Linking Habitat Linking Habitat Science and Policy: Science and Policy:

Habitat Issues in the Great Lakes Habitat Issues in the Great Lakes Areas of ConcernAreas of Concern

ByByJohn E. Gannon John E. Gannon

Great Lakes Regional OfficeGreat Lakes Regional OfficeInternational Joint CommisionInternational Joint Commision

Windsor, OntarioWindsor, Ontario

Presented atNearshore Fisheries Habitat Workshop

Muskegon, MichiganApril 1-2, 2003

HABITAT

WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

FISHERY RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

HABITATHABITAT

Definition:Definition: The physical, chemical and The physical, chemical and biological factors that integrate to biological factors that integrate to support a particular speciessupport a particular species

Aquatic Habitat Challenges:Aquatic Habitat Challenges:• Changes with life history stage, Changes with life history stage,

seasons, etc.seasons, etc.• 3-Dimensional aspect3-Dimensional aspect• Structural vs. functional approaches to Structural vs. functional approaches to

classificationclassification

WATERSHED, NEARSHORE, WATERSHED, NEARSHORE, AND OFFSHORE LINKAGESAND OFFSHORE LINKAGES

History of Binational History of Binational Resource Management Resource Management Policy ResponsePolicy Response• 1972- Great Lakes Water Quality 1972- Great Lakes Water Quality

Agreement (GLWQA): Focus on Agreement (GLWQA): Focus on Eutrophication of Phosphorus ControlEutrophication of Phosphorus Control

• 1978- GLWQA: emphasis on Toxic 1978- GLWQA: emphasis on Toxic SubstanceSubstance

•Class A (Severely Polluted)Class A (Severely Polluted)•Class B (Moderately Polluted)Class B (Moderately Polluted)

• 1987- GLWQA Revision by Protocol1987- GLWQA Revision by Protocol– 42 Areas of Concern42 Areas of Concern– The “How Clean is Clean?” DebateThe “How Clean is Clean?” Debate– Evolution of Listing/Delisting CriteriaEvolution of Listing/Delisting Criteria– Remedial Action Plans (RAPs)Remedial Action Plans (RAPs)

• 2002 Recognition of “Area of Recovery”2002 Recognition of “Area of Recovery”

14 Beneficial Use 14 Beneficial Use ImpairmentsImpairments• Restriction on drinking water Restriction on drinking water

consumption, or taste and odor problemsconsumption, or taste and odor problems• Beach ClosingsBeach Closings• Degradation of aestheticsDegradation of aesthetics• Added cost to agriculture or industryAdded cost to agriculture or industry• Restrictions on fish and wildlife Restrictions on fish and wildlife

consumptionconsumption• Tainting of fish and wildlife flavorTainting of fish and wildlife flavor• Restrictions on dredgingRestrictions on dredging

14 Beneficial Uses 14 Beneficial Uses (continued)(continued)• Eutrophication or undesirable algaeEutrophication or undesirable algae• Degradation of phytoplankton and Degradation of phytoplankton and

zooplankton populationszooplankton populations• Degradation of benthosDegradation of benthos• Degradation of fish and wildlife populationsDegradation of fish and wildlife populations• Bird or animal deformities or reproduction Bird or animal deformities or reproduction

problemsproblems• Fish tumors or other deformitiesFish tumors or other deformities• Loss of fish and wildlife habitatLoss of fish and wildlife habitat

Location of the AOCsLocation of the AOCs

AREAS OF CONCERNAREAS OF CONCERN• Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat

– Listing CriteriaListing Criteria•When fish and wildlife personnel have When fish and wildlife personnel have

identified loss of fish and wildlife habitat identified loss of fish and wildlife habitat due to due to water quality contaminationwater quality contamination as part as part of fish and wildlife management program.of fish and wildlife management program.

– Delisting CriteriaDelisting Criteria•Once the amount and quality of physical, Once the amount and quality of physical,

chemical and biological habitat has been chemical and biological habitat has been achieved (consistent with fish and wildlife achieved (consistent with fish and wildlife management goals), the use would no management goals), the use would no longer be impaired.longer be impaired.

AOC Habitat ChallengesAOC Habitat Challenges• Fish and wildlife problems specific Fish and wildlife problems specific

to AOCs often poorly definedto AOCs often poorly defined

• Fish and wildlife restoration goals Fish and wildlife restoration goals in AOCs often not establishedin AOCs often not established

• Role of habitat in achieving Role of habitat in achieving restoration goals poorly knownrestoration goals poorly known

AOC Aquatic HabitatAOC Aquatic HabitatRestoration OpportunitiesRestoration Opportunities

Soft SedimentsSoft Sediments• Reduce sediment loading from Reduce sediment loading from

upstream sourcesupstream sources• Dredge only when and where necessaryDredge only when and where necessary• Eliminate active sources of Eliminate active sources of

contaminationcontamination• Remediate contaminated sediment Remediate contaminated sediment

““hot spots”hot spots”

Habitat OpportunitiesHabitat Opportunities (C(Continued)ontinued)

Hard SubstratesHard Substrates• Adapt, where feasible, techniques Adapt, where feasible, techniques

from small stream restoration from small stream restoration projectsprojects

• Adopt soft engineering techniquesAdopt soft engineering techniques• Learn from artificial reef projectsLearn from artificial reef projects• Learn from mesocosms and Learn from mesocosms and

synthetic ecologysynthetic ecology

AQUATIC HABITAT AQUATIC HABITAT RESTORATION STRATEGYRESTORATION STRATEGY

Scientific and Resource Scientific and Resource Management NeedsManagement Needs

•Classification and InventoryClassification and Inventory•Monitor Status and TrendsMonitor Status and Trends•Understand Structure and FunctionUnderstand Structure and Function•Develop Management ToolsDevelop Management Tools

– ProtectionProtection– Rehabilitation Rehabilitation – CreationCreation

THE THE BIGBIG QUESTIONS QUESTIONS!!

•Is Habitat Limiting?Is Habitat Limiting?

•How Much Habitat is How Much Habitat is Enough?Enough?

BURBOT “SUNBATHING”BURBOT “SUNBATHING”