LAKE ONTARIO LAKEWIDE MANAGEMENT PLAN STATUS APRIL 22, 2004 TAB L E O F CO NTEN TS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................... ES-1 CHAPTER 1 STATE OF LAKE ONTARIO 1.1 Summary........................................................................................................................... 1-1 CHAPTER 2 BACKGROUND 2.1 Summary........................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Introduction to Lake Ontario............................................................................................... 2-1 2.2.1 Climate.................................................................................................................. 2-2 2.2.2 Physical Characteristics and Lake Processes ............................................................ 2-2 2.2.3 Aquatic Communities............................................................................................. 2-4 2.2.4 Demographics and Economy of the Basin................................................................ 2-6 2.3 LaMP Background.............................................................................................................. 2-8 2.4 LaMP Structure and Processes............................................................................................. 2-9 2.5 Actions and Progress..........................................................................................................2-10 2.6 References........................................................................................................................2-10 CHAPTER 3 ECOSYSTEM GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND INDICATORS 3.1 Summary........................................................................................................................... 3-1 3.2 Development of Lake Ontario Ecosystem Goals and Objectives ............................................ 3-1 3.2.1 Ecosystem Goals for Lake Ontario........................................................................... 3-1 3.2.2 Ecosystem Objectives for Lake Ontario.................................................................... 3-1 3.3 Ecosystem Indicators............................................................................................................. 3-2 3.3.1 Critical Pollutant Indicators..................................................................................... 3-3 3.3.2 Lower Foodweb Indicators...................................................................................... 3-9 3.3.3 Upper Foodweb Indicators...................................................................................... 3-9 3.4 Cooperative Monitoring Progress Towards Meeting LaMP Goals and Indicators...................3-15 3.5 Major 2003 Cooperative Monitoring Projects......................................................................3-16 3.5.1 Lake Ontario Atmospheric Deposition Study (LOADS) ...........................................3-17 3.5.2 Lake Ontario Lower Aquatic Foodweb Assessment (LOLA)...................................3-17 3.5.3 Interagency Laboratory Comparison Study..............................................................3-18 3.6 Other Indicator Initiatives...................................................................................................3-19 3.7 Actions and Progress..........................................................................................................3-19 3.8 References........................................................................................................................3-19 Lake Ontario LaMP i April 22, 2004 TAB L E O F CO NTEN TS ( Co ntin ue d) CHAPTER 4 IDENTIFICATION OF BENEFICIAL USE IMPAIRMENT ASSESSMENTS 4.1 Summary........................................................................................................................... 4-1 4.2 Beneficial Use Impairments Defined by the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement................ 4-1 4.3 Beneficial Use Impairment Identification Process and Problem Definition.............................. 4-2 4.4 Beneficial Use Impairments in Lake Ontario........................................................................ 4-3 4.4.1 Restrictions on Fish and Wildlife Consumption........................................................ 4-4 4.4.2 “Degradation of Wildlife Populations” and “Bird or Animal Deformities or Reproduction Problems”................................................................................... 4-7 4.4.3 Loss of Fish and Wildlife Habitat............................................................................ 4-8 4.4.4 Degradation of Benthos..........................................................................................4-11 4.4.5 Degradation of Nearshore Phytoplankton Populations..............................................4-12 4.5 Unimpaired Lakewide Beneficial Uses in Lake Ontario........................................................4-14 4.5.1 Tainting of Fish and Wildlife Flavor.......................................................................4-15 4.5.2 Degradation of Fish Populations.............................................................................4-15 4.5.3 Fish Tumors..........................................................................................................4-16 4.5.4 Restrictions on Dredging Activities.........................................................................4-16 4.5.5 Eutrophication or Undesirable Algae.......................................................................4-17 4.5.6 Restrictions on Drinking Water Consumption, or Taste and Odor Problems...............4-18 4.5.7 Beach Closings......................................................................................................4-19 4.5.8 Degradation of Aesthetics......................................................................................4-19 4.5.9 Added Costs to Agriculture or Industry...................................................................4-20 4.6 Actions and Progress..........................................................................................................4-20 4.7 References........................................................................................................................4-20 CHAPTER 5 HABITAT ASSESSMENT AND RESTORATION 5.1 Summary........................................................................................................................... 5-1 5.2 Habitat Types of the Lake Ontario Basin.............................................................................. 5-1 5.2.1 Habitat Zones and Foodwebs................................................................................... 5-1 5.2.2 Nearshore Habitat................................................................................................... 5-1 5.2.3 Offshore Habitat..................................................................................................... 5-2 5.2.4 Nearshore Wetlands................................................................................................ 5-2 5.2.5 Tributaries.............................................................................................................. 5-2 5.3 Current Status of Basin Habitat............................................................................................ 5-2 5.4 Ongoing Work.................................................................................................................... 5-4 5.4.1 Binational Activities............................................................................................... 5-5 5.4.2 U.S. Activities........................................................................................................ 5-6 5.4.3 Canadian Activities............................................................................................... 5-9 5.5 Actions and Progress..........................................................................................................5-10 5.6 References........................................................................................................................5-11 Lake Ontario LaMP ii April 22, 2004 TAB L E O F CO NTEN TS ( Co ntin ue d) CHAPTER 6 SOURCES AND LOADS OF CRITICAL POLLUTANTS 6.1 Summary........................................................................................................................... 6-1 6.2 Identifying Lakewide Problems and Critical Pollutants..........................................................6-1 6.3 Identifying Sources and Loadings of Critical Pollutants.........................................................6-2 6.3.1 Data Sources and Limitation.................................................................................... 6-2 6.3.2 Loadings - General................................................................................................. 6-8 6.3.3 Loadings -- Critical Pollutants................................................................................6-10 6.3.3.1 PCBs ..............................................................................................................6-10 6.3.3.2 DDT and its Metabolites..................................................................................6-11 6.3.3.3 Mirex..............................................................................................................6-12 6.3.3.4 Dioxins and Furans..........................................................................................6-13