© 2008 Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................... 1 WATERSHED PLANNING AND THE SOUTH NIAGARA FALLS WATERSHED ..........................................................1 WATERSHED VISION ............................................................................................................................. 3 WATERSHED OBJECTIVES ........................................................................................................................4 WATER RESOURCES .................................................................................................................................................4 FISH AND AQUATIC HABITAT .................................................................................................................................4 NATURAL HERITAGE AND RESOURCES ...................................................................................................................4 COMMUNICATION, EDUCATION AND RECREATION ..............................................................................................4 DEVELOPMENT ......................................................................................................................................................4 WATERSHED CHARACTERIZATION .................................................................................................... 4 LOCATION AND GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE SOUTH NIAGARA FALLS WATERSHED .................................4 GRASSY BROOK ......................................................................................................................................................4 HUNTERS DRAIN ......................................................................................................................................................4 LYONS CREEK ..........................................................................................................................................................4 TEE CREEK ................................................................................................................................................................5 BAYERS CREEK .........................................................................................................................................................5 USSHERS CREEK .......................................................................................................................................................5 NIAGARA RIVER SUBWATERSHEDS 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 AND 14 ............................................................................5 TOPOGRAPHY ..........................................................................................................................................................5 PHYSIOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY ...........................................................................................................................5 SOILS ........................................................................................................................................................................5 HISTORICAL LAND USE ..........................................................................................................................................10 WAR OF 1812: BATTLE OF CHIPPAWA AND BATTLE AT COOKS MILLS ....................................................................10 NAVY ISLAND .....................................................................................................................................................10 CURRENT LAND USE ..............................................................................................................................................10 FUTURE LAND USE .................................................................................................................................................11 NIAGARA RIVER AREA OF CONCERN (AOC) ............................................................................... 11 NATURAL HERITAGE RESOURCES .................................................................................................... 14 LIFE SCIENCE AREAS OF NATURAL AND SCIENTIFIC INTEREST .........................................................................14 NAVY ISLAND LIFE SCIENCE ANSI ........................................................................................................................14 LYONS CREEK FLOODPLAIN AND WETLANDS ANSI .............................................................................................14 WILLOUGHBY CLAY PLAIN MUCK BASIN FOREST AND MARSH ANSI .....................................................................14 WETLANDS .............................................................................................................................................................15 IDENTIFIED OLD GROWTH ....................................................................................................................................15 OTHER SIGNIFICANT NATURAL HERITAGE RESOURCE SITES..............................................................................17 CONSERVATION AREAS ........................................................................................................................................19 WILLOUGHBY MARSH CONSERVATION AREA ......................................................................................................19 SMITH-NESS CONSERVATION AREA ....................................................................................................................19 CAROLINIAN CANADA .........................................................................................................................................19 i AQUATIC HABITAT ............................................................................................................................... 21 FISH COMMUNITY STUDIES ..................................................................................................................................21 BAYERS CREEK ....................................................................................................................................................21 GRASSY BROOK .................................................................................................................................................21 HUNTERS DRAIN .................................................................................................................................................21 LYONS CREEK .....................................................................................................................................................21 TEE CREEK ..........................................................................................................................................................21 USSHERS CREEK ..................................................................................................................................................21 SIGNIFICANT FISH SPECIES..........................................................................................................................................21 FISH HABITAT.................................................................................................................................................................21 MUNICIPAL DRAINS ......................................................................................................................................................23 WATER QUALITY .................................................................................................................................. 26 BIOLOGICAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT PROGRAM ..............................................................................26 LYONS CREEK CONTAMINATED SEDIMENT STUDY .............................................................................................28 INTAKE PROTECTION ZONE STUDY .....................................................................................................................28 GROUNDWATER RESOURCES ...............................................................................................................................29 IDENTIFICATION OF CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN THE SOUTH NIAGARA FALLS WATERSHED .........................................................................................29 SEPTIC SYSTEMS .....................................................................................................................................................29 LANDFILL SITES .......................................................................................................................................................29 ROAD SALT .............................................................................................................................................................29 NIAGARA TO GTA CORRIDOR ..............................................................................................................................31 NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT ....................................................................................................................................31 DEVELOPMENT .......................................................................................................................................................31 URBAN STORM WATER MANAGEMENT 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