Brokenhead Wetland Ecological Reserve

Ecosystem Management Plan

Allyce BeaumontEmily CzaplinskiWade GardinerRichard Mace

Samantha Stone

1. Site Description

1.1 Site Boundaries

• 1,240 hectare area

• Southeastern shore of Lake Winnipeg

• Bisected by Highway 59

• Peripheral roads: • Provincial Road 319

• Beaconia access road

• Adjacent to Brokenhead Ojibway First Nation

1.2 Cultural History

• Brokenhead Ojibway First Nation • Fundamental role in preservation

and management of region• 300 years of use• Harvesting plants (medicinal)• High cultural and spiritual

significance

• Expressed concern for area protection

• Joined official conservation efforts

• Aided in the designation as an ecological reserve

1.2 Current Management

• Manitoba’s Protected Areas Initiative

• B.W.E.R. designated as ‘ecological reserve’• Most protected of designations• Prohibits industry activities• Utilizes a hands-off approach• Respect First Nation rights and agreements

1.3 Species and Habitat Survey

Wetland Habitat Types

• Dry black spruce stands

• Sphagnum patches

• Wet swamp

• Forested fingers

• Fens

• Spring-fed forest stands composed of:• Eastern white cedar

• Black spruce

• Tamarack

Flora

• 28 of Manitoba’s 36 native orchid species

• 23 provincially rare plant species

• 8 of Manitoba’s 10 carnivorous plant species

2. Stakeholders

2. Stakeholders

2.1 Internal Stakeholders

• Brokenhead Ojibway First Nation

• Native Orchid Conservation Inc.

• Debwendon Inc./Eugene Reimer

• Protected Areas Initiative Manitoba

2.2 External Stakeholders

• Nature Conservancy of Canada

• Federal Government of Canada

• Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship

• Cottagers of Patricia Beach, Beaconia Lake, Gull Lake

3. Objectives

3.1 Management of Hydrology

3.1.1 Wetland Importance and Succession

• Wetland habitats are in a transitional state between open water and dry land

• Habitats are not in stabilized ‘climax’ condition

• Without active management, pioneer plant species can be replaced by successive colonists

• Progression to woodland results in• Reduction of biodiversity• Loss of water services wetlands provide

3.1.2 Calcareous Fen

• Base-rich• Fed by mineral-enriched calcareous waters• pH of 5.5 or more

• Water passes through soil and rock, becoming enriched with dissolved mineral salts• Supports wide diversity of plant communities• Rare species in unusual conditions

3.1.3 Need for Research

• Little research done on hydrological regime optimal for wetland functioning

• Much baseline research needed to be conducted in order to proceed

• Water quality, pH, rate of seepage/flow

• Determination of hydrological regime• Simple observations: record ground wetness,

spade/hand-auger for water table depth• Technical monitoring: pressure transducer, data-

logger instruments

3.1.4 Hydrological Management Objectives

• Maintenance of present hydrological regime that supports targeted rare plant species

• Ensuring continuance of wetland health• Maintain levels from conservational

management

• Ensure provision of wetland water services continue

3.1.5 Issues and Remedies

A. Construction of Highway 59, peripheral roads

• Issue: Blocked water flow, too little surface water, infiltration of dissolved road salts

• Remedy:• Creation of culverts beneath roads, highways

• Increase water retention, restrict outflow, block ditches

• Widespread wetting, inundation/reinstatement of shallow surface channels

• Establish best management practices in road salt use in sensitive area, use of alternative chemicals

3.1.5 Issues and Remedies

B. Intense cultivation of surrounding lands

• Issue: Contamination of wetland by nutrient-rich runoff, overloading, algal growth, anoxia

• Remedy:• Creation of buffer zone, purchase of land• Creation of drainage ditch• Consultation with adjacent land owners on

chemical use• Agreement upon environmentally friendly

chemicals• Frequent water testing, monitoring

3.1.5 Issues and Remedies

C. Increased residential development

• Issue: Increased extraction of aquifer water, too little ground water, increased salinity

• Remedy:• Increase catchment recharge through land

management• Decrease abstraction from aquifer at specific

times• Artificially increase ground water level

3.1.5 Issues and Remedies

D. Increased industrial development

• Issue: Increased extraction of aquifer water, contamination, promotion of runoff, increased sediment load

• Remedy:• Artificial increase in groundwater level• Creation of buffer zone forbidding proximal industry

development• Containing contamination• Preventing further contamination through legislation

3.1.5 Issues and Remedies

• E. Climate Change

• Issue: Increased evaporation, reduced rainfall, reduction of river flow and groundwater inputs

• Remedy• Manage based on immediate needs• Fit ditch outflows with water control structures

to adjust as needed• See previous strategies

3.2 Increasing Success of Native Orchid Species

3.2.1 Introduction

• Three flagship species chosen• I. Ram’s-Head Lady’s-Slipper• II. Showy Lady’s-Slipper• III. Yellow Lady’s-Slipper

• Special concern within Manitoba

• Similarity of habitat• Greater chance of management success

I. Ram’s-Head Lady’s-Slipper

Description

• Perennial orchid

• Blooms from late May to late June

• 10-40 cm

• Maturity after 10-16 years

• Amount of stems dependent on habitat type

II. Showy Lady’s-Slipper

Description

• Blooms early June to late July flowering

• Brightly lit, damp habitat

• 30-60 cm

• Two blossoms on single stem

III. Yellow Lady’s-Slipper

Description

• Most common of the Lady’s-Slippers

• Blooms early May to late June• Blossoming season overlaps

with Ram’s-Head Lady’s-Slipper

• Advantageous for botanical surveying

• 20-60 cm

• Single stem

• Multiple plants in a clump

3.2.3 Threats and Management

• Proper management of calcareous fen habitat will subsequently protect flagship species• Many orchid management strategies will

overlap with hydrology management strategies

3.2.3 Threats and Management

Nutrient Excess

• Impacts• Promotes competitive species like cattails,

bulrushes• Outcompete rare species by creating shade

• Management• Creation of drainage ditch on east-side of BWER• Consult with farmers on adjacent lands• Regular sampling and monitoring of water

variables

3.2.3 Threats and Management

Water levels• Must work to restore, maintain water flow

• Issue: Blocked water flow• BWER bisected by Highway 59• Low water levels can cause salinity• Impacts vegetation

• Management: Creation of culvert

3.2.3 Threats and Management

Shade

• Created by bulrushes and trees

• Management• Selective cutting, clipping of largest trees

between fens• Encourage continued growth of existing

orchids• Open up area to enable previously out-

competed species

3.2.3 Threats and Management

Human Activity

• Brokenhead Ojibway First Nation

• Not possible to eliminate human activity• High social cost

• Controlled harvesting

• Botanical population surveys

• Include First Nations in surveying• Catalogue of harvests

3.3 Management of Invasive Species

3.3.1 Introduction

• Botanical survey in 1999 by Native Orchid Conservation Inc.• 4 invasive plant species identified: Purple

Loosestrife, Hoary Alyssum, Canada Thistle, Perennial Sow-Thistle

• Use of herbicides not considered at this time• Area contains rare/sensitive species• Use may be considered in 5-year review stage

3.3.1 Introduction

• Need to determine location and severity of infestations• Conducted before implementing control

methods

• Prevention of new plants important• New plants to be monitored for and hand

pulled

3.3.2 Purple Loosestrife

• Lythrum salicaria

• Eurasian perennial

• Introduced to North America in 1800s

• Extensive root system, chokes out native plants• Single root system can

have 50 shoots, maximum height of 2 m

• Impacts local wildlife

3.3.2 Purple Loosestrife

Management

• Purple Loosestrife control insects• Leaf eating beetles: Galerucella calmariensis,

Galerucella pusilla

• Root mining weevil: Hylobius transversoviattatus

• Seed weevil: Nanophyes marmoratus

• Biocontrol agents not predicted to cause damage to other species in the reserve

3.3.3 Hoary Alyssum

• Berteroa incana

• Annual, short-lived perennial

• Native to Europe

• Establishes in sandy, gravelly soils

• Displaces native species

3.3.3 Hoary Alyssum

Management

• No biological controls

• Mechanical options ineffective, do not remove root crown

• Hand-pulling preferred method• Over several years• Depletes seed bank

3.3.4 Canada Thistle

• Cirsium arvense

• Perrenial, native to Europe

• Introduced to North America in 1600s

• Branching roots store energy reserves, allow regeneration from root fragments

3.3.4 Canada Thistle

Management

• Use of shade• Shade intolerant, will not establish in shaded areas• Seed areas with desirable native species providing

shade

• Plants in BWER providing shading• Ferns, sedges, Wild Ginger, etc

• Biological controls: stem weevil, gall fly in combination

3.3.5 Perennial Sow-Thistle

• Native to western Asia and Europe

• Adaptive to many environments

• Can secrete chemical preventing germination of competing plants

Management

• Can build an extensive root system reaching a depth of 10 feet

• Mechanical methods costly• Also risk stimulating new, denser growth

• Biological controls not advised due to low information on effects

• Containment of infestation through hand pulling best option

3.3.5 Perennial Sow-Thistle

3.4 Promotion of Environmental Education and Scientific Research

3.4.1 Interpretive Trail

Introduction

• Southwestern edge of BWER

• Project began in 2012

• To be completed in 2014

• 12 hectares

• Funded by Debwendon Inc. and Native Orchid Conservation Inc.

• Eugene Reimer, former president of NOCI - $600,000 donation

I. Advantages of Interpretive Trail

• Public visits with minimum disturbance

• Removable boardwalk design

• Allows research on species by students and scientists

• Field trips, educational benefits• Learn about endangered species, conservation

• Larger database for NOCI

• Provides awareness of the Brokenhead Ojibway First Nation’s traditional uses of the area

II. Disadvantages of Interpretive Trail

• Risk of uprooting orchids via trespassing off the trail

• Risk of trampling

• Construction impacts• Workers directly damaging ecosystem• Introduction of invasive species by machinery

• Shading of fragile flora

4. Evaluation of Management

Suitability

4.1 Costs of Management

Management

Task Est. Cost

Wages (an., per person) $45,000

Hydrology Culvert $60,000

Water quality testing (an.) $600-3,000

Aquifer maintenance N.A.

Orchids Botanical surveys (an.) $2,000

Drainage ditch N.A.

Invasives Biocontrols (per batch) $200-250

Hand work N.A.

Interpretive Trail

Construction $907,000

Maintenance $10,000

Total (approx.)

$1,027,250

4.2 Sources of Funding

• Government of Manitoba

• Government of Canada

• Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship

• Brokenhead Ojibway First Nation

• Adjacent landowners

• Winnipeg Foundation

5. Monitoring Outcomes

5.1.1 Management Time Frame

• 10-year overall timescale

• 5-year revision period• Surveys conducted intermittently to monitor

meeting of management objectives

• Botanical surveys at 5 and 10 year points• Population survey to monitor flagship species

success

• Annual water quality testing in late autumn• Ensure pH and water levels within acceptable values

5.1.2 Buffer Zone

I. Introduction

• Enhances protection of reserve

• Can be managed as: • Ecosystem restoration area• Research area for developing sustainable

resource use • Area for tourism and recreation activities

5.1.2 Buffer Zone

• Reduce impact of adjacent land uses• Contamination from agriculture, industry

• Protect fragile and rare floral species from outside influences

• Promote research within the reserve

• Must ensure First Nation traditional activities are not disrupted by its creation• Involvement of community in planning

5.1.2 Buffer Zone

II. Creating the Buffer Zone

• All major stakeholders would be consulted

• Purchase of land parcels

• Three zones• Core area (blue outline)• Buffer zone (light yellow)• Area of cooperation

(orange shading)

5.1.3 Management Committee

• Comprised of primary internal stakeholders• Brokenhead Ojibway First Nation• Manitoba Protected Areas Initiative • Debwendon Inc.• Native Orchid Conservation Inc.

• Oversee decisions, future monitoring

• Coordinate monitoring and surveillance

• Oversee enforcement of rules, fines

• Organization of meetings