- 2019 Backgrounder Three: Natural Systems MISSISSIPPI RIVER WATERSHED PLAN Backgrounder Series Intentionally blank page. Table of Contents The Mississippi River Watershed Plan ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Watersheds and Subwatersheds ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Thresholds and Targets ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 3 Watershed Conditions Reporting .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 5 Natural Heritage Features ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Preface – Ecoregions and Area Specific Policies ................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Wetlands ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Area of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSIs) ................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Woodland Cover and Significant Woodlands...................................................................................................................................................................... 15 Natural Heritage Systems .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 20 Species at Risk and Species of Concern ............................................................................................................................................................................... 23 Surface Water Quality ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 27 River and Stream Water Quality ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 31 Algae .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 44 Fish & Fish Habitat ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 46 Invasive Species ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 50 References and General Sources of Information .................................................................................................................................................................... 52 Appendix A ….………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………A1 to A21 List of Figures Figure 1: Mississippi River Watershed and Subwatersheds ...................................................................................................................................................... 2 Figure 2: Ecoregions in the Mississippi River Watershed .......................................................................................................................................................... 7 Figure 3: Wetlands across the Mississippi River Watershed ................................................................................................................................................... 10 Figure 4: Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSIs) ....................................................................................................................................................... 14 Figure 5: Woodlands ................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 16 Figure 6: MVCA Lake Monitoring Sites and PWQMN Sites ..................................................................................................................................................... 28 Backgrounder Three: Natural Systems, DRAFT - Feb 20, 2020 Figure 7: Lake Total Phosphorus and Trophic Status Ranges .................................................................................................................................................. 30 Figure 8: Mississippi Tributaries - Total Phosphorus ............................................................................................................................................................... 33 Figure 9: Mississippi River - Total Phosphorus ........................................................................................................................................................................ 33 Figure 10: Mississippi River - Total Phosphorus ...................................................................................................................................................................... 35 Figure 11: Mississippi Tributaries - Total Phosphorus ............................................................................................................................................................. 35 Figure 12: Mississippi Tributaries - Average Water Temperature ........................................................................................................................................... 37 Figure 13: Mississippi River - Average Water Temperature .................................................................................................................................................... 37 Figure 14: Mississippi River- Dissolved Oxygen ....................................................................................................................................................................... 39 Figure 15: Mississippi Tributaries - Dissolved Oxygen ............................................................................................................................................................ 39 Figure 16: Mississippi River - Conductivity .............................................................................................................................................................................. 41 Figure 17: Mississippi Tributaries - Conductivity ..................................................................................................................................................................... 41 Figure 18: Mississippi River - Chloride ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 43 Figure 19: Mississippi Tributaries - Chloride ........................................................................................................................................................................... 43 Figure 20: Known Fish Habitat Features .................................................................................................................................................................................. 47 List of Tables Table 1: Industry Suggested Targets and Thresholds …………………………………………..……………………………………………………………………………………………………………3 Table 2: Natural Heritage Feature Policies - Location Criteria …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..6 Table 3: Wetland Cover by Subwatershed …………………………………………..……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………9 Table 4: ANSIs in the Mississippi River Watershed ………………………………………………………………….………………………………………………………………………………………14 Table 5: Watershed and Subwatershed Forest Conditions …………………..…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………17 Table 6: Species at Risk in the Mississippi River Watershed (Confirmed Sightings)………………………………………………………………….……………………………………….23 Note about mapping: All maps in this report that bear the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority logo were produced in part with data provided by the Ontario Geographic Data Exchange under License with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and the Queen’s Printer for Ontario, 2019. Backgrounder Three: Natural Systems, DRAFT - Feb 20, 2020 The Mississippi River Watershed Plan This report is the third in a series of four “Backgrounder