A FRAMEWORK FOR THE NATURAL VALUES OF CANADIAN HERITAGE RIVERS Second Edition March 2001 PREFACE This second edition of what is commonly that are included. referred to as the CHRS Natural Heritage Framework, represents the final stage of It is believed that the framework is an work begun in 1992. The first edition, advancement in the general, if small, cause completed in March 1998, was applied to of classifying and defining river heritage CHRS nomination documents and other from a global perspective. By academic studies and plans for three years. The standards the categorization of river features effectiveness of the themes, sub-themes and in the framework may seem simplistic and elements of the framework were evaluated sub-themes and elements defined too during this period and this second edition is generally. It is important to realize that the the result. The six themes and eighteen sub- framework is intended to be easily themes that comprise the framework attempt understood and applied widely. It must be to encompass, and indeed define, the breadth applied by planners without training in of Canada’s natural river heritage in a fluvial processes, and understood by the rational and comprehensive manner. CHR Board and the program’s public constituency. It must be sufficiently general While the reader and user may judge how to be applicable in all jurisdictions in a well this goal has been accomplished, it is country with an enormous diversity of river believed that this framework will provide a forms. It must also address all aspects of common tool for planning staff in rivers including not only fluvial government agencies participating in the morphology, but also hydrology and Canadian Heritage Rivers System (CHRS). biological aspects of rivers. For these agencies it can, and should according to the Board’s guidelines, be The 1998 version varies from this second applied to CHRS research studies, river edition in several ways. The six basic nominations, and management strategies. themes remain unchanged and the number, if For government managers, it is a tool that not the content, of sub-themes is also can help direct resources to rivers and river unchanged. However, among sub-theme values of national concern. For the CHR and elements there are some significant Board, and for commentators on the changes. program, the framework will allow measurement of the status of the System, Two sub-themes of Theme 1: Hydrology identification of its strengths and of gaps in were re-sequenced and some significant its representation of Canada’s river heritage. modifications have been made to elements For non-government agencies and of many of the sub-themes. There are also individuals interested in the program, it will some conceptual changes to sub-themes. facilitate more effective participation, For example, stream order is now included particularly in making the argument for as part of Sub-theme 1.1: Drainage Basins inclusion of rivers in the System and in instead of Sub-theme 1.4: River Size. The preparing management strategies for rivers latter now addresses total river length as iii well as volume. For two of these sub- themes, elements are now defined according to “classes” of values, defined according to a matrix of two variables. Fewer changes have been made to Theme 2: Physiography. Two sub-themes were re- Theme 4: Biotic Environments is virtually sequenced and Sub-theme 2.4: Topography unchanged, but elements of both Theme 5: now addresses height above sea level instead Vegetation and Theme 6: Fauna have been of types of river sections, which are changed to more directly address the addressed in Sub-theme 3.2: River Profile. association of species relative to rivers as well as to include species that are judged The first three sub-themes of Theme 3: River rare according to provincial and territorial Morphology have been modified to include lists. not only their previous content but also elements reflecting horizontal and vertical These modifications have made the aspects of channel patterns. Two sub- framework more sound both theoretically themes have been re-named: Lakes and and in application. With them, the ponds are now part of Sub-theme 3.2: framework can now be said to be a Channel Pattern and rapids and waterfalls reasonably accurate definition of what is are now included under Sub-theme 3.3: meant by “Canada’s natural river heritage”. River Profile. The Fluvial Landforms sub- theme is adjusted to include more features. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This framework was initiated in 1992 by Nick Coomber, Chief of Cooperative Heritage Planning in Parks Canada, in support of the federal leadership role of Parks Canada within the Canadian Heritage Rivers System. Along with the cultural framework counterpart initiated in 1994, this framework was intended to enable the Canadian Heritage Rivers Board to take a national perspective on the development and management of the System. Considerable effort was expended over 1992-94 by Dr. John Marsh, of Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, in an attempt to develop “river regions”, that could be used to provide a framework for classifying the natural values of Canadian heritage rivers. Dr. Marsh concluded, however, that a regional approach was impractical and probably invalid, and recommended a thematic approach similar to that then underway for the cultural framework. The current framework owes much to the first attempt to develop a thematic approach by Mr. Gregg Sheehy, environmental consultant, in 1996. Mr. Sheehy developed a hierarchical set of themes, sub-themes and elements that was valuable in gathering input from many areas of expertise over the following two years. Numerous comments were received on drafts from Parks Canada staff and staff of provincial and territorial agencies, and other interested individuals, which are gratefully acknowledged. Among Parks Canada staff Claude Mondor and Dr. David Welch provided authoritative advice on many technical aspects of the framework. In addition, vital research and extensive work needed for testing draft frameworks was undertaken by Jim Murphy of Geoheritage Planning, Kingston. Mr. Murphy is also largely responsible for the content of sub-theme 4.1 Aquatic Ecosystems. The second edition of the framework was compiled by Nick Coomber acting as a consultant to the Canadian Heritage Rivers Board. It is based on the experience of three years of trial applications of the first edition. Don Gibson National Manager Canadian Heritage Rivers System v vi TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE ................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS..........................................v CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION .....................................1 1.1 Background ..........................................1 1.2 Purpose and Objectives of the Framework . 2 1.3 Parameters of the Framework ............................2 1.4 Optional Approaches to a Natural Framework . 2 1.5 Overview of the Framework Development Process . 5 CHAPTER 2. THEME DESCRIPTIONS ..............................7 2.1 Framework Concept....................................7 2.2 Theme Narratives......................................8 Theme 1: Hydrology .........................................9 Sub-theme 1: Drainage Basins...........................10 Sub-theme 2: Seasonal Variation . 12 Sub-theme 3: Water Content ............................15 Sub-theme 4: River Size ...............................18 Theme 2: Physiography ......................................21 Sub-theme 1: Physiographic Region . 22 Sub-theme 2: Geological Processes . 25 Sub-theme 3: Hydrogeology ............................27 Sub-theme 4: Topography ..............................29 Theme 3: River Morphology ..................................31 Sub-theme 1: Valley Types .............................32 Sub-theme 2: Channel Patterns . 34 Sub-theme 3: Channel Profile ...........................36 Sub-theme 4: Fluvial Landforms . 38 Theme 4: Biotic Environments ................................41 Sub-theme 1: Aquatic Ecosystems . 42 Sub-theme 2: Terrestrial Ecosystems . 46 Theme 5: Vegetation ........................................49 Sub-theme 1: Significant Plant Communities . 50 Sub-theme 2: Rare Plant Species . 54 Theme 6: Fauna ............................................57 Sub-theme 1: Significant Animal Populations . 58 Sub-theme 2: Rare Animal Species . 61 vii CHAPTER 3. CONSIDERATIONS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FRAMEWORK...............................65 3.1 Linkages with CHRS Natural Heritage Selection Guidelines . 65 3.2 Harmonisation with Provincial and Territorial Systems Plans . 68 3.3 Weighing Optional Bases for the Framework . 71 3.4 Framework Structure ..................................73 3.5 Representation of Elements .............................76 SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY ......................................79 viii CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background territories are able to participate actively. This implies that all jurisdictions are allowed The Canadian Heritage Rivers System to have rivers included in the system, even (CHRS) was established in 1984 and has though they may not appear to be of since become one of the fastest growing "national" significance, or if they contain heritage conservation programs in the world. values already represented by rivers As of March 2001, the System included 29 previously included. Thus, provided that rivers, or sections of rivers, which were nominated rivers contain values that are of formally designated to the System with a outstanding provincial or territorial