OntariO Wetland evaluatiOn SyStem Southern manual 3rd edition, version 3.2 2013 © Queen’s Printer for Ontario 2013 OWES Revision History: 1st edition – 1981 2nd edition – March 1984 3rd edition – March 1993 3rd edition, 1st revision, May 1994 3rd edition, 2nd revision, December 2002 Cette publication spécialisé n’est pas disponible qu’en anglais MNR #62803 ISBN 978-1-4606-0200-3 Print ISBN 978-1-4606-0201-0 PDF ISSN 1192-8484 Harold Lee (Southern Science and Information Section) provided valuable contributions to the new substrate sections of the manual and to developing the Wetland Systems Key. Adam Hogg (Inventory Monitoring and Assessment Section) updated the sections on wetland mapping. Don Sutherland, Mike Oldham, Mike McMurtry, Tanya Taylor (all Natural Heritage Information Centre) and Bill Crins (Ontario Parks) reviewed sections and/or undertook analyses. Rich AcknOWlEdgEmEntS Russell created the new black duck maps, and Brigitte Collins reviewed the update to this section (both Environment Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service), (northern manual only). Other contributors and reviewers include: Gary Allen (MNR Midhurst), John Boos (MNR Southern Region), Peter Davis (MNR Northwest Region), Ron Huizer (Beacon Environmental), Peter Uhlig (MNR Ontario Forest Research Institute), Steve Varga (MNR Aurora), Ron Black (MNR Parry Sound), Anne Yagi (MNR Guelph), Dave Richards (MNR Aylmer), Debrupa Ontario Wetland Evaluation System, 3rd edition Pathak, Martha Allen, and Elizabeth Wright (all (version 3.2): Biodiversity Policy Section), Dave Webster (Ontario This 2013 version of the Ontario Wetland Evaluation Parks), and Ken Hare (MMAH). System (OWES) builds upon the work and input that a range of public, private and academic contributors made We gratefully acknowledge the support provided by to the previous editions of the OWES manuals. These everyone noted above. revisions were undertaken by MNR’s Biodiversity Policy Section (Rebecca Zeran, Regina Varrin and Brian Potter) Wetland Evaluation System Update 2002 with significant contributions and input from MNR’s The 2002 revision to the Evaluation System for Wetlands Wetland Evaluation Technical Team (WETT) and of Ontario South of the Precambrian Shield, Third several others. Edition (1984; Revised March 1993; May 1994) was carried out by MNR’s Wetland Evaluation Technical MNR WETT Committee 2008: Team (WETT), with input from several sources. Brian Potter (Chair, Biodiversity Policy Section), Glen Hooper (Northwest Region), Jan McDonnell The WETT Committee acknowledged the input and (Bracebridge Area), Angus Norman (Southern Science advice provided by Don Sutherland (MNR), Al Harris and Information Section), Dave Richards and Erin (Northern Bioscience Consulting), Mike Oldham Sanders (Aylmer District), Shaun Thompson (Kemptville (MNR), Chris Risley (MNR), Ron Huizer (Jacques District) and Rebecca Zeran (Biodiversity Section). Whitford Consulting), and Brian Henshaw (Gartner Lee Consulting). Several others provided valuable assistance to the update of this version of the manual: MNR WETT Committee 2002: Brian Potter (Chair), Gary Allen, Peter Davis, Glen Hooper, Jan McDonnell, MNR’s Wetland Plant Working Group worked on Angus Norman, Dave Richards, Shaun Thompson, and revising and updating the wetland plant species and Tamara Gomer. indicator lists for the manual: Wasyl Bakowsky, Holly Bickerton, David Bradley, Sam Brinker, Bill Crins, Ron Drabick, Michael Oldham, Don Sutherland, and Steve Varga. Southern OWES 3.2 cover photo: Rebecca Zeran i Wetland Evaluation System Update 1994 Provincial Wetlands Working Group: Margaret The 1994 revision to the Evaluation System for Wetlands Mclaren (Co-Chair, MNR Toronto), Chris Davies (Co- of Ontario South of the Precambrian Shield, Second Chair, MNR Cochrane), Angus Norman (MNR Aurora), Edition (1994) was carried out by the southern Wetland Jan McDonnell (MNR Bracebridge), Glen Hooper Evaluation Review Committee and, subsequently, the (MNR Maple), Scott Jones (MNR Sault Ste. Marie), Provincial Wetlands Working Group, with input from Kerry Coleman (MNR Kemptville), Jill Entwistle (MNR many sources. The Second Edition incorporated the Thunder Bay), Ted Armstrong (MNR Thunder Bay). best knowledge base for Southern Ontario wetlands available at that time. However, there had been a great Southern Ontario Wetland Evaluation Review expansion of interest and scientific expertise regarding Committee: Valanne Glooschenko (Chair, MNR wetlands in the intervening years. This was accompanied Toronto), Brenda Axon (Halton Region Conservation by an accelerating need to apply the best tools available Authority), Mike Eckersley (MNR Cornwall), Gareth to conserve irreplaceable wetland habitat in Ontario’s Goodchild (MNR Toronto), Jack Imhof (MNR Toronto), landscape. John Riley (MNR Aurora), Owen Williams (MNR London), Angus Norman (MNR Aurora), Glen Hooper Regional and district wetland specialists identified many (MNR Maple), Kerry Coleman (MNR Kemptville), Jan of the core issues which were addressed in the revision. McDonnell (MNR Bracebridge). Particular attention had been paid to hydrological values of wetlands and a major effort to clarify instructions had been made. The Southern Wetland Evaluation Review Committee and the Provincial Wetland Working Group acknowledged support from Ms. Laurel Whistance- Smith, (Manager, Ecosystems Section) and Dr. J. McLean (Director, Wildlife Policy Branch). We also recognized contributions from Dr. N. Roulet (Geography Department, York University) and Dr. L. Logan (Ministry of Environment) for the update of the hydrological component. Mr. M. Cadman (University of Waterloo), Mr. P. Taylor (Carleton University), Dr. Ross James (Royal Ontario Museum) and Mr. Michael Bradstreet (Long Point Bird Observatory) provided information relative to the Ontario Rare Bird Breeding Program. Dr. Davy Morris (Lakehead University), Dr. D. Smith (Carleton University), and Dr. M Engstrom (Royal Ontario Museum), advised on provincially significant mammal species. Input from Regional Ecologists, Dr. Paul Prevett, Dr. William Crins, Mr. John Riley and Mr. Don Cuddy regarding regionally significant species was acknowledged. Many MNR staff participated in testing the new manual and provided helpful comments. Shayna Labelle-Beadman of the MNR Northeastern Science and Technology Unit drafted many of the figures. Particular thanks are extended to Dr. Ted Mosquin (Mosquin Bio-Information), for his patience in coordinating the Southern Wetland Evaluation Review Committee’s comments and concerns into the first drafts of the revised Southern OWES 3.2manual. The final manual could not have been produced without the assistance of Jann Atkinson and Ron Huizer of Atkinson and Huizer Biosurveys. ii tABlE OF cOntEntS Pitcher plant Photo: Rebecca Zeran INTRODUCTION TO THE EVALUATION SYSTEM ................................................................................................... 1 Rationale for Wetland Functions Included in the Evaluation………………………………................................ 4 Expertise Required to Apply this Evaluation System……………………………………… ................................. 5 How the Scoring System Works…………………………………………………………… .................................... 5 Approval of the Wetland Evaluation………………………………………………………. ................................... 6 DEFINITION OF WETLANDS AND WETLAND AREAS ............................................................................................ 7 THE WETLAND EVALUATION FILE .......................................................................................................................... 8 SOURCES OF INFORMATION ................................................................................................................................ 10 FIELD EVALUATION ................................................................................................................................................ 12 Preparation for Site Visits .............................................................................................................................. 12 timing of Field Visits ...................................................................................................................................... 14 Features to make note of in the Field .......................................................................................................... 15 Percentage of Open Water ........................................................................................................................... 15 WETLAND BOUNDARIES ........................................................................................................................................ 17 Vegetation ..................................................................................................................................................... 18 Substrate ........................................................................................................................................................ 20 Soils maps ...................................................................................................................................................... 21 Elevation mapping ......................................................................................................................................... 22 Additional guidelines for mapping transitional Areas ................................................................................. 23 Wetlands Bordering on Upland Forest .........................................................................................................