Often times there is insufficient supporting documentation
to ascertain that the storm water management systems will either result
in a similar distribution (laterally or vertically) of recharge water
as presently occurs or a similar volume of recharge water as presently
occurs. This is due to a lack of understanding regarding the groundwater
and soil conditions around the proposed ponds. We need to establish
reasonable testing criteria to establish minimum bore hole test levels,
reasonable spacing of bore holes and we need to establish the criteria
to determine if an area is suitable for infiltration. By establishing
standardized testing practices we can help assure that our knowledge
base is appropriate and that water volumes will be protected.
Road salt is an alkaline that augments both the water
quality and water temperature so we must have regard to how these
ponds impact fish and fish habitats. We need to establish more detailed
calculations and streamflow observations to verify baseflow conditions.
Continuous streamflow measurements for a 12 month period at discharge
points will assist in the determination of volumes of runoff and volumes
of groundwater discharge and groundwater recharge in/out of creek
systems.
Groundwater, when exposed in a pond, evaporates but
salt lowers the freezing temperature keeping water open longer so
we must factor in the variances of salt laced pond evaporation scenarios
when planning a suitable water budget approach. It is becoming trendy
for people to use "salt water" swimming pools instead of
the traditional chlorine treatments so we should examine what implications
this may have.
Come spring time, a quick thaw can result in a salt shock, erosion
and sediment issues which can kill fish so we must take precautions
to assure that flow rates from pond to creek are properly managed
in accordance to federal fisheries laws. The wider the erosion in
tributaries, the more we drain out our water resources. this can
result in water budget deficiencies come late summer resulting in
increased contamination risks in area wells and water ways and decreasing
assimilation capacity in the Grand River. We should establish ongoing
mandatory monitoring of our SWM ponds to assure that post development
ground water volumes are truly being replaced.
The link of Road Salt, Algae and Geese.
Road salt is toxic and because salt water is heavier than freshwater,
the bottoms of many lakes are already salty enough to be toxic to
organisms. In SWM ponds the chloride levels reduces terrestrial
and aquatic biota but the alkaline actually stimulates the growth
of algae including the cyanobacteria
affecting Lake Erie. The best way to prevent it, is to remove the
excess nitrates and phosphates feeding into these water systems.
Open water attracts Canada Geese that produce up to 3lbs of nitrate
and phosphate rich droppings per bird/per day which stimulates the
growth of algae in these SWM ponds. In a natural wetland area the
birds are not an issue since wetlands remove 80-90% of nitrate and
phosphates but in Southern Ontario: by 1982, about 70 per cent of
the wetlands present prior to European settlement had been destroyed,
and some areas of Southern Ontario have lost almost all their wetlands.
There is
no provincial or federal legislation that specifically requires
protection of wetlands in Ontario. These geese have no where else
go to.
The bird's droppings make an excellent fertilizer for fields and
natural areas and they play a key roll in a healthy wetland ecosystem
but they pose a serious risk in man made salt laced SWM ponds which
do not support biodiversity of flora and fauna required to properly
process the waste materials.
Because SWM ponds are among residential areas, there's less natural
predation for geese by fox, coyote, snapping turtles, birds of prey
etc. and this results in uncontrolled population growth.
When the nutrient rich bird runoff enters into salty SWM ponds,
it creates nitrate issues depleting water of oxygen as the waste
breaks down. Algae blooms further aggrevates the nitrate issues.
Lack of oxygen in the water results in fish kills and dead zones.
Wetlands are more beneficial to Canadians, both environmentally
and economically, if they are left intact rather than drained or
destroyed or converted to SWM ponds. In 2003, the
value of wetlands to Canadians was estimated at $20 billion
annually. To offset our nitrate and phosphate issues at the local
level and to provide geese with a suitable habitat we must protect
and preserve our existing wetland areas and take the measures to
protect the entire natural biodiversity, including the presence
of coyotes and other predatory species to keep the natural balance
without relying on costly man made control measures.
