BEAVERDAMS AND SHRINERS CREEK WATERSHED PLAN PHASE ONE WATERSHED CHARACTERIZATION AND PRELIMINARY ISSUES IDENTIFICATION JUNE 2011 NIAGARA PENINSULA CONSERVATION AUTHORITY RD 250 THOROLD ROAD WEST, 3 FLOOR WELLAND, ONTARIO L3C 3W2 (905) 788-3135 www.npca.ca BEAVERDAMS AND SHRINERS CREEK: WATERSHED CHARACTERIZATION AND ISSUES IDENTIFICATION Acknowledgments The Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority would like to extend our sincere gratification to everyone that had an active role in the creation of the Beaverdams and Shriners Creek Watershed Characterization and Issues Identification. To the members of the public that attended the public open houses and workshops; your participation in these events and your input to the Characterization and Issues Identification Report has assisted the Conservation Authority in gaining a more intimate understanding of the study area and helped us to identify issues that we may not have been previously aware of. A special thank-you also goes to the members of the Beaverdams and Shriners Creek Steering Committee for your commitment and dedication to the creation of the Beaverdams and Shriners Creek Watershed Characterization and Issues Identification Report. Your hard work and dedication to the project has resulted in the creation of a valuable and useful tool to be used as a resource for watershed managers and stakeholders that will aid in future planning decisions. The Conservation Authority believes that stakeholder involvement in projects such as these are extremely important and we want you to know that the time you committed to the project is greatly appreciated. Sincerely, Tara Metzger Watershed Planning Specialist Beaverdams and Shriners Creek Steering Committee Tara Metzger: Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority; Watershed Planning Specialist Suzanne McInnes: Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority; Watershed Planning Coordinator Dominic DiFruscio: Chair Eldon Darbyson: Regional Municipality of Niagara Cory Burant: Niagara Restoration Council Francesca Berardi: City of Niagara Falls Patrick Davies: Niagara Falls Nature Club Shannon Fletcher: Peninsula Field Naturalists Club David Griffiths: Mel Swart Park Jean-Luc Déziel: St. Lawrence Seaway Authority ii BEAVERDAMS AND SHRINERS CREEK: WATERSHED CHARACTERIZATION AND ISSUES IDENTIFICATION Table of Contents Acknowledgments ........................................................................................................... ii Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 6 Watershed Planning and the Beaverdams and Shriners Creek Watershed ................. 6 Watershed Vision ............................................................................................................ 8 Proposed Watershed Objectives .................................................................................. 8 Water Resources ..................................................................................................... 8 Fish and Aquatic Habitat .......................................................................................... 8 Natural Heritage and Resources .............................................................................. 8 Communication, Education and Recreation .............................................................. 9 Development ............................................................................................................ 9 Watershed Characterization ............................................................................................ 9 Location and General Description of the Beaverdams and Shriners Creek Watershed 9 Local Management Area 1.9 ........................................................................................ 9 Local Management Area 2.11 .................................................................................... 10 Topography ............................................................................................................... 12 Geology ..................................................................................................................... 12 Physiography ............................................................................................................. 13 Soils .......................................................................................................................... 17 Historical Land Use .................................................................................................... 19 Current Land Use ...................................................................................................... 19 Agriculture .............................................................................................................. 19 Urban/ Rural Residential ........................................................................................ 21 Recreation .............................................................................................................. 21 Future Land Use ........................................................................................................ 21 Provincial Tier ........................................................................................................ 22 Regional Tier .......................................................................................................... 23 Conservation Authorities ........................................................................................ 25 Municipal Tier ......................................................................................................... 25 Natural Heritage Resources .......................................................................................... 28 Beaverdams and Shriners Creek Watershed Study Area Natural Heritage Resources .................................................................................................................................. 31 Life Science and Earth Science Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest .................... 31 Kunda Park Forest Candidate Life Science ANSI ................................................... 31 Wetlands ................................................................................................................... 31 Identified Old Growth ................................................................................................. 32 Conservation Areas ................................................................................................... 33 Shriners Creek Conservation Area ......................................................................... 33 NPCA Natural Areas Inventory Sites.......................................................................... 35 Species at Risk ............................................................................................................. 40 Aquatic Habitat .............................................................................................................. 43 Fish Community Studies ............................................................................................ 43 Beaverdams Creek ................................................................................................ 43 Shriners Creek ....................................................................................................... 43 Ten Mile Creek ....................................................................................................... 43 Welland Canal North .............................................................................................. 44 Significant Fish Species ............................................................................................. 44 Fish Habitat ............................................................................................................... 44 Municipal Drains ........................................................................................................ 47 iii BEAVERDAMS AND SHRINERS CREEK: WATERSHED CHARACTERIZATION AND ISSUES IDENTIFICATION Water Quality ................................................................................................................ 49 Biological Monitoring and Assessment Program ........................................................ 50 Groundwater Resources ............................................................................................ 53 Intake Protection Zone Study ..................................................................................... 56 Water Quantity .............................................................................................................. 57 Water Budget ............................................................................................................. 57 Geomorphic Study ........................................................................................................ 58 NPCA Geomorphic Study of Beaverdams and Shriners Creeks ................................ 58 Methodology .......................................................................................................... 59 Phase One Data Collection .................................................................................... 59 Phase Two Data Collection .................................................................................... 60 Phase Three Data Collection .................................................................................. 61 Site Characterizations ...............................................................................................