Coastal Waters Monitoring Program (CWMP)

Goal

The goal of the CWMP is to understand and protect the nearshore environments of SON Territory through monitoring, assessment, and connection with the diversity of habitats and inhabitants of our lands and waters.

Core Objective

To complete a comprehensive ecological baseline of the coastal/nearshore regions of the Territory and continue monitoring annually.
To assert SON’s jurisdiction in the Territory and enhance SON’s ability to make ecologically informed decisions about new and ongoing projects in the Territory in consultation and engagement with the Government and proponents.
To connect SON Community members to the natural environment of their Territory (and to understand current and changing health).
To incorporate the Ecological Knowledge and priorities of SON Community members into the scope of monitoring, and in the analysis, interpretation and communication of data.
To provide meaningful, long-term training and employment opportunities to SON membership.

Background

Concerns over the environmental impacts of the Bruce Generating Station (BNGS) have been an ongoing issue for the Saugeen Ojiway Nation (SON) since its inception. Thermal effects and impingement/entertainment (I/E) represents two major areas of concern. The context of these concerns is based on the aboriginal and Treaty Rights held by SON and the responsibilities of SON as caretakers of the Land and Waters within their Territory (Saukiing Anishnabekiing)

SON People hold a special relationship with the Water, and with all beings that inhabit the Water. This relationship is based on cultural ways of knowing, understanding, and living in this world in a good way; this relationship has existed since time beyond memory. SON relates with Water as bringing and sustaining life, both to the People and to all of Creation. It is this sacred relationship that makes it imperative that SON uphold their duty to care for and protect the Water.

It is in recognition of the sacredness of the Water that an understanding of the importance of these issues to SON, as well as SON’s perceptions and evaluations of “risk” and “impact” become apparent. Recognition of SON’s valuation and perception of risk are essential as they inform others with different worldviews, cultures, and connections to the Land and Waters in the Territory about how the SON develops its criteria and process for evaluating acceptable levels of impact.

After many years of engagement on this issue, it is clear that there are significant gaps in SON’s understanding of the existing environment and the interactions and impacts of BNGS on the ecology of Lake Huron (even at a local scale). SON aspires to understand these impacts better through the design and implementation of a robust program that assesses and monitors the interactions and impacts related to thermal discharge, I/E, and the ecology of Lake Huron; as well as the greater lake ecosystem, including Georgian Bay. SON seeks an active role in monitoring, assessing, and interpreting data collected by a dedicated team of SON members through the SON Coastal Waters Monitoring Program (CWMP).

What we do:

CWMP will enhance SON’s ability to protect our Aboriginal and Treaty Rights as they relate to the land, waters, human and non-human beings of our Territory.

This program will assist in building capacity at the community level, engaging our community members, and creating opportunities for Anishnaabe knowledge systems (including Anishnaabe science) to be centred and valued in our understanding and interpretation of knowledge gathered.

Our work will support SON in building a comprehensive and consistent baseline dataset of both quantitative data (numbers and measurement-based data) and qualitative knowledge or experience-based data that describes the environmental conditions of the Territory. No single or combined authority (MNRF, MOECP, Conservation Authorities, etc.) in SON Territory holds a comprehensive and consistent baseline dataset/inventory that accurately tracks changes to the ecological communities of Lake Huron, nor have any agencies considered the Traditional ecological and cultural knowledge of the SON Communities. SON’s goal is to amass its comprehensive ecological database to develop a holistic understanding of the ecology and environments of the Territory and to monitor changes over time. This will foster our ability to understand major issues such as cumulative impacts and climate change, and make informed decisions about new developments in the Territory in a holistic and inclusive manner.

Primary Monitoring Components:

Larval fish sampling
1. Sampling conducted at potential spawning shoal habitat (3 zones, 30 core sampling sites).
2. Sampling begins when water temperatures reach approximately 4-5°C.
3. 5-minute tows in depths of 0.8-100 metre of water.
Nearshore fish community
1. Sampling conducted across 13 zones (~77 sites) throughout SON Territory.
2. Fyke nets are set for 24 hours and live-sampling conducted.
3. Species, Length and Count are recorded.
Water Temperature Monitoring
1. Year-round sampling at approximately 28 locations across each of the 13 zones.
2. Monitor temperature continuously at various depths (ranging from 2m to 5m).
3. Surface and bottom temperature measured at each nearshore fish community site.
Water Quality Monitoring
1. Basic water quality is measured at each nearshore site (Temperature, Dissolved Oxygen, pH, Turbidity, Total Dissolved Solids and Conductivity).
2. Comprehensive water quality assessment is taken within each zone once a season (Fall).
3. Assessment includes analysis of nutrients (e.g., phosphorus, nitrogen), metals, and contaminants.
Vegetation Sampling
1. Aquatic plants are identified at each net site along three transects within a 15m section. Plant species, type (i.e., emergent, submergent, floating), cover (i.e., above or below surface) and density (recorded as a percent proportion of the square) are recorded for 3, 1m squares along the three transects.
Macro-Invertebrate Sampling
1. Benthic macroinvertebrate sampling is conducted through the kick and sweep method using standard D-frame nets. Samples are collected within a 10m radius of the sample site.

Engagement

One of the core objectives of CWMP is to connect SON Community members, of all ages, to the natural environment of our Territory. We have a special focus on conducting workshops with the younger generations as our future leaders and beneficiaries. Some of our annual engagement activities include:

Year-round sampling at approximately 28 locations across each of the 13 zones.
Community Days - Ice Fishing (weather permitting)
Community Days - Spear Making Workshop and Outing(s) to local waterways
School Days - STEM workshops across various age groups to share ecological knowledge, sample monitor activities and biodiversity-themed games
SON EO Spring and Fall Vendor’s Markets
Community Pow Wow(s) information booth and community engagement
And more!!!

Relationship Building

CWMP will continue to build and maintain positive working relationships with community groups in both SON Communities (Nawash and Saugeen), and with other environmental groups, conservation authorities, parks, schools, municipalities and more, working throughout SON Territory. These relationships can enhance the program through open and collaborative processes that allow us to share knowledge, build capacity, foster trust-based relationships and advance our individual and collective goals for the health and wellbeing of the Territory and SON Rights and Interests.

Proponents:

CWMP is one of several SON Technical Information gathering bodies and advisory teams. Information gathered through the program assists in decision-making by the joint Chiefs and Councils on matters that have the potential to impact SON Rights and Interests. Consultation processes, Impact Assessment and potential Funding Agreements are negotiated through the Environment Office and SON Joint Chiefs and Councils.

Links:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDOZHs0Ocn8