Research Document - 2013/077
Standardized data collection methods in support of a classification protocol for the designation of watercourses as municipal drains
By Nicholas E. Mandrak and Lynn D. Bouvier
Abstract
Agricultural watercourses in Ontario have been designated as municipal drains. To streamline regulatory processes for maintenance works, these watercourses are classified based on temperature, permanency of flow, and fish species present. Currently, maintenance works on three drain types require a site-specific review by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) including Types D and E drains that contain sensitive fish species and those watercourses that have species at risk present and/or mapped critical habitat (includes fishes and/or mussels that are Threatened or Endangered). These three drain types are more sensitive to municipal drain maintenance works, which typically involve dredging the bottom of the drain and removing excess sediment. Drain types D and E are classified based on temperature and fish data that have been collected in the field. Species at risk presence is determined by using the Species at Risk Maps, or by detecting species at risk during fish sampling. If either source indicates the presence of species at risk (SAR), then an SAR class will be applied.
The presence of top predators in a watercourse initially determined whether a site-specific review and Fisheries Act Authorization was required. It was deemed that this approach may not be appropriate and rather a list of sensitive species be created, which would better align with DFO's Risk Management Framework. The Risk Management Framework uses species sensitivity to determine risk level and whether an Authorization is the appropriate regulatory tool. DFO Science has been asked to provide methods used to create the sensitive fish species list to ensure that the approach is scientifically sound, and to review the resulting list of sensitive species to ensure that no sensitive species have been omitted and non-sensitive species are not included. In addition, a draft sampling protocol has been created for collecting temperature, flow, and fish data required for municipal drain classification. DFO Science has also been asked to review this sampling protocol to ensure it is scientifically sound.
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