NVCA - Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority

Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority

2015 Report on the Environmental Health of the
Oak Ridges Moraine and Adjacent Greenbelt

This report card is a measurement of the health of the Oak Ridges Moraine and adjacent Greenbelt subwatersheds within the Nottawasaga Valley watershed. Human health and well-being are affected by the quality of our natural environment. Monitoring increases our understanding of watershed health and helps target programs and activities to where they are needed most. It is also a tool used to track progress, identify changing conditions and target areas that require protection or enhancement. Two of NVCA's subwatersheds: Innisfil Creek (Bailey Creek and Beeton Creek catchments) and the Upper Nottawasaga River -- include portions of the Oak Ridges Moraine and the Greenbelt (Escarpment and Protected Countryside).

This report card was prepared by the Conservation Authorities Moraine Coalition to provide science-based information to inform the 2015 review of the Greenbelt Plan and the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan. Funding support generously provided by the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation.

Where is NVCA within the ORM?

Where is the ORM within NVCA?

The Overall Grade for the health of the watershed is based on four variables: *Please Click One of the Variables below for more Information
Forest Conditions			Surface Water Quality
Groundwater Quality			Coldwater Fish and Stream Temperature


Forest Conditions			Grade:	Trend: None MORE INFO
Overall Forest Conditions Indicator Forests are a major component of a watershed and contribute to the overall health of the watershed ecosystem. Forests along the Niagara Escarpment support rare wildlife such as Louisiana waterthrush and the endangered Jefferson salamander. Coniferous and mixed forests along the Nottawasaga River valley provide important winter habitat for deer. The Forest Conditions Indicator is measured using three variables: overall forest cover, forest interior and forested riparian area. NVCA land cover mapping was used to define the spatial extent of forest cover. Overall, the portion of the Nottawasaga Valley watershed within the Oak Ridges Moraine (ORM) and Greenbelt received a B grade. The three subwatersheds within the ORM/Greenbelt are Upper Nottawasaga River (Grade of A), Bailey Creek (Grade of C) and Beeton Creek (Grade of C). Since Bailey and Beeton Creeks received the lowest grades, it is recommended that tree planting be focused in these areas under NVCA's Healthy Waters and Tree Planting programs.
Back	Overall Forest Conditions Indicator	Forest Cover	Forest Interior	Riparian Forest


Surface Water Quality		Grade:	Trend: None MORE INFO
Surface Water Quality Indicator The assessment of surface water quality for the Oak Ridges Moraine (ORM)/Greenbelt Report Card was based on total phosphorus (TP) and benthic macroinvertebrates (see accompanying description). These two indicators are recommended by Conservation Ontario for reporting on surface water quality. Funding from the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation was essential to support TP sampling and analysis in the NVCA portion of the ORM and Greenbelt study area. Surface water quality is associated with forest conditions in the riparian area (edge of stream) as well as natural cover and other land uses throughout the associated drainage area. The overall grade for the Nottawasaga Valley watershed within the ORM and Greenbelt is B. With healthy forest cover and riparian forest cover, it is no surprise that the Upper Nottawasaga River had good TP and benthic index grades (Grade A and Grade B, respectively). Bailey Creek followed the forest cover trend with intermediate TP and benthic index grades (Grade B and Grade C) while Beeton Creek reflected poorer TP and benthic index grades (Grade B and Grade D). Click here for more information on NVCA's Watershed Monitoring Program.
Back	Surface Water Quality Indicator	Total Phosphorus & Benthics Invertebrates
Reforestation of riparian areas, promotion of best management practices on agricultural lands and decommissioning of on-line ponds are three ways by which NVCA is working with the agricultural community and other landowners to improve the health of our surface water in the ORM and Greenbelt.
Determining surface water quality involves biologists sampling creeks and wetlands for things like: insects, mollusks, crustaceans and worms. They also test total phosphorus levels which are also used to determine the health of a stream.


Groundwater Quality		Grade:	Trend: None MORE INFO
Groundwater Quality Indicator Groundwater Quality for the Oak Ridges Moraine (ORM)/Greenbelt Report was based on chloride and combined nitrite/nitrate levels. These two indicators are recommended by Conservation Ontario as they reflect key issues related to groundwater quality across the province. Groundwater is water that is stored underground in bedrock fractures or between sand/gravel grains in aquifers. Groundwater sinks into the ground from rain or snowmelt then moves to spring and seep discharge areas, which feed streams and wetlands, or downward into aquifers.
Back	Groundwater Quality Indicator	Chloride	Nitrite & Nitrate (NO3)
Assignment of grades is specific to each well. The assignment of a grade to groundwater quality over a subwatershed area is difficult for a number of reasons, including: - there are few available groundwater quality samples to characterize the groundwater both spatially and with depth across all subwatersheds in the study area - groundwater quality results from an individual well can reflect highly localized conditions; for example, certain land uses can influence groundwater quality on a local scale and do not necessarily reflect groundwater conditions across the subwatershed - groundwater taken from the shallow subsurface can exhibit very different characteristics from samples taken at depth at the same location
The map opposite shows only the chloride concentration measured in groundwater samples collected after January 1, 2000, and only for those wells that are considered to reflect the shallow groundwater (less than 21 m, close to the water table). Shallow samples better reflect land use impacts on groundwater quality. In this part of Ontario, deeper samples, especially in the bedrock, are frequently influenced by natural brine waters as opposed to being influenced by land use or other human impacts at surface. Chloride was selected because of its conservative behaviour in the subsurface (that is, it tends to stay in aquifers) and its widespread use in winter to de-ice roadways and parking lots.
Additional monitoring must be done within NVCA before any conclusions can be made about the health of groundwater in relation to nitrite and nitrate. The accompanying map shows that few groundwater quality analyses are available for characterizing the groundwater system. The Provincial Groundwater Monitoring Network (PGMN) has been established to monitor ambient conditions with annual sampling at some 450 wells across the province. Municipalities with groundwater-based supplies also regularly sample groundwater from wells that are part of their drinking water supply system. Outside of these programs there are few studies or even opportunities to collect groundwater samples, particularly on a repeatable basis, in Ontario. Additional monitoring, particular in urban areas as well as in areas that are slated for land use change, is recommended to track long-term trends on groundwater quality.


Coldwater Fish and Stream Temperature		MORE INFO	Trend: None MORE INFO
Coldwater Fish and Stream Temperature Brook trout and Sculpin were selected as coldwater indicators of ecosystem health. These native fish species are typical of the Oak Ridges Moraine (ORM) and Greenbelt study area, which is characterized by abundant groundwater discharge that supports their coldwater habitat. Changes in presence of these fish species may indicate degradation or improvement in various factors such as groundwater contributions, water quality (e.g., phosphorus, temperature, benthics and dissolved oxygen), riparian cover or physical stream condition. Coldwater fish communities are determined by stream temperature thresholds that relate to summer average and maximums. Where fish data is not available, stream temperature is a good surrogate for the presence of coldwater fish indicators or restoration potential.
Back	Coldwater Fish and Stream Temperature	Fish Found	Stream Temperature
Brook Trout Sculpin
As a new addition to the report card, this indicator is important because some conservation authorities have noted a decline in Brook Trout populations over time (e.g., Credit Valley Conservation has documented a statistically significant decline across 18 sites since 1999). Coldwater fish can be negatively impacted by climate change and other stressors associated with land use change. Land use mitigation and restoration efforts may offset such trends.
Managing for cooler water temperature regimes through riparian planting and dam decommissioning will improve water quality and fish habitat and will also benefit subwatershed forest cover. These forms of management are needed to buffer potential thermal impacts associated with climate change. NVCA staff continue to work closely with landowners to support these forms of stewardship.