Chapter 6

Goose Bay Shoreline Stabilization and Habitat Enhancement (Stan Taylor, Essex Region Conservation Authority)

Introduction

Introduction The purpose of the Goose Bay Shoreline Stabilization and Habitat Enhancement project was to restore and enhance the shoreline of the embayment. This included the construction of submerged fish habitat enhancements along the embayment's littoral fringe and deeper water areas.

Project Description

Goose Bay Park is located on the Detroit River approximately 200 m west of the foot of Pillette Road, on Windsor's near east side. The site is owned by the City of Windsor and is a passive use park approximately 0.9 ha (2.1 acres) in size with a shoreline frontage (east property line to west property line) of approximately 172 m. Goose Bay is one of the last remaining sheltered embayment habitats along the upper Detroit River shoreline. This area has been previously identified as important for fish and wildlife habitat.

The restoration and stabilization work at Goose Bay involved the protection of the shoreline with rip-rap and native materials, such as willows, dogwoods, and other hardwood species (Figure 20 and 21). Select submerged enhancements, such as groyne and rock apron construction, were undertaken to improve fish spawning and refuge habitat (Figure 22). Two small sheltered wetland areas were created along with cobble stone beaches.

In addition to contributing to progress toward delisting impaired beneficial uses in the Detroit River Area of Concern and meeting Canada-Ontario Agreement Habitat Targets, other highlights of the project include:

• reestablishing the Goose Bay shoreline and riparian areas using native materials (native plant species and rock) to provide habitat for waterfowl and passerines;
• enhancing submerged fish habitat features to increase fish use for spawning and rearing/refuge; and
• improving submerged fish habitat features (i.e., groynes) to help protect the embayment from swift current regimes and wave action.

The project is nearing completion, with final plantings of aquatic/wetland vegetation to be done in 2000. In addition to pre-project site monitoring, future monitoring activities will demonstrate the effectiveness of in-water enhancement projects in creating habitat in sheltered river embayments.

Advice to Overcome Obstacles When Using Soft Engineering Practices

All necessary permits and approvals (i.e., Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Canada Coast Guard) were obtained by the project proponent prior to construction. The approval process involved a Federal Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency screening coordinated by Environment Canada and was also facilitated by the Essex Region Conservation Authority's 'one-window' review and permit process. The project will result in a net improvement in the extent and quality of fish habitat in the embayment, and therefore is self-compensating. This project also avoids any impacts on river flow capacities. The "soft engineering" approach which enhanced habitat was in harmony with other needs, such as navigation, river flows, and meeting the main objective of enhancing and protecting the Public Parkland. This balanced planning and design of the project avoided any obstacles.

Cost, Funding, and Implementation Partners

The total project cost was $161,000, with $50,000 being funded by Environment Canada's Great Lakes Cleanup Fund. The remaining balance was paid for by funding from the City of Windsor. The project was carried out as a partnership between the City's Parks and Recreation Department and the Essex Region Conservation Authority, with the assistance of BTS Consulting (Windsor). It was undertaken as part of the Detroit River Canadian Cleanup program.

Post Project Evaluation

A detailed monitoring program will be undertaken at the site on an annual basis for two years following construction. The pre-construction bioinventory and habitat assessment, with photographic records, will provide a baseline for the monitoring program. Annual post-construction monitoring will be undertaken during the late spring/early summer, and will include at a minimum:

• an assessment of bank stability;
• an assessment of riparian plant mortality;
• extent and composition of emergent vegetation communities in the embayment;
• extent and composition (by dominant size classes) of embayment substrates;
• a descriptions of basic water quality parameters;
• qualitative assessment of existing fish spawning and rearing/refuge habitats;
• an assessment of fish use and relative densities using snorkel or SCUBA techniques; and
• a description of upland characteristics including a qualitative assessment of wildlife habitat.

Benefits of Project

By restoring and enhancing fish and wildlife habitat, the project will aid in delisting the impaired beneficial use of "loss of fish and wildlife habitat". In addition, the project will aid in meeting Canadian-Ontario Agreement Habitat Targets. The project has also stabilized an eroding shoreline and provides an accessible and aesthetically pleasing public park setting which also provides an enhanced view of the Detroit River from Riverside Drive.

Contact Persons

Faye Langmaid
City of Windsor, Parks and Recreation Department
2450 McDougall Street
Windsor, Ontario N8X 3N6
flangmaid@city.windsor.on.ca

Stan Taylor
Essex Region Conservation Authority
360 Fairview Avenue West
Essex, Ontario N8M 1Y6
staylor@erca.org

Matthew Child
Essex Region Conservation Authority
360 Fairview Avenue West
Essex, Ontario N8M 1Y6
erca@wincom.net

Dan Krutsch
BTS Consulting Engineers
1725 North Talbot Road, RR #1
Windsor, Ontario N9A 6J3
btseng@sprint.ca