Lake Superior Biodiversity Conservation Strategy: Final Regional Plans, September 2015 2. Michipicoten-Magpie and Agawa The Michipicoten-Magpie and Agawa regional Michipicoten- unit contains numerous rivers that provide Magpie and habitat for warm and cold water fish species. The Michipicoten River was historically a Agawa Regional spawning tributary for Lake Sturgeon. A Plan number of tributaries, including the Montreal and Dog Rivers are host to a unique stock of river spawning Lake Trout. The nearshore This is one of twenty waters contain important habitat for Lake Regional Plans that Trout and Lake Whitefish. Michipicoten Bay is support regarded as important habitat for Lake implementation of Sturgeon. At least 44 rare species and communities of conservation concern have been the Lake Superior documented in this regional unit, including Peregrine Falcon and Bald Eagle1,2. More than Biodiversity 88% of the regional land mass is forested, and 98% of the coastal zone is in natural cover. Conservation Lake Superior Provincial Park and other parks and protected areas cover 23% of the Strategy (Strategy). regional landmass and 62% of the coast. There are several known sites from Ojibwa and The Strategy, pre-Ojibwa times within Lake Superior Provincial Park, on or near the shoreline. The Pukaskawa pits, depressions dug into cobble beaches which may have been used as 'vision prepared and pits' or shelters, are believed to be more than 2000 years old. Ancient rock paintings, or overseen by the Lake pictographs, can be seen in the park at Agawa Rock and also in areas north of Lake Superior Partnership, Superior. contains information 3 and 62 sub-strategies Report Card , Overall Grade: A to provide guidance Conservation Grade Conservation Target Notes to restoring and Target protecting The rehabilitation of lean Lake Trout in nearshore waters has not progressed to the same extent as the remainder of the biodiversity Nearshore B lake because of high exploitation rates and unregulated (www.natureconserv fisheries. ancy.ca/superiorbca). Embayments Portions of the South Michipicoten River – Superior Shoreline and Inshore B Conservation Reserve are subject to mining claims and Regional Plans are leases. intended to be Many islands in this regional unit provide excellent habitat adaptive documents Islands A for Great Blue Heron and Herring Gulls. that support and Coastal Less than one percent of the coastal area is made up of A- respond to local Wetlands wetlands. conservation efforts Coastal Over 97 percent of the coastal zone is in natural cover, and contribute to Terrestrial A+ largely characterized by rocky shores and cliffs. lakewide biodiversity Habitats goals. To contribute Tributaries & This area contains a number of rivers that are host to both A an update to this Watershed warm and cold water species. Regional Plan, please contact: greatlakes- [email protected]. 1 Data provided by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. Copyright Queen’s Printer for Ontario, 2012. 2For a full list please see the corresponding regional unit chapter in Vol. 2 of the Lake Superior Biodiversity Conservation Assessment. 3 Report Card grades are intended to denote relative (within Lake Superior basin) condition/health and stresses for each biodiversity target in the region based on available conditions and stress indices. A more detailed explanation and expert comments on grades are available in the Lake Superior Biodiversity Conservation Assessment – Volume 2: Regional Unit Summaries. 1 Lake Superior Biodiversity Conservation Strategy: Final Regional Plans, September 2015 Overview of Conservation Opportunities The Michipicoten, Magpie, and Montreal River systems provide spawning habitat for many native species. Species such as Lake Sturgeon would benefit from enhanced spawning habitat if improvements to water management agreements were made in these river systems. Hydro power generation benefits society, and losses to biodiversity in riverine habitats can be mitigated when stable and critical flows are identified and implemented through water management plans. The shoreline and nearshore conditions that exist between Michipicoten Harbour and Michipicoten Island are in excellent condition; to maintain the current conditions, future development proposals should be carefully considered. Monitoring and management of fish harvests by commercial fishermen along the eastern shoreline is recommended. The nearshore environment in Michipicoten Harbour and riverine habitat in the Michipicoten, Magpie, and Montreal River systems offer several restoration opportunities, which may best be pursued following the development of management agreements. 2 Lake Superior Biodiversity Conservation Strategy: Final Regional Plans, September 2015 Conservation Actions The Lake Superior community has a strong an ongoing history of taking action to restore and protect the lake’s extraordinary biodiversity. Actions are occurring at all scales - from national, state, provincial, tribal, First Nations, Métis, and municipal programs, to lakewide initiatives and local projects by communities, businesses, and households. Some important habitats currently have a conservation designation with a corresponding management strategy, and active supervision of these areas is essential to sustaining biodiversity. The table below presents next steps for conserving and protecting biodiversity in this regional unit. Other existing plans relevant to conserving habitats and species in this region should continue to be implemented. A list of existing plans relevant to the next steps presented below is presented at the end of this document. Regional Plan Next Steps There is some variation among Regional Plans in how future actions from existing plans were incorporated into this document, based on advice from the implementers of those plans in the region. Similarly, implementation approaches vary greatly among regional units. The Lake Superior Partnership serves an important role in facilitating cooperation among agencies to support on-the-ground action. Priority implementation actions developed through the Partnership are identified in the Lake Superior LAMP, Lake Partnership committee work plans, and agency specific action plans. Regional Objective Next Step Conservation Primary Target Lakewide Strategyi Lakewide Strategy 1: Restore and protect a system of representative, high quality habitats. Common Actions For All Region Plans Multiple 1.1 Maintain or enhance areas where large blocks of land with natural cover exist or could be expanded. Preserve sites that have high species diversity and/or critical habitat for fish or wildlife. Protect areas of natural and cultural significance Protect natural and cultural sites that fall outside the Tributaries & 1.6 at the mouth of the Michipicoten River. boundaries of Michipicoten Post Provincial Park. Watersheds Identify actions and groups to help protect Seek protection of pristine shoreline, inshore, and Multiple 1.6 pristine shoreline conditions and nearshore nearshore areas that are not currently being protected. environment from Michipicoten River westward. 3 Lake Superior Biodiversity Conservation Strategy: Final Regional Plans, September 2015 Regional Objective Next Step Conservation Primary Target Lakewide Strategyi Promote education about the sensitivity and Identify current education and outreach actions and Coastal Terrestrial 1.8 importance of Driftwood Beach and the coastal assess effectiveness. Determine best practices to Habitats forest in Michipicoten Post Provincial Park. promote sustainable use of Driftwood Beach and Sandy Cove. Restore the nearshore environment in Develop restoration plan to remove the Nearshore 1.1 Michipicoten Harbour. decommissioned government loading docks and monitor sediment conditions. Lakewide Strategy 2: Manage plants and animals in a manner that ensures diverse, healthy, and self-sustaining populations. Common Actions For All Region Plans Review lists of regional species of conservation concern and identify gaps in monitoring, planning, Multiple 2.7 and related conservation actions. Restore and protect self-sustaining Lake Continue assessments to better understand the Embayments and 2.3 Sturgeon populations. population dynamics of Lake Sturgeon in the Inshore Michipicoten River. Identify and protect Lake Sturgeon spawning and Tributaries & 2.3 juvenile habitat in the Michipicoten River. Watersheds Achieve and maintain genetically diverse self- Conduct annual surveys to determine Lake Trout Nearshore 2.3 sustaining populations of Lake Trout that are population status and trends. similar to those found in the lake prior to 1940. Ensure commercial Lake Trout harvest levels in the Nearshore 2.4 region are sustainable and supportive for the long-term. Consider stocking of Lake Trout with native brood stock Nearshore 2.2 when sustainable commercial harvest/management is confirmed. Protect and restore self-sustaining Brook Trout Identify and protect Brook Trout spawning habitat in Tributaries & 2.3 populations and other cold water species. tributary streams within this regional unit. Watersheds Identify and protect terrestrial groundwater recharge Tributaries & 2.3 areas that provide cold groundwater upwellings to Watersheds Brook Trout spawning sites. Restore and protect self-sustaining Lake Ensure commercial Lake Whitefish harvest levels in the Nearshore 2.4 Whitefish populations at or above abundances region are sustainable and supportive for the long-term. 4 Lake Superior Biodiversity Conservation