Lake Ontario and the Credit River Watershed

Did You Know?

• Lake Ontario is the 14 th largest lake in the world

• Lake Ontario is a deep, coldwater ecosystem that supports Lake Trout and Whitefish

• Lake Ontario 's food chain depends on small freshwater shrimp

• Lake Ontario and its tributaries are home to American eel, but all American eels spawn in the Atlantic Ocean

• Lake Ontario is home to almost 100 species of native fish

• Lake Ontario is one of two Great Lakes with water levels regulated through dams in outlet rivers. The other lake is Lake Superior

• Lake Ontario is the source of drinking water for over six million people

• Lake Ontario 's western portion is highly developed and the fastest-growing region in the Great Lakes Basin . Most of the basin is characterized by rural landscapes

• Lake Ontario , in the open lake is significantly cleaner than it was 20 years ago

The Connections

The Credit River Watershed, together with several smaller neighbouring watersheds that drain directly into Lake Ontario , makes up 15 kilometers of Lake Ontario Shoreline in the City of Mississauga. The Credit River Watershed and Lake Ontario are both part of the Great Lakes Basin that connects Lake Superior to the St. Lawrence River and Atlantic Ocean, one of the largest freshwater ecosystems in the world.

Natural features within two kilometers of the Lake Ontario Shoreline provide critical habitat during bird and butterfly migration, as species need natural habitats where they can rest before and after their long flights across the lake. This corridor provides an east-to-west connection along the shoreline. In the Credit River Watershed, the natural areas closest to the lake include species and vegetation communities that are not found anywhere else in the watershed.

The near shore zone, the area from the high water mark on shore to where the water depth is 20 metres, is the link between land and lake and is how most people view the lake. The shallow productive waters support submerged plant communities that are critical for waterfowl and many fish species. Near shore embayments have the greatest fish production and diversity in Lake Ontario . The active beach areas provide habitat for shore birds. Many recreational activities are concentrated in the near shore zone.

The health of Lake Ontario is directly affected by the health of the land in its watershed.

Lake Ontario Integrated Shoreline Study

Credit Valley Conservation Together With a Steering Committee of Municipal and Agency Partners Have Begun a Study of Lake Ontario's Shoreline.

This study is the first step in working toward future plans to conserve, enhance and restore shoreline health. This plan will be integrated with broader Lake Ontario , Great Lakes initiatives and shoreline plans developed for neighbouring coastal areas.

Multidisciplinary Study Approach

CVC has been working on comprehensive subwatershed studies for many years. A similar approach is being used to study the Lake Ontario shoreline. The intent is to get a better understanding of ecosystems, processes, connections, functions and stresses that make up the shoreline zone.

Land Use and Climate Change

Gaining a better understanding of how climate change may affect water levels, weather patterns and shoreline ecosystems at a local scale will be important for future shore planning. The study will investigate implications of intensification and increased recreational pressures and development.

Links

Healthy Great Lakes, Strong Ontario -Discussion Paper Province of Ontario -Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Natural Resources, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs www.ene.gov.on.ca/envision/env_reg/er/documents/2009/010-6105.pdf

Conservation Ontario -Healthy Great Lakes
www.conservation-ontario.on.ca/healthy_great_lakes/index.html

TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup
www.tdgcsc.ca

Lake Ontario Atlantic Salmon Restoration Program
www.bringbackthesalmon.ca

Environment Canada -Our Great Lakes
http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/greatlakes/Home-WS7E5E6AF1-1_En.htm

Great Lakes Fisheries Commission
www.glfc.org

State of Lakes Ecosystem
www.solecregistration.ca

Aquatic Habitat Toronto
www.aquatichabitat.ca

International Joint Commission
www.ijc.org

Lake Ontario LaMP based Biodiversity Conservation Strategy www.conserveonline.org/workspaces/lakeontario.conservation

Great Lakes Information Network
www.great-lakes.net

Mississauga Waterfront Parks Strategy
www.mississauga.ca/portal/residents/parks?itemId=67900060&paf_gear_id=9700018

Lake Ontario Shoreline Algae Action Committee Final
http://www.halton.ca/common/pages/UserFile.aspx?fileId=15549