Lower Great Lakes watershed priority place
Location
The Lower Great Lakes watershed includes the watersheds (and connecting waterways) of lower Lake Huron, Lake St. Clair, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario; it also includes the upper St. Lawrence River and its associated watersheds.
Key threats
Common and significant threats for aquatic SAR within this priority place are diverse and include: physical habitat loss; declining water quality – including sediment and nutrient loading (causing increased turbidity) and contaminants; changes in stream channel structure; increased stream temperatures; flow alteration; the removal of riparian vegetation; barriers to movement; and invasive species (e.g. Round Goby and Zebra Mussels). For freshwater mussels, declines in fish host species can also represent a significant threat factor.
Aquatic SARA Schedule 1-listed species at risk found in the Lower Great Lakes watershed priority place
| Priority Places and Marine Threats | Species, Population | SARA status |
|---|
Examples of recovery activities that DFO is seeking to support in the Lower Great Lakes watershed priority place
- Activities to reduce non-point source pollution (i.e., nutrient and sediment loading, contaminants/toxic substances) and improve habitat quality and quantity for aquatic SAR.
- Development of best management practices that address threats such as sediment, nutrient and contaminant loading, increased stream temperatures, flow alteration etc
- Implementation of BMPs and other on-the-ground stewardship activities (e.g., riparian planting and restoration, wetland restoration and creation, barrier removal, creation of sediment traps, fencing of livestock out of riparian area)
- Research to identify threats and threat thresholds for aquatic SAR and their habitats (siltation, anoxia, thermal stress etc.) to inform ecosystem-based recovery actions
- Support for partnerships, relationship building, and the establishment of venues for continued collaboration, and information and knowledge sharing to support recovery actions
- Targeted outreach to improve awareness and increase opportunity for stewardship/partnership activities (presentations to environmental non-government organizations, Indigenous groups, etc.)
- The establishment of aquatic SAR monitoring programs to track any improvements in their habitat and populations as a result of best management practice implementation and other on-the-ground stewardship activities
Learn more about projects in this area
Restoration and mitigation for Ausable River Species at risk in Ontario
Restoration and mitigation for Ausable River Species at risk in Ontario
Recipient: Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority
Project goal: The main objective of this four-year project is to improve aquatic habitat in the Ausable River for at-risk freshwater mussels and fish species by addressing the threat of habitat degradation. This project aims to restore natural areas through the reduction of nutrient and sediment inputs, and to mitigate impacts of working landscapes through the use of cover crops, and the installation of fencing and erosion control structures.
Funds are also being used to develop landowner interest and awareness through social media, newsletters, postcards and media news releases that provide information about funding incentives that are available.
Monitoring of aquatic species at risk will be undertaken to determine the presence and abundance of each species, as well as identify the critical habitat attributes at each site. Monitoring data is being analyzed and compared with the data collected in previous years to track changes and identify improvements in habitat as a result of the implementation of best management practices and other stewardship activities.
Fund Allocation: $813,000
Time Frame: 4 years
Species that benefit from this project:
Aquatic species at risk outreach and habitat enhancements in the watersheds managed by Conservation Halton
Aquatic species at risk outreach and habitat enhancements in the watersheds managed by Conservation Halton
Recipient: Halton Region Conservation Foundation
Project goal: The primary objective of this four-year project is to encourage stewardship practices and habitat restoration projects that focus on multiple species at risk in Bronte Creek, Fourteen Mile Creek and Sixteen Mile Creek, in the Lower Great Lakes Watershed Priority Area. The aim is to empower and enable landowners to implement water quality and habitat improvement projects that enhance conditions for aquatic species at risk.
This project aims to address threats to aquatic species at risk including (1) physical habitat alterations such as changes in channel structure, flow alterations, increased stream temperatures, removal of riparian vegetation and barriers to fish movement; (2) invasive/non-native species, including Phragmites and Northern Pike; and (3) pollution that affects water quality including sedimentation, nutrient loading and the introduction of contaminants.
To address these threats, various activities are being carried out including outreach, riparian plantings, fish habitat enhancements, mitigation of physiological barriers, invasive/non-native species management and continued monitoring of aquatic species at risk.
Finally, the project implementation is actively establishing long-term partnerships with many watershed residents, community volunteers and conservation organizations, with more partnerships likely to be established over the course of the project.
Fund Allocation: $255,000
Time Frame: 4 years
Species that benefit from this project:
Targeted Lower Thames Valley & Lake Erie sub-watershed improvements for aquatic species at risk
Targeted Lower Thames Valley & Lake Erie sub-watershed improvements for aquatic species at risk
Recipient: Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority
Project goal: This four-year project aims to restore riparian and wetland habitat for aquatic species at risk found within the Lower Great Lakes Watershed Priority Area. First, an aquatic species at risk threat assessment is being conducted in order to identify and prioritize the most at-risk sub-watersheds. As threats and areas are prioritized, restoration activities are being carried out to improve water quality, including the filtration of overland runoff (i.e., sediment, nutrient and contaminants). Additionally, a long-term aquatic species at risk monitoring program is being established.
Collaboration with local groups and public engagement is contributing to an improved understanding of aquatic species at risk in the Lower Thames Valley sub-watershed, what threatens them, and what actions can be undertaken to recover them. This project aims to ensure a long term, lasting impact towards the recovery and conservation of aquatic species at risk within the Lower Thames Valley sub-watershed now and into the future.
Fund Allocation: $650,000
Time Frame: 4 years
Species that benefit from this project:
- Eastern Pondmussel
- Hickorynut
- Kidneyshell
- Mapleleaf
- Northern Riffleshell
- Rainbow
- Rayed Bean
- Round Hickorynut
- Round Pigtoe
- Snuffbox
- Eastern Sand Darter
- Lake Chubsucker
- Northern Madtom
- Pugnose Shiner
- River Redhorse
- Silver Chub
- Wavy-Rayed Lampmussel
- Fawnsfoot
- Lilliput
- Threehorn Wartyback
- Pugnose Minnow
- Lake Sturgeon
- Channel Darter
- Spotted Gar
- Spotted Sucker
- Warmouth
- Black Redhorse
- Gravel Chub
- Silver Lamprey
- Silver Shiner
- River Darter
Ecosystem approach for recovery of species at risk in the Sydenham River in Canada
Ecosystem approach for recovery of species at risk in the Sydenham River in Canada
Recipient: St. Clair Region Conservation Authority
Project goal: This four-year project aims to support habitat improvement activities that address (1) nutrient loading and suspended solids from overland runoff and livestock; (2) ammonia from overland runoff of manure; and (3) thermal effects from loss of riparian buffers in agricultural and urban catchments. Working with landowners on a voluntary basis, this project will install erosion control structures such as in-field berms, riprap tile outlets, and wetlands; fence livestock from watercourses; retire fragile and marginal land; and create and enhance riparian buffers as means to reduce nutrient and sediment inputs.
This project also supports education and outreach programs about aquatic species at risk for farmers, rural landowners, students, and various stakeholders and community groups. Social media venues, local community and agriculture-focused events, general mail service and site visits are also being used to inform the local communities of processes and policies in place for current species at risk.
Fund Allocation: $1,117,000
Time Frame: 4 years
Species that benefit from this project:
Implementation and evaluation of recovery actions for aquatic species at risk in the Lower Great Lakes Watershed
Implementation and evaluation of recovery actions for aquatic species at risk in the Lower Great Lakes Watershed
Recipient: University of Toronto
Project goal: This four-year project aims to implement recovery actions that benefit fish and mussel species at risk in the lower Great Lakes watershed. Project elements include evaluating the threats to the species at risk, identifying the habitat requirements, and undertaking habitat restoration activities. The project is also developing captive-breeding methods for selected at-risk fish species that require population enhancement.
These activities are benefitting aquatic species at risk by (1) identifying the causal mechanism of threats that, in turn, will allow for the development of effective mitigation strategies; (2) increasing the amount of habitat available for aquatic species at risk; (3) allowing the development of fish populations for use in threat-elucidation experiments, thereby reducing impacts on wild populations, and enabling future reintroductions of fish into the waterbodies; and (4) making stakeholders more aware of aquatic species at risk in general, leading to greater awareness, concern and stewardship, which should result in greater protection for these species.
Fund Allocation: $1,790,700
Time Frame: 4 years
Species that benefit from this project:
- Date modified: