1. Project Title: D'Arcy McKeough Floodway Habitat Enhancement Project
2. Contact
Don Hector, Project Coordinator
Bret Colman, Project Facilitator
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), 1023 Richmond St. West,
Chatham, Ontario N7M 5J5
P.O. Box 1168 N7M 5L8
Tel. (519) 354-7340; FAX: (519) 354-0313
3. Agencies Involved
Ducks Unlimited
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR)
Rural Lambton Stewardship Network
St. Clair Region Conservation Authority (SCRCA)
Great Lakes Cleanup Fund
4. Restoration Goal
Enhance the existing vacant land within the floodway into wetland thereby providing aquatic and semi-aquatic habitat for a variety of birds, mammals, reptile, and amphibian species. Vacant berms surrounding the floodway would provide nesting, shelter, and feeding opportunities for a variety of songbirds and small mammals.
5. Project Type
Wetland creation as well as "prairie pothole" ponds and wildlife habitat enhancement.
6. Background and Rationale
A by-pass floodway was constructed in the mid 1970's connecting the north branch of the Sydenham River to the St. Clair River. The floodway runs in an east to west direction just south of Wilkesport in Sombra Township to the St. Clair River with the outlet being immediately east of Fawn Island. The floodway is used to prevent flooding of the Town of Wallaceburg. When flood waters rise in the two rivers, the Wilkesport dam is closed and re-directs the flood waters down the floodway to the St. Clair River. During the non-flood periods, which is almost all year, the floodway is dry except for a small channel containing run-off from the floodway itself.
The floodway bottom is approximately 100 m in width with a uniform, flat profile. The sides of the floodway are at a 3:1 slope. At the top of the slopes are berms which were created from the dredge material from the floodway itself. The slopes are approximately 10 m in vertical height. A concrete head-wall, 1 m in height, is 350 m east of the County Road 33 bridge at the outlet of the floodway. A 15 cm culvert allows run-off water to drain through the head-wall. The bottom of the floodway is currently planted in hay which at one time was harvested by local cattle farmers. The hay, however, is of poor quality and is difficult to harvest due to access problems.
Expected Date of Implementation: 1995/1996
7. Regulatory Considerations
Approvals on-going:
1. Environmental Assessment: Provincial Class EA Planning Procedure
Federal Environmental Assessment Review Process, because we were using federal funds (Environment Canada's Great Lakes Cleanup Fund);
2. Flood and Fill Regulations: SCRCA presently reviewing (Feb. 24, 1995 deadline), future request for work permit.
8. Criteria
The primary objective is to develop a wetland area within the floodway with a uniform water depth of 30 to 60 cm. Ideally this wet area will have an interspersion of 50% vegetation and 50% open water. Water velocity throughout the wetland should be minimal. Supplemental macrophyte plantings will be of native shrub seed and grass seed. The grasses will be planted in a succession nature, planting shorter species along the wetland fringe and gradually increasing the height of the species with distance from the wetland. A series of "Prairie pothole" ponds will be created within the floodway with a maximum depth of 60 to 90 cm. The existing clay substrate within the floodway will be maintained for the pond creation.
9. Project Design
The project design will be subject to review by Ontario MNR engineers for hydraulic concerns.
10. Implementation
The excavation of ponds, as well as the installation of a water control structure, within the floodway will be handled by a private contractor and will conform to Ontario MNR guidelines. Supplemental native aquatic plant seed would be acquired from local nurseries in the event that natural aquatic regeneration of the floodway was unsuccessful. A local native seed source will accommodate the revegetation of floodway slopes.
11. Degree of Environmental Intervention
Excavation of "prairie pothole" ponds within the floodway will involve the use of a backhoe. As the existing project area is relatively sterile with respect to fish and wildlife species, environmental impact should be minimal. All seed sources will be native, and excavated or piled material will all originate from the site.
12. Cost
Costs are minimal in the design and construction of the valve and inlet structure. Vegetation and shrub planting could be incorporated into existing SCRCA and Ontario MNR tree planting programs. The only substantial cost, pending estimates from local contractors, would be the construction of the ponds.
13. Biological Assessment
Amphibian call count monitoring, nesting structure monitoring, and wetland evaluations are optimal activities to realize the success of the newly created wetland ecosystem.
14. Measures of Success
Biological assessment of the rehabilitated portion of the floodway should provide indicators of success.
Success Rating: 1
15. Key References
Ministry of Natural Resources, 1994, draft version, "Survey of Candidate Sites on the St. Clair and Detroit Rivers for Potential Habitat Rehabilitation/Enhancement".
St. Clair River RAP Ministry of Natural Resources, Rural Lambton Stewardship Network, 1994, draft version, "St. Clair/Sydenham River Regional Habitat Management Plan".
Correct citation for this contribution:
Hector, D., and Colman, B. 1995. Darcy McKeough floodway habitat enchancement project, p. 176-178. 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.