1. Project Title: Col. Samuel Smith Waterfront Park Bass Spawning Area
2. Contact
Jennifer Vincent
Metropolitan Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
5 Shoreham Drive, Downsview, Ontario M3N 1S4
Tel.: (416) 661-6600 ext. 349; FAX: (416) 661-6898
3. Agencies Involved
Metropolitan Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
Environment Canada's Great Lakes Cleanup Fund
Ontario Ministry of Environment and Energy
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto
4. Restoration Goal
To create smallmouth bass spawning areas within the northerly wetland of Col. Samuel Smith Park.
5. Project Type
Creation of new habitat
6. Background and Rationale
Historically, wetlands were viewed as wastelands that were to be filled for agricultural or urban development. An estimated 832 ha of coastal wetlands once existed within the Metropolitan Toronto area. Today, only 93 ha remain and attitudes towards wetlands have changed. They are now viewed as being an important component of a healthy environment; important not only for wildlife, but humans as well.
The Col. Samuel Smith Waterfront Park is situated on the shoreline of Lake Ontario at the base of Kipling Avenue, within the City of Etobicoke. In the Revised Master Plan dated April 3, 1992, the most significant modification was the replacement of a swimming lake with a marsh/wetland component.
The creation of the marsh/wetland is in keeping with MTRCA's Lake Ontario Waterfront Regeneration Project for 1992 - 1994. This natural habitat initiative is part of additional regeneration efforts for Col. Samuel Smith Park including fisheries habitat and terrestrial habitat. The Royal Commission of the Future of the Toronto Waterfront suggested in their Shoreline Regeneration Report that "efforts to create habitat such as wetlands should be actively supported in the Greater Toronto Bioregion Shoreline Plan." The Metro Toronto and Region Remedial Action Plan has identified a target of increasing the biomass of piscivorous fish species to levels above 20% of the total resident fish biomass.
The creation of bass spawning habitat will increase recruitment within the Col. Sam Smith Waterfront Park vicinity of Lake Ontario, increasing the biomass of piscivorous fish across the Toronto waterfront.
7. Regulatory Considerations
This project was considered under the Environmental Assessment Act for the Col. Sam Smith Revised Master Plan and approved by the Ministry of Environment and Energy.
A number of approvals from Federal, Provincial, and Municipal agencies are required to meet legislative requirements before conducting this project. The following outlines each Federal, Provincial, and Municipal agency involved in the approval process.
Federal
Environment Canada
Summaries of Initial Assessment as per Federal Environmental Assessment Review Process
Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Fisheries Act
Provincial
Ontario Ministry of Environment and Energy
Provincial Environmental Assessment Act
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
Fisheries Act
Lakes and Rivers Improvement Act
Public Lands Act
Municipal
Metropolitan Toronto Parks and Property
Waterfront Agreement 1972
Metropolitan Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
Internal development project approvals
8. Criteria
According to Scott and Crossman (1973), smallmouth bass build nests in areas with a sandy or rock bottom near the protection of logs or boulders. Productivity and recruitment is dependant on thermally stable waters and the proximity of aquatic vegetation for foraging by fry and juvenile fish.
9. Project Design
Three bass spawning shoals approximately 3 m2 in size were constructed in the permanent water channel on the south side of the island, adjacent to the seasonally flooded area. The spawning areas are located close to shore, adjacent to emergent and floating aquatic vegetation, and in the protected less exposed ares of the wetland. The spawning areas will be exposed during average low water conditions, this will preserve the substrate conditions by discouraging colonization by plants.
10. Implementation
The Koering backhoe created a stable foundation using a mixture
of pea sized gravel and sand. This was placed in the water covering
an area of roughly 3 m2. Three or four pieces of irregularly shaped
armour stone were then placed on the pea gravel/sand pad. The
boulders will provide additional protection to redds and will
maximize the productive potential of the spawning area by providing
a visual barrier between adult fish. While these areas are intended
for smallmouth bass, many species of resident fish will potentially
make use of these shoals.
11. Degree of Environmental Intervention
The area in which the bass spawning shoals were placed was excavated from lakefill to create permanent water and seasonally flooded zones. Therefore, the degree of environmental impact was isolated from fish and wildlife activities.
The excavation of the site was completed "in the dry", limiting the affects of excavation on the surrounding fish and wildlife communities.
12. Cost
Design & supervision: $1 500
Materials: $600
Construction: $500
Monitoring: $1 000
Total: $3 600
13. Biological Assessment
Fish seining inventories completed in July and September 1994 indicated the area colonized by smallmouth bass, northern pike, and various types of sunfish and minnows. Fish age classifications included mature adult, juvenile, and young of the year. These results show that fish colonization and recruitment is occurring, indicating successful habitat creation.
Future monitoring of the site is expected to show increased recruitment and fish species diversity.
14. Measures of Success
Basic construction was completed in November 1993. Fish access to the entire site was grant with the removal of barriers in June 1994. Therefore, assessment results are preliminary. Further monitoring is required. Initial results show the area being colonized and show recruitment of smallmouth bass occurring.
Success Rating: 1 - assessment incomplete
15. Key References
Scott, W.B., and Crossman, E.J. 1973. Freshwater Fishes of Canada. Fish. Res. Board Can. Bull. 184: 996 p.
Strus, R., 1994. 1989 - 1993 Toronto Waterfront Fish Communities: Summary and Assessment. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Greater Toronto and Area District.
Vincent J, 1992. Toronto Waterfront Habitat Rehabilitation Pilot Projects. Technical Report: 1993. Metropolitan Toronto and Region Conservation Authority.
Correct citation for this contribution:
Vincent, J. 1995. Col. Samuel Smith waterfront park bass spawning area, p. 128-132. In J.R.M. Kelso and J.H. Hartig [editors]. Methods of modifying habitat to benefit the Great Lakes ecosystem. CISTI (Can. Inst. Sci. Tech. Inf.) Occas. Pap. No. 1.