Niagara River Watershed Fish Community Assessment (1997 to 2011) December 2012 Authors: . Anne R. Yagi, Niagara Area Management Biologist - Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, 4890 Victoria Ave. N., Vineland Station. Ontario, P.O. Box 5000, L0R 2E0, email: [email protected] . Catharine Blott Contract Fisheries Crew Leader- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, 4890 Victoria Ave. N., Vineland Station. Ontario, P.O. Box 5000, L0R 2E0 Recommended Citation: Yagi A.R and C. Blott. 2012. Niagara River Watershed Fish Community Assessment (1997 to 2011) Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources unpublish report 168pp + appendices Acknowledgements: The authors wish to thank our funding partners Canada Ontario Agreement (COA) and the expertise of Erling Holm (Royal Ontario Museum) for verification of fisheries identification. We also wish to thank the Lake Erie Unit (LEU) for use of the Electrofishing boat and their staff. Our Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) fish crew leaders were David Denyes (2008 -2009), Cathy Blott (2007) and John Radford (2003 to 2005). MNR fish crew members were William Radford(2007-2009, Jay Wolek (2008-2009), Kelly Wright (2009) and Ryan McLean (2007), Karla Spence (2004 – 2005), Ed Stacey (2005), Shannon Baka (2003-2004), and Andrea Dunn (2003). In addition other MNR staff and volunteers assisted as needed- they were Nelson Denyes, Rob Tervo,Kelly Tonellato, Kathy Richardson, Greg Belmore, Amy Brant and Katharine Yagi. From the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA) there were Jocelyn Baker, Chris Attema, Kerry Royer and Laura Eddy. Cover Photograph is Gord Ives (MNR-LEU) holding a muskellunge and was taken by Anne Yagi during spring 2008 on the Welland River between the Canals section. Photograph below (left to right) David Denyes, Katharine Yagi, Rob Tervo and Amy Brant back pack electrofishing on Drapers Creek by Anne Yagi. 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................... 9 1 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................ 11 2 NIAGARA RIVER WATERSHED & ANTHROPOGENIC INFLUENCES ................... 12 2.1 Natural Setting.........................................................................................................................12 2.2 Altered Niagara River Watershed & Establishement of Aquatic Resource Area (ARA’s) 15 2.2.1 Hydroelectric Development.................................................................................................................15 2.2.2 Welland Shipping Canal Development................................................................................................16 2.2.3 Other Water Control Structures ...........................................................................................................20 2.2.4 Niagara River Watershed - Aquatic Resource Areas...........................................................................20 2.3 Implications of Anthropogenic Influences on Aquatic Habitat in the Watershed ............21 2.3.1 Water Level Fluctuation ......................................................................................................................21 2.3.2 Low Flow Augmentation.....................................................................................................................23 2.3.3 Fish Spawning Migration.....................................................................................................................24 2.3.4 Emerald Shiner Spring Migration - Upper Niagara River Tributaries.................................................26 2.4 Previous Fish Studies- Niagara River Watershed ................................................................27 2.4.1 Lower Niagara River ...........................................................................................................................27 2.4.2 Upper Niagara River............................................................................................................................27 2.4.3 Welland River......................................................................................................................................28 3 METHODS........................................................................................................................... 29 3.1 Boat Electrofishing ..................................................................................................................29 3.2 Tributary Sampling.................................................................................................................29 3.2.1 Seining.................................................................................................................................................30 3.2.2 Back Pack Electrofishing.....................................................................................................................30 3.3 Fish Sampling...........................................................................................................................30 3.4 Other Parameters ....................................................................................................................31 3.5 Niagara Area Fish Database...................................................................................................31 3.6 Data Analysis ...........................................................................................................................31 4 SAMPLING RESULTS ....................................................................................................... 32 4.1 Lower Niagara River...............................................................................................................32 4.2 Upper Niagara River...............................................................................................................35 4.2.1 Upper Niagara Tributaries ...................................................................................................................39 4.3 Chippawa Channel ..................................................................................................................59 4.3.1 Chippawa Channel Tributaries ............................................................................................................62 4.4 Queenston Reservoir ...............................................................................................................72 4.5 Welland River East..................................................................................................................74 4.5.1 Welland River East Tributary ..............................................................................................................76 4.6 Welland River Between the Old and New Welland Canals.................................................78 4.7 Welland River West to Port Davidson Weir .........................................................................81 2 4.7.1 Welland River West Tributaries ..........................................................................................................85 4.8 Welland River Upstream of Port Davidson to Binbrook Reservoir .................................108 4.8.1 Tributaries Upstream Port Davidson Weir.........................................................................................112 4.9 Binbrook Reservoir ...............................................................................................................127 4.10 Welland River Headwaters...................................................................................................131 4.11 Summary of the Aquatic Resource Areas ...........................................................................133 4.11.1 Welland River West Habitat Quality ............................................................................................133 4.11.2 Connectivity & Species Distribution ............................................................................................137 4.12 Summary of Niagara River Watershed Tributaries...........................................................140 5 DISCUSSION .................................................................................................................... 142 5.1 The Niagara River System....................................................................................................142 5.2 Water Level Controls ............................................................................................................144 5.3 Welland River Flow Controls...............................................................................................144 5.3.1 Triangle Island Flow Junction ...........................................................................................................146 5.3.2 Old Canal Syphon Structure ..............................................................................................................149 5.3.3 Binbrook Reservoir............................................................................................................................150 5.4 Connectivity Controllers.......................................................................................................152 5.5 Instream Habitat Restoration...............................................................................................153 5.5.1 Upper Niagara River Tributaries .......................................................................................................153