PUBLIC NOTICE - ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

Simon Lunn
Rideau Canal Resource Conservation Specialist
34A Beckwith St., South
Smiths Falls, ON K7A 2A8
Phone: (613) 283-5170
Fax: (613) 283-0677

D. J. Ballinger
A/Superintendent, Rideau Canal
34A Beckwith St., South
Phone: (613) 283-5170
Fax: (613) 283-0677

Contact Address:

Table 1

Rideau Lakes Houseboats is a houseboat rental and marina operation located on Big Rideau Lake east of the Town of Portland (Pt Lot 17, Concession II, Bastard and South Burgess Ward, Township of Rideau Lakes in the County of Leeds).ã This facility, and much of the adjoining shoreline development between Portland and Briton Bay, is situated within a provincially significant wetland known as the Big Rideau Wetland Complex (Atkinson and Huizer Biosurveys 1992).ã Seven houseboats have been available for rent since 1997, under the name of "Fun-a-Float", while an adjoining marina has been in operation since 1988. The docking facility presently consists of a 53 m floating dock abutting a created peninsula, and an additional 50 m floating dock extending off the end (see Figure 1).ã The entire facility is located within a small sheltered embayment bordered by the peninsula to the west, and a natural wooded shoreline to the east (see Appendix 1).ã Several well-delineated routes are available for accessing the main channel of the Rideau Canal (see Figure 2), before traveling to other parts of the waterway (e.g., Upper Rideau Lake via Narrows Lock, Lower Rideau Lake via Rocky Narrows).ã Existing marina operations and docking facilities are approved under a waterlot license agreement with Rideau Canal, and as of 1998, municipal zoning for this site has been designated as Commercial -Tourist by the Township of Bastard/South Burgess (a letter detailing accepted commercial operations for this zoning has been forwarded to Rideau Canal Office by the Township Planner).

In response to unusually low fall water levels that were impeding essential houseboat operations, maintenance dredging was conducted in 1999 to increase water depths from less than 3.0' to 4.0'.ã This dredging was approved by Rideau Canal following the submission of an environmental assessment, sediment analysis and monitoring plan (Ecological Services 1999).ã A small rock and log shoal intended as fish habitat was also created at this time, and is located off the end of the floating dock.ã There is now 7.0' of water available in the waterlot area during the regular boating season (May 19^th - September 30^th), which is more than sufficient for maneuvering of boats.ã Immediately beyond the waterlot, water depths increase a further 1.0' - 2.0', gradually deepening as one moves further from shore (see Figure 4).ã These measured depths are substantially greater than those indicated on both the 1988 Navigation Chart for Big Rideau Lake (Fisheries and Oceans Canada 1988) and the Big Rideau Lake Wetland Complex Evaluation map (Atkinson and Huizer Biosurveys 1992.)

The proponent recently purchased 19 houseboats from a competitor who was previously operating from the north shore of Big Rideau Lake (Rideau Lakes Houseboat Vacations).ã He intends to add these boats to the existing rental fleet, bringing the total number to 26 (see Table I below).ã It is important to note that between 1985-1998, 57 houseboats were being rented from the north shore site alone.ã As that facility is no longer in operation, the number of commercial houseboats plying the waters of Big Rideau Lake in 2001 is expected to decline by more than 50%.

Because of limited dock space, it is expected that only 17 of the 26 houseboats may be anchored at the marina at any given time (see Figure 2).ã If more than 17 boats require dock space, they will be paired up using specially constructed metal tie-bars and, if necessary, the floating dock will be extended another 18 meters.ã Under this plan of operation, all houseboats can effectively be docked within the existing waterlot area (see Figure 2).

All houseboat rental operations, including maintenance and dry-docking will be done within the designated C-T zoning area.ã Furthermore, a new 5000-gallon septic pump-out facility is to be installed 38 m from the high water mark, as per code (details regarding this installation are shown in Appendix 3).ã The tank capacity is more than sufficient to handle all septic and greywater waste from the 26 houseboats.ã It will be professionally installed on an existing area of lawn, and will meet all municipal and health regulations.ã An access road to the tank for scheduled service is already present

Big Rideau Lake is the largest and deepest lake within the Rideau Canal watershed.ã Presently, up to 95% of the shoreline is developed.ã Nutrient enrichment levels, which can be partially attributed to cultural sources, are moderate compared to other lakes in the system (e.g., Upper Rideau), and there remain some deep, cool and well-oxygenated areas of the lake that support coldwater fish species, including Lake Trout and Smallmouth Bass (MacLean and Clayton 1981).

At present, an average of 75.000 boaters use the Rideau Canal lock-station system annually, and levels have remained steady over the past decade (Rideau Canal 1995a).ã Boat traffic on the Big Rideau and elsewhere appears to have peaked sometime in the late 1980's (Michalski and Usher 1988).

The 650 ha provincially significant Big Rideau Lake Wetland Complex extends from the Town of Portland northeast through Briton Bay and Little Lake (Atkinson and Huizer Biosurveys 1992).ã Wetland complexes are comprised of individual wetlands occurring within 750 m straight-line distance from each other and where the entire complex influences ecological functions and features.

The waterlot portion of the marina has been designated in the Wetland Evaluation as open water marsh, a vegetation community dominated by water lily, pondweeds, and Eurasian milfoil (see Figure 3).ã Although a community of sparse submergents (pondweeds, eelgrass) and floating vegetation (water lily) does occur in the embayment immediately east of the waterlot (see Appendix 1), past dredging operations in and around the docking area have exposed a rock/gravel substrate that no longer supports these species and, therefore, cannot be considered as wetland under the terms of the Wetland Evaluation System (OMNR 1993).ã Furthermore, as the classification of submergents, marsh is restricted to waters of 2 metres in depth or less, most or the waterlot should not be considered as wetland, as it is deeper than 2 metres throughout the spring and summer (falling to <2 m in fall as a result of managed water level manipulation by Rideau Canal).ã There are a number of reasons for this apparent discrepancy, e.g.,

i.             The original wetland evaluation took place in 1987, a year before the marina was in operation.ã Submergent wetland may have been present throughout the embayment prior to dredging, and this information was incorporated into the 1992 report as well.

ii.               It is possible that the entire embavment was mapped as wetland because according to the 1988 navigation chart, it falls within the 2 m water level and was therefore assumed to be submergent wetland.

iii.              The site may have been mapped as wetland in order to connect separate elements of the complex as is sometimes done for lacustrine wetlands.ã However, this normally applies only to marshes with emergent vegetation (i.e., cattails. reeds).

In addition to several lowland swamps and emergent marshes, the wetland boundary encompasses virtually all areas of open water 2 m deep or less, presumably where there is evidence of submergent vegetation.ã The predominant features of note for this wetland are its large size, the presence of several provincially and regionally rare species (see Table 2 below), and the provision of regionally significant warm water fish habitat (i.e., yellow perch. northern pike. largemouth bass. brown bullhead).ã Waterfowl staging and foraging areas are of local significance only.ã Furthermore, there are no terrestrial or aquatic habitats in the immediate vicinity of the marina that are of sufficient size, condition, or quality to support any of the regional or provincially rare species listed in Table 2. ãShoreline development, traffic noise, prior disturbances, and limited area are the primary reasons for this assessment.ã This designation is intended to refer to areas that are known to be providing significant nesting, staging or essential foraging habitat, and not simply non-essential stopover areas visited on a short-term basis by migrants or incidental visitors.

Littoral zone index netting and trap-net surveys conducted on Big Rideau Lake by MacLean and Clayton (1981) show a strong warm water fishery dominated by pumpkinseed (30.9Õ/0 of catch) and bluegill (21.7%). followed by brown bullhead. rock bass, yellow perch, black crappie, smallmouth bass (3.2%) northern pike (2.5%), and largemouth bass (1%').ã The presence of yellow perch and northern pike was also confirmed during a spring littoral index netting survey (SUN) conducted in 1999 (Anne Bendig, OMNR fisheries biologist. pers. comet.).ã The lake also supports native and stocked lake trout populations and spawning shoal surveys were conducted in 1981 and 1999 (MacLean and Clayton 1981: Anne Bendig. pers. comet.).ã However, none of these surveys took place within a kilometre of the marina.ã Most of the warm water species identified in the 1980/81 surveys were caught offshore near Grape Point (approx. 1.6 km northwest of the marina) and the nearest identified lake trout spawning shoal is off Tar Island, more than 3 km away.

Because survey data were unavailable for the marina site, a fish habitat analysis was conducted in 2000, prior to the maintenance dredging operation (Ecological Services 2000).ã Survey results indicated that fish habitat in the vicinity of the marina is of moderate significance supporting a community of warm water species similar to those reported elsewhere.ã The docks, created shoal, and gravel substrates exposed by dredging provide limited habitat for rock bass, black crappie and yellow perch, and it is possible that smallmouth bass may be spawning on these substrates (see Table 3).ã A fisheries assessment will be conducted again in the spring (late May) of 2001 to confirm these observations.ã Lake trout are not expected to be using this area given the shallowness of the embayment, the limited availability of suitable spawning substrates, and the fact that much of thus area is overgrown by Eurasian Milfoil in the summer and fall.ã It is nonetheless recognized that the Big Rideau Lake Wetland Complex, in which the marina has been included, has been identified as being of regional significance with respect to fish production (OMNR records).ã However, thus designation is more aptly applied to the shallower and more expansive vegetated marshes of MacDonald's Bay and Little Lake.

Northern Pike:

Spawn in early spring following ice-out along shallow weedy littoral zones and flooded swales. Fry remain in shallow water for several weeks. During late spring and summer, adults are primarily sedentary preferring weedy bays, estuaries and shoals with heavy submergent and emergent vegetation

Yellow Perch:

Spawn at night in late April-May in moderately shallow waters (1.5 - 3.0 m) deep. Preferred spawning substrates variable (weed, sand, gravel or rubble) Adults generally forage in deeper waters in loose schools especially as lake warms.

Spawn in May-June as water temperature increases (10-15C) on clean rock or gravel substrates in waters up to 3 m deep, prefer shallows (up to 5 m) Sensitive to siltation impacts to spawning nests. Adults found in deep clear cooler waters with rocky substrates in summer and shallower shoreline areas in spring

Spawn in fall (late October-early November) along shallow rocky shoals and shoreline areas. Depths up to several meters (min. depth 0.6 m) initiation temp = 6.7C; cessation at 14.4C. Spawn in evening as water temperatures fall. Adults move from shoals and shorelines areas in spring to cooler deeper waters (5C 12C) as temperatures rise.

There are no designated archaeological features or areas of concern known for this site (Simon Lunn, Rideau Canal personal comment.)

The recommended mitigation measures presented in Sections 5.0 and 6.0 are intended to address all relevant issues of concern pertinent to this application.ã By implementing these measures, the proponent will also be addressing all relevant Federal, Provincial and Municipal Acts, Regulations and Policies associated with the maintenance and protection of the Rideau Canal waterway.ã The approach taken recognizes the Guiding Principles and Operational Policies of Parks Canada (1994), which is to:

"Preserve and present the Canal its structures and natural environment (is a functioning system or national historic significance, while at the same tinge operating and maintaining it as a waterway for recreational use.ã As well, Parks Canada will coordinate federal activities with those of the Province of Ontario, municipalities and private interests to develop the Canal's recreational potential while preserving its historical and natural environment."

A legislative and regulators, framework encompasses the restrictions that Parks Canada and its partner agencies can place on the activities that occur within the Rideau Canal system.ã The Acts and regulations of direct or indirect relevance to this application are as follows:

Federal

• Canada Shipping Act - Small Vessel Regulations: boating.
• Fisheries Act - Protection of fish habitat and movement.
• Canada Environmental Assessment Act- Environmental assessments for federal lands and associated development projects.
• Migratory Birds Convention Act- Conservation of migratory, bird species.
• Environmental Protection Act and Regulations - Protection of surface water quality.

Provincial

• Navigable Haters Protection Act - Restrictions on barriers to navigation, navigation aids.
• Planning Act - Land use planning.ã Wetland Policy, Natural Heritage Policy.
• Heritage Act - Protection of natural and culturally significant features.
• Environmental Assessment Act - Environmental assessments for provincial lands and projects.
• Conservation Authorities Act (Fill, Construction and Alteration to Waterways Regulations) - Application review for waterway alterations.
• Endangered Species Act - Conservation of endangered species.

The Acts, regulations, and policies most pertinent to this Environmental Impact Assessment are:

The federal regulations relevant to fisheries concerns are provided under Section 35 Subsection 1 of the Fisheries Act (Environment Canada 2001), which states that:

No person shall care on any work or undertaking that results in the harmful alteration, disruption or destruction offish habitat.

For the purposes of the Act, fish habitat is defined in Section 34 as spawning grounds and nursery, rearing, food supply and migration areas oil which fish depend directly or indirectly in order to carry out their life processes.

The value of all wetlands is recognized in the Federal Policy on Wetland Conservation (Environment Canada 1991) whose objective is to:

Promote the conservation of Canada's wetlands to sustain their ecological and socio-economic, functions, now and in the, future.

Of seven principle strategies, 2 are most relevant to this application:

Strategy 2: (Managing Wetlands on Federal Lands and Water): a goal of no-net loss of wetland functions

Strategy 3: (Wetland Conservation in Federal Protected Areas): protection of wetlands from impacts of land or water use and environmental quality changes, both internal and external to the federal area boundaries, through the use of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, inter-agency cooperation, and other means.

Development and site alteration may be permitted in significant wetlands in the Canadian Shield if it has been demonstrated that there hill be no negative impacts oil the natural ,features or the ecological functions

Development and site alteration may be permitted on adjacent lands if it has been demonstrated that there mill be no negative impacts on the natural _ features or on the ecological functions.ã (Adjacent lands encompasses the surrounding 120 metres of upland area from the wetland boundary)

• Heavy wake action and propeller motion in shallow waters causes hydrodynamic disturbance to aquatic substrates.ã This contributes to erosion, sediment transport, and particulate re-suspension, which can lead to lower water clarity, siltation of spawning areas, and abrasive damage to living tissues.
• Direct removal of aquatic vegetation may result in the loss of usable habitat and disruptions to primary food chains.
• Sediment suspension in eutrophic areas can increase algal levels, which further contributes to shading and high BOD levels (Biological Oxygen Demand).
• Indirect chemical changes resulting from sediment disturbance can increase nutrient cycling (phosphate liberation), or remobilize industrial contaminants such as pesticides and PCBs.
• Increased transport rates of sediments both downstream and laterally into backwater areas can cause increased rates of infilling and successional change.
• Physical damage to aquatic vegetation can occur through washout of floating plants, uprooting of lightly anchored non-rhizomataceous species and mechanical damage of finely rooted types.
• Continual disturbances of soft sediments can reduce macrophyte establishment such as reed grasses, cattails etc., while enabling other species to persist.
• Marginal reed beds have limited resilience to boat wash and cattail beds can be fragmented and transported.
• Increased turbidity limits the penetration of sunlight, both through suspension and by settling out on leaf tissues.ã Combined with the mechanical damage described above, there can be a complete loss of vegetative cover in areas of high traffic.
• Some nesting waterfowl (e.g., loons) are susceptible to wake wash, which can flood nests and kill offspring.ã The increasing use of jet skis is of concern due to their ability to invade previously un-navigable shallow backwaters and embayments where waterfowl seek shelter.

• Unrestricted traffic movement to and from docking areas may contribute to shoreline erosion and sediment runoff into aquatic habitats.

• Small chemical inputs of fuel, lubricants, and fuel combustion products are common in the Rideau Canal system.ã Although many studies show that, in general, low-level inputs by individual boats do not pose a serious threat to ecosystem function (Murphy et al. 1995), cumulative inputs in high traffic areas, and concentrated point source inputs (e.g. marinas) can lead to a measurable decline in water quality.
• Sewage and greater discharge into aquatic systems contributes to excess nutrient loading and coliform contamination, particularly in systems where nutrient levels are naturally high, where boat traffic is heavy, and where regulations prohibiting discharge are ignored (Michalski and Usher 1992).ã Such inputs may exacerbate seasonal algal blooms and increase lake eutrophication.ã The impacts of wastewater dumping can be difficult to differentiate from land-based inputs.ã At present, quantitative measurements of wastewater discharge by boaters on the Rideau system are lacking (Ecological Services 1998).
• Anti-fouling paints used to prevent algal build-up on boats is of concern.ã For example, TBT (tributyl-tin) is a commonly used toxicant with documented lethal and mutagenic effects on marine and freshwater organisms, with evidence of chronic bioaccumulation (Murphy et al. 1995).ã Cumulative toxicity can be a particular problem in docking areas.
• Marine fuels and lubricants can enter aquatic systems through accidental (or deliberate) spillage or engine wash, but primarily as unburned fuel.ã Environment Canada (1992) has set drinking water safety limits of 0.3 mg/L for benzene and toluene.ã Most of these chemicals dissipate are oxidized by sunlight, or are metabolized by micro-organisms (Environment Canada 1992; Braddock and McCarthy 1996).ã However, soluble compounds such as phenols and PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) can have greater toxic effects on aquatic organisms and can be released from contaminated sediments by propeller wash.ã The quantity of pollutants released varies with engine size and efficiency (Long 1997) but generally, older 2-stroke engines are the most polluting (up to 300 g hydrocarbons per hour), versus newer 4-stroke engines (as little as 3 g per hour).ã PAH levels in water and sediments can be high in marina areas but the ecological impacts on aquatic systems remain poorly understood (USEPA 1985)

• In addition to physical impacts, the presence of boats and associated human activity in certain areas may disrupt the normal activities of sensitive species (e.g., spawning fish, waterfowl. etc.)

• Boating contributes to the transport of plant fragments, pest species, and other organisms both within and between lakes.ã This contributes to the dispersal of Myriophyllum and other problem weeds as well as zebra mussels.
• Anglers fishing on the Rideau lakes may release inappropriate baitfish species into the lake system.

• Certain game fish populations are particularly sensitive to over fishing.ã Additional angling pressure on the Big Rideau may contribute to unacceptable declines in lake trout and smallmouth bass populations.
• OMNR records suggest that angling pressure on a declining resource base is of concern.

• Direct degradation or- disturbance of active spawning grounds.ã for lake trout, and northern pike is unlikely anywhere, as the normal boating season is not open during these particular seasons (sec Section 2.0).
• There are presently, no spawning areas in the vicinity of the marina that have been identified as sensitive.ã Smallmouth bass use of this area will be assessed this spring, and if required, additional measures to protect this habitat will be developed Regardless, clients will be instructed to avoid operating their crafts in shallow waters, where there is potential for- degradation of fish habitat, particularly along` identified spawning shoals, emergent wetland, and shoreline reaches.ã Such damage can arise through prop wash disturbance, accidental grounding, and intentional beaching.
• Clients will be made aware of Marker buoys denoting shoals and other underwater hazards and obstructions along all access routes to and-from the marina as directed under the Navigation Act.
• Clients will be instructed in the safe operation of their boats (see Appendices).
• Clients will be instructed to-follow low or no-wake restrictions while traveling in and around sensitive areas.ã In this instance, sensitive areas will refer to shoals and shorelines prone to sediment disturbance (generally less than I meter in depth), areas of emergent wetland vegetation (e.g., cattails, reeds), and known staging and nesting areas,/or- migrant waterfowl.
• Houseboat docking will be restricted to the dredged area of the marina, and maneuvering in and around any adjacent submergent wetland zone will be kept to a minimum.
• Prop wash disturbances to sensitive substrates will be avoided wherever possible by avoiding engine revving in shallow waters.
• Emergent wetlands will be avoided as a location for anchorage or general travel as a matter of course, wherever alternatives exist.

• On-going maintenance arid monitoring of shoreline access routes will be undertaken to minimize potential erosion.
• Slope failures along any shoreline access areas will be remediated as soon as possible.
• Natural vegetation (shrubs, trees, herbs) will be promoted along any shoreline areas not required, for boating access or maintenance.

• A sewage and greywater pump-out facility is being installed at the marina.ã The operations and location of this facility are provided in Section 2.0.ã All houseboats are pumped out upon return.
• Clients will be instructed as to the proper use crud disposal of toxic chemicals, crud encouraged to use alternative, environmentally appropriate products provided by the marina.
• Anti-fouling paints are not used at this facility.
• Clients will be instructed as to the safe handling QfanY172arine,/ueIs arid lubricants that can enter aquatic systems through accidental (or deliberate) spillage and engine wash.
• Oil-absorbent bilge pads will be placed on the floor of engine compartments to control any possible leakage.
• A marine emergency shills kit 1-till be present at the marina site to deal with potential spills and leakage, from docked boats.
• Engines will be maintained in good condition through regular servicing and monitoring by qualified staff.ã Requisite upgrades in equipment will be reviewed with environmental concerns in mind.
• Clients hill be instructed in how to deal with potential collisions, sinking, or capsizing that might result in fuel leakage (contacts, emergency response, etc.)
• Boat refueling does not lake place at the marina, but elsewhere at licensed Marina fueling stations.
• Posted information dealing with all of these potentialities will be posted, or otherwise available on each houseboat.

• Clients will be instructed to avoid boating in those areas known to support sensitive species, where such information is known and available to the owner.
• A fisheries assessment will be conducted again in 2007 by Ecological Services staff in order to confirm prior observations on habitat quality and use (particularly by smallmouth bass).ã New- information arises; alternative mitigation measures may be developed to avoid disruption to sensitive substrates and species.

• Clients will be instructed to follow appropriate provincial fishing regulations, and to avoid the release of baitfish species into restricted waters (where such information is available).
• Houseboats hill be dry-docked following the regular season and hulls will be appropriately cleaned and treated.
• Relevant information pamphlets (inhere such is available) pertaining to the accidental transportation of pest species through the Rideau system will be made available in the marina.

• New information pertinent to marina operations and the protection of the Rideau environment will be acquired through membership in the Clean Marine program, contact with the Big Rideau Lake Association, and it with relevant resource agencies such as Parks Canada, OMEE, and the OMNR.

About 80% of the houseboats rented from this facility head northwest on the main channel towards Kingston, while the remainder head for Ottawa or stay on the Big Rideau.ã As indicated in Section 1.1 and in Figure 2, there are several well-marked routes available for reaching the main channel, thus reducing the potential for congestion.ã More importantly, when compared to pre-1998, this coming 2001 season will see a 50Õ/ reduction in commercial houseboat traffic on Big Rideau Lake.ã It is understood that the Town of Portland and its associated marina facilities may experience a somewhat higher level of visitation now that the boats are on the south shore.ã Nevertheless, the proponent believes that increased patronization of local businesses should be considered as a positive outcome for the community

With respect to congestion at the marina, on any given day in the regular season only about 10 boats are arriving or departing.ã Departures are on Monday and Friday mornings, while arrivals are on Thursdays and Sundays.ã As many locals and seasonal residents use the lake on the weekends, there be some limited congestion at some marina fueling stations on Sundays.ã However, there are only about 10 boats returning; they have three marinas to choose from; and they do not all come back at exactly the same time.ã Thus, this concern seems unwarranted.

Long R. 1997.ã Polluting for Pleasure: Part 11.ã Sail, January.