Great Lakes Sustainability Fund Photo Stories

St. Lawrence River Area of Concern

Lake St. Francis/St. Lawrence River Tributary Restoration Project

$545,000 Total; $121,000 provided by the Great Lakes Sustainability Fund

In 2010, the tributaries of the St. Lawrence River and Lake St. Francis became the focus of a large scale environmental improvement program focusing on water quality and fish habitat rehabilitation. Projects to be undertaken within this program will aim to reduce nutrient and bacteria loadings, sedimentation, channelization and habitat loss. Specific projects to be carried out in the 2010 fiscal year include providing assistance to landowners in establishing riparian habitat areas through the planting of up to 30,000 trees, and the establishment of programs to reduce contamination levels in agricultural runoff through the improved maintenance of manure storage facilities and the restriction of cattle from waterways. In addition to these programs, significant public outreach and stewardship initiatives will be implemented to reduce phosphorus, bacteria and other contaminant loadings on the tributaries.

 

image of a farm with outdoor manure storage facilities
Poor manure storage practices in streams
Source: Raisin Region Conservation Authority

image of a dirty pool of water
Water quality impairment cause by cattle access in streams
Source: Raisin Region Conservation Authority

Niagara River Area of Concern

Niagara River Area of Concern Fish Barrier Mitigation Project

$157,600 Total; $45,000 provided by the Great Lakes Sustainability Fund

In 2010, the Niagara River Area of Concern (AOC) Fish Barrier Mitigation project came to a successful completion with three final projects. Conducted over 10 years, the project now opens up over 500 km of potential fish habitat. In total, 29 barriers to fish migration in the Welland River portion of the AOC were removed. The project has been recognized by the Niagara River Remedial Action Plan as a major accomplishment towards improving fish habitat in the Niagara River AOC.

image of a human-made barrier in a river
Before remediation of barrier 103
Source: Niagara Restoration Council

image of the same river without the barrier
After remediation of barrier (pre-installation of bridge)
Source: Niagara Restoration Council

Thunder Bay Area of Concern

Thunder Bay North Harbour Sediment Management Project

$375,836 Total; $180,000 provided by the Great Lakes Sustainability Fund

In 2009, the Thunder Bay North Harbour Sediment Project was developed to assess mercury and organic (wood fibres/pulp) contaminated sediments in the northern portion of Thunder Bay Harbour. Impairments in Thunder Bay North Harbour caused by these contaminated sediments include restrictions on fish consumption, degradation of fish populations, degradation of benthos, restrictions on dredging activities and loss of fish habitat. This project was implemented to analyze sediment in North Harbour in order to assess the feasibility of various sediment management options and to develop an effective sediment management strategy.

backhoe removing sample from water bed
Sampling with backhoe
(Geotech Inv Nov. 2009)
Source: Environment Canada

organic waste in a container
Organic Waste Sample
Source: Environment Canada