Assessment Report Sault Ste. Marie Region Source Protection Area CHAPTER 1 WATERSHED CHARACTERIZATION February 5, 2015 The Assessment Report was initially approved on November 25, 2011. Amendments were made in 2014 to include Chapter 2c. 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 1.1 DATA SOURCES .................................................................................................................. 1 2.0 WATERSHED DESCRIPTION ................................................................................................. 3 2.1 SOURCE PROTECTION AREA ........................................................................................... 3 2.1.1 History of Development in Sault Ste. Marie ................................................................... 3 2.1.1.1 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 2.2.2.1.1 Metavolcanic Rocks ...........................................................................................15 2.2.2.1.2 Granitic Rocks ...................................................................................................15 2.2.2.2 Early Proterozoic Rocks.....................................................................................................16 2.2.2.3 Huronian Supergroup .........................................................................................................16 2.2.2.3.1 Livingstone Creek Formation .............................................................................16 2.2.2.3.2 The Thessalon Formation ...................................................................................17 2.2.2.3.3 Aweres Formation .............................................................................................17 2.2.2.3.4 Mississagi Formation .........................................................................................17 2.2.2.3.5 Espanola Formation ..........................................................................................17 2.2.2.3.6 Gowganda Formation ........................................................................................17 2.2.2.3.7 Lorrain Formation ..............................................................................................18 2.2.2.3.8 Nipissing Diabase ..............................................................................................18 2.2.2.4 Keweenawan Supergroup...................................................................................................18 2.2.2.4.1 Igneous Rocks ...................................................................................................18 2.2.2.4.2 Jacobsville Group ..............................................................................................18 2.2.2.5 Metamorphism and Structural Geology ..............................................................................18 2.2.2.6 Faulting ...............................................................................................................................19 2.2.2.7 Mineral Occurrences ...........................................................................................................19 2.2.2.7.1 Lead and Zinc Deposits .....................................................................................20 2.2.2.7.2 Copper ...............................................................................................................20 2.2.2.7.3 Uranium, Thorium ..............................................................................................20 2.2.2.7.4 Iron ....................................................................................................................21 SSMR SPA Watershed Characterization, February 2015 ii 2.2.2.7.5 Sulfur .................................................................................................................21 2.2.2.8 Reliability of geological mapping and other data .................................................................21 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 Surface Water Hydrology ............................................................................................ 31 2.3.1.1 Big Carp River ...............................................................................................................31 2.3.1.2 Little Carp River .............................................................................................................31 2.3.1.3 Leigh Bay Creek ............................................................................................................32 2.3.1.4 Bennett Creek ................................................................................................................34 2.3.1.5 West Davignon Creek....................................................................................................34 2.3.1.6 Central Creek .................................................................................................................34 2.3.1.7 East Davignon Creek.....................................................................................................34 2.3.1.8 Fort Creek ......................................................................................................................35 2.3.1.9 Clark Creek ....................................................................................................................35 2.3.1.10 Root River ..................................................................................................................35 2.3.1.11 Flow Monitoring Stations .........................................................................................36 2.3.2 Groundwater and Hydrogeology ................................................................................ 37 2.3.2.1 Recharge and Discharge Areas ...................................................................................37 2.3.2.2 Flow Direction of Major Aquifers .................................................................................38 2.3.2.3 Characteristics of Major Aquifers ................................................................................39 2.3.2.3.1 Overburden Aquifers .........................................................................................39 2.3.2.3.2 East Basin – Shannon and Lorna Wells ...........................................................40 2.3.2.3.3 Central Basin – Goulais and Steelton Wells ................................................................40 2.3.2.3.4