Proposed Assessment Report Sault Ste. Marie Region Source Protection Authority CHAPTER 1 WATERSHED CHARACTERIZATION April, 2010 Prepared as per - Technical Rules: Assessment Report - Clean Water Act, 2006 (November 2009) ASSESSMENT REPORT WATERSHED CHARACTERIZATION Table of Contents Table of Contents List of Figures List of Tables Appendices List of Acronyms EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...........................................................................................................................I ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................................ II 1.0 INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................... 1 2.0 WATERSHED DESCRIPTION .................................................................................................... 3 2.1 SOURCE PROTECTION AREA .......................................................................................................... 3 2.1.1 History of Development in Sault Ste. Marie................................................................. 3 Urban and Industrial Development.......................................................................................... 3 2.1.1.2 Municipal drinking water services.............................................................................. 7 2.1.1.3 Historical environmental studies and initiatives.......................................................... 7 2.1.2 Stakeholders and Partners .......................................................................................... 9 2.1.2.1 Municipalities ............................................................................................................... 9 2.1.2.2 Provincial Agencies ................................................................................................... 10 2.1.2.3 Federal Government.................................................................................................. 10 2.1.2.4 First Nations............................................................................................................... 10 2.1.2.5 Interested Stakeholders, Engaged Public and Non-Governmental Organizations ... 11 2.2 PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION .............................................................................................................. 12 2.2.1 Bedrock Geology ......................................................................................................... 12 2.2.2 Bedrock Surface Elevation .......................................................................................... 15 2.2.2.1 Archean Rocks ......................................................................................................... 15 2.2.3 Surficial Geology........................................................................................................ 22 2.2.3.1 Quaternary History..................................................................................................... 22 2.2.3.2 Quaternary Deposits.................................................................................................. 23 2.2.3.3 Quaternary Summary ................................................................................................ 26 2.2.4 Topography………………………………………………………………………………… 26 2.2.5 Physiography............................................................................................................... 27 2.2.6 Soils Characteristics .................................................................................................... 28 2.3 HYDROLOGY ...................................................................................................................................... 31 2.3.1 Surfacewater Hydrology…………………………………………………………………… 31 2.3.2 Groundwater and Hydrogeology................................................................................ 37 2.3.3 Surface-Groundwater Interactions………………………………………………………… 46 2.3.4 Climate......................................................................................................................... 46 2.3.5 Climatic and Meteorological Trends ............................................................................ 47 2.4 NATURALLY VEGETATED AREAS ................................................................................................ 50 2.4.1 Wetlands...................................................................................................................... 50 2.4.2 Woodlands and Vegetated Riparian Areas ................................................................. 54 2.5 AQUATIC ECOLOGY ..................................................................................................................... 56 SSMR SPA Watershed Characterization, April 2010 ii 2.5.1 Fisheries ...................................................................................................................... 56 2.5.2 Aquatic Macroinvertebrates......................................................................................... 60 2.5.3 Species and Habitats at Risk....................................................................................... 60 2.5.4 Invasive Species.......................................................................................................... 61 2.6 HUMAN CHARACTERIZATION ...................................................................................................... 62 2.6.1 Population Distribution and Density ............................................................................ 62 2.6.2 Land Use ..................................................................................................................... 67 2.6.3 Settlement Areas ......................................................................................................... 68 2.6.4 Brownfields .................................................................................................................. 71 2.6.5 Landfills........................................................................................................................ 71 2.6.6 Mining and Aggregate Extraction ................................................................................ 72 2.6.7 Oil and Gas.................................................................................................................. 73 2.6.8 Forestry........................................................................................................................ 73 2.6.9 Transportation ............................................................................................................. 73 2.6.10 Wastewater Treatment .............................................................................................. 74 2.7 WATER USE ................................................................................................................................. 80 2.8 DATA AND KNOWLEDGE GAPS FOR WATERSHED DESCRIPTION............................................................. 86 3.0 WATER QUALITY ............................................................................................................................ 88 3.1 SELECTING INDICATOR PARAMETERS ................................................................................................. 89 3.2 SURFACE WATER QUALITY DATA ANALYSIS AND REPORTING........................................................... 91 3.2.1.1 MOE Provincial Water Quality Monitoring Network................................................... 92 3.2.1.2 Municipal Water Supply............................................................................................. 92 3.2.2.1 Root River Water Quality........................................................................................... 94 3.2.2.2 Fort Creek.................................................................................................................. 97 3.2.2.3 Big Carp River ........................................................................................................... 98 3.2.2.4 Little Carp .................................................................................................................. 99 3.2.2.5 East Davignon ......................................................................................................... 100 3.2.2.6 Clark Creek.............................................................................................................. 101 3.2.2.7 Lake Superior Gros Cap Intake............................................................................... 102 3.3 GROUNDWATER QUALITY DATA ANALYSIS AND REPORTING........................................................... 103 3.3.1.1 Municipal Groundwater Wells of Sault Ste. Marie................................................... 103 3.3.1.2 Provincial Groundwater Monitoring Network........................................................... 104 3.3.1.3 City of Sault Ste. Marie Landfill Site ........................................................................ 104 3.3.1.4 City of Sault Ste Marie Groundwater Supplies........................................................ 106 3.3.2.1 Municipal Supplies................................................................................................... 106 3.3.2.2 Domestic Wells........................................................................................................ 108 3.3.2.3 Provincial Groundwater Monitoring Network (PGMN)............................................. 110