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INLAND LAKE TROUT MANAGEMENT SOUTHEASTERN ONTARIO January Miiiistry of Ministryof the Environment Natural Region Ontario Southern Region Copyright Provisions and Restrictions on Copying: This Ontario Ministry of the Environment work is protected by Crown copyright (unless otherwise indicated), which is held by the Queen's Printer for Ontario. It may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes if credit is given and Crown copyright is acknowledged. It may not be reproduced, in all or in part, for any commercial purpose except under a licence from the Queen's Printer for Ontario. For information on reproducing Government of Ontario works, please contact ServiceOntario Publications at JIlL CUll •Ii) 11111 TAKE 77U)(JT lAKES TO ELIR il/LI? I3ETN(; III]? (XE 1A1EVIS OF AIN'I? AN!) \4OE C)i'\ Lq/v'ELOI?4ENTJ'RoI'()SA IS WILl. liE Al( UP-lO4)AlE RESOURCE !X!URAIAIIONAVAIIARLL. January 33, /993 Additional copies of this pub! ication are available from the Ministry of the Environment, Southeastern Region Box 820, 133 Dalton Avenue, Kingston, Ontario K7L 4X6 and from the Ministry of Natural Resources, Kemptvil!e District, Postal Bag 2002, Concession Road, Kemptvil!e, Ontario, KOG 110. © 1992, Queen's Printer for Ontario Printed in Ontario, Canada 4896 0.5k P.R., 9301 31 ISBN 0-7778-0224-4 The Lake Trout, Sa!velinus namaycush Photo by K. Feigehnan INLAND LAKE TROUT MANAGEMENT SOUTHEASTERN ONTARIO January 1993 Ministry of Ministry of the Environment Natural Resources Southeastern Region Southern Region Ontario A1-"j Preface DIMINISHING RESOURCE RESPONSE outheastern Ontario has the southernmost The Southeastern Region of the Ministry of the S representation of inland lake trout lakes in Environment and the former Eastern Region of the Canada. Lake trout require cold, deep, Ministry of Natural Resources have been co- oxygenated water for survival. Suitable lakes are operating on programs to protect the future of this finite and have been dwindling from the time of valuable resource and to ensure lasting benefits. early settlement due to several major factors that have acted singly or in combination to eliminate lake In 1975. the two ministries initiated a lakes survey trout habitat. The subsequent disappearance of program intended to assist land use planners and native stocks began in the early 1900s and has resource managers in assessing the potential water continued at an accelerated rate until the present. quality and fisheries implications of shoreline development proposals. Of primary concern were If steps are not taken to manage the remaining the relatively few lakes in southeastern Ontario lake trout resources, the eventual extinction of which had adequate water quality and habitat lake trout as a self-sustaining species can be conditions to permit deep water fauna such as predicted in most lakes in eastern Ontario, lake trout to survive. perhaps before the end of the The first phase of the program involved studies by IMPORTANCE the Ministry of the Environment designed to document existing water quality conditions for Today, lake trout represent one of the highest historical records as well as for assistance when quality angling experiences in southeastern commenting on shoreline development. The Ontario. The fish is esteemed for its sporting results were presented in the Repon on Water qualities and delicious flesh. The recreational Quality of the Lake Trout Waters of experience associated with lake trout angling Southeastern Ontario, October 1977' and Volume probably rivals the food value of the fish itself. Il, February 19801. These reports included interim Currently anglers spend in excess of 425,000 recommendations to protect the water quality of hours of effort each year seeking lake trout in the most sensitive waterbodies from the effects of southeastern Ontario waters. Estimated annual shoreline development. expenditures, made solely for lake trout fishing, are believed to exceed I million dollars. The second phase of the program involved studies by the Ministry of Natural Resources designed to A further value of lake trout is their use as a assess factors other than water quality which have biological indicator of a healthy aquatic influenced or could influence the potential of environment. For example, stresses on lake trout lakes to be managed as lake trout fisheries. caused by deteriorating water quality are observable long before conditions such as the appearance of algae blooms and excessive aquatic plant growth become objectionable to humans. I Ontario Ministry of the Environment, 1977. 2 Ontario Ministry of the Environment, 1980. INlAND LAKE TROUT MANAGEMENT SOCT}{Lk5TER\OVTkRII) vi Since the joint MOE-MNR program was initiated, the The Ministry of the Environment is currently Ministry of Natural Resources has undertaken the developing a strategy to standardize approaches to development of a regional lake trout fisheries evaluate lake sensitivity and the setting of management strategy and the preparation of fisheries provincial water quality objectives Its purpose is management plans for much of southeastern to provide guidance in terms of water quality Ontario. These projects provided extensive management and shoreline development opportunities for public discussion, refinement and decisions for lakes in the future. review of fisheries management directions. This report summarizes the original findings and In addition, a Lake Trout Synthesis exercise was reflects the more recent work on water quality and initiated to assemble the scientific information fisheries management noted above. It about take trout and present it in a form that recommends actions with respect to land use and would facilitate new approaches to ensure the development which will contribute to long-term future management of the species. This project water quality and fisheries management objectives was completed in 1991 with the release of several for the lake trout waters of southeastern Ontario. working group reports. Also, the Strategic Plan for It also will complement the implementation of Ontario Fisheries (SPOF was revised and approved district fisheries management plans. updated. After extensive public review SPOF The recommendations in this report are subject to reaffirms the importance of healthy aquatic revision as new or refined resource information ecosystems and the need to protect habitat in becomes available and as significant changes order to maintain healthy fisheries. occur in policies or land use. 3 Ontario NI inistry of Natural Resources and Environment Canada, 1976. 4 Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, 1992. S Ontario Ministry olthe Environment, 1992. INLAND LAKE TROUT MANAGEMENT SOUTHEASTERN ONTARIO '.1 I Acknowledgements T he work which has culminated in this Policy Branch, NINR; and \Vater Resources report was initiated by D.F. Aitkins, Branch, NICE. Southeastern Region, NICE and \V.G. Niaslen. Eastern Region, NINR both of whom The extensive lake sampling would not have been are now retired. Their dedication, enthusiasm and possible without the skilful piloting and technical persistence are recalled. assistance provided by contracted private air carriers. Special thanks is due to Niadawaska Air The take Trout Sub-committee of the Eastern Service, Parks Airnautical and Trent Air. Region Fish and \Vildlife Technical Committee made significant contributions to the initial The co-operation of NI nistry of Revenue staff in development of the management strategies. The the property assessment offices at Brockville, original members were: Paul Bewick, Kingston and Trenton for assistance in Kerry Coleman, Gary Himburg, Neil MacLean, determining the nature and extent of lakeshore Alex Palilionis, Lindsay Penney, Gary Raine and development is gratefully acknowledged. Hans von Rosen. In addition, thanks is extended to those persons who attended public information Particular thanks is extended to Margaret Carson forums on fisheries management and those.who who, with the assistance of Pat MacDonald, contributed written comments which assisted in provided outstanding typing services through the management decisions for this resource. many revisions of the manuscript; to Laurie Dool for the cover artwork and her creative desktop The helpful suggestions and assistance of publishing; and to Sue Martin for final David Root, NI inistry of Municipal Affairs in production details. devising practical approaches to land use development have been much appreciated. Lastly, acknowledgement is given to the generous and sustained efforts of the ioint NICI/NINIt Nlanv permanent and casual employees of NICE Recreational 1.akes Committee whose members and NINR have made valuable contributions to have been: DY. Aitkins, P. Bewick, S.J. Kerr, various components of the lakes survey program. Fitz, D. Galloway, R. Genge, Nl.J. German, 1hese include the staff of the Westport Fish R. Griffiths, NI.NI. Holy, R. Lingwood, Culture Station; the Rideau Lakes Fisheries WG. Maslen, \IcCov. J.D. Murray, C. Owen, Assessment Unit; NINI( offices at Brockville, D. Root, N. Ward and G.R. Carleton Place, Napanee and Tweed; Fisheries INLANI) LAKE TROUT MANAGEMENT .4)11 \'I IRS OSTARIC ix Contents Preface v Acknowledgements vii list of Maps and Figures x ListofTables xi THE LAKE TROUT RESOLRCE GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION AND STALLS I RATIONALE FOR INLAND LAKE TROUT MANAGEMENT .3 Ministry of Natural Resources Mandate 4 Ministry of the Environment Mandate S FISHERIESPOTENTIAL 6 Assessment Methodology 6 Fisheries Role Designation 7 WATER QUALITY 10 Water Quality Requirements for Lake Trout 10 Lake Processes 10 Physical Changes 11 Chemical Changes 11 Biological Changes 12 Description of Study Lakes 13 Morphonietry 13 Measured Water Quality 14 Optimal Habitat Model for Lake Trout 18 Application olthe Model 20 MANAGEMENT DIRECTION 23 MANA(;ENIENT STRATEGIES 23 Fisheries Assessment 23 Purpose 23 Fisheries Assessment in Southeastern Ontario 24 Management Activities 24 Habitat Management 25 Purpose 25 Authority to Protect Fish Habitat 25 The Threats to Lake Trout Habitat 25 Management Activities 26 IN[ANL) IAKETROIJ MANAGEMENT ONtARIO