Monitoring at Credit Valley Conservation Presented by Jackie Thomas and Luke Harvey
Where are we?
WHAT IS MONITORING? Long-term sampling of the same point or reach to track changes over time/space
Short Term Sampling vs Long Term Monitoring a) Long Term Monitoring: repeated sampling to look at trends/changes e.g. Integrated Watershed Monitoring Program, Effectiveness Monitoring, Impact Monitoring b) Short Term Sampling: sampling to characterize an area or determine baseline conditions e.g. Subwatershed studies, Erin SSMP, In these studies, we sample typically for only 1-2 years
Basic Questions WATERSHED HEALTH WHAT IS THE CURRENT CONDITION? i.e. what state are we in now? IS THERE A TREND? i.e. improving? degrading? stable?
WHY DO WE MONITOR? To measure progress in our watershed corporate goal of ensuring an environmentally healthy river for economically and socially healthy communities To provide an early warning system To effect change
Importance of Monitoring Permits to Take Water Studies and Strategies (subwatershed, SSMPs, Fish Management Plans, Terrestrial Ecosystem Enhancement Model) Flood Forecasting Modelling (water quality and quantity, terrestrial) Certificates of Approval (sewage works and waste management) Plan Review Plan Input Municipal EAs Report Cards
Parameters we measure Discipline Area of Focus Indicator Meteorology Weather Air Temperature, Precipitation Hydrogeology Baseflow and groundwater levels Recharge rates Hydrology Flow regimes Temporal trends Terrestrial Fluvial Geomorphology Water Quality Biology Forests and their flora and fauna Wetlands and riparian communities Stream form and channel shape Water and sediment chemistry Benthic macroinvertebrates species, populations and communities Fish species, populations and communities Forest Health Species Health Wetland and riparian health Stream stability Parameters of Concern Community composition Index of Biotic Integrity
Key indicators are air temperature and precipitation Four weather stations throughout watershed plus an additional 5 Environment Canada weather stations in and around the watershed An additional 16 tipping bucket rain gauges and 1 Geonor T- 200B weighing precipitation gauge Six additional air temperature sensors Meteorology
Key indicator is recharge rates Several shallow and deep groundwater monitoring wells in various geology throughout the watershed help determine recharge rates Drive point piezometers and baseflow data also help characterize the groundwater Hydrogeology
Key indicator is temporal trends Continuous levels and discharge rates from 11 stations partnered with WSC Longest active station is Credit at Cataract since 1915, most recent is 2005 Hydrology
Terrestrial Monitoring Key indicator is forest health, species health, wetland and riparian health 25 forest plots, 19 wetland plots across Credit watershed Plus 3 forest and 1 wetland effectiveness monitoring plots in NW Brampton Riparian monitoring program initiated in 2009
FOREST HEALTH MONITORING Category Indicator Protocol Frequency Years of Data Biotic Indicators Ground Vegetation Annual 2002 (start), 2004 2009 Regeneration Annual 2002 (start), 2004 2009 Tree Health Annual 2002 (start) - 2009 Forest Birds Annual 2002 (start) 2009 Salamanders Annual 2003-2009 Soil Temperature Annual 2005 (start) 2009 Abiotic Indicators Decomposition Soil Chemistry Annual Every 5 years 2005 (start) 2009 2002 (start), 2007
Wetland Health Monitoring Category Indicator Protocol Frequency Years of Data Biotic Indicators Wetland Vegetation Anurans (frogs and toads) Annual 2003 (start) 2009 Annual 2003 (start) 2009
Fluvial Geomorphology Key indicator is stream stability 6-8 sites assessed per year 10 cross-sections including 3 permanent done at each site Data collected includes longitudinal profile, bank information, substrate type and size, sub-pavement data, Rapid Assessments
Key indicators are parameters of concern for water and sediment chemistry, community composition for benthics, mean daily maximums for water temperature Water chemistry grab samples collected monthly for PWQMN. Autosamplers utilized for Effectiveness and Impact programs Stationary kick and sweep method to collect benthics once annually Water Quality
Key indicator is the Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) Looking at fish species, populations and communities Values are assigned to fish depending on tolerance ratings The higher the IBI the better the site condition Utilize active (seine nets, backpack, punt unit and boat electrofishers) and passive (hoop nets) techniques to sample fish communities Biology
WHO IS INVOLVED at CVC?
Central Services GIS Reception Director, Water Resources Manager, Natural Heritage Water-based Component Hydrogeologists Geomorphology Technicians Water Quality Engineers Benthics Specialist Water Resources Engineers Supervisor, Watershed Monitoring & Reporting 3 Watershed Monitoring Specialists Terrestrial Ecosystem Component Terrestrial Specialist Aquatic Component Terrestrial Monitoring Specialist Fish - Manager, Natural Heritage Terrestrial Monitoring Technician 3 Water Resource Technicians Data Management Technician Summer Staff Volunteers Stewardship
Partnerships Municipalities EMAN MNR Landowners Universities PGMN PWQMN OBBN Water Survey of Canada MOE NGOs Volunteers Environment Canada Other Conservation Authorities
CVC MONITORING PROGRAMS
Integrated Watershed Monitoring Program (IWMP) Purpose: to help determine progress in achieving the Watershed Corporate goal of ensuring an environmentally healthy river for economically and socially healthy communities. Area: watershed-wide Timeframe: ongoing Initiation date: 1999 Funding: Member Municipalities Reports: annual report, every 5 yr trend analysis (incl. watershed report card) Currently working on 10 year data analysis
Fletchers Creek Monitoring Purpose: To establish baseline conditions, measure temporal changes and assess the effectiveness of stormwater control measures on a subwatershed basis. Area: Fletchers Creek Timeframe: ongoing Initiation date: 1998 Funding: City of Mississauga, City of Brampton Reports: annual report, 7 yr trend analysis produced 2007
Effectiveness Monitoring Strategy Purpose: To monitor the effects of urbanization as they are balanced by BMPs and to demonstrate benefits of current BMPs. Also, to learn the most effective means of mitigating the impact of urbanization and land use changes on the natural systems from past and current activities. Area: Huttonville, Fletchers and Springbrook Creeks Initiation date: 2003 Funding: Initial 5 years was developer funded, currently funded by Region of Peel Timeframe: ongoing for next few years Reports: annual report, 5 yr program review in progress
Credit River Trib Monitoring Purpose: To collect background information in order to characterize the current condition of the study area prior to expected development. Area: tributaries north of Credit River between Winston Churchill and Mississauga Rd. Timeframe: 2007-2009, with intentions of continuing next 2+ years Initiation date: 2007 Funding: Developers and Landowners Reports: annual reports and currently working on 3 year analysis
Impact Monitoring Purpose: To monitor cause and effect relationships in deteriorated natural systems. Area: currently in Cooksville and Sheridan Creek. Will expand in future to focus on other urban or stressed watersheds. Timeframe: ongoing Initiation date: 2007 Funding: Region of Peel Reports: annual report
Summary Monitoring at CVC is important to help answer the questions of the various programs Data from several different disciplines is utilized to help answer these questions This wouldn t be possible without the help and support of the member municipalities.
Member Municipalities Region of Halton Region of Peel City of Brampton City of Mississauga Town of Caledon Town of Erin Town of Halton Hills Town of Mono Town of Oakville Town of Orangeville Township of Amaranth Township of East Garafraxa
Contact Questions? jthomas@creditvalleyca.ca lharvey@creditvalleyca.ca