Lyons Creek East and the Administrative Controls Protocol
Introduction and History
Welcome to the Lyons Creek East Contaminated Sediment Remedial Action Plan (RAP). This web site is sponsored by the NPCA and is part of the Niagara River RAP. The study area, which is located east of the Welland Canal in Welland is shown on the map below.
Information is provided here on the history of the Niagara River RAP relative to the site characterization and studies that have occurred in Lyons Creek. These studies are presented and information is provided on how to access them.
Background
The section of Lyons Creek between the Welland Canal By-pass and the Buchner Street/CN Railway Crossing in Welland (referred to as Lyons Creek East) is one of the locations within the Niagara River Area of Concern (AOC) that was identified for further assessment under the Niagara River Remedial Action Plan (RAP) (Stage 1 Update report. 1995). (See Figure below). The assessment was required because of the presence of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination of the sediment in areas of the creek bed where it exceeded agency guidelines. The discovery of contaminated sediment in Lyons Creek East resulted from investigations and cleanup following a transformer spill in 1990 in Lyons Creek West (on the west side of the Canal By-pass).
Detailed Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessments were carried out at the Lyons Creek East site during 2005 – 2007. The Human Health Risk Assessment included a community survey to identify the fish consumption and recreational activities in the local community. The survey results indicated that residents did not consume fish from the area between the Welland Canal By-pass and the Buchner Road/CN crossing. However, anyone who wishes to consume fish from that area should consult the Guide to Eating Ontario Sport Fish, which is available on the Ministry of the Environment web site at www.ontario.ca. The results also indicated that boating was the most frequently reported recreational activity occurring in the summer months; however, there was no evidence of risk to human health resulting from recreational activities. The Ecological Risk Assessment indicated a low risk to some wildlife that consume fish and concluded that a sediment management strategy was required.
Interested citizens who attended Public Information Sessions in June 2007 were invited to participate in a Community Liaison Committee to provide their input on the proposed sediment management options and the remediation planning process for Lyons Creek East. During the time that the committee was active, a series of monthly newsletters were prepared and distributed to update the community. Also, the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA) included information about the Lyons Creek East studies, the community newsletters and all of the technical reports on its web site. In November 2008, the recommended sediment management option of Monitored Natural Recovery was presented to the community through a public open house.
Monitored Natural Recovery of Contaminated Sediment
Monitored Natural Recovery was selected as the best approach to manage the contaminated sediment. This approach allows for the ongoing burial of contaminated sediment to continue while a monitoring program is developed to periodically assess the natural recovery of the creek. Administrative controls are established to ensure that the sediments are not disturbed and therefore prevent re-suspension of the contaminated sediment. This recommended management option is also protective of the habitat and species in the Provincially Significant Wetland at Lyons Creek East.
- The sediment management decision for Lyons Creek East was based on the following facts:
- there are no ongoing sources of contamination;
- a detailed human health risk assessment indicated that there were no risks for those using the creek for recreational purposes;
- there is a low risk to some wildlife residing in the area, such as the eastern belted kingfisher, the great blue heron and mink;
- the area of interest is designated a Provincially Significant Wetland;
- and, there are 19 species that have a protection designation, such as the Lake Chubsucker (threatened) and Grass Pickerel (special concern).
The selection of Monitored Natural Recovery was supported by the key stakeholder agencies and Letters of Support were received from: City of Welland, Environment Canada (EC), Ministry of the Environment (MOE), Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA), Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) and Niagara Region. Also, the Welland Riverkeepers, a local environmental organization, supported the option.
Implementation of the Administrative Controls Protocol
Lyons Creek East is only the second site in Ontario for which an Administrative Controls Protocol for Monitored Natural Recovery of contaminated sediment is in effect. The key stakeholder agencies have agreed to act in a cooperative manner to harmonize their approval, permitting and planning process, as outlined in the Protocol, to ensure the sediments in Lyons Creek East are not disturbed. The Protocol represents an inter-agency commitment to collaborate on the long-term protection, monitoring and awareness efforts regarding the contaminated sediment. The NPCA has agreed to act as the lead coordinating agency in implementing the Protocol.
Most recently, in October 2011, representatives from the signatory agencies met to discuss their responsibilities under the agreement and the application of a Decision-Making Process to plan and review projects and activities located in the Contaminated Sediment Area and the Drainage Area to ensure that they do not disturb the sediments. The Decision-Making Process is presented in the Guidance Document for the Administrative Controls Protocol and is available on the NPCA’s web site.
Community Outreach is an important part of the process to advise and update the local community as, for example, through this fact sheet. Also, signage may be used to convey the messages about the presence of contaminated sediment in the creek, about consulting the fish consumption advisories, and about not disturbing the sediment.
Update on the 2009-2011 Sediment Transport Study
Golder Associates were retained to perform a Sediment Transport Study of Lyons Creek East in order to (i) quantify sediment inputs into LCE, and (ii) determine the potential for sediment in the existing creek-bottom system to be re-suspended. The study found that 85% of the sediment input and loading into the creek originates from stormwater runoff from small tributary streams along the north and south shores of the creek. The remaining 15% originates from sediment in the water that is continuously pumped-in by the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation from the Welland Canal By-pass.
The sediment transport study confirmed that there are sources of sediment in the upper reaches of Lyons Creek East and that these sediments are currently contributing to continued burial of the contaminated sediments found at a depth of 30 to 40 cm. The study documents a consolidated sediment accumulation rate of approximately 1 cm/yr. This indicates that the selected remedial option of Monitored Natural Recovery will be effective at isolating the more contaminated sediment over time, generally reducing the concentrations of PCBs to which aquatic organisms could be exposed to in the surficial sediment layer. The study also documents that there is low likelihood of severe storms or ice scour re-suspending PCB-impacted sediments from the above referenced depths of 30 to 40 cm.
Update on the Welland Canal By-pass Pumps at Lyons Creek East
The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation recently renewed the second pump at the Lyons Creek East Pump Station. There are now two variable speed 40.6 cm (16 inch) pumps available and the newest is currently in service. It will be alternated annually with the earlier pump installed in 2006. The pumps will be watched electronically from the Seaway’s Traffic Control Center in St. Catharines for any outages and should be restarted automatically. The pumping rates will also be automated during the year. So far, investigations into complaints from residents about the creek water levels have, in nearly all cases, showed that beaver activity or other blockages caused the problem.
For further information about the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation pumps, contact Fraser Johnston at (905) 641-1932 at ext. 5365.
If you have any questions about the Protocol, please contact Valerie Cromie, the RAP Coordinator, at: vcromie@npca.ca
What Activities are we concerned about?In the Contaminated Sediment Area: Any activity that occurs in the Creek bed that could cause the re-suspension of contaminated sediment. • Zones 1, 2 and 3 (see map), and have a high incidence of PCB contamination at a known depth and location. • Zone 4 was not uniformly sampled and the risk of re-suspending contaminated sediment is much lower and a less restrictive approach can be applied. In the Drainage Area: Any activity that increases the volume and/or velocity of stormwater entering the Creek that could cause the re-suspension of contaminated sediment. |
Niagara River Remedial Action Plan (RAP) History
Click here for a pdf of RAP History
Straddling the Canadian-United States International Border, the Niagara River is more than just the major interconnecting waterway between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. The river which is about 12,000 years old houses the second largest falls in the world and attracts over 12 million people annually to admire its splendor. One fifth of all the freshwater in the world, supplying a source of drinking water for over 25 million people, travels down this 58 kilometer stretch of river before draining into Lake Ontario.
Since the early 1900’s the Niagara River has shown signs of significant water pollution problems. Increased population, industry and agriculture have put severe pressures on Great Lakes Water Quality. The river was subject to excessive levels of pollutants such as high levels of bacteria, oil, phosphorus, chloride, phenol, and mercury. During and after World War II, an increasing array of compounds were discharged from chemical plants into the river.
The governments of Canada and the United States share the need to understand and correct water pollution problems in the Niagara River. In 1987 Canada and the United States signed a joint agreement whereby each country pledged their commitment to restore and protect the environmental integrity of the Niagara River. In order to do this, separate Canadian and US Remedial Action Plans (RAP) were developed. The first task of the RAP was to examine the environmental problems in the Niagara River Area of Concern (AOC).
Over the years, poor land management and stewardship as well as industrial, agricultural, and urban practices have resulted in a variety of water quality related problems. These problems include toxic chemical discharges from industrial facilities, contaminated sediment, combined sewer overflows, habitat degradation, and non-point source pollution, including urban and rural runoff. Once the problems had been identified in the RAP the Stage 1 report, the Stage 2 report identified remedial options and recommendations necessary to restore environmental problems and achieve restoration goals.
In 1999 the Ministry of the Environment, Environment Canada and the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA) entered into an agreement under which the NPCA will initiate and coordinate activities for the continued development and implementation of the Niagara River Remedial Action Plan (RAP). In order to ensure that there remains a strong focus, the NPCA will provide a central forum as coordinating body while providing annual progress reporting and liaison with appropriate RAP partners. Building on existing strengths and formulating partnerships between governments is the primary objective of the RAP process.
Contaminated sediment is a significant factor resulting in the environmental problems in the Niagara River Area of Concern (AOC) because it directly affects the water quality and beneficial uses in this area. Sediment contamination not only leads to degradation of benthos, loss of fish habitat and dredging activity restrictions, but also brings about fish consumption restrictions, degradation of fish populations and eutrophication problems.
In the Niagara River AOC, many toxic pollutants attach to suspended sediments and are easily transported through the water column. Sediment contaminants can be converted to soluble forms by biological and chemical processes. They can be biomagnified through the food chain.
