beaches 40.2 Earth Science Niagara River South: ANSI, Ridgemount Quarry 7.0 Earth Science Niagara River South: ANSI, Humberstone Muck Basin Swamp 90.1 Life Science Forest Niagara River South: ANSI, Willoughby Clay Plain Muck Basin 48.5 Life Science Forest Welland River West: ANSI, Winger 48.5 Earth Science Welland River West: ANSI, Fonthill Kame Delta 104.2 Earth Science Welland River West: ANSI, East Caistor Centre Slough Forest 68.8 Life Science Welland River West: ANSI, Wainfleet Bog 37.2 Life Science Welland River West: ANSI, Attercliffe Station Slough Forest 141.2 Life Science Welland River West: ANSI, North Caistor Centre Slough Forest 127.0 Life Science Welland River West: ANSI, North Bismark Slough Forest 90.7 Life Science Welland River West: ANSI, North Cayuga Slough Forests 442.2 Life Science Welland River West: ANSI, Ridgeville Swamp 21.2 Life Science Welland River West: ANSI, South St Anns Slough Forest 130.7 Life Science Welland River West: ANSI, Caistor Canborough Slough Forest 946.5 Life Science Welland River West: ANSI, West Bismark Slough Forest 61.7 Life Science Welland River East: ANSI, Willoughby Clay Plain Muck Basin 167.7 Life Science Forest Welland River East: ANSI, Lyons Creek Floodplain Wetland 75.4 Life Science Total 27 2967.8

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 122 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan 2.3.2.7 Land Uses The land uses present within the Niagara River tertiary watershed are consistent with the others across Niagara Region, including formal urban areas (residential, commercial, institutional, etc.), agricultural lands, and natural heritage and protected areas. For the purpose of the current study, the focus has been placed upon the locations of urban land uses, the potential for urban growth and urban area boundary expansion, as well as a high-level summary of the agricultural land uses present across the Niagara Region. It should be noted that as part of subsequent quaternary watershed and subwatershed studies, a more detailed analysis into the various existing and planned land uses, their associated impacts on water quantity / quality and the required management strategies throughout the watershed systems should be completed.

Urban Land Uses The Niagara River tertiary watershed has parts of it within nine (9) municipalities, across the central portion of the Niagara Region. Within these municipalities, there are ten (10) existing defined urban areas, and seventeen (17) Hamlets which are located within or on the border of the Niagara River tertiary boundary. In addition to the existing urban areas, there are a total of fourteen (14) designated Secondary Plan areas, which are proposed for future development within the Niagara River tertiary watershed. The status of these secondary plan areas has been defined as either Adopted, Approved, In Process or Draft. Per guidance from Niagara Region Planning, these Secondary Plan areas are noted to be guided by established policy and requirements set out by the local municipality and regulatory agencies and this has been documented in the respective Secondary Plans. As such, these areas will inherently not be guided by the recommendations of the current NWP (E). A summary of the municipalities and known urban areas for the Niagara River tertiary watershed is summarized in Table 2-NR-24, and on Drawing WR6.

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 123 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Table 2-NR-24: Municipalities and Urban Areas within the Niagara River Tertiary Watershed % of Tertiary Secondary Plans & Municipality Urban Area Hamlets Drainage Status Area1 Bridgeburg Neighbourhood (Approved) 4, Crystal Beach (In Process) 5, Douglastown/Black Crystal Beach, Creek (Approved), Douglastown, Fort Erie 14% Snyder Gateway (Approved), Fort Erie, Ridgeway-Thunder Stevensville Bay (Approved) 2, Southend (Adopted), Spears High Pointe (Approved)2, Stevensville (Approved) Dock Area Niagara-on- (Approved), 1% Queenston N/A the-Lake Village of Queenston (Approved) Garner South (Approved), Niagara Grand Niagara 19% Niagara Falls N/A Falls (Approved), Niagara Falls GO Hub (Approved) East Fenwick Fenwick, (In Process), Pelham 7% N/A Fonthill North West Fonthill (Approved)3 Port 4% N/A Sherkston - Colborne Thorold 1% Thorold South N/A - Beckett’s Bridge, Chambers Corners, Wainfleet 23% N/A - Hendershot Corners, Ostryhon Corners,

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 124 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan % of Tertiary Secondary Plans & Municipality Urban Area Hamlets Drainage Status Area1 Wainfleet, Wellandport, Winger Welland 6% Welland N/A - Abingdon, Attercliffe, Bismark, Boyle, West Lincoln 25% N/A Caistorville, - Caistor Centre, East Boyle, Wellandport Note: 1 Percentage calculation based on tertiary land area within the Niagara Region boundaries. 2 Secondary Plan areas cross into Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed. 3 Secondary Plan area crosses into Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed. 4 A large northern portion of the Bridgeburg Secondary Plan was not included in the original Secondary Plan and therefore not recognized as having been planned. The Area was added at adoption locally and approved by regional Council. Subsequently appealed by MMAH, but ultimately the appeal was abandoned. 5 This Secondary Plan has a very small amount of area in the Niagara River Tertiary Watershed with the balance in the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed. As demonstrated in Table 2-NR-24, the Niagara River tertiary watershed is by area largely represented by the municipalities of West Lincoln (25%) and Wainfleet (23%), as well as large components within the bounds of Niagara Falls and Fort Erie. The Niagara River tertiary watershed has a number of Secondary Plans established, indicating the form and location of currently approved and expected level of growth across these areas, generally distributed in the municipalities with existing urban areas. In addition to these proposed development lands, there is further opportunity for urban growth and development in this tertiary system; a summary of designated growth areas within the tertiary watersheds is discussed further in NWP (E) - Volume 3: Growth Analysis.

Agricultural Land Uses The Niagara Region is a known agricultural region in the Greater Horseshoe area and the province of Ontario as a whole; as such, agriculture has significant importance, as well as cultural and economic value across the Region. According to the Niagara Agriculture Profile (Niagara Region, 2017) based upon the 2016 Census of Agriculture, the top three (3) farm types across the Region included Fruit and tree nut farming; oilseed and grain farming; and greenhouse, nursery and floriculture production. There are also a substantial number of various animal farms, as well as other crops (tobacco, hay, combination, maple, vegetable and melon, etc.); all of these agricultural types contribute to Niagara’s agriculture economy and resource production (ref. Niagara Agriculture Profile, 2017). There were over 1,800 farms (+/-) located within the Niagara

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 125 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Region in 2016, which range from approximately 50 to 400 farms located in each of the various local municipalities encompassing the Region. Seeing as the Niagara River tertiary watershed has parts of it within nine (9) out of the twelve (12) municipalities, agriculture and farming practices are an important aspect of this tertiary system. Of particular interest to the Niagara River tertiary watershed is the municipalities of West Lincoln, Wainfleet, Welland/Thorold and Pelham which were among the top six (6) municipalities ranked by total farmland area in 2016; each of these municipalities are either located wholly or partially within the Niagara River tertiary watershed (ref. Niagara Agriculture Profile, 2017). Further discussion regarding the environmental impacts of agriculture and the governmental support for sustainable farming can be found in the Lake Ontario tertiary watershed section (ref. Section 2.3.1.7). As documented in the Lake Ontario tertiary watershed section, provincial data has been downloaded from the OMAFRA open-source catalogue for use in the current study in order to characterize the existing agricultural land uses across the tertiary and quaternary watershed systems. This data includes the following (ref. Ontario GeoHub): • Agricultural Land Base for the Greater Golden Horseshoe – This mapping is comprised of designated agricultural uses and rural lands in three (3) categories, including Candidate Area (CA) Prime Agricultural Area (PAA) and Specialty Crop Area (SCA). • Constructed Drains – This mapping represents watercourses in the form of ditches and/or natural watercourses that have been modified to improve drainage or buried tile systems. These may include either open or closed/tiled drain types. This data can provide a representation of the drainage systems relied upon through agricultural practices and irrigation/drainage needs. In terms of the constructed drains within the Niagara Region, vast majority are classified as Municipal Drains (constructed by a municipality under the Drainage Act through petition or requisition). The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), with support from Drainage Superintendents and Conservation Authorities, have developed a classification of Municipal Drains in order to streamline approvals under the Fisheries Act and SARA for certain types of drains (ref. Guidance of Maintaining and Repairing Municipal Drains in Ontario, 2017). Based upon the drain’s sensitivity, including parameters such as fish presence and flow periods, the resulting classifications include seven (7) different classes which refer to different authorization processes for maintenance of the drainage features. These classes include the following: • Drain Class A-C, E: The Class Authorization Process • Drain Class D, Unrated and Drains Containing SAR Species: The Site-Specific Review Process • Drain Class F: No review criteria specified. ­ Only applicable for intermittent watercourses dry for at least 3 months of the year – maintenance works to be completed during dry periods and following the DFO BMPs.

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 126 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Depending on the type of drain classification, the maintenance activities and uses of the drainage features may be limited in order to protect the fish species and/or higher quality habitat present within the drains. This is a known concern in the agricultural industry, particularly in NOTL and other jurisdictions, as limitations are placed upon the uses of municipal drains for designated agricultural purposes as a result of important aquatic habitat, however, are still essential for irrigation and drainage of agricultural lands. While not incompatible, it is important to acknowledge the rights of property owners attributed to the Municipal Drains through the Drainage Act process and acknowledge these in land use planning. Concurrently it is equally important to identify the important ecological functions these systems serve in terms of water conveyance and riparian zones, for aquatic and terrestrial habitat, and apply appropriate management, including DFO guidance cited above. The details of these management needs (agricultural and natural) should be further assessed at the quaternary and Subwatershed scales in order that the form and function of these systems can be optimized. Both the agricultural land base and constructed drains mapping has been analyzed on a quaternary watershed basis in order to document the distribution of designated agricultural land categories, as well as the existing drainage features utilized through agricultural practices. The results of this analysis for the Niagara River tertiary watershed are presented in Table 2-NR-25 and a visual representation has been prepared on Drawing WR7.

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Table 2-NR-25: Agricultural Land Base and Constructed Drains within the Niagara River Tertiary Watershed

Agricultural Agricultural Agricultural Agricultural Land Base Land Base Land Base Land Base Constructed Constructed Distribution Distribution Distribution Distribution Drains Tertiary Quaternary Drains of Total WS of Total WS of Total WS of Total WS Length Classes (%) (%) (%) (%) (km) CA PAA SCA N/A Niagara Niagara River North 0 0.3 16.7 83.0 11.0 D,F,NR River Niagara Niagara River South 0.7 71.2 0 28.1 73.4 C,D,E,F,NR River Niagara Welland River East 2.6 62.4 0 35.0 37.7 E,F,NR River Niagara Welland River West 1.0 87.3 1.4 10.3 384.0 B,C,E,F,NR River Average Niagara River B,C,D,E,F,N 1.1 77.9 1.8 19.2 506.1 for Tertiary Watershed R Note: 1 Agricultural Land Base sourced from OMAFRA Open-Source Data – Candidate Area (CA), Prime Agricultural Area (PAA), Specialty Crop Area (SCA), No Applicable Land Designation (N/A).

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 128 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan As demonstrated in Table 2-NR-25, the agricultural land base distribution across the Niagara River tertiary watershed is largely attributed to prime agricultural area at approximately 78%, with approximately 19% attributed to non-agricultural land (i.e., urban areas), and minor occurrences of candidate areas and specialty crop areas, both at less than 2% land area. This demonstrates that approximately 80% of the total tertiary watershed drainage area is important for agricultural practices, with the Niagara River tertiary watershed containing the vast majority of the prime agricultural area in the Region. The quaternary watersheds with the largest proportion of total agricultural land base include Niagara River South, Welland River East and Welland River West, all of which have an agricultural land base proportion of over 65%. In terms of constructed drains, there are approximately 506 km (+/-) of constructed municipal drains in the Niagara River tertiary watershed, which are vital features for agricultural practices. The Welland River West quaternary watershed contains roughly 75% of the constructed drains, which is likely supporting the large proportion (87%) of prime agricultural area. Majority of the quaternary watersheds contain drains with classifications requiring the Class Authorization Process (Classes B, C, E), unrated drains which may require a site-specific review (Class NR), and drains which do not require a specific review (Class F). Only two (2) quaternary watersheds contain drains with a classification of D, which would require a site-specific review process, these are the Niagara River North and Niagara River South quaternary watersheds. This information has been used in subsequent study tasks (ref. NWP (E) - Volume 3: Growth Analysis) to identify any potential constraints or unfavourable conditions for development with respect to the potential growth areas, which can help to inform future watershed planning objectives. 2.3.2.8 Watershed Monitoring A desktop review of information from NPCA has been completed to inventory the existing hydrometeorological datasets available for Niagara Region, which include climate stations, streamflow monitoring and water quality monitoring across the various watersheds under NPCA jurisdiction. Providing a summary of monitoring locations allows for the identification of potential information gaps or data deficiencies which may need to be addressed as part of future studies, particularly the quaternary-level watershed plans to be conducted by Niagara Region. It should be noted that several monitoring networks owned/operated by others, such as Environment Canada and the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) have also been included in the desktop review, as available through partnership programs with NPCA. For the current assessment, the NPCA monitoring network and additional monitoring conducted at the provincial level, provides a high-level indication of existing watershed coverage and data availability for future studies (quaternary and subwatershed). Climate Stations Climate data are critical to validating and calibrating the hydrologic and hydrogeologic/groundwater system modelling to characterize the surface and subsurface water systems, as well as the respective interactions of water movement in the watersheds and respective subwatersheds, for which potential growth areas are

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 129 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan proposed. Depending upon the nature of available datasets (tiers of coverage, methodologies and protocols), more robust and informative analyses may be completed (i.e. long-term continuous simulation and frequency analyses), rather than the use of more simplistic synthetic design storm events. The existing climate stations are owned/operated by NPCA with select locations in partnership with Environment Canada’s Water Survey Canada (WSC) program, as well as with the Niagara Region. The existing climate stations present within the Niagara River tertiary watershed have been summarized on a quaternary/subwatershed basis to demonstrate the coverage across the tertiary scale. It should be noted that the time- steps and period of record has been provided by NPCA for use in this study, to characterize the utility of the data set for potential use in completing multi-seasonal, multi-year assessments for each of the watersheds as part of future studies. The results of this review for the Niagara River tertiary watershed are summarized in Table 2-NR-26, and in the monitoring location summary plan, as shown on Drawing WR8.

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Table 2-NR-26: Climate Monitoring Network within the Niagara River Tertiary Watershed Quaternary Tertiary Subwatershed Station ID Station Name Data Type WL Stage Status Time Steps Period of Record (# of Subs) No Climate No Climate No Climate No Climate No Climate No Climate No Climate No Climate Niagara Niagara River Monitoring Station in Monitoring Station Monitoring Station Monitoring Station Monitoring Station Monitoring Station Monitoring Station Monitoring Station River North (8) Quaternary in Quaternary in Quaternary in Quaternary in Quaternary in Quaternary in Quaternary in Quaternary Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Niagara Niagara River Black Creek at Black Creek BCS01_SP Precip Yes Active 15 min 2009-2021 River South (22) Stevensville Niagara Welland River Welland River WWWTP01_P Welland WWTP 2 Precip - Active 5 min 2011-2021 River East (7) Between Canal Niagara Welland River Lower Welland NF01_P Niagara Falls 2 Precip - Active 5 min 2012- 2021 River East (7) River Niagara Welland River Upper Welland Welland River at WRW01_SP Precip Yes Active 15 min 2010- 2021 River West (38) River Wellandport Niagara Welland River Upper Welland Welland River at WRC01_SP Rain Yes Active 15 min 2009- 2021 River West (38) River Caistors1 Niagara Welland River Central Welland WREB01_SP EC Brown Precip Yes Not Active 15 min 2012- 2019 River West (38) River Niagara Welland River Oswego Creek OC01_SP Oswego Creek1 Rain Yes Active 15 min 2009- 2021 River West (38) Niagara Welland River Oswego Creek RUIG01_P Ruigrok Precip - Active 15 min 2012- 2021 River West (38) Niagara Welland River Big Forks Creek BFC01_SP Big Forks Creek Precip Yes Active 15 min 2012- 2021 River West (38) Niagara Upper Welland N/A* HAM01_P Hamilton Precip - Active 15 min 2012- 2021 River River Niagara Upper Welland Welland River at N/A* WRB01_SP Precip Yes Active 15 min 2009-2021 River River Binbrook Note: * The provincial quaternary/tertiary watershed delineations focused upon the Regional limits for the Niagara Region. As such, three (3) subwatersheds were omitted from the updated boundaries – these include the western limits of the Welland River, West Wolf Creek, and Buckhorn Creek. There subwatersheds would contribute to the Niagara River tertiary watershed (Welland River West). 1 In partnership with Environment Canada – Water Survey Canada (WSC) (2). 2 In partnership with Niagara Region (2) – Period of Record stated in the above table refers to the NPCA database. Niagara Region database may extend beyond those stated above to the limits of the archive – Lower Twelve Mile Creek, Shriners Creek and Welland Canal South gauges were installed in 1991, with archived data beginning in 1998, Bartlett gauge archived data beginning in 2006.

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 131 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan As demonstrated by Table 2-NR-26, the NPCA operates a climate monitoring network consisting of eleven (11) monitoring stations located across three (3) out of the four (4) quaternary watersheds of the Niagara River tertiary system; the Niagara River North quaternary watershed currently does not have an existing NPCA climate station located within its bounds. The data type recorded at each of the climate stations can include either rainfall or total precipitation depths, which can be useful for long-term hydrologic simulation including winter months. Out of the eleven (11) stations, seven (7) are coupled with a streamflow monitoring gauge, which further helps to characterize the hydrologic conditions/response and relationships for those systems. The recorded time-steps at the individual stations are evenly split between 15 minute or 5 minute intervals, both of which are sufficiently resolute and can be utilized as part of hydrologic model calibration/validation. Recognizing that continuous simulation and frequency analysis requires a minimum of 20 years of rainfall for the hydrologic modelling, the noted period of record for the stations located throughout the Niagara River tertiary watershed demonstrate an 8-to- 12-year duration in terms of the NPCA database; for gauges operated in partnership with other governing bodies including Niagara Region, MECP and WSC, there may be additional opportunities to extend these period of records through supplemental databases. For example, there are two (2) stations operating in partnership with the Niagara Region, these stations may have up to an additional 12+ years of monitoring data which could be utilized in developing a long-term data set for continuous simulation as part of subsequent hydrologic studies. This information has been mined further in subsequent study tasks (ref. NWP (E) - Volume 2: Niagara Watershed Management) in order to identify potential monitoring gaps related to future studies’ data needs, required to evaluate the impact of potential growth areas, at subsequent study stages. Streamflow Monitoring In addition to climate data, stream flow monitoring is required for hydrologic model calibration/validation, as well as overall characterization of the runoff relationships in the respective watershed systems. The NPCA operates a streamflow monitoring network across the Niagara Peninsula Watershed, with select locations being co-located with existing climate gauges, as noted earlier. Select streamflow monitoring locations are partnered with Environment Canada’s Water Survey Canada (WSC) program. All streamflow monitoring data can be viewed in real-time via the NPCA “stream chart” feature, as well as in the provincial WSC database (as available). Similar to the climate data, stream flow monitoring networks owned/operated by NPCA been reviewed and summarized on a quaternary watershed basis to provide an indication of existing monitoring locations which can be used for future studies. Further, time-steps and period of record have been provided by NPCA, to further characterize the applicability of the data for use in future studies. The results of this review for the Niagara River tertiary watershed are summarized in Table 2-NR-27, and in the monitoring location summary plan, as shown on Drawing WR8.

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Table 2-NR-27: Streamflow Monitoring Network within the Niagara River Tertiary Watershed

Quaternary Tertiary Subwatershed Station ID Station Name Data Type Precip Status Time Step Period of Record (# of Subs) No Streamflow No Streamflow No Streamflow No Streamflow No Streamflow No Streamflow No Streamflow No Streamflow Niagara Niagara River Monitoring Stations Monitoring Stations Monitoring Stations Monitoring Stations Monitoring Stations Monitoring Stations Monitoring Stations Monitoring Stations River North (8) in Quaternary in Quaternary in Quaternary in Quaternary in Quaternary in Quaternary in Quaternary in Quaternary Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Niagara Niagara River Black Creek at Black Creek BCS01_SP WL Precip Active 15 min 2009-2021 River South (22) Stevensville 2 Niagara Welland River Welland River Welland River at WRSE01_S WL - Active 15 min 2014-2021 River East (7) Between Canal Siphon East Niagara Welland River Upper Welland Welland River at WRW01_SP WL Precip Active 15 min 2010- 2021 River West (38) River Wellandport2 Niagara Welland River Upper Welland Welland River at WRC01_SP WL Rain Active 5 min 1957-2020 River West (38) River Caistors1 Niagara Welland River Central Welland WREB01_SP EC Brown WL Precip Not Active 15 min 2014-2021 River West (38) River Niagara Welland River Central Welland Welland River at WRSW01_S WL - Active 15 min 2009-2021 River West (38) River Siphon West2 Niagara Welland River Oswego Creek OC01_SP Oswego Creek1 WL Rain Active 5 min 1988-2020 River West (38) Niagara Welland River Big Forks Creek BFC01_SP Big Forks Creek 2 WL Precip Active 15 min 2011-2021 River West (38) Niagara Upper Welland Welland River at N/A* WRB01_SP WL Precip Active 15 min 2009-2021 River River Binbrook 3 Niagara Upper Welland WRSB01_S Welland River at N/A* WL - Active 15 min 2009-2021 River River Southbrook Note: * The provincial quaternary/tertiary watershed delineations focused upon the Regional limits for the Niagara Region. As such, three (3) subwatersheds were omitted from the updated boundaries – these include the western limits of the Welland River, West Wolf Creek, and Buckhorn Creek. There subwatersheds would contribute to the Niagara River tertiary watershed (Welland River). 1 In partnership with EC WSC – Streamflow monitoring locations in partnership with EC WSC include Welland River (1) and Oswego Creek (1). 2 Old WSC gauges discontinued in 1993 – NPCA resumed monitoring during the period of record noted in the table above. 3 This monitoring location is the NPCA Dam built in 1971 – archived water levels may be available (hard copies), however digital database initiated in 2009.

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 133 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan As demonstrated by Table 2-NR-27, the NPCA operates a streamflow monitoring network consisting of ten (10) monitoring stations located across three (3) out of the four (4) quaternary watersheds of the Niagara River tertiary system, within six (6) designated subwatershed systems. The data measurements include water level, which can be converted to flow based on rating curve relationships for each of the drainage systems. Similar to the climate stations, the recorded time steps are either a 15 min or 5 min interval, both of which are sufficiently resolute and can be utilized as part of hydrologic model calibration/validation. The length of the period of record for streamflow gauges is not as crucial when compared to the climate stations which are required for developing large input data sets, however having active streamflow gauge locations will be important for the selection and evaluation of calibration/validation events for subsequent hydrologic modelling studies. The watershed systems without streamflow monitoring include the Niagara River North quaternary system. It is important to note that the Niagara River tertiary system is comprised of over seventy (70) separate subwatersheds; therefore, the current streamflow monitoring network represents only approximately 7% of the identified subwatersheds. As such, it is highly likely that for assessing the impacts of future potential growth areas, additional monitoring will be required in order to characterize the local system and thereby be used in future model calibration/validation. This information has been mined further in subsequent study tasks (ref. NWP (E) - Volume 2: Niagara Watershed Management) in order to identify potential monitoring gaps related to future studies required to evaluate the potential growth areas, at subsequent study stages. Water Quality Monitoring The purpose of the review of existing and available surface water quality monitoring network operated by NPCA is to characterize the aquatic health of the subwatersheds and tributaries with respect to contaminant loadings under existing land use conditions. This review has included a summary of the surface water monitoring locations throughout the Niagara River tertiary watershed, and the resulting water quality grades, to identify potential data gaps for establishing future surface water quality monitoring plans, relative to the potential growth areas. Further discussion regarding the NPCA water quality monitoring network can be found in the Lake Ontario water quality monitoring section. In addition to the existing monitoring locations, the Surface Water Quality Grades resulting from the 2012 and 2018 Watershed Report Cards, completed as part of the Conservation Ontario initiative to showcase Conservation Authorities monitoring capacity across the province, have been summarized for each of the monitored subwatersheds (as available). This provides a sufficient indicator to surface water quality as well as evaluate if there have been any changes to surface water quality in the six (6) years between report cards. It should be noted that the analysis completed for the Watershed Report Cards are not as detailed as those presented in the annual water quality monitoring reports completed by the NPCA, however the Watershed Report Card results are considered to be sufficient for the current monitoring summary, given the regional scale of this study, and it is recommended that detailed analysis be completed as part of subsequent quaternary watershed plans.

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 134 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan According to NPCA, the surface water quality has been graded using three (3) primary indicators, determined by Conservation Ontario (ref. Guide to Developing Watershed Report Cards, 2011). These include the following: • Phosphorus (contributions from excessive fertilizer use and wastewater discharge) • E. coli bacteria (found in the intestines of humans and other animals) • Benthic macroinvertebrates community (small animals without a backbone that live at the bottom of streams). These animals have a range of tolerances to water pollution. Their quantity and variety can provide an indication of the level of water pollution. The combination and associated interpretation of these water quality indicators can result in one of the following water quality grades: • A – Excellent • C – Fair • F – Very Poor • B – Good • D – Poor • (-) Insufficient Data The results of the review for the Niagara River tertiary watershed are summarized in Table 2-NR-28, and in the monitoring location summary plan, as shown on Drawing WR8. Table 2-NR-28: Water Quality Monitoring Network and Grades within the Niagara River Tertiary Watershed # of WQ Grade WQ Grade Quaternary Active Tertiary Subwatershed (2012 Report (2018 Report (# of Subs) WQ Card) Card) Sites Niagara Niagara River Power Canal 1 - B River North (8) Niagara Niagara River Bayers Creek 1 D D River South (22) Niagara Niagara River Beaver Creek 1 D 1 D River South (22) (Fort Erie) Niagara Niagara River Black Creek* 2 D 1 D River South (22) Niagara Niagara River Frenchmans 2 D D River South (22) Creek Niagara Niagara River Usshers Creek 1 D D River South (22) Niagara Welland River Grassy Brook 1 D D River East (7) Niagara Welland River Lyons Creek 1 D D River East (7) Niagara Welland River Tee Creek 1 D D River East (7) Niagara Welland River Thompson Creek 1 - D River East (7)

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 135 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan # of WQ Grade WQ Grade Quaternary Active Tertiary Subwatershed (2012 Report (2018 Report (# of Subs) WQ Card) Card) Sites Niagara Welland River Welland River* 3 D D River East (7) Niagara Beaver Creek, Welland River River Unnamed Creek, 1 D D West (38) Parkers Creek Niagara Welland River Big Forks Creek 1 D D River West (38) Niagara Welland River Coyle Creek 1 D C River West (38) Niagara Welland River Draper Creek 1 D D River West (38) Niagara Welland River Elsie Creek 1 D D River West (38) Niagara Welland River Feeder Canal 1 - - River West (38) Niagara Welland River Mill Creek 1 D D River West (38) Niagara Welland River Mill Race Creek 1 - - River West (38) Niagara Welland River Oswego Creek* 2 D D River West (38) Niagara Welland River Welland River* 3 D D River West (38) Note: * In partnership with MECP – According to PWQMN database, WQ monitoring locations in partnership with MECP include Black Creek (1), Welland River East (1), Welland River West (2), and Oswego Creek (1). 1 Beaver Creek (Fort Erie) and Black Creek were assessed as one subwatershed (Black Creek) as part of the 2012 Watershed Report Cards. 2 2018 Water Quality Grade rendered to demonstrate trends in comparison to the 2012 Water Quality Grades, where: blue = improving, purple = declining, black = unchanged. As demonstrated in Table 2-NR-28, the NPCA operates an expansive water quality monitoring network, with over twenty-five (25) water quality monitoring stations, with locations in each of the quaternary watersheds representing the Niagara River tertiary system. Some of the larger subwatersheds have multiple water quality stations (i.e. Welland River, Black Creek, Frenchmans Creek, Oswego Creek), in order to better represent the extent of the system and associated tributaries. These monitoring programs have allowed for the characterization of the aquatic health of the surface water systems across the subwatersheds; the results indicate that the vast majority of subwatershed systems are rated as being of Poor quality, as part of the 2012 Watershed Report Cards. Based upon the 2018 Watershed Report Card results, it

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 136 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan can be seen that majority of the watersheds have maintained their respective 2012 water quality rating of Poor quality (D), with the exception of Coyle Creek which achieved an improved water quality rating of Fair (C) over the six-year period. Additional water quality grades were reported as part of the 2018 Watershed Report Cards for both the Power Canal and Thompson Creek, which likely had insufficient data in 2012. Those indicated with no rating are likely due to insufficient data at the time of the 2012 and/or 2018 Report Cards; nonetheless these monitoring stations and associated results may be included as part of the annual water quality monitoring and reporting program completed by the NPCA, which can be used to infer any quality issues. This information has been mined further in subsequent study tasks (ref. NWP (E) - Volume 2: Niagara Watershed Management) in order to identify potential monitoring gaps related to future studies required to evaluate the potential growth areas, as part of subsequent studies. Groundwater Monitoring A network of groundwater monitoring wells has been established by NPCA across the Niagara Peninsula Watershed in order to monitor the quality and quantity of the groundwater resources in the watershed, in partnership with the Provincial Groundwater Monitoring Network (PGMN). Data from these wells are used to make informed decisions about water testing and treatment of private wells, water allocation (under the MECP’s Permit To-Take-Water program), drinking water source protection planning and potential climate change impacts. According to NPCA, in 2012-2013 the NPCA began a partnership with the Ontario Geologic Survey (OGS) to construct monitoring wells in three (3) buried bedrock valleys within the NPCA watershed to characterize the aquifers and monitor Lake Erie's role in recharging these aquifer systems. This program was later expanded to include other portions of the NPCA, through a special project which added nearly thirty-five (35) groundwater monitoring wells (overburden/bedrock) to the NPCA jurisdiction. This project continues to be managed as part of the NPCA’s Source Water Protection initiative and consists of annual sampling in the Fall over the past five (5) years; this OGS partnership program is separate from the PGMN program. A review of the current existing PGMN and OGS partnership well locations within the Niagara River tertiary watershed has been completed in order to identify potential data gaps for establishing future groundwater monitoring plans, relative to the potential growth areas as part of subsequent study components. Further details regarding both the PGMN and OGS partnership programs (sampling and analysis) can be found in the Lake Ontario tertiary watershed section. Based upon the results from the 2018 Watershed Report Card, the water quality at most of the NPCA groundwater monitoring wells is scored as “Good (B)”, with some wells exceeding the Ontario Drinking Water Standards. A summary of the currently existing PGMN and OGS partnership wells located within the Niagara River tertiary watershed as well as the key findings from the 2019 NPCA Water Quality Monitoring Summary Report (PGMN Network) and the 2020 results from the OGS partnership project (as available), are presented in Table 2-NR-29. A monitoring summary location plan has been prepared, as shown on Drawing WR8.

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Table 2-NR-29: Groundwater Monitoring Network Summary for the Niagara River Tertiary Watershed Quaternary Exceedance (2019 Tertiary Subwatershed Program Well ID Township Aquifer Type Formation (# of subs) / 2020 Results) No PGMN Gauges No PGMN Gauges No PGMN Gauges No PGMN Gauges No PGMN Gauges No PGMN Gauges No PGMN Gauges Located in Located in Located in Located in Located in Located in Located in Niagara River Niagara River North (8) Quaternary Quaternary Quaternary Quaternary Quaternary Quaternary Quaternary Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed N/A – Direct Niagara River Niagara River North (8) OGS BH26 (7228877) Niagara Falls Bedrock Eramosa N/A Drainage 1 Niagara River Niagara River South (22) Black Creek PGMN W0000289-1 Humberstone Bedrock Guelph-Lockport None Niagara River Niagara River South (22) Usshers Creek PGMN W0000290-1 Willoughby Bedrock Salina Sodium Boron Niagara River Niagara River South (22) Beaver Creek OGS BH24 (7228875) Fort Erie Bedrock Salina N/A Niagara River Niagara River South (22) Miller Creek OGS BH25 (7228874) Fort Erie Bedrock Salina N/A No PGMN Gauges No PGMN Gauges No PGMN Gauges No PGMN Gauges No PGMN Gauges No PGMN Gauges No PGMN Gauges Located in Located in Located in Located in Located in Located in Located in Niagara River Welland River East (7) Quaternary Quaternary Quaternary Quaternary Quaternary Quaternary Quaternary Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Watershed Niagara River Welland River East (7) Grassy Brook OGS BH31 (7231244) Niagara Falls Bedrock Salina N/A Niagara River Welland River East (7) Lyons Creek OGS BH15 (7226392) Welland Bedrock Salina N/A Overburden / Niagara River Welland River East (7) Lyons Creek OGS BH11 (7226394) Niagara Falls Salina N/A Bedrock Interface Niagara River Welland River West (38) Coyle Creek PGMN W0000357-1 Pelham Overburden Fonthill Kame None Overburden / Niagara River Welland River West (38) Coyle Creek OGS BH10 (7226389) Pelham Guelph Sulphate Bedrock Interface Central Welland Niagara River Welland River West (38) OGS BH27 (7228878) Wainfleet Bedrock Salina N/A River Niagara River Welland River West (38) Elsie Creek OGS BH54 (7250078) Hamilton Bedrock Salina Sulphate Niagara River Welland River West (38) Mill Creek PGMN W0000080-1 Caistor Bedrock Guelph-Lockport Sodium Fluoride Overburden / Nitrite, Sulphate, Niagara River Welland River West (38) Mill Race Creek OGS BH08 (7226316) Wainfleet Salina Bedrock Interface Sodium Chloride, Sulphate, Niagara River Welland River West (38) Mill Race Creek OGS BH13 (7226390) Wainfleet Bedrock Salina Sodium Chloride, Nitrite, Niagara River Welland River West (38) Mill Race Creek OGS BH05 (7226315) Wainfleet Bedrock Salina Sulphate, Sodium Niagara River Welland River West (38) Oswego Creek PGMN W0000287-1 Cayuga Bedrock Salina Sodium Chloride, Nitrite, Niagara River Welland River West (38) Sugar Creek Drain OGS BH53 (7250077) Haldimand County Bedrock Salina Sulphate, Sodium Upper Welland Chloride, Nitrite, Niagara River Welland River West (38) OGS BH55 (7250076) West Lincoln Bedrock Salina River Sulphate, Sodium Upper Welland Niagara River Welland River West (38) OGS BH59 3 (7250079) Hamilton Bedrock Guelph None River BH60 (3) (7250072 Upper Welland Niagara River Welland River West (38) OGS & Hamilton Bedrock Guelph None River 7266937) 2,3

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Quaternary Exceedance (2019 Tertiary Subwatershed Program Well ID Township Aquifer Type Formation (# of subs) / 2020 Results) BH60 (3) (7250072 Upper Welland Niagara River Welland River West (38) OGS & Hamilton Overburden Guelph N/A River 7266937) 2,3 N/A 4 N/A 4 N/A 4 OGS BH32 (7233499) Haldimand County Bedrock Salina Sulphate Notes: 1 OGS Well BH26 is located west of the boundary between the Welland River East and Niagara River North quaternary watersheds, outside of the Lower Welland River Subwatershed; therefore, this area is assumed to be direct drainage to the Niagara River and as such does not belong to a designated subwatershed. 2 OGS Well BH60 has three (3) monitoring sites in the same location, named Smith Rd, Smith Rd-M and Smith Rd-S, at varying depths. 3 OGS Wells BH59 and BH60 (2) are located outside of the boundaries of the provincial tertiary watershed systems as a result of the updated delineation, however these locations contribute to the Welland River West system and fall within the Upper Welland River Subwatershed. 4 OGS Well BH32 (named Monument) is outside of NPCA’s jurisdiction (GRCA jurisdiction); however, it is included in the OGS monitoring network as it is believed to be part one of the buried bedrock valley groundwater systems in Niagara (Erigan Channel).

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 139 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan As demonstrated in Table 2-NR-29, the NPCA operates an expansive groundwater quality/level monitoring network in partnership with both the MECP and OGS; as part of the PGMN program, NPCA operates a total of five (5) groundwater monitoring stations located in two (2) out of the four (4) the quaternary watersheds representing the Niagara River tertiary system. In addition to the PGMN network, an additional nineteen (19) stations are monitored by NPCA as part of the OGS partnership program, located in all four (4) of the quaternary watersheds encompassing the Niagara River tertiary system; these locations were selected to monitor four (4) primary groundwater systems, including the Erigan Channel, Chippawa/Niagara Falls Channel, Crystal Beach Channel and the Upper Welland River Channel. Majority of these locations are within the Niagara Region and NPCA jurisdiction; however, some extend out into the neighboring municipalities (Hamilton and Haldimand County), including one (1) location (BH32) located outside of NPCA’s jurisdiction (GRCA jurisdiction), which is believed to be part of a buried bedrock valley groundwater system in Niagara. These stations combined with the PGMN program consist of a total of twenty-four (24) groundwater monitoring stations located in all four (4) quaternary watersheds encompassing the Niagara River tertiary watershed. The results of the 2019 monitoring completed for the PGMN wells (ref. NPCA Water Quality Monitoring Program Summary Report, 2019) found that elevated sodium, boron and fluoride concentrations were observed in three (3) of the wells present within the Niagara River tertiary watershed. The MECP has attributed these exceedances to natural groundwater conditions and impacts from road salts and are not considered by MECP to be of major public health concern. The results of the 2020 sampling and analysis completed for the OGS partnership wells found exceedances at eight (8) out of the ten (10) tested wells; these exceedances included sulphate, chloride, nitrite and sodium. It should be noted that only ten (10) out of the nineteen (19) OGS wells were included in the 2020 sampling assessment, as NPCA noted only select bedrock/contact-zone aquifers were included in the most recent sampling. This information has been mined further in subsequent study components (ref. NWP (E) - Volume 2: Niagara Watershed Management) in order to identify potential monitoring gaps related to future studies required to evaluate the potential growth areas.

2.3.3 Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed 2.3.3.1 Drainage Systems The Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed is located along the southern extent of Niagara Region and only include lands draining along/to the Lake Erie shoreline. In comparison to the other tertiary watersheds present within the Region, the Lake Erie tertiary watershed is much smaller, encompassing only 137 km2 (+/-) of drainage area. This system is separated by the Welland Canal South quaternary watershed, which is part of the Lake Ontario tertiary system. The contributing drainage areas and subwatersheds present within the Lake Erie tertiary watershed have been summarized in Table 2-LE-1, and Drawing WR1.

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 140 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Table 2-LE-1: Drainage Areas and Subwatersheds within the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed Quaternary Area % of Subwatershed # Subwatershed Names Watershed (km2) Tertiary # Bertie Bay Drain Area (1, 2A), Kraft Drain, Niagara River (18D-18H), Six Mile Creek (Lake Erie), Bay Beach Area Drain, Bearss Drain, Beaver Northeast Dam Drain, Casey Drain, 12 Lake Erie 137 100% 38 Eagle Marsh Drain, Lake Erie Shoreline (2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 4, 5, 5A, 6, 6A-G, 10, 11), Low Banks Drain, Oil Mill Creek, Point Abino Drain, Wainfleet Marsh Drain, Wignell Drain

As demonstrated in Table 2-LE-1, the Northeast Lake Erie Shoreline quaternary system is composed of a total of thirty-eight (38) separate subwatershed systems, including lands draining directly to Lake Erie, municipal drains, and select subwatersheds which were previously identified as draining towards the Niagara River (under superseded quaternary delineation). Each of these independent systems would require individual (or in combination) study and review for proposed future development in order to evaluate the potential local impacts and mitigation strategies.

2.3.3.2 Surficial Soils The surficial soils present within the Niagara Region have been sourced from the OMAFRA Soil Complex Survey mapping, which is a compilation of soil surveys completed on a county-by-county basis between 1929 and 2002 at a variety of map scales (ref. Land Information Ontario Data Description, Soil Complex Survey, OMAFRA, 2012). Across the Niagara Region, there are over 50 different surficial soil types varying in composition, properties, and hydrologic condition. In order to provide a meaningful characterization at the tertiary watershed scale, the soils types have been summarized based upon their Drainage Classes, which provide an indication of the soil’s ability to drain water and therein create runoff. This classification can infer the soil’s response to urbanization, as well as the applicability and suitability for select stormwater management (SWM) practices should future development advance (i.e., source controls for best management practices). The Drainage Classes assigned in OMAFRA’s Soil Complex Survey include the following: • – = Not Applicable • MW = Moderately Well • VA = Variable • I = Imperfectly • R = Rapidly • P = Poorly • W = Well • VP = Very Poorly

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 141 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Further details and discussions regarding each of the soil drainage classes can be found in the Lake Ontario tertiary watershed section. The distribution of the surficial soils has been summarized based on drainage classes across the single quaternary watershed representing the Lake Erie tertiary watershed, as shown in Table 2-LE-2. A visual representation of the drainage class distribution across all the Niagara Region is presented on Drawing WR2.

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Table 2-LE-2: Soil Drainage Distribution within the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed Soil Drainage Soil Drainage Soil Drainage Soil Drainage Soil Drainage Soil Drainage Soil Drainage Soil Drainage Class & Class & Class & Class & Class & Class & Class & Class & Sensitivity Sensitivity Sensitivity Sensitivity Sensitivity Sensitivity Sensitivity Sensitivity Tertiary Quaternary Distribution Distribution Distribution Distribution Distribution Distribution Distribution Distribution (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) Unknown Unknown High High High Med Low Low – VA R W MW I P VP Northeast Lake Erie Lake Erie 1.6 22.9 9.3 0.7 0.5 19.3 39.7 2.9 Shoreline Lake Ontario Tertiary Average for Unknown = 24.5 High = 10.5 Medium = 41.2 Low = 42.6 Watershed

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 143 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan As demonstrated in Table 2-LE-2, approximately 60% of the soils present within the Lake Erie tertiary watershed are classified as imperfectly or poorly drained (low to medium sensitivity to urbanization), with an additional 23% classified as variable, which is largely attributed to the existing urban centers, of Port Colborne, Crystal Beach and Fort Erie. This information has been used in subsequent study tasks (ref. NWP (E) - Volume 3: Growth Analysis) to identify any potential constraints or unfavorable conditions for urbanization/development, which can help to inform future watershed planning objectives.

2.3.3.3 Slopes / Topography The ground slopes at the surface within the Lake Erie tertiary watershed have been characterized based upon the Hydrology Enforced Digital Elevation Model (DEM) (OIH, 2019) for use in this study. It should be noted that a more refined Digital Terrain Model (DTM) is available from NPCA for use in subsequent quaternary and subwatershed studies, for higher resolution purposes (DTM update proposed in 2021). For the current study being completed at the Regional scale, the provincial DEM is considered to be sufficient for establishing trends and topographic characterization. The information in the provincial DEM mapping has been processed and classified in order to characterize the land surface areas based upon specified thresholds, demonstrating, mild (0-2%), medium (2-10%) and steep slopes (>10%), which can indicate a measure related to suitability for development, and any construction / material management implications (i.e., excessive cut/fill). Typically, milder slopes are more conducive to urbanization and provide less constraints for major landform alteration than those areas with steeper landscapes. The ground slopes within the Lake Erie tertiary watershed / Northeast Lake Erie Shoreline quaternary watershed area have been established in the three (3) general categories as-noted, as summarized in Table 2-LE-3, with a visual representation depicted on Drawing WR3. Table 2-LE-3: Slope Distribution within the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed Surface Surface Surface Slopes Slopes Slopes Tertiary Quaternary Distribution Distribution Distribution (%) (%) (%) 0 – 2 % 2 – 10 % >10% Lake Northeast Lake Erie 86 13 2 Erie Shoreline

As demonstrated in Table 2-LE-3, the majority of the Lake Erie tertiary watershed area (86%) has been categorized as having a mild surface slope (under 2%), with an additional 13% of land area within the medium slope category, varying from greater than 2% up to 10% surface slope. The remaining 2% land area is categorized as steep (>10%), which is largely attributed to the landscapes near watercourse features and/or the shoreline (ref. Drawing WR3). As such, this information has been used in subsequent study tasks (ref. NWP (E) - Volume 3: Growth Analysis) to identify any

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 144 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan potential constraints or unfavourable conditions for development with respect to the potential growth areas, which can help to inform future watershed planning objectives.

2.3.3.4 Groundwater System and Source Water Protection The groundwater system is of vital importance to the Niagara Region for both the rural residents who rely on private wells as a source of drinking water, as well an important system supporting those environmental features reliant on groundwater contributions to sustain a diverse community of terrestrial and aquatic species. The groundwater system in the Niagara Region consists of highly sensitive groundwater systems such as the Fonthill Kame-Delta Complex and the Onondaga Escarpment, which are considered more susceptible to impacts from development. Other areas of groundwater system sensitivity include the Guelph-Lockport Formation, the St. David’s Buried Gorge, the Iroquois Sandplain below the Niagara Escarpment and the Dunnville Sandplain, all of which are noted to be more susceptible to groundwater contamination (ref. NPCA Groundwater Study, 2005). Further discussion regarding these features can be found in the Lake Ontario and Niagara River tertiary watershed sections. Of most importance to the Lake Erie tertiary watershed is the Onondaga Formation which outcrops in areas south of the Wainfleet Bog, throughout parts of Port Colborne, and along the Lake Erie shoreline between Port Colborne and Fort Erie. The Onondaga Escarpment consists of bedrock outcrops / bedrock at surface aquifers, with thin deposit layers (<5 m) resulting in hydrogeologically sensitive areas at higher risk of contamination (ref. NPCA Groundwater Study, 2005). The Onondaga Escarpment has also been noted as an area of concern due to well contamination; with heightened pressure from urban development, contamination associated with faulty septic systems continues to threaten the water resources of the Onondaga Escarpment (ref. NPCA Groundwater Study, 2005). As discussed in the Niagara River tertiary watershed section (ref. Section 2.3.2.4), a notable aquifer of concern in the area of the Onondaga Escarpment is the highly vulnerable South Niagara Aquifer, which has been a point of public concern as a result of a recent quarry proposal in Port Colborne. This highly vulnerable aquifer spans throughout the municipalities of Wainfleet, Port Colborne and Fort Erie and serves as an important and vital source of water to the rural residents of these communities; as such, this important resource is to be protected through the regional planning processes (ref. PEDC January 15, 2020). In terms of the current study, there are a variety of mapping sources available to identify the potential at-risk areas which may be more susceptible to contamination and/or impacts associated with development, and as such may require special consideration and management. These at-risk and/or sensitive areas include groundwater quantity/quality, as well as surface water (lake-based) zones, both of which have been delineated as part of the NPCA Source Water Protection Assessment Report, resulting in the following: • Surface Water Intake Protection Zones (IPZs) – Municipal Water Treatment Plants • Highly Vulnerable Aquifers (HVAs) – Groundwater Quality • Significant Groundwater Recharge Areas (SGRA) – Groundwater Quantity

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 145 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Based upon the Source Water Protection Mapping (ref. Drawing WR4), both HVAs and SGRAs are prevalent within the Lake Erie tertiary watershed, particularly in the central portions surrounding the Welland Canal, and moving east towards the Niagara River. A Groundwater Impact Assessment was completed on behalf of the Niagara Region as part of a water and wastewater servicing strategy for the Township of Wainfleet (ref. MacViro, 2002); this study found that the local sensitivities are largely attributed to the presence of the Onondaga Escarpment formation along the Lake Erie shoreline, with fractured bedrock and areas of thin soil cover; as such, this area is predominately deemed to be hydrogeologically sensitive and at high risk of contamination from bacteria, nitrate and other sewage effluent contaminants (ref. NPCA Groundwater Study, 2005). Mapping of these resources/protection areas will help to identify potential constraints to the growth locations which may require special consideration and management strategies in order to accommodate development. The mapping of the IPZs and SGRAs are made publicly available for download by NPCA, and HVA mapping has been provided by the Region for use in the current study. These data sources are to be utilized to develop appropriate mapping of intrinsic vulnerability and identification of potential constraints in relation to the potential growth areas can be completed as part of subsequent study components. Based upon this information, a distribution of IPZs, SGRAs and HVAs within the Lake Erie tertiary watershed has been summarized in Table 2-LE-4 below, and on Drawing WR4. Table 2-LE-4: Water Quality & Quantity Sensitive Areas within the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed Quality & Quality & Quality & Quantity Quantity Quantity Tertiary Quaternary Sensitivity Sensitivity Sensitivity Distribution (%) Distribution (%) Distribution (%) IPZ SGRA HVA Lake Northeast Lake 9.2 40 74 Erie Erie Shoreline

As demonstrated in Table 2-LE-4, the Lake Erie tertiary watershed has localized occurrences of IPZ areas which would be vulnerable to surface water contamination, these are primarily located along the Welland Canal, and the eastern Lake Erie shoreline within Fort Erie. With respect to groundwater quantity sensitive areas, SGRAs are identified throughout approximately 40% of the Lake Erie tertiary system. With respect to groundwater quality sensitive areas, HVAs are identified throughout approximately 74% of the Northeast Lake Erie Shoreline quaternary watershed system, which can be largely attributed to the highly vulnerable South Niagara Aquifer. This information has been used in subsequent study tasks (ref. NWP (E) - Volume 3: Growth Analysis) to identify any potential constraints or unfavourable conditions for development with respect to the potential growth areas, which can help to inform future watershed planning objectives.

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 146 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan 2.3.3.5 Natural Hazards Watercourse and drainage systems have associated natural hazards which can impact the safety of the public and as such should be avoided when determining areas for future development. Natural hazards include those related to underground drainage systems through soluble rocks, known as karst topography, as well as both flooding risks and erosion hazards for significant watercourses, and geotechnical setbacks for valley systems and wetland environmental protection areas (ref. NHS section), and therefore often are subject to Conservation Authority regulations and setbacks to ensure public safety and wellbeing. These regulations are typically applied to open natural systems which would remain open and protected in their present condition and location, with the exception of select localized sites where rehabilitation may be of benefit to the system. For the purpose of the current study, regulatory mapping has been provided by the NPCA and downloaded from the Ontario Geological Society (OGS) for the following natural hazards: • Karst Topography (Known, Inferred, Potential) • Regulated Floodplains • Regulated Shorelines • Top of Slope (NPCA Allowance) Further discussion regarding each of the natural hazards can be found in the Lake Ontario tertiary watershed section. Mapping of these natural hazards has been used to determine the distribution across the Lake Erie tertiary watershed, as shown on Drawing WR5 and summarized in Table 2-LE-5. Table 2-LE-5: Natural Hazard Distribution within the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed

ion (%)

I P Tertiary Quaternary K Karst Karst Karst Shoreline Floodplain Top of Slope Top of Natural Hazard Natural Hazard Natural Hazard Natural Hazard Natural Hazard Natural Hazard Distribution (%) Distribution (%) Distribution (%) Distribution Distribut (%) Distribution (%) Distribution

Northeast Lake Erie Lake Erie 0.1 10.4 71.7 6.5 3.3 <0.1 Shoreline Note: 1 Karst mapping sourced from Ontario Geological Survey (OGS) – Known (K), Inferred (I), Potential (P) Karst. As demonstrated in Table 2-LE-5, the natural hazard distribution within the Lake Erie tertiary watershed is found to be largely attributed to the presence of known, inferred and potential karst, with an average of over 80% of the Lake Erie tertiary watershed having a karst topography designation. Known karst areas have only been minorly

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 147 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan identified (0.1% of land area), whereas 10.4% of the land area has an inferred karst topography. Majority of the tertiary watershed has a potential karst topography, with over 70% of the watershed area. Delineated floodplains represent the second largest proportion of natural hazards, with over 6% total area being a designated floodplain area. The Lake Erie shoreline is largely regulated and as such, represents a larger proportion of the hazards present within the Northeast Lake Erie Shoreline quaternary watershed (3.3%). The top of slope hazard lands is found to be a minimal proportion of the natural hazards when compared to the regulated floodplain and shoreline lands. This information has been used in subsequent study tasks (ref. NWP (E) - Volume 3: Growth Analysis) to identify any potential constraints or unfavourable conditions for development with respect to the potential growth areas, which can help to inform future watershed planning objectives.

2.3.3.6 Natural Heritage Erie The following sections present a thorough summary of existing conditions for the tertiary watershed based on available secondary source data. Information presented here has been used to identify and inform potential management and/or policy direction through the Watershed Plan Equivalency process. Fish & Fish Habitat Habitat Characterization The Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed encompasses one quaternary watershed, the Northeast Lake Erie Shoreline. The watercourses within this watershed are comprised of permanent and intermittent watercourses, with permanency generally increasing as catchment area increase. All watercourses with known thermal regimes are identified as warmwater, the remainder are unclassified. Available habitat mapping is shown on Drawings NH1 (Aquatic Habitat), NH2 (Watercourse Permanency and Barriers), and NH3 (Thermal Regime). Table 2-LE-6: Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed Thermal Regime Quaternary Movement Thermal Habitat Watershed Barriers Regime (%)1 • According to the thermal regime, this watershed consists mainly of warmwater watercourses. • Majority of the waterbodies and its Warm Water tributaries are classed as critical 97% (55%) and important (35%) fish Cool Water Northeast habitat. Erosion and 0% Lake Erie • In the watershed over 61% of the sedimentation2 Cold Water Shoreline watercourse have been classified 0% as municipal drains, with majority Unclassified having the Class F designation 3% (intermittent flow)2. • Casey Drain, Eagle Marsh Drain, Wignell Drain, Bearss Drain and

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 148 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Quaternary Movement Thermal Habitat Watershed Barriers Regime (%)1 Point Abino Drain have been classified as important fish habitat. Welland Canal has been classified as marginal2. • Smallmouth Bass spawning sites were identified by the Ministry of Natural Resources in Gravelly Bay, Nickel Beach, and Lorraine Bay. Nursey and feeding areas for Smallmouth Bass have also been identified near Rock Island2 Note: 1-MNR Thermal Regimes Dataset 2-Lake Erie North Shore Watershed Management Plan (NPCA, 2010)

Within Niagara Region, fish habitat has been categorized as Critical, Important and Marginal. A summary of habitat classifications and the proportion of each quaternary watershed that occurs within the Region’s municipal boundary is provided in Table 2- LE-7. Table 2-LE-7: Niagara Region Fish Habitat Classification: Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed

Habitat Habitat Quaternary (km) Watershed Critical Critical Marginal Marginal Total Total (%) Total (%) Total (%) Important Important lassification Length (km) Length (km) Length Length C Classification Classification Classification Classification Classification Natural Fish Natural Fish Habitat Natural Fish Habitat Natural Fish Habitat Natural Fish Habitat Natural Fish Habitat

Northeast Lake Erie 18.8 55% 12.0 35% 3.5 10% Shoreline Fish Species A summary highlighting the fish species found in the area and the general thermal class is provided in Table 2-LE-8 below.

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 149 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Table 2-LE-8: Summary of Lake Erie Quaternary Watershed fish species and thermal classes Quaternary Fish Species1 Thermal Classes2 Watershed Alewife, Banded Killifish, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Bluntnose Minnow, Bowfin, Brook Silverside, Brown Bullhead, Central Mudminnow, Channel Catfish, Fish species Common Carp, Common Shiner, Creek Chub, composition is Emerald Shiner, Freshwater Drum, Gizzard Shad, reflective of a Northeast Golden Shiner, Goldfish, Grass Pickerel, Green predominantly Lake Erie Sunfish, Hornyhead Chub, Johnny Darter, warmwater fish habitat Shoreline Largemouth Bass, Lepomis sp., Log Perch, regime. Coldwater Longnose Gar, Longnose Dace, Minnow family, species are present, (48 species) Northern Hog Sucker, Northern Pike, Pumpkinseed, but generally Quillback Rainbow Trout, Redhorse, Rock Bass, restricted to deeper Round Goby, Sand Shiner, Smallmouth Bass, portions of the lake2 Spotfin Shiner, Spottail Shiner, Striped Shiner, Catfish sp., Minnow sp., Walleye, White Crappie, White Perch, White Sucker, Yellow Perch Note: 1-MNR Thermal Regimes Dataset 2-Lake Erie North Shore Watershed Management Plan (NPCA, 2010) Fish Species at Risk Several aquatic Species at Risk listed in the updated DFO Species at Risk mapping (DFO, 2020) occur within the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed (Table 2-LE-9). Status, presence in the watershed, and general location of mapped habitat is summarized for each species. Table 2-LE-9: Fish species at risk within the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed Quaternary Presence in Fish Species Name1 Status2 Watershed Watershed Northeast Lake Fawnsfoot SARA - END Grand River Erie Shoreline (Truncilla donaciformis) COSEWIC - END Black Creek and Grass Pickerel Northeast Lake Boyer's Creek, Lake SARA - SC (Esox americanus Erie Shoreline Erie, Tributary of COSEWIC - SC vermiculatus) Lake Ontario Northeast Lake Lilliput SARA - END Grand River Erie Shoreline (Toxolasma parvum) COSEWIC - END Northeast Lake Mapleleaf SARA - SC Grand River Erie Shoreline (Quadrula quadrula) COSEWIC - SC Northeast Lake Northern Brook Lamprey SARA - SC Lake Erie Erie Shoreline (Ichthyomyzon fossor) COSEWIC - SC Northeast Lake Threehorn Wartyback SARA - THR Grand River Erie Shoreline (Obliquaria reflexa) COSEWIC - THR

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 150 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Note: 1- SAR species gathered from DFO Species at Risk mapping (DFO, 2020) 2- Species at risk status gathered from https://wildlife- species.canada.ca/species-risk-registry/species/ Terrestrial Vegetation Communities Ecological Land Classification (ELC) within the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed is presented on Drawing NH4. Woodlands across the watersheds are shown on Drawing NH5 and wetlands are shown on Drawing NH6. In order to summarize vegetation communities across the watershed (i.e., within and extending beyond the Region), several sources of information were used: ELC mapping from the Region (coverage across the Region), ELC mapping from the NAI project (NPCA, 2011), and MNR datasets were used for woodlands and wetlands where ELC data were not available. Where ELC mapping was not available across the watershed, other feature types are likely under-represented due to this sampling limitation. A total of 36 community types have been mapped. A general summary of natural ELC community series is provided in Table 2-LE-10. The natural areas within the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed are dominated by woodland, wetland, and successional communities. Cultural Meadow is likely underrepresented as this habitat community was not available in mapped datasets for the full watershed. It is expected that Cultural Meadow is an abundant community within this tertiary watershed occurring in patches associated with agricultural and urban landscapes. Five vegetation community series within the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed are considered rare in Ontario including Open Rock Barren, Shrub Rock Barren, Treed Rock Barren, Treed Talus, and Treed Sand Baren and Dune. Additionally, some community types within other series (e.g., FOD, SWD, etc.) may be considered rare in Ontario. Table 2-LE-10: Natural Ecological Land Classification Community Series Summaries for the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed ELC Community Series Area (ha) (% of watershed) Lake Erie Watershed: Woodland 3191 (23%) Lake Erie Watershed: Wetland 2962 (22%) Lake Erie Watershed: Successional 507 (4%) Lake Erie Watershed: Shoreline 143 (1%) Lake Erie Watershed: Rock Barren 13 (<1%) Lake Erie Watershed: Open Aquatic 11 (<1%) Lake Erie Watershed: Talus 3 (<1%) Lake Erie Watershed: Sand Barren and Dune 2 (<1%) Note: Areas and percent cover are rounded to the nearest whole number for the purposes of this characterization.

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 151 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Woodlands For the portion of the watershed within Niagara Region, a total of 882 woodland ELC units comprising 486 features (i.e., contiguous woodlands which may include multiple ELC unit types) have been mapped, encompassing an area of 2,781 ha. This represents 24% of the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed that occurs within the Niagara Region (11,814 ha). Ten woodland community series types have been identified as occurring in Niagara Region: • Coniferous Forest • Deciduous Forest • Mixed Forest • Coniferous Swamp • Deciduous Swamp • Mixed Swamp • Treed Agriculture • Coniferous Woodland • Deciduous Woodland • Mixed Woodland Woodland areas within this tertiary watershed are generally concentrated between Point Abino Conservation Reserve and Fort Erie along the southeast portion of the tertiary watershed, but also occur scattered in across other areas of the watershed. Deciduous Swamp and Deciduous Forest were the most abundant woodland types (Table 2-LE- 11). Table 2-LE-11: Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed Woodland Summary (within Niagara Region) ELC Description ELC Code Count Area (ha) Northeast Lake Erie Shoreline: FOC 7 5.1 Coniferous Forest Northeast Lake Erie Shoreline: FOD 171 522.6 Deciduous Forest Northeast Lake Erie Shoreline: FOM 30 75.3 Mixed Forest Northeast Lake Erie Shoreline: SWC 2 1.5 Coniferous Swamp Northeast Lake Erie Shoreline: SWD 482 1925.4 Deciduous Swamp Northeast Lake Erie Shoreline: SWM 21 61.5 Mixed Swamp Northeast Lake Erie Shoreline: TAG 29 45.2 Treed Agriculture Northeast Lake Erie Shoreline: WOC 7 7.7 Coniferous Woodland

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 152 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan ELC Description ELC Code Count Area (ha) Northeast Lake Erie Shoreline: WOD 109 97.9 Deciduous Woodland Northeast Lake Erie Shoreline: WOM 24 38.9 Mixed Woodland Total 10 882 2781.14 Note: Treed swamps are identified under both woodland and wetland categories. Not all swamps will meet the required canopy cover for woodland but are captured here as they have the potential to meet the required criteria. Some units overlap Quaternary Watershed Boundaries; these units are captured (by count) for each watershed within which they occur. Area calculations are representative of areas within each Quaternary Watershed. Wetlands For the portion of the watershed within Niagara Region, Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed, a total of 764 wetland units, comprising 294 features (i.e. contiguous wetlands areas which may include multiple ELC unit types) have been mapped, encompassing an area of 2,629 ha. This represents 22% of the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed that occurs within the Niagara Region (11,814 ha). Nine wetland community series types have been identified as occurring in the region: • Meadow marsh (MAM) • Shallow marsh (MAS) • Floating-leaved shallow aquatic (SAF) • Mixed shallow aquatic (SAM) • Submerged shallow aquatic (SAS) • Coniferous swamp (SWC) • Deciduous swamp (SWD) • Mixed swamp (SWM) • Thicket swamp (SWT) Wetland areas are scattered throughout this tertiary watershed. The ELC type in order of highest wetland cover are Deciduous Swamp, Thicket Swamp, Shallow Marsh and Meadow Marsh (Table 2-LE-12). Table 2-LE-12: Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed Wetland Summary (within Niagara Region)

ELC ELC Description Count Area (ha) Code Northeast Lake Erie MAM 59 85.9 Shoreline: Meadow Marsh Northeast Lake Erie MAS 47 139.2 Shoreline: Shallow Marsh

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 153 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan ELC ELC Description Count Area (ha) Code Northeast Lake Erie SAF 1 0.7 Shoreline: Floating-leaved Shallow Aquatic Northeast Lake Erie SAM 1 1.8 Shoreline: Mixed Shallow Aquatic Northeast Lake Erie SAS 3 7.5 Shoreline: Submerged Shallow Aquatic Northeast Lake Erie SWC 2 1.5 Shoreline: Coniferous Swamp Northeast Lake Erie SWD 482 1925.4 Shoreline: Deciduous Swamp Northeast Lake Erie SWM 21 61.5 Shoreline: Mixed Swamp Northeast Lake Erie SWT 148 405.2 Shoreline: Thicket Swamp Total 9 764 2628.62

Flora Data presented in this section is based on available secondary source data. Sources reviewed to compile flora records are outlined in Section 2.1 and record coverage is illustrated on Drawing NH7. Overall, coverage of records is considered low and is generally concentrated around the southeast side of the single quaternary watershed. Overall, while the volume of records is moderate to high, coverage is relatively low and is skewed to birds and flora. Flora record occurrences are generally concentrated around Port Abino Conservation Area and other natural land cover within the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed. Natural land cover is also concentrated to the east side of the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed. A detailed list a flora records associated with the various tertiary watershed areas is provided in Appendix A-1 (NH-A). A total of 331 flora species occurred within the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed. This represents 19.52% of the total flora diversity noted in Niagara Region (1696 taxa including species, subspecies, varieties and hybrids) (Oldham 2010). Table 2-LE-13: Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed Flora Summary Quaternary watershed # of records # of species recorded Northeast Lake Erie Shoreline 708 331

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 154 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) was used as the source for secondary source data. Per Section 2.1, this platform draws from a range of platforms (e.g., eBird, iNaturalist, herbarium records, Natural Heritage Information Centre [NHIC]). While this platform is extensive, the occurrence records do not necessarily reflect a comprehensive or exhaustive list of species or the actual abundance within the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed. Some species/taxa will be better represented due to public interest (e.g., rare species), ease of identification, and ability to observe them (e.g., trees). Due to the inclusion of NHIC data the number of records may have a higher bias towards rare or SAR species (e.g., Common Hop-tree and Eastern Flowering Dogwood), and therefore is not representative of the actual abundance of these species relative to other species present within the tertiary watershed (i.e., it is skewed towards some rare species). We note however that overall, the dataset provides a good general indication of biodiversity within the watershed when the complete species list is taken into consideration. A summary of flora species sorted by number of occurrences (high to low) within the database obtained from GBIF is presented in Appendix A-1 (NH-B). Species at Risk and Species of Conservation Concern A total of 18 Species at Risk/Species of Conservation Concern occur within the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed, which is comprised of a single quaternary watershed (Table 2- LE-14).

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Table 2-LE-14: Flora Species at Risk and Species of Conservation Concern within the Lake Erie Shoreline Quaternary Watershed

Niagara Scientific Name Common Name COSEWIC N Rank SARO S Rank Region Campsis radicans Trumpet Creeper N2N3 S2? IR Carex albicans White-tinged Sedge N4 S3 Carex appalachica Appalachian Sedge N3 S2S3 R Carex hirsutella Hairy Green Sedge N3 S3 R Carex lupuliformis False Hop Sedge END N1N2 END S1 Corispermum pallasii Pallas' Bugseed N3N4 S2? R Cornus florida Eastern Flowering Dogwood END N2 END S2? U Crataegus coccinioides Kansas Hawthorn NNR S2 R Gleditsia triacanthos Honey-locust N2 S2? R Hibiscus moscheutos Swamp Rose-mallow SC N3 SC S3 R Morus rubra Red Mulberry END N2 END S2 R Muhlenbergia sylvatica Woodland Muhly N2N3 S2? Nuttallanthus canadensis Old-field Toadflax N2 S1 R Nyssa sylvatica Black Gum N3 S3 U Ptelea trifoliata Common Hop-tree SC N3 THR S3 R Schoenoplectiella smithii Smith's Bulrush N3 S2S3 R Silphium perfoliatum Cup Plant N2 S2 IR Smilax rotundifolia Round-leaved Greenbrier THR N3 THR S2 R

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 156 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Fungi This group is not often reported on, however as it was present in some quantity in the dataset, it has been included here. The data available on fungi occurrence and distribution within the Lake Erie Tertiary Subwatershed is low. This is expected given that it is less commonly reported group. A total of 73 fungi species were documented Table 2-LE-15. Species reported include mushrooms and lichens. Fungi are a diverse group that is typically underrepresented in data based on the difficulty to identify species. Table 2-LE-15: Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed Fungi Summary # of species recorded in Subwatershed # of records watershed Northeast Lake Erie 101 73 Shoreline Total 101 73 Fauna Data presented in this section is based on available secondary source data. Records included birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates (insects and crustaceans). Sources reviewed to compile fauna records are outlined in Section 2.1 and record coverage is illustrated on Drawing NH8. Fauna records had a scattered distribution throughout the Lake Erie Tertiary watershed; however, there was a higher concentration of records along the shoreline of the eastern half of the tertiary watershed. Overall, while the volume of records is moderate to high, overall coverage is relatively low and distribution across taxa is skewed to birds and flora. A detailed list a fauna records associated with the various tertiary watershed areas is provided in Appendix A-1 (NH-A). A total of 367 fauna species occurred within the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed. This represents 26.85% of the total fauna diversity noted in Niagara Region (1367 species) (iNaturalist 2021). The most common group of taxa was birds (291 species), followed by invertebrates (41 species), mammals (22), amphibians (11 species) and reptiles (2 species). This corresponds to the number of records for these taxa suggesting that certain taxa, such as invertebrates, are data deficient/ under reported within the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed. The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) was used as the source for secondary source data. Per Section 2.1, this platform draws from a range of platforms (e.g., eBird, iNaturalist, herbarium records, Natural Heritage Information Centre [NHIC]). While this platform is extensive, the occurrence records do not necessarily reflect a comprehensive or exhaustive list of species or the actual abundance within the Lake Ontario Tertiary Watershed. Some species will be better represented due to public interest, ease or difficulty in identification, and ability to observe them (e.g., birds).

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 157 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Amphibians Amphibian species documented within the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed are listed in Table 2-LE-16. A total of 91 records were available for amphibians in this tertiary watershed. Secondary source information available for characterization does not include survey methodology used (e.g., via a formal amphibian call survey or as an incidental / opportunistic observation). Some species groups which are more cryptic in in their behavior (e.g., salamanders, newts, mudpuppies) are likely under-represented in the dataset. Species of particular interest, such as Species at Risk, may be over- represented in terms of number of records in the dataset. Overall, the amphibian records appear to represent the number of amphibian species present within the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed. However, Western Chorus Frog, Pickerel Frog and Eastern Red-spotted Newt, which were recorded in this area on the Ontario Herp Atlas (squares 17PH54 and 17PH64), had no records in the secondary source data. The number of amphibian species present in the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed is equivalent to the number of amphibian species recorded in the Niagara Region on iNaturalist (2021). Amphibians are an important indicator of wetland/woodland integrity. Amphibian breeding habitat and movement corridors may qualify as Significant Wildlife Habitat (SWH), depending on the diversity and abundance present in an area. SWH is not assessed in this report. Table 2-LE-16: Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed Amphibian Summary Quaternary watershed # of records # of species recorded Northeast Lake Erie Shoreline 91 11 Total 91 11 Birds A total of 291 bird species were documented within the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed (Table 2-LE-17). This represents 78.02% of the total number of bird species recorded in the Niagara Region (373 species) (Avibase 2021). Bird species documented include species with a variety of habitat preferences including but not limited to wetlands, open aquatic, successional habitats, agricultural habitats, forests/woodlands and habitat generalists that are adapted to urban environments. Birds are the group of fauna which is the most well documented in the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed. It is believed that the diversity of this group is well represented. Table 2-LE-17: Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed Bird Summary Quaternary watershed # of records # of species Northeast Lake Erie Shoreline 121259 291 Total 121259 291

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 158 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Invertebrates The data available on invertebrate occurrence and distribution within the Lake Erie Tertiary Subwatershed is lacking. Invertebrate records included butterflies, dragonflies, damselflies, beetles, and bees. A total of 41 invertebrate species were documented Table 2-LE-18. This represents a small percentage (4.31%) of all the invertebrate species recorded in the Niagara Region (952 species) (iNaturalist 2021). Records are likely biased towards charismatic invertebrate groups (e.g., butterflies and dragonflies) and towards easily identifiable species. Table 2-LE-18: Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed Invertebrate (Insects and Crustaceans) Summary

Quaternary watershed # of records # of species Northeast Lake Erie Shoreline 95 41 Total 95 41 Mammals A total of 22 mammal species have been recorded within the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed. The data on mammals is somewhat deficient with only 88 records. The number of species found in the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed represents 70.97% of all of the mammals noted to occur in the Niagara Region (31 species) (iNaturalist 2021). It is likely that additional mammal species also occur within this tertiary watershed since common, widespread species such as Racoon were not noted in the secondary source data. Including road mortality data collected by municipal and government agencies may assist in increasing the comprehensiveness of this dataset for large and medium sized mammals. Table 2-LE-19: Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed Mammal Summary Quaternary watershed # of records # of species Northeast Lake Erie Shoreline 88 22 Total 88 22 Reptiles Data available for reptiles within the Lake Erie Watershed is considered to be deficient with only 5 records and very few species represented. A total of 2 reptile species were documented within the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed. This included one turtle and one snake species (Table 2-LE-20). This represents 15.38% of the total number of reptile species recorded in Niagara Region by citizen science (13 species) (iNaturalist 2021). The Ontario Herp Atlas (squares 17PH54 and 17PH64) has records for Blanding’s Turtle, Midland Painted Turtle, Eastern Gartersnake, Eastern Hog-nosed Snake and Eastern Milksnake within this tertiary watershed. Eastern Ribbonsnake, Smooth Greensnake, Gray Ratsnake, Massasauga Rattlesnake, Northern Map Turtle, Northern Watersnake and Red-bellied Snake may also be present as they have records in squares that include area from this tertiary watershed and the Niagara River Tertiary watershed adjacent (squares 17PH44, 17PH45, 17PH55 and 17PH65).

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 159 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Table 2-LE-20: Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed Reptile Summary Quaternary watershed # of records # of species Northeast Lake Erie Shoreline 5 2 Total 5 2 Species at Risk and Species of Conservation Concern A total of 66 fauna Species at Risk and Species of Conservation Concern have been noted within this tertiary watershed, which is comprised of a single quaternary watershed (Table 2-LE-21).

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Table 2-LE-21: Fauna Species at Risk and Species of Conservation Concern within the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed SARA Scientific Name Common Name COSEWIC ESA Status S Rank Status Anaxyrus fowleri Fowler's Toad END END END S2 Bombus terricola Yellow-banded Bumble Bee SC SC S3S5 Ammodramus savannarum Grasshopper Sparrow SC SC SC S4B Antrostomus vociferus Eastern Whip-poor-will THR THR THR S4B Ardea alba Great Egret S2B Asio flammeus Short-eared Owl SC SC SC S2N,S4B Aythya americana Redhead S2B,S4N Aythya valisineria Canvasback S1B,S4N Buteo lagopus Rough-legged Hawk NAR NAR S1B,S4N Calcarius lapponicus Lapland Longspur S3B Calidris pusilla Semipalmated Sandpiper S3B,S4N Cardellina canadensis Canada Warbler THR THR SC S4B Chaetura pelagica Chimney Swift THR THR THR S4B,S4N Chen rossii Ross's Goose S1B Chlidonias niger Black Tern NAR SC S3B Chordeiles minor Common Nighthawk THR THR SC S4B Clangula hyemalis Long-tailed Duck S3B Contopus cooperi Olive-sided Flycatcher THR THR SC S4B Contopus virens Eastern Wood-Pewee SC SC SC S4B Corvus ossifragus Fish Crow S1S2 Dolichonyx oryzivorus Bobolink THR THR THR S4B Empidonax virescens Acadian Flycatcher END END END S2S3B Euphagus carolinus Rusty Blackbird SC SC S4B Falco peregrinus Peregrine Falcon SC NAR SC S3B Gavia pacifica Pacific Loon S3B Gavia stellata Red-throated Loon S1N,S3B Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald Eagle NAR SC S2N,S4B

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SARA Scientific Name Common Name COSEWIC ESA Status S Rank Status Hirundo rustica Barn Swallow THR THR THR S4B Histrionicus histrionicus Harlequin Duck SC SC SNA Hydroprogne caspia Caspian Tern NAR NAR S3B Hylocichla mustelina Wood Thrush THR THR SC S4B Ixobrychus exilis Least Bittern THR THR THR S4B Larus marinus Great Black-backed Gull S2B Limnodromus griseus Short-billed Dowitcher S3B,S4N Limosa fedoa Marbled Godwit S3B Limosa haemastica Hudsonian Godwit S3B,S4N Melanerpes erythrocephalus Red-headed Woodpecker THR THR SC S4B Numenius phaeopus Whimbrel S3B,S4N Nycticorax nycticorax Black-crowned Night-Heron S3B,S3N Parkesia motacilla Louisiana Waterthrush SC THR THR S3B Pelecanus erythrorhynchos American White Pelican NAR THR S2B Phalaropus lobatus Red-necked Phalarope ? SC SC S3S4B Phalaropus tricolor Wilson's Phalarope S3B Pluvialis dominica American Golden-Plover S2B,S4N Podiceps auritus Horned Grebe SC SC SC S1B,S4N Podiceps grisegena Red-necked Grebe NAR NAR S3B,S4N Progne subis Purple Martin S3S4B Protonotaria citrea Prothonotary Warbler END END END S1B Riparia riparia Bank Swallow THR THR THR S4B Setophaga cerulea Cerulean Warbler END END THR S3B Setophaga discolor Prairie Warbler NAR NAR S3B Stercorarius parasiticus Parasitic Jaeger S2B Sterna forsteri Forster's Tern DD DD S2B Sturnella magna Eastern Meadowlark THR THR THR S4B Sturnella neglecta Western Meadowlark S3B Tyrannus verticalis Western Kingbird S1B

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SARA Scientific Name Common Name COSEWIC ESA Status S Rank Status Tyto alba Barn Owl END END END S1 Vermivora chrysoptera Golden-winged Warbler THR THR SC S4B Vireo griseus White-eyed Vireo S2B Zonotrichia querula Harris's Sparrow SC SNA Danaus plexippus Monarch SC END SC S2N,S4B Microtus pinetorum Woodland Vole SC SC SC S3? Myotis lucifugus Little Brown Myotis END END END S3 Perimyotis subflavus Tri-colored Bat END END END S3? Urocyon cinereoargenteus Gray Fox THR THR THR S1 Chelydra serpentina Snapping Turtle SC SC SC S3

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 163 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest A total of 7 ANSI features are located in the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed (Drawing NH9) This includes 4 Earth Science ANSI and 3 Life Science ANSI representing 58.87 and 342.97 hectares, respectively (Table 2-LE-22Error! Reference source not found.). A list of ANSIs within the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed is provided in Table 2- LE-23. ANSI within this tertiary watershed are congregated along the shoreline. Table 2-LE-22: Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed ANSIs Summary Type # of features ANSI Area (ha) Northeast Lake Erie Shoreline: Earth 4 58.9 Science Northeast Lake Erie Shoreline: Life 3 343.0 Science Table 2-LE-23: ANSIs located in the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed Type ANSI Name ANSI Area (ha) Northeast Lake Erie Shoreline: ANSI, Rock Point Provincial Park 28.1 Earth Science Northeast Lake Erie Shoreline: ANSI, Ridgewood Raised Beaches 27.4 Earth Science Northeast Lake Erie Shoreline: ANSI, Onondaga Formation 0.8 Earth Science Northeast Lake Erie Shoreline: ANSI, Port Colborne Quarry 2.6 Earth Science Northeast Lake Erie Shoreline: ANSI, Point Abino Peninsula 169.6 Life Science Sandland Forest Northeast Lake Erie Shoreline: ANSI, Humberstone Muck Basin 91.4 Life Science Swamp Forest Northeast Lake Erie Shoreline: ANSI, Empire Beach Backshore 82.0 Life Science Forest Basin Total 7 402 2.3.3.7 Land Uses The land uses present within the Lake Erie tertiary watershed are consistent with the others across Niagara Region, including formal urban areas (residential, commercial, institutional, etc.), agricultural lands, and natural heritage and protected areas For the purpose of the current study, the focus has been placed upon the locations of urban land uses, the potential for urban growth and urban area boundary expansion, as well as a high-level summary of the agricultural land uses present across the Niagara Region. It should be noted that as part of subsequent quaternary watershed and subwatershed studies, a more detailed analysis into the various existing and planned

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 164 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan land uses, their associated impacts on water quantity / quality and the required management strategies throughout the watershed systems should be completed. Urban Land Uses The Lake Erie tertiary watershed is located within three (3) municipalities, including Wainfleet, Port Colborne and Fort Erie. Additionally, there are four (4) Hamlets which are located within or on the border of the Lake Erie tertiary boundary, these include Ostryhon Corners, Burnaby, Gasline and Sherkston. Of these communities, there are three (3) defined urban areas, which include Fort Erie, Crystal Beach and Port Colborne, which are currently proposed to provide approximately 50% of the future growth. In addition to the existing urban areas, there are a total of five (5) designated Secondary Plan areas, which are proposed for future development within the Lake Erie tertiary watershed. The status of these secondary plan areas has been defined as either Adopted, Approved, In Process or Draft. Per guidance from Niagara Region Planning, these Secondary Plan areas are noted to be guided by established policy and requirements set out by the local municipality and regulatory agencies and this has been documented in the respective Secondary Plans. As such, these areas will inherently not be guided by the recommendations of the current NWP (E). A summary of the municipalities and known urban areas for the Lake Erie tertiary watershed is summarized in Table 2-LE-24 and on Drawing WR6. Table 2-LE-24: Municipalities and Urban Areas within the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed % of Tertiary Secondary Municipality Urban Areas Hamlets Drainage Area 1 Plans Ridgeway- Thunder Bay (Approved) 2, Fort Erie, Crystal Beach Fort Erie 39% N/A Crystal Beach (In Process) 2, Spears High Pointe (Approved) 2 East Waterfront (Approved), Sherkston Port Gasline, 45% Port Colborne Shores Colborne Sherkston (Approved), Westwood Park (Approved) Ostryhon Corners, Wainfleet 16% N/A - Burnaby Note: 1 Percentage calculation based on tertiary land area within the Niagara Region boundaries. 2 Secondary Plan areas cross into Niagara River Tertiary Watershed.

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 165 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan As demonstrated by Table 2-LE-24, the Lake Erie tertiary watershed is largely represented by the shoreline communities of Port Colborne (45%) and Fort Erie (39%), as well as a smaller portion represented by the southern shoreline areas of Wainfleet (16%). The Lake Erie tertiary watershed has a number of Secondary Plans established, indicating the form and location of currently approved and expected level of growth across these areas, focused on Port Colborne and Fort Erie. In addition to these proposed development lands, there is further opportunity for urban growth and development in this tertiary system; a summary of designated growth areas within the tertiary watersheds is discussed further in NWP (E) - Volume 3: Growth Analysis. Agricultural Land Uses The Niagara Region is a known agricultural region in the Greater Horseshoe area and the province of Ontario as a whole; as such, agriculture has significant importance, as well as cultural and economic value across the Region. According to the Niagara Agriculture Profile (Niagara Region, 2017) based upon the 2016 Census of Agriculture, the top three (3) farm types across the Region included Fruit and tree nut farming; oilseed and grain farming; and greenhouse, nursery and floriculture production. There are also a substantial number of various animal farms, as well as other crops (tobacco, hay, combination, maple, vegetable and melon, etc.); all of these agricultural types contribute to Niagara’s agriculture economy and resource production (ref. Niagara Agriculture Profile, 2017). There were over 1,800 farms (+/-) located within the Niagara Region in 2016, which range from approximately 50 to 400 farms located in each of the various local municipalities encompassing the Region. Seeing as the Lake Erie tertiary watershed is the smallest of the tertiary watershed in total drainage area, it has parts of it within only three (3) out of the twelve (12) municipalities; regardless of the smaller total drainage area, agriculture and farming practices remain an important aspect of this tertiary system. Of particular interest to the Lake Erie tertiary watershed includes the southern extents of Wainfleet, as well as Port Colborne and Fort Erie, whom both have higher livestock operations as the dominant agricultural land; these municipalities are all located partially within the Lake Erie tertiary watershed. Further discussion regarding the environmental impacts of agriculture can be found in the Lake Ontario tertiary watershed section (ref. Section 2.3.1.7). In 2019, the governments of Canada and Ontario announced their continued commitment to support farmers in their efforts for environmentally sustainable operations in the Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair watersheds. Beginning in 2020, applications were accepted through a cost-share funding program under the Lake Erie Agriculture Demonstrating Sustainability (LEADS) initiative, delivered by the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership; the LEADS initiative strides to support investments by farmers to improve sustainable practices to limit nutrient loss, improve farmland soil health and reduce phosphorous entering the connected waterways and ultimately Lake Erie. Examples of projects eligible for financial support through this initiative include the following (ref. Helping Ontario Farmers Improve the Environment, OMAFRA, December 11, 2019):

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 166 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan • Modifying equipment to improve management of agricultural nutrients and to reduce soil compaction; • Planting overwintering cover crops to improve soil health and reduce soil erosion losses; • Planting vegetation and trees to provide a buffer between agricultural operations and waterways; and • Retiring environmentally fragile lands from agricultural production and planting permanent vegetative cover to reduce the loss of soil and nutrients from these lands. The federal and provincial governments have committed cost-share support to over 2,500 eligible projects through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership since 2018, in an effort to support eligible Ontario farming sectors to continue to innovate and grow sustainably, while benefiting the local natural resources (ref. Helping Ontario Farmers Improve the Environment, OMAFRA, December 11, 2019). As documented in the Lake Ontario tertiary watershed section, provincial data has been downloaded from the OMAFRA open-source catalogue for use in the current study in order to characterize the existing agricultural land uses across the tertiary and quaternary watershed systems. This data includes the following (ref. Ontario GeoHub): • Agricultural Land Base for the Greater Golden Horseshoe – This mapping is comprised of designated agricultural uses and rural lands in three (3) categories, including Candidate Area (CA) Prime Agricultural Area (PAA) and Specialty Crop Area (SCA). • Constructed Drains – This mapping represents watercourses in the form of ditches and/or natural watercourses that have been modified to improve drainage or buried tile systems. These may include either open or closed/tiled drain types. This data can provide a representation of the drainage systems relied upon through agricultural practices and irrigation/drainage needs. In terms of the constructed drains within the Niagara Region, vast majority are classified as Municipal Drains (constructed by a municipality under the Drainage Act through petition or requisition). The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), with support from Drainage Superintendents and Conservation Authorities, have developed a classification of Municipal Drains in order to streamline approvals under the Fisheries Act and SARA for certain types of drains (ref. Guidance of Maintaining and Repairing Municipal Drains in Ontario, 2017). Based upon the drain’s sensitivity, including parameters such as fish presence and flow periods, the resulting classifications include seven (7) different classes which refer to different authorization processes for maintenance of the drainage features. These classes include the following: • Drain Class A-C, E: The Class Authorization Process • Drain Class D, Unrated and Drains Containing SAR Species: The Site-Specific Review Process • Drain Class F: No review criteria specified. ­ Only applicable for intermittent watercourses dry for at least 3 months of the year – maintenance works to be completed during dry periods and following the DFO BMPs.

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 167 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan Depending on the type of drain classification, the maintenance activities and uses of the drainage features may be limited in order to protect the fish species and/or higher quality habitat present within the drains. This is a known concern in the agricultural industry, particularly in NOTL and other jurisdictions, as limitations are placed upon the uses of municipal drains for designated agricultural purposes as a result of important aquatic habitat, however, are still essential for irrigation and drainage of agricultural lands. While not incompatible, it is important to acknowledge the rights of property owners attributed to the Municipal Drains through the Drainage Act process and acknowledge these in land use planning. Concurrently it is equally important to identify the important ecological functions these systems serve in terms of water conveyance and riparian zones, for aquatic and terrestrial habitat, and apply appropriate management, including DFO guidance cited above. The details of these management needs (agricultural and natural) should be further assessed at the quaternary and Subwatershed scales in order that the form and function of these systems can be optimized. Both the agricultural land base and constructed drains mapping has been analyzed on a quaternary watershed basis in order to demonstrate the distribution of designated agricultural land categories, as well as the existing drainage features utilized through agricultural practices. The results of this analysis for the Lake Erie tertiary watershed are presented in Table 2-LE-25 and a visual representation has been prepared on Drawing WR7. Table 2-LE-25: Agricultural Land Base and Constructed Drains within the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed

1 1 1 1

)

km

Tertiary Quaternary ural Land CA NA PAA SCA Classes Length ( Length Total (%) Total WS (%) Total WS (%) Total WS (%) Total WS Agricultural Land Agricultural Land Agricultural Land Agricult Constructed Constructed Drains Constructed Drains Base Distribution of Base Distribution of Base Distribution of Base Distribution of Base Distribution Northeast C,D, Lake Erie Lake Erie 4.4 36.3 0 59.3 76.8 E,F,N Shoreline R Note: 1 Agricultural Land Base sourced from OMAFRA Open-Source Data – Candidate Area (CA), Prime Agricultural Area (PAA), Specialty Crop Area (SCA), No Applicable Land Designation (N/A). As demonstrated in Table 2-LE-25, the agricultural land base distribution across the Lake Erie tertiary watershed is largely attributed to non-agricultural land (i.e., urban areas) at approximately 59% land area, with prime agricultural areas representing approximately 36% land area, and the largest proportion of candidate area at approximately 4.4%. This demonstrates that approximately 40% of the total tertiary watershed drainage area is important for agricultural practices.

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 168 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan In terms of constructed drains, there are approximately 76 km (+/-) of constructed municipal drains in the Lake Erie tertiary watershed, which are vital features for agricultural practices. The Northeast Lake Erie Shoreline quaternary watershed contain drains with classifications requiring the Class Authorization Process (Classes C, E), unrated drains which may require a site-specific review (Class NR), and drains which do not require a specific review (Class F), as well as drains with a classification of D, which would require a site-specific review process. This information has been used in subsequent study tasks (ref. NWP (E) - Volume 3: Growth Analysis) to identify any potential constraints or unfavourable conditions for development with respect to the potential growth areas, which can help to inform future watershed planning objectives. 2.3.3.8 Watershed Monitoring A desktop review of information from NPCA has been completed to inventory the existing hydrometeorological datasets available for Niagara Region, which include climate stations, streamflow monitoring and water quality monitoring across the various watersheds under NPCA jurisdiction. Providing a summary of monitoring locations allows for the identification of potential information gaps or data deficiencies which may need to be addressed as part of future studies, particularly the quaternary-level watershed plans to be conducted by Niagara Region. It should be noted that several monitoring networks owned/operated by others, such as Environment Canada and the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) have also been included in the desktop review, as available through partnerships programs with NPCA. For the current assessment, the NPCA monitoring network and additional monitoring conducted at the provincial level, provides a high-level indication of existing watershed coverage and data availability for future studies (quaternary and subwatershed). Climate Stations Climate data are critical to validating and calibrating the hydrologic and hydrogeologic/groundwater system modelling to characterize the surface and subsurface water systems, as well as the respective interactions of water movement in the watersheds and respective subwatersheds, for which potential growth areas are proposed. Depending upon the nature of available datasets (tears of coverage, methodologies and protocols), more robust and informative analyses may be completed (i.e. long-term continuous simulation and frequency analyses), rather than the use of more simplistic synthetic design storm events. The existing climate stations are owned/operated by NPCA with select locations in partnership with Environment Canada’s Water Survey Canada (WSC) program, as well as with the Niagara Region. The existing climate stations present within the Lake Erie tertiary watershed have been summarized on a quaternary/subwatershed basis to demonstrate the coverage across the tertiary scale. It should be noted that the time- steps and period of record for the data have been provided by NPCA for use in this study, to characterize the utility of the data set for potential use in completing multi- seasonal, multi-year assessments for each of the watersheds as part of future studies. The results of this review for the Lake Erie tertiary watershed are summarized in Table 2-LE-26, and in the monitoring location summary plan, as shown on Drawing WR8.

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Table 2-LE-26: Climate Monitoring Network within the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed

Quaternary Station Station Data WL Time Period of Tertiary Subwatershed Status (# of Subs) ID Name Type Stage Steps Record Northeast Long Lake Erie Lake Erie Lake Erie 9A* LB01_P Precip - Active 15 min 2013-2021 Beach Shoreline (38) Northeast Crystal Lake Erie Lake Erie Lake Erie 2A CB01_P Precip - Active 15 min 2011-2021 Beach1 Shoreline (38) Note: * Based on the updated tertiary/quaternary watershed delineation completed by the province, the Lake Erie 9A subwatershed would be within the bounds of the Niagara River tertiary system. This climate gauge is located along the Lake Erie shoreline (south of the tertiary boundary), and as such would be appropriate for the characterization of the Long Beach area, as part of the Lake Erie tertiary system. 1 In partnership with the Niagara Region (1) – Period of Record stated in the above table refers to the NPCA database. Niagara Region database may extend beyond those stated above to the limits of the archive – Crystal Beach period of record begins in 2006 for the Niagara Region database.

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 170 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan As demonstrated by Table 2-LE-26, the NPCA operates a climate monitoring network consisting of two (2) monitoring stations located in the Lake Erie tertiary watershed. The data type recorded at each of the climate stations is listed as total precipitation depths, which can be useful for long-term hydrologic simulation including winter months. The recorded time-steps consist of 15 minute intervals, which is considered sufficiently resolute for hydrologic model calibration/validation. Recognizing that continuous simulation and frequency analysis requires a minimum of 20 years of rainfall for the hydrologic modelling, the noted period of record for the stations located throughout the Lake Erie tertiary watershed demonstrate an 8-to-10- year duration in terms of the NPCA database; for gauges operated in partnership with other governing bodies including Niagara Region, there may be additional opportunities to extend these period of records through supplemental databases. For example, the Crystal Beach station operated in partnership with the Niagara Region, has an additional 5 years of monitoring data which could be utilized in developing a long-term data set for continuous simulation as part of subsequent hydrologic studies. This information has been mined further in subsequent study tasks (ref. NWP (E) - Volume 2: Niagara Watershed Management) in order to identify potential monitoring gaps related to future studies’ data needs, required to evaluate the impact of potential growth areas, at subsequent study stages. Streamflow Monitoring According to the NPCA monitoring network mapping, there are currently no existing streamflow monitoring stations within the Lake Erie tertiary watershed. This indicates a large data gap as streamflow monitoring is required for hydrologic model calibration/validation, as well as overall characterization of the watershed systems. However, it should be noted that not all of the thirty-eight (38) subwatersheds contain major watercourses which would be appropriate for long-term monitoring by agencies such as NPCA (i.e. small subwatersheds draining directly to Lake Erie). The severity of the gaps and need for additional monitoring has been further reviewed as part of subsequent study components (ref. NWP (E) - Volume 2: Niagara Watershed Management) to provide appropriate recommendations for future potential growth areas. Water Quality Monitoring The purpose of the review of existing and available surface water quality monitoring network operated by NPCA is to characterize the aquatic health of the subwatersheds and tributaries with respect to contaminant loadings under existing land use conditions. This review has included a summary of the surface water monitoring locations throughout the Lake Erie tertiary watershed to identify potential data gaps for establishing future surface water quality monitoring plans, relative to the potential growth areas. Further discussion regarding the NPCA water quality monitoring network can be found in the Lake Ontario water quality monitoring section. According to NPCA, the surface water quality has been graded using three (3) primary indicators:

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 171 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan • Phosphorus (contributions from excessive fertilizer use and wastewater discharge) • E. coli bacteria (found in the intestines of humans and other animals) • Benthic macroinvertebrates community (small animals without a backbone that live at the bottom of streams). These animals have a range of tolerances to water pollution. Their quantity and variety can provide an indication of the level of water pollution. The combination and associated interpretation of these water quality indicators can result in one of the following water quality grades: • A – Excellent • B – Good • C – Fair • D – Poor • F – Very Poor • (-) Insufficient Data The results of the review for the Lake Erie tertiary watershed are summarized in Table 2-LE-27, and in the monitoring location summary plan, as shown on Drawing WR8. Table 2-LE-27: Water Quality Monitoring Network and Grades within the Lake Erie Tertiary Watershed # of WQ Grade WQ Grade Quaternary Tertiary Subwatershed Active (2012 Report (2018 Report (# of Subs) WQ Sites Card) Card)1 Northeast Lake Beaver Dam Lake Erie Erie Shoreline 1 D D Drain (38) Northeast Lake Lake Erie Erie Shoreline Casey Drain 1 D D (38) Northeast Lake Eagle Marsh Lake Erie Erie Shoreline 1 D D Drain (38) Northeast Lake Lake Erie Erie Shoreline Kraft Drain 1 D D (38) Northeast Lake Low Banks Lake Erie Erie Shoreline 1 D D Drain (38) Northeast Lake Point Abino Lake Erie Erie Shoreline 1 D D Drain (38) Northeast Lake Lake Erie Erie Shoreline Six Mile Creek 1 D C (38)

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 172 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan # of WQ Grade WQ Grade Quaternary Tertiary Subwatershed Active (2012 Report (2018 Report (# of Subs) WQ Sites Card) Card)1 Northeast Lake Lake Erie Erie Shoreline Wignell Drain 1 D D (38) Note: 1 2018 Water Quality Grade rendered to demonstrate trends in comparison to the 2012 Water Quality Grades, where: blue = improving, purple = declining, black = unchanged. As demonstrated in Table 2-LE-27, the NPCA operates an expansive water quality monitoring network, including eight (8) water quality monitoring stations, within the Lake Erie tertiary watershed. These are primarily focused on the drain systems throughout the watershed, as there are limited creek or river systems contributing to the Northeast Lake Erie Shoreline quaternary watershed system. These monitoring programs have allowed for the characterization of the aquatic health of the surface water systems across the subwatersheds; the results indicate that all subwatersheds contributing to Lake Erie are rated as being of Poor quality, as part of the 2012 Watershed Report Cards. Based upon the 2018 Watershed Report Card results, it can be seen that majority of the watersheds have maintained their respective 2012 water quality rating of Poor quality (D), with the exception of Six Mile Creek, which improved to a Fair (C) water quality rating. This information has been mined further in subsequent study tasks (ref. NWP (E) - Volume 2: Niagara Watershed Management) in order to identify potential monitoring gaps related to future studies required to evaluate the potential growth areas, as part of subsequent studies. Groundwater Monitoring According to the PGMN and OGS partnership program network mapping, there are currently no existing groundwater monitoring stations within the Lake Erie tertiary watershed. This indicates a significant data gap, as groundwater level and quality monitoring is an important aspect of watershed system characterization, and particularly given the sensitive nature of the groundwater system within the Lake Erie tertiary watershed, which has large HVA and SGRA area designations (ref. Drawing WR4). However, it should be noted that groundwater systems are not always bound to the same watershed boundaries as the surface water systems; the current OGS partnership program is monitoring several important groundwater systems across the Niagara Region, some of which are thought to be influenced by Lake Erie through lake recharge. As such, the subsurface systems present within the Lake Erie tertiary watershed may be sufficiently monitored/characterized through the existing networks present within the neighboring quaternary watersheds. The significance of the gaps and need for additional monitoring has been further reviewed as part of subsequent study components (ref. NWP (E) - Volume 2: Niagara Watershed Management) to provide appropriate recommendations for future potential growth areas.

Project # WW 20101001 | 5/21/2021 Page 173 Niagara Region Niagara Watershed Plan (Equivalency) – Volume 1: Characterization (DRAFT) Niagara Official Plan 3.0 CONCLUSION & NWP (E) REPORTING The contents of the current report pertain to Volume 1: Characterization, which has provided a review of existing data sources and has outlined the existing conditions of the three (3) tertiary watershed systems present within the Niagara Region. This characterization has completed a review the following natural and water-based system components: • Volume 1: Characterization ­ Niagara Watersheds Characterization (Lake Ontario, Niagara River, Lake Erie) ♦ Drainage Systems ♦ Surficial Soils ♦ Slopes / Topography ♦ Groundwater System & Source Water Protection ♦ Natural Hazards ♦ Natural Heritage (Fish & Terrestrial) ♦ Land Uses (Urban & Agricultural) ♦ Watershed Monitoring (Climate, Streamflow, Water Quality and Groundwater)

The findings from the watershed characterization within this report will help to inform the subsequent management requirements, outlined in Volume 2, as well as the analysis of potential growth across the Niagara Region, outlined in Volume 3. The contents of each subsequent volume are outlined below for reference. • Volume 2: Niagara Watershed Management ­ Goals & Objectives ­ Integrating the Natural Heritage System (NHS) & Water Resource System (WRS) ­ Watershed Plan (Equivalency) Guidance ♦ Water Management Guidance (Quantity/Quality) ♦ Climate Change Guidance ♦ Natural Hazards ♦ Cumulative Impacts ♦ Land Use Impact Management & Preliminary Guidance ­ Future Studies & Monitoring • Volume 3: Growth Analysis ­ Growth Scenarios / Priority Areas ♦ Total Potential Growth ♦ Priority Areas ♦ Growth Area Screening Matrix These report volumes encompassing the final NWP(E) have been compiled to improve the understanding of the natural and water-based systems present within the Niagara Region. The information also helps inform the new NOP and provides direction for the subsequent studies, which will be required to support future quaternary watershed planning and local subwatershed planning initiatives in the Niagara Region.

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APPENDIX A-1:

NIAGARA WATERSHED CHARACTERIZATION