Rouge River Watershed Fisheries Management Plan DRAFT December, 2010 *As per updates March, 2011 Prepared by: Toronto and Region Conservation Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Draft Rouge River FMP Note to the Reader: Various opportunities for public input and comment on this draft Rouge River Watershed Fisheries Management Plan have been previously provided through the plan preparation process. The Plan will be provided one final opportunity for input and comment through the Ontario Environmental Registry. Upon completion of this process, the Plan will be finalized and approved by the Ministry of Natural Resources. Although not yet finalized, the draft Rouge River Watershed Fisheries Management Plan does contain technical information and direction that users are encouraged to apply at this time. December 2010 i Draft Rouge River FMP Table of Contents Executive Summary 1 Introduction ....................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Plan Development and Use ...................................................................................... 1-2 1.1.1 Fisheries Technical Steering Committee ..................................................... 1-2 1.1.2 Stakeholder Consultation ............................................................................. 1-2 1.1.3 Using the Plan .............................................................................................. 1-3 1.2 Context of the Plan ................................................................................................... 1-4 1.2.1 Federal Level ................................................................................................ 1-6 1.2.2 Provincial Level ............................................................................................. 1-8 1.2.3 Municipal and Conservation Aurhority Level ............................................. 1-10 1.2.4 Rouge Park ................................................................................................. 1-10 1.3 Fisheries Management Priorities ............................................................................ 1-13 1.3.1 Biodiversity ................................................................................................. 1-13 1.3.2 Cumulative Effects ...................................................................................... 1-13 1.3.3 Water Management: Stormwater and Water Balance .............................. 1-13 1.3.4 Aquatic Invasive Species ............................................................................ 1-14 1.3.5 Lake-Based Fisheries ................................................................................. 1-14 1.3.6 Climate Change .......................................................................................... 1-14 1.4 Vision, Goal, Objectives and Measures of Success .............................................. 1-14 1.4.1 Vision .......................................................................................................... 1-15 1.4.2 Goal ............................................................................................................. 1-15 1.4.3 Objectives - Watershed Wide ..................................................................... 1-15 1.4.4 Objectives - Specific Fish Management Zones ......................................... 1-16 1.4.5 Measures of Success ................................................................................. 1-18 2 Fisheries Management Tools ............................................................ 2-1 2.1 Target Species .......................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Timing Windows for Construction ............................................................................ 2-3 2.3 Fish Monitoring and Data Management .................................................................. 2-5 2.3.1 Regional Watershed Monitoring ................................................................... 2-5 2.3.2 Special Project Monitoring ........................................................................... 2-5 2.3.3 Flowing Water Information System (FWIS) .................................................. 2-5 2.4 Land Use and Percent Impervious Cover ................................................................ 2-7 2.5 Climate Change Risk Assessment ......................................................................... 2-10 3 Existing Conditions, Issues, and Management Recommendations Across The Watershed ...................................................................... 3-1 3.1 Factors Affecting Aquatic Ecosystem Health ........................................................... 3-2 3.1.1 Watershed Wide Management Recommendations ..................................... 3-4 December 2010 ii Draft Rouge River FMP 3.1.1.1 Watershed and Subwatershed Chracterization ............................. 3-5 3.1.1.2 Watershed and Subwatershed Studies and Plans ........................ 3-5 3.1.1.3 Cumulative Effects ......................................................................... 3-6 3.1.1.4 Stormwater Management ............................................................... 3-6 3.1.1.5 Water Balance ................................................................................ 3-8 3.1.1.6 Water Taking .................................................................................. 3-9 3.1.1.7 Infrastructure .................................................................................. 3-9 3.1.1.8 FMP Implementation .................................................................... 3-10 3.2 Fish Community and Habitat .................................................................................. 3-10 3.2.1 Fish Community in the Rouge River .......................................................... 3-12 3.2.1.1 Core Fish and Fish Habitat Recommendations .......................... 3-14 3.2.2 Fish Index of Biotic Integrity and Cumulative Impacts .............................. 3-14 3.2.3 Fish Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CAA) and Cumulative Impacts ....................................................................................................... 3-18 3.2.4 Redside Dace ............................................................................................. 3-20 3.2.4.1 Redside Dace Habitat Management Recommendations ............ 3-24 3.2.5 Brook Trout ................................................................................................. 3-25 3.2.5.1 Brook Trout Habitat Management Recommendations ............... 3-25 3.2.6 Rainbow Darter ........................................................................................... 3-26 3.2.6.1 Rainbow Darter Habitat Management Recommendations ......... 3-26 3.2.7 Mussels ....................................................................................................... 3-27 3.2.7.1 Mussel Habitat Management Recommendations ....................... 3-27 3.2.8 Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) ................................................................... 3-27 3.2.8.1 AIS Management Recommendations ......................................... 3-28 3.2.9 Stocking ...................................................................................................... 3-29 3.2.9.1 Stocking Recommendations ........................................................ 3-30 3.2.10 In-Stream Structures and Barriers .............................................................. 3-32 3.2.10.1 Fish Passage Recommendations ................................................ 3-36 3.2.11 Riparian Habitat .......................................................................................... 3-41 3.2.11.1 Riparian Habitat Recommendations ............................................ 3-41 3.2.12 Fishways and Invasive Species Control .................................................... 3-44 3.2.13 Recreational Angling .................................................................................. 3-46 3.2.14 Baitfish Harvest ........................................................................................... 3-47 4 Fish Management Zones – Specific Issues, Management Recommendations, and Implementation Project Opportunities ....... 4-1 4.1.1 Upper Reaches of Main Rouge River (FMZ 1) ............................................. 4-2 4.1.1.1 Management Recommendations FMZ 1 ....................................... 4-7 4.1.1.2 Implementation Project Opportunities FMZ 1 ............................... 4-7 4.1.2 Berczy Creek (FMZ 2)................................................................................. 4-19 4.1.2.1 Management Recommendations FMZ 2 ..................................... 4-22 December 2010 iii Draft Rouge River FMP 4.1.2.2 Implementation Project Opportunities FMZ 2 ............................. 4-22 4.1.3 Bruce Creek (FMZ 3) .................................................................................. 4-32 4.1.3.1 Management Recommendations FMZ 3 ..................................... 4-35 4.1.3.2 Implementation Project Opportunities FMZ 3 ............................. 4-35 4.1.4 Upper Little Rouge River (FMZ 4)............................................................... 4-45 4.1.4.1 Management Recommendations FMZ 4 ..................................... 4-48 4.1.4.2 Implementation Project Opportunities FMZ 4 ............................. 4-48 4.1.5 Central Main Rouge River – Toogood Pond and Milne Reservoir (FMZ 5) ................................................................................................................