"Issues and Opportunities for Charlottetown Watershed Management"

A joint presentation by the Ellens Creek Watershed Group and the Wrights Creek Watershed Environmental Committee

What is a watershed?

A watershed refers to the land, streams and/or rivers within a drainage area.

How does it work?

A watershed acts like a funnel, collects all the water within that area, and channels it to a single point.

A watershed normally takes the name of the largest stream or river in the watershed.

The City of Charlottetown contains six watersheds.

Every Ward in the City of Charlottetown has at least one watershed.

Watersheds by Ward
Ward
#1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 #9 #10

Watershed(s)
Charlottetown Riverside and Charlottetown North River and Charlottetown Charlottetown North River Riverside North River and Ellens Creek Ellens Creek Wrights Creek and Winter River Wrights Creek

 The Charlottetown and Riverside watersheds are now ghost watersheds. One important watershed element, the stream, has disappeared or is only a fragment of what it once was. But, they are still watersheds, and should to be managed as watershed.

The creation of ghost watersheds within the City is continuing.

For example: the upper reach of the east branch of Ellens Creek has disappeared.

Source of the east branch of Ellens Creek on the Sherwood Road

Across the Sherwood Road, the Creek turns into this..

Then disappears underground on the Mount Edward Road

This is not acceptable fate for our urban streams and waterways.

Even smallest streams provide important habitat.

The Key Issues

1. Siltation from construction and storm water

The Key Issues

1. Siltation from construction and storm water

The Key Issues

1. Siltation from construction and storm water

The Key Issues

1. Siltation from construction and storm water

The Key Issues

1. Siltation from construction and storm water 2. Pollutants in runoff

The Key Issues

1. Siltation from construction and storm water 2. Pollutants in runoff

The Key Issues

1. Siltation from construction and storm water 2. Pollutants in runoff 3. Conversion from vegetated land surfaces to hard surfaces

The Key Issues

Conversion from vegetated land surfaces to hard surfaces Results in higher peak flow and velocity Reduces ground water retention

The Key Issues

Conversion from vegetated land surfaces to hard surfaces Results in higher peak flow and velocity Reduces ground water retention Increases flooding during storm events

The Key Issues

Conversion from vegetated land surfaces to hard surfaces Results in higher peak flow and velocity Reduces ground water retention Increases flooding during storm events Increases stream bank erosion

Current Legislation and Guidelines Protecting City Watersheds Federal

Fisheries Act

Stiff Penalties for infractions but weak on prevention

Current Legislation and Guidelines Protecting City Watersheds Provincial

Watercourse and Wetland Protection Regulations
Restrict activities with a 15-meter buffer zone alongside watercourses and wetlands Create buffer zones which protect by filtering and assimilating contaminants from surface runoff water

Bufferzones help but their capacity has limitations.

Current Legislation, Guidelines Protecting City Watersheds City of Charlottetown

Lot Grading Guidelines
Recommend Best Management Practices

But only guidelines, with limited enforcement powers.

Funding Sources for Watershed Protection and Restoration Provincial Watershed Management Fund Public and private grants
Typically grants from < $1000 to $25,000 Limited to not for profit groups Often require matching dollars Competitive process

Watershed Issues Impact

The health and well being of citizens The look and feel of the City Tourism Wildlife habitat and biodiversity Property values Storm water management City water supplies

Recommendations
The City of Charlottetown: Recognize there is a problem Promote public awareness of the issues and potential solutions Introduce watershed protection by-laws Develop a comprehensive urban watershed management plan for the City of Charlottetown Implement this plan over a reasonable time period, in phases, with measurable goals, specific time lines, and funding support. Assist Charlottetown based watershed groups in their efforts to have the unique nature of urban watershed issues recognized by the Province, and to ensure current levels of Provincial financial support to these groups is maintained or enhanced.

Proposal:
A joint working group composed of representatives from the City, the Province, and Charlottetown Watershed Groups be struck to makerecommendations to theIntegrated Community Sustainability Plan Committee on specificmeasures for the implementation of the proposedrecommendations. The working group will reportback no later than September 30, 2011.

Acknowledgement
Dr. Darren Bardati
Professor of Environmental Studies and Geography,Bishops University, Sherbrooke QC Former Director of Environmental studies, UPEI