Thunder Bay

Dynamics of Fish Populations

Delisting Criteria:
Fish populations will no longer be considered impaired when the fish community within the AOC has the following characteristics, as observed by the MNR Fish Community Index Netting (FCIN) program.

• The fish community within the Thunder Bay AOC becomes similar to nearshore (0–80 m deep) fish communities adjacent to the AOC for a minimum of three consecutive years, as measured by the relative abundance (Catch Per Unit Effort) and species composition of the fish community.
• The nearshore fish community should be dominated by self-sustaining populations of native species showing the following characteristics:

Lake Trout:

• The mean age of lake trout is greater than eight years.
• The length at the age of seven-year-old lake trout caught in the FCIN or harvested by the commercial fishery is stable and greater than 430 mm
• *The FCIN and/or commercial catch becomes dominated by mature fish and many age classes

Lake Whitefish

• Fish population is capable of supporting a commercial fishery with sustainable yields that do not exceed 0.51 kg/ha/yr (Busiahn 1990)
• Maximum total annual mortality does not exceed 60-65%
• Average age in the catch should be two years older than the age at which 50% of the population matures

Lake Sturgeon, Walleye and Brook Trout

The overall understanding of the population dynamics of these native species within Thunder Bay is limited, therefore it is difficult to establish population criteria. Efforts are currently underway to better understand these species and their habitat use within Thunder Bay and its tributaries. As a result, criteria that reflect lake sturgeon, walleye, and brook trout populations are covered under the loss of habitat delisting criteria.

Lead Agency: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
Status: Impaired

Loss of Fish Habitat

Delisting Criteria:
This beneficial use will no longer be impaired when the following habitat-related projects from the Thunder Bay Stage 2 RAP Report (2004) have been completed, evaluated for effectiveness, and areas support diverse self-sustaining biological communities:

• Alleviation of water quality barriers to fish migration in the Kaministiquia River
• Re-vegetation projects in McVicar Creek and McKellar River
• Habitat improvements associated with the creation of Sanctuary Island at the mouth of McVicar Creek
• Habitat remediation on McKellar River
• Rehabilitation of walleye spawning habitat at Current River Estuary
• Improving salmonid access to the upper reaches of the Current River
• Implement the Slate River Watershed Management Plan
• Monitoring to support lake sturgeon rehabilitation strategy
• Implement plan for shoreline naturalization within the Thunder Bay AOC

In addition to the Stage 2 RAP projects, the following should also be completed:

• Remaining and created wetlands are protected from further degradation through existing environmental legislation, with provincial standards used to inventory and classify wetlands within the Thunder Bay AOC
• Provide unrestricted access to critical spawning habitat by providing adequate flow in the Kaministiquia River
• Ensuring that native fish populations are not negatively affected by industrial water-use practices, including water intake and discharge

Lead Agency: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
Status: Impaired

Fish Consumption Restrictions

Delisting Criteria:
This beneficial use will no longer be impaired when the fish consumption advisories in the AOC (inner and outer Harbour) are no more restrictive than the advisories for the same contaminants in an open water reference site (Schreiber Point to Sewell Point – Block 7), based on samples collected in the same time frame (<5 years) for a minimum of two consecutive studies.

Lead Agency: Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change
Status: Requires further assessment

Dynamics of Wildlife Populations

Delisting Criteria (proposed):
Monitoring data shows that the wildlife community (at a population level) does not differ significantly from the abundance that would be expected for the amount and quality of physical, chemical and biological habitat typical of the AOC.

OR

The wildlife community (at a population level) does not differ significantly from suitable Lake Superior reference sites.

(Adopted from the International Joint Commission)
Status: Impaired.

Loss of Wildlife Habitat

Delisting Criteria:

The Wildlife beneficial use will no longer be impaired when riparian/coastal and wetland habitat within the Thunder Bay AOC is in compliance with the guidelines set out through Environment Canada’s How Much Habitat is Enough (2013):

• Wetland Habitat: “At a minimum, the greater of (a) 10% of each major watershed and 6% of each subwatershed, or (b) 40% of the historic watershed wetland coverage, should be protected and restored.”
• Riparian Habitat: “Both sides of streams should have a minimum 30-metre-wide naturally vegetated riparian area to provide and protect aquatic habitat…so that 75% of stream length should be naturally vegetated.”
• Coastal Habitat: There is no guideline for this habitat type

OR

This beneficial use will no longer be impaired when no fewer than 4-5 riparian or coastal habitat improvement projects (restoration, enhancement, or creation) have been implemented in the Thunder Bay AOC. An external Thunder Bay AOC Wildlife Habitat Strategy will guide the implementation of the habitat improvement projects.

In addition, remaining and created wetlands must be protected from further degradation through existing environmental legislation. Provincial standards should be used to inventory and classify wetlands within the Thunder Bay AOC.

Status: Impaired.

Degradation of Benthos

Delisting Criteria:
Benthic community impairments were originally identified in three locations within the Thunder Bay Area of Concern: the Kaministiquia River, the area adjacent to the Northern Wood Preservers (NWP) property, and the area adjacent to the former Cascades Fine Paper property (“North Harbour”). Each of the identified sites has its own unique characteristics, contaminants of concern, and prescribed management action, and therefore requires distinct delisting criteria.

Lower Kaministiquia River (including Mission & McKeller Rivers):
This BUI will no longer be impaired when monitoring data indicates that benthic invertebrate communities and contaminant concentrations in sediment from the lower Kaministiquia River, Mission River, and the McKellar River remain stable (similar to 2005 data), or are improving.

Northern Wood Preservers Site:
The Northern Wood Preservers Alternative Remediation Project for Contaminated Sediment (NOWPARC) was completed in 2003. Benthos will no longer be impaired when monitoring data indicates that the benthic community from the NOWPARC area is similar to the benthic community in other parts of the harbour.

North Harbour Industrial Site:
This BUI will no longer be impaired when:

1. Monitoring data indicates that contaminant concentrations in sediment and/or benthos from the North Harbour are showing a declining trend in concentrations and benthic communities are improving; and
2. Site-specific criteria have been met (or objectives accomplished) as per the sediment management plan (to be added when available).

Status: Impaired.