Long Point Region Watershed Characterization Report DRAFT January 2008 Prepared by: Lake Erie Source Protection Region Technical Team Long Point Region Watershed Characterization Report January 2008 – Revision 2.0 Table of Contents 1.0 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Long Point Region Source Protection Area...................................................................1 1.2 Lake Erie Source Protection Region .............................................................................3 1.3 Watershed Partners and Interested Parties ..................................................................3 2.0 PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE WATERSHED ........................................................ 7 2.1 Bedrock Geology...........................................................................................................7 2.1.1 Salina Formation........................................................................................................7 2.1.2 Bertie and Bass Islands Formations ..........................................................................7 2.1.3 Oriskany Formation....................................................................................................9 2.1.4 Bois Blanc Formation.................................................................................................9 2.1.5 Onondaga, Amherstberg and Lucas Formations (Detroit River Group).....................9 2.1.6 Dundee Formation ...................................................................................................10 2.1.7 Marcellus Formation ................................................................................................10 2.2 Quaternary Geology....................................................................................................10 2.2.1 The Nissouri Stade ..................................................................................................11 2.2.2 Port Bruce Stade .....................................................................................................13 2.2.3 Mackinaw Interstade................................................................................................14 2.2.4 Port Huron Stade .....................................................................................................14 2.2.5 Recent Deposits ......................................................................................................14 2.3 Physiographic Regions................................................................................................14 2.4 Natural Features..........................................................................................................16 2.4.1 Forests and Vegetation Cover .................................................................................16 2.4.2 Wetlands..................................................................................................................21 2.4.3 Wetland and Forest Riparian Areas.........................................................................23 2.5 Climate ........................................................................................................................24 2.6 Hydrology and Hydrogeology......................................................................................29 2.6.1 Water Quantity Monitoring .......................................................................................29 2.6.2 Surface Water Hydrology.........................................................................................32 2.6.3 Hydrogeology...........................................................................................................41 2.6.4 Surface and Groundwater Interactions ....................................................................46 2.7 Water Quality Summary ..............................................................................................46 2.7.1 Water Quality Monitoring .........................................................................................46 2.7.2 Surface Water Quality Conditions and Trends.........................................................50 2.7.3 Regional Groundwater Quality Conditions and Trends............................................67 2.8 Aquatic Ecology...........................................................................................................78 2.8.1 Fisheries ..................................................................................................................78 2.8.2 Aquatic Macroinvertebrates .....................................................................................80 2.8.3 Species and Habitats at Risk...................................................................................85 2.8.4 Invasive Species......................................................................................................87 3.0 HUMAN CHARACTER ................................................................................................... 89 3.1 Settlement History.......................................................................................................89 3.2 Municipalities and Municipal Structure........................................................................90 3.3 Population Trends in the Long Point Region Watershed ............................................90 3.3.1 Population Distribution and Density.........................................................................90 3.3.2 Population Forecasts ...............................................................................................93 3.3.3 Serviced and Non-Serviced Area Trends ................................................................93 i Long Point Region Watershed Characterization Report January 2008 – Revision 2.0 3.4 General Land Use .......................................................................................................94 3.4.1 Designated Growth Areas........................................................................................94 3.4.2 Industrial and Commercial Sector Distribution.........................................................94 3.4.3 Brownfields ..............................................................................................................94 3.4.4 Mining, Aggregate Extraction, Utilization of Petroleum Resources..........................97 3.4.5 Agricultural Resources.............................................................................................97 3.4.6 Protected Areas .....................................................................................................100 3.5 Infrastructure .............................................................................................................100 3.5.1 Transportation........................................................................................................101 3.5.2 Wastewater Treatment...........................................................................................101 3.5.3. Stormwater Management.......................................................................................101 3.5.4 Landfills..................................................................................................................103 3.5.5 Implications of Geology and Land Use for Source Protection ...............................103 4.0 WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLAN ......................................................................... 105 5.0 WATER USES AND VALUES...................................................................................... 107 5.1 Water Uses................................................................................................................107 5.2 Water Use Inventory..................................................................................................108 5.2.1 Agricultural Water Use...........................................................................................111 5.2.2 Municipal Water Supply .........................................................................................111 5.2.3 Unserviced Domestic Water Use...........................................................................112 5.2.4 Other Permitted Water Takings .............................................................................112 5.2.5 Summary and Data Gaps ......................................................................................113 5.3 Community Water Quality Objectives and Values.....................................................113 6.0 DRINKING WATER SOURCES ................................................................................... 115 6.1 Summary of Municipal Drinking Water Systems .......................................................115 6.2 Summary of Private Drinking Water Supplies ...........................................................115 6.2.1 Private Surface Water Intakes ...............................................................................115 6.2.2. Summary of Private Groundwater Uses ................................................................120 6.3 Municipal Drinking Water Systems Descriptions.......................................................124 6.3.1 Municipal Groundwater Systems Descriptions ......................................................124 6.3.2 Municipal Surface Water Systems Descriptions ....................................................149 6.3.3 Long-Term Municipal Water Supply Capacity Strategies ......................................155