Chapter 13

Achieving Integrated Habitat Enhancement Objectives, Lake Superior (Ken Cullis, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources)

Introduction

The Remedial Action Plan (RAP) process can be viewed as a successful model for addressing a variety of aquatic and terrestrial habitat issues within the Great Lakes. This process, which has been a true partnership between government agencies and local communities, has provided the framework to identify specific habitat problems within Areas of Concern (AOC) and achieve many habitat rehabilitation targets. Combining expertise and resources through the RAP process has provided an opportunity to demonstrate current habitat rehabilitation technologies and to complete large-scale habitat projects, which could not be addressed by single agencies or organizations.

Drawing on the RAP experience in Lake Superior, there are four key aspects which have contributed to success: clear objectives, interagency approach, funding source, and community involvement.

Clear Objectives

There must be clear objectives in place, which are compatible at all levels of regulation and involvement. For example, The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement established water quality objectives for the Great Lakes. The RAP process specifically addressed impairments to an established list of 14 beneficial uses. Within the bounds of the above two objective structures, the Public Advisory Committees (PAC) set Water Use Goals that pertain to the specific environmental issue in their area.

Interagency Approach

The Lake Superior Programs Office, which brought together four government agencies under one roof, provided coordination for the habitat projects on Lake Superior. This is a demonstration of how federal and provincial agencies, in times of severe financial constraints, can effectively share resources and expertise to reduce program costs, minimize overlapping mandates on environmental issues affecting Lake Superior, and develop real partnerships with industry and the public.

Funding Source

For many of the Lake Superior programs, the Great Lakes 2000 Cleanup Fund provided base funding. The objective of this fund was to develop and implement cleanup technologies and techniques in the Great Lakes. The Cleanup Fund provided monies for up to one third of the proposed cost of the project, with the remaining cost being covered by other partners who contributed with both funding and in-kind support. Having one established funding source generally provides a catalyst for securing other funding partners.

Community Involvement

When members of the community are involved with developing and implementing a plan, they will share accountability for the project. On Lake Superior, strong support has been fostered through local Public Advisory Committees (PAC). These committees were true advisory groups who assisted in project planning and implementation. All proposed projects were first approved by the local PAC before being considered by the Cleanup Fund for funding support. This process resulted in strong community partnerships during implementation, a community structure that was accountable for projects, and ownership for the successes which were achieved.

Demonstration Projects

There are many completed habitat projects in Lake Superior which demonstrate soft engineering technology in shoreline developments. The following are three examples, located in the lower reaches of the Kaministiquia River in Thunder Bay and Nipigon River in Nipigon Bay.

Red Rock Harbourfront and Marina Breakwater Enhancement - Nipigon Bay

In order to improve access to Lake Superior and enhance tourism opportunities for the Township of Red Rock, construction of a full service marina was proposed. The project included construction of a 1.2 km long backwater and dredging 6 ha for the marina base.
The design of this project was initiated at the same time as a separate program was being undertaken by the RAP to restore the Nipigon Bay aquatic ecosystem. Through the forging of a partnership between proponents of both projects, concepts were developed with an emphasis on integrating habitat and water quality enhancement initiatives as components of the design of the marina basin and breakwater. The product successfully achieves both functional and ecosystem objectives while providing additional recreational, aesthetic, and interpretive attributes (Figure 42).

The standard armorstone breakwall was overlaid with a number of habitat features to enhance habitat diversity and create a functional littoral zone along the inner breakwall. Following reconstruction of the inner breakwall, fine material and topsoil were added before the structure was planted with trees and shrubs. Two islands, which included log and canopy shelter structures, spawning shoals, and littoral zone extensions, were constructed on the outside to protect a second opening in the breakaway from wave action. On the inside of the breakwall, habitat diversity was maximized by the addition of a wide variety of habitat structures, including log crib shelters, shallow sandy areas for aquatic plants, rock and bolder edging, gravel shoals, and partially submerged trees.

Functionally, structurally, and ecologically the Red Rock Breakwall is a demonstration of Great Lakes shoreline development utilizing soft engineering techniques. The final structure is an extension of the Marina Park, providing productive habitat for fish and other aquatic organisms and is a functional breakwater for the marina.

The cost of constructing the Red Rock full service marina, which will accommodate 253 boats, was $2.1 million. For the additional cost of $230,000, the ecological productivity of the shoreline has been enhanced and the breakwater is now an extension of the Marina Park.

Project Partners

Nipigon Bay Remedial Action Plan;
Township of Red Rock;
Great Lakes 2000 Cleanup Fund;
Ministry of Northern Development and Mines;
Ministry of Natural Resources;
Domtar Packaging;
Ontario Ministry of the Environment;
Public Works Canada - Small Craft Harbour Branch;
Province of Ontario - Jobs Ontario Capital Program; and
Todhunter Schollen and Associates.

McKellar River Wetland Expansion Project - Thunder Bay

The site of the McKellar River Wetland Project is located at the confluence of the McKellar River and Lake Superior, adjacent to the Mission Marsh. The goal of the project was to extend the influence of the remnant coastal wetland and to increase the diversity and productivity of the fishery within the river and Thunder Bay. Coastal wetlands in Thunder Bay have been degraded or lost as a result of urban, industrial, and commercial waterfront development. This type of nearshore habitat, although critical for the survival of many cool water fish species, is limited in Lake Superior. This project presented an opportunity to restore critical coastal wetland habitat in an urban waterfront setting. Two warm water embayments were constructed on the City of Thunder Bay land adjacent to the Mission Marsh Conservation Area (Figure 43). Although clearly focused on habitat creation and enhancement, the location of the embayments in a conservation area also presented the opportunity to integrate interpretive and recreational components into the project.

The two embayments, approximately 1.5 ha each, were constructed in dry winter conditions and opened to the river in March 1994. A complex contour grading plan included a network of channels with a maximum depth of 6 m, a number of islands, and a variety of habitat treatments in the nearshore zone. Treatments included sand, gravel and rock shoals, boulder edges, submerged tree crowns, and river stone banks. In addition, wet land pockets were constructed to accommodate stormwater runoff and enhance aquatic vegetation production.

Surrounding the embayments, over 4,000 trees and shrubs were planted by volunteers to stabilize the area disturbed during construction and to provide food and cover for wildlife. Additional habitat treatments included shallow micro-pools for amphibians, a mud flat for shore birds, a sand bluff for shore birds, and rock and log piles for reptiles and mammals.

Colonization of the embayments by fish, aquatic plants, and benthic organisms will provide valuable information for future habitat restoration initiatives. In addition, monitoring activities will provide information on the contributions of the embayments to the surrounding aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Recreational and aesthetic benefits were evident immediately following construction. One year after completion, many conservation area users were surprised to learn that the embayments were constructed and not natural features.

Project cost, including concept development, design, and construction, amounted to $650,000.

Project Partners

Thunder Bay Remedial Action Plan;
City of Thunder Bay;
Lakehead Conservation Authority;
Great Lakes 2000 Cleanup Fund;
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources;
Ontario Ministry of the Environment;
Public Works Canada - Department of Fisheries and Oceans; and
Todhunter, Schollen and Associates.

Kaministiquia River Heritage Park - Thunder Bay

For over a century, aquatic and terrestrial habitat has been modified or destroyed in the Thunder Bay Area of Concern. The surrounding watershed has been degraded by industrial, residential, and recreational development. Dredging, channelization, and the release of a number of pollutants have eliminated a significant portion of the quality habitat that once existed along the waterfront. Habitat degradation has resulted in loss of species abundance, diversity, and recreational opportunities. Habitat degradation has also resulted in a decline of aesthetic value for the harbor and its tributaries.

Rehabilitation projects undertaken by the City of Thunder Bay, in the lower reaches of the Kaministiquia River, represent an integrative approach to waterfront development and habitat restoration. Shoreline degradation had left the area void of ecological, recreational, and economic value. The Kaministiquia River Heritage Park was developed to restore the environmental integrity and natural history of the region. The park features a scenic overlook and riverfront promenade running alongside an existing wetland area (Figure 44). The open pile construction of the boardwalk maximizes development and substrate diversity of the aquatic habitat by providing in-stream cover. This design, however, was not part of the original park plan. Initially the approximately 600 m of waterfront was to be developed with steel sheet piling and concrete construction. This would have destroyed the natural shoreline and left a hard, straight edge with no benefit to the aquatic ecosystem. Convinced that a soft engineering approach would not only provide the same protective and access functions as the traditional design, the design was altered to enhance aesthetic and biological benefits. In the initial waterfront construction phase (approximately 600 m), project costs were actually reduced from $850,000 to $450,000. The remainder of the project was completed with open pile construction and shoreline enhancements. This project has convinced many people that habitat rehabilitation can be ecologically desirable and economically viable.

Project Partners

Thunder Bay Remedial Action Plan;
City of Thunder Bay;
Great Lakes 2000 Cleanup Fund;
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources;
Ontario Ministry of the Environment;
Todhunter, Schollen and Associates;
Canadian Pacific Rail; and
Northern Ontario Heritage Fund.

References

North Shore of Lake Superior Remedial Action Plans. 1998. Achieving Integrated Habitat Enhancement Objectives - A Technical Manual. (In partnership with Todhunter, Schollen & Associates and Schollen and Company Inc. and Environment Canada's Great Lakes 2000 Cleanup Fund). Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.

Lake Superior Programs Office. 1997. Making a Great Lake Superior. ISBN 0-9681484-0-9.