UPDATE
LAKE ONTARIO*
DU LAC ONTARIO
LAKE ONTARIO
LAKEWIDE
MANAGEMENT
PLAN UPDATE '09
CONTENTS
The Lake Ontario LaMP:
Lighting the way for Lake Ontario
Celebrating 100 years of
Binational Great Lakes
Collaboration (1909-2009)
Ecosystem Indicators
LaMP 2008 Binational
Cooperative Monitoring
Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River
Water Level Control Study
Bald Eagles are Back!
Restoring the Diversity of
Lake Ontario Fishes
Lake Ontario Aquatic
Invasive Species
Niagara River Toxics
Management Plan
Lake Ontario Sources
and Loadings Strategy
Binational Biodiversity Conservation
Strategy for Lake Ontario
Great Lakes Areas of Concern
(AOCs) Make Progress
Upcoming LaMP Activities
Binational Executive Committee
For More Information
The Lake Ontario LaMP:
Lighting the way for Lake Ontario
Working together to restore and protect the health of the large and complex ecosystem of
Lake Ontario is the focus of the Lake Ontario Lakewide Management Plan (LaMP). This
binational framework implemented by seven federal, provincial and state agencies, is a
model of collaboration in environmental protection that celebrated its 20 year anniversary
in 2007. It is part of the binational commitment to Great Lakes health under the Canada-
United States Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA).
This special edition of the Lake Ontario LaMP Update, in celebration of the 100 year
anniversary of binational stewardship under the Boundary Waters Treaty, provides an
overview of the work of the LaMP partners in helping to restore and protect the health of
Lake Ontario. The Update is a compilation of success stories and challenges from previ-
ous LaMP publications and is intended to provide both stakeholders and the public with
information on the many successes the LaMP has achieved and further action that can be
taken to restore and improve the health of the lake.
There are many tools the governments use to protect the Great Lakes, both individually and
collectively. Both governments have formalized their commitments through the
GLWQA. The agreement, renewed three times since 1972, has evolved from an original
focus on nutrients (phosphorus) to more broadly address restoring and maintaining the
chemical, physical and biological integrity of the waters of the Great Lakes ecosystem.
The last renewal of the GLWQA in 1987 set the stage for development of Remedial Action
Plans for Areas of Concern (areas where there are higher concentrations of historical
pollution) around the lakes. It also set the stage for creation of lakewide management plans
to improve the quality of the open waters of the lakes. It was this action that gave birth to
the Lake Ontario LaMP.
Together, the LaMP agencies share information, identify lakewide environmental issues
through cooperative programs, set ecosystem objectives, coordinate activities and monitor
Continued on Page 2
Celebrating 100 years of Binational Great Lakes Collaboration (1909-2009)
YOU'RE INVITED
J U N E 2009
TO CELEBRATE
1OOYEARS
o/BINATIONAL
STEWARDSHIP
BOUNDARY
WATERS
T R EAT Y
CENTENNIAL
NIAGARA
NEW YORK & ONTARIO
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The Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 is the origin of Great Lakes
collaboration between Canada and the United States. It was created to
help resolve disputes about water quantity and quality. The treaty
established the International Joint Commission (IJC) (http://www.ijc.org/)
as the binational body responsible for resolving disputes.
The Boundary Waters Treaty also gave rise to the Great Lakes Water
Quality Agreement (GLWQA) (http://www.on.ec.gc.ca), which in turn
gave rise to Remedial Action Plans (RAPs) for designated Areas of
Concern (AOCs) on the Great Lakes, as well as Lakewide Management
Plans (LaMPs).
On June 13, 2009 the IJC, the governments of the United States and
Canada, along with Niagara-area municipalities hosted the centennial
celebration of the 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty at Niagara Falls. The
celebration was held during Boundary Waters Week, a regional initiative
from June 5 - June 14, 2009.
For more information see: www.oursharedwaters.com
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LAKE ONTARIO LAKEWIDE MANAGEMENT PLAN UPDATE '09
Ecosystem Indicators
The LaMP adopted a set of ecosys-
tem goals, objectives and indicators
in 2001 to help measure progress in
restoring and maintaining the health
of the Lake Ontario ecosystem.
The following selected indicators
reflect lakewide conditions: concen-
trations of critical pollutants in water,
young of the year fish, herring gull
eggs and lake trout; nutrient levels,
zooplankton and prey fish; herring
gulls, lake trout, bald eagle, mink
and otter populations. In 2008, the
LaMP began work on a set of
coastal wetland indicators. The
LaMP and its partners are commit-
ted to supporting cooperative
monitoring approaches needed to
report on these indicators on a long-
term basis.
Continued from Page 1
progress. Individually the partner agencies contribute by working domesti-
cally to control pollution, manage fisheries and wildlife, and deal with other
environment and natural resource issues.
Through the efforts of the member agencies, either working individually or
collaboratively, significant progress has been made in Lake Ontario. Levels of
contaminants in the Lake Ontario ecosystem have decreased significantly over
the last 20 years. The quality of the water has improved and populations of
species under stress, such as lake trout, bald eagles, mink and otter are now
recovering.
However, significant challenges remain. New and emerging chemicals may be
having an effect on the health of the ecosystem; the full extent of the impact of
invasive species has yet to be determined; and fish consumption advisories still
exist as a result of legacy pollutants such as mercury, PCBs and dioxins. The
work of the LaMP continues.
For more information on these and other projects, go to www. binational. net.
LaMP 2008 Binational Cooperative Monitoring
The Lake Ontario LaMP is a model of binational, multi-agency collaboration. The 2008 Binational
Collaborative Research and Monitoring Initiative is one example of how this collaboration works to leverage
resources and benefit lake managers on both sides of the border.
The Lake Ontario ecosystem is complex, and needs to be properly understood for effective management deci-
sions to be made. Monitoring and scientific assessment on the scale needed for Lake Ontario is beyond the
capacity of any one government agency. To overcome this challenge, the Lake Ontario LaMP partners pooled
their resources, staff, expertise, time and equipment to develop and implement the Binational Collaborative
Research and Monitoring Initiative.
The goal of the initiative was to collect information needed to help scientists and managers better understand the
ecosystem dynamics and make informed decisions to improve the state of the lake. One focus of that study was
the impact of invasive species on the health and abundance of native fish in the lake. continued on Page 3
2008 Binational Collaborative Research and Monitoring Partners
United States
United States Environmental
Protection Agency
United States Fish and
Wildlife Service
United States
Geological Survey
National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration
NY State Department
of Environmental
Conservation
SUNY Brockport
SUNY Buffalo
Buffalo State
College
SUNYESF
Rochester Institute
of Technology
Clarkson University
Cornell University
Canada
Environment
Canada
Department of
Fisheries and
Oceans
Ontario Ministry of
the Environment
Ontario Ministry of
Natural Resources
Lake Ontario
Conservation
Authorities
Lake Ontario
Collaborative
University of Toronto
Trent University
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LAKE ONTARIO LAKEWIDE MANAGEMENT PLAN UPDATE '09
Continued from Page 2
Another part of the study was a lakewide assessment of lake trout populations conducted by the Ontario
Ministry of Natural Resources, United States Geological Survey and New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation. This extensive survey will aid evaluation of the
successes of efforts to establish self-sustaining populations of these long-lost
native fish.
The study is also seeking to update the status of legacy pollutants (PCBs, DDT,
dioxins and furans) and provide information on new and emerging chemicals.
The near-shore zone of the lake will be studied in greater detail than ever
before. One of the most critical issues facing Lake Ontario is the drastic
changes in the near-shore waters caused by invasive zebra and quagga mussels.
It is thought that dense beds of invasive mussels and algae that have become
established around the lake are preventing the flow of nutrients into deeper
water resulting in severe eutrophication and other near-shore water quality
problems.
In 2008, scientists from Canada and the United States completed the sampling
and data collection phase of this massive study for Lake Ontario.
Bald Eagles are Back!
Lake Ontario basin and Upper St. Lawrence River
bald eagles have made a tremendous come back
over the last three decades, thanks to hunting
bans, habitat conservation efforts and declining
levels of environmental contaminants. Today
there are two Lake Ontario and three Upper St.
Lawrence River shoreline nesting territories.
More than two dozen inland nesting territories are
now established within the Lake Ontario basin
along tributaries and wetland areas, with new nests being established every year.
U.S. and Canadian bald eagle experts are helping the LaMP identify and conserve
valuable shoreline nesting habitat for expanding bald eagle populations. The
continued expansion of shoreline nesting territories would be an important sign of a healthy, diverse, and self-
sustaining wildlife community that uses the lake habitat and/or food.
Twenty high priority potential shoreline nesting areas were identified through computer modeling, small plane
aerial surveys and field visits. The LaMP is working with bald eagle experts, local governments and landowners
to promote conservation strategies for these priority habitats. Specific bald eagle population restoration goals
and objectives in place to help measure progress towards fully restoring eagle populations are:
• 80 Percent of bald eagle nesting pairs should fledge 1 or more eaglets per year;
• 10 Shoreline nesting territories are established by 2016;
• Protect 5 Canadian and 5 U. S. priority sites totaling more than 12,400 acres by 2016.
Continued implementation of monitoring and public awareness programs, combined with effective local habitat
conservation efforts will ensure the success of U.S.-Canadianbald eagle restoration efforts.
Lake Ontario-
St. Lawrence River
Water Level
Control Study
The International Joint Commission
has undertaken an intensive effort to
revise the current regulatory plan for
managing Lake Ontario-
St. Lawrence River water levels and
outflows. The final plan will have
crucial implications for future
ecosystem restoration activities
implemented through the LaMP and
by many communities around Lake
Ontario. The LaMP is following the
possible change in water level
control by the International Lake
Ontario-St. Lawrence River Control
Board and the adaptive manage-
ment actions that will be needed to
monitor and mitigate any potential
adverse impacts to the ecosystem.
For more information:
www. /os/. org/about/about-e. html.
3
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LAKE ONTARIO LAKEWIDE MANAGEMENT PLAN UPDATE '09
Restoring the Diversity of Lake Ontario Fishes
The biodiversity of the fish community in Lake Ontario today is dramatically different than at the time of European
settlement. Since the late 1800s, a number of changes to the environment, such as habitat loss, degraded water
quality, invasive species, and overfishing have affected many fish species. Twenty-two fish species have been lost
from the Lake Ontario basin or are currently 'rare'.
A wide variety of public and private partners are working to restore the biological diversity offish in Lake Ontario,
including the LaMP's partnership with the Lake Ontario Fishery Commission's Lake Ontario Committee (LOC).
Efforts to restore lake trout began in the 1970s with binational sea lamprey control and stocking programs.
Naturally produced lake trout made a comeback in Lake Ontario in the early 1990s, after an absence of over 50
years. Naturally produced fish are still seen today, but their numbers are small, and low survival of stocked fish has
slowed recovery.
The Atlantic salmon restoration program is focused on three "best bet" streams in western Lake Ontario. Stocking
young Atlantic salmon and improving stream habitats are showing early signs of success with the recent appear-
ance of maturing salmon. Recent efforts to restore American eel in Lake Ontario include closing fisheries, stock-
ing of young eels, and providing eels safe passage around dams. In addition, restoration programs for deepwater
cisco, lake sturgeon and redside dace are underway. These recovery efforts, together with work to improve the
quality of the environment, will help restore the balance and diversity of the fish community in Lake Ontario.
Examples offish restoration projects at locations around Lake Ontario: 1. lake sturgeon stocking (©Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources),
2. shoreline planting on an Atlantic salmon stream (©Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters), 3. assessing the growth of stocked Atlantic
salmon (©Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources), 4. assessing the growth of young lake sturgeon in the lower Genesee River (©US Fish and
Wildlife Service), 5. monitoring natural reproduction of lake trout in Lake Ontario (©US Geological Survey), 6. stocking Atlantic salmon (©On-
tario Ministry of Natural Resources), 7. stabilizing the banks of an Atlantic salmon stream (©Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters),
8. electroshocking to assess survival of stocked Atlantic salmon (©Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources), 9. school group helping to restore fish
habitat in an Atlantic salmon stream (©Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters), 10. American eel stocking {©Ontario Ministry of Natural
Resources), 11. American eel tagging {©Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources), 12. lake trout stocking off barge in eastern Lake Ontario
(©New York State Department of Environmental Conservation).
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LAKE ONTARIO LAKEWIDE MANAGEMENT PLAN UPDATE '09
Lake Ontario Aquatic Invasive Species
The Great Lakes basin is a North Americanhot spot for the introduction of aquatic invasive species (AIS). More
than 182 non-native aquatic invasive species have been reported in the Great Lakes, with an average of one new
invader found about every seven months. Some of the key invasive species impacting the Lake Ontario ecosys-
tem include zebra and quagga mussels, fishhook, spiny waterfleas and round goby.
The most effective approach to dealing with invasive species is to manage the pathways through which invasive
species enter and spread through the Great Lakes. For aquatic species, these pathways include shipping,
recreational and commercial boating, the use of live bait, the aquarium/water garden trade, live food fish,
unauthorized introductions and transfers, and canals and water diversions. Shipping and unauthorized intro-
duction have been the most important pathways for introduction into the Great Lakes.
Aquatic invasive species continue to have a significant impact on the Lake Ontario ecosystem, including
causing food web disruptions, disease introduction, habitat alterations and declines in native diversity. For
example, zebra and quagga mussels have impacted the lower food web by competing with important native
species, such as the native amphipod Diporeia, which declined soon after dreissenids were introduced.
Diporeia is an important food source for native bottom-feeding fish, and their decline has put some species, such
as native lake whitefish at risk.
Lake Ontario LaMP partner agencies are working with many groups on international, national and local-level
invasive species management activities to share information and new techniques for fighting invasive species.
Prevention, detection and monitoring, and control and management are key components of the programs.
Preventing introductions and the further spread of invasive species is addressed through legislative and regula-
tory actions, public outreach and education.
Niagara River Toxics Management Plan
The Niagara River, by providing as much as 200,000 cubic feet of water per second (-6000 mVsec) flowing over
the falls, refreshes Lake Ontario with more than 80 percent of the lake's annual water supply. But this tremendous
volume of water has also historically contributed significant amounts of pollutants into Lake Ontario.
The Niagara River Toxics Management Plan (NRTMP), adopted in 1987 by the four government agencies-
Environment Canada, United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), Ontario Ministry of
Environment, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), has coordinated
government and industry efforts to significantly reduce the concentrations of toxic pollutants in the Niagara River
and Lake Ontario.
Waste water point source discharges and hazardous waste sites, once determined to be responsible for over 99
percent of the estimated toxics input into the Niagara River, have undergone remediation to virtually eliminate the
migration of toxic pollutants. Currently, the number of direct point source discharges into the river has decreased
to 21 U.S. and 13 Canadian, and generally, all are in compliance with New York or Ontario pollutant discharge
regulations. Twenty-six hazardous waste sites will be fully remediated and closed within the next few years.
Reduction targets for nearly all the 18 priority toxic chemicals have been surpassed, some achieving 80 percent
reductions. This successful improvement in water quality is reflected by significant reductions of toxics found in
small fish and mussels in the river and tributaries. Due to this substantial progress, the agencies are now working
to chart the future course for the NRTMP.
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LAKE ONTARIO LAKEWIDE MANAGEMENT PLAN UPDATE '09
Lake Ontario Sources and Loadings Strategy
The Lake Ontario Sources and Loadings Strategy aims to reduce the loadings of critical contaminants entering
Lake Ontario from a range of sources including rivers, precipitation, point sources (such as sewage treatment
plants and industrial facilities) and non-point sources (such as stormwater and agricultural runoff). Through
this Strategy, LaMP agencies are targeting DDT and its metabolites, dieldrin, dioxins/furans, mercury, mirex
and PCBs. Reductions in the loadings of these contaminants will help meet the LaMPs ecosystem objectives for
Lake Ontario including the restoration of beneficial uses.
Due to the scale and complexity of pollutant sources within the basin, the LaMP uses a cooperative approach,
working closely with regulatory programs, local governments, industry and individuals to develop and coordi-
nate an effective critical pollutant reduction strategy. That strategy is to identify, assess and mitigate sources of
critical pollutants throughout the Lake Ontario basin. The LaMP critical pollutant reduction strategy has three
main elements: (1) data/information synthesis; (2) coordination with regulatory actions; and (3) promoting
voluntary actions.
To meet the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement goal to virtually eliminate the discharge of persistent organic
pollutants, LaMP partners initiated complimentary efforts on both the Canadian and U.S. portions of the Lake
Ontario basin to trackdown sources of these pollutants. These actions have been successful in identifying and
abating sources of PCBs to the lake. Examples of these successes are the clean-up of PCB contaminated sedi-
ment in the Cataraqui and Twelve Mile Creek watersheds on the Canadian side; and the remediation of ground
water in the Genessee River watershed and clean-up of PCB contaminated sediment below the village of
Carthage on the Black River on the U.S. side.
The LaMP's strategy is integrated with the Niagara River Toxics Management Plan (NRTMP); the Great Lakes
Binational Toxics Strategy; and Lake Ontario Mass Balance Models.
Binational Biodiversity Conservation Strategy for Lake Ontario
The LaMP, in collaboration with 25 agencies, universi-
ties, and non-profit organizations in the United States
and Canada is developing a binational roadmap to
protect and restore Lake Ontario's biological diversity.
The process involves selecting important conservation
targets, ranking threats to them, and then identifying
conservation and restoration actions that partners can
undertake.
Since 2006, there were four workshops held by The
Nature Conservancy in conjunction with The Nature
Conservancy of Canada, in Buffalo, Niagara-on-the-
Lake, and two in Kingston. Participants identified
conservation targets such as nearshore waters, coastal
wetlands, native fish and tributaries, while also identify-
ing threats such as dams on tributaries, aquatic invasive
species, and residential and commercial development.
The LaMP's strategy, including prioritized watersheds
for action, will be as geographically specific and action-
oriented as possible by answering such questions as:
• Which watersheds most need forested buffers
around tributaries to reduce sediment run-off?
• Where are the spawning beds of lake trout that need
to be preserved? and
• How can we allow fish access to important habitats
that are currently blocked by dams?
The strategy is intended to be a scientifically grounded,
common vision of priority strategies that partner organi-
zations can pursue. By engaging a binational network of
partners in developing this action agenda, this project
will enhance collaboration and integration of efforts
toward achieving the habitat restoration goals of the
LaMP.
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LAKE ONTARIO LAKEWIDE MANAGEMENT PLAN UPDATE '09
Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOCs) Make Progress
Dealing with historically contaminated "hotspots" around the Great Lakes is a key priority under the Great
Lakes Water Quality Agreement. There are nine of these "hotspots" or Areas of Concern (AOCs) around Lake
Ontario alone. Two binational AOCs exist within the Lake Ontario basin; the Niagara River and the St.
Lawrence River in the Cornwall/Massena area AOCs.
The AOCs were identified based on their potential to be significant sources of critical pollutants to the lake and
on the extent of the impact of contaminated sediment and water on fish, wildlife and people. These effects are
formally called Beneficial Use Impairments (BUIs).
Hamilton
Harbou
O
St. Lawrence
at Massena
Toronto and
Region
Oswego River
(Delisted 7/06)
Niagara
River
Rochester
Embayment
United States
Canada and the United States
have been working with
government agencies, non-
governmental environmental
organizations, industries,
communities and others to
implement individual Remedial
Action Plans (RAPs) for each of
these areas to restore and protect
beneficial uses.
On the United States side, the
Great Lakes Regional
Collaboration (GLRC) strategy
was issued in 2005. At that time
the Great Lakes governors,
congressional delegations,
mayors and tribal leaders met to
forge a partnership to further
protect and restore the Great
Lakes. The GLRC includes
objectives to enhance contaminated sediment remediation and program implementation for AOCs. The
Oswego River AOC was the first AOC in the United States to be formally delisted in 2006. This set the stage for
achieving progress with other AOCs in the United States. In 2008, the RAPs finalized approved delisting
targets for beneficial use impairments. For more detail on the GLRC see www.epa.gov/glnpo/collaboration/.
On the Canadian side, the federal and provincial governments work together to deal with AOCs under the
Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem (COA). The 2007 COA identifies the
actions to be completed in all Canadian AOCs, including those in Lake Ontario, over the duration of the agree-
ment (2007-2010). For more detail on actions in the Canadian AOCs refer to the 2007 COA at:
www. on. ec.gc. ca/greatlakes/default. asp ?lang=En&n =D11109CB-1 or
www. ene.gov. on. ca/envision/water/greatlakes/coa/l 3 59COA_annex.pdf
Legend
International Border
Lake Ontario Areas of Concern
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LAKE ONTARIO LAKEWIDE MANAGEMENT PLAN UPDATE '09
Upcoming LaMP Activities
The Lake Ontario LaMP continues efforts to restore and
protect Lake Ontario and its biological resources. The
LaMP's current five-year workplan, which became
effective in January 2007, outlines how this goal will be
achieved.
Reduction of critical pollutants is of primary importance
to the LaMP, and contaminant trackdown efforts in the
United States and Canada will continue to identify and
control sources of persistent organic pollutants.
Coordination of binational monitoring efforts, particularly
those related to the LaMP's ecosystem indicators will
continue. The LaMP will add to its suite of 11 ecosystem
indicators with the development of a coastal wetlands
indicator. The LaMP has completed its 2008 Binational
Collaborative Research and Monitoring Initiative. This
was the second comprehensive cooperative effort to
assess the changing lower food web with emphasis on
the nearshore and emerging chemicals of concern.
The LaMP agencies will analyze the data, disseminate
the new information and evaluate the management
implications that will evolve from these findings.
The Lake Ontario LaMP plans to continue and expand
collaborative efforts in the areas of bald eagle and
lake trout conservation and restoration. The Binational
Biodiversity Conservation Strategy that began in
2006 will set the stage for coordinating future actions.
The LaMP partners will finalize the strategy so that
restoration or protection projects can be selected and
initiated. The LaMP also plans to expand links with local
watershed activities, and continue to coordinate with the
LOG. The LaMP will continue to work with the Binational
Executive Committee in setting priorities, strategic
direction and coordination for basin programs.
Providing the public with a sound understanding of the
complex problems facing the lake is the first step in
gaining public support and participation in achieving the
LaMP's goals. Ongoing and planned activities include
initiating opportunities to meet with environmental
groups, academics and others, while forming
partnerships locally and providing information through
the LaMP website and mailings. We will continue to
participate in meetings such as the State of the Lakes
Ecosystem Conference (SOLEC) and the International
Joint Commission (IJC) biennial sessions and
events such as the annual Fishery Events and the
special 100th Anniversary of the Boundary Treaty
Waters events in 2009.
Binational Executive Committee
The Binational Executive Committee (BEC) is composed of senior-level representatives of Canadian and U.S.
federal, state, provincial, and tribal agencies who are accountable for delivering major programs and activities that
respond to the terms of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Several NGOs have been given observer status as
well. BEC aims to meet twice a yearoras required to:
Set priorities and strategic
direction for binational pro-
gramming in the basin;
Coordinate binational pro-
grams and activities;
Respond to new and emerging
issues on the Great Lakes
including tasking existing or
creating new working groups to
undertake designated activities;
Evaluate progress under the Great
Lakes Water Quality Agreement; and,
Provide advice, comment or other
input for the preparation of various
binational reports and presentations
For More Information
Please visit our Web site at www.binational.net or contact:
In Canada:
Rick Czepita
Environment Canada
Phone: (416) 739-4416
Fax: (416) 739-4804
E-mail: rick.czepita@ec.gc.ca
In the United States:
Michael Basile
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Phone: (716) 551-4410
Fax:(716)551-4417
E-mail: basile.michael@epa.gov
The Lake Ontario Management Plan is a binational partnership among Environment Canada,
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Ontario Ministry of Environment, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, and
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
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