Environmental news for the residents of the Grand River watershed Watershed Report

GRAND RIVER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY Fall 2009

Distribution 210,000 copies

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Along Water quality Lost fish Under attack THE GRAND RIVER The Grand River and Lake Changes in the Grand Invasive species threaten A Canadian the Erie share water quality River have resulted in the to displace native species issues. loss of several fish species. on the land and water. Heritage River Grand Page 4 Page 8 Page 10 P A G E 2 – T H E G R A N D FROM THE CHAIRMAN AND THE CAO The GRCA A Message How To Reach Us here’s a saying that when it comes to the environment “every- state and provincial governments, municipalities, Paul Emerson thing is connected to everything else.” watershed management agencies, environmental organiza- Chief Administrative Officer T In this edition of The Grand, we tell the story of how the tions and so on. Keith Murch Grand River and the Great Lakes are connected and the implications Traditionally, the focus of action was on polluted hot spots on the Assistant CAO, Secretary Treasurer shores of the Great Lakes or in wide-ranging action such as the phos- Joe Farwell for both bodies of water. Assistant CAO, Resource Management While the idea may seem obvious to anyone looking at a map, it’s phate ban in the 1970s. By Mail: GRCA not always reflected in provincial, national or international environ- That approach has had its successes, but didn’t always take into 400 Clyde Road, Box 729 mental policies. Indeed, it’s not always on the mind of decision mak- account what was happening along the tributaries, such as the Grand. Cambridge, Ontario N1R 5W6 ers here in the Grand River watershed. The Grand River watershed is 6,800 square kilometers and has a pop- By Phone: 519-621-2761 or, Go back a few hundred years, before the modern era of settlement ulation approaching one million people. Eventually, the treated efflu- Direct Line: 519-621-2763 + ext. in the Grand, and the two bodies were clearly, inextricably linked as ent from sewage plants serving most of those people enters the Toll Free 1-866-900-4722 parts of one large ecosystem. Grand River and ultimately Lake Erie. In a sense, it’s as if those mil- By Fax: 519-621-4844 Website: www.grandriver.ca What happens on the river affects the lake. The story of the Grand lion people were all living in one city where the Grand hits Lake Erie. E-mail general inquiries: River-Lake Erie fishery on Page 8 illustrates that link. Two centuries From that vantage point, the connection between river and lake is [email protected] ago, sturgeon, muskellunge and walleye moved effortlessly from lake undeniable and significant. Outside business hours: Fortunately there has been a shift in thinking and the realization 519-621-2761 and leave message to river and back. The ability to travel in both bodies of water was (8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, critical to the life cycle of those species that spawned in the Grand that the effort to clean up Lake Erie has to take into account what’s excluding holidays) and its tributaries. going on 50, 100 or 300 kilometres upstream. River Information Line: That connection was severely limited after small power and naviga- Canada and the U.S. are in the early stages of discussing the 519-621-2763 ext. 2519 renewal of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, which is the Planning and Permits: tion dams were built in the Lower Grand, from Brantford down to 519-621-2763 ext. 2230 Dunnville, in the 1800s. Cut off from their spawning grounds, some key document guiding governments on both sides of the border as Conservation Areas: species disappeared from the river and eventually from the lake. they work to restore the lakes. Head office 519-621-2763 ext. 2250 Others were reduced to a tiny fraction of their previous numbers and There are signs that the broader ecosystem approach, which ties Belwood Lake (Fergus) 519-843-2979 together the lakes and the rivers, will be given a stronger place in the Brant (Brantford) 519-752-2040 carry on only with human help. Byng Island (Dunnville) 905-774-5755 What happens in the lake, affects the river. That fact becomes clear document. Conestogo Lake (Drayton) 519-638-2873 in the story of invasive species that have made their way from Lake That’s good news, but that vision has to be translated into action. Elora Gorge (Elora) 519-846-9742 Erie into the Grand River system (See Page 10). Some of these inva- That means new programs and projects that look beyond the shores Guelph Lake (Guelph) 519-824-5061 of the lakes to the headwaters. Laurel Creek (Waterloo) 519-884-6620 sive species, such as the rusty crayfish and round goby, have already Luther Marsh (Grand Valley) 519-928-2832 found a home in the Grand and threaten to force out native species. That’s the best way to ensure that we secure the progress we’ve Pinehurst Lake (Paris) 519-442-4721 The human impact on the Grand River and Lake Erie was so pro- already made and continue to move forward in the effort to protect Rockwood (Rockwood) 519-856-9543 the Great Lake ecosystem. Shade’s Mills (Cambridge) 519-621-3697 found that there were times when both were on death’s door, the nat- ural balance destroyed. Reserve a campsite: By phone 1-866-ONT-CAMP Both bodies of water have bounced back as a result of concerted Online www.grandriver.ca efforts by many. The construction of new and improved sewage Nature Centres: treatment plants has had a major effect. Tree-planting, protection of Apps’ Mill (Brantford) 519-752-0655 wetlands, bans on chemical use and other factors have helped the Guelph Lake 519-836-7860 Grand-Erie ecosystem recover. Laurel Creek (Waterloo) 519-885-1368 The story is not finished, though. Rising population, agricultural Shade’s Mills (Cambridge) 519-623-5573 Taquanyah (Cayuga) 905-768-3288 intensification and climate change are putting new pressures on the Grand-Erie system. Grand River Conservation Foundation And that has led to calls for a new approach to Great Lakes issues – Phone: 519-621-2763 ext. 2271 1-877-29-GRAND one that recognizes that everything is connected to everything else. E-mail: [email protected] Making progress on improving the Great Lakes is a complicated Alan Dale Paul Emerson process that involves a multitude of players and agencies – national, Chairman Chief Administrative Officer THE GRAND is published twice a year by the GRCA, and distributed in news- papers to households in the Grand The municipality where you live appoints one Town of North Perth, Township of Perth River watershed. Additional copies or more representatives to the GRCA board to East: George Wicke available. WHO SPEAKS oversee the budget and activities of the conser- Regional Municipality of Halton: (Halton Letters and comments to: vation authority. Hills and Milton) – Barry Lee Dave Schultz, GRCA FOR YOU? 400 Clyde Road, Box 729 Townships of Amaranth, East Garafraxa, City of Hamilton: Jeanette Jamieson Cambridge, Ontario, N1R 5W6 East Luther Grand Valley, Melancthon, (519) 621-2763, Ext. 2273 County of Oxford: (Blandford-Blenheim, Southgate: Tom Nevills [email protected] City of Guelph: Vicki Beard, East Zorra-Tavistock, Norwich) – Printed by Grand River Valley Newspapers Townships of Wellington North and Mike Salisbury Alan Dale (GRCA chair) Mapleton: Pat Salter Regional Municipality of Waterloo: City of Brantford: Robert Hillier, Township of Centre Wellington: (Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo, North Vic Prendergast (GRCA 2nd vice-chair) Shawn Watters Dumfries, Wellesley, Wilmot and Woolwich) – County of Brant: Robert Chambers, Jane Brewer, Kim Denouden, Jean Haalboom, Brian Coleman Town of Erin, Townships of Ross Kelterborn, Claudette Millar, Jane Guelph/Eramosa and Puslinch: Brad Mitchell (GRCA 1st vice-chair), Wayne Roth, Haldimand and Norfolk counties: Whitcombe Jake Smola, Bill Strauss, Lynne Woolstencroft Lorne Boyko, Craig Grice

GRAND RIVER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY• www.grandriver.ca F A L L 2 0 0 9 – WA T E R S H E D R E P O R T Introduction P A G E 3 – T H E G R A N D River and lake: the Grand connection hen a hiker leave the trail in Paris, or a canoeist pulls her boat out of The ties are tight – and Wthe water at Bridgeport, it’s easy to growing tighter – between lose sight of the Grand River as it disappears around the next bend. the Grand and Lake Erie But stand on the pier at the mouth of the river in Port Maitland and you get an entirely the melting of the glaciers 10,000 years ago. new and different perspective on the Grand. The rushing water carved out the Grand River You’re nearly surrounded by water – river on valley and the water from the river helped fill one side, Lake Erie on the other. At this spot, the basin that eventually became Lake Erie. where they merge, it’s easy to see how closely Today the Great Lakes are the world’s they are connected. largest storehouse of fresh water. But for all of their size, they are somewhat fragile bodies. One ecosystem They are tightly bound in one big ecosys- Their drainage areas are relatively small com- tem and it quickly becomes clear that any- pared to the surface area of the lakes. Their thing done to improve the health of one body waters turn over slowly; only one per cent of of water has to involve the other. The Grand their contents is renewed each year. That River is the largest Canadian river feeding makes them susceptible to problems caused Lake Erie. Water flowing out of the Grand by the buildup of contaminants over time. has a big impact on the health of the eastern And of all the lakes, Erie is the most deli- basin of the lake. Conversely, changes in the cate. It is the smallest, shallowest and warmest lake, whether its water levels or invasive lake. species, can have an impact on the Grand. Most populous Almost every community in the Grand Its watershed has the largest population of makes use of Lake Erie to some degree. The any of the lakes. About 12 million people – The Grand River is one of the largest tributaries of Lake Erie and contributes about 25 per cent of treated effluent from 28 sewage treatment one third of the population of the Great the water coming from the Canadian side. plants in the Grand River watershed eventual- Lakes region – live around Lake Erie. ly makes its way into the lake. Canadian cities such as Kitchener, London That combination of physical and human crystallized the decline in the public’s mind. And the ties may get tighter in the future. and Windsor sit on rivers that flow into Lake characteristics means that Lake Erie is usually Action on both sides of the border helped Right now, Dunnville is the only watershed Erie.The American shore hosts Buffalo, the first to be affected by pollution problems. pull it back. New laws designed to cut down community to take its water from Lake Erie. Cleveland and Detroit – along with all of the It’s like an early warning siren for the entire on nutrient levels in the lakes paid off, as did But someday, if a proposed pipeline is built pollution problems they generate. Great Lakes basin. investment in sewage treatment plants. from Nanticoke to Waterloo Region, more The basin is also home to some of the rich- After years of decline Lake Erie was on the However, alarm bells are ringing again. than half of the watershed’s million people est farmland on the continent, particularly the verge of being written off as a “dead” lake in Nutrient levels are starting to rise, particularly will be drinking water from Lake Erie. It’s fertile farmland of southern Ontario. That the 1970s, driven to the brink by an overload in the areas closest to shore and algae blooms hard to conceive of a closer connection than brings with it another set of pollution prob- of nutrients that spurred algae growth. A are reappearing. The Grand River has been that. lems linked to nutrients coming from manure much publicized event – the day the cited as a major contributor to that problem The river and lake both had their origins in and fertilizers. Cuyahoga River caught fire in Cleveland – and will undoubtedly be part of the solution.

Great Lake water quality – a guide to who does what he Great Lakes are the picked up steam in the 1970s when review of the Great Lakes Water AOC: Areas of Concern. These tect biodiversity and respond to world’s largest reservoir of there was the realization that the Quality Agreement. are heavily polluted areas on both invasive species. It’s administered Tfresh water and vitally lakes, particularly Lake Erie, were GLWQA: Great Lakes Water sides of the border targeted for by federal and provincial ministries important to the people who live in on a downward spiral that needed Quality Agreement. This Canada- cleanup as a result of the GLWQA. overseeing environment, fisheries, their watersheds. urgent attention. U.S. agreement was signed in 1972 There are 43 AOCs, with 12 on agriculture, natural resources and But the fact that the watershed Since then a host of agencies, to control pollution in the Great Lake Erie although only one, transportation. straddles an international border agreements and plans have been Lakes and to clean up waste waters Wheatley Harbour, is on the LaMP: Lakewide Management has made the job of caring for the developed to address Great Lakes from industries and communities. Canadian side. Plan. There are LaMPs for the thee lakes that much more difficult. issues. For the uninitiated it can be One of its notable successes was RAP: Remedial Action Plan. A cross-border lakes (Superior, Erie Water doesn’t know political confusing trying to sort out the the banning of phosphates from plan outlining how pollution will and Ontario) and a Bi-National boundaries so efforts to stem pollu- alphabet soup of treaties, agencies laundry detergent which had a be reduced in the AOCs. tion on one side will be less effec- and agreements. Here’s a guide: major impact on water quality. It COA: Canada-Ontario Partnership for Lake Huron. tive if action isn’t co-ordinated with IJC: The International Joint also outlines goals for reducing pol- Agreement. This agreement sets They’re administered by federal, the people living on the other side. Commission. It was established by lutants, preservation of habitat and out how the federal and Ontario provincial and state governments The unique circumstances of the Canada and the U.S. as a result of dealing with invasive species. Lead governments will work together to on both sides of the border. Great Lakes were recognized a the 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty. agencies for implementation of the improve the Great Lakes basin and Conservation Authorities, such as century ago when the U.S. and It has jurisdiction over cross-border agreement are Environment Cana- meet their obligations under the the GRCA, also have a voice at the Canada got together to sign the water issues such as flows and pol- da and the U.S. Environmental GLWQA. It outlines how they will table. The goal of the LaMPs is to Boundary Waters Treaty. lution. The commission is conduct- Protection Agency. A review of the address the AOCs, deal with pollu- maintain, restore and enhance the But the cross-border efforts really ing public consultation on the agreement is now taking place. tants, improve water quality, pro- Great Lakes ecosystems.

GRAND RIVER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY• www.grandriver.ca P A G E 4 – T H E G R A N D Water Quality F A L L 2 0 0 9 – WA T E R S H E D R E P O R T Erie and Grand share Nitrogen water quality issues Phosphorus Sediment hen Environment Canada released a report in 2007 Contaminants build up in river Won the state of Ontario’s rivers, one newspaper headline on its long journey to Lake Erie summed it up this way: “Grand ment resulted in dramatic improve- ecosystem needs some nutrients, River not so grand.” ments. Everything from the con- because they feed the algae at the The survey of more than 300 struction of sewage treatment plants foundation of the food chain. rivers and streams showed that to massive tree planting efforts However, too much of a good thing water quality in the Grand, meas- helped turn the Grand around. results in excessive plant and algae ured near its mouth in Dunnville, Still, the Environment Canada growth. The plants soak up oxygen was the third worst in the province. report highlighted the fact that at the expense of fish and other The news didn’t surprise experts there is still a lot of work to be aquatic life. who study the Grand. Data collect- done to help the Grand become a ■ Suspended sediments. These ed over the years by the GRCA in cleaner waterway. are fine particles of dirt that wash conjunction with the Ontario The problem in the Grand River into streams and rivers from the Ministry of the Environment, had is one of the cumulative impact of land and float in the water, turning consistently noted the poor quality thousands of individual sources of it cloudy. Excessive amounts can of water in the lake-like area pollution. While each on its own make a watercourse less suitable for upstream of the Dunnville Dam. may not have a huge effect, the species that need clear water. The dam sits astride the river eight cumulative impact of many sources These pollutants were present in kilometres upstream of the river’s means that by the time the Grand limited amounts in the Grand River mouth at Port Maitland. has traveled 300 kilometres to Lake before the era of settlement began It is, though, important to put Erie, it has been stressed to the in the early 1800s, but human activ- statistics in their proper context and limit. ity has resulted in a huge increase in this one is no exception. In addition to the problem that their presence. First, there’s the geographical poses for the river, it also hurts Studies of the Grand River have context. Water quality reports done water quality in Lake Erie, spreading shown that nutrient and sediment by the GRCA have pointed out that the Grand’s problem far beyond the levels are generally low in the head- Contaminants such as nitrogen, phosphorus and suspended sediments are most of the upstream areas of the end of the river. waters of the Grand River and its found throughout the watershed, but some areas contribute relatively more. Grand watershed were in better Discussions of water quality usu- tributaries. But as the rivers flow shape. Water quality in the headwa- ally focus on a few key pollutants: south down to the lake, they pick be found throughout the watershed, Wellington County and Waterloo ters of the Grand and its major trib- ■ Nutrients. These are chemicals up more pollutants. Farmland and there are areas that contribute more Region,nitrate levels climb rapidly. utaries was judged to be fair or bet- such as nitrogen and phosphorous sewage treatment plants are two of one than the others. One hypothesis, which needs more ter. and are the natural byproducts of important sources of nutrients. Soil study to be confirmed, is that nitro- Second, there’s the historical con- the decay of organic material, from erosion from farms and river banks Nitrogen gen-based chemicals are entering text. Just 50 years ago water quality rotting leaves to animal manure and can lead to high levels of suspended As the Grand and Conestogo surface waters from the groundwa- was even worse but concerted human waste. They’re also found in sediments. rivers and their tributaries pass efforts at many levels of govern- commercial fertilizers. A river Although all these pollutants can through the rich farmland of Continued on Page 5 Nitrogen Phosphorus Suspended sediments

Charts show the presence of contaminants in the Grand River at different locations between the headwaters and the mouth. The distances correspond to water quality testing locations near these communities: Grand Valley (50 km); West Montrose (100 km), Cambridge (150 km), Brantford (200 km), Caledonia (250 km) and Dunnville (300km).Data: MoE Provincial Water Quality Monitoring Network

GRAND RIVER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY• www.grandriver.ca F A L L 2 0 0 9 – WA T E R S H E D R E P O R T Water Quality P A G E 5 – T H E G R A N D Contaminated plume add to lake’s woes cientists call it Cladophora and other plants. In the eastern part glomerata. It’s also been called Water from the Grand of the lake, Cladophora is the prin- Sthe “wall of green.” can be detected ciple problem. In the western part Most people know it as plain of the lake outbreaks of blue-green old algae — the stringy, stinky up to 3 km from shore algae are more common. green stuff that is rooted in the The algae problem is also becom- shallow water along the shore, or breaks. They’re a sign that the lake ing worse because of the influence lies rotting on the beach. is overloaded with nutrients such as of an invasive species, zebra mus- Lake Erie is prone to algae out- phosphorus, which is food to algae sels, which filter particulate matter out of the water, allowing sunlight to reach deeper into the lake. (See Page 10) Every river and lake carries some nutrients. They’re the byproduct of the decay of organic material, such as leaves and trees. But they’re also found in manure, fertilizers and the effluent from sewage treatment plants. The Grand River and its tributar- ies pick up a lot of nutrients as they wind toward the lake. Some of the nutrients are absorbed by plants along the way, or settle to the bot- tom. But a lot of them float into Lake Erie in a plume of water that can be detected up to 12 kilometres along the shore and up to three kilometres out into the lake, depending on the volume of the flow coming from the river. People strolling along the pier at the mouth of the Grand at Port Maitland can easily see the plume arcing into the lake. It’s even more noticeable after the spring runoff or Excessive algae growth, such as this in the Grand near Paris, is usually a Sediment-loaded water from the Grand River spills into Lake Erie. sign of an overabundance of nutrients, such as phosphorus. Continued on Page 6 Photo by Carl Hiebert

shed remove much of the phospho- the Haldimand Clay Plain. The The presence of the Dunnville Called the Southern Grand River Quality rus in sewage before the treated river and its tributaries, especially Dam also has an impact. It creates a Ecosystem Rehabilitation Working effluent is released into rivers and Fairchild and Big creeks, pick up lake-like stretch that extends several Group, it included representatives Continued from Page 4 streams. However, some phospho- clay particles from their own banks, kilometres upstream toward of the GRCA, Fisheries and Oceans ter system in the Waterloo rus remains in the effluent so the as well as particles that wash off Cayuga. The water slows down Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Moraine. The moraine is an area of amount accumulates over the length farm fields. even more, so nutrients and sedi- Natural Resources, the Ontario loose, gravelly soil left behind as of the river. Phosphorus levels in By the time the river reaches ment from the entire watershed col- Ministry of the Environment, glaciers retreated 10,000 years ago. the Grand climb as it passes Caledonia, it has become rich in all lect in this area. Water moves easily from the surface Environment Canada and Six through the highly urbanized cen- three types of contaminants. Prior to the construction of the deep into the ground, carrying pol- Nations. tral part of the watershed which dam, there were large wetland areas lutants with it. Water returns to the River characteristics In a summary report of its find- includes the cities of Waterloo, along the banks of the river with surface through springs, or seeps The section of the river down- ings, the group said “the historic Kitchener, Guelph, Cambridge and plants that absorbed the nutrients directly into rivers from river banks stream of Caledonia has some other record describes a species richness Brantford. from the water. However, many of and upwellings. characteristics that magnify the that indicates much has degraded During the spring runoff, the those wetlands were submerged The theory is that nitrogen-based impact of these pollutants. over the past 100 years.” river system also gets a shot of when the dam was built in 1829 so components of manure and fertiliz- This is the flattest and widest part The report described this section phosphorus as organic material from today there are fewer plants to do ers were carried into the groundwa- of the Grand River, which means of the Grand as “highly eutrophic” the surface is washed into streams that job. ter system, perhaps decades ago, the water is more exposed to the The result is that the Lower which means it is excessively rich in and are now making their way back and rivers. hot summer sun, causing the water Grand, which was once a healthy nutrients and low in oxygen. to the surface water system. Suspended sediments to warm up. The warm water and and productive ecosystem, is now “The fish community is indicative Phosphorus The water in the Grand River lower oxygen level make it inhos- significantly degraded. of degraded aquatic habitat. Sewage treatment plants are a sig- remains relatively clear as far south pitable for many species of fish and A group of agencies interested in Tolerant or generalist species nificant source of phosphorus. The as Brantford. But as the river leaves aquatic life that once lived in this the Lower Grand did an extensive (which can live in poor conditions) 28 municipal plants in the water- the city it enters an area known as area. study of the area earlier this decade. dominate,” said the report.

GRAND RIVER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY• www.grandriver.ca P A G E 6 – T H E G R A N D Dunnville Marsh F A L L 2 0 0 9 – WA T E R S H E D R E P O R T Dunnville Marsh: the connecting link Rehabilitation of key wetland benefits both bodies of water By Janet Baine to 450 hectares. GRCA Communications Specialist A management plan was approved in 1997 to maintain, he warm, tranquil waters of restore and enhance biological the Dunnville Marsh hide a diversity. murky challenge for the T Creating ‘pits and mounds’ future. The GRCA’s terrestrial resources In the past, the southern Grand department is in the process of River was cooler, narrower and deeper. The marshlands were wider. restoring 45 hectares of the marsh- Countless biological processes took land which had been used for agri- place there, thanks to diverse marsh culture. Excavators were brought in inhabitants that made up the com- to create what conservationists call plex ecosystem. The marsh remains “pits and mounds.” They dug desk- an essential link between Lake Erie size holes and left a pile of earth and the Grand River. beside each hole to mimic what The marsh is still the largest sec- would happen if a large tree had tion of coastal wetlands in the fallen over, pulling up earth with its Grand River watershed. The GRCA roots. Water collects in these holes, is the owner and caretaker of part of providing habitat for new life. the marshland. A coalition of organ- The first pits were dug in izations had the foresight to buy December 2005 and by the follow- 376 hectares of the 1,600 hectare ing spring, the pits were already marsh in 1992. This land was teeming with tadpoles. Native seeds The Dunnville Marsh is an important feature of the Grand River watershed, though it’s not as large or healthy as it turned over to the GRCA and since were planted and are returning the was prior to the settlement of the region. then the protected area has grown fields to nature. Salamanders from

an area from Long Point in the west eral governments. However, phosphorus levels start- strategy for Lake Erie. It says work to the Niagara River in the east. It was a big problem for people ed to climb again in the 1990s, par- needs to be done to lower the River plume A report issued by the Ontario too. The odour of the rotting ticularly in areas closest to shore, amount of phosphorus coming from Continued from Page 6 Ministry of the Environment in Cladophora turned people away leading to more algae outbreaks. large watersheds feeding Lake Erie, 2008 said the Grand River had one from beaches and shorelines. That general increase reflects such as the Grand. a major storm when the water looks of the highest levels of phosphorus Property values dropped and what was happening in the Grand. More attention needs to be given like chocolate milk as it carries sedi- of any river in Ontario. The report, tourism-based businesses were hurt. The 2008 provincial water quality to farmland and septic systems, said named “Water Quality in Ontario,” ments washed into the river from Governments on both sides of report showed phosphorus levels at the group’s draft report. Surface said the Grand carried 108 micro- farm fields. the lake realized that something the intake for the Dunnville water runoff, which is called a “non-point grams per litre. The Provincial had to be done. As a result of the treatment plant, which is in Lake source,” accounts for about 60 per Largest river Water Quality Objective, set by the Canada-U.S. Great Lakes Water Erie just west of the river’s mouth. cent of the phosphorus in Lake Erie. The Grand River is, by far, the ministry to protect aquatic life, is 30 Quality agreement they acted to The area is affected by the flow of largest watercourse on the Canadian micrograms per litre. reduce the volume of nutrients water coming out of the Grand, as In the Grand River watershed, the side of Lake Erie. It contributes The water from the Grand con- entering the lake. well as the general movement of Rural Water Quality Program has about 25 per cent of the water tains 10 times more phosphorus water around the lake as a result of been addressing nutrient issues for a Banned phosphates entering from the Canadian side. It’s than the rest of the water in the wind and waves. decade. It provides farmers with The most noticeable, and most also the most heavily developed eastern basin of the lake. The numbers showed a rough grants to undertake projects to keep effective, action was banning phos- watershed on the Canadian side, Only the Don River in Toronto, trend. Phosphorus levels dropped water clean on the land. That with some of the province’s best phates (a form of phosphorus) from and the Thames River, which flows from the 1970s to the 1990s and includes building manure storage farmland and several of its fastest laundry detergents in the 1970s. through London and the fertile then bottomed out before a slight tanks, to reduce manure runoff, and growing cities. The turnaround was dramatic. farmland of southwestern Ontario, upward movement in the 1990s. planting trees and shrubs along By the time the Grand hits Lake Historically, the total amount of were higher. streams to soak up nutrients before Erie, it has passed through almost Lake Erie has been afflicted by phosphorus in the lake was about New nutrient strategy they get into the water. 2,000 square kilometres of farmland high nutrient levels for decades. 3,000 tonnes. That has led water quality experts and received effluent from 28 This is the reason Lake Erie was Phosphorus levels climbed during to look further afield for new ways Many farmers have nutrient man- sewage treatment plants serving considered to be on the verge of the 19th and 20th centuries and by to cut phosphorus loads. More agement plans to manage the about 800,000 people. death in the 1970s. 1972 the phosphorus load was eight specifically, they’re looking to the amount of manure or chemical fer- It’s estimated that the Grand “The lake almost choked to death times greater – 25,000 tonnes. The rivers and streams that feed the tilizers used on fields to ensure River contributes 40 per cent of the on masses of decaying algae,” said a phosphate ban and other efforts, lake. there’s just enough to feed the crops phosphorus found in the eastern report called Lake Erie: a Lake in such as improved sewage treatment, A bi-national group of experts has and nothing left to wash off into basin of Lake Erie, which takes in Flux, issued by the Ontario and fed- cut it to 15,000 tonnes by 1980. drafted a nutrient management water courses.

GRAND RIVER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY• www.grandriver.ca F A L L 2 0 0 9 – WA T E R S H E D R E P O R T Dunnville Marsh P A G E 7 – T H E G R A N D the nearby slough forest have They tolerate poor conditions and moved into the pits to breed. warm water,” explained Warren Carolinian trees, including shagbark Yerex, former supervisor of aquatic hickory, red oak, bitternut hickory resources for the GRCA. These and many other species, have been species stir up the water making it planted. What the newly-created murky so light can’t penetrate the area needs now is time. water and aquatic plants can’t grow. Unfortunately, the waters in the The destructive carp also dislodge marsh are the landing place for all aquatic plants that would be food to that comes down the river from the other species. populated areas. This means there Best accessed in a canoe or kayak are too many nutrients and a heavy from the east side of the Grand sediment load. Because the wetlands River, the small passageways are shallow, warm and quiet, these through the marsh are surrounded contaminants come to rest in the marsh and are only flushed out by tall bulrushes and cattail. There when there is a big flood. are few other plants — hairy willow herb, burr reed, water lily and not Important to fisheries much more. This is a simple ecosys- Even in its current state, the tem. marsh is especially important to the “There is huge potential to reha- fisheries both in Lake Erie and in bilitate the marsh. We know there the Grand River. Walleye and other are examples of what it could be in native fish spawn in the river, but the future,” Yerex said. But fixing once the eggs hatch, the current these problems is a complicated pushes the tiny fish into the marsh. task. It will take money, a good The still, warm water and high plan, leadership and co-operation nutrient level make it an excellent fish nursery during the spring. The from several organizations, includ- young fish grow until they are big ing Environment Canada, the enough to move back into the river Ministry of Natural Resources and the GRCA. and lake. The best way to see the Dunnville Marsh is from the water. Members of the Waterloo Wellington Canoe Club, which A plan similar to the Grand River But habitat disturbance means the has paddled the entire Grand River this year, explore the marsh. GRCA photo by Janet Baine water is so warm that only two Fisheries Management plan, which invasive fish species and no native received a national award from the fish remain in the marsh during the Ministry of Fisheries and Oceans in summer. May, is needed for the southern Carp are hurting Lower Grand “During the summer we think the Grand River as well. These projects water quality is so poor that only can and do succeed, but they are an arp and goldfish are believed about what they eat. They tend to tions that make it harder for goldfish and carp can live there. immense undertaking, Yerex said. Cto be the only two species of thrive in areas that challenge native species of plants and fish to fish that actually thrive in the species that are intolerant of poor survive. warm waters of the Dunnville conditions, such as those with Goldfish, which are related to Marsh during the summer and specialized diets. They are consid- carp, lose their gold colour as they Dunnville both are non-native invasive fish. ered "generalists" because they grow large. They are commonly Carp were first introduced into don't need specific types of food kept as pets and in backyard the U.S. in 1787 from Europe and or habitat. ponds but people often release were considered a “super fish.” By them into stormwater ponds or Hurt water quality creeks because they don't know 1892, they were found in the They have had a role to play in what else to do with them. Grand River and now they are the deteriorating water quality Releasing them into the Grand part of the river ecology to the conditions in the Grand River River watershed is a concern, point that few people know they watershed and the Dunnville since they reproduce and disturb are an invasive species. Marsh, because they are big and the unique ecosystem. In some parts of eastern Europe, tend to stir up the sediments and carp is sought after and in coun- nutrients as well as tries including the Czech uproot plants. This Republic, it is the traditional leads to murky water Christmas Eve dinner. that sunlight can't This species has adapted well to penetrate so sub- the Grand River. For canoeists merged aquatic paddling through the Dunnville plants that are food marsh during the summer, the for other aquatic sound of birds and wind through species can't grow. Port Maitland the reeds is occasionally interrupt- Carp are detrimental ed with a big splash of a carp or to biodiversity, since goldfish. they play a role in Both these species tolerate poor creating poorer The Dunnville Marsh lines the banks of the Grand River from Dunnville to the water quality and aren't picky water quality condi- Carp were brought to North America in 1787. river’s mouth at Port Maitland.

GRAND RIVER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY• www.grandriver.ca P A G E 8 – T H E G R A N D Grand Fishery F A L L 2 0 0 9 – WA T E R S H E D R E P O R T The lost fish of the Grand River magine the sight of tens of thou- centuries ago, has been lost. covered most of the watershed. sands of fish fighting their way Changes on the land and water doomed The early decline of the fishery Shade from the trees slowed down Iup the Grand River from Lake many species that once lived in the Grand was directly linked to changes that the melting of snow in the spring. Erie to return to their spawning followed the opening of the Grand The wetlands absorbed a lot of the grounds, renewing the cycle of life declined significantly. Some species Grand River fishery in the past 50 River watershed to settlement in the runoff, releasing it slowly to the river. that had existed for untold millen- managed to survive, but only with years as it has recovered some of its 1800s. As people adapted the river nia. human support. Walleye literally health. There are 82 species of fish and surrounding land to their needs, Longer floods Walleye, northern pike, brook water quality suffered and the links get a helping hand from people in the river system and some sec- As a result, spring floods were trout, muskellunge, and sturgeon – tions are rated among the top fish- between river and lake were weak- longer and the flood level were they were all at home in an ecosys- who catch them below the ened. Dunnville Dam and then move ing streams in North America. lower than we experience today. tem that linked river and lake 200 The recovery that started in the Floods sometimes lasted a few them above the dam so they can Water quality and quantity years ago. improvements helped pike, bass and mid-20th century can be directly weeks, with water filling the flood- swim on to their spawning areas. Many of them disappeared in the other species to bounce back and tied to human efforts to restore plain for extended periods of time. 1800s and 1900s, or their numbers There has been resurgence in the today they are the prime targets of water quality, moderate quantity, Adult fish would spawn in the calm anglers in much of the Grand River reforest the land and protect wet- backwaters, and their young would system. lands and other natural areas. feed on algae and plants that were Explorers who visited the mouth fertilized by naturally-occurring Ecosystem has changed of the Grand in 1640 reported large nutrients such as phosphorous and However, many of the species and productive fishing camps estab- nitrates. lost in the first century of settle- lished there by First Nations people. It all started to change in the ment will likely never come back, Sturgeon – a huge fish that grows to early 1800s. or certainly not in the same num- two metres long and 100 kilograms The Grand River was reshaped to bers that once existed. The ecosys- or more – were caught by natives as fit the needs of early inhabitants. A tem that allowed sturgeon, white far north as Cambridge. dam was built at Dunnville in 1829, fish, brook trout and muskies to The watershed was a much differ- a few miles upstream of the mouth thrive in much of the Grand two ent place then. Forests and wetlands of the Grand. Over the next 20

A helping hand for walleye Walleye are an important sport fish on Lake Erie and in the Grand River, but some need human help to get around the Dunnville Dam in the spring. Volunteers catch walleye and move them upstream so they can carry on the trip to Giant sturgeon, such as this one caught a century ago in Sulphur Creek near their spawning grounds. A fish ladder built into one weir of the dam complex in the mid-1990s was supposed to Dunnville, were once common in the Grand River. solve the migration problem, but the walleye don’t use it as much as had been hoped.

GRAND RIVER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY• www.grandriver.ca F A L L 2 0 0 9 – WA T E R S H E D R E P O R T Grand Fishery P A G E 9 – T H E G R A N D years more dams and locks were mercial fishing continued with fish- Reservoirs were built to moderate difficult to reproduce. A brown living in Lake Erie and then swim- built by the Grand River Navigation ers unaware that stocks were in floods and keep rivers flowing dur- trout stocking programs has made ming upstream – jumping the dams Company to allow barges and sail- rapid decline. ing droughts. Millions of trees were the section of the Grand from – to spawn in the central part of the ing ships to reach Brantford. By the 1900s white fish, sturgeon planted, municipalities invested in Fergus to West Montrose into a watershed in coldwater streams such The dams prevented many fish and muskellunge had essentially dis- sewage treatment plants and new prime fly-fishing area. as Whitemans Creek and from swimming upstream from the appeared from the Grand and wall- regulations protected remaining Rainbow trout, another intro- D’Aubigny Creek (near Brantford) lake to their spawning grounds on eye were barely surviving. Brook wetlands and other natural areas. duced species, have adapted well, and creeks feeding the Nith River. the Grand. trout were hanging on in a few Farmers tackled erosion and runoff The deep water behind the dams coldwater tributaries. Foreign problems. wiped out many shallow spawning species such as carp, which had By the last few decades of the been introduced to North America, areas. The Grand became “a series 20th century, all this work started survived because they could tolerate to pay off as the fishery rebounded. of murky, languid pools,” in the the polluted, warm water. words of Felix Barbetti of the In the past decade, many projects By the 1930s there was a realiza- have been carried out following a Ontario Federation of Anglers and tion in the Grand River watershed road map called the Grand River Hunters. that the problems that had Fisheries Management Plan, a com- Some fish could jump the dams destroyed the fishery were also cre- munity-based plan developed in the and other species could survive in ating intolerable problems for peo- 1990s with the support of the the areas between dams or in free- ple – highly polluted water flowing GRCA and the MNR. This year, flowing tributaries. However, plum- down a river that surged with floods the committee implementing the meting water quality caused by farm in the spring and dried up to a trick- plan was honoured by the federal manure, raw sewage and industrial le in summer. government for its work. waste hurt many species. With for- Took action Some new fish were introduced est stripped away and wetlands Municipalities, senior levels of to replace the lost species. Brown drained, water temperature in the government and the new Grand trout (originally from Europe) could river rose, to the detriment of fish River Conservation Commission (as live in the cool water flowing out of species that need cold water. the GRCA was known then) tackled the GRCA’s Belwood Lake reservoir Rainbow trout are a Pacific coast fish introduced into the Great Lakes and Meanwhile, on Lake Erie, com- those problems in a variety of ways. near Fergus, although they found it have done well in the Grand River. Lake Erie winds can make the Grand flow backward he Lower Grand River is a two- water pushing its way upstream ping in the west. Tway street. eight kilometres to Dunnville. Storm surges occur regularly but Most of the time, the Grand It happens when Lake Erie is hit most are so small that they are bare- flows lazily down to the river’s by a storm surge. That’s when ly noticed. However, when condi- mouth on Lake Erie at Port strong winds, blowing from the tions are right, they can flood Port Maitland. southwest, literally push water to Maitland and low-lying land along But every now and then, when the eastern end of the lake. Water the Lower Grand. conditions are right, the Grand will sloshes around in the lake like a Rose in hours actually flow backward, with lake bathtub, rising in the east and drop- For example, a storm surge on Jan. 30, 2008 raised the lake level at the mouth of the Grand at Port Maitland by about 1.75 meters (about five feet) in just a few hours. Frigid water flowed through the lakeside community and left a coat- ing of ice on buildings, cars and utility poles. Storm surges that are big enough – and especially if they occur when Water pushed up the Grand River by winds blowing across Lake Erie floods lake levels are already high – can a street in Port Maitland. actually send water flowing back- wards over the Dunnville Dam. plants provide a rich habitat for far upstream as Cayuga, about 40 That doesn’t happen very often, aquatic creatures as well as birds kilometres from the river’s mouth. but it shows the strong connection and other animals. That reach of the river was lined between the Lower Grand River The reverse flow also flushes out with rich, productive wetlands and Lake Erie. Storm surges are an debris and moves sand and sedi- which would have benefited from important part of the life of the ment around, helping to enrich the the high water. Lower Grand River. They can send habitat for aquatic life. However, most of the wetlands floodwaters into wetlands along the Before the Dunnville Dam was disappeared when they were flood- This graph shows the sudden rise in the height of Lake Erie near Port river’s edge, leaving behind nutri- built, water driven by the storm ed by the construction of the Maitland during a storm surge in January 2008 ents that feed aquatic plants. These surges would have made its way as Dunnville Dam in 1829.

GRAND RIVER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY• www.grandriver.ca P A G E 1 0 – TH E G R A N D Invasive species F A L L 2 0 0 9 – WA T E R S H E D R E P O R T Invasive species attack the Grand By Janet Baine ecosystem. It becomes less complex, ways to control further spread of GRCA Communications Specialist Native species find it hard less adaptable, and less able to meet invasive plants is to minimize distur- the challenges of the future. bance of natural areas, because inva- Each exotic invasive species has to compete against exotics Invasives on the land sive plants thrive in disturbed areas,” its own unique tale of arrival, dis- The Grand has also been hit by said GRCA ecologist Tony Zammit. placement of native species and vent further invasion of exotic inva- taking residence upstream. These the arrival of many plants and trees, For this reason, when the GRCA damage to the local ecosystem. sive species and to control existing include round goby, sea lamprey, as well. They’re having an impact is naturalizing areas, native seeds or These stories are as diverse as the ones where this is possible. rusty crayfish and zebra mussels. All on forests, wetlands and other natu- plant seedlings are spread early in species themselves. Sometimes they Invasive species lead to simpler, of these have made their way into ral areas. the process. This gives native plants come to our attention with a sudden less complex ecosystems. They the southern Grand River, and some Plant seeds are often blown by a better chance to become estab- blast of media attention, such as often have no natural predators. are further upstream. the wind or carried by birds and lished, helping to create a biologi- with zebra mussels. But most don’t They may quickly replace local One non-native species weakens animals to new locations. Invasive cally diverse area. garner much attention as they species that provide animals with the complexity of the aquatic exotic plants reproduce in ways that Some invasive species can devas- change the ecosystem to suit their food, helping to create a microhabi- allow them to trav- tate forests. The gypsy moth was own needs. tat. In this way, one new invasive el and replace These invaders travel by land, introduced into North America in species may lead to a multitude of native plants that 1981. While the greyish-white water and air. Some were intro- changes. are essential to the duced intentionally while others moth is harmless, the caterpillar “Biological diversity is very local ecosystem. stage is very destructive to many arrived by accident. A parent may important. The more diverse the Whenever a natural think nothing of releasing a pet native tree species. The gypsy moth ecosystem, the more resilient and area is disturbed population peaked in 1991 and goldfish into a stream or pond, not flexible it is. Without biological due to develop- realizing that goldfish displace 1992 and the Ministry of Natural diversity, the environment will not ment or other land Resources responded with a native fish and disturb their habitat. adapt as well to climate change and use and then it A homeowner digs up a plant — province-wide spraying program to population growth,” says Warren reverts back to veg- prevent the insect from destroying garlic mustard — with delicate etation, or even Yerex, the former supervisor of Ontario's deciduous forests. white flowers for her backyard when it’s not dis- aquatics at the GRCA. Gypsy moth populations are without knowing it will kill her turbed, invasive native wildflowers and tree Weaken ecosystem plants have an cyclical and were increasing in 2008 seedlings and then move on to a Because the Grand River is con- opportunity to to the point that the GRCA had to nearby forest. nected to Lake Erie, many aquatic move in. spray Brant and Byng Island conser- The goal of the GRCA and other invasive species are on our doorstep “One of the best vation areas to prevent further dam- concerned organizations is to pre- without much to keep them from Garlic mustard in the early stage of growth. age. They can completely defoliate Sea lamprey Round goby ea lamprey are ound goby live in Sparasitic and Rthe southern attach to fish. A Grand River, and lamprey is about extend upstream to half a metre long Middleport between and can kill 18 kilo- Caledonia and grams (40 pounds) Brantford. They were of fish during its 12 inadvertently released to 20 month adult into Belwood Lake, stage. near Fergus, a couple They made their of years ago and are way from the expected to move Atlantic Ocean to beyond the reservoir. the Great Lakes via On July 25, an angler canals in the 1800s, captured a goby and were present in downstream of the all the lakes by the Wilkes Dam in 1930s. They are Brantford — the first devastating local indication that gobies Round goby have made their way into the Grand River. fish populations. that were in the lower They now live in Sea lamprey attached to a lake trout with Grand River have times a year, so their numbers can grow rap- the southern Grand their sharp teeth. made it that far upstream. Often used as bait, idly. to the area above the Dunnville Dam. be devastating for it is easy for people to unknowingly move Anglers and boaters can slow the spread of Although lamprey numbers have been the Grand River them into new areas where they take hold gobies in several ways: don’t release live bait reduced since the 1960s in the Great Lakes, if fishery. It would quickly. in the water; drain your boat before leaving they move further upstream in the Grand, cost millions of dollars to chemically treat and Round gobies are 10 to 25 cm long and are any water access; and don’t transfer fish from beyond the Caledonia Dam, the results could kill them, yet this would be necessary. an aggressive fish. They also spawn several one location to another.

GRAND RIVER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY• www.grandriver.ca F A L L 2 0 0 9 – WA T E R S H E D R E P O R T Invasive species P A G E 1 1 – TH E G R A N D a tree, requiring it to use energy help much. reserves to grow new leaves. After “The compound is still in the soil repeated attacks, the tree dies. and it’s hard to plant any native Loosestrife meets it match Researchers are now discovering plants in the area and have them that some plants produce chemicals establish properly,” Klironomos nce an invasive species the province’s wetlands. that are toxic to native plants. says. takes up roots it can be dif- It’s a hardy plant and there were For example, research at the But the combined impact of all of Oficult to move it out. few ways to deal with it. No herbi- University of Guelph has found that the invasive exotics on land and in But there are success stories and cides are approved to treat it and garlic mustard is “waging under- the water presents a huge challenge purple loosestrife is one of them. digging it out didn’t work. ground chemical warfare” on native to restore the lost biodiversity. Purple loosestrife was introduced On top of that, it had no preda- Canadian trees. This discovery was “The problem is widespread and to North America in the 1880s as tors on the continent. made by University of Guelph pro- it sometimes feels like a losing bat- an ornamental plant or for beekeep- So scientists started looking at fessor John Klironomos and scien- tle,” said Zammit. “The exotic ing. However, it spread throughout importing some predators from the tists from the United States and species that displace native species the continent and eventually plant’s home base in Europe and Germany. are especially problematic.” became a significant threat to wet- Asia. Two leaf-eating beetles were Klironomos noticed few tree lands. identified and were put to the test seedlings in watershed forests where Purple loosestrife grows best in to see if they could be safely intro- garlic mustard flourished. His marshes and other wetlands. It duced into North America without research found the invasive targets quickly crowds out most native veg- causing a whole new series of and poisons the fungi in the soil etation and soon there is little food headaches. that helps nourish many native or shelter for native wildlife. By the trees, such as maple, ash and other 1990s it was becoming a significant Released beetles hardwoods. Once garlic mustard problem in Ontario as it threatened In 1992 the University of Guelph has invaded an area and released to upset the natural ecosystem in released the first beetles into the this deadly chemical compound, wild and eventually 400 release sites even removing the weed doesn’t were set up across the province. Forty of them were in the Grand River watershed and the release More info took place under the Grand River Purple loosestrife Watershed Management Plan for One of the best ways to com- Purple Loosestrife. The plan throughout the watershed and pur- bat the impact of invasive brought together the university, ple loosestrife was gone along the species is to learn about them. GRCA, Environment Canada, the banks of the Grand and much of Here are some websites: Common buckthorn grows so dense- Grand River Conservation the Speed rivers. However, there ■ www.invadingspecies.com ly that it crowds out native species, Foundation and volunteers to work are still large stands further away ■ www.treecanada.ca/tree-killers such as maple trees, because maple The beetle introduced to control pur- together to eradicate loosestrife. from the rivers and the beetle pro- seedlings are deprived of light. ple loosestrife. By 2004 the beetles had spread gram continues. Zebra mussels Rusty crayfish ebra mussels not only replace other mussels, usty crayfish were first spotted in Ontario benthic invertebrates, small fish, and decaying Zbut they also eat the food of fish, devastat- Rin the 1960s. The risk is that they will plants and animals. ing fish and aquatic insects. In Lake Erie, they push out native crayfish, which are an impor- They compete with juvenile game fish and have altered the ecosystem. They consumed tant food source for fish in the Grand River. forage fish species for food and eat up their algae, upsetting the normal food chain, which Rusty crayfish, which are about10 cm long habitat. They are easy to spot, since they are ultimately resulted in reductions in the number excluding the claws, were first observed in the of yellow perch, walleye and white perch in the Grand River watershed in 1987. The invasive much bigger than native species. lake. They also filter out some of the suspended species consumes twice as much food as One way to control their spread is to never solids from the water column, making it cleaner. native crayfish and will eat just about any- move bait buckets full of crayfish from one That allows sunlight to penetrate deeper into the thing, including aquatic vegetation, fish eggs, body of water to another. lake, encouraging algae growth. They are only about three centimetres long and will cover any hard surface: rock, metal, rub- ber and even other living things such as clams and plants. If zebra mussels manage to move upstream of Dunnville, they could damage water intakes including those at Six Nations, Brantford and the Region of Waterloo. GRCA dam opera- tions would be impaired, since the mussels could attach to the gates and hydro intakes. Their control or removal from con- crete and metal infrastructure using chlorination and other means to prevent build up could cost thousands of dollars. Zebra mussels cling to a water gauge. Rusty crayfish are hungry, aggressive creatures.

GRAND RIVER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY• www.grandriver.ca P A G E 1 2 – TH E G R A N D Controlling flows F A L L 2 0 0 9 – WA T E R S H E D R E P O R T High flows can be good for the Grand he Grand River goes through some mighty changes every Researchers are looking at how changes Tyear. It cycles through spring melt, in flows can help keep the river healthy summer dry spells and soggy But in recent years, aquatic biolo- species evolved amid cycles of high autumns, with flows rising and gists, hydrologists and water quality and low flows. They need changing falling dramatically over the course scientists have wondered if modera- flows to survive. As much as of the year. tion is always a virtue. humans dislike them, high flows During the height of a flood, They took a fresh look at how have many beneficial effects. flows can be 100 times greater than rivers work and concluded that vari- In effect, a flood can be a “spring during the summer in the Central ations in flows – including the housecleaning” for a river. Grand. On some tributaries, such as extreme flows that occur during a Many rivers, such as the Grand, the Nith and Conestoga rivers, flood – can help maintain a river as are actually a series of pools and rif- flows can regularly rise to 200 or a healthy habitat for aquatic crea- fles. Pools are sections of slow mov- 300 times summer flows. In 1974, tures and human needs. ing, deeper water. Riffles are shal- during one of the largest floods on The GRCA and several other low, rocky-bottomed areas where record, the flows in the Irvine River conservation authorities looked at the water moves more quickly. near Elora were 1,000 times summer the concept of “ecological” or “envi- When dams were built in the High water pushes water into the floodplain where nutrients feed vegetation, flows. ronmental flows” in their own 1800s and 1900s, many of the riffle enhancing its value as a habitat for many species. It could be worse. The GRCA watersheds in studies financed by areas were submerged. The rivers operates seven reservoirs to smooth the Ontario Ministry of Natural upstream of the dams turned into normal cycles: clear out dead material and help out the highs and lows; if the reser- Resources. small lakes, collecting sediment ■ Connectivity flow: A flow high revitalize the areas alongside the voirs didn’t exist, spring flood The studies were done after a from upstream. Years of managed, enough to link the pools and riffles river. waters would be even greater and long series of dry years in the late steady flows have buried some of in a watercourse. It’s not an issue on The study provided a better during dry periods, the river system 1990s and early 2000s that stressed the Grand and the major rivers, but understanding of the amount of would be reduced to a mere trickle those riffles. aquatic life in many parts of the The study gave GRCA staff a bet- there have been some streams – water needed to meet those flow in some places. watersheds. particularly in areas where a lot of levels in several parts of the Grand For the GRCA, like most water ter understanding of how water During those years, the GRCA stored in the reservoirs might be water is used for irrigation – where River system. management agencies, the goal has ensured the minimum flow targets flows can become too low to con- But, ironically, there hasn’t been a always been to moderate extreme released over the course of a year, were met throughout the summer or from year to year, to mimic more nect the pools and riffles. need to put the theory to the test. flows to the benefit of people, in ■ and fall months. natural flows. Of course, it would Flushing flow: A flow that has Since the study was completed the order to protect lives and property But long periods of steady flows enough force to sweep sediment watershed has gone through a par- and to keep their drinking water be done in a way that wouldn’t may not be the best thing for the threaten people or interfere with from riffles and move out debris. ticularly wet period and flows have and sewage treatment plants work- river. As the GRCA study pointed ■ Bed mobilizing flow: A flow fluctuated significantly, even during ing. sewage and water treatment plant out “a single flow value cannot operation. that moves half or more of the bed the summer. Two major floods in simultaneously meet the require- material (stones, dead vegetation, late 2008 and early 2009 gave the ments of all species in an aquatic Four flow levels algae, etc.) river a good cleaning, stirring up High water benefits community.” The study described four differ- ■ Riparian flow: When water sediment, revitalizing floodplains loods and high flows are a Fish, bugs and other aquatic ent kinds of flows that are part of spills through the floodplain to and pushing debris downstream. Fpart of the natural life cycle of rivers and provide a number of benefits to the ecosystem. High flows can: ■ flush out rotting vegetation, which helps improve the amount of oxygen in the water ■ sweep sediment away from shallow, rocky areas known as “riffles” which are used as spawning areas by many fish ■ deposit fresh layers of nutri- ent-rich mud in wetlands and floodplains, which sustain plant growth, creating a green buffer area along the river ■ move fallen trees and other heavy objects around, creat- ing new habitat The green line shows the change in flows in the Grand River at Cambridge ■ get rid of a lot of human The blue line shows the change in water levels in the Shand Dam reservoir (Galt) during the flood of December 2008. Normal summertime flows are debris that has accumulated in during 2008. The green lines show the upper and lower targets used by about 15 cubic metres per second (m3/s), but they rose to 600 m3/s during the river or on river banks. GRCA dam operators to help them decide how much water to keep in the the flood. Flows would have been much higher – about 1,400 m3/s – if not reservoir and how much to release. Sudden spikes follow storms or melts. for the moderating effect of GRCA reservoirs.

GRAND RIVER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY• www.grandriver.ca F A L L 2 0 0 9 – WA T E R S H E D R E P O R T Controlling flows P A G E 1 3 – TH E G R A N D A tale of two dams here are more than 100 dams in the Grand River system. Small dams can TSeven owned by the GRCA, add to water such as the Shand and Conestogo dams, are critical to reducing flood quality issues damages and maintaining minimum river flows in dry months. canal was filled in during the 1950s, Most of the rest are legacies of though the eastern segment still the 19th and early 20th centuries, exists. By the 1980s the Lorne Dam built for power, transportation or was in an advanced state of deterio- water supply. Most of them no ration so it was removed in 1989. longer have their original function, While these dams were a boon to though many are prized because of the early development of their com- The first Dunnville Dam was constructed in 1829 as part of the Welland Canal project. their aesthetic, heritage or recre- munities, they also had a negative ational values. impact on the natural heritage of Grand Island, while three smaller dramatically increasing the potential kilometres up and down the Grand. weirs link a series of islands lining for waterfowl and fish habitat. Cooler water from the middle Built for canal project the Grand River, interfering with One of the oldest is the fish movement, impairing water the west bank. The aging structures The study acknowledged, Grand River could flow south, rais- Dunnville Dam, built in 1829 to quality and sometimes making were upgraded in the 1990s. though, that earlier proposals to ing water quality and making it bet- supply water to the Welland Canal flooding worse. A 2007 report done by the Lake remove the dam have been met ter habitat for some fish species, via the Feeder Canal. It was a vital The Dunnville Dam has been Erie Management Unit of the with objections from those who put notably rainbow trout. Eliminating part of the development of the both a roadblock for fish trying to Ministry of Natural Resources a high value on the historic, eco- the physical barrier of the dam Grand as a transportation corridor move upstream to spawn and a endorsed removing the Dunnville nomic, recreational and aesthetic allowed the trout to reach rich linking Lake Erie to Grand River straitjacket to the old wetlands Dam to allow fish movement and to values of the dam. The river would spawning grounds such as communities as far north as upstream. A fish ladder built by the raise water quality in the Lower be shallower, narrower and lined Whitemans Creek and in just five Brantford. The dam remains a GRCA in the mid-1990s has had Grand River and Lake Erie. with wetlands compared to the years a robust rainbow trout fishery important feature of the communi- limited success, especially for wall- Removing the dam would also mod- lake-like vista today. took hold. erate flooding from ice jams, high ty. eye, which are an important com- Was opposition This section of the Grand has In Brantford, the Lorne Dam was mercial fish on Lake Erie. river flows and high water from A plan to remove the failing been designated an “Exceptional built about 20 years later to funnel The Dunnville Dam actually is Lake Erie that pushes back up the Lorne Dam in Brantford in the Waters” reach because of its water water to a canal which cut through four separate structures. The main river channel. This surge of water 1980s met with some of the same quality and other characteristics. It the centre of the city. Much of the dam joins the east river bank to would also rejuvenate the wetlands concerns. Even 20 years later there has drawn attention across the are occasionally suggestions that it province; recently Whitemans be rebuilt. Creek was dubbed one of the 10 When the Lorne Dam was finally best fishing spots in Ontario by a removed, the change was felt many fly-fishing magazine.

The former site of the Lorne Dam in Brantford. The channel has naturalized The Lorne Dam was in bad shape before it was removed in 1989. Photo courtesy The Brantford Expositor since the dam was removed.

GRAND RIVER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY• www.grandriver.ca P A G E 1 4 – TH E G R A N D Green infrastructure F A L L 2 0 0 9 – WA T E R S H E D R E P O R T Rebuilding our green infrastructure By Janet Baine GRCA Communications Specialist Forests and other natural areas

hen it comes to Grand help keep the watershed healthy River forests, the Joni the plan: committed funds to plant more trees Mitchell song rings true: W ■ 30 per cent forest cover for the through the Trees Ontario you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til Grand River watershed it’s gone. Foundation by providing incentives. ■ 95 per cent of streams and wet- Trees and forests are green infra- Schools, landowners, community lands buffered by natural vegetation, structure. They are as essential to groups and corporations are all three quarters with trees; increasing their efforts to plant communities as bridges, schools, ■ roads and municipal buildings. 40 per cent canopy cover in trees. Still, it is not enough. Some would argue that they are urban areas (currently between 23 “We need to severely accelerate even more essential, since commu- per cent and 30 per cent in the the rate that we are planting trees. nities depend on living systems, Grand’s five large urban areas) At the current rate, it is going to be ■ including trees, for their very exis- A minimum of one big block a few lifetimes before we get to 30 tence. Climate change and popula- (more than 400 hectares) of forest per cent forest cover. This is just tion growth add more compelling per ecoregion not going to be fast enough to keep reasons to plant trees than there During the heyday of tree plant- pace with climate change,” said were 40 years ago when Mitchell ing in the 1980s, the GRCA planted Martin Neumann, GRCA supervisor wrote her song. almost a million trees annually. Big of terrestrial resources. “The need to The GRCA and its partners are cutbacks in government funding for bolster watershed resilience in the focused on rebuilding green infra- tree planting mean that the GRCA face of climate change suggests we structure that has been lost. At the now plants less than 200,000 trees must reach 30 per cent within one end of the 1800s, only about five to annually, even after funding has lifetime.” seven per cent of the forest cover in crept up. But this is not nearly The GRCA is a leading force in the watershed remained. This was enough to meet the green infra- watershed tree planting, extension, the low point. Now forest cover is structure needs of the nearly one and support of community planting up to about 19 per cent. A million residents and the ecosystems efforts. This leadership position cre- we depend upon. Members of the Mill Creek Rangers pull the springs of an old mattress out of Watershed Forest Plan for the ates an obligation and an opportuni- the stream as part of a river cleanup project. The Rangers are students hired Grand River (2004) sets a frame- Trees for the future ty for the GRCA to increase efforts each summer to do projects to improve the coldwater stream in the Guelph- work for action and targets to work Governments are making tree in this area, and to motivate and Cambridge area. toward. These are key targets from planting a priority and are setting support others to do the same, targets. The first two municipalities Neumann said. to set targets are Brantford and Trees provide many benefits Guelph/Eramosa Township. including making the landscape In 2008 Brantford adopted a 40 more resilient in the face of severe per cent canopy cover target. weather events. They moderate Guelph/Eramosa Township has set temperatures, slow down erosion the same target for urban areas and and slow the movement of water a 30 per cent forest cover target in during and after storms to help rural areas. resolve water quality and quantity Wellington County is planting problems. They also sequester car- 150,000 trees annually grown at its bon, holding it in their trunks, new tree nursery. The province has branches and foliage so that it does-

Working trees Due to the many benefits of trees to farms, businesses, parks, forests and school yards, people sometimes call them working trees. The 2004 Grand River Forest Plan lists 28 benefits of trees including:

■ Clean water ■ Provide and clean air ■ Store carbon ■ Shade and wind protection ■ Save energy ■ Are food and homes for insects, birds and animals ■ Moderate stream flows and storm water Urban canopy cover ■ Provide social calming and healing The graph shows the canopy cover in the five cities of the Grand River watershed, based on information compiled in ■ Many products such as furniture and paper come from trees 2004 from satellite images. Canopy cover is the the percentage of a city’s area underneath tree leaves.

GRAND RIVER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY• www.grandriver.ca F A L L 2 0 0 9 – WA T E R S H E D R E P O R T Green infrastructure P A G E 1 5 – TH E G R A N D n’t re-enter the atmosphere. land is already forested, there is still “Engaging the community is real- Since it was founded 75 years opportunity to restore habitat on ly important because this increases ago, the GRCA has planted more these lands, as well as acquire areas community stewardship,” said than 26 million trees, about half of to naturalize. New acquisitions near Neumann. these on private land working with existing GRCA land increases the thousands of landowners. Recent size of large core natural areas, and plantings have been through the this is an important goal of the Trees and C02 Rural Water Quality Program GRCA’s land acquisition program. limate change is the result of (RWQP) on stream banks and Many community-based organi- windbreaks. This has been a great Creleasing excessive amounts zations have sprung up over the of carbon dioxide (CO2) and success, but these tend to be rela- past decade that plant trees and tively small plantings that are also other greenhouse gases into the these organizations continue to pro- atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is relatively expensive. liferate. Thousands of students, absorbed by trees, plants and Since 90 per cent of the land in employees, group members and crops through photosynthesis. It the watershed is privately owned, their families are engaged by these is stored as carbon in trees and there are huge opportunities to programs as they get their hands plants — in tree trunks, branches, increase forest cover on private dirty to improve the environment in foliage and roots. It is also held in land. their own communities. soil. Restore habitat There is nothing more satisfying Because trees store carbon, The GRCA owns about 1,400 than going back a few years later to planting more trees is a way to hectares of leased agricultural land, see the forest taking shape and feel- lessen the impact of climate much of which is destined for tree ing the sense of satisfaction that change — but this means plant- planting. Even though most GRCA you helped make this happen. ing trees at a much quicker pace than is currently being done. According to research in North America, the average rate at which a growing forest sequesters carbon is 6.5 tons/ha/year (esti- mated as trees being spaced at 3m x 3m spacing). The goal of the GRCA plant- ing program is to put at least 200,000 trees into the ground each year. That many trees would sequester 1172 tons of carbon per year. The amount would grow each year as the first trees matured and new trees were added. By the 20th year, 246,120 tons of carbon would be Volunteers plant trees at Laurel Creek Conservation Area in Waterloo as part sequestered. of the Sunoco Earth Day event in 2008. They were replanting an area cleared of pine trees after they became infested by pine shoot beetles.

Forest cover across the watershed Environment Canada recommends that a healthy watershed should have for- est cover of 30 per cent. This map shows the forest cover in the subwater- Controlled burns, such as this one at the GRCA’s Apps Mill property near Brantford, help to restore prairie land- sheds of the Grand River based on data compiled in 2004. scapes that were once common in the area. Fire is a natural part of the life cycle of prairie areas.

GRAND RIVER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY• www.grandriver.ca Foundation,partners work to restore natural areas ne of the most important ble to protect the newly restored ended. goals of the Grand River stream and also provide some of the Several ponds were developed to OConservation Foundation is amenities provided by the old pond. provide habitat for fish, birds and to give people the opportunity to Two new, smaller ponds would be other creatures. enjoy, and learn, from nature. created “offline,” that is they would This new phase of work involves Two recent projects developed not be linked directly to the stream construction of a trail called the by the foundation and community so it could continue to flow without Rotary Walk and creation of a partners in Cambridge and obstruction. Rotary Forest. About 56,000 native Woolwich Township are great The foundation and neighbour- trees and shrubs will be planted to examples of that. hood residents, led by Brian Hiff, restore forests and grasslands. The Cambridge project is the launched a campaign that raised The new native species will even- construction of two new ponds near more than $158,000 for the work, tually push out invasive species that Fishermills Creek to replace a larger including an Ontario Trillium took root after the gravel extraction pond that was lost when an old dam Foundation grant that was landed was complete. failed in 2000. by the Cambridge North Rotary The opening up of the Fishermills The Woolwich Township project Club. The GRCA also contributed and Snyder’s Flats area to public use is the rehabilitation of old gravel $30,000. One of the ponds will be is an important goal of both proj- pits in the Snyder’s Flats area, across named Schiedel Pond to recognize ects, noted Wilbur. the river from Kitchener. the support of Schiedel These projects are a natural “The mandate of the foundation Construction and the extension of the work the founda- is to enrich the natural values of the GreenHorizons Group of tion has been doing for years to Grand River watershed,” said Sara Companies. Stantec Engineering support the outdoor education pro- Wilbur, the foundation’s executive donated its services to manage the grams of the GRCA, noted Wilbur. director. “We are delighted that the work which started in August. “As our communities grow, we community is contributing to do are going to need places like this, Members of the RBC’s Southwestern Regional Team help out during a tree just that.” Naturalizing gravel pit area especially for kids,” she said. planting at Snyder's Flats in July. The Fishermills project was a case At Snyder’s Flats, work is pro- of the foundation working with a gressing on naturalizing areas near neighbourhood to meet its objec- former gravel pits thanks to a dona- tives in an environmentally-friendly tion of $180,000 from the fashion. Kitchener-Conestoga Rotary Club When the dam failed, residents in as well as support from the Trees the area lost the old mill pond Ontario Foundation and the Good which had been a focal point of Foundation Inc., in memory of their community. From an environ- Milton R. Good. mental point of view, though, the Snyder’s Flats is owned by the loss of the pond helped improve GRCA which extracted gravel from water quality in the stream and the property between 1979 and made it a better habitat for coldwa- 1987. The work was done in such a ter fish and other species. way as to facilitate the restoration A study showed that it was possi- of the property when extraction You can help, too! or more than 40 years, the Grand River Conservation Foundation has Fimproved our quality of life by enriching the natural values of the Grand River watershed and encouraging people to enjoy, and to learn from, the great outdoors. For more information: ■ phone toll-free 1-877-29-GRAND ■ e-mail [email protected] Partners in the Fishermills Project with the plans for new ponds along the creek: Sara Wilbur, executive director of the ■ click on www.grcf.ca GRCF (left); Warren Yerex, retired aquatic supervisor of the GRCA; Catherine Collins of the Trillium Foundation; area resident Brian Hiff, and Steve Witteveen, retired president of the Cambridge North Rotary Club.

Learn more about the Grand River Conservation Foundation at www.grcf.ca