LAKE ONTARIO LAKEWIDE MANAGEMENT PLAN STATUS APRIL 22, 2006 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................................... 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 ......................................................................................................2-3 2.2.4 Demographics and Economy of the Basin.......................................................................2-7 2.3 LaMP Background........................................................................................................................2-8 2.4 LaMP Structure and Processes......................................................................................................2-9 2.5 References...................................................................................................................................2-11 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, 2006 TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) 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.................................4-1 4.4 Beneficial Use Impairments in Lake Ontario ...............................................................................4-2 4.4.1 Restrictions on Fish and Wildlife Consumption..............................................................4-3 4.4.2 “Degradation of Wildlife Populations” and “Bird or Animal Deformities or Reproduction Problems”..................................................................................................4-6 4.4.3 Loss of Fish and Wildlife Habitat....................................................................................4-9 4.4.4 Degradation of Benthos .................................................................................................4-12 4.4.5 Degradation of Nearshore Phytoplankton Populations..................................................4-13 4.4.6 Degradation of Fish Populations....................................................................................4-15 4.5 Unimpaired Lakewide Beneficial Uses in Lake Ontario ............................................................4-18 4.5.1 Tainting of Fish and Wildlife Flavor .............................................................................4-18 4.5.2 Fish Tumors ...................................................................................................................4-19 4.5.3 Restrictions on Dredging Activities...............................................................................4-19 4.5.4 Eutrophication or Undesirable Algae.............................................................................4-20 4.5.5 Restrictions on Drinking Water Consumption, or Taste and Odor Problems................4-21 4.5.6 Beach Closings ..............................................................................................................4-22 4.5.7 Degradation of Aesthetics..............................................................................................4-23 4.5.8 Degradation of Zooplankton..........................................................................................4-24 4.5.9 Added Costs to Agriculture or Industry.........................................................................4-24 4.6 Actions and Progress...................................................................................................................4-24 4.7 References...................................................................................................................................4-25 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, 2006 TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) 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 Lake Ontario Sources and Loadings Strategy...............................................................................6-2 6.4 Identifying Sources and Loadings of Critical Pollutants ..............................................................6-3 6.4.1 Data Sources and Limitations ..........................................................................................6-3 6.4.1.1 Sources Within the Lake Ontario Basin ..........................................................6-4