AREA OF CONCERN

Canada

U.S.A.

(Click on the different headings to open/close the related information)

Niagara River, Ontario
(This section includes Stage of RAP development, Beneficial Use Impairments and their delisting targets, and information on whether the AOC has been accurately mapped.)

Stage of RAP Development:

2

Are electronic maps available that include the AOC's geographic boundaries and associated sources of pollution?

Yes

Beneficial Use Impairments (BUI):
(The BUI will appear underlined if a delisting target has been determined.
If underlined, click on the BUI to display the delisting target.)

Restrictions on Fish and Wildlife Consumption

* There be no restrictions on consumption of fish attributable to local sources in the Canadian AOC (incl. Welland River and tribs).
* Monitoring program indicates healthy, contaminant free, self-sustaining populations (incl. Welland River and tribs).
* To reduce sedimentation on fish spawning beds and to ensure all life levels of desirable fish species are unimpeded, identify and correct high erosion areas, so that non-storm suspended solids are less than 80 mg/L (Welland River and tribs only).

Degraded Fish and Wildlife Populations

* Monitoring program indicates healthy, contaminant free, self-sustaining populations (incl. Welland River and tribs).
* To reduce sedimentation on fish spawning beds and to ensure all life levels of desirable fish species are unimpeded, identify and correct high erosion areas, so that non-storm suspended solids are less than 80 mg/L (Welland River and tribs only).

Bird or Animal Deformities or Reproductive Problems

The incidence rates of deformities or reproductive problems in sentinel fish and wildlife species do not exceed background levels in control populations

Degradation of Benthos

Ensure adequate sampling has been undertaken to identify all contaminated sediment sites. Use the most stringent guidelines for contaminant levels in suspended, transported and in-place sediments, of the jurisdictions involved (contaminants at or below LEL) (incl. Welland River and tribs).

Restrictions on Dredging Activities

Suspended, transported and in-place sediments contain levels of contaminants at or below LEL. Where no LEL standard exists, use LC50 (incl. Welland River and tribs).

Eutrophication or Undesirable Algae

* Demonstrated commitment by municipal and industrial plant owners to ensure continual improvements, i.e., total quality management program in place (incl. Welland River and tribs).
* Use most stringent swimming water objectives for phosphorus, sediments, turbidity and drinking water objectives for toxic chemicals of the jurisdictions involved (incl. Welland River and tribs).
* Goal of 30 ug/L for phosphorus, by controlling sources of phosphorus and other nutrients (i.e. nitrate and ammonia) (Welland River and tribs only).

Restrictions on Drinking Water Consumption or Taste and Odor Problems

* There be no exceedence of the most stringent water quality objectives of the jurisdictions involved.
* Use most stringent swimming water objectives for phosphorus, sediments, turbidity and drinking water objectives for toxic chemicals of the jurisdictions involved (incl. Welland River and tribs).

Beach Closings

* 90% of the wet weather (peak) flow and all dry weather flow in combined sewer systems is treated to WPCP levels, on an annual basis (incl. Welland River and tribs).
* There be no exceedence of the most stringent water quality objectives of the jurisdictions involved (incl. Welland River and tribs).
* Use most stringent swimming water objectives for phosphorus, sediments, turbidity, and drinking water objectives for toxic chemicals of the jurisdictions involved (incl. Welland River and tribs).
* Fecal coliforms less than 100 counts/100 ml in the Welland River and tribs; secchi disk visibility greater than 1.2 m

Loss of Fish and Wildlife Habitat

* Point source monitoring shows trace amounts or non-detectable levels of persistent bio-accumulative toxics (incl. Welland River and tribs).
* Non-point source monitoring shows trace amounts or non-detectable levels of persistent bio-accumulative toxics (incl. Welland River and tribs).
* Monitoring program indicates healthy, contaminant free, self-sustaining populations (incl. Welland River and tribs).

CONTAMINATED SEDIMENT

Estimated remaining volume of contaminated sediment within the AOC:

no information

Remediation to Date
Project Name:	Amount Remediated:	Remediation Cost:
Welland River	10500 cu. m	$2,600,000

Planned Action Regarding Sediment Remediation
Project Name:	Amt. to be Remediated:	Estimated Cost:
Assessment required to determine remediation options		$0
Lyons Creek (sediment management strategy being developed		$

WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE

Improvements to Wastewater Infrastructure - Dollars Spent:
Environment Canada	$920116
Ontario	$22000000

Identified Future Costs for Wastewater Infra. - Dollars Needed:
Niagara Falls CSOs - Muddy Creek	$13000000
Welland CSOs	$13 000 000 to $50 000 000

HABITAT

Projects / Proposals / Costs:

More than $5,000,000 spent on habitat projects - CUF/GLSF

Implementation of Welland River Watershed Strategy is on-going. 96,000 trees planted & 18 km. of fencing installed to protect riparian habitat

Niagara Restoration COuncil has begun project to remove/mitigate all barriers to fish passage in the AOC watersheds by 2005

OTHER SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

Issues, including National Priority List (NPL) sites:

Four party Niagara River Toxics Management Strategy

Welland River Watershed Strategy: reduction of 1500 kg. of phosphorus entering watercourses

Non-point source project: $3,800,000 - CUF/GLSF

Monitoring results in the Niagara River show concentrations of priority toxic chemicals have been significantly reduced

MANAGEMENT

Federal	Janette Anderson, Environment Canada PO Box 5050, 867 Lakeshore Rd. Burlington, ON L7R 4A6 (905) 336-6277
Provincial	Mary Ellen Scanlon, Great Lakes Advisor, Ontario M Ellen Fairclough Bldg, 12 Fl., 119 King St. W Hamilton, ON L8P 4Y7 (905) 521-7715
Local	David Beamer, Niagara River Restoration Council PO Box 28002 St. Catharines, ON L2N 7P8 (905) 788-0248
Local	Jocelyn Baker, Niagara Peninsula CA 250 Thorold Road W Welland, ON L3C 3W2 (905) 788-3135x243

LINK TO ENVIRONMENT CANADA WEBSITE

Please Note: Values provided are intended as indicators only, and may not capture all expenditures or work done. Summary is based on best available Information. "No Information" indicates relevant information was not available at time of publication.