Plugin-Cootes Restoration Lecture

Chow-FraserPatricia Chow-Fraser
Restoration of Cootes Paradise Marsh:

A synopsis

Dr. Pat Chow-Fraser

Biology 2F03 Fall 2010
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1


Distribution of Canadian Great Lakes coastal wetlands
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2


Farming has been most harmful for coastal wetlands
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3


Farming has been most harmful for coastal wetlands
From GLEI (Great Lakes Environmental Indicators project)
Water Quality Index

(WQI) measures the
amount of pollutants in
the wetland stemming
from surface runoff
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4


Urbanization impacts?
Current
home of
McMaster
University
90% loss of
aquatic
vegetation
Turtle
habitat
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5


Currently, the water-

shed* has relatively
large portions of
developed land that
can lead to a high
loading of nutrients
and sediments.
Change in wetland hydrogeomorphology
Desjardins
Canal was
dredged and
had to be
continously
cleared of
aquatic plants
and sediment
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1. During construction of the

Desjardins Canal, sediment
excavated were placed on
adjacent banks and
prevented overbank floods
from nourishing the marsh
for 100 years.

2. Sedimentation rate is also

reduced because fine
substrate (clay) stays in
suspension and is easily
transported into Hamilton
Harbour.

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7


3. Construction of
two dams to
control flooding
on the Upper
Spencer Creek
resulted in
sediment
retention of at
least 60%,
further reducing
sediment
nourishment in
the marsh.

4. Urbanization of
watershed
increased total
run-off and flood
peaks, but clay
substrate stayed
in suspension and
was quickly
discharged into
Hamilton
Harbour through
the Desjardins
canal.

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5. Disturbance by
exotic species, the
common carp, can
resuspend
sediment and add
to lowered
sedimentation rate.

Relevant literature ...
Chow-Fraser, P., Lougheed, V.L., Crosbie, B., LeThiec, V., Simser, L., and
Lord, J. 1998. Long-term response of the biotic community to
fluctuating water levels and changes in water quality in Cootes
Paradise Marsh, a degraded coastal wetland of L. Ontario. Wetland
Ecol. Manage. 6: 19-42.
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9


1948 1973 1994

Secchi depth 40 23 22
Turbidity 31 37 54
Chlorophyll 189 54
In 1946:

16 taxa, including those that
require good light penetration

(pondweed, waterweed, etc.)

In 1995:

1 species primarily (sago
pondweed) accounting for only
1% of the aquatic vegetative
cover.

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In 1946:

22 taxa accounting for 46% vegetative cover,
dominated by 3 different species; higher plant
diversity

In 1995:

8 species, accounting for 10% , primarily cattails
and some non-native species such as purple
loosestrife and the common reed from Eurasia

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11


According to Whillans
(1982), 76% of areal cover
of emergent vegetation
present in 1800s had
disappeared to
< 10% by mid 1970s. We
have evidence that this
decline began shortly after
1934 when there were still
about 85% cover.
Photos below taken from: http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/Rainero-46245-StreamEcology-Stream-

Ecology-indicator-species-studying-act-bioindicators-qu-a-Entertainment-ppt-powerpoint/
Pollution intolerant Pollution tolerant
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12


Now, small zooplankton

Daphnia (Bosmina) and rotifers
dominate.

• Piscivores
Eat other fish
and variety of
invertebrates
Largemouth bass Northern pike
• Planktivores And many immature

Eat phytoplankton Alewife fish species
and zooplankton
• Benthivores
Eat benthic
invertebrates Common carp Bullhead
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35 Species 31 species
 Piscivores and • Planktivores and
benthivores and a few benthivores; few
planktivore taxa piscivore taxa
 Northern pike,  Common carp,

largemouth bass, white pumpkinseed
suckers, gizzard shad,
common carp, some  white perch, alewife
alewife
 Good representation of  Few taxa dominate;

taxa; carp dominate carp dominate
only in low-DO throughout the marsh
conditions
In the past 30 years, water levels are too high to establish a

large emergent vegetation community
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Relationship between number of

submergent taxa found in coastal
wetlands and water turbidity.
Poor water clarity prevents viable

submergent plant community to
become established.
Major contributors of nutrients today are CSO,

sediment regeneration and Spencer’s Creek
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When they feed, they

create “poofs” through
their sucking action on
When common carp spawn, they thrash the sediment.
during mating and can resuspend
sediment.
Healthy State
1 85% 2
Low Water Level
Emergents
Sediment Loading 3 Low Water 5
from Watershed Turbidity
Low 15 7
Nutrients Diverse
Sewage Benthos with
4
14 numerous
Creeks Insect Larvae
13
Lower Algal
Biomass Low
Epiphyton
Conceptual Large
12
biomass
8
food-web Herbivorous
Zooplankton 6
model of 11
Diverse
Submergent
Low
healthy Planktivore
Biomass
Community
9
wetland 10
High
Piscivore
Biomass
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16


Degraded State
2
1
High Water Level Loss of
29
Emergents Carp
3 5 Spawning
4
Wind Resuspension
6 14
High Water
Sediment Loading 7 Turbidity
from Watershed
30 8
27
Carp Benthos tolerant
of low DO and
Feeding 9 soft substrate
Internal Loading 10
13 28
Sewage 11 High 12 High Algal
Creeks Nutrients Biomass
Combined Sewer 15
16
Overflows
High
22 Epiphyton
Small Biomass
Conceptu
21
Herbivorous 17
Zooplankton 26
al food- High
20
Loss of
Submergents
Planktivore
web
18
Biomass
model of Low
19
Piscivore 25
degraded Biomass 23
Diurnal
Dissolved
Oxygen Flux
wetland 24
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17


Degraded State
2
1
High Water Level Loss of
29
Emergents Carp
3 5 Spawning
4
Wind Resuspension
6 14
High Water
Sediment Loading 7 Turbidity
from Watershed
30 8
27
Carp Benthos tolerant
of low DO and
Feeding 9 soft substrate
Internal Loading 10
13 28
Sewage 11 High 12 High Algal
Creeks Nutrients Biomass
Combined Sewer 15
16
Overflows
High
22 Epiphyton
Small Biomass
Conceptu
21
Herbivorous 17
Zooplankton 26
al food- High
20
Loss of
Submergents
Planktivore
web
18
Biomass
model of Low
19
Piscivore 25
degraded Biomass 23
Diurnal
Dissolved
Oxygen Flux
wetland 24
 Initiated by International Joint

Commission in 1987
 Hamilton was one of 43 Areas of
Concern
 RAP was developed in 1992 that
included marsh restoration plan
of Cootes Paradise
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19


Fish migrate out of

marsh in fall and into
the marsh in spring

When fish swim up to

the grates, they either
turn around or swim
into baskets…..

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20


Baskets hand
sorted and
identified and
carp are sent
back to the
harbour and all
others are
allowed into the
marsh
40
30
After exclusion
20
10
0
1996 1997 1998
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21


Before exclusion After exclusion

400 carp/ha 10-40 carp/ha
Moderately
degraded
degraded
degraded
Highly
Very
Good
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22


Excellent
Very good
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23


 Water level
 Effluent from sewage treatment plant
 High water turbidity
 Carp bioturbation
 Wind and wave action
 Dredging of the Desjardins Canal
 Infilling for road building
 Building of dams upstream
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24


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The cattail species (Typha latifolia) that

could not tolerate inundation (being submersed
in water) was eventually replaced by the
putative hybrid species (Typha Xglaucai) that
could tolerate inundation.
This species is much more resistant to water-
level fluctuations but is not native to the marsh
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Chow-FraserPatricia Chow-Fraser

Restoration of Cootes Paradise Marsh:

Dr. Pat Chow-Fraser

Title goes here

Distribution of Canadian Great Lakes coastal wetlands

Title goes here

Farming has been most harmful for coastal wetlands

Title goes here

Farming has been most harmful for coastal wetlands

From GLEI (Great Lakes Environmental Indicators project)

Water Quality Index

Title goes here

Title goes here

Currently, the water-

Change in wetland hydrogeomorphology

Title goes here

1. During construction of the

2. Sedimentation rate is also

Title goes here

Title goes here

Relevant literature ...

Title goes here

1948 1973 1994

Title goes here

Title goes here

Photos below taken from: http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/Rainero-46245-StreamEcology-Stream-

Pollution intolerant Pollution tolerant

Title goes here

Now, small zooplankton

• Planktivores And many immature

Title goes here

 Northern pike,  Common carp,

 Good representation of  Few taxa dominate;

In the past 30 years, water levels are too high to establish a

Title goes here

Relationship between number of

Poor water clarity prevents viable

Major contributors of nutrients today are CSO,

Title goes here

When they feed, they

Sediment Loading 3 Low Water 5

from Watershed Turbidity

Title goes here

Title goes here

 Initiated by International Joint

Title goes here

Title goes here

Fish migrate out of

When fish swim up to

Title goes here

Title goes here

Before exclusion After exclusion

Title goes here

Title goes here

Title goes here

Title goes here

Title goes here

The cattail species (Typha latifolia) that

Title goes here

Title goes here

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