Source Protection Watershed Characterization Report

Prepared by:

April 30, 2008

Raisin-South Nation Source Protection Region Watershed Characterization Report

Table of Contents

1 Introduction to the Source Protection Region ...... 1 1.1 Overview ...... 1 1.1.1 Report Organization ...... 1 1.2 The Raisin-South Nation Source Protection Region ...... 2 1.2.1 Conservation Authority Collaboration in Eastern Ontario ...... 4 1.2.2 Raisin Region Conservation Authority ...... 6 1.2.3 South Nation Conservation Authority ...... 7 1.2.4 Extended Source Protection Areas ...... 8 1.3 Water Resource Studies ...... 9 1.3.1 Eastern Ontario Water Resources Management Study (2001) ...... 10 1.3.2 Eastern Ontario Municipal Groundwater Study (2002) ...... 11 1.3.3 United Counties of Leeds-Grenville Groundwater Management Study (2002)...... 11 1.3.4 Preliminary Evaluation of Relative Aquifer Vulnerability, City of Ottawa (2001) ...... 12 1.4 Stakeholders and Partners: Water Resource Working Committees in Eastern Ontario ...... 12 1.4.1 Eastern Ontario Water Resource Committee ...... 12 1.4.2 Clean Water Committee (South Nation Conservation) ...... 13 1.4.3 St. Lawrence River Restoration Council (Raisin Region Conservation Authority) ...... 13 1.5 Provincial Working Relationships ...... 13 1.5.1 Total Phosphorus Management Program (Ministry of the Environment) ...... 14 1.6 Federal Working Relationships ...... 15 1.6.1 Microbial Source Tracking (Agriculture Canada) ...... 15 1.6.2 Watershed Evaluation of Beneficial Management Practices (Agriculture Canada) ...... 16 1.6.3 Shelterbelt Demonstration Project (Greencover Canada) ...... 16 1.6.4 Cornwall Sediment Control Strategy ...... 17 1.7 First Nations Groups ...... 17 1.8 Key Findings ...... 18 1.9 References ...... 19 2 Physical Description ...... 21 2.1 Introduction ...... 21 2.2 Objectives...... 21

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2.3 Data Sources ...... 21 2.3.1 Eastern Ontario Water Resources Management Study, 2001 ...... 21 2.3.2 Municipal Groundwater Studies, 2004 ...... 22 2.3.3 Preliminary Watershed Characterization for the Water Budget Conceptual Model, 2006 ...... 22 2.3.4 Watershed Characterization Report: Geologic Model and Conceptual Hydrogeological Model, 2006 ...... 23 2.4 Constraints and Assumptions ...... 23 2.5 Approach and Methods ...... 24 2.6 Physical Characterization ...... 24 2.6.1 General Description ...... 24 2.6.2 Geological History ...... 24 2.6.3 Bedrock Geology ...... 27 2.6.4 Quaternary Geology ...... 32 2.6.5 Geologic Cross Sections ...... 35 2.6.6 Topography and Physiography...... 39 2.6.7 Stream Network ...... 40 2.6.8 Soil Characteristics ...... 42 2.7 Key Findings ...... 43 2.8 Data Gaps and Options ...... 43 2.9 References ...... 43 3 Hydrology ...... 47 3.1 Introduction ...... 47 3.1.1 Objectives ...... 47 3.1.2 Data Sources ...... 47 3.1.3 Constraints and Assumptions ...... 48 3.1.4 Surface Water Hydrology ...... 48 3.1.5 Climate Data ...... 59 3.1.6 Climatic and Meteorological Trends ...... 62 3.2 Groundwater ...... 63 3.2.1 Objective ...... 65 3.2.2 Data Sources ...... 65 3.2.3 Constraints and Assumptions ...... 67

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3.2.4 Approach and Methods ...... 68 3.2.5 Aquifers in the Source Protection Region ...... 68 3.2.6 Regional Groundwater Flow ...... 76 3.2.7 Groundwater Discharge and Recharge ...... 79 3.2.8 Groundwater – Surface Water Interactions ...... 82 3.3 Data Gaps and Options ...... 83 3.4 Key Findings ...... 86 3.5 References ...... 87 4 Natural Heritage ...... 91 4.1 Introduction ...... 91 4.2 Objectives...... 91 4.3 Data Sources ...... 92 4.3.1 Natural Heritage Information ...... 92 4.3.2 Digital Data ...... 92 4.3.3 Documents ...... 93 4.4 Constraints ...... 93 4.5 Characterization ...... 94 4.5.1 Regional Picture ...... 94 4.5.2 Naturally Vegetated Areas ...... 96 4.5.3 Aquatic Ecology ...... 107 4.6 Summary of Key Findings ...... 120 4.7 Importance of Natural Heritage- Source Water Protection...... 122 4.8 Limitations ...... 123 4.9 Future Options ...... 123 4.10 References ...... 124 5 Human Characterization ...... 129 5.1 Introduction ...... 129 5.2 Objectives...... 129 5.3 Population ...... 129 5.3.1 Settlement Areas ...... 131 5.4 Population Projections ...... 133 5.4.1 City of Ottawa ...... 134

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5.4.2 City of Cornwall ...... 134 5.4.3 Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry ...... 134 5.4.4 Prescott-Russell ...... 134 5.4.5 Leeds and Grenville ...... 135 5.5 Land Use ...... 135 5.5.1 Urban and Rural Settlement Areas ...... 136 5.5.2 Brownfields ...... 138 5.5.3 Landfills ...... 139 5.5.4 Mining and Aggregate Extractions ...... 139 5.5.5 Oil and Gas ...... 140 5.5.6 Forestry ...... 140 5.5.7 Transportation ...... 140 5.5.8 Wastewater Treatment ...... 141 5.5.9 Serviced and Non-Serviced Areas ...... 141 5.5.10 Non-Municipal Water Supply Systems...... 145 5.5.11 Recently Completed or Approved Infrastructure Upgrades ...... 146 5.5.12 Stormwater Management ...... 147 5.5.13 Agricultural Resources ...... 147 5.5.14 Recreation Areas ...... 148 5.5.15 Protected Areas ...... 149 5.6 Key Findings ...... 149 5.7 Constraints and Assumptions ...... 150 5.8 Data Gaps and Options ...... 150 5.9 Conclusion ...... 151 5.10 References ...... 151 6 Water Quality ...... 153 6.1 Introduction ...... 153 6.2 Objectives...... 154 6.3 Data Sources and Limitations ...... 154 6.3.1 Data Sources ...... 154 6.3.2 Limitations of the Data...... 155 6.4 Assumptions ...... 156

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6.5 Approach and Methods ...... 156 6.5.1 Water Quality Parameter Selection ...... 157 6.5.2 Water Quality Trends Analysis ...... 158 6.5.3 Water Quality Current Conditions ...... 159 6.6 Surface Water Quality ...... 159 6.6.1 Regional Trends in Surface Water Quality ...... 159 6.6.2 Current Surface Water Quality Conditions ...... 172 6.7 Groundwater Quality ...... 175 6.7.1 Regional Trends in Groundwater Quality ...... 175 6.7.2 Current Conditions in Groundwater Quality ...... 175 6.7.3 Health Related Exceedences ...... 175 6.7.4 Aesthetic Exceedences ...... 177 6.8 Key Findings ...... 178 6.9 Data Gaps and Options ...... 178 6.10 References ...... 180 7 Water Quantity ...... 183 7.1 Introduction ...... 183 7.2 Objectives...... 183 7.3 Data Sources ...... 183 7.4 Constraints and Assumptions ...... 184 7.5 Water Use in SPR ...... 184 7.5.1 Permits to Take Water (PTTW) ...... 184 7.5.2 Surface Water versus Groundwater Takings in the PTTW ...... 185 7.5.3 PTTW Water Use by Sector ...... 186 7.6 Drinking Water Supplies ...... 188 7.6.1 Surface Water Municipal Withdrawals ...... 192 7.6.2 Groundwater, Large Municipal Residential Systems ...... 207 7.6.3 Groundwater, Small Municipal Residential Systems ...... 215 7.6.4 Groundwater, Small Municipal Non-Residential Systems ...... 217 7.6.5 Groundwater, Non-Municipal Year-Round Groundwater Residential Systems ...... 218 7.6.6 Groundwater, Small Non-Municipal Non-Residential Systems ...... 221 7.6.7 Groundwater, Non-Municipal Seasonal Residential Systems ...... 224

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7.6.8 Private Groundwater Supplies ...... 225 7.7 Actual Withdrawals versus Permitted Municipal PTTW ...... 226 7.8 Agriculture Activities and Agricultural Water Use ...... 228 7.8.1 Land Use ...... 228 7.8.2 Crops ...... 229 7.8.3 Livestock ...... 230 7.8.4 Manure Application ...... 230 7.8.5 Agricultural Water Use ...... 230 7.9 Commercial, Construction, Dewatering and Industrial Water Use ...... 231 7.9.1 Commercial ...... 233 7.9.2 Construction ...... 233 7.9.3 Aggregate Indus