Mississippi Lake National Wildlife Area Management Plan: chapter 5


5. Management approaches

This section contains a description of approaches that could be used in the management of the Mississippi Lake National Wildlife Area (NWA). However, management actions will be determined through the annual work planning process and will be implemented as human and financial resources allow.

The overall management philosophy for Mississippi Lake NWA will be to protect and conserve habitat with minimal management intervention.

5.1 Habitat management

The Mississippi Lake NWA will be managed primarily as a waterfowl staging area and nesting site for migratory birds. There has been no active habitat management at Mississippi Lake NWA. Natural processes have occurred unimpeded. However, more information about this site needs to be gathered to confirm that this is the best approach.

An ecological assessment of wetlands, upland forest, and old field and meadow habitats will be conducted to establish baseline information on vegetation community structure, hydrologic functions, non-native and invasive species, and wildlife use. The results will be used to track change over time, identify management practices required to protect and improve these habitats, and identify emerging issues that may require a management response (Section 5.5). Targeted surveys and/or monitoring for species at risk that occur within these communities may also be undertaken.
The following management actions will be carried in wetlands, upland forest, and old field and meadow.

Wetlands

The wetlands within the NWA are influenced by water levels on the Mississippi Lake and River, which are controlled by the operation of the dam at Carleton Place (Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources [OMNR], 2006). Environment Canada Canadian Wildlife Service (EC-CWS) will work with Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) and OMNR to provide input into the Mississippi Lake Subwatershed Plan and update of the Mississippi River Water Management Plan.  

Upland forest

Some management activities may be undertaken periodically to promote succession and improve species diversity. For example, herbicide application and weed control.
A 5 ha area of old field habitat along the south shore of McEwen Bay will be restored to upland deciduous forest to provide a continuous vegetated upland buffer around McEwen Bay.

Old field and meadow

Old field and meadow habitats will be allowed to naturally succeed to upland forest. In the interim, these areas will be surveyed for the presence of breeding migratory birds and non-native and invasive plant species.

Actions may be undertaken to control non-native and invasive plants, promote succession, and increase native vegetation. For example, the open field at the end of Drummond Concession 10B was used at one time to produce hay. It is no longer harvested, but the 3.5 ha area is mowed periodically by a contractor to prevent expansion of non-native woody vegetation (Robinson, personal communication, 2012).

5.2 Wildlife management

There has been no active wildlife population management in the NWA. Natural processes have been allowed to occur unimpeded. Protection and preservation of breeding and migratory habitat for migratory birds, species at risk and other wildlife will be mainly achieved through limitation of human disturbance. As per the Canada Wildlife Act, all wildlife species are protected within the NWA.

Migratory birds and species at risk will be surveyed as part of broader efforts, and threats will be assessed. Active management actions may be undertaken if the need arises. However, certain threats to the birds (For example, changes in food resources, weather events, increased incidence of botulism, toxics, disease and bird mortality) are considered to be beyond the influence of localized management approaches.

Species at risk will be surveyed to assess population size and distribution, potential and existing threats, and to determine and implement best management practices and recovery actions. Particular interest will be taken in the Butternut population, and the prospect of replanting canker-resistant trees.

5.3 Management of non-native and invasive plants

To date, no measures have been taken to reduce or control non-native and invasive plants in Mississippi Lake NWA. Purple Loosestrife, Common Buckthorn, European Frogbit and Flowering-rush occur within the NWA, but have yet to be a cause for concern. The extent and spread of non-native and invasive plants will be surveyed. Control measures will be considered if a non-native or known invasive species is deemed to cause significant issues for wildlife or the ecological integrity of their habitats.

5.4 Management of feral and domestic animals, and overabundant wildlife

EC-CWS will include relevant information in outreach materials to visitors, neighbouring residents and partners about the effects of feral and domestic animals on wildlife and habitats and the prohibitions on the release of domestic or wild animals within the NWA. Signage, notices and outreach materials will be used to increase awareness and promote voluntary co-operation to keep cats inside, dogs on leashes and to report sightings of feral and domestic animals, and compliance with Wildlife Area Regulations that prohibit the release of domestic or wild animals within the NWA.

Where routine surveying of the NWA identifies particular problems with feral or domestic animals, removal of problem animals may be undertaken by EC-CWS, and incidents of domestic livestock at large or people releasing or feeding wild or feral animals will be reported to Environment Canada’s Wildlife Enforcement Directorate (EC-WED).

The effects of the beaver population on the NWA and adjacent properties will be monitored. Trapping of beavers will be undertaken if required. The trapping program will be monitored closely to reduce adverse effects upon resident beaver populations, minimize damage and document contributions to the local economy. Trapping will take place under the authority of a Canada Wildlife Act permit, using approved techniques by trappers licensed through the OMNR.

5.5 Monitoring and surveys

There have been few systematic surveys of habitats and wildlife within Mississippi Lake NWA. Monitoring and survey activities will be directed toward obtaining information on the movements, activities and numbers of migratory birds to inform habitat management actions.

Monitoring and survey methods and priorities will be in accordance with species at risk recovery strategies, action plans, management plans and other relevant policies.

Monitoring and surveys of habitat conditions and wildlife populations will be conducted on an as needed basis to:

  1. Assess habitat suitability for a range of plant and wildlife species with emphasis on staging waterfowl, breeding marsh-dependent wildlife, migratory birds, species at risk and provincially rare species.
  2. Assess change over time and identify potential threats and stresses to wildlife populations and habitat.
  3. Assess migratory bird use within the NWA and nearshore waters and wetlands immediately adjacent to the NWA (i.e. Mississippi Lake and River), with emphasis on waterfowl and marshbirds.
  4. Assess the effects of current or future management practices.
  5. Assess the effects of access (authorized and unauthorized) and human activities (permitted and prohibited) on wildlife populations, habitats and infrastructure.
  6. Measure the spatial extent of non-native and invasive species in order to inform management actions.
  7. Assess the effects of water level fluctuations on wetland and upland forest habitats and associated migratory birds and species at risk.
  8. Assess Butternut populations and the health of individual trees.

5.6 Research

Permits issued under the Wildlife Area Regulations of the Canada Wildlife Act are required to conduct research in Mississippi Lake NWA. Refer to Appendix 2: Canadian Wildlife Service (Ontario) Conditions of Research Requests at National Wildlife Areas.

Research activities will be considered for permitting when the results have the potential for  increasing knowledge of waterfowl and migratory bird populations, habitat succession and species use, effects of climate change and water level change on wildlife and habitats, methods to reduce and mitigate the effects of non-native and invasive species, or methods to improve wetland, upland forest, and old field and meadow habitats.

ll research requests must be made in writing. To request a Canada Wildlife Act permit to conduct research in Mississippi Lake NWA or to obtain information, please contact:

Environment Canada
Canadian Wildlife Service
Ontario Region
867 Lakeshore Road
Burlington ON  L7R 4A6
Tel.: 905-336-4464
Fax: 905-336-4587
Email: wildlife.ontario@ec.gc.ca

5.7 Review agreements, permits and collaborative arrangements for Mississippi Lake NWA

EC-CWS will review agreements, permits and collaborative arrangements, and revise and renew as appropriate. Informal agreements and collaborative arrangements will be formalized.

Once federal lands within Mississippi Lake NWA are gazetted, all boundaries and land and water management practices will be reviewed. EC-CWS will review and update agreements and collaborative arrangements to include all lands within the NWA, and identify opportunities to address current and future management challenges and threats, including regional upland and wetland conservation, waterfowl conservation, multi-species conservation, control of invasive and non-native species, Mississippi Lake and River conservation, adaptations to climate change and variability, and species at risk recovery.

5.8 Public information and outreach

Public information and outreach activities are designed to enhance public understanding and appreciation of the important conservation role of the Mississippi Lake NWA in the protection of migratory birds and other wildlife including species at risk, and to encourage public cooperation in wildlife conservation.

Signage at the Mississippi Lake NWA and communications and outreach materials will be reviewed and updated periodically to ensure that they provide clear direction to visitors, partners and the public on the permitted and prohibited activities and health and safety hazards within the NWA. EC-CWS will work with partners to provide clear direction on the jurisdictional boundaries, health and safety hazards, and conservation goals within the NWA and Migratory Bird Sanctuary (MBS).

Specific goals for public information and outreach include:

  1. Explain the purpose of NWAs, the importance of establishing them and the general role of the Environment Canada’s protected areas network and national habitat program;
  2. Outline the importance of the different habitats for migratory birds and other wildlife (reptiles, mammals, plants, etc.);
  3. Promote appreciation for habitat and wildlife and the public’s role in ongoing protection of the site; and
  4. Increase awareness and promote compliance with the Canada Wildlife Act and the Wildlife Area Regulations;

To meet these goals, Environment Canada has established a public website and printed material, available at Protected Areas. For information on Mississippi Lake NWA, follow these links: Network of Protected Areas, Ontario, and Mississippi Lake National Wildlife Area.

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