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Introduction and History
Welcome to the Lyon 's 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 attached map.
Information is provided on the following pages on the history of the Niagara River RAP relative to the site characterization and studies that have occurred in Lyon 's Creek. These studies are presented and information is provided on how to access them.
An Open House was held in the Hamlet of Cook's Mills on June 28, 2007 in order to provide the public with an up-date of the studies and plans for Lyon's Creek and to solicit comments from the public on four remedial alternatives that are being considered for sections of Lyon 's Creek. As part of the RAP, these alternatives must be compared to Evaluation Criteria as part of the planning process. These criteria are listed as follows:
(1) the ability to identify and address risks to human health and the environment,
(2) the ability to maintain ecological integrity,
(3) the ability to address current federal and provincial regulatory requirements,
(4) an evaluation of short-term impacts,
(5) an evaluation of long-term effectiveness and performance,
(6) the reduction of toxicity and mobility of contaminants,
(7) technical feasibility,
(8) cost,
(9) regulatory acceptance, and
(10) community acceptance.
A copy of the Comment Sheet is attached here.
As a result of the public comments from the Open House, a Community Liaison Committee (CLC) was set-up to better facilitate the dissemination of the information from the studies and RAP to the public. Information on the CLC including its members, its purpose statement, newsletters and presentations are also provided on separate pages.
If you require additional information that is not presented herein, please contact David Slaine, Sediment Project Coordinator for the Niagara River RAP at dslaine@terra-dynamics.com or (905) 646-7931.
Niagara River Remedial Action Plan (RAP) History
Click here for PDF of RAP
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
Open House Comment Sheets
June 2007 Comment Sheet - Click here for PDF
November 2008 Comment Sheet - Click here for PDF
Community Liason Committee
November 2008 Open House Presentation
Click here for pdf
November 2008 Open House Facilitator's Report
Background Report From 2005
Click here for pdf
Report Request Form
Click here for PDF- Update
Case Histories of Monitored Natural Recovery
List of Technical Books, Papers and Web Sites,
Monitored Natural Recovery Sediment Management Strategy Click here for PDF
Cornwall Sediment Strategy - Click here for PDF
Monitored Natural Recovery at Contaminated
Sediment Sites in Canada and the U.S. - Vancouver Click here for PDF
May 2009 U.S. Technical Guide of Monitored Natural Recovery - Click here for PDF
Recovery Strategy for the Lake Chubsucker
Click here for PDF
Fish Eating Guide
Click here for PDF
Fact Sheets
Significant Wetlands and OWES
Wetland Restoration
Wetlands in Watershed Context
What are Wetlands
Why are Wetlands Important
PCB's
Environment Canada April 23, 2008 Funding Announcement
Backgrounder - Niagara River
News Release - Niagara River Event
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