Terms of Reference

Impacts of agricultural drain maintenance in Beaver Creek on Grass Pickerel (Esox americanus vermiculatus), a fish species at risk

Regional Peer Review – Central and Arctic Region

October 4-5, 2016
Burlington, ON

Chairperson: Lynn Bouvier

Context

Beaver Creek, a tributary of the Niagara River, is classified as a municipal drain in the Town of Fort Erie. Drain maintenance was required to clear obstructions and improve drainage of private lands. Beaver Creek is home to a relatively large population of Grass Pickerel (Esox americanus vermiculatus), a resident of several drains in the Niagara Region. Grass Pickerel is listed as Special Concern under Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act. This species has specific habitat requirements (i.e., dense aquatic vegetation, clear water, low flow, temporally flooded riparian zones) that conflict with the undertakings and objectives of most drain clean-outs.

The Town of Fort Erie proposed a drain clean-out within a provincially significant wetland that included the removal of three debris jams, excavation, and re-grading of approximately 988 linear meters of Beaver Creek. Overall, this impacted 2.8 hectares of fish habitat surrounding the westerly tributary of Beaver Creek. This drain maintenance was conducted in the fall of 2011 on the west branch of Beaver Creek.  Natural channel design principles were incorporated into the construction to mitigate the impacts of a traditional drain cleanout.  Five pools were constructed, along with two offline floodplain pools, to improve water storage and create additional fish habitat.

There was concern that the drainage works may have a significant impact on Grass Pickerel populations present in this system. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Species at Risk Program has requested advice from DFO Science to help assess the impacts of the drain maintenance and reconstruction activities on Grass Pickerel in Beaver Creek and determine appropriate monitoring techniques for assessing adverse effects on the species.

Objective

The objectives are to provide advice on the effects of drain maintenance on Grass Pickerel and its habitat:

1. Determine the impacts of drain maintenance and reconstruction activities on Grass Pickerel populations in Beaver Creek.
2. Develop monitoring techniques that could be used to detect impacts on Grass Pickerel populations.
3. Update existing recommendations (Coker et al. 2010) and provide additional mitigation measures that could be used to minimize the effects of future drain clean-outs on Grass Pickerel.

Expected Publications

• Science Advisory Report
• Proceedings
• Research Document(s)

Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) (e.g., Science and Ecosystems and Fisheries Management)
• Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
• University of Toronto
• Town of Fort Erie
• Other invited experts

References

Coker, G.A., Ming, D.L., and Mandrak, N.E. 2010. Review considerations and mitigation guide for habitat of the Grass Pickerel (Esox americanus vermiculatus). Can. Manuscr. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2941: vi + 18 p.