Niagara River: Area of Concern

The Niagara River was designated a binational Area of Concern (AOC) in 1987 under the Canada-U.S. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Shoreline alterations and industrial and municipal pollution contributed to its degraded water quality. Eight out of 14 beneficial use impairments (BUIs) were identified, which measure the environmental, human health and economic impact of poor water quality. A further two were deemed “requiring further assessment”, meaning more information was required to determine whether they were impaired.

Accomplishments

Over the past 35 years, there has been significant progress in restoring the water and environmental quality of the river. On the Canadian side, this includes:

• completing 25 projects to address nutrient and pollutant runoff from the surrounding rural land to prevent it from entering the watershed
• completing actions to manage sources of bacteria that had made the water unsafe for swimming at a local beach
• reducing  levels of 18 priority toxics—industrial chemicals such as chlorinated benzenes and pesticides— by up to 99% between 1986 and 1995 and seeing a significant decline in the concentration of chemicals in water, fish and wildlife
• creating 147 hectares of wetland habitat and planting 54 kilometres of shoreline vegetation along local waterways
• removing contaminated sediment from the upstream Welland River (approximately 10,000 cubic metres) and Lyons Creek West in 2007 

Restoration of beneficial uses

Significant progress has been made to improve environmental conditions on the Canadian side. These beneficial uses are no longer considered “impaired”:

• bird or animal deformities or reproduction problems (2009)
• restrictions on dredging activities (2009)
• fish tumours or other deformities (2009)
• eutrophication or undesirable algae (2019)
• degradation of phytoplankton and zooplankton populations (2019)
• beach closings (2023)

Work continues on restoring the remaining beneficial uses:

• restrictions on fish and wildlife consumption – there is no impairment affecting wildlife consumption, and an updated analysis on fish contaminants is underway following the completion of a community fish consumption survey
• degradation of benthos – of the 14 contaminated sediment sites identified in the remedial action plan, 13 have been resolved. The remaining site, Lyons Creek East, has undergone monitored natural recovery and further sediment management options are being assessed
• loss of fish and wildlife habitat – efforts to create additional wetland habitat and to improve riparian and nearshore habitat along the upper Niagara River are complete, with an assessment report and community consultation to follow
• degradation of fish and wildlife populations – an assessment report has been completed and community engagement recommending a change to “not impaired” is in the advanced stages

Recent actions

The overall health of the Niagara River has improved through these recent actions:

• creation of three hectares of new coastal wetland habitat in five upper river locations—Gonder’s Flats, Ussher’s Creek, Bakers Creek, Boyer’s Creek and Frenchman’s Creek—providing nursery habitat for walleye, musky and other fish species
• naturalizing and improving almost 10 kilometers of shoreline habitat to provide wildlife and fish with added shelter and food, while also reducing soil erosion to improve water quality

Remaining actions

We will continue to work with local and provincial partners to support the restoration, monitoring and assessment studies needed to confirm objectives are met. Priorities are to:

• assess changes in sediment and benthos within Lyons Creek East and identify appropriate actions for sections that have not recovered naturally
• continue implementing the Niagara River Toxics Management Plan and water quality monitoring through the Lakewide Action and Management Plan (LAMP) process to further address sources of industrial pollution 

Outlook

The Niagara River has made significant progress towards restoration since its designation as an AOC. Under the Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health, we work with the province of Ontario to continue making progress towards remediation, environmental recovery and restoration of beneficial uses. As a binational AOC, Canada and the United States continue to work closely to achieve eventual delisting.

Partners

On the Canadian side, we partner with other levels of government, non-government groups, Indigenous communities and members of the public. This restoration work requires a large amount of scientific and technical expertise, local knowledge, hard work and the help of:

• Birds Canada
• Brock University
• City of Welland
• Environment and Climate Change Canada
• Métis Nation of Ontario
  
• Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation
• Niagara College
• Niagara Parks
• Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority
• Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters
• Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
• Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
• Niagara Region
• Town of Niagara on the Lake

Related links

• Managing contaminated sediment
• Niagara River Remedial Action Plan
• Binational.net
• Funding for Great Lakes protection
• Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health