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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
Acknowledgements
The Lake Erie Lakewide Management Plan (LaMP) Work Group, imder the direction
of the Lake Erie LaMP Management Committee, prepared the Lake Erie LaMP 2002
Report. Environment Canada and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are the
federal co-leads for the Lake Erie LaMP. The other agencies playing an active role in
the process are:
Canada
o Fisheries and Oceans Canada
o FOCALerie (Federation of Conservation Authorities of Lake Erie)
o Health Canada
o Ontario Ministry of Agriculture. Food and Rural Affairs
o Ontario Ministry of the Environment
o Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
United States
o Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
o Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
o Michigan Department of Natural Resources
o Natural Resource Conservation Service
o New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
o Ohio Department of Natural Resources
o Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
o Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
o U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
o U.S. Geological Survey
Binational
o Great Lakes Fisheries Commission
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
Members of the Work Group, Management Committee, technical subcommittees,
and the Binational Public Forum contributed to the content of this report. The Work
Group would like to specifically thank the following individuals:
o Environment Canada - Madeline Austen, Hans Biberhofer, Murray Charlton,
Ken De, Sandra George, Bob Krawl, Marlene O'Brien Scott Painter, Jeff
Robinson Jennifer Vincent, Alan Waffle, Chip Weseloh and Karen Yang;
o U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Paul Bertram, Sue Brauer, Alexis Cain,
Tony Martig, Francine Norling, Dan O'Riordan John Perrecone and Holly
Wirick;
o FOCALerie - Ted Briggs, Matthew Child and Barb Veale;
o U.S. Geological Survey - Mike Bur, Dan Button and Donna Myers;
o Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection - Kelly Burch;
o University of Windsor - Jan Ciborowski and Lynda Corkum;
o Ontario Ministry of the Environment - A1 Hayton and Gary Johnson;
o Ohio Department of Natural Resources - Roger Knight and Mark Shieldcastle;
o Ohio Environmental Protection Agency - Julie Letterhos, Kelvin Rogers and
Roger Thoma;
o Michigan Department of Environmental Quality - Arthur Ostaszewski;
o Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs - Peter Roberts;
o Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources - Phil Ryan;
o Bird Studies Canada - Steve Timmennans and Kerry Wilcox; and
o New York Department of Environmental Conservation - Robert Townsend.
Thanks to the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority for providing support on
formatting and printing the report, and for showing utmost patience in dealing with last
minute changes.
Finally, the Work Group would like to thank Julie Letterhos, Ohio EPA, and Jennifer
Vincent, Enviromnent Canada, who served as co-editors for the Lake Erie LaMP 2002
Report.
In keeping with the spirit of binational cooperation, the reader will note the
alternation between Canadian and U.S. preferred spellings on a number of occasions.
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
Table
Acknowledgements
Table of Contents iii
Lists of Figures and Tables v
Section 1: Introduction 1
Section 2: Ecosystem Management Objectives 3
2.1 Ecosystem Alternative Selection 3
2.2 Selection of Ecosystem Management Objectives 4
2.3 Indicators 8
Section 3: Beneficial Use Impairments Update 9
3.1 Introduction 9
3.2 Degraded Wildlife Populations and Loss of Wildlife Habitat 11
3.3 Next Steps 14
3.4 Fish BUIA Update 15
Section 4: A Habitat Strategy for Lake Erie 17
4.1 Introduction 17
4.2 Habitat Strategy Development 17
4.3 Agricultural Non-point Source Runoff 18
4.4 Urban and Development Land Use Controls 21
4.5 Habitat Preservation 21
4.6 Habitat Restoration 21
4.7 Exotic Species Control 22
4.8 Bioregional Strategic and Management Planning 23
4.9 Upcoming Habitat Events 24
Section 5: Sources and Loads Update 25
5.1 Introduction 25
5.2 Mercury and PCB Reduction Initiatives 29
5.3 U.S. EPA Mercury Phase-out Proposal 29
Section 6: Human Health 35
Section 7: Public Involvement 37
Section 8: Assessment and Tracking Progress 39
8.1 Introduction
8.2 The Lake Erie Millennium Plan 39
8.3 Marsh Monitoring Program 40
8.4 Trends in Contaminants in Ontario's Lake Erie Sport Fish 43
8.5 Trends in Contaminant and Population Levels of 48
Colonial Waterbirds
8.6 Ohio Lake Erie Quality Index 50
8.7 U.S. EPA LaMP Project Tracking Database 51
8.8 U.S. EPA GIS Tool to Characterize Landscapes Based 51
on Ecosystem Health
8.9 State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference (SOLEC) 51
of Contents
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LAKE ERIE L a M P 2 0 0 2
Section 9: Remedial Action Plan Updates 53
9.1 Introduction 53
9.2 Buffalo River RAP 54
9.3 Presque Isle Bay RAP 54
9.4 Ashtabula River RAP 55
9.5 Cuyahoga River RAP 56
9.6 Black River RAP 56
9.7 Maiunee River RAP 57
9.8 River Raisin RAP 58
9.9 Rouge River RAP 58
9.10 Detroit River RAP 59
9.11 Wheatley Harbour RAP 60
9 .12 Clinton River RAP 61
9.13 St. Clair River RAP 62
Section 10: Significant Ongoing and Emerging Issues 63
10.1 Introduction 63
10.2 Update on Non-indigenous Invasive Species in Lake Erie 63
10.3 Botulism E 67
10.4 Pliosphoras Changes in Lake Erie 68
10.5 Double Crested Cormorants in the Great Lakes 69
10.6 Lake Erie Water Levels 70
Section 11: Pathways to Achievements/Next Steps 73
Section 12: References 75
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
List of Figures
Figure 1: Total PCBs in Bed Sediments 26
Figure 2: Total Mercuiy in Bed Sediments 27
Figure 3: Surficial Sediment Concentrations of Dioxin (pg/g TEQ) 28
Figure 4: Lake Erie Basin-wide Trends in Relative Abundance of Selected 41
Marsh Bird and Amphibian Species Compared to Mean Annual
Water Levels of Lake Erie from 1995 to 2000
Figure 5: Lake Erie Blocks 43
Figure 6: Mercuiy Concentrations in 30 cm (12 inch) White Bass 44
Across Lake Erie 1990-2000
Figure 7: Mercuiy Concentrations in 45 cm (18 inch) Walleye Across 44
Lake Erie 1990-2000
Figure 8: Mercuiy Concentrations in 30 cm (12 inch) White Bass 45
Over Time in Lake Erie Block 1
Figure 9: Mercuiy Concentrations in 45 cm (18 inch) Walleye 45
Over Time in Lake Erie Block 1
Figure 10: Mercuiy Concentration vs. Length in Walleye and Bass 45
from Lake Erie Block 1
Figure 11: PCB Concentrations in 30 cm (12 inch) White Bass 46
Across Lake Erie 1990-2000
Figure 12: PCB Concentrations in 30 cm (12 inch) White Bass 46
Over Time in Lake Erie Block 1
Figure 13: PCB Concentrations in 45 cm (18 inch) Channel Catfish 46
in Lake Erie Block 1
Figure 14: PCB Concentrations in 65 cm (25 inch) Carp in Lake Erie Block 1 47
Figure 15: PCB Concentration vs. Length in Fish from Lake Erie Block 1 47
Figure 16: 2378-TCDD in Herring Gull Eggs - Middle I., 1987- 2001 48
Figure 17: PCB 1:1 in Herring Gull Eggs - Port Colborne, 1974-2001 49
Figure 18: Map of Areas of Concern Around the Lake Erie Basin 53
Figure 19: Frequency of Dead Fish Species Observed Along NY Lake Erie 67
Beaches, September 2001
Figure 20: Percent Mortality on NY Lake Erie Shoreline by Species 68
Observed - Fall 2000
Figure 21: Number of Cormorant Nests on Lake Erie 69
Figure 22: Recent and Historic Lake Erie Water Levels 71
Figure 23: Monthly Water Level Bulletin Including 6 Month Forecast 71
List of Tables
Table 1: Summaiy of Lake Erie Ecosystem Alternatives 3
Table 2: Summaiy of Beneficial Use Impainnent Conclusions from Lake Erie 9
LaMP 2000 (updates for 2002 are noted in italics)
Table 3: Summaiy of Lake Erie Wildlife Habitats and Their Impainnent Status 12
Table 4: Rural Clean Water Programs in the Ontario Lake Erie Basin 19
Table 5: PCB Reduction Plan Activities Update 30
Table 6: Mercuiy Reduction Plan Activities Update 31
Table 7: Summaiy of Ongoing Monitoring Efforts in Lake Erie in 2000 39
Table 8: Ohio Lake Erie Quality Index Indicators 50
Table 9: Lake Erie LaMP Woik Plan 2002 - 2004 74
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Section
1
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I A K E 111 C I f i I 2 0 0 2
Section 1: Introduction
In 1999, the Binational Executive Committee (BEC) passed a directive to accelerate
the Lakewide Management Plan (LaMP) effort from the four-stage process oudined in the
Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQ A) (IJC 1988). By accelerate, it was meant that
there should be an emphasis on taking action and adopting a streamlined LaMP review and
approval process. The LaMPs should treat problem identification, selection of remedial and
regulatory measures and implementation as a concurrent, integrated process rather titan a
sequential one. The BEC recommended a LaMP be produced for each lake by April 2000,
with updates every two years thereafter. This Lake Erie LaMP 2002 document represents the
first update report. To fully appreciate the history of the Lake Erie LaMP process and to
place this document in its proper, broad perspective, the reader should review the Lake Erie
LaMP 2000 document. LaMP 2000 is available at a number of libraries and agencies in hard
copy or CD, and can be accessed on the Lake Erie LaMP binational web site using the U.S.
or Canadian urls: www.epa.gov/glnpo/lakeerie or www.on.ec.gc.ca/glimr/lakes/erie.
respectively.
The GLWQA directs that the LaMPs take an ecosystem approach to assessing problem
definition and implementing remedial actions. This concept is evident throughout the
report, but particularly in the sections on ecosystem objectives and habitat strategy
development. The environmental integrity of Lake Erie is dependent not only on various
characteristics and stressors within the lake itself, but also on actions implemented throughout
the Lake Erie watershed and beyond. Uiban sprawl, shoreline development, climate change,
the introduction of exotic species, the exploitation and destruction of natural lands and
resources, the dominant agricultural and industrial practices within the lake basin, and long-
range transport of contaminants from outside the basin all impact the health of Lake Erie.
The LaMP provides a binational structure for addressing these environmental and natural
resource issues, coordinating research pooling resources, and making joint commitments to
improve the environmental quality of the Lake Erie.
Due to the many chemical, physical, and biological complexities of the Lake Erie
ecosystem, and the often-competing interests of diverse stakeholders, the Lake Erie LaMP
necessarily takes an "adaptive management" approach. Ongoing research may bring new
problems to light and resources constantly fluctuate as governmental and societal priorities
shift. Following this approach the Lake Erie LaMP 2002 document provides updated
information on environmental conditions, presents a summary of the actions completed or
underway to improve the lake, and discusses what additional plans or changes to ongoing
management actions are needed.
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
The Lake Erie LaMP 2000 introduced the concept of ecosystem alternatives or future
environmental states for the lake. The four ecosystem alternatives proposed represent
different levels of recovery of natural system form and function. The extensive ecosystem
alternative exercise that was carried out by the LaMP clearly identified what can be expected
if particular management actions are implemented. Based on the results of that effort, the
Lake Erie LaMP chose to support Ecosystem Alternative 2 as the one most consistent with
sustainable development and providing multiple benefits to society. The LaMP 2002
report presents the potential ecosystem management objectives needed to achieve Ecosystem
Alternative 2. These objectives are listed under the four main management categories of
land use, nutrients, resource exploitation and contaminants. Recognizing that management
efforts to achieve Ecosystem Alternative 2 may require "trade-offs", it is important that
consensus on the preferred alternative and associated management actions is reached among
the diverse Lake Erie stakeholders.
The LaMP continues its efforts to locate and reduce or eliminate sources of pollutants
particularly the Lake Erie LaMP designated critical pollutants of mercury and PCBs. The
LaMP 2002 presents the results to date of a LaMP project to map the extent of sediment
contamination in the Lake Erie basin for PCBs, mercury and dioxin. Tables listing the
many critical pollutant reduction activities underway have been updated from those in the
LaMP 2000 report. The beneficial use impairment assessment report for Degraded Wildlife
Populations and Loss of Wildlife Habitat has been completed and the conclusions are
highlighted in LaMP 2002. Updates on the fish beneficial use impairment assessment are
presented as well.
The LaMP 2000 document presented an extensive list of habitat related projects
underway or proposed in the Lake Erie basin. Rather than reporting out on the status of
these projects and listing new ones, additional background research on preparing a habitat
" i strategy indicated that the LaMP might better play an oversight role in creating general
lakewide habitat objectives, supporting development of tools that might map areas of
critical habitat, and coordinating with the many existing programs and efforts currently in
place to improve habitat conditions in the Lake Erie basin. The success of habitat restoration
and preservation will also depend on efforts to improve or protect the ecological processes
that create and maintain habitats.
The Lake Erie LaMP is a program in which ongoing efforts, some of which may be
conducted independently of the LaMP, can be strategically synthesized. Some of these
actions include: the State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference (SOLEC) efforts to develop
Great Lakes indicators; the Lake Erie Millennium Plan initiative to identify, prioritize and
pursue research needs; the efforts of Canadian and U.S. conservation agencies in controlling
non-point sources and agricultural land use management; the land acquisition and
preservation efforts of environmental groups such as The Nature Conservancy and the
Nature Conservancy of Canada; the pollution prevention based activities of the Great
Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy; implementation of the Remedial Action Plans in the 12
Lake Erie areas of concern; the fishery management plan of the Great Lakes Fishery
Commission's Lake Erie Committee; implementation of wildlife management plans; and
the efforts of the Lake Erie Binational Public Forum and others encouraging stakeholders
across the basin to become involved in the decision-making process to determine the future
status of Lake Erie. The LaMP remains mindful of emerging issues that may need to be
adapted into the LaMP management scheme.
The Lake Erie LaMP focuses on measuring ecosystem health teasing out the stressors
responsible for impairments, and evaluating the effectiveness of existing programs in
resolving the stress by continuing to monitor the ecosystem response. The role of the
LaMP, as a management plan, is to define the management intervention needed to bring
Lake Erie back to chemical, physical and biological integrity, and to further define agency
commitments to those actions. Although Enviromnent Canada (EC) and the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) are the lead agencies for the LaMP, it continues
to take an array of federal, local, state and provincial agencies and stakeholders to
successfully implement the Lake Erie LaMP.
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Ecosystem Management
Objectives
Section
2
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
Section 2: Ecosystem Management
Objectives
2.1 Ecosystem Alternative Selection
The Lake Erie ecosystem is managed by a variety of agencies with different
responsibilities. There is a need to determine a set of goals and objectives for this
ecosystem, consistent with the Lake Erie LaMP concept paper (U.S. EPA and Environment
Canada 1995), so that agencies can co-ordinate their actions for effective management.
Based on the results of extensive input and review, and the development of the Lake
Erie ecosystem model (Colavecchia et al. 2000) a series of four alternative states for the
future of Lake Erie has been identified (Lake Erie LaMP 2000).
This approach, which differs from that used for developing objectives for other
Great Lakes, has resulted in a better understanding of which Lake Erie management
actions impart the greatest effect and which components of the ecosystem are most directly
impacted. The four ecosystem alternatives represent different levels of recovery of
natural ecosystem form and function. The extent of recovery is dictated by the
combination and strengths of various management interventions (Table 1).
Changes in land use that represent return towards more natural landfonns or that
mitigate impacts of urban industrial and agricultural land uses, are the most significant
actions that can be taken to restore the Lake Erie ecosystem. Alternative 3 represents
moderate loss of natural landforms relative to status quo (Alternative 4), while
Alternatives 1 and 2 represent small gains in the amount of natural landfonns in the
basin. Alternatives 3, 2, and 1 represent increasingly more progressive mitigation of
agricultural, industrial and urban land use. The mitigation results in very strong
reductions in phosphorus export from land, and in total suspended solids concentrations.
The alternatives differ in the level of reduction of phosphorus exports from sewage
treatment plants (STPs) with Alternative 2 requiring moderate reduction Alternative 3
a strong reduction and Alternative 1 a very strong reduction.
The selection of an Ecosystem Alternative toward which to manage Lake Erie is
not a trivial issue. There are many competing, and incompatible, uses of Lake Erie, and
multiple agencies (federal, state, provincial and local) have jurisdictions over one or
Table 1: Summary of Lake Erie Ecosystem Alternatives
Management Lever
or Effect
Action or Effect
1
Ecosystem A
2
Iternatives
3
4
Agricultural land use
Mitigation of impact
very strong
strong
strong
status quo
Industrial land use
Mitigation of impact
very strong
moderate
moderate
status quo
Urban land use
Mitigation of impact
very strong
strong
moderate
status quo
Natural landscapes
Restoration
small gain
small gain
moderate
loss
status quo
Phosphorus concentration
Reduced concentrations in
tributaries, nearshore and lake
very strong
strong
strong
status quo
Phosphorus from land
Reduction in loadings
very strong
very strong
very strong
status quo
Phosphorus from STPs
Reduction in loadings
very strong
moderate
strong
status quo
Total suspended solids
Reduction in concentration
very strong
very strong
very strong
status quo
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¦ A K E -ERIE ¦¦ a M P 2 0 0 2
Section 2
more components of the ecosy stem. Societal factors that influence the choice include
economics, social justice, land use, and others. To be an effective tool, the LaMP,
including the desired ecological state for Lake Erie, must have the support and
commitment of the various environmental managers, decision makers and the public.
Without a consensus on ecological conditions to be achieved, multiple management
efforts could easily be competing, ineffective, and/or counterproductive. Ultimately,
the process for choosing an Ecosystem Alternative for management purposes becomes
one of identifying which one is most closely compatible with societal values of the
residents in the basin.
The Lake Erie LaMP Work Group considered several options for soliciting opinions
and comments on preferred Ecosystem Alternatives from government agencies,
environmental groups, industry and the general public. Opinions were solicited through
informal discussions, the Lake Erie Binational Public Forum, and agency reviews. In
June 2001, the LaMP Work Group reached consensus that Ecosystem Alternative 2
would represent the preferred ecosystem of
the Work Group. In September 2001, the
LaMP Management Committee endorsed this
conclusion. Additional discussions with
stakeholders, including the public, are being
held to present the selection of Ecosystem
Alternative 2.
Ecosystem Alternative 2 is consistent
with the themes of sustainable development
and of multiple benefits to society of a
healthy Lake Erie ecosystem. The analysis
supporting Ecosystem Alternative 2
highlights the importance and urgency of (
improving land use activities, continued |
diligence in nutrient management, and the
vulnerability of fish and wildlife species to
human activities.
2.2 Selection of Ecosystem Management Objectives
Ecosystem management objectives are targets that, when all are achieved, should result in the preferred ecosystem
alternative being realized. The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement addresses the large areas of the lake and
considers them homogenous when establishing phosphorus loading targets and target concentrations. A target
concentration in western Lake Erie may be achieved while having large areas of highly enriched waters due to
the effect of watersheds like the Maumee River. Eastern Lake Erie may be at target concentrations of phosphorus
while the lower Grand River (Ontario) is highly enriched. Watersheds and their area of influence in the lake are
the natural building blocks with which to strategize this new phase of ecosystem rehabilitation. The challenge
for developing ecosystem objectives for the Lake Erie ecosystem lies in its distinct three basins, each with very
different characteristics. As a result, ecosystem management objectives for the whole of Lake Erie may require
the development of sub-objectives for each basin. There shall be substantial emphasis on watersheds and land
use activities therein.
Ecosystem Alternative 2 does not prescribe the necessary management goals to
realize the desired ecosystem. Management goals are dependent on the ecosystem
management objectives formulated to be consistent with the Ecosystem Alternative,
and are based on the present state of the ecosystem components. Input from the Lake
Erie community on the preferred Ecosystem Alternative 2 helps define the degree of
implementation that is necessary and acceptable to be consistent with the ecosystem
alternative. Additional ecosystem management objectives, not explicitly defined
through the ecosystem alternative selection may also be identified as being important
to the community.
The Lake Erie ecosystem has three very distinct basins, and within the entire
watershed of the lake there are 34 sub-watersheds, many of which have unique features
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
and pressures. The impact of exotic species in the Lake Erie ecosystem contributes to
instability, and new species continue to access the ecosystem. Implementation of the
management strategies moves the ecosystem in the right direction, and leads to
improvements in biological integrity. The process is iterative. Tracking of recovery in
relation to management interventions leads to projections of reasonable and feasible
endpoints for biological integrity at appropriate units of the ecosystem (i.e. watersheds
and areas of influence in the lake, bays, basins).
The overall ecosystem management objectives are presented as principles for
management actions to achieve Ecosystem Alternative 2. The objectives are presented
in relation to the main management categories influencing the status of the lake: land
use, nutrient management, natural resource exploitation and contaminants. In
proposing these ecosystem management objectives, it is recognized that each watershed
and basin may require varying degrees of implementation. Management sub-objectives
provide the context for the degree of managerial actions that may be required to achieve
the status of ecosystem elements expected under Ecosystem Alternative 2. The
management sub-objectives are considered for the whole lake basin. Although each
individual watershed may require greater or lesser degrees of management action,
taken together, achievement of the management sub-objectives should lead to the
attainment of the management objectives. The status quo or "current conditions" are
generally reflective of conditions found in the mid-to-late 1990s. In the management
sub-objectives presented below, descriptive adjectives are used to imply a relative
degree of management intervention required1.
2.2.1 Ecosystem Management Objectives, Sub-objectives and
Rationale
Land Use
All land use activities within the basin result in gains in the quantity and/or quality
of natural habitat to the extent that native biodiversity and community integrity can be
realized to the greatest degree possible throughout the basin and be sustained for the
benefit of future generations.
Section 2
o Strong reductions (from 1990s' levels) of the impacts of land use on the structure
and function of the Lake Erie ecosystem shall be achieved,
o The impacts of agricultural land shall be strongly mitigated by continuing
reductions in the use of conventional tillage, agricultural chemicals and
fertilizers.
o Conventional urban land use practices shall be strongly mitigated through
implementation of environmentally friendly strategies,
o Conventional industrial land use practices shall be moderately reduced in
impact through implementation of environmentally friendly strategies,
o Natural landscapes and habitats shall be maintained and small increases in
natural landscape area should be realized, relative to the 1990s.
Rationale: Ecosystem Alternative analysis identified land use practices as the
dominant management category affecting the Lake Erie ecosystem. Key elements within
the category were gains in quality natural lands and environmentally sound
management practices for rural, urban and industrial landscapes.
Best management practices (BMPs) can mitigate many deleterious land uses and
their impacts to the extent that natural habitat quality and quantity can improve. It is
expected that there will be increasing demands and pressures for land conversion in
the Lake Erie basin. Proactive planning for these pressures needs to include the
protection of critical habitat corridors that connect and link habitats between the lake.
1 Adjectives were derived from differences in the model results for Ecosystem Alternative #2 relative to conditions in the 1990s: slight
(% < 10), small (11 < % < 20), moderate (21 < % < 40), strong (41 < % < 60), very strong (61 < % < 80), major (% > 80).
% does not necessarily translate directly into acreage, biomass, or other units but provides a relative, qualitative guide to the
difference between conditions for Ecosystem Alternative #2 and those of the 1990s (Colavecchia et al., 2000)
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¦ A K E -ERIE ¦¦ a M P 2 0 0 2
tlie wetlands and the upland liabitat. Specific watershed targets need to be established,
which include securing, protecting and restoring natural lands. A watershed approach
is critical to developing local solutions and to maximizing gains with partners.
"Best Management Practices" (BMPs) are mitigating strategies that are crosscutting and invaluable to achievement
of all of the objectives. Agricultural "BMPs" create natural land habitat and wildlife corridors, and protect aquatic
habitat and fisheries. If soil particles are not trapped by buffer strips and prevented from entering watercourses,
they degrade aquatic habitat as silt and suspended solids, and they have carried nutrients, pesticides and
contaminants with them. Widespread implementation of agricultural BMPs is critical to achievement of objectives.
Greening strategies for urban and industrial landscapes have similar benefits and all contribute to reduced
"flashiness" of stream flows.
Nutrients
Nutrient inputs from both point and non-point sources shall be managed to ensure
that loadings are within bounds of sustainable watershed management and consistent
with ecosystem requirements as described in Ecosystem Alternative 2.
o Total phosphorus loadings may be moderately reduced below the GLWQA
maximum allowable rate of 11,000 metric tons/year,
o Phosphorus export from non-point sources, including agricultural land use, in
accordance with the alternative, is to be very strongly reduced in order to favor
recovery and maintenance of healthy aquatic communities in the immediate
receiving waters.
o Sewage treatment plants may be acted on to discharge phosphorus at a
concentration moderately below the GLWQA rate of 1 mg/1.
Rationale: It is important that all sources that contribute to the watershed nutrient
load and ultimately to the basin load, be managed to limit local and regional impacts.
Best management practices and point source controls need to be implemented with
consideration of the ecological requirements for the maintenance or recovery of healthy
aquatic communities in the watershed, the hydrologic cycle and water usage. Other
nutrients and their various forms, such as nitrates, need to be included in assessments
of watershed and basin impacts.
Exploitation
Exploitation and disturbance of aquatic and terrestrial species shall be managed
to ensure that the integrity of existing healthy communities be maintained, providing
benefits to consumers, In addition, exploitation and disturbance should be managed to
ensure that these factors do not prevent recovery of degraded communities, to the extent
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
allowed by habitat. The harvest of valued timber resources, extraction of aggregate
deposits and the utilization of other features of the working landscape should be done
in a manner that is sustainable and that affords the greatest opportunity to preser\'e
and enhance the biological context integrity of the Lake Erie ecosystem.
o Disturbance of wildlife by human activities (boating, hiking, etc.) shall be
substantially reduced from levels during the 1990s,
o Fishing shall be maintained at sustainable levels recommended in the Fish
Community Goals and Objectives for Lake Erie for the 1990s (Lake Erie
Committee 2002).
Rationale: Commercial and sport fishing, hunting, trapping, and disturbance by
human presence or activity have negative impacts on target species and habitats and
more broadly on other components of the ecosystem. Integrity is a general term for the
recurring structure and composition of a community over time, due to internal
regulation. Fisheries managers look to top order predators to provide this regulation
in aquatic communities and, for example, are managing walleye in recognition of their
ecological role as well as a capacity to provide a valuable fishery.
Sustainable management of timber stands can realize harvest of valued trees for
present and future generations and still maintain essential habitat function. Resource
extraction is recognized as valued economic activity but should be done in a manner
to prevent or mitigate to the greatest extent possible the negative environmental impacts.
Contaminants
In order to achieve Ecosystem Alternative 2, toxic chemical and biological
contaminant loadings within the basin must decline to a level that would permit Se
sustainable use of natural resources.
o Toxic substances shall not exist in amounts to the detriment of human health or
wildlife.
o Exotic species should be prevented from colonizing the Lake Erie ecosystem
and controlled where feasible and consistent with other objectives. Exotic
species shall be reduced to a point where they do not impair the ecological
function of the Lake Erie ecosystem.
Rationale: The amount of toxic contaminants in the Lake Erie ecosystem is the
result of the combined inputs from point and non-point sources within the basin,
loadings from the Detroit River, and upstream and long-range transport from regional
and global sources. Degraded watersheds not only impact local fauna, but they can
have lakewide impacts, particularly if used by fish for spawning or nursery habitat.
Effective management of local point and non-point sources can improve watershed
and basin ecosystem quality. However, broad based actions such as those promoted in
the Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy and the United Nations Agenda 21
(addressing global atmospheric pollutant transport) are also required to fully reach
this objective.
Biological contaminants, defined as species exotic to the Lake Erie ecosystem,
are the result of intentional or unintentional introductions, or range expansion and
colonization. The LaMP has identified exotic species as one of the key problems
impairing the Lake Erie ecosystem. Successful invaders may prey upon native species
or compete with them for limited resources, altering the structure of the local and
lakewide ecosystems. The impact of exotics needs to be minimized where feasible by
preventing access, and controlling or managing them once they have entered the
ecosystem.
The Lake Erie ecosystem management objectives assume that toxic contaminant
loadings are managed according to the principles of virtual elimination. As such levels
of contaminants should be declining, not be present at varying levels, and not be controlling
other ecosystem components.
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
2.3 Indicators
Indicators are measurable features that identify the current state of the ecosystem
relative to the desired state. The desired state is defined through the ecosystem
management objectives, which are compatible with the modeled results as expressed
in the Ecosystem Alternative. Indicators shall be identified to track progress toward
the ecosystem management objectives.
A set of Great Lakes indicators lias been and is continuing to be, developed through
the State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference (SOLEC) process, and biennial
assessments of the condition of Lake Erie ecosystem components are being made. To
the extent possible, indicators for the Lake Erie ecosystem objectives shall reflect those
for SOLEC reporting. However, Lake Erie lias many unique features that may require
specific indicators not included in the SOLEC set. In other cases, the indicators may
be similar, but the taiget or desired end-state may be unique for Lake Erie.
Currently over 90 surveillance and monitoring programs are underway in the Lake
Erie basin. To the maximum extent possible. Lake Erie Ecosystem Alternative Indicators
shall utilize these existing programs to track progress.
Section 2
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Beneficial Use Impairments
Update
Section
3
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
Section 3: Beneficial Use Impairments Update
3.1 Introduction
A detailed beneficial use impairment assessment (BUIA) was presented in the Lake
Erie LaMP 2000 document. It serves as the foundation for charting the future direction
of the Lake Erie LaMP. Table 2 summarizes the impairment conclusions and causes of
impairment as listed in the Lake Erie LaMP 2000 document. A full report for the
Degraded Wildlife Populations and Loss of Wildlife Habitat BUIA was not yet complete
for the LaMP 2000 report, so this section focuses heavily on the specific findings in
that report. Also included are updates for several of the other BUIAs, although no
changes in impairment conclusions have occurred during the last two years.
Table 2: Summary of Beneficial Use Impairment Conclusions from Lake Erie
LaMP 2000 (updates for 2002 are noted in italics)
Use Impairment Impairment Type of Impairment
Conclusions
Causes of Impairment
Fish & Wildlife
Consumption
Restrictions
Impaired
FISH*- sport fish consumption advisories in open and
tributary waters of all basins.
WILDLIFE - human consumption advisories for snapping
turtles (including eggs) and waterfowl in NY waters,
eastern basin. Ohio will issue advisory for snapping
turtles in 2002.
FISH - PCBs, mercury, lead,
chlordane, and dioxins
WILDLIFE - PCBs, chlordane, DDE,
DDT, mirex, mercury, lead
Tainting of Fish
& Wildlife Flavor
Not
Impaired
NONE
NONE
Degradation of
Fish Populations
Impaired
Unmet fish population objectives; loss of spawning and
nursery area; loss of population diversity; rare,
threatened, endangered and special concern species;
reduced predatory function; unnaturally high fish
community instability; inefficient use of food web energy.
Habitat loss and degradation;
non-indigenous species (exotics);
forage fish availability reduced;
over-exploitation; loss of native
stocks/species, particularly
keystone predators.
Degradation of
Wildlife
Populations
Impaired
Unmet wildlife population objectives; population
fragmentation, isolation, and instability; loss or reduction
in species indicative of quality habitat; loss of source
populations; rare, endangered, threatened, and special
concern species; accelerated parasitism/predation;
competing uses of a given habitat; changes in ground
temperature and moisture conditions in forested area;
loss of travel lanes; loss of range/area-sensitive species
(e.g. amphibians & reptiles, rails, bitterns, sedge wrens,
bald eagle)
Fire suppression; logging; filling
and draining of wetlands; high
water levels, storm surges;
dredging and channel
modifications; water diversions;
shoreline hardening
and back-stopping; contaminated
sediment; contaminant and
nutrient loadings; navigation/
boating activities; exotics.
Fish Tumors or
Other
Deformities
Impaired
Incidence rates of fish tumors or other deformities exceed
rates at least impacted sites within the LE basin; presence
of neoplastic or preneoplastic liver tumors in brown
bullheads
PAHs (brown bullhead), unknown
(other species)
Animal
Deformities or
Reproduction
Problems
Impaired
Exposure above effect levels in bald eagle, herring
gull, cormorant, common tern and eastern spiny
softshell turtle; deformity impairments in mudpuppy;
likely impairment in mink, river otter, snapping
turtle, and frogs and toads
PCBs and other organochlorines,
dieldrin (eagles), DDE, PAHs
(mudpuppy), nitrates (frogs and
toads)
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
Use Impairment
Impairment Type of Impairment
Conclusions
Causes of Impairment
Degradation of
Benthos
Impaired
Degraded benthic community (composition and
interactions among components) compared to reference
conditions. Dominant species indicate degraded
environment.
Keystone species absent or nearly gone:
*all basins - unionid mussels, Gammarus amphipods;
*east & central basins - Diporeia amphipods;
*eastand western basins - fingernail clams;
*middle of western basin -Hexagenia (mayflies).
Unmet objectives for benthic density, biomass or
productivity; toxicity to benthic organisms; elevated
incidence of deformities or other abnormalities;
contaminant burden is high enough that predators
may be at risk of bioaccumulating toxics.
Contaminated sediments,
non-indigenous species or exotics,
loss and degradation of habitat
particularly in wetlands
Restrictions on
Dredging
Activities
Impaired
Dredged materials require confined disposal in certain
tributary mouths and harbors of all basins.
PCBs, heavy metals
Eutrophication
of Undesirable
Algae
Impaired
Maumee Bay, lake effect zones of Maumee/Ottawa
Rivers, western basin; nearshore and river mouth areas of
Canadian eastern basin (excessive Cladophora; P levels
above Canadian guidelines in tributaries). Potentially
impaired - lake effect zones of certain Ohio tributaries
(degraded fish communities), western and central basins;
Rondeau Bay and nearby nearshore and river mouth
areas, Canadian central basin.
Phosphorus
Restrictions on
Drinking Water
Consumption or
Taste & Odor
Problems
Not
Impaired
NONE
NONE
Recreational
Water Quality
Impairments
Impaired
(nearshore
areas, all
basins)
Exceedances of bacterial guidelines established to
protect human health
£ coli and/or fecal coliform,
PAHs**, PCBs**
Degradation of
Aesthetics
Impaired
High turbidity; obnoxious odors; decaying Cladophora
on the shoreline; seasonal fish die-offs because alewife/
other exotics are not acclimated to colderwinter water
temperatures; hindrances to recreational use due to
floating garbage and debris/zebra mussels.
Excessive Cladophora, point/non-
point source stormwater ru noff,
excessive floating garbage and
debris, dead fish, excessive zebra
mussels on shoreline areas.
Added Costs to
Agriculture or
Industry
Not
Impaired
NONE
NONE
Degradation of
Phytoplankton
&Zooplankton
Populations
Impaired
PHYTOPLANKTON - eastern basin - total standing crop
and photosynthesis are below the potential set by P
loading in the nearshore; loss of keystone species; loss
of trophic transfer to Diporeia.
ZOOPLANKTON - eastern basin - loss of dominant
cold-water species; eastern and west-central basins -
reduction in mean size points to potential impaired
trophic transfer; west central basin - Bythotrephes acts as
an energy sink; western and central basin lake effect
zones - habitat loss and degradation.
Zebra and quagga mussel
grazing; high planktivory.
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
Use Impairment Impairment Type of Impairment
Conclusions
Causes of Impairment
Loss of Fish
Habitat
Impaired
Unmet fish habitat objectives; loss of habitat diversity
and integrity; loss of spawning/nursery areas; barriers to
migration; changes in stream temperature, water quality
and hydrology; high turbidity; loss of aquatic vegetation;
changes to benthic species composition.
Destruction and draining of
wetlands;dams, dikes, dredging/
channel modifications, water
taking; streambank/shoreline
filling and hardening; sedimenty
chemical contaminantynutrient
loadings; navigation/recreational
boating activities; exotics,
Cladophora fouling (eastern basin
nearshore)
Loss of Wildlife
Habitat
Impaired
Unmet wildlife habitat objectives; habitat fragmentation
and loss of niches; loss of diversity and integrity;
population demands exceed available habitat (e.g.
colonial waders that use the Lake Erie Islands); loss of
stopover habitat along migratory corridors (birds,
butterflies, bats); loss of cover for protection from
predation; loss of or accelerated succession patterns; loss
of area available for habitat expansion; loss of buffer
functions between one habitat type and another; loss or
reduction in quantity/quality of nesting/denning areas;
loss or reduction in quantity/quality of food sources.
Fire suppression; logging;
destruction and draining of
wetlands; high water levels, storm
surges; dredging/channel
modifications, water taking,
streambank/shoreline filling,
hardening and backstopping;
sedimentychemical contaminanty
nutrient loadings; navigation/
boating activities; exotics.
^Commercial fishermen in Ontario are prohibited from selling carp that are 32 cm or larger, due to PCBs.
** PAHs are the basis for a human contact advisory in the Black River Ohio Area of Concern and PCBs are the basis for a
human contact advisory in the Ottawa River (Maumee Area of Concern).
Section 3
3.2 Degraded Wildlife Populations and Loss of Wildlife
Habitat
A summary of the Degraded Wildlife Populations and Loss of Wildlife Habitat
Technical Report (Lambert et al. 2001) lias been completed. A wide variety of interest
groups and agencies (wildlife managers, natural heritage biologists, academics, etc.)
assisted in providing information and reviewing draft documents. There was consensus
that habitats in Lake Erie are impaired and need attention.
Fifteen general habitat types and 300+ wildlife species were assessed for evidence
of impairment in the Lake Erie basin. Terrestrial invertebrates were not assessed because
they were not included in the ecosystem management objective modeling process
developed for the Lake Erie LaMP. Wildlife populations or habitats were considered
impaired if one or more of the definitions below applied to a species or habitat in one
or more jurisdictions of the Lake Erie basin:
o The wildlife population or amount or condition of habitat is below a stated
objective (objectives were taken from management plans/strategies already
underway and applicable to the Lake Erie basin);
o The wildlife population or amount or condition of habitat is below the demand
placed on it;
o The wildlife population or habitat is rare, threatened, endangered, or of special
concern;
o The wildlife population or habitat is unable to sustain itself in terms of amount
or condition;
o Available data is insufficient or inconclusive, but the wildlife population or
habitat is suspected to be degraded;
o The wildlife population or habitat lias contaminant burdens that may impair
behavior or reproduction, either at that level or in higher trophic level
organisms.
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
Table 3 identifies the impairment status of the habitats used in this assessment of the
Lake Erie basin. Assessment of the selected general habitat types clearly indicated there
was impairment; therefore, it was not necessary to conduct further assessments based upon
individual vegetation communities or plant species.
Table 3: Summary of Lake Erie Wildlife Habitats and Their Impairment Status
Habitat
Impairment Status*
Islands
Impaired in OH; likely impaired in ON; do not occur in Ml, NY and PA
Sand Beaches / Cobble
Shore
Sand beaches impaired in OH, PA, NX and ON; no Ml assessment provided; cobble shore does
not exist along Lake Erie shoreline in Ml, is rare in ON and status is unknown in PA; where it does
exist it is impaired
Unconsolidated Shore
Bluffs
Impaired in PA; suspected impaired in NY and ON; do not occur in Ml; not impaired in Ohio, but
impacts to this habitat are key contributor to sand beach habitat impairment
Interdunal Wetlands
Impaired in OH, PA and ON; do not occur in NY; no Ml assessment provided
Sand Dunes
Sand dunes and wooded beach ridges are impaired in OH, PA, NY and ON; no Ml assessment
provided; sand barrens are unique to Ohio and are impaired
Submerged Macrophytes
Impaired in PA, NY and ON; not impaired in OH; no Ml assessment provided
Floating Macrophytes
Impaired in NY and ON; likely impaired in OH; suspected impaired in PA; no Ml assessment
provided
Emergent Macrophytes
Impaired in Ml, PA, and NY; likely impaired in OH; suspected impaired in ON
Wet Meadow
Impaired in OH, PA, NY and ON; no Ml assessment provided
Mesic Prairie
Impaired in OH and ON; suspected impaired in PA; does not occur in the Lake Erie basin of NY;
no Ml assessment provided
Shrub Swamp
Impaired in OH and ON; suspected impaired in NY and PA; no Ml assessment provided
Bogs and Fens
Impaired in OH, PA, NY and ON; no Ml assessment provided
Upland Marsh
Impaired in OH and NY; suspected impaired in PA and ON; no Ml assessment provided
Mesic Forest
Impaired in NY and ON; oak-hickory suspected impaired in OH; beech-maple suspected impaired
in PA; no Ml assessment provided
Swamp Forest
Impaired in OH, PA, NY and ON; no Ml assessment provided
* Causes vary from historic human intervention, to natural, current practices, exotic species, and contaminants. Land use
management provides the key to restoration.
The main cause of wildlife habitat impairment is the dramatic change to Lake Erie
basin land use since European colonization began. Land use alterations have had an
effect on almost all natural habitat-structuring forces (e.g.. Lake Erie water levels,
location of groundwater table, soil types and their associated nutrient values, bedrock,
precipitation and associated storm surges, wind, fire, and the relative abundance of the
wildlife species using a particular habitat). Human response to these structuring forces
fall into three categories: 1) those that could not be changed must be protected against
(water levels, precipitation, wind); 2) those deemed "undesirable" must be eliminated
(fire, shallow groundwater); and 3) the "accidental" addition of new forces such as the
introduction of exotic species and contaminants. The result lias been, and continues to
be, extreme pressure on both the natural functions of the habitat complex that historically
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LAK E ERIE LaMP 2002
defined the region, and the wildlife populations that depend on these habitats.
The wildlife species and species guilds in this assessment were chosen based on a
number of criteria including: consistency with the Lake Erie LaMP ecosystem management
objectives modeling exercise; usefulness as an indicator of ecosystem health (particularly
aquatic ecosystems) or wildlife function; existence of unmet objectives; and availability of
data from monitoring programs. In this assessment, 16 amphibian species, 27 reptile species,
14 mammal species, 200+bird species (36 individual species/10 guilds) were evaluated. A
guild is a group of species with similar roles in the wildlife community due to similar
ecological resource requirements and foraging strategies. Bird guilds assessed included
dabbling ducks, diving ducks, mergansers, migrant passerines, breeding passerines,
shorebirds. marsh birds, migrant raptors, herons and egrets, and gulls and terns.
Of the 300+ wildlife species assessed, 38(10 reptiles, 5 amphibians, 19 birds, 4 mammals)
were clearly impaired in all five Lake Erie jurisdictions, in all Lake Erie jurisdictions that
provided data, or in all Lake Erie jurisdictions that are known to be within their range. An
additional 11 (2 reptiles, 3 amphibians. 6 birds) were impaired in four out of five Lake Erie
jurisdictions, in all but one of the Lake Erie jurisdictions that provided data, or in all but
one of the Lake Erie jurisdictions that are known to be within their range.
Wildlife species that are largely or totally limited to the Lake Erie basin species for
whichjurisdictions in the basin have a high stewardsliip responsibility, or species suspected
or proven to be adversely affected by contaminants were
highlighted in the report. As examples, the eastern fox
snake and the Lake Erie water snake are both endemic to
the Great Lakes basin.
The eastern fox snake inhabits coastal marshes and
other nearshore areas along southern Lake Huron, Lake
St. Clair and the Detroit River, east along the northern
Lake Erie shore to Long Point Bay (Norfolk County,
Ontario) and along the southern Lake Erie shore in the
extensive marshes of Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky, and Erie
counties in Ohio. On Lake Erie, fox snakes inhabit Pelee
Island and other islands. In Ontario, the western basin of
Lake Erie, Long Point, Rondeau, Pelee Island, and Point
Pelee comprise over 50% of the eastern fox snake's global
range. The eastern fox snake does not occur in the Lake
Erie basin of New York or Pennsylvania; however, it is
impaired in all of the other jurisdictions bordering Lake Erie (i.e. Michigan Ohio, and
Ontario). The eastern fox snake lias legal protection in Michigan and Ontario and is listed
as threatened in both jurisdictions. In Ohio, the eastern fox snake is considered a species of
special interest (a designation assigned to species, or subspecies, that might become
threatened in Ohio under continued or increased stress). In Canada it was listed as threatened
in 2000.
The Lake Erie water snake is a semi-aquatic reptile entirely dependent on specialized
western Lake Erie island habitat (rocky shoreline areas and nearshore waters). The total
range of this species is divided between Ontario (4,138 ha or 62% of its global range) and
Ohio (2,479 ha or 38% of its global range). Some of the major islands where this subspecies
occurs include Middle Island, East Sister Island, Hen Island and Pelee Island in Ontario,
and South Bass, Mddle Bass, North Bass and Kelleys islands in Oliio. Historically, the
Lake Erie water snake occurred on the Ohio mainland, two or more nearshore Ohio islands,
and 22 or more offshore islands and rock outcrops. Today, the Lake Erie water snake lias
disappeared from four islands (West Sister Island and Green Island in Ohio and Middle
Sister Island and North Harbour Island in Ontario), and lias declined significantly on the
remaining islands. The current estimate forthe U.S. population ranges from 1,530 to 2,030
adults and is restricted to only eight islands. Recent data show that the number of Lake Erie
water snakes lias declined by 75% on North Bass Island and by 81% on Middle Bass Island
- two key study sites in Ohio. In Canada, the population of Lake Erie water snakes could
number over 1,600 adults, based on maximum population estimates from surveys in the
early to mid-1980s. Human persecution of this subspecies on the islands, as exemplified by
Section 3
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LAK E ERIE LaMP 2002
an extermination program on Middle Island, has likely contributed to the species' decline
over the years. Persecution by humans is still a serious problem on several islands. The Lake
Erie water snake is listed as endangered in Canada and tlireatened in the U.S. and lias
endangered status in both Ohio and Ontario. Over the past 60 years, key shoreline habitat
within the Lake Erie water snake's range lias been altered, degraded, and developed through
the construction of cottages, marinas, docks, sea walls, the filling of lagoons, and quarry
mining. Contaminant concentrations (PCBs) in Lake Erie water snakes from Pelee Island
are high enough to justify a study of health and reproductive effects.
The objectives and priorities of several existing wildlife and habitat management
plans were used in the evaluation of habitats and wildlife in the Lake Erie basin. Management
plans target specific objectives and goals for their planning regions (many of which fall
within the Lake Erie basin); natural heritage plans help identify priority species or habitats
in need of protection; recovery plans outline the biology, threats and limiting factors,
research needs, and recovery goals for endangered and tlireatened species; and a variety of
conservation plans provide guidelines for the protection of habitats and biodiversity. Some
of the key management programs: recovery plans, natural heritage plans and conservation
plans consulted for this habitat and wildlife assessment are outlined in the BUIA report.
3.3 Next Steps
Information on habitat and wildlife impairments from this assessment will be used in
the development of a habitat strategy for the Lake Erie LaMP and will help focus habitat
protection restoration and enhancement efforts in the Lake Erie basin. Information gathered
from this assessment and otherbeneficial use impairment assessments have also contributed
to the development of draft ecosystem objectives for Ecosystem Alternative 2.
Lake Sturgeon Making a Comeback
In 2001, 21 sturgeon were reported in Ohio waters. Lake sturgeon provided a lucrative commercial fishery
across the Great Lakes in the mid-1800s for caviar and smoked fish. Historically, Lake Erie produced the largest
number of sturgeon in the Great Lakes. Over-fishing, pollution and damming of rivers greatly reduced the
populations by the early 1900s. A slow maturity rate was also a factor,
•? as a female sturgeon doesn't spawn until 20 years of age, and then only
every 4 to 7 years. Recent observations and catches of this prehistoric-
looking fish have fishery biologists hoping for a reversal in the lake
| . sturgeon's diminished presence in Lake Erie. Especially noteworthy are
m a number of catches of juvenile sturgeon three to six years old
§ . fc ¦-* (measuring 14 to 24 inches), and a 7-inch fish, spawned last spring,
* suggesting sturgeon are reproducing in Lake Erie. Of concern to New
York States biologists are the 27 dead sturgeon that washed onto shore
' in 2001, possibly suffering from a botulism outbreak.
\ One of the sturgeon reported in Ohio waters this year was the recapture
of a fish tagged from a current monitoring project in the Lake St. Clair
and Detroit River region; the first recapture outside the Lake St. Clair/
'v. Detroit River system. Since 1995, more than 4,000 sturgeon have been
tagged. Recaptures of these highly migratory fish, aid in the population
and habitat management of this species. Overall biologists are very
- optimistic about the comeback of Lake Erie's sturgeon and hope to
someday find evidence of spawning grounds. A Cleveland angler caught
a 5 sturgeon on the Cuyahoga River last September. Two adult
sturgeon caught in the Maumee River last year could be an indication
that sturgeon are returning to these streams.
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
3.4 Fish BUIA Update
The major points on fish BUIAs from the LaMP 2000 report were that the fish
community was unstable due to loss of habitat loss of top fish predator stocks, negative
impacts of non-indigenous species (exotics) and inefficient flow of energy through the
food web. These factors continue to create instability in the Lake Erie fish community.
Since 2000, round gobies have spread throughout Lake Erie and have increased in
abundance. They are now among the most abundant fish species on rocky substrates,
feeding on a variety of organisms ranging from plankton to zebra mussels and other benthic
invertebrates to fish eggs. They also have become a major prey of essentially all benthic
fish predators, including smallmouth bass, yellow perch, walleye, and freshwater drum. In
July 2001, the first tubenose goby was captured in western Lake Erie. Given the St. Clair
River experience (where both tubenose and round gobies were initially found but round
gobies eventually dominated), it is anticipated that tubenose gobies will not substantially
add to the impacts of the round goby.
Walleye stocks should improve in the near future as Lake Erie's five fisheries
management agencies support a Coordinated Percid Management Strategy, which will
significantly reduce fishing mortality on walleye through 2003. The strategy also
allows for the further development of adaptive fishery management on an interagency
level. Strong walleye hatches in 1999 and 2001 should bolster the adult stocks in
coming years with improved survival rates that result from reduced fishing. Yellow
perch stocks should also benefit from the Coordinated Percid Management Strategy.
A five-year fisheries restoration program lias been initiated by Ontario for eastern
Lake Erie. In cooperation with the New York State Department of Enviromnental
Conservation, Ontario is establishing regulations for conservative harvest, initiating
a major stock assessment program, and implementing a program of fisheries inventory
and habitat assessment for nearshore waters and lake-affected zones of rivers.
Positive signs in the western basin fish community are that white bass stocks
appear to be increasing in abundance and prey fish populations have recovered from
low levels during the mid-1980s. Increased populations of mayflies have increased
the forage base for many fish species, including yellow perch. The silver chub, a
bentliic-feeding high-energy food source for other fish, is reappearing in abundant
numbers. The silver chub practically disappeared from the lake simultaneously with
the catastrophic decline of the mayfly in the early 1950s (Troutman, 1981).
Coincidently, silver chubs feed on zebra mussels. Trout-perch, another bentliic species
that declined dramatically in the 1950s, is also making a comeback. These changes
suggest that the historic benthic-feeding community in Lake Erie is beginning to
recover (Thoma, personal communication).
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[Section 4 Cover Page]
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LA KE ERIE LaMP 2002
Section 4: A Habitat Strategy for Lake Erie
4.1 Introduction
The Lake Erie LaMP lias identified habitat loss and degradation as one of the top
three stressors that must be addressed to restore Lake Erie. The alteration of natural
ecosystems through the loss of forests, wetlands, and grasslands has had marked effects
on biotic processes and fish and wildlife populations in the Lake Erie basin.
The Lake Erie LaMP beneficial use impairment assessment found fish habitat in
Lake Erie tributaries (including riverine estuaries), shoreland areas (including coastal
wetlands), and nearshore areas to be impaired.
Over 80% of historical coastal wetlands have been
lost and most of the remaining wetlands are diked
or have degraded physical or chemical properties.
All 15 of the general habitat types representative
of. and inextricably tied to, the aquatic components
of the Lake Erie environment are impaired within
at least one Lake Erie basin jurisdiction.
Degradation of 14 of these habitat types are
resulting in umnet wildlife population management
objectives for particular wildlife species. Upland
marsh wet meadow, emergent macrophytes, bog/
fen and interdunal wetlands are the five most
commonly degraded habitats responsible for this
problem. Benthic habitats in the lake have also
been lost or disrupted. The loss of ehironomid
larvae and benthic invertebrate diversity in Lake
Erie tributaries indicates that these habitats are also degraded.
In addition to loss of habitat, the beneficial use impairment assessment reports
identified the loss of ecological function, or how efficiently the habitat supports the
biological community that inhabits it. For example, dams prevent fish from swimming
upstream to spawn; dredging and/or filling wetlands reate avenues for exotic invasive
species, such as purple loosestrife, to proliferate and greatly reduce the nutritional value
provided by the wetland. Ecological function is impaired not only because of outright
habitat destruction, but also because of anthropogenic activities that have increased
sediment loads to the lake and its tributaries, increased soil and water temperatures, and
altered river flows and hydrology. There is a direct connection between land use, non-
point source runoff and habitat quality.
Section 4
4.2 Habitat Strategy Development
In order to address the key issue of habitat loss and alteration the Lake Erie LaMP
2000 document sought to present a habitat action plan. With the emphasis on "action",
the LaMP 2000 effort focused on identifying ongoing or planned projects that would
lead to removal of a habitat impairment and serve to meet the ecological objectives of
the LaMP. Considerable review since then suggested there was a larger need for strategic
planning rather than trying to prioritize projects for implementation. There are already
a large number of habitat related projects underway by a variety of agencies and local
groups. It is the LaMP's role to determine what it can best do, from a value added
perspective, to tie existing efforts together and address gaps to see impacts/results on a
lakewide basis.
The habitat strategy provides a framework to guide and coordinate habitat protection
and restoration efforts in the Lake Erie basin. The limited amount of existing habitat
monitoring lias been focused largely on species presence or absence and the amount of
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
habitat acquired or restored. More attention needs to be placed on population numbers
and habitat function. For example, marshes may still remain in some areas, but if they
consist of a monoculture of cattails or purple loosestrife, they may not be providing
the necessary diversity of plants and communities to support the wildlife that depend
on the marsh during migration or the breeding season. The focus of the habitat strategy
is on habitat preservation and restoration and improving the ecological function of
habitats. It also considers the preservation, restoration and enhancement of the
ecological processes that create and maintain habitats.
One of the first steps in development of the habitat strategy is working with key groups
and agencies involved in habitat protection restoration and management in the Lake Erie
basin to determine appropriate basin-wide goals and the value of the Lake Erie LaMP's
support and involvement. The Lake Erie LaMP has already compiled a long list of the
many programs and organizations that may support the development and implementation
of a Lake Erie Habitat Strategy.
The results of the ecosystem modeling exercise for the Lake Erie LaMP indicate that
land use management is the key to restoring Lake Erie. Land use is also the key to improving
habitat. Land use management generally includes actions in the following categories;
agricultural non-point source runoff; urban and land use development controls; preservation;
and restoration including stewardship incentives. To illustrate the types of existing programs
with which the LaMP will need to coordinate to influence land use practices affecting the
lake, several examples of representative programs are described below. The impact of
exotic species is also important to habitat in the Lake Erie basin, and an example of how
Phragmites many be impacting habitat is presented. A brief description of several of the
habitat mapping projects that will be useful to the LaMP is included. Planning for long-
term fluctuations in water levels and climate change must also be considered.
4.3 Agricultural Non-point Source Runoff
Ontario Environmental Farm Plan
The Ontario Enviromnental Farm Plan is a successful self-risk assessment tool
involving partnerships with broad stakeholder involvement from farm groups and
government. The Ontario Farm Enviromnental Coalition stakeholder groups drive the
initiative, and partnered with government ministries, agencies, non-governmental
organizations and farm groups to develop the Environmental Farm Plan process.
Through the Environmental Farm Plan, fanners learn about environmental strengths
on their farms; identify areas of concern; and implement actions to improve
environmental conditions. Dollars put toward corrective on-fann actions by government
and from fanners' pockets have shown that contributions have been made toward 3
important areas: soil management, nutrient storage and water wells. Lake Erie county
farmers have spent $16.9 million of the $29.6 million available on on-farm
enviromnental actions. Moreover, Lake Erie counties have received 52% of incentive
grant dollars paid to Ontario fanners for undertaking on-fann enviromnental actions.
(Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association 2001). The 28,594 registered fann
businesses in the Lake Erie basin represent approximately 50% of the 56,207 registered
fann businesses for the whole province. The Ontario Fann Environmental Coalition
was presented with a "Success Story" award for the Enviromnental Fann Plan at the
State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference (SOLEC) in 2000. (Roberts, Personal
Communication 2001).
Ontario Rural Clean Water Programs
Cunently, many Ontario Conservation Authorities have programs targeting rural
land use that encourage the use of Best Management Practices (BMP). The continuation
and expansion of these programs within the Lake Erie basin will be critical to achieve
the objectives for rural land use established by the Lake Erie LaMP. While each
watershed lias developed a program tailored to its needs, there are common elements:
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LA KE ERIE LaMP 2002
Best management plan implementation projects that recognize the private
landowner is key.
Information is provided to landowners regarding the impacts of their activities
on the Lake Erie ecosystem. The decision to act is that of the landowner.
The project integrates aquatic and terrestrial habitat conservation and water quality
on private lands.
Where landowners express an interest, local participation from community groups,
fish and game clubs, and schools is encouraged.
The thrust of the program is to encourage sustainable land use practices that foster
soil, water and wildlife conservation in the Great Lakes basin.
The strength of this program is that it
facilitates improvements in rural/
agricultural land use practices by the
group most qualified to do the work, the
innovative landowners themselves. These
I innovative farmers are willing to try new
approaches, but of course there are no
guarantees of success. The incentive
grants offered through this program can
offset some of the financial risk, allowing
an innovator to invest in updated
equipment and technology. Incentive
grants are provided through a variety of
partners including government and
industry and coordinated by a central
contact. This allows the land user to "put
it to the test". If it is proven to work, other
land users become willing to try it and the
technology spreads. For information on where these programs are offered in the Lake
Erie Basin see Table 4.
Table 4: Rural Clean Water Programs offered in the Ontario Lake Erie Basin
Conservation Authority Contact
Regional Municipality/County
Grand River Conservation Authority
Counties of Wellington and Brant, Regional Municipality of
Waterloo-Wellington
Catfish Creek Conservation Authority
Elgin, Brant and Middlesex Counties
Kettle Creek Conservation Authority
Elgin and Middlesex Counties
Long Point Region Conservation Authority
Elgin, Kent, Oxford, Brant, Haldimand, and Norfolk Counties
Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority
Kent, Middlesex, and Elgin Counties
St. Clair Region Conservation Authority
Middlesex County
Lambton County Stewardship Network
Lambton County
Upper Thames River Conservation Authority
Middlesex, Oxford and Perth Counties
Essex Region Conservation Authority
Essex County
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
Clean Water Act Section 319 Program
The Clean Water Act Section 319 Program provides grant money to States,
territories, and Indian tribes to support non-point source projects (both agricultural
and urban). The U.S. EPA administers these funds. The 319 program has supported
successful agricultural projects focusing on phosphorus reduction in the Maumee River
basin in Ohio, as well as in Southeast Michigan (Monroe, Washtenaw, and Wayne
counties). Agricultural non-point source projects funded by 319 are currently underway
in the Black River basin in Ohio.
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program
The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) is a U.S. Federal-State
conservation partnership that targets significant enviromnental effects related to
agriculture. It combines the existing Federal Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
with State programs to provide a framework for the U.S. Department of Agriculture to
work with State and local interests to meet state-specific enviromnental objectives.
This is an incentive-based program whereby landowners enter into 14 to 15 year
contracts with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to convert cropland to conservation
practices (buffers, windbreaks, wetlands, filter strips, grassed and wooded riparian
buffers, etc.).
An Ohio CREP focused on the western basin of Lake Erie was initiated in May
2000. The goals of the Ohio CREP are: to reduce the amount of sediment entering the
western basin by over 2,325,000 metric tons over the next 20 years; significantly reduce
nutrients and pesticides entering the western basin and its tributaries; protect 5,000
miles of streams in the western basin watershed from sedimentation; and improve
wildlife habitat in the project area. Approximately 67,000 acres have been targeted
n 4 for enrollment over the next 20 years. To date, 5,259 acres have been enrolled (actually
converted to conservation practices), with an additional 5,664 acres in contract, for a
total of 10,923 acres.
The State of Michigan also has a CREP program. The goal is to enroll 80,000
acres in three selected watersheds across the state. The River Raisin which empties
into the western basin is the only selected watershed in the Lake Erie basin. The goals
are similar to those of the Ohio CREP. To date, 2,408 acres in the River Raisin watershed
have been enrolled, with contracts pending for an additional 380 acres, for a total of
2,788 acres.
Nutrient Management Planning (NMP) Tools
Matching all nutrient inputs, such as commercial fertilizers and manure, to crop
requirements is a key area where Ontario fanners are improving land use practices to
reduce environmental risk. The adoption of Nutrient Management Planning tools as a
production practice is allowing more fanners to optimize all sources of fann nutrients.
This helps to maximize economic returns, minimize surface water and groundwater
problems and maintain or improve soil health. The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture,
Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) and the University of Guelph developed Nutrient
Management Planning software (NMAN) that allows fanners to track all land- applied
materials containing nutrients. The trend toward larger fann size with more livestock
has resulted in the drafting and adoption of nutrient management by-laws by some
municipalities.
At present, an array of legislative and regulatory provisions, guidelines, voluntary
best management practices and localized municipal by-laws govern the application of
materials to agricultural land in Ontario. To promote creation of a standardized process,
Ontario introduced the Nutrient Management Act (Bill 81). The proposed act is enabling
and will provide the authority to establish province-wide regulations and standards to
address the effects of agricultural practices on the enviromnent, especially as they
relate to land-applied materials containing nutrients. These materials include manure,
commercial fertilizers, biosolids generated by municipal sewage treatment plants,
septage from pumped septic tanks, industrial pulp and paper residuals, and food
processing wastes. The new province-wide standards would supersede municipal by-
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
laws and be linked to other pieces of provincial legislation such as the Ontario
Environmental Protection Act.
4.4 Urban and Development Land Use Controls
Ohio Lake Erie Watershed Balanced Growth Strategy
In 2000, the Ohio Lake Erie Commission released the Ohio Lake Erie Protection and
Restoration Plan. Input from 16 focus groups, public comments and state agencies resulted
in 84 specific recommendations to improve the enviromnent, recreational opportunities
and economy of Lake Erie and its watershed in Ohio. One of the recommendations was to
commission a panel of diverse expertise to create a "Lake Erie Watershed Balanced Growth
Strategy." The panel was established in November 2001 and consists of representatives of
government, business, conservation groups, academia, agricultural interests and other
stakeholders. In addition to the strategy, several incentive and special recognition awards
are planned to encourage adoption of balance growth practices, as well as the creation of a
model Lake Erie zoning ordinance and building code.
The Grand Strategy
An integrated management plan for the Grand River watershed is now being
developed as part of The Grand Strategy. The Grand River in southern Ontario suffered
from years of degradation and industrialization during the first third of the twentieth
century. As a result of the combination of programs undertaken by the Grand River
Conservation Authority and its partners over the last 60 years, the health of the Grand
River and its tributaries lias improved significantly. In fact, the river lias improved so
much that in 1994, it was declared a Canadian Heritage River. This has resulted in
many community-based and collaborative efforts to improve river health and heritage
conservation. The Grand Strategy includes a community-based fisheries management
plan and a dynamic model to predict the impact of sewage treatment plants, urban
runoff and diffuse sources of pollution to the Grand River.
4.5 Habitat Preservation
Several major purchases occurred over the past two years to set aside some
significant areas as preserves. The Nature Conservancy of Canada purchased Middle
Island, which is managed through Parks Canada. The Michigan Chapter of the Nature
Conservancy lias protected 8-acre Calf Island, one of the last undeveloped marshes in
the Detroit River. The U.S. and Canada are working toward the protection and restoration
of the wetlands along the lower Detroit River. Under the Great Lakes Coastal
Restoration Grant program, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources recently
awarded almost $900,000 to Put-in-Bay Township to assist in the purchase of 9 acres
on the East Point of South Bass Island, including the preservation of approximately 'A
mile of undeveloped shoreline. The Nature Conservancy of Canada purchased the
572 acre Clear Creek Forest along the Canadian Lake Erie shore near Chatham-Kent,
an area slated for logging and home to several nationally rare species of birds. An
additional 228 acres adjacent to the forest was recently purchased.
4.6 Habitat Restoration
Cuyahoga River Remedial Action Plan
With the assistance of a grant from U.S. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office,
the Cuyahoga River RAP has completed four stream bank restoration projects.
Bioengineering techniques were used to address erosion and flooding problems while
improving stream bank habitat. Each site posed different challenges so different techniques
Section 4
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
were used at each site. Local residents and volunteers planted hundreds of trees, shrubs
and ground cover that quickly took root to hold stream bank soils in place. The foliage
provides crucial shading to the streams and creates additional habitat for fish and wildlife.
A series of public workshops was held to further educate homeowners, public officials, and
design and construction engineers in the use of stream restoration and bioengineering
techniques.
Canard Valley Habitat Restoration Project, Ontario
The 121-hectare Canard Valley site is located in the Detroit River area of concern
along the Canard River, the laigest Canadian tributary to the Detroit River. The site is
presently comprised of old-field habitat and constitutes an entry point into one of the
laigest Environmentally Significant Areas (ESA) in the area of concern and the Essex
region - the Canard River Kentucky Coffee Tree ESA. The goal of the project is to implement
a large-scale upland forest habitat restoration project utilizing locally sourced native
Carolinian species to create interior forest habitat. In addition, some riparian and wetland
enhancement along the Canard River corridor will be undertaken. Interior forest habitat is
critically imperiled in the Essex region and exists at only a few locations in the Detroit
River watershed. The restored interior forest will provide habitat for cerulean warblers and
other rare interior forest birds. The plan is to restore a total of 40 ha of habitat (54,700 trees
planted and a 1.5 ha wetland created on the floodplain associated with the south bank of
the Canard River) while strengthening local, community-based stewardship actions. The
project is proceeding as part of the Biodiversity Conservation Implementation Program for
the Essex Region. Partners in the project include the Essex Region Conservation Authority,
Environment Canada, Ontario Great Lakes Renewal Foundation and Ontario Power
Generation.
4.7 Exotic Species Control
Historical Distribution and Abundance of Phragmites australis at Long
Point, Ontario
The recent expansion of Phragmites australis, an exotic and invasive wetland plant,
throughout many lower Great Lakes coastal wetlands lias caused concern among resource
managers due to the belief that it degrades waterfowl habitat and reduces biodiversity.
Long Point contains some of the most important staging wetlands for waterfowl on the
Great Lakes, and anecdotal evidence suggests that Phragmites lias been expanding rapidly
in some of these habitats. Phragmites was present in 1945, (541ia) and in 1964 (69ha) but
had declined in abundance to less than 41ia by 1985. A moderate annual rate of increase
occurred between 1985 (41ia) and 1995 (18ha), and an exponential increase occurred
between 1995 and 1999 (1421ia). The primary species and communities that were replaced
or colonized by Phragmites between 1995 and 1999 were marsh meadow (33%), Typlia
spp. (32%), other mixed emergents (8%), sedge/grass hummock (10%), and open water
(5.5%). If Phragmites continues to expand at current rates, it could theoretically cover
13,308 lia(60%oftlie study area) at Long Point by 2010. Evidence suggests that Phragmites
abundance is negatively correlated with Lake Erie water depth and positively correlated
with ambient temperature. Given the relation between Phragmites abundance and both
temperature and water depth if global wanning predictions are realized, Phragmites will
continue to expand on the lower Great Lakes. Wildlife use studies are presently being
conducted to determine if Phragmites is in fact underutilized by wildlife at Long Point.
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LA KE ERIE LaMP 2002
Effect of Dams on Stream Hydrology and Aquatic Organisms
Dams that limit or block fish access to historical upstream spawning, feeding, and nursery habitat affect most
Lake Erie tributaries. Pike, sauger, muskellunge, and sturgeon have been the most severely affected, but some
river spawning walleye stocks have also been depleted (e.g. Grand River, Ontario; Sandusky River, Ohio). Other
effects of dams include: reducing fish biodiversity; changing light penetration, water depth, temperature and
hydro-period (i.e. how deep water is for how long); create sediment traps in reservoirs behind dams, sometimes
allowing build-up of contaminants; and eliminating
habitat historically used by local species for some phase
of their life cycle. Spawning runs of walleye, mooneye,
and naturalized rainbow trout in some eastern basin
tributaries are improving due to dam removal, fish-way
construction, and in-stream and watershed rehabilitation
projects (e.g. Big Creek, Grand River, Ontario). Dams
have very complex impacts on the ecology of rivers and
there is not enough data to predict all of the impacts
dam removal will have on a given river's ecosystem.
The effects of individual dam removal on each tributary
or different stream reaches of a given tributary will vary
physically and biologically. Dam removal in the lower
reaches of the Lake Erie tributaries has the greatest
potential to provide additional spawning, feeding and
nursery habitat for fish, thereby increasing the reproductive potential offish populations in Lake Erie. However, dam
removal in some areas have increased sea lamprey production, making it necessary to initiate control via barriers and
lampricides.
4.8 Bioregional Strategic and Management Planning
Little of the natural landscape of the Lake Erie basin remains unaltered by the effects
of human actions. Even comparatively pristine habitat blocks are affected by fragmentation,
water table alteration, and neighbouring habitat changes. Wildlife managers now try to
maximize wildlife benefits through intensive management activities. As a result, many
state/provincial, regional, national, and continental long range management plans have
been developed or are in progress for many wildlife species and their habitats.
Management plans target specific objectives and goals for their planning regions,
many of which fall within the Lake Erie basin. Natural heritage plans help identify priority
species or habitats in need of protection. Recovery plans outline the biology, threats and
limiting factors, research needs, and recovery goals for endangered and threatened species.
A variety of conservation plans provide guidelines for the protection of habitats and
biodiversity.
Baseline Data and GIS Maps
In order to develop the road map for an effective Lake Erie habitat strategy, it is
important to have a good database mapping existing conditions. Several ongoing
efforts provide some baseline information:
Big Picture Project
In 1999 the Natural Heritage Information Centre completed mapping of natural
area cores and corridors in the Carolinian Zone (Canada), which overlaps extensively
with the Ontario Lake Erie Basin. A CD version of the "Big Picture" is now available
that provides the ability to zoom in on selected areas of the Carolinian Life Zone. The
Big Picture is a living document housed at the Natural Heritage Information Centre
and will be updated over time. A poster-sized version of the Big Picture Map, along
with an explanatory newsprint tabloid was published in October 2000, and nearly
40,000 copies have been distributed. The purpose of these materials is to popularize
the Big Picture vision and to champion the role of private landowners in making it a reality.
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Carolinian Canada is also undertaking local pilot projects with several municipalities
to move the Big Picture from theory to practice. A summary of the technical paper for
the Big Picture Project can be found at http://www.carolinian.org/NHIC.htm.
Bigger Picture Project
Mapping of the natural area cores and corridors in two adjacent ecozones to the north
(Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources' Site Districts 6E and 7E which include Southern
Ontario and the southern portion of the Canadian Shield) is also nearing completion. The
final Technical Committee meeting for the Bigger Picture project was held on November
15,2001. Based on discussions from this meeting, additional analyses will be conducted to
better incorporate coastal wetland areas that were overlooked in the preliminary analysis
due to their smaller size (less than 200 ha).
US Geological Survey Gap Analysis Program
The mission of the National GAP Analysis Program is to provide regional
assessment of the conservation status of native vertebrate species and natural land-
cover types and to facilitate the application of this information to land-management
activities. The National GAP Analysis Program is undertaken for two types of projects:
terrestrial and aquatic pilots. Projects are implemented at the state or regional level
and include the following five objectives: 1) map land cover at the statewide or regional
scale; 2) map predicted and known distributions of vertebrate species for each state or
region; 3) document the representation of vertebrate species and land-cover types in
areas managed for the long-term maintenance of biodiversity; 4) provide this
information to the public and to those entities chaiged with land-use research policy,
planning, and management; and 5) build institutional cooperation in the application of
this information to state and regional management activities.
State projects in terrestrial GAP Analysis have been undertaken in all eight Great
Lakes states. Land cover maps are published for New York and will be published within
the next year for Pennsylvania Michigan. Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Illinois and Ohio
should be completed in 2004 and 2005, respectively, being the last states in the Great
Lakes region to start terrestrial GAP Projects. An Ohio Aquatic GAP Analysis is currently
underway with plans to complete GAP analyses for riverine systems and fish
communities by May 2003. New projects are planned for start-up in July 2002 in
Michigan. Wisconsin, and New York. Aquatic GAP projects to cover the Great Lakes
region should be completed within 6 years, with work being completed for Pennsylvania,
Indiana, Illinois, and Minnesota by 2007.
4.9 Upcoming Habitat Events
Work is now underway to plan a habitat workshop under the Lake Erie Millennium
Plan research initiative. Researchers working on habitats of concern in Lake Erie (e.g.,
coastal wetlands) and on issues such as climate change, exotic species, loss of
biodiversity and ecological function relevant to habitat protection and restoration in
Lake Erie will be invited to attend. For further details refer to the Lake Erie Millennium
Plan website: www.uwindsor.ca/erie2001.
A core committee of LaMP partner agency representatives is overseeing the
development of the Lake Erie LaMP Habitat Strategy. The strategy will be in place by
LaMP 2004.
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Sources and Loads Update
Section 5
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| A K 1 1 1 f [ L ¦« I 1 2 0 0 2
Section 5: Sources and Loads Update
5.1 Introduction
m
i
Monitoring programs provide insight into sources of pollutants to the Lake Erie
ecosystem. The spatial distribution of pollutants in sediments and the tissues of benthic
invertebrates and fish are a result of historical and ongoing inputs. When integrated with
municipal and industrial discharge records and information on the use and pathways of
chemicals in our society, managers can ensure that pollution prevention or remedial activities
are focused in areas that warrant priority attention.
In the Lake Erie LaMP 2000 Report, the Sources and Loads Subcommittee of the Lake
Erie LaMP reported on work completed to identify and review monitoring databases that
might be of use in calculating loads and tracking down sources. As a continuation of the
information integration efforts described in the "Characterization of Data and Data Collection
Programs for Assessing Pollutants of Concern to Lake Erie" (Painter et al. 2000), and
building on the efforts of the U SGS described in"Areal Distribution and Concentrations of
Contaminants of Concern in Surficial Streambed and Lakebed Sediments, Lake Erie - Lake
Saint Clair Drainages, 1990-97 (Rheaume et al. 2001), the LaM P lias expanded its information
base of ambient environmental monitoring, discliaige and emissions information.
The Lake Erie LaMP 2000 document identified the need to develop a "source track-
down process" for the basin. The current project being guided by the Lake Erie LaMP
Sources and Loads Subcommittee involves the collection aggregation and analysis of
emissions, bed-sediment, and fish-tissue data within the Lake Erie Basin for 1990-98. The
goals of this effort are to
generate a comprehensive
database accessible by a
Geographic Information
System (GIS) in order to: 1)
evaluate the spatial
occurrence among these
interconnected data types: 2)
help track down and identify
locations that are potential
source areas for
contaminants; and 3) assess
whether the available data
can be combined from
various agencies across state
and national boundaries to
accomplish such an
evaluation. Of particular
concern are the Lake Erie
LaMP critical pollutants mercuiy and poly chlorinated bipheny Is (PCBs). These contaminants
are currently listed as "bioaccumulative chemicals of concern" by the U.S. Great Lakes
Initiative and identified as "tier 1 contaminants" by the Canada-Ontario Agreement . Because
of their persistence in the environment and their bioaccumulative nature, mercury and PCBs
account for the majority of fish consumption advisories throughout the Great Lakes.
To date, the project lias compiled emissions data from 8,000 locations for a total of more
than 2 million records. Figures 1 and 2 represent an evaluation of PCBs and mercury in bed-
sediments as compared to predetermined aquatic biological effect levels (Smith et al. 1996).
Fisli-tissue data are in the process of being collected and aggregated, and will be mapped in
2002.
Integration of the available information identified data gaps, and several studies were
initiated to ensure a more comprehensive information base. For example, when recent
information on the spatial distribution of open lake sediment pollutant concentrations was
Section 5
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
Figure 1: Total PCBs in Bed Sediments
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
Figure 2: Total Mercury in Bed Sediments
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
required for the project described above. Environment Canada and Ohio EPA collaborated
on a study that provided open lake pollutant concentrations in surficial sediments for many
historical and emerging chemicals of concern. The 1997/98 survey conducted by
Environment Canada and Ohio EPA not only provided valuable information on the open
lake spatial distribution of contaminants, but because an earlier 1971 Environment Canada
survey had been conducted, a retrospective analysis of the trends overtime was also possible
(Painter et al. 2001). Encouragingly, PCB concentrations have declined lakewide.
Concentrations are one third of what they were 30 years ago. Mercury concentrations have
also similarly declined.
Dioxin concentrations in surficial sediments of Lake Erie were unavailable prior to the
study conducted by Environment Canada and Ohio EPA. The Canadian probable effect
level (21.5 pg/g TEQ) was exceeded at 40% of the sites, all in the western and south-central
basins of the lake (Figure 3).
Figure 3: Surficial Sediment Concentrations of Dioxin (pg/g TEQ)
o
Section 5
o
O
o
O
0 - 5
5- 10
10- 15
15-20
20 - 25
25 - 30
30 - 35
35 +
During the data compilation for the above-mentioned source track-down GIS
database, an absence of information for the Canadian tributaries was evident.
Enviromnent Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Enviromnent have since initiated
"Project Track-down" to provide additional sediment contaminant data for north shore
tributaries, and to follow-up on clues that would suggest local sources. Sediment, forage
fish and clams are excellent screening tools to track down remaining sources of
bioaccumulative chemicals of concern such as PCBs.
Collecting ambient concentration and source information are two parts of a three-
part strategy to reduce contaminants in Lake Erie. The third piece is the source reduction
and remediation efforts underway. Complementary to the Lake Erie LaMP are remedial
actions in the Lake Erie Areas of Concern, state and provincial pollution prevention
activities, and the efforts under the Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy. Although
no contaminated sediment sites were cleaned up during the last two years, progress
continues on efforts to remediate and restore these sites. Most of these ongoing efforts
are being done at the Areas of Concern and are highlighted in the RAP Update Section
of this report. Integration of this ongoing work will permit the LaMP to evaluate gaps
and plan new activities based on a solid foundation. Per concerns of the New York
Department of Environmental Conservation as work on sources and loads continues,
the Lake Erie LaMP will consider the potential for Lake Erie to be a source of the
priority toxics identified in the Niagara River Toxics Management Plan.
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
5.2 Mercury and PCB Reduction Initiatives
To date, the Lake Erie LaMP lias designated mercury and PCB as critical pollutants in
the lake. Consequently, the LaMP 2002 concentrates on tracking activities underway
around the lake that are reducing loading of these pollutants or removing them from
the lake ecosystem via some type of remedial action. There are a number of mainly
pollution prevention based initiatives currently ongoing under the Great Lakes
Binational Toxics Strategy for mercury and PCB, as well as other contaminants of
concern. Many of the actions are common to both the U.S. and Canada.
The Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy created a U.S. mercury reduction
challenge calling for a 50 percent reduction in the nationwide use and emissions of
mercury by 2006. A work group of stakeholders from federal, state and local
government, industry, and non-government organizations meets twice annually to share
information about mercury reduction opportunities. More information on this group
is available at: www.epa.gov/Region5/air/mercurv/mercurv.html. With respect to small
mercury source activities, there are far too many to report on in the Lake Erie LaMP
2002 report. For example, many municipalities have initiated or passed ordinances
prohibiting sale of mercury fever thermometers. The Lake Erie LaMP 2000 document
listed a number of specific actions that the U.S. and Canada had committed to or
proposed to undertake. Tables 5 and 6 update the status of some of these key actions.
In both Canada and the U.S., several regulations are under development to
strengthen existing regulations related to the control, treatment and release of PCB
and mercury. Only those that have been finalized are specifically mentioned in Tables
4 and 5. A compilation of U.S. legislative actions relating to mercury reduction in
products is at: www.mercury-k 12.org/legisbvstate.htm.
5.3 U.S. EPA Mercury Phase-out Proposal
The development of Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) is a statutory
requirement under Section 303(d) of the U.S. Clean Water Act. It mandates restoration
of impaired waters through reduction of pollutant loadings. Lake Erie, as well as
many of the U.S. Lake Erie tributaries, is listed as impaired waters under Section 303(d).
The States are responsible for preparing TMDLs for their impaired waters.
In an effort to address the universal mercury contamination problem, the National
Wildlife Federation developed a proposal to explore implementing a pollution control
program in lieu of a TMDL for mercury in the Great Lakes. Using the basic framework
suggested by the National Wildlife Federation. U.S. EPA released a mercury phase-out
proposal in January 2002 that meets the technical and regulatory requirements of an
alternative to a TMDL. The proposal would allow the Region 5 states to forgo
developing TMDLs for all mercury impaired waters, including those waters with only
fish consumption advisories for mercury, if they commit to a mercury reduction program.
The U.S. EPA mercury phase-out proposal envisions reductions in emissions of mercury
through incorporation of new Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT)
standards in air permits, inclusion of Great Lakes Initiative (GLI) standards and
pollution prevention measures for mercury in water discharge permits, acceleration
of projects to clean up mercury-contaminated sediments, and implementation of
voluntary mercury collection, reduction and pollution prevention programs on an
expedited schedule. Such programs can include mercury thermometer exchanges,
source identification and reduction programs for wastewater treatment plants, and
negotiation of voluntary elimination of mercury switches in automobiles. The proposal
also allows states flexibility to develop or expand mercury reduction programs. In
addition, each state would need to develop benchmarks and a monitoring program to
determine the effectiveness of the reduction efforts. The proposal is currently being
reviewed by the states.
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
Table 5: PCB Reduction Plan Activities Update
Committed Action
*From the Lake Erie LaMP 2000 Rpt
Status
(2002)
Lead
Agency
POLLUTION REDUCTION
Work with automotive, iron and steel
sector and electrical facilities in the
Lake Erie basin to establish voluntary
commitments to reduce the use,
discharge or emissions ofPCBs.
Canada: 4 steel companies and 3 automotive industries initiating
phase outs.
U.S.: 3 automotive industries committed to voluntary reduction
of high level PCBs.
EC and
U.S. EPA
Coordinate LaMP and GLBTS efforts
with all related partners in order to
produce a cohesive, unified program
to address PCBs in the Great Lakes.
Ongoing
EC and
U.S. EPA
U.S. EPA Superfund commits to
completing the remedies for
Springfield Township Dump (Ml); G&H
Landfill (Ml); Metamora (Ml); and
Fields Brook (OH) by the end of 2002.
Springfield Township Dump - Construction of remediation systems is
complete, including the treatment and/or removal of 12,000 cubic yards
of PCB-laden soil; operation and maintenance is expected to continue
for the next several years (1 -4 years).
G&H Landfill - Construction of remedial technologies is complete
(landfill cap and slurry wall), as well as wetlands restoration;
groundwater extraction system will be operated for at least 30 years.
Metamora - Landfill cap construction is complete.
Fields Brook - Construction of remedial technologies at 2
PCB-contaminated operable units has been completed (Acme Scrap
and Millennium Inorganic Chemicals). The cleanup of Fields Brook
sediments and floodplain soils, and source controls are nearly complete.
U.S. EPA
Formalize the PCB Phasedown Program
pilot project with the major utilities in
the Great Lakes basin that is designed
to encourage the utilities to phase out
their remaining PCB equipment.
In November 2000, U.S. EPA presented the final PCB phasedown program
to 11 of the major electric utilities in the Great Lakes basin. 3 of the 4
major electrical utilities in the Lake Erie basin have committed to
voluntarily phase down their remaining PCB electrical equipment.
U.S. EPA
Identify federally owned PCBs in the
Lake Erie basin and seek their removal
by the departments or agencies that
own the PCBs.
U.S. EPA has identified 9 federal facilities (with a combined total of 214
PCB transformers) in states that border the Great Lakes. Next step is to
determine most effective way to seek reductions.
U.S. EPA
Organize small PCB owner workshops
in the Lake Erie basin to exchange
information on PCB management,
decommissioning and destruction.
Information packages distributed in Sept. 2001 included PCB Owner
Outreach Brochure, GLBTS-PCB Workgroup Activity Regional Update,
and fact sheet on Ontario PCB In Use Inventory survey and a map
showing PCB quantity and location in the Lake Erie basin.
EC and
Ontario
MOE
Encourage PCB owners to destroy PCBs
in use or storage.
PCB phase out commitment letters have been received from Ontario
Power Generation to phase out and destroy a pprox. 81 % of their high
level PCB by 2001 and 100% by 2015.
PCB phase out commitment letter requests have been sent to the Council
of Great Lakes Industry trade associations including: Aluminum
Association of Canada and the Canadian Petroleum Products Institute.
EC
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
Committed Action
*From the Lake Erie LaMP 2000 Rpt
Status
(2002)
Lead
Agency
INFORMATION
Finalize the PCB Sources and
Regulations Background Report.
The reDort is available at www.eDa.aov/alnDo/bns/Dcb/index.html
EC and
U.S. EPA
Finalize the PCB Options Paper under
the GLBTS that identifies options that
can be undertaken to reduce PCBs in
the environment.
The report is available at www.epa.aov/alnpo/bns/pcb/index.html
EC and
U.S. EPA
REGULATION
Canada: Proposed revisions to strengthen federal regulations regarding
PCB management have been initiated. Further Information can be
obtained from Environment Canada PCB Website at www.ec.ac.ca/Dcb/
EC
Canada: PCB Waste Export Regulation (SOR/97 -108) is being amended
and to be published in Gazette I in 2002.
Canada: A notice with respect to Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Automotive
Shredder Residue was published in Gazette I on July 7, 2001 for facilities
that generated residue contaminated with PCBs during 1998 - 2000.
U.S.: In the December 26, 2000 Federal Register a final rule was published
temporarily deferring a portion of the original rule applying Land Disposal
Restrictions under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
when PCBs are present in soils contaminated with metals. The soils must
still be treated for metals, but Generators are required to treat PCBs only if
the total concentration of halogenated compounds exceeds 1,000 parts
per million.
U.S.EPA
Table 6: Mercury Reduction Plan Activities Update
Committed Action
*From the Lake Erie LaMP 2000 Rpt
Status
(2002)
Lead
Agency
POLLUTION REDUCTION
Provide Pollution Prevention training
at hospitals in London, Ontario with
emphasis on the removal of mercury
containing devices.
March 2001 training was completed for health care professionals in
London, Ontario. A resource guide has been developed and is available at
www.c2p2online.com.
Hospitals in the Lake Erie basin with mercury reduction programs include:
Cambridge Memorial Hospital and St. Mary's Hospital, Kitchener.
EC
Green Community thermostat and
thermometer collection program for
the City of London, Ontario.
A new organization, Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care has been
established to reduce the environmental impact of Canada's health care
svstem. The web site www.areenhealthcare.ca Drovides information on
Cdn suppliers of mercury free medical devices including thermometers.
EC is working with retailers and distributors to implement a program to
encourage the public to return their mercury-containing thermometers to
pharmacies. A pilot program started in February 2002, in London, Ontario
in the Lake Erie basin.
EC
-------
LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
Committed Action
*From the Lake Erie LaMP 2000 Rpt
Status
(2002)
Lead
Agency
As of early 2000, federal, provincial,
and territorial environmental
departments are investigating the
releases of mercury to the environment
from various commercial products and
from some forms of waste. A focus on
dental amalgam, fluorescent lamps,
and sewage sludge that is land-applied
is expected to result in Canada-wide
standards in late 2000.
The federal, provincial and territorial environment ministers across Canada
have agreed to a harmonized standard for managing dental amalgam
waste across the country. Ministers signed the standard on September 23,
2001. The Canada-wide standard is the application of best management
practices to achieve a 95% national reduction in mercury releases from
dental amalgam waste discharges to the environment from a base year
of 2000.
Pollution Probe Switch Out program initiated in June 2001 recovers
mercury switches from end-of-life automobiles before the mercury
contained in these vehicles could be released into the environment.
Eleven auto dismantlers in Ontario are participating including facilities in
the City of Windsor and Caistor Centre in the Lake Erie basin. More
information: http://www.pollutionprobe.org
Ontario
MOE
The Ontario Ministry of the
Environment along with Environment
Canada have been working with the
Ontario Dental Association to develop
a "best management practices"
document for dentists, scheduled for
completion in May 2000.
Completed, see above.
Ontario
MOE
Establish a household hazardous waste
collection facility to collect and recycle
household products containing
mercury in the Cities of London and
Waterloo.
Lamp collection facilities are available to households in London,
Chatham-Kent, Guelph, Brantford, and Wellington County.
EC
By December 2000, the U.S. EPA will
make a determination about whether
to regulate mercury emissions from
electric utilities.
In December 2000, the U.S. EPA committed to regulating mercury
emissions from coal-fired power plants. U.S. EPA will propose regulations
by the end of 2003, and promulgate final rules by 2004. The President
has committed to proposed legislation that would reduce mercury
emissions from power plants as part of a multi-pollutant strategy to
reduce air pollution from the power generation sector.
U.S. EPA
Agencies will work with communities
to provide sector-specific pollution
prevention outreach such as
workshops for the medical and dental
communities, and other important
sectors.
Chlor-Alkali Industry through the Chlorine Institute committed in 1996 to
reduce mercury use by 50% by 2006. The industry reported in April 2001
to the U.S. EPA a reduction of 44% between 1995 and 2000. The Institute
has produced "Guidelines for Mercury Cell Chlor-Alkali Plants Emissions
Control: Practices and Techniques" and in cooperation with the U.S. EPA
has developed draft proposed maximum available control technology
regulations for chlor-alkali plants.
The American Hospital Association and U.S. EPA through the Hospitals for
a Healthy Environment (H2E) program have produced a Mercury Virtual
Elimination Plan for U.S. hospitals. In addition, workgroups are
implementing work plans on various aspects of hospital waste reduction.
This year the American Hospital Association reconfirmed its commitment
to the H2E program.
U.S.EPA
A mercury reduction strategy is being
developed for Ohio
The Ohio Mercury Reduction Work Group was officially formalized in May.
They are evaluating mercury programs and regulations; promoting the
use of mercury alternatives and collection of retired mercury; and
educating industry, government and the general public on ways to reduce
sources of mercury. A particular focus is on mercury reduction in schools.
Ohio EPA
-------
LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
Committed Action
*From the Lake Erie LaMP 2000 Rpt
Status
(2002)
Lead
Agency
U.S. EPA commits to ensuring that all
Region 5 states will have enforceable
regulations and the permit applications
that are required to be submitted for
municipal waste combustors and for
hospital/ medical/ infectious waste
incinerators by December 2000.
U.S. EPA has promulgated regulations controlling emissions of mercury
and other Hazardous Air Pollutants from municipal waste combusters
(MWCs) and Medical Waste Incinerators (MWIs). Large MWCs needed to
be in compliance by December of 2000, while small MWCs will need to
comply by December of 2005, at the latest. MWIs will need to be in
compliance by September of 2002, at the latest.
U.S. EPA
INFORMATION
Promote to school boards in the Lake
Erie basin a mercury stewardship
school curriculum program (Pilot
being developed in the Toronto
School Board).
Project materials and workshops were delivered in over 20 schools across
the Thames Valley District School Board and London District Catholic
School Board. Mercury lessons and activities for grades 4-8 are available
at: www.on.ec.ac.ca/alimr/classroom/millenium/mercurv/intre.html.
EC
PROPOSED ACTIONS
Agencies will provide indirect or direct
financial support to businesses,
organizations and local governments
for pollution prevention projects.
Great Lakes Mercury Clearinghouse: A partnership among Minnesota,
U.S. EPA, the Dept. of Energy and EC to develop a prototype web-based
clearinghouse on mercury pollution prevention and reduction
information, "How to" resource tools, and regulatory information.
Project is scheduled to be on-line by Spring 2002.
U.S. EPA
EC and
states
Section 5
-------
Human Health
Section 6
-------
j, A 1 1 | 1 | | 1 tig 2 0 0 2
Section 6: Human Health
Section 6 of the Lake Erie LaMP 2000 document provided an extensive discussion
of the potential threat to human health from the critical pollutants and other contaminants
of concern in Lake Erie. It described the pathways of exposure relevant to human
health as: drinking water, recreational water use and fish/food consumption. The Lake
Erie LaMP designated drinking water use of Lake Erie as unimpaired, while both
recreational water use and fish and wildlife consumption are impaired. The LaMP 2000
human health section also examined and explained the application of a weight of
evidence approach to looking at potential human health effects. An extensive list of
resources and references concerning human health and the Great Lakes was provided,
along with a list of ongoing or potential human health related projects in the Great
Lakes. The ongoing research was aimed at issues in the Great Lakes basin not just
Lake Erie, and indeed, the human health issues presented were common to all the Great
Lakes. The LaMP 2000 reports for the other lakes confirmed the commonality of the
issues.
For all of the LaMPs it lias been difficult to set up a committee structure to focus on
human health due to limited human health expertise residing in LaMP agencies and
lack of additional resources. Therefore, the Binational Executive Committee (BEC),
the body with management oversight for the LaMPs, lias approved a proposal to create
a Great Lakes Human Health Network. The Network would bring together experts from
across the Great Lakes region to share information, reach consensus on Great Lakes
environmental human health priorities, and enhance the work at their respective agencies
through opportunities for collaboration. An initial organizational meeting has been
held and an ad hoc committee of health agency representatives is developing terms of
reference for operation of the Network. Once the Network is established, each of the
LaMPs will provide liaison staff.
The Lake Erie LaMP Recreational Water Quality Beneficial Use Impairment
Assessment (Kwavnick and Mortimer 1999) concluded that, on average, bacterial water
quality standards were exceeded at Lake Erie's public beaches more than 20% of the
recreational season. Bacterial indicators, monitoring programs, and criteria for issuing
advisories or closing beaches varied from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Even with no
lakewide consistent measurement, it was obvious that beach use was universally
impaired around Lake Erie.
-------
In October 2000, the U.S. passed federal legislation amending the Clean Water Act
referred to as the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act, or BEACH
Act. The BEACH Act requires states with coastal waters to adopt U. S. EPA's recommended
bacteria criteria, or criteria as protective, by April 2004. The legislation requires U.S. EPA
to conduct studies of new pathogens and pathogen indicators and to develop and issue any
new or revised criteria guidance within five years. The BEACH Act also authorizes U.S.
EPA to award grants to eligible coastal states (including the Great Lakes) to set up beach
monitoring and public notification programs. In 2001, $2 million was appropriated for
coastal states to develop beach monitoring and notification programs, and an additional
$ 10 million will be awarded in 2002 to continue program development and implementation.
The BEACH Act grants will result in improved beach monitoring and notification programs
in the U.S. U.S. EPA's Office of Research and Development will be conducting
epidemiological studies to examine health risks associated with swimming at several beaches
across the country, including beaches along the Great Lakes.
In February 2001, a U. S. EPA/City of Chicago-sponsored Great Lakes Beach conference
was held to share information on the science and technology of beach monitoring, and
research on exposure, health effects, and water quality indicators. More than 250
environmental and public health officials, beach managers and regulators attended the
three-day session. A draft National Beach Guidance and Performance Criteria for
Recreational Waters was produced by U.S. EPA and public-noticed in the Federal Register
with comment period ending in October 2001. The guidance will be used to help local
health departments and beach managers implement a nationally consistent water quality-
monitoring program for beaches.
In addition to refining the indicators, more work is needed to identify and eliminate
the sources of bacterial contamination causing beach closures and advisories. U.S.
EPA is starting to taiget wet weather remedial efforts near high use beach areas affected
by combined sewer overflows and sanitary sewer overflows. Research is also needed
to develop rapid analytical techniques to assist in more timely notification of high
bacteria counts at public beaches.
-------
[Section 7 Cover Page]
-------
LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
Section 7: Public Involvement
The U.S. and Canadian lead agencies for the Lake Erie LaMP have, from the
beginning, believed public participation is crucial to the success of the LaMP process.
Public involvement continues to be among the prime factors motivating proactive efforts
taken by governments in Canada and the United States surrounding issues involving
the Great Lakes. The LaMP Public Involvement Subcommittee was established to lead
public outreach efforts.
To provide another mechanism for public involvement, the U.S. and Canadian
governments fund the Lake Erie Binational Public Forum (Forum). This diverse and
active group serves many purposes ranging from developing and implementing outreach
projects and initiatives that educate the general public about Lake Erie issues, to providing
advice to the LaMP Work Group based on member's individual expertise and/or input
from the local constituents they may represent. The Forum works closely with the
governmental representatives on the Lake Erie LaMP Work Group, including the Public
Involvement Subcommittee.
As part of its public education goal, the Forum developed a colorful, informative
45-minute scripted presentation containing text and pictures describing Lake Erie's
past, present, and foreseeable future under topics such as human health, recreation,
habitat protection and restoration fish and wildlife, PCB and mercury
reduction, RAPs, beneficial uses, land use, drinking water and exotic
species. One of the incentives for preparing this presentation was to
prepare the public to make informed decisions on future Lake Erie
actions, particularly the selection of an ecosystem alternative and the s e
associated management objectives. Forum members have delivered
this presentation to many local groups, and received favorable
feedback. It is available on line at: www.erieforum.org.presentation/
about.php.
Another project of the Forum, initiated due to their interest in
environmental justice issues, was the development of "AFamily's Guide
to Eating Fish from the Lake Erie Basin." The easy-to-read brochure
presents the benefits and risks associated with eating Lake Erie fish,
where not to fish, the types and sizes of fish to avoid eating, methods
for preparing and cooking fish to reduce potential health risks, and
contacts for more information. Working with local health departments
in the Lake Erie basin Forum members distributed fish consumption
advisory information in many venues that targeted minorities or
populations of at-risk consumers. Over 17,750 brochures have been
distributed. The Forum's web site provides additional information on
fish identification, local health department contacts and other handy
references. The web site is available at: www.erieforum.org/fishguide/
fishguide.php. Also of interest is that the Forum's overall web site
(www.erieforum.org) was featured as the Great Lakes Information
Network's (GLIN) site of the month for December 2001. The url for
the GLIN site is: www.great-lakes.net.
In addition to funding the Forum, the U.S. and Canadian governments maintain a
broad-based mailing list of the public interested in LaMP progress or who are involved
in other environmental activities in the Lake Erie basin. From time to time, information
concerning the Lake Erie LaMP is sent to people on the mailing list to foster an active
network of the public interested in Lake Erie issues. For example, the latest edition of
the Lake Erie LaMP newsletter. Update 2001, which also served as a companion piece
to the Lake Erie LaMP 2000 document, was distributed to this mailing list. The public
is also reached through the use of displays and handouts at third party meetings, such
as the International Joint Commission's Public Forum on Great Lakes - St. Lawrence
Water Quality held October 2001 in Montreal. When actions and activities related to
A Family's Guide to
Eating Fish
from the
Lake Erie Basin
A must-read for eating fish caught
in Lake Erie and the
rivers and streams that feed into it!
Fish is a source of protein and is low in saturated fat.
Get the benefits and reduce the risks of eating fish by
wisely choosing
~ safer places to catch fish ~
~ safer types of fish ~
~ safer ways to prepare fish ~
~ safer amounts of fish to eat-
for yourself and your family.
-------
¦ A' | | E ft I E. fa V1 1 2 0 0 2
Section 7
the Lake Erie LaMP warrant, the lead agencies issue press releases to specific media
markets to facilitate media exposure to the general public.
Probably the most important single effort by the Public Involvement Subcommittee
of the Lake Erie Work Group lias been centered on outreach efforts related to developing
ecosystem objectives. Beginning with the first public workshops in 1995 seeking
input on the desired future uses of the lake, an adaptive approach has been taken to
consult with the public on the selection of a preferred ecosystem alternative. The
Public Involvement Subcommittee first worked closely with a group of technical experts
to create a method to communicate to the public how a "fuzzy logic" model, developed
by the LaMP's Ecosystem Objectives Subcommittee, arrived at four viable scenarios
(ecosystem alternatives) for Lake Erie's future state. Then, the Forum was consulted
and adjustments made to assure that the explanation of the process could be simply
presented and easily understood by the public. (Note that the Forum's Lake Erie
Presentation was prepared by the Forum in response to the public need to better
understand Lake Erie and the LaMP if they were to make an informed, educated choice
of an ecosystem alternative.) Once the Work Group selected Ecosystem Alternative 2
as the preferred alternative, the Public Involvement Subcommittee sought the Forum's
advice to develop a scripted presentation to explain how and why the Work Group
chose this alternative. This presentation has been used at several public sessions
throughout the Lake Erie basin during late 2001/early 2002. These efforts have
provided the Lake Erie Work Group and the Lake Erie Management Committee with
valuable public input and insight.
Ongoing public involvement is
important to the success of the Lake
Erie LaMP, and public participation,
consultation, and comment are
welcome at any time in the LaMP
process.
More information on the Lake
Erie LaMP is available on the
binational web site at:
www.ec.gc.ca/glimr/lakes/erie/ or
www.epa.gov/glnpo/lakeerie/. For
more information or to become
involved, please see the back cover.
-------
Assessment and Tracking
Progress
Section
-------
LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
Section
8.1 Introduction
Surveillance and monitoring provide essential information about the state of the
Great Lakes ecosystem and measure the success of remediation and protection efforts.
The Lake Erie LaMP is responsible for setting goals and identifying management actions
to restore and protect the lake, and to track progress towards these goals. Once ecosystem
objectives have been finalized and indicators have been developed, wherever possible,
existing surveillance and monitoring programs will be used to track indicator changes.
Where gaps in current programs exist, new programs may be developed.
In 2000, an inventory of monitoring programs in the Lake Erie basin was developed
by Enviromnent Canada based on a number of sources of information. Ninety-three
independent monitoring programs were underway within the basin. These can be
roughly divided into five monitoring categories (Table 7). Some of these monitoring
programs are lakewide in nature. Others are more localized or created for a single
specific purpose. Several of the monitoring programs that are more lakewide-oriented
are described below. At this point, these are only examples of some of the programs
that the Lake Erie LaMP may utilize, as the LaMP lias not yet determined exactly how
progress toward meeting LaMP goals will be tracked. U.S. EPA lias begun to develop
several tools that may be used to assist the LaMPs in monitoring progress and these are
described below as well. Descriptions of several other monitoring programs are presented
in other sections of the document.
Table 7: Summary of Ongoing Monitoring Efforts in Lake
Erie in 2000
MONITORING CATEGORY
No.
Monitoring inputs/outputs of contaminants
19
Ambient contaminant (spatial, temporal, multimedia)
29
Populations (native and exotic) and habitat
34
Health effects monitoring
8
Exotics effects monitoring
10
TOTAL
93
8.2 The Lake Erie Millennium Plan
The Lake Erie Millennium Plan (www.uwindsor.ca/erie2001) was initiated in 1998
by scientists at the University of Windsor, National Water Research Institute - Burlington,
F.T. Stone Lab of The Ohio State University, and U.S. EPA's Large Lakes Lab at Grosse
Isle, Michigan. The purpose was to foster and coordinate research that will identify
and solve basic ecological questions relevant to the Lake Erie ecosystem through a
binational, collaborative network.
To be relevant to regional and binational groups responsible for Lake Erie's health
the research must address lake management needs as well as further basic knowledge
of the ecosystem. To this end, the active sponsorship of agencies and organizations
whose mandate concerns Lake Erie was solicited. Twelve binational, national, regional,
state, and provincial organizations have contributed funds to sponsor Millennium Plan
8: Assessment and Tracking Progress
-------
LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
activities. Additionally, 13 collaborating organizations are active participants in the
planning, information transfer or research aspects of the Millennium Plan providing
in-kind and/or technical support that further Plan activities. Goals of the Lake Erie
Millennium Plan are:
o To collectively document the research and management needs of users and
agencies;
o To summarize the current status of Lake Erie from process and ecosystem
function perspectives; and
o To develop a framework for a binational research network to ensure
coordinated collection and dissemination of data that address research and
management needs.
Activities since the Lake Erie LaMP 2000 Report include:
o Lake Erie in the Millennium Binational Conference - Progress and New Issues,
March 28-29, 2001
o State of the Strait - Status and Trends in the Detroit River Ecosystem, March 27,
2001
o Contaminants in Lake Erie, September 11-12, 2000
Section 8
8.3 Marsh Monitoring Program
Since 1995, this volunteer based program has engaged both professional and
dedicated citizen naturalists throughout the Great Lakes region (including Lake Erie)
to record and monitor annual trends in populations of several calling amphibian (frogs
and toads) and marsh bird species in important marshes throughout the basin.
Information gathered through the Marsh Monitoring Program is relevant for assessing
relative population changes in these species at local, regional and basinwide scales,
and can be useful for gauging the status and ecological integrity of marshes at each of
these scales.
Results (1995-2000) suggest that there appears to be a relationship emerging
between population trends of some marsh bird and amphibian species in coastal marshes
and the trend in Lake Erie's mean annual water levels, especially since 1997, the year
that marked the end of the last sustained high water period. For example, black tern
and sora trends at coastal marshes have followed a similar pattern to that of Lake
Erie's water levels. Similarly, trends for aquatic amphibian species such as green frog
and northern leopard frog have closely reflected the trend in Lake Erie's water levels
at coastal marshes. Conversely, trends for certain marsh bird species preferring drier
marsh edge habitat have increased at coastal marshes during recent lake level declines.
For example, the trend for common yellowthroat (a warbler that prefers marsh edge)
at coastal Marsh Monitoring Program routes has been inversely related to Lake Erie's
water levels (Figure 4).
These relations could be explained, in part, by spatial movement of certain species
into or out of Marsh Monitoring Program survey routes. Alternatively, as lake levels
declined, if appropriate marsh habitat was not replaced at the rate at which it was lost,
and appropriate marsh habitat was either not available elsewhere or was already at its
carrying capacity, then declining trends in highly marsh dependent birds and amphibians
may well be indicative of overall population declines.
Although current lake levels are near their long-term lows, because lake levels
fluctuate, and trends in certain marsh bird and amphibian species at coastal marshes
appear to respond to changing lake levels (positively or negatively), when Lake Erie's
levels begin to increase again these responses should be detected by Marsh Monitoring
Program data. Only by taking into account the dynamic nature of coastal marsh habitats
can one examine what is really happening to populations of marsh birds and amphibians
in the Lake Erie basin.
-------
¦
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30
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A K | | R 1 1 [L a '$} ? 2 0 0 2
Lake Erie Basin-wide Trends in Relative Abundance of Selected
Marsh Bird and Amphibian Species Compared to Mean Annual
Water Levels of Lake Erie from 1995 to 2000. For each species,
trends are presented for marshes monitored at coastal locations
(i.e. within 5 km/3 miles from a lake shore).
Leopard Frog
174.6
Green Frog
174.6
173.6
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
Year
Sora
174.6
174.4
174.Z
O
o
v
174 J
c
19
m
17 3.B 5
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
Year
kO
50
Q
_i
s
c
<3
O
o
_J
o
c
s
s
- C imMnf
1 "A < inral I .iLr> W jlrr I Jf^rK
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
Year
174.6
174.4
174.2
174
173.8
173,6
174,6
174.4
174 2
Cwtll
¦ tifmil I jiWr% afn I
174
173 8
-------
I A K I ! 1 I 1 I % M' P 2 0 0 2
Common Yellowthroat
1995 1996 1997 1S>98
Year
Black Tern
1999
200Q
174.8
174.6
174.4
174.2
174
KJ
oo
~
-------
LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
8.4 Trends in Contaminants in Ontario's Lake Erie Sport
Fish
Sport fish contaminant monitoring in Ontario is coordinated by the Ontario
Ministry of the Enviromnent and conducted in partnership with the Ontario Ministry
of Natural Resources. Sport fish from the Canadian waters of Lake Erie have been
monitored on a regular basis for contaminants since the 1970s. Size and species-
specific consumption advisories for different regions or blocks of the lake (Figure 5)
are provided to the public in the Guide to Eating Ontario Sport Fish.
w
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Section 8
Consumption advisories, provided as the recommended maximum number of meals
per month, are based on health protection guidelines developed by Health Canada.
Consumption restrictions on Lake Erie sport fish are caused by PCBs (70%) and
mercury (30%). Other contaminants such as DDT and metabolites, hexachlorobenzene,
octachlorostyrene, chlordane and lindane are often detected in Lake Erie sport fish,
but do not cause consumption restrictions, and concentrations have declined over the
years. In recent years, dioxins and furans have been monitored in species expected to
have the highest concentrations (e.g. carp, lake whitefish), but have not caused
consumption restrictions. Comparing data across the Canadian waters of the Great
Lakes, Lake Erie has the lowest proportion of sport fish species with consumption
restrictions at 17.4%. The proportion of sport fish species with consumption
restrictions in the Canadian waters of the other Great Lakes ranges from 21.1% in
Lake Huron to 43.0% in Lake Ontario.
In order to report on spatial and temporal trends in contaminants, a "standard
size" was selected for each species. The standard size was close to the mean length
for the species in the database and typical of the size caught and consumed by anglers.
Contaminants in standard size sport fish for the last 10 years were used to evaluate
spatial trends. Contaminant data from Block 1 from 1976-2000 were separated into 5-
year intervals for temporal trend evaluation. Species selection was based on the
availability of data.
Mercury concentrations exhibit no spatial patterns across Lake Erie blocks.
Mercury concentrations in 30 cm (12 inch) white bass ranged from 0.09 to 0.15 ppm
and in 45 cm (18 inch) walleye from 0.10-0.13 ppm. For both species there was no
significant difference across the three major blocks of Lake Erie (Figures 6 and 7).
Block 3 (Long Point Bay) was excluded from the statistical analysis because of the
lack of replicate data. Over the past 25 years, mercury concentrations in Lake Erie
sport fish have declined. When a comparison was made of the mercury concentrations
-------
LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
in white bass in 5 year intervals between 1976 and 2000 it was found that mean
concentrations in 30 cm (12 inch) white bass decreased significantly from 0.22 ppm in
the first period (1976-1980) to 0.13 ppm in the last period (1996-2000). The same was
found for walleye. Mean mercury concentration in 45 cm (18 inch) walleye decreased
from 0.30 ppm to 0.12 ppm in the same time period (Figures 8 and 9). Most of the
decrease occurred between the 1976-1980 period and 1981-1985. Between 1981 -
1985 and 1996-2000, there was no significant difference in mercury concentrations in
either white bass or walleye. Mercury concentrations in most Lake Erie sport fish are
low and only the largest individuals tend to exceed the consumption guideline of 0.45
ppm. White bass and walleye do not exceed the guideline until they exceed 40 cm (16
inches) and 70 cm (27 inches) in length respectively (Figure 10).
Analysis of spatial patterns of PCBs for 30 cm white bass suggests that there is
little difference in PCB concentrations between blocks in Lake Erie (Figure 11). Lower
levels found in block 4 are based on only one year of data so statistical significance
could not be determined. Over the past 25 years, PCB concentrations in some but not
all species of Lake Erie sport fish have decreased. Mean PCB concentrations in 30 cm
white bass decreased significantly from 615 ppb in 1976-1980 to 242 ppb in 1996-
2000 (Figure 12). Most of the decrease occurred between the 1976-1980 and 1981-
1985 periods.
Section 8
Hg (ppm)
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
Lake Block
Hg (ppm)
0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
2 3
Lake Block
-------
LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
in 30 cm (12 inch) White Bass
Hg (ppm)
0.3
0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
£
1976-80 1981-85 1986-90 1991-95 1996-00
Years
0.5
0.4
Hg (ppm) 0 3
0.2
0.1
1976-80
Section 8
1981-85
1986-90
Years
1991-95
1996-00
and Bass
Hg (ppm)
20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75
Length (cm)
Walleye White Bass
Mercury Guideline: 0.45 ppm
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
Section 8
PCBs (ppb)
1000
800
600
400
200
0
.
i
1976-80 1981-85 1986-90
Years
1991-95 1996-00
5000
4000
3000
PCBs (ppb)
2000
1000
1976-80 1981-85 1986-90 1991-95 1996-00
Years
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
Figure 14: PCB Concentrations in 65 cm (25 inch) Carp in Lake Erie
3000 -
2500 -
PCBs (ppb) 2000
1500 -
1000 -
500 -
0 -
1 ^ 1 1 ^ 1 ^ 1
1976-80 1981-85 1986-90 1991-95 1996-00
Years
PCBs (ppb)
1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
Section 8
20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75
Length (cm)
Carp
White Bass
Channel Catfish
PCB Guidelines:
500 and 1000 ppb
PCB concentrations in channel catfish appear to have decreased (Figure 13) but
lack of replicate data for some periods prevented statistical confirmation. The highest
PCB concentrations were found in 1981-1985 (3225 ppb). By the 1996-2000 period
mean PCB concentrations had declined to 1143 ppb. PCB concentrations in carp do
not appear to have declined over the period of sampling and in the most recent period
(1996-2000) were still in excess of 2000 ppb (Figure 14). Differences among species
may be due to the residual effects of sediment-bound PCBs. Pelagic species such as
white bass would be less affected by sediment-bound PCBs than bentliic-feeding
species such as carp. Although PCB concentrations are low in most Lake Erie sport
fish, high lipid species such as channel catfish and carp exceed the consumption
guideline of 500 ppb even in relatively small individuals (Figure 15).
The Ontario Ministry of the Environment through the Sport Fish Contaminant
Monitoring Program, continues to monitor Lake Erie sport fish for trends in
contaminant concentrations and provides consumption advice to anglers.
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
8.5 Trends in Contaminant and Population Levels of
Colonial Waterbirds
The Wildlife Toxicology Section of the Canadian Wildlife Service (Ontario Region)
maintains two wildlife-monitoring programs on the Great Lakes: contaminants in herring
gull eggs and population levels of breeding colonial waterbirds. The former program
was last reported on for the two Lake Erie sites. Middle Island and Port Colborne
Breakwall, in 1999. The latter program is only conducted in its entirety once every
decade and the most recent report is now available.
Contaminant levels in herring gull eggs do not change very much from year to
year, and year-to-year changes do not necessarily have much meaning in long-term
trends. Significant changes in long-term trends are usually only seen over several years.
For example. Figure 16 illustrates an increase in 2,3,7,8 TCDD (dioxin) in herring gull
eggs at Middle Island over the last three years, but compared to longer-term
observations, there is not an increasing or decreasing trend. Figure 17 likewise shows
an increase in PCB in herring gull eggs at the Port Colborne site in 2001, but the overall
long-term trend is downward. The overall changes in concentrations of the other
contaminants measured under this monitoring program (DDE, hexachlorobenzene,
mirex, heptachlor epoxide and dieldrin) were variable over the last three years, but the
overall trend is significantly downward.
Breeding populations of colonial waterbirds on Lake Erie were surveyed in the
late 1970s, 1980s and the 1990s. During the last two decades, populations of herring
and ring-billed gulls and common terns have declined from 14.7 to 18.3%. This is
consistent with similar patterns for these species in the other Great Lakes. The number
of breeding gulls lias declined probably as a result of artificially high population levels
in the 1980s, when forage fish populations were larger. Common terns have declined
probably as a result of ongoing nest-site competition with ring-billed gulls.
Double-crested cormorant populations in Lake Erie have increased 211% since the
late 1980s. Their populations have been increasing in each of the Great Lakes since
the late 1970s. Great black-backed gulls and Caspian terns have just started nesting in
Lake Erie (at Mohawk Island at the mouth of the Grand River) and have not yet
established themselves there on an annual basis.
¦ Observed Predicted
100 T
01
§
o>
o>
Q.
ro
— 1 ^ I
1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Years
Model shows a significant decline before the change point year in 1996 and a non-
significant trend after the change point.
-------
I A K E II (l E I 4. i f 2 0 0 2
L Observed Predicted
100
-C
'x~ N°T ^ ^ ^fp ^ ^ ^ ^
Year
Model shows the same significant rate of decline before and after the change
point in 1982.
Section 8
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
8.6 Ohio Lake Erie Quality Index
In 1998, the Ohio Lake Erie Commission released the Lake Erie Quality Index Report.
For this report ten indicators were developed to measure environmental, economic and
recreational conditions as related to the quality of life enjoyed by those living near or
utilizing the Ohio waters of Lake Erie. Each indicator is composed of several metrics that
were selected because they were measurable goals or endpoints against which progress
could be established and, in most cases, some regular monitoring was already being done.
The Lake Erie Quality Index will be updated every five years, and work is currently underway
to develop or refine metrics to be reported out on in 2003. In 2000, the Ohio Lake Erie
Commission released the Ohio Lake Erie Protection and Restoration Plan a long-term
strategy of what the State of Ohio and its partners need to do to achieve the goals set by the
Lake Erie Quality Index. The indicators selected for use in the Lake Erie Quality Index are
presented in Table 8 along with the ratings assigned to them in the 1998 Lake Erie
Quality Index Report.
Table 8: Ohio Lake Erie Quality Index Indicators
Indicator
Excellent
Rating
Good
Fair
Water Quality
Good
Pollution Sources
Fair
Habitat
Fair
Biological
Good
Coastal Recreation
Good
Boating
Good
Fishing
Excellent
Beaches
Good
Tourism
Excellent
Shipping
Fair
8.7 U.S. EPA LaMP Project Tracking Database
The U.S. EPA lias recently developed a computer database to track U.S. progress
of U.S. projects identified in LaMP documents. Initially, this database consists of
information on projects listed in the Lake Erie LaMP 2000 document. For example,
projects listed in the PCB and mercury action plans are included in this database.
Information on these projects is to be periodically updated. In addition, new projects
described in future LaMP documents could be listed as well. Accessing this database
allows interested parties, as well as agency staff, to review progress of LaMP projects
without waiting for the publication of LaMP documents. This database will be available
at the following web address: http://epa.gov/glnpo/lakes.html.
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
8.8 U.S. EPA GIS Tool to Characterize Landscapes Based
on Ecosystem Health
The Critical Ecosystems Team from U.S. EPA Region 5 lias developed a GIS based
tool that can characterize landscapes based on three criteria: 1) ecological diversity;
2) sustainability; and 3) rare species or land cover types. The combination of these
three criteria identifies the ecosystems with the highest quality or health. The tool is
in the process of being peer reviewed, and should be ready for general application by
the end of 2002. Teams and programs within the U.S. EPA can use the tool in a number
of ways. For example, areas of highest quality can be located and mapped with the
boundaries of state and federal protected areas. This will highlight ecosystems that
are not currently under management or protection. Areas of highest diversity can be
mapped against areas of lowest sustainability to highlight the richest ecosystems that
are currently being threatened by chemical, biological or physical stresses. Once these
ecosystems are identified, partners can use this information to assist in prioritizing
remedial actions.
8.9 State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference (SOLEC)
In response to a reporting requirement of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement,
in 1994 U.S. EPA and Environment Canada initiated the State of the Lakes Ecosystem
Conference, more universally known as SOLEC. It provides a forum for the exchange
of information on the ecological condition of the Great Lakes and surrounding lands.
SOLEC focuses on the state of the Great Lakes ecosystem and the major factors
impacting it, rather than on the status of programs needed for protection and restoration,
which is more of the LaMPs' role. In 1998, SOLEC began an effort to develop standard
indicators that could be used to better report out on the status of the Great Lakes in a
more consistent manner. SOLEC reviewed a number of possible indicators and is
currently refining a list of 80 for their potential utility in measuring conditions across
the Great Lakes. The work of the SOLEC team will be utilized wherever possible as
the Lake Erie LaMP develops the indicators that it will use to track Lake Erie LaMP
progress. In 2002, SOLEC will focus on indicators of biological integrity.
Section 8
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Section
9
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
Section 9: Remedial Action Plan Updates
9.1 Introduction
In addition to the development of LaMPs, Annex 2 of the Great Lakes Water Quality
Agreement called for the development of Remedial Action Plans (RAPs) for the most
environmentally degraded Areas of Concern around the Great Lakes. There are 12 Areas
of Concern in the Lake Erie basin: two binational RAPs, one Canadian and nine U.S.
The RAPs have a much smaller geographic focus than the LaMP, but they have the same
goals - to restore beneficial uses using an ecosystem approach. Implementation of
remedial actions lias been underway in most RAPs for over ten years, using a combination
of federal, state, provincial and local resources. The results of these remedial efforts are
much more visible and measurable locally, and will ultimately help to improve Lake
Erie.
There is a strong potential that source track-down for many of the stressors affecting
Lake Erie will point toward the RAPs. It is likely that many of the management decisions
made to restore Lake Erie will need to be implemented in the Areas of Concern. There is
also the potential that certain management decisions made for the lake itself will benefit
the RAPs. It is essential for the Lake Erie LaMP to continue to cultivate communication
with the RAPs and to benefit from the successful partnerships and programs that the
RAPs have already created. In many ways, the success of the LaMPs depends on the
success of the RAPs.
Appendix A of the Lake Erie LaMP 2000 document provided a brief history of each
of the Lake Erie RAPs along with major milestones, projects underway, projects pending
and future needs. The following sections highlight the major activities completed or
underway in the Lake Erie RAPs since the 2000 report. Note that these activities are
only a small representation of the work initiated and accomplished under the RAP
program.
Figure 18: Map of Areas of Concern Around the Lake Erie Basin
Lake Erie Drainage Basin
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© /"ehtabula River
© Cuyahcga Riwsr
© Hack River
© Maumse River
© River Raisin
© Rouge River
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© Clinton River
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MICHIGAN
INDIANA
PENNSYLVANIA
Leopnk
International Bordsr
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Section 9
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
Section 9
9.2 Buffalo River RAP, New York
(http: //www.ep a. gov/glnpo/aoc/buff alo/)
NOTE: The Buffalo River actually discharges to the headwaters of the Niagara
River, not Lake Erie. As a result, the Buffalo River is not really part of the Lake Erie
ecosystem. However, because of its unique geography, we list the Buffalo River with
Lake Erie LaMP.
o The Buffalo River RAP process was developed as a working partnership
between the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
(NYSDEC) staff and the Buffalo River Citizens' Committee and its work groups.
A Remedial Advisory Committee continues to assist NYSDEC in RAP
implementation. Remedial activity efforts are focused in six major areas:
stream water quality monitoring, river bottom sediments, inactive hazardous
waste sites, municipal and industrial wastewater treatment facilities, combined
sewer overflows, and fish and wildlife habitat. RAP strategies and remedial
activity progress are updated in the most current Buffalo River RAP Status
Report dated June 1999.
o Ongoing assessment activities include the evaluation of remedial options
through the modeling of scour and deposition characteristics,
o Needs include further sampling, treatment assessment, and sediment criteria
guidance development to assist the decision making process in addressing
contaminated sediments,
o Three habitat improvement projects have been constructed to address habitat
impairments with funding provided through U.S. EPA. Habitat project plans
were developed by Erie County in cooperation the City of Buffalo, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and NYSDEC. These habitat
projects have been completed,
o The Buffalo Sewer Authority lias received Bond Act funding to address sewer
overflows.
o Currently working to develop a feasibility study to address contaminated
sediments with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers.
9.3 Presque Isle Bay RAP, Pennsylvania
(http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/aoc/presque.htmn
Presque Isle Bay is located in the northwestern corner of Pennsylvania on the
southern shore of Lake Erie. Most of the watershed comprises urban (80%) and
industrial areas within the City of Erie and Millcreek Township. Being a relatively
closed system with a flushing time of 2.5 years, the bay has suffered from the
accumulation and degradation of wastes discharged by point and nonpoint sources.
In January 1991, the U.S. State Department and the International Joint Commission
(IJC) designated Presque Isle Bay as the 43rd Great Lakes Area Of Concern (AOC).
The AOC received priority attention from the Pennsylvania Department of
Enviromnental Protection (Department), which formed the Presque Isle Bay Public
Advisory Committee, a multi-stakeholder group, to assist in developing a Remedial
Action Plan (RAP).
The Stage 1 RAP Report identified restrictions on dredging and fish tumors or
other deformities as the two beneficial use impairments. Both are directly related and
have been linked to elevated levels of nitrosamines and Polycyclic Aromatic
Hydrocarbons (PAH) in the sediments.
o Since 1992, more than 3,200 brown bullheads have been captured, tagged and
released, or necropsied. The earlier studies revealed that 64% had developed
skin tumors and 22% had liver tumors. Follow-up studies conducted in 1999 by
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
Section 9
~
9.4 Ashtabula River RAP, Ohio
(www.epa.gov/glnpo/aoc/ashtabula.htmn
The goal of the Ashtabula River Partnership is to look beyond traditional approaches
to determine a comprehensive solution for the impairment of beneficial uses posed by
the contaminated sediments in the lower Ashtabula River and Harbor. Over the past
two years the following major accomplishments are noted.
o Revised and updated Ashtabula River Comprehensive Management Plan and
Enviromnental Impact Statement. The final draft was released for public
comment in December 2001. A public meeting was held on January 3, 2002.
o Completed additional radionuclide testing and prepared radiological risk
assessment for river sediments,
o Prepared landfill design criteria report and conducted evaluation of alternative
landfill sites and dewatering/transfer sites,
o Completed Value Engineering Study, a report required by the US ACE for
projects in excess of $2 million,
o Ashtabula City Port Authority signed on as the local sponsor for the disposal
facility.
o Prepared six restoration project proposals, including economic and ecological
valuations, in support of a Natural Resource Damage Assessment claim,
o A contractor is currently conducting pilot studies to determine dewatering
criteria.
Penn State University and the Department showed these numbers have since
decreased to 19% and 1%, respectively. The subcommittee, tasked with
developing objectives for this BUI, will deliver their recommendations to the
Public Advisory Committee in February 2002.
o The U.S. EPA and Gannon University conducted a sediment study in 2000 as a
follow-up to their 1994 investigation. Ten sites were revisited and core samples
were taken. Toxicity tests and macroinvertebrate analysis were performed to
further characterize the sediments. At the request of the Public Advisory
Committee, dioxin levels were also examined to complete the chemical
investigation and determine their impacts, if any, to the system. Results of the
study supported earlier findings of widespread, low-level contaminants
throughout the bay without any identifiable hot spots requiring active
remediation. To complete the findings, the Department, with the support of U.S.
EPA, collected five species of fish resident to the bay for dioxin analysis of the
tissue to determine if additional fish consumption advisories are warranted.
Results of the study will be available in February 2002.
o A milestone for the RAP occurred in December 2001, as the City of Erie
completed its obligations under a 1989 Consent Decree with the Department
and U.S. EPA to spend an estimated $100 million to upgrade and double the
capacity of the sewage treatment plant and eliminate the combined sewer
overflows that discharged to the bay. These efforts, along with additional non-
point source control measures in the watershed, should allow for natural
recovery of the system. This natural recovery option for sediment management
lias been presented to the Public Advisory Committee and is currently under
consideration.
o Based upon objectives currently being developed and proposed for adoption,
the Public Advisory Committee will decide the appropriate next steps to take in
the RAP process in early 2002. These options include: 1) delisting as an AOC;
2) re-designation to the newly adopted "Recovery Stage;" or 3) continuing
under Annex 2 of the Agreement until all beneficial uses have been completely
restored.
-------
o Engineering design and a Project Cooperative Agreement are currently in
progress.
o Construction of the landfill and dewatering facility are expected to begin in
2004, with dredging scheduled for 2005.
9.5 Cuyahoga River RAP, Ohio
(www.epa.gov/glnpo/aoc/cuvahoga.htmD
The Cuyahoga Coordinating Committee works in coordination with the Cuyahoga
River Community Planning Organization (CRCPO) to design and implement the RAP.
The priorities in the Cuyahoga River area of concern over the past two years have been
to update the RAP action agenda and extend stream stewardship projects, continue the
phased TMDL on the ship channel, support of funding/plans to reduce/eliminate
combined sewer overflows and sanitary sewer overflows, and continue habitat and
wetland restoration and protection projects. Accomplishments include:
o All committees have established additional goals.
o Big Creek and Yellow Creek stream stewardship programs held many public and
educational events, and continue to develop and implement comprehensive
watershed plans.
o A workshop for public officials was held on "Legal Issues and Economic
Benefits of Wetland Protection."
o Four stream bank rehabilitation/habitat restoration projects were completed as
funded under a grant from U.S. EPA/GLNPO and matched by local funds,
o Three workshops were held on streamside management, targeting decision
makers and those working specifically in streamside maintenance positions,
o Produced a document entitled "Life at the Water's Edge - Living in Harmony
with Your Backyard Stream." A total of 30,000 copies were printed and it has
been widely distributed,
o Over 100 sites were sampled in an intensive survey of the lower river to be used
in preparation of a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) report for that area in
2002.
o The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District initiated construction of the Mill
Creek Tunnel that will significantly reduce combined sewer overflow discharge,
o Final work on the larval fish project in the lower river as part of the phased
TMDL for the ship channel was completed,
o A State of the Cuyahoga River Symposium was held in October 2001 and an
updated beneficial use impairment status report was drafted,
o Working on a $110,000 grant from U.S. EPA/GLNPO to investigate the extent
and causes of fish tumors and contaminated sediment in the old navigation
channel of the Cuyahoga River,
o Working on an Ohio Lake Erie Protection Fund project to inventory wetlands
and potential sites for wetland restoration.
9.6 Black River RAP, Ohio
(www.epa.gov/glnpo/aoc/blackriver.htmD
The priorities of the Black River RAP over the past two years have been to
investigate low dissolved oxygen levels in the lacustuary/river mouth area, continue
to investigate major source areas of non-point source pollution, continue to implement
education programs, and promote Lake Erie Buffer and Conservation Reserve
Enhancement programs throughout the watershed to preserve and restore riparian
habitat and reduce sediment load to the river. Accomplishments include:
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
o Coordinated beginning of a two-year comprehensive dissolved oxygen
modeling effort of the lower river with several state and federal agencies as
well as the four major dischargers to that segment of the river. Intensive field
sampling was conducted in 2001.
o Continued implementation of a 319-funded project to demonstrate the use of
precision fanning in lessening the impacts of agricultural non-point source
pollution impacts, and to identify areas of failed and failing home sewage
disposal systems to assist local health departments in developing and
implementing a Home Sewage Disposal System maintenance and inspection
program.
o Continued to work with the Lorain Port Authority on the Grove Site brownfield
redevelopment site at the mouth of the river. Much effort has gone into
protection of natural shoreline and establishment of additional habitat,
o Working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Lorain County General
Health District to develop:
o A countywide operation and inspection system of Home Sewage Disposal
Systems.
o A watershed inventory of the French Creek sub-basin.
Failed or failing home sewage disposal systems and land use around French Creek
have been identified as possible contributors to the lower Black River dissolved oxygen
problem. French Creek is a major tributary to the lower Black River and is being
impacted by urban sprawl as Greater Cleveland spreads westward. The French Creek
inventory is being planned to include a "French Creek specific" watershed owner's
manual for landowners and decision makers; and the identification of unexplained
periodic toxicity within the basin. Section 9
Fish tumor incidence in brown bullhead has declined significantly and removal ¦¦
of the beneficial use impairment for fish tumors is under consideration. The Ohio
Department of Health is also considering the removal of a PAH-related contact advisory
in the lower river that lias been in place since 1983.
9.7 Maumee River RAP, Ohio
(www.maumeerap.org)
The Maumee RAP is a community effort to restore the health and beauty of the
Maumee River ecosystem for the benefit of all who live there. The priorities over the
last two years have been to continue to implement Ohio Lake Erie Buffer and CREP
programs to reduce non-point source pollution continue a very active public outreach
and education program, continue efforts to remediate dumps and landfills, and continue
to focus concentrated efforts on the Ottawa River and Swan Creek. Accomplishments
include:
o Drafted a 10-year activities and accomplishments report to be completed in
2002.
o Continued highly successful Toussaint River Improvement Incentive Program
to promote implementation of set-asides, filter and buffer strips and
conservation tillage to reduce impacts from agricultural runoff,
o Assisted in establishing Duck and Otter Creek Partnership as a nonprofit
organization.
o Initiated project to identify wetlands in AOC to be protected, enhanced or
expanded when mitigation is needed for other projects in the AOC.
o Completed floodplain-mapping project for Swan Creek,
o Continued efforts to establish Maumee River Regional Storm Water
Management District,
o Held numerous public events and educational workshops.
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
o Continued to participate in multi-agency effort to determine long term
management plan for Toledo Harbor sediments removed under navigation
channel maintenance dredging,
o Continued to coordinate with the Ottawa River Remediation Team in a
concentrated effort to remediate degraded enviromnental conditions and dredge
a recreational navigation channel in the lower Ottawa River.
9.8 River Raisin RAP, Michigan
(http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/aoc/rvraisin.htmD
At the April 2001 meeting of the River Raisin Watershed Council, the RAP's Public
Advisory Committee (PAC) was accepted as a standing committee of the council. This
action provides the PAC with a nonprofit designation and will enhance both groups'
status for grant eligibility.
Section 9
$4 million was secured in 2001 for PCB remediation on a portion of the
Consolidated Paper Co. site. This only starts the removal of contaminants from
the Consolidated site. Future funding is needed to remediate the highly
contaminated PCB lagoons (estimated at $20 million).
In May 2001 it was announced that a $12 million rehabilitation project would
be started at Sterling State Park. The Ford Motor lagoon area, which is included
in the State Park project, will result in miles of wetland walking paths accessible
in an area that lias been closed to the public since the early 1900s.
Harding ESE Inc. announced in March 2001 that they were ready to proceed
with the final work plan for the River Raisin. The plan includes identifying gaps
in existing data, collecting river sediment samples, evaluating PCBs and heavy
metals, evaluating permitting issues, conducting two public meetings,
determining sediment volumes to be removed, and developing alternatives for
remediation of sediments. Results from the sedimentation testing are expected
in early 2002.
The PAC endorsed a U.S. EPA grant to the Monroe Public Schools to continue
the school's environmental outreach program. The program utilizes students to
collect fish for analysis to determine levels of contaminants, especially PCBs.
Other water quality testing projects for students are included.
9.9 Rouge River RAP, Michigan
(http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/aoc/rougrivA
Below is a summary of recent and ongoing projects in the Rouge River AOC:
o Work on the status of most of the impaired beneficial uses is under review and a
final draft is expected in mid-2002. Draft delisting criteria for the Rouge River
AOC are in production and will be finalized in 2002.
o Work continues on the voluntary permit to reduce or eliminate the adverse
effects of storm water runoff from the watershed communities. Watershed
management plans and storm water pollution prevention initiatives have been
completed and submitted to Michigan Department of Enviromnental Quality
(MDEQ) for comment. Both identified excessive flow variation high bacteria
counts, low dissolved oxygen and high nutrient concentrations as the major
factors degrading the Rouge River,
o The Rouge Gateway Project continues to focus on the environmental restoration
of the lower several miles of the river. Ongoing projects include pilot
demonstrations of phyto-remediation of PAH-contaminated soils, the
effectiveness of porous pavement for reducing storm water runoff from parking
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
lots, and the reconnection and restoration of a small oxbow lake to a
channelized portion of the river. Future projects are expected to include a fish
passageway around a historic dam, and "softening" the edge of the channelized
concrete channel using bioengineering techniques,
o The Friends of the Rouge (FOTR) trained several hundred volunteers to
conduct frog and toad surveys this spring. A volunteer macroinvertebrate
monitoring program began this year. The Friends of the Rouge continue to
organize a school-based water quality monitoring program, which this year
included 79 schools,
o Several citizen "creek groups" have organized and are addressing issues
ranging from river-friendly lawn care practices to streambank restoration. The
Rouge Program Office hosted two workshops in 2001 to provide the groups
with technical resources and opportunities to network,
o MDEQ staff continued a multi-year survey of mussel populations in the
watershed. Five species have been found with significant beds in the
headwaters of the main branch of the river,
o MDEQ and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources sampled resident
fish near the Newburgh Lake remediation site this fall to investigate the
effectiveness of the contaminated sediment cleanup. It is hoped that fish PCB
concentrations will be low enough to remove the fish consumption advisory in
the river's middle branch.
9.10 Detroit River RAP (U.S. and Canada)
The Detroit River RAP is a binational program implemented through separate
Canadian and American RAP committees working toward completing local
implementation actions. Regular communication is ensured by the four responsible
agencies: Enviromnent Canada, U.S. EPA, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, and
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.
Jointly, the Detroit River Remedial Action Team and the Canadian Clean Up
Committee are developing the delisting criteria for impaired beneficial uses within
the Detroit River AOC.
U.S.
(http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/aoc/detroit.htmD
The Detroit River Remedial Action Team has been busy coordinating and
contributing to several projects underway simultaneously.
o Initiated steps to oiganize the Detroit River Remedial Action Team as a
nonprofit watershed organization to oversee the implementation of the RAP.
o Mercury and PCB contamination activities included a downriver community
thermometer exchange, and a program to remove PCB contamination at small
and medium-sized companies in the City of Detroit,
o Initiated a habitat visioning process and completed an inventory of possible
natural habitats along the Detroit River Shoreline. The habitat visioning
process and inventory serve as the basis for a habitat management and non-
point source pollution plan for the U.S. side of the area of concern,
o The U.S. passed legislation (H.R. 1230) in December 2001, authored by
Representative John Dingell (MI-16), to establish an International Wildlife
Refuge along the Detroit River. The 18-mile wildlife refuge will stretch from
Zug Island south to Sterling State Park in Monroe County. A binational vision
lias been created for the refuge,
o A comprehensive rehabilitation plan for Detroit River lake sturgeon was
initiated in 2000 to understand population dynamics and habitat requirements
at all life stages. Their life cycle makes them a potential indicator species for
monitoring tissue contaminant levels and fish habitat.
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o The City of Detroit Water and Sewerage Department began completion of the
Water Works Park II Treatment Plant with: a water museum and learning center;
replacement of aging water mains in Detroit; department-wide instrumentation
and systems upgrades to 52 water and wastewater facilities; implementation of
program management at the Wastewater Treatment Plant; and construction of
additional combined sewer overflow facilities,
o Brownfield redevelopment activity was initiated on several riverfront sites
including: 35 acres in Southwest Detroit as expanded and enhanced marine
terminal operations; the Pleasant Avenue site in the City of River Rouge west of
Zug Island; and a 16.5 acre site on the Trenton channel of the Detroit River.
Canada
(http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/glimr/raps/connecting/detroit/intro.htmD
The Detroit River Canadian Cleanup Committee (DRCCC) was established in 1998,
and represents a restructuring of previous Remedial Action Plan activities. Projects
underway and/or completed include:
o Rural Non-point Source Pollution Remediation Program, through the Essex
Region Conservation Authority, offers incentive grants to individual
landowners to implement agricultural best management practices. In the last
two years there have been 40 tree planting, 27 buffer strip, 19 soil erosion
reduction structure, 16 septic system upgrade, and four no-till planter projects
implemented.
o Biodiversity Conservation Strategy Implementation Program, through the Essex
Region Conservation Authority, has implemented five large-scale projects
totaling 54 hectares (134 ac) to restore upland and wetland habitats in the area
of concern.
o Led by the University of Windsor's Great Lakes Institute for Environmental
Research (GLIER), the Detroit River Management and Modeling Framework
computer model has been developed to predict the transport and fate of
contaminants in the Detroit River. Related food web modeling lias also
occurred.
o U.S. EPA and GLIER completed a comprehensive annotated bibliography of
research on the Detroit River at www.uwindsor.ca/dreams (choose DR
Bibliography).
o The City of Windsor led the Combined Sewer Overflow Retention Treatment
Basin Study that assessed the performance of various factors in achieving high-
rate treatment of particles from combined sewer overflows,
o Building on the programs already in place, the focus of the DRCCC over the
next two years is to finalize binational delisting criteria for the area of concern,
and fine tune implementation activities to achieve these criteria.
9.11 Wheatley Harbour RAP, Ontario
(no specific web site is available)
This Canadian RAP operates through an informal communication between
government and the local community. The focus lias been on implementation-oriented
projects with the following remediation projects completed:
o The Rural Non-point Source Pollution Remediation Program, administered
through the Essex Region Conservation Authority, offers incentive grants to
individual landowners to implement agricultural best management practices. In
the last two years the following projects have been completed: 25 tree plantings,
14 buffer strips, 10 soil erosion control reduction structures, and 2 septic system
upgrades.
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LAK E ERIE LaMP 2002
o The Biodiversity Conservation Strategy Implementation Program, also offered
through the Essex Region Conservation Authority, focuses on implementation
of large-scale habitat restoration projects throughout the region. The program
is only one year old and, to date, one 2.4 ha (6 ac) project incorporating forest
and wetland restoration has been completed.
9.12 Clinton River RAP, Michigan
(http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/aoc/clintriv/)
The Clinton River Watershed Council (Council) has resumed its role as
administrator of the Public Advisory Council. The Council will gather information on
actions recommended in the RAP, review new technologies for monitoring and
mitigation, reorganize the Public Advisory Council in preparation for the 2002 RAP
update and promote critical recommended actions.
Over 2,000 students participated in a student-monitoring program in 2001
collecting physical, biological and chemical data across the watershed.
More than 30 events were held in the Clinton River watershed as part of the
fourth annual River Day held in June 2001. Notable was a fish habitat
enhancement project on Paint Creek in the Village of Lake Orion made possible
by donations and volunteers from General Motors, Boy Scouts, Village of Lake
Orion, Oakland County Drain Commissioner and local businesses.
In November 2001, a new river cleanup event, "Clean the Clinton," drew over
150 volunteers to a stretch of river between Rochester Hills and Shelby
Township. An estimated three to four tons of debris were removed from the
riverbanks.
The U.S. Coast Guard committed to creating a single database for consolidating
U.S. and Canadian federal and state/provincial data on spills and discharges.
The Macomb County Commission announced that they had agreed to work
together with the Oakland County Drain Commission to coordinate county
efforts to reduce pollution in the Clinton River.
A recent study of the sources of fecal contamination at Blossom Heath Beach in
Saint Clair Shores identified bird droppings as the major contributor to beach
closings.
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
9.13 St. Clair River RAP (U.S. and Canada)
(http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/glimr/raps/connecting/st-clair/intro.htmlor
http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/aoc/st-clair.htmn
Activities in the St. Clair River Area of Concern have focused on several key areas in
the past two years. These include maintaining incremental progress towards the achievement
of habitat and non-point source goals and characterizing and recommending actions for
managing contaminated sediments. These are summarized below.
o Ongoing monitoring to assess improvements in environmental conditions as they
relate to RAP implementation activities and delisting targets. This lias permitted the
RAP and Binational Public Advisory Council to establish that several delisting
criteria have been met and determine gaps for those that remain,
o Significant commitments have been secured in the area of municipal infrastructure
improvements. The City of Port Huron is currently engaged in a 15 year $180
million (U.S.) sewer separation project. Five combined sewer overflows were
eliminated in 2001, reducing overflows by 162 million gallons per year. More than
50% of annual average combined sewer overflows have been eliminated, only one-
third of the way into the program. The City of Sarnia recently brought its newly
upgraded sewage treatment plant online at a cost of $30 million (Cdn.). This plant
now utilizes secondary treatment with ultraviolet disinfection and employs a state-
of-the-art sludge management system,
o A key accomplishment in 2001 was the commitment by Dow Chemical Canada
Inc. to remediate contaminated sediments adjacent to their St. Clair River
manufacturing facility in Sarnia. This announcement came about as a result of
proactive efforts by Dow to work with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment
and Environment Canada and is a key milestone in achieving RAP goals.
Efforts are ongoing to evaluate two additional areas of priority sediments in the
upper St. Clair River,
o Habitat and non-point source control efforts have been occurring in St. Clair
County, Michigan and Lambton/Kent Counties in Ontario due in large part to
efforts by the Blue Water Task Force (now known as the St. Clair County Water
Quality Board) and the Rural Lambton Stewardship Network. Collectively,
these organizations have successfully obtained grants from the U.S. EPA and
Enviromnent Canada to engage interested landowners in habitat and non-point
source improvement projects that have leveraged more than $lMillion in local
matching funds in the past 2 years,
o Through the efforts of the Friends of the St. Clair River (Ontario), and funding
from the Ontario Ministry of the Enviromnent, a newly upgraded web site,
www.friendsofstclair.ca, came online in October 2001, which serves as a helpful
resource to interested citizens and students of all ages looking for information
on the St. Clair River,
o A number of key accomplishments have already been realized and reflect a
significant effort to address ongoing sources of contamination and spills. Much
of the remaining work deals with addressing concerns from past practices such
as remediation of historically contaminated sediments and loss of habitat.
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Significant Ongoing and
Emerging Issues
Section
10
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
Section 10: Significant Ongoing and
Emerging Issues
10.1 Introduction
The dynamic nature of Lake Erie means that tilings change, often unpredictably.
Section 2 in the Lake Erie LaMP 2000 document described how the issues of concern in
the lake had changed over time. Some of the issues were resolved through management
actions over a short period of time, while others required long-term and ongoing
management plans. Some goals, such as phosphorus concentrations in the lake, were
considered achieved until zebra mussels invaded and concentrations began fluctuating
again. The invasion of a host of new exotic species lias created much alteration in the
biological community. The ecosystem objectives for Lake Erie attempt to set goals for
management actions in the areas of land use, nutrient management, contaminants and
exploitation. It may be necessary to continually revisit these goals as new unexpected
situations arise. This section provides some insight into issues that are currently important
in the lake, as well as those that may be emerging as important future issues. The adaptive
management approach of the LaMP process accepts the fact that change is inevitable.
The challenge to the LaMP is to keep abreast of lake conditions, identify and encourage
research in areas needed to make the appropriate management decisions, and modify
management goals and actions when needed.
10.2 Update on Non-indigenous Invasive Species in Lake
Erie
Section 10
Section 11 of the Lake Erie LaMP 2000 document presented a detailed overview of
the history of non-indigenous invasive species (exotics) in the lake. Since 2000, several
more exotics have entered. Rarely can ecologists predict the effects of a non-indigenous
invasive species in a new place. One has better luck in predicting which species may
invade next by comparing the characteristics of species that have been successful
invaders with those that have failed to become established. For example, ecologists
have summarized features that have enhanced invasions including descriptions of
successful colonizers (high fecundity, wide tolerance of abiotic factors), impact
(economic and ecological), and habitats prone to invasion (i.e., accessible corridors
between habitats, climatically matched regions, and disturbed or vacant niches) (Elton
1958, Lodge 1993, Ricciardi and Maclsaac 2000). Successful invaders produce many
offspring, are quick to disperse, can tolerate a wide range of a given enviromnental
factor, and invade an area that matches the climate of its home. But even if an invader
becomes established, what is the chance that it will pose a problem?
The Lake Erie LaMP has identified exotic species as one of the key problems
impairing Lake Erie ecosystems. Five of the 14 beneficial use impairments are due at
least partially to exotic species: degradation of plankton fish and wildlife populations;
degradation of aesthetics; and loss of fish and wildlife habitat. The species that are of
most concern in Lake Erie include: dreissenid mussels (zebra and quagga), round goby,
spiny water flea, Phragmites, sea lamprey, Eurasian watennilfoil, and purple loosestrife.
Since the publication of the Lake Erie LaMP 2000 document, there have been reports
on effects of exotic species on native species, documentation of new invaders, evidence
of avian botulism (with the possible link to invasive fishes), and the development of a
Canadian "National Code on the Introductions and Transfers of Aquatic Organisms."
This section highlights the changes since the 2000 report.
Blooms of the toxic colonial cyanobacteria. Microcystis aeruginosa, have been
linked to the feeding habits of the zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) (Vanderploeg
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
et al. 2001). Microcystis blooms, typically caused by excessive phosphorus loading,
were common in the formerly eutrophic western basin of Lake Erie. The subsequent
trophic changes in Lake Erie in response to phosphorus abatement programs initiated
under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement of 1972, resulted in the decline of
Microcystis blooms (Makarewicz and Bertram 1991). However, Microcystis blooms
were recently reported from satellite observations in western Lake Erie and Saginaw
Bay (Lake Huron), where zebra mussels are established (Budd et al. 2001). Vanderploeg
et al. (2001) hypothesized that zebra mussels induced a shift in algal abundance by
ingesting all algae except Microcystis. Zebra mussels selectively feed on algal
competitors of Microcystis and at the same time spit back Microcystis into the water
column. This behaviour results in the dominance of Microcystis and a reduction in
other algal species, explaining the paradox of the association between Microcystis
blooms and filter-feeding dreissenids. The extensive and surprising Microcystis blooms
of 1998 have not been repeated to that extent in the three years since. However,
Microcystis is being documented in plankton samples collected throughout the lake.
Forecasting future blooms remains unpredictable (Culver, personal communication
2002).
Researchers forecasted that two exotic zooplankton species, Cercopagis pengoi
(present in Lake Ontario in 2000) and Daphnia lumholtzi (inhabiting reservoirs in
Ohio and Michigan in 2000) were likely to invade Lake Erie (Lake Erie LaMP 2000).
Drs. Igor Grigorovich and Hugh Maclsaac (University of Windsor) have confirmed
that both species are well established in the western basin of Lake Erie near the inflow
of the Detroit River. The presence of Cercopagis pengoi, the fishhook waterflea,
represents a significant range expansion, suggesting that the most likely vector is ballast
water discharge (Maclsaac, personal communication). Cercopagis pengoi reproduces
io parthenogenically, enabling the species to establish quickly. Owing to its large size, it
likely will affect both phytoplankton and zooplankton populations, and might even
compete with young-of-the-year-fish for prey (www.epa. gov/glnpo/monitoring/exotics/
cercopagis. lUinl).
Daphnia lumholtzi, native to Australia, Africa and southwest Asia, is thought to
have arrived in reservoirs in the United States when the Nile perch was introduced to
Texas to enhance the sport fishery (Havel, personal communication). The species, which
was reported in Missouri and Texas in the early 1990s (Havel and Herbert 1993; Havel
et al. 1995), lias quickly spread north. Muzinic (2000) published the first record of D.
lumholtzi in the Great Lakes in specimens collected from East Harbor State Park, in
Ohio (western Lake Erie) using vertical plankton net tows. Daphnia lumholtzi likely
will become a successful invader because of its ability to avoid predation not because
it is a better competitor for the available food supply (Goulden et al. 1995).
The invasion of the zebra mussel (Dreissena polvmorpha) in the Great Lakes lias
resulted in "catastrophic" declines of native mussels in infested waters, and severely
restricted the range of the northern riffieshell in Canada. Analyses of the diversity and
composition of freshwater mussel communities in the lower Great Lakes basin has
revealed a pattern of species loss and changing community composition throughout
the basin particularly in the formerly species-rich Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair drainages
(Metcalfe-Smith et al., 1998a). Coastal wetland areas, such as Metzger's Marsh (a diked
wetland) and tributaries in the Lake Erie watershed now act as "refuges" for many
species of native unionids. Native unionid species occurring in the Canadian waters of
the lower Great Lakes drainage basin were ranked by their vulnerability to zebra
mussels. Under this ranking scheme, nine out of 35 native unionids were ranked as
highly vulnerable to zebra mussels (Metcalfe-Smith et al., 1998b). Species most at risk
from impact of zebra mussels occur mainly in the Great Lakes themselves or in the
lower reaches of the larger tributaries, while headwater species are less likely to cohabit
with zebra mussels throughout most of their ranges.
Lake Erie, excluding tributaries, has 34 exotic fish species. Nineteen species are
established and 15 others are reported (Lake Erie LaMP 2000). As an example of the
increasing impact of exotic species on Lake Erie, non-indigenous species now comprise
75% of the commercial fish catch in Lake Erie (Corkum et al. 2001a).
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LA KE ERIE LaMP 2002
Aquarium, water garden and bait fish introductions are a global problem and an
important vector of non-indigenous invasive species. Although one in every four fish
species introductions in the United States results from the aquarium trade, little effort
is directed toward public awareness of aquarium releases in the Great Lakes basin
(Dextrase and Paleczny 2000). Of nine fish species associated with aquarium and water
garden release in Ontario, three species have been reported inLake Erie: goldfish (Carassius
auratus), pacu (Colossoma sp.), and suckermouth catfish {Panaque sp.) (Dextrase and
Paleczny 2000). The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters has established a "Fish
Rescue Program and Awareness Initiative." The oiganization lias established a network to
hold unwanted pets until a new owner is found (toll free hot line: 1-800-563-7711).
Unfortunately no regulations exist to control aquaria and pond water release.
In 2000, there were unusual sightings of the Chinese bighead carp.
Hypophthalmichthvs nobilis. On 16 October 2000, the third specimen ever
of Chinese bighead carp was caught in a trapnet on the west side of Point
Pelee in the western basin of Lake Erie (T. Johnson personal communication).
The fish is native to eastern China and introduced into the United States in
1973. The October sighting was probably the result of fish escape from
aquaculture ponds in Ohio (T. Johnson, personal communication). The
Chinese bighead carp is a filter feeder and if ever established, the species
may compete with native fishes for plankton.
Of all the exotic fishes in Lake Erie, the one most troublesome is the
recently established round goby, Neogobius melcmostomus. Concerns about
the round goby include:
o Their ability to transfer contaminants through the food web;
o Their detrimental effect on native species;
o Their ability to proliferate owing to their multiple spawning habitats;
o The potential expansion of gobies by anglers using bait buckets; and,
o Economic costs of gobies as bycatch in nets of commercial fishers
(Corkmn et aL 2001b).
The extent of the potential impact of the round goby is not yet fully realized because
literature from its native range (Black and Caspian seas and associated waters) and invaded
areas is limited, and researchers have not yet had sufficient funding to address many of the
concerns. A special section on "The Round Goby Invasion", recently published in the
Journal of Great Lakes Research (volume 27, issue 3), addresses some of these shortcomings
(Cliarlebois et al. 2001). Janssenand Jude (2001) document the local extinction of mottled
sculpins (Coitus bairdi) by the round goby in Calumet Harbor, southern Lake Michigan
owing to competition for food resources (small fishes), space (medium sized fishes) and
spawning sites (large fishes). Recruitment failure of mottled sculpins was attributed to
spawning interference by the round goby (Janssen and Jude 2001). Declining populations
of mottled sculpins, greenside darters and channel darters around the Lake Erie islands in
the western basin are also thought to be associated with the increasing number of round
gobies (R. Thoma, personal communication).
Several agencies have monitored movement of the round goby and their
contribution to the diet of predators in Lake Erie (T. Johnson and C. Knight, personal
communication). The round goby first entered the western basin of Lake Erie in 1993
and by 1999 had spread throughout the lake. The round goby contributes significantly
to the diet of smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu), stonecats (Noturus flavits),
burbot (Lota lota), and yellow perch (Perca flas'escens), but is a minor component in
the diet of walleye (Stizostedion vitrewn) and white bass (Morone chrysops) (T. Johnson,
personal communication). Clearly, the round goby will be influential in transferring
energ>' from the lake bottom up through the food chain. Studies on bioenergetics of
the round goby and its effect on the Lake Erie food web are in progress (T. Johnson,
personal communication). Additional tools such as species-specific piscicides are
being investigated for potential control of the round goby (Schreier et al. 2001).
Fisheries managers are concerned that round goby may move from the Great Lakes
basin south to the Mississippi River basin where the goby may adversely affect other native
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LAK E ERIE LaMP 2002
Section 10
biota. The La Crosse, Wisconsin. Fisheries Office personnel use baited minnow traps to
monitor the movement of the round goby en route to the Mississippi River from Lake
Michigan, a distance of 536 km (Steingraeber and Tliiel 2000). Annual movement of the
round goby along the Calumet Sag Channel betw een Lake Michigan and the Des Plaines
River is about 25 km peryear. However, round goby movement in lakes may differ depending
on prevailing currents. An electrical barrier is being constructed on the Des Plaines River,
Illinois, to reduce the risk of non-indigenous fishes from moving between the Great Lakes
and Mississippi basins. Unfortunately, the round goby lias moved downstream from the
barrier location. However, the stmcture may eliminate the transfer between basins of other
non-indigenous species such as the bighead (Hvpophthalmichthys nobilis) and silver (//.
molitrix) carp, which are now in the lower Illinois River and are moving north to the Great
Lakes.
The federal policies that relate to exotic species in the Great Lakes include the
U.S. Lacey Act, the U.S. National Invasive Species Act, the Canadian Fisheries Act and
the Canada-Ontario Agreement. The original U.S. Non-indigenous Aquatic Nuisance
Prevention and Control Act (1990) was reauthorized in 1996 as the National Invasive
Species Act. The Province of Ontario and the eight U.S. states bordering the Great
Lakes all have restrictions on non-indigenous invasive species, but policies are
inconsistent. Recently, a draft document has been prepared for a Canadian "National
Policy/Code on Introductions and Transfers of Aquatic Organism" that will apply to
all intentional introductions for stocking or aquaculture. Environment Canada hosted
a national workshop on invasive alien species in November 2001. The objectives of
this workshop were to: identify and clarify fundamental issues in the management of
invasive alien species; develop a draft framework for a national plan that identifies
key policy and management options; and outline a process to develop a draft Canada-
wide plan by fall 2002.
Chartered under U.S. federal law, the Great Lakes Panel on Aquatic Nuisance
Species is responsible for advancing prevention and control efforts in the Great Lakes-
St. Lawrence system. Currently they are pursuing a policy on ballast water management.
The recommendations in the policy include: establish criteria for ballast water
management practices and treatment technologies; promote a regional (and binational)
approach to ballast water management; apply regulations and guidelines to all vessels
including those with no ballast on board; and evaluate ballast water management
practices and treatment technologies. Several demonstration projects are underway
to test ballast water treatment teclinologies on board freighters.
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
10.3 Botulism E
Researchers have suggested a possible link between the round goby and avian botulism,
a disease of wild migratory birds caused by Clostridium botulinum (Domske and Obert,
personal communication). Birds such as ducks, gulls, and loons are paralyzed or die after
exposure to a toxin produced by the botulism bacteria. Fish-eating birds exhibit type E
botulism poisoning. In one case, botulism-infected birds in Lake Erie had a higher incidence
of round goby in their guts compared with uninfected birds. Low oxygen concentrations
combined with temperature inversion may stress round goby inducing them to swim to the
surface and drift shoreward, enabling birds to feed on fish that harbor the anaerobic bacteria
that contain the toxin. Ward Stone (New York, Department of Environmental Conservation)
lias identified botulism type E toxin in freshwater drum, smallmouth bass, lake sturgeon
and in round gobies retrieved from the guts of smallmouth bass.
The Canadian Wildlife Service reported that the fish die-off (likely caused by
temperature inversion) of freshwater drum and the round goby at Wheatley on August
16, 2001 did not result in any unusual bird mortalities. However, after a similar die-
off of fish near Port Dover, also on August 16, there were 38 dead birds, one mudpuppy,
three shorebirds and a report of a sick great blue heron. On October 29, 2001, the
Canadian Wildlife Service reported die-offs of the common loon, ring-billed gulls,
red-breasted mergansers, gadwalls, and long-tailed ducks (old squaw) along the
northeast shore of Lake Erie between Port Dover and Dunnville. In addition, there
were dead fish along the beach including round goby, carp, and catfish as well as a
mudpuppy. Specimens were sent to the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre
at the University of Guelph for assessment.
Similar mortalities of fish and birds occurred along the New York shoreline of
Lake Erie during the same period. Among fish found dead along the New York shoreline
in September 2001, 81% were freshwater drum (Figure 18) with the remainder
consisting of nine other species. Bird collections in fall 2000 revealed an estimated
5,000 to 6,000 birds died that year, with red-breasted merganser the most common
species (Figure 19). Estimates of dead common loons in New York were over 500
birds in 2000, and over 1000 birds in 2001. In addition, seven dead lake sturgeon (a
threatened species in New York) were found in 2000, while 27 individuals were
collected in 2001.
Section 10
Figure 19: Frequency of Dead Fish Species Observed Along
NY Lake Erie Beaches, September, 2001
11%
~ 7 other species
¦ rock bass
~ smallmouth bass
~ freshwater drum
81%
Information from NYSDEC
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
Figure 20: Percent Mortality on NY
Lake Erie Shoreline by
Species Observed - Fall 2000
Mallard Duck
0.33%
Common Crow
0.34%
Bonaparte's Gull
0.67%
Red-Breasted
Merganser
45.64%
Section 10
Mortality: 5,000-6,000 Birds
Information from NYSDEC
Ring-Billed Gull
31.54%
Herring Gull
4.36%
Great Black-
- Backed Gull
2.35%
Black Duck
0.34%
Bufflehead
1.68%
Common Loon
10.74%
10.4 Phosphorus Changes in Lake Erie
Since 1965, phosphorus loads to Lake Erie have been reduced by roughly 50% to
approximately 11,000 metric tonnes per year, the target goal set in the Great Lakes
Water Quality Agreement. Most of the reduction came from better treatment of
municipal sewage sources. Over the 30 years since inception of the controls,
Enviromnent Canada and U.S. EPA collected water samples for the purpose of following
the recovery of the lake. Since the loading target was reached in the mid 1980s, the
zebra mussel invasion and other exotic species have changed the biology of the lake
and the associated internal nutrient processing. Thus, there is interest in understanding
what drives phosphorus concentrations today.
Phosphorus concentrations reached record lows in 1995. Decreases in phosphorus
concentrations coincident with the increase in zebra mussel populations were
comparable to those caused by nutrient load reductions up to 1985. The largest changes
in phosphorus of 5 to 6 ug/1 pre zebra mussels and 5 to 18 ug/1 post zebra mussels
occurred in the west central and west basins, respectively. Changes in the central and
east basins were 2.5 to 4 ug/1 both pre and post zebra mussels. One mechanism for this
may have been the actual growth of the zebra mussel organism. For example, as the
planktonic mussel larvae grew over a few weeks and then sank to the bottom, they
took phosphorus with them. This was a new sedimentation flux that removed
phosphorus from the water column.
The low phosphorus concentrations stimulated concerns that existing phosphorus
controls were no longer appropriate now that the biology of the lake had changed.
Despite ongoing recovery of walleye populations during nutrient controls, loss of
productivity for fisheries was feared. Inferred from chlorophyll concentrations
(Charlton et al. 1999) though primary production was reduced much more by nutrient
controls prior to the onset of the mussels than after the mussels arrived.
From 1995 to 2000 phosphorus concentrations rebounded in the west, west central.
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
and central basins by almost 10 ug/1. Some of the concentrations in the central basin
during 2000 approximated those in the early years of phosphorus controls. Recovery
of phosphorus concentrations also occurred in the east basin to a lesser extent.
Concentrations are slightly below the recommended 10 ug/1 in the east basin but are
somewhat above 10 ug/1 in the central basin. One explanation for the phosphorus
increases may be that the growth rate of mussel populations has slowed and nutrients
are now recycling back into the water. On the other hand, increased phosphorus
loads may have caused the increases.
Unfortunately, studies of mussels and other exotic species are insufficient to
explain their part in the recent phosphorus variations. Furthermore, phosphorus-
loading statistics are no longer consistently available so it can't be determined if the
concentration variations are simply caused by load variations. Due to loss of resources
and discontinuation of research and monitoring efforts, opportunities to learn how
the lake functions are being lost and capabilities to make informed management
decisions are reduced.
10.5 Double Crested Cormorants in the Great Lakes
Double-crested cormorants are colonial waterbirds that nest on the ground or in
trees, often mixed in with other species. They have an extensive range in North
America, occurring throughout the interior as well as on both coasts. The first report
of cormorant nesting on the Great Lakes occurred between 1913 and 1920, and by
1950 the breeding population was at 900 pairs (Weseloh et al. 1995). Human
persecution and environmental contaminants led to the virtual extinction of cormorants
on the Great Lakes by the early 1970s. From 1970 to 1991 the Great Lakes cormorant
population increased from 89 nests to more than 38,000 nests. The population lias
increased at an annual rate of 23 percent from 1990 to 1994 (Tyson et al. 1999). Major
factors leading to an increase in the Great Lakes population were reduced contaminants
and persecution plus an abundance of prey fish (Weseloh et al. 1995, Blokpoel and
Tessier 1996). By 1999, there were almost 100,000 nesting pairs in the Great Lakes.
On Lake Erie, there lias been a dramatic increase in the number of nests. In 1978 there
were 58 nests, and by 2001 there were more than 13,000 cormorant nests (Figure 20).
Figure 21: Number of Cormorant Nests on Lake Erie
Section 10
Year
With the buigeoning cormorant population there lias been an increase in conflicts
with commercial and sport fisheries in the Great Lakes. The common opinion of many
fishers is that cormorants have a negative impact on the fish communities. In response
to these concerns, diet and related studies were conducted to identify impacts of
cormorant feeding on Great Lakes fisheries. Studies conducted worldwide have
repeatedly shown that while cormorants can and often do, take fish species that are
valued in commercial and sport fisheries, those species usually comprise a very small
proportion of the birds' diet. One Lake Erie study found that the number of these fish
(i.e. yellow perch smallmouthbass, and walleye) consumed by cormorants was less than
five percent of the total diet (Bur et al. 1999). Research lias not yet established conclusively
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LAK E ERIE LaMP 2002
whether cormorants have the ability to deplete local populations of fish.
Cormorants can affect other colonial waterbirds at mixed breeding colonies, both
directly (by physical displacement) and indirectly (by altering the vegetation) (Trapp
et al. 1999). These birds often inadvertently kill trees and vegetation with their feces.
Some of these areas include stands of uncommon or rare floral species. For example.
Section 10 cormorant feces are negatively impacting the rare Kentucky coffee tree, Gymnocladus
Hclioicus. on Middle Island and other islands in western Lake Erie. Vegetation alteration
may affect the ecological balance of a site, and lower property, recreational, and aesthetic
values. Lake Erie's West Sister Island lias the largest colonial waterbird population in
the Great Lakes.
Since 1972. depredation permits allowing the taking of double-crested cormorants
have been authorized on a case-by-case basis, usually when negative impacts on
aquaculture operations and habitat have been demonstrated. Most permits were for
birds causing depredation problems at aquaculture operations. The U.S. Department
of Agriculture's Wildlife Sendees Division is responsible for documenting economic
losses.
The persistence of conflicts associated with double-crested cormorants, widespread
public and agency dissatisfaction with the status quo, and the desire to develop a more
consistent and effective management strategy for double-crested cormorants led the
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to prepare a national cormorant management plan for the
contiguous United States. The purpose of the draft environmental impact statement on
double-crested cormorants is threefold: to reduce resource conflicts associated with
double-crested cormorants in the contiguous United States; to enhance the flexibility
of natural resource agencies in dealing with cormorant-related resource conflicts; and
to ensure the conservation of healthy, viable cormorant populations.
The Double-Crested Cormorant Management Plan describes and evaluates the
anticipated enviromnental effects of six management alternatives: 1) continue current
cormorant management practices (no action); 2) implement only non-lethal
management techniques; 3) expand current cormorant damage management practices;
4) establish a new Depredation Order to address public resource conflicts; 5) reduce
regional cormorant populations; and 6) establish frameworks for a cormorant hunting
season. Alternatives were analyzed with regard to their potential impacts on cormorant
populations, fish, other birds, vegetation, federally listed threatened and endangered
species, water quality and human health, economic impacts, fish hatcheries and
environmental justice, property losses, and aesthetic values. Management alternative
number 4 is the proposed action.
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LA KE ERIE LaMP 2002
10.6 Lake Erie Water Levels
Lake Erie water levels have declined from near-record high levels in June 1997 to
below-average conditions since May 1999. This is a result of low water supplies from the
upper lakes beginning in mid-1997. At the beginning of2002, Lake Erie was 12 cm (4.7in)
below average, but 6 cm (2.4 in) higher than levels experienced one year earlier.
Water levels fluctuate according to the climate of the region. Since it is not possible to
accurately forecast weather conditions several months in advance, staff of Environment
Canada and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers prepare a six-month forecast of the probable
range of future water levels assuming wet and dry supply conditions. This six-month
forecast (Figure 22) is provided in the Monthly Water Level Bulletins published in Canada
by the Canadian Hydrograpliic Service and in the United States by the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers. If dry conditions prevail over the first six months of 2002, by summer the level
of Lake Erie could be ten or more centimeters (3.9 in) lower than levels experienced during
2001, but still well above the period-of-record minimum levels recorded in 1934. If,
however, wet conditions are experienced, levels could equal or exceed those recorded
during 2001 and could climb a few centimetres above average. Please consult the Canadian
Hydrograpliic Service website (http://chswww.bur.dfo.ca/danp/) or the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers website (http://huron.lre.usace.annv.mil/levels/bltnlimpg.html) for up-to-date
information on current and forecasted water levels.
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
Figure 22: Recent and Historic Lake Erie Water Levels
(Source: Canadian Hydrographic Service)
Maximum Monthly Mean
Average Monthly Mean
Minimum Monthly Mean
"Recorded Monthly Mean
Section 10
Figure 23: Monthly Water Level Bulletin Including 6 Month Forecast
(Source: Canadian Hydrographic Service)
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Sep
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Mar/Mars
April/Avril
May/Mai
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Pathways to Achievements/
Next Steps
Section
11
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L A II Jg ERIE li a Mt 2 0 0 2
Section 11: Pathways to Achievements /
Next Steps
Section 11
Since the publication of the Lake Erie LaMP 2000 report, significant progress lias been
made in many areas. Achievements include:
o selecting Ecosystem Alternative 2 as the preferred future state of the lake;
o proposing ecosystem management objectives;
o completing the beneficial use impairment assessment for Degraded Wildlife
Populations and Loss of Wildlife Habitat;
o continuing to promote and track reductions in mercury and PCBs to Lake Erie;
o initiating a source track down program for critical pollutants and pollutants of
concern to Lake Erie;
o hosting two workshops by the Lake Erie Millennium Plan;
o production of an educational slide show and fisli consumption brochure by the
Forum; and
o continuing to monitor and follow up on ongoing and emerging issues.
In addition to the projects in this report specifically attributed to the Lake Erie
LaMP effort, the Lake Erie LaMP will continue to coordinate with and track the progress
of a number of ongoing programs focused on the Great Lakes and/or Lake Erie. Of
particular importance will be coordinating with and tracking the progress/successes of
the Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy, the RAPs, the Lake Erie Millennium Plan,
and SOLEC. The LaMP recognizes that an adaptive management approach is paramount
to identifying and addressing the most critical needs of Lake Erie as its ecosystem
continues to change. Therefore, the LaMP will:
o continue to evaluate the state of the lake;
o be cognizant of emerging issues;
o identify research monitoring and funding needs; and
o with its partners, facilitate, expand, alter and/or adapt the LaMP work plan to best
protect and restore the chemical, physical and biological integrity of Lake Erie.
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
Outlined in Table 9 are projects and programs that the Lake Erie LaMP plans to pursue
over the next two years. The work plan is limited to those projects over which the Lake Erie
LaMP lias control, and does not include those programs implemented by partner agencies
under other program mandates. However, LaMP partner programs are key to the successful
implementation of the LaMP, and the LaMP partners are encouraged to develop, implement
and track agency-specific work plans in support of LaMP goals.
Table 9: Lake Erie LaMP Work Plan 2002 - 2004
ECOSYSTEM OBJECTIVES AND INDICATORS
o Select candidate suite of ecosystem indicators and define quantifiable endpoints
o With partner agencies and stakeholders, develop regional actions plans in support of ecosystem management
objectives and indicators
o Develop monitoring protocol for selected indicators
o Implement monitoring programs in selected watersheds to determine effectiveness of monitoring protocol
BENEFICIAL USES
o Assess the nature and extent of stresses contributing to beneficial use impairments and clearly identify where the use
impairment is occurring
o Conduct a gap analysis to determine the adequacy of existing programs to restore beneficial uses
o Update status of Beneficial Uses Impairment Assessments as new information becomes available
HABITAT
o Conduct a binational bioregional planning assessment to promote and implement habitat protection and restoration
projects
o Encourage the implementation of ecosystem and habitat restoration projects in tributaries to Lake Erie with a focus on
ecological function/habitat quality along with habitat quantity
o Encourage partner agencies to incorporate monitoring of indicators selected for Lake Erie into habitat programs in the
Lake Erie basin wherever possible
o Identify and support existing habitat (and fish and wildlife) management objectives for Lake Erie basin through the
LaMP and promote the integration of LaMP habitat objectives into existing programs in the basin
o Encourage and promote stronger controls on key stressors impacting habitats in the Lake Erie Basin (e.g., land use and
associated sedimentynutrient loadings through Smart Growth or other "sustainable growth" initiatives, control of
exotic species)
o Identify fish and wildlife habitat research priorities through the Lake Erie Millennium Plan
SOURCES AND LOADINGS
o Continue to track the progress of the Great Lakes Binational Toxic Strategy in regard to actions that may reduce loadings
of the Lake Erie pollutants of concern
o Continue to support implementation of PCB and mercury reduction activities identified in the PCBand mercury action
plans in LaMP 2000
o Screen Canadian Lake Erie tributary sediments for critical pollutants, analyze the screening data to identify priorities for
confirmatory sampling at tributaries showing elevated levels of the critical pollutants, and initiate track down projects
as appropriate
o Ensure track down activities are coordinated with RAP efforts in both the U.S. and Canada
PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT
o Provide support to the Lake Erie Forum to assist in the achievement of their priorities:
o public education and awareness of mercury in the Lake Erie Ecosystem
o public education and awareness on the impacts of land use activities on Lake Erie including demonstrations in
local communities
o Provide LaMP program and status of Lakes Erie ecosystem updates to the Lake Erie stakeholders through newsletters,
brochures, workshops and conferences
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References
Section
12
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
Section 12: References
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Great Lakes, 1989-91. Part 3. Cormorants, gulls, and island-nesting terns on the lower
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Canadian Wildlife Service, Ontario Region. 74 p.
Budd, J.W, A.M. Beeton, R.P Stumpf, D.A. Culver and W.C. Kerfoot. 2001. Satellite
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Verh. Int. Ver. Limnol. 27: (in press).
Bur, M. T„ S.L. Tinirello, C.D. Lovell, and J.T. Tyson. 1999. Diet of the double-crested
cormorant in western Lake Erie. In Symposium on double-crested cormorants:
population status and management issues in the Midwest (technical coordinator M.
Tobin), pp. 73-84. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
Technical Bulletin No. 1879.
Carter, H.R., A.L. Sowls, M.S. Rodway, U.W. Wilson, R.W. Lowe, G.J. McChesney, F.
Gress and D.W. Anderson. 1995. Population size, trends and conservation problems of
the double-crested cormorant on the Pacific coast of North America. Colonial Waterbirds
18 (Special Publication 1): 189-215.
Charlebois, P.M., L.D. Corkum D.J. Jude and C. Knight. 2001. The round goby invasion:
current research and future needs. J. Great Lakes Res. 27:263-266. Section 12
Charlton M.N., R. LeSage, and J.E. Milne. 1999. Lake Erie in transition: the 1990s.
State of Lake Erie (SOLE) - Past, Present and Future, pp. 97-123. Edited by M. Munawar,
T. Edsall & I.F. Munawar. Ecovision World Monograph Series. Backhuys Publishers,
Leiden The Netherlands.
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2000. Identification of ecosystem alternatives for Lake Erie to support development of
ecosystem objectives. Lake Erie Lakewide Management Plan (LaMP) Technical Report
Series.
Corkum L.D., E.L. Mills, J.H. Leach and T.B. Johnson. 2001a. Lake Erie - A history of
fish invasions and trophic trends for the future. In: J.J.H. Ciborowski, M.N. Charlton
R.G. Kreis & J.P Reutter (Eds). Lake Erie at the Millennium: Changes, Trends and
Trajectories. Canadian Scholars' Press Inc, Toronto.
Corkum, L.D., M.R. Sapota and K.E. Skora. 2001b. The round goby, Neogobius
melanostomus, a fish invader on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Biological Invasions
(submitted).
Culver, D. Personal communication. The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.
Dextrase, A. and E. Paleczny. 2000. Public outreach efforts to reduce the risk of aquarium
fish introductions, p.22 Abstracts of the 10th International Aquatic Nuisance Species
and Zebra Mussel Conference, Toronto, ON.
Domske, H. Personal communication. New York Sea Grant, Buffalo, New York.
Elton C. 1958. The ecology of invasions by animals and plants. Chapman and Hall,
London, 181 pp.
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
Goulden, C.L., D. Tomljanovich, D. Kreeger and E. Corney. 1995. The invasion of
Daphnia lumholtzi Sars (Cladocera, Daphniidae) into a North American reservoir. Pages
9-38 In: S.W. Hamilton, D.S. White, E.W. Chester, and A.F. Scott (eds.). 1995. Proceedings
of the sixth symposium on the natural history of the lower Tennessee and Cumberland
River Valleys. The Center for Field Biology, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville,
Tennessee.
Hatch, J.J. 1995. Changing populations of double-crested cormorants. Colonial
Waterbirds 18 (Special Publication 1): 8-24.
Havel, J.E. and P.D.N. Hebert. 1993. Daphnia lumholtzi in North America: another
exotic zooplankter. Limnol. Oceanogr. 38:1837-1841.
Havel, J.E., W.R. Mabee, and J.R. Jones. 1995. Invasion of the exotic cladoceran Daphnia
lumholtzi into North American reservoirs. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 52: 151-160.
International Joint Commission. 1988. Revised Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement
of 1978, as amended by Protocol signed November 18, 1987. Consolidated by the
International Joint Commission United States and Canada.
Jackson, J.A. and B.J.S. Jackson. 1995. The double-crested cormorant in the South-
Central United States: Habitat and population changes of a feathered pariah. Colonial
Waterbirds 18 (Special Publication 1): 118-130.
Janssen J. and D.J. Jude. 2001. Recruitment failure of mottled sculpin Cottus bairdi,
s e c t i o n 12 in Calumet Harbor, southern Lake Michigan induced by the newly introduced round
goby Neogobius melanostomus. J. Great Lakes Research 27:319-328.
Johnson T. Personal communication. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Wheatley,
Ontario.
Knight, C. Personal communication. Division of Wildlife, Ohio Dept. of Natural
Resources, Fairport Harbor, Ohio.
Krohn, W.B., R.B. Allen, J.R. Moring, and A.E. Hutchinson. 1995. Double-crested
cormorants in New England: Population and management histories. Colonial Waterbirds
18 (Special Publication 1): 99-109.
Kwavnick, B. and J. Mortimer. 1999. Recreational water quality impairments (bacteria
levels and beach postings). Lake Erie LaMP Technical Report No. 12.
Lake Erie Committee. 1997. A fish community goal and objectives for Lake Erie. Lake
Erie Committee, Great Lakes Fishery Commission.
Lake Erie Committee. 2002. Fish community goals and objectives for Lake Erie. Lake
Erie Committee, Great Lakes Fishery Commission, (under development as of Feb. 2002).
Lake Erie LaMP 2000. The Lake Erie Lakewide Management Plan. Prepared by the
Lake Erie LaMP Work Group under the direction of the Lake Erie LaMP Management
Committee. [Julie Letterhos - Ed]. Enviromnent Canada, Ontario Region and U.S.
Enviromnental Protection Agency, Region 5.
Lambert, L„ J. Robinson M. Shieldcastle and M. Austen. 2001. Executive Summary:
Degraded wildlife populations and loss of wildlife habitat. Tech. Rept. No. 5. Lake Erie
Lakewide Management Plan (LaMP) Technical Report Series.
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
Lodge, D.M. 1993. Species invasions and deletions: community effects and responses
to climate and habitat change. In: P.M. Kareiva, J.G. Kingsolver, and R.B. Huey (eds)
Biotic interactions and global change, pp. 367-387. Sinauer Associates Inc., Sunderland,
MA.
Maclsaac, H. Personal communication. University of Windsor.
Makarewicz, J.C. and P. Bertram. 1991. Evidence for the restoration of the Lake Erie
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Metcalfe-Smith, J.L., G.L. Mackie, J. Di Maio, and S.K. Staton. 2000. Changes over
time in the diversity and distribution of freshwater mussels (Unionidae) in the Grand
River, Southwestern Ontario. J. Great Lakes Res. 26(4): 445-459.
Metcalfe-Smith, J.L., S.K. Staton G.L. Mackie and N.M. Lane. 1998a. Changes in the
biodiversity of freshwater mussels in the Canadian waters of the lower Great Lakes
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Metcalfe-Smith, J.L., S.K. Staton G.L. Mackie and N.M. Lane. 1998b. Selection of
candidate species of freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionidae) to be considered for
national status designations by COSEWIC. Canadian Field-Naturalist 112(3): 425-
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Lakes Res. 26:352-354.
Section 12
Obert, E. Personal communication. Pennsylvania Sea Grant, Erie, Pennsylvania.
Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association Program Division. 2001. Guelph,
Ontario.
Painter, S., C. Marvin, F. Rosa, T.B. Reynoldson M.N. Charlton, M. Fox, P.A. Lina
Thiessen and J.F. Estenik. 2001. Sediment contamination in Lake Erie: A 25-Year
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collection programs for assessing pollutants of concern to Lake Erie. Lake Erie
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and concentrations of contaminants of concern in surficial streambed and lakebed
sediments. Lake Erie-Lake Saint Clair drainages, 1990-97. Water Resources
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Colorado, USA.
Ricciardi, A. and H.J. Maclsaac. 2000. Recent mass invasion of the North American
Great Lakes by Ponto-Caspian species. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 15: 62-65.
Roberts, P. A. Personal Communication Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural
Affairs, December, 2001.
Schreier, T.M., VK. Dawson, W.J. Larson and S.M. Schleis. 2001. Piscicides as an
emergency tool for controlling range expansion of the round goby (Neogobius
melcmostomus) in the Illinois Waterway. Int. Assoc. for Great Lakes Res. Abstracts
from the 44th Conference on Great Lakes Research, June 10-14, 2001, Green Bay,
Wisconsin.
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LAKE ERIE LaMP 2002
Shieldcastle, M. Personal communication. Division of Wildlife. Ohio Dept. of Natural
Resources. Crane Creek Wildlife Research Station. Oak Harbor, Ohio.
Smith.S.L., D.D. MacDonald, K,A, Keenleyside, C.G. Ingersoll and L.J. Field. 1996. A
preliminary evaluation of sediment quality assessment values for freshwater
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another unwelcome invader in the Mississippi River basin. Transactions of the 65th
North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference pp. 328-344.
Thoma, R. Personal communication. Ohio Environmental Protection Agency,
Twinsburg, Ohio.
Trapp, J.L., S.J. Lewis, and D.M. Pence. 1999. Double-crested cormorant impact on
sport fish: Literature review, agency survey, and strategies. In Symposium on double-
crested cormorants: population status and management issues in the Midwest [ed. M.
Tobin], pp. 87-96. U.S. Dept. Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
Tech. Bull. No. 1879.
Trout man. M.B. 1981. The fishes of Ohio. Revised edition. The Ohio State University
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double-crested cormorants in the United States and Canada. In Symposium on double-
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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2001. Draft Environmental Impact Statement: Double-
crested cormorant management. 174 p.
Vanderploeg, H.A., J.R. Liebig, W.W. Cannichael, M.A. Agy, T.H. Johengen, G.L.
Fahnenstiel, and T.F. Nalepa. 2001. Zebra mussel (Dreissena polvmorpha) selective
filtration promoted toxic Microcystis blooms in Saginaw Bay (Lake Huron) and Lake
Erie. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 58: 1208-1221.
Weseloh, D.V, P.J. Ewins, J. Struger, P. Mineau, C.A. Bishop, S. Postupalsky and J.P
Ludwig. 1995. Double-crested cormorants in the Great Lakes: changes in population
size, breeding distribution, and reproductive output between 1913 and 1991. Colonial
Waterbirds 18:48-59.
Section 12
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How to Get Involved
The LaMP 2002 report is also available on the Lake Erie LaMP website. Comments on the Lake Erie LaMP 2002
report or on the Lake Erie LaMP process can be submitted on-line. The report and comment form can be
accessed at either: www.ec.gc.ca/glimr/lakes/erie/; orwww.epa.gov/glnpo/lakeerie/.
If you would like to receive the Lake Erie LaMP Update and other Lake Erie LaMP information as it becomes
available, join the Lake Erie Network. Contact:
Marlene O'Brien, Environment Canada Rita Garner, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
867 Lakeshore Road 77 West Jackson Boulevard WG 15J
^ Burlington, Ontario L7R 4A6 ¦ Chicago, Illinois 60604
^ Phone:905-336-4552 Phone:312-886-2440
< Fax:905-336-6272 3 Fax:312-886-6171
O marlene.obrien@ec.gc.ca Garner.Rita@epa.gov
If you would like to become a member o
Teresa Hollingsworth, FOCALerie
J* 1424 Clarke Road
London, Ontario N5V 5B9
^ Phone:519-451-2800 x 226
< Fax:519-451-1188
O hollingswortht@thamesriver.on.ca
Erie Binational Public Forum, please contact:
T.J. Holsen, The Delta Institute
53 West Jackson Boulevard, Suite 1604
Chicago, Illinois 60604
^ Phone:312-554-0900
Z3 Fax:312-554-0193
tjholsen@delta-institute.org
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