Niagara Power Project FERC No. 2216
MAPPING
OF AQUATIC AND RIPARIAN HABITATS OF ELLICOTT AND
TONAWANDA CREEKS, AND TRIBUTARIES TO TONAWANDA CREEK
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Prepared for: New York Power Authority
Prepared by: Gomez and Sullivan Enigeers, P.C. and E/PRO Engineering & Environmental Consulting , LLC
August 2005
___________________________________________________
Copyright © 2005 New York Power Authority
EAV emergent
aquatic vegetation
FERC Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission
GIS Geographical
Information System
NYPA New
York Power Authority
SAV submerged
aquatic vegetation
USACE United
States Army Corps of Engineers
Aquatic and riparian habitat mapping was conducted on
Ellicott Creek, Tonawanda Creek, and tributaries to Tonawanda Creek from June
28, 2004 to July 1, 2004. Habitats were mapped
from the mouth of each creek to the estimated upstream extent of influence from
water levels in the upper Niagara River.
Aquatic habitats were characterized using the habitat type (e.g.,
riffle, run, and pool), typical water depth, substrate composition, and general
species composition of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) and emergent aquatic
vegetation (EAV). Riparian habitats were
characterized by documenting the general species composition, distribution, and
structure of tree, shrub, vine and herbaceous plants, and adjacent land uses.
The aquatic and riparian habitats in the lower reaches of
Ellicott Creek and Tonawanda Creek are relatively uniform. The aquatic habitats in the lower reaches of
both creeks are characterized as turbid runs that have been dredged. The upper reaches of both creeks are not
dredged, are more sinuous, and have greater habitat variability (e.g., runs
with the occasional riffle). In general,
the riparian habitats along both creeks consist of northern successional hardwood
forest species or mowed lawns. The
riparian zone along the upper reaches is relatively undeveloped, whereas the
riparian zone along the lower reaches is more developed (e.g., more houses,
boat docks, boat launches, parks, commercial development, sheet pile
bulkheads).
Data reported by Stantec et al. (2005)
along cross-sectional transects are representative of the general aquatic and
riparian habitat characteristics for the lower reaches of Ellicott Creek and
Tonawanda Creek. An analysis of Niagara
River water levels and bottom stream elevation profiles revealed that there are
five tributaries to Tonawanda Creek whose water levels could potentially be
influenced by water levels in the upper Niagara River. These include Mud Creek, Ransom Creek, Black
Creek, Bull Creek, and Sawyer Creek.
Aquatic and riparian habitat was mapped at a number of road crossings
along these tributaries. Aquatic habitat
in these tributaries consisted of runs, riffles, and pools; with runs being the
most common. Riparian habitat along the
tributaries consisted of successional northern hardwood forest, successional
shrubland, successional old field, and mowed lawn.
The New York Power Authority (NYPA) is engaged in the relicensing
of the Niagara Power Project in Lewiston, Niagara County, New York. The present operating license of the plant
expires in August 2007. In preparation
for the relicensing of the Niagara Project, NYPA is assembling information
related to the ecological, engineering, recreational, cultural, and
socioeconomic aspects of the Project. As
part of this effort, Gomez and Sullivan Engineers, P.C. and E/PRO Engineering
and Environmental Consulting, LLC mapped the aquatic and riparian habitats of
Ellicott and Tonawanda Creeks and tributaries to Tonawanda Creek.
The 1,880-MW (firm power output) Niagara Power Project is
one of the largest non-federal hydroelectric facilities in North America. The Project was licensed to the Power Authority
of the State of New York (now the New York Power Authority) in 1957. Construction of the Project began in 1958,
and electricity was first produced in 1961.
The Project has several components, shown in Figure 1.1-1.
Twin intakes are located approximately 2.6 miles above Niagara
Falls. Water entering these intakes is
routed around the Falls via two large underground conduits to a forebay, lying
on an east-west axis about 4 miles downstream of the Falls. The forebay is
located on the east bank of the Niagara River.
At the west end of the forebay, between the forebay itself and the
river, is the Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant, NYPA’s main generating plant at
Niagara. This plant has 13 turbines that
generate electricity from water stored in the forebay. Head is approximately 300 feet. At the east end of the forebay is the
Lewiston Pump Generating Plant. Under
non-peak-usage conditions (i.e., at night and on weekends), water is pumped
from the forebay via the plant’s 12 pumps/generators into the Lewiston
Reservoir, which lies east of the plant.
During peak usage conditions (i.e., daytime Monday through Friday), the
pumps are reversed for use as generators, and water is allowed to flow back
through the plant, producing electricity.
The forebay, therefore, serves as headwater for the Robert Moses plant
and tailwater for the Lewiston Plant.
South of the forebay is a switchyard, which serves as the electrical
interface between the Project and the interface between the Project and the
interstate transmission grid operated by the New York Independent System
Operator.
Water levels in the upper Niagara River influence water
levels in tributaries to the mainstem. Water
level and flow fluctuations are caused by a number of factors in addition to
the operation of the Niagara Power Project, which are described by URS et al. (2005a). Areas within Cayuga, Bergholtz, Woods,
Gun, Spicer, Tonawanda, and Ellicott Creeks were identified as being influenced
by water levels in the upper Niagara River.
The potential effects of water level fluctuations on habitat for Cayuga,
Tonawanda and Ellicott Creeks were assessed by collecting data for three
cross-sectional transects per creek.
Habitats were described by their attributes (e.g., depths, vegetation
type, substrate, velocity). The
resulting habitat information was used to assess habitat availability and
distribution in relation to fluctuating water levels (Stantec
et al. 2005). The general aquatic
and riparian habitat characteristics in the upper portion of Cayuga and
Bergholtz Creek, Woods, Gun, and Spicer Creeks were documented by Stantec et
al. (2005) and URS et al. (2005b).
Further analysis by URS et al. (2005c)
provided additional information on the possible influence that fluctuating
water levels in the Upper Niagara River may have on tributary water
levels. Habitat studies performed by Stantec et al. (2005) and URS et al. (2005b)
sufficiently described the aquatic and riparian habitat of Cayuga, Bergholtz,
Woods, Gun, and Spicer Creeks to the established upstream extent. However, these investigations did not
describe the aquatic and riparian habitat to the estimated upstream limit of
influence for Ellicott and Tonawanda Creeks.
Due to the uncertainty of the limit of influence in
Tonawanda and Ellicott Creeks, the long stream length potentially affected, and
the homogenous nature of the habitat, aquatic and riparian habitats associated
with these two creeks and tributaries to Tonawanda Creek were not mapped or
described with cross-sectional transects.
Instead, information on the general aquatic and riparian habitat
characteristics was collected for Ellicott Creek, Tonawanda Creek, and
tributaries to Tonawanda Creek to supplement the habitat characterization
performed by Stantec et al. (2005).
The investigation area includes the aquatic and riparian
habitat of Ellicott Creek, Tonawanda Creek, and tributaries to Tonawanda Creek
to the estimated upstream limit that could be influenced by water level
fluctuations in the Upper Niagara River (URS et al.
2005c) (Figure 1.2-1). For each water body, the upstream limit of influence
was estimated by field observations and by an analysis of bottom stream
elevation profiles and upper Niagara River water levels. The section of the Barge Canal that extends
from the confluence with Tonawanda Creek to Lockport was not included in this
study.
The objectives of this investigation were to:
1.
Generally describe the aquatic and riparian habitats of
Ellicott Creek, Tonawanda Creek and tributaries to Tonawanda Creek to the
estimated upstream limit that could be influenced by water level fluctuations
in the Upper Niagara River;
2.
Compare this information with the habitat information
collected by Stantec et al. (2005) along
cross-sectional transects established in the lower reaches of Ellicott Creek
and Tonawanda Creek, and determine if there are any similarities and/or
significant differences.
Niagara Power Project Components
[NIP
– General Location Maps]
Field investigations were conducted from June 28, 2004 to
July 1, 2004. Habitat mapping for both
Ellicott Creek and Tonawanda Creek was performed from the creek mouth to the
estimated upstream extent of influence.
Mapping was generally performed by two biologists using a small motor
boat and a portable computer with Geographical Information System (GIS)
software used to store the collected data.
The lowermost habitats of Ellicott Creek and Tonawanda Creek (e.g.,
downstream of Niagara Falls Boulevard and Robinson Road, respectively) were
mapped from an automobile along roads parallel to the creeks rather than a boat
because the habitat in these areas had already been described (Stantec et al., 2005).
Upstream of these locations the habitats were mapped using a
motorboat. For the tributaries to
Tonawanda Creek, aquatic and riparian habitats were mapped at multiple road
crossings because: 1) most segments of these tributaries were not navigable by
boat and, 2) with the exception of Niagara Falls Boulevard, there were no roads
that closely paralleled these tributaries for a significant distance.
Orthophotos from 2002 with a one-foot spatial resolution
were loaded into a portable computer along with a data dictionary of potential
aquatic and riparian habitat attributes.
During the fieldwork, various habitats were delineated based upon their
habitat characteristics. Each habitat
was described using the predefined attributes within the portable
computer. Water depths were measured in
both Ellicott and Tonawanda Creeks, and digital photographs of representative
habitat areas were taken. Common names
of species observed during the fieldwork are used in the body of this
report. Refer to Appendix
A for a listing of both scientific and common names of species.
Aquatic habitat was described
using the following:
1. Habitat
type (e.g., riffle, run, and pool). The
following habitat definitions were generalized from Arend (1999), Chapter 8:
·
Riffle: shallow
reach with moderate turbulence, moderate water velocities, and a slope < 4%.
Riffles are generally characterized by the occurrence of small ripples, waves,
and eddies, which are caused by small hydraulic jumps over rough bed material;
·
Run: moderately shallow reach with non-turbulent
water, no major flow obstructions and little to no surface agitation;
·
Pool: aquatic
habitat with a gradient less than 1 % that is generally deeper and wider than
the habitat directly upstream and downstream;
2. Typical
water depth;
3. Substrate
composition (substrates were determined by probing the creek bottoms with a
stadia rod and scooping sediments, and visual observation where possible);
4. General
species composition of EAV and SAV.
Areal coverage was described as:
·
Sparse (<25%);
·
Moderately Abundant (25 to 50%);
·
Abundant (51 to 75%);
·
Dense (>75%).
Species composition and areal coverage of the SAV were
documented when observed. However,
mapping SAV was not a primary goal of this investigation because visibility into
the water column was limited by high turbidity.
Depth measurements were periodically taken to gain a general
understanding of channel depth.
Riparian habitat was described using the following:
1.
General composition, distribution, and structure of
tree, shrub, vine, and herbaceous species;
2. Adjacent
land use.
For purposes of this report, Tonawanda Creek (Figure 3.1-1, 3.1-2, Photo 1, and Photo 2) has two distinct
segments: the Barge Canal, which starts at the confluence with the upper
Niagara River and extends 11.6 miles upstream, and a segment that extends from
the Barge Canal to Route 78 (Transit Road).
The habitat of the 11.6 miles of Tonawanda Creek that is part of the
Barge Canal has been altered by dredging to maintain a uniform canal width,
depth, and slope and by flow diversions during the navigation season (generally
the first week of May through the last week of October) that reverse the flow
in the creek (URS et al. 2005c). The predominant aquatic habitat type of
Tonawanda Creek was a highly turbid run with a bed composed of silty-muck
substrates. Measured depths ranged
between 2.3 and 18 feet. However, the
segment upstream of the Barge Canal was shallower (e.g., measured depths ranged
from 2.3 to 12.1 feet) than the Barge Canal (e.g., measured depths ranged from
3.6 to 18 feet). The increased depth
downstream of the confluence with the Barge Canal is attributed to the dredging
that occurs to ensure boat passage through the New York State Erie (Barge)
Canal system.
The spatial extent of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) beds
could not be determined in Tonawanda Creek due to the highly turbid water. However, SAV was documented when it was
encountered and easily observable. The
two species that were observed included Eurasian water milfoil and coontail,
and their areal coverage was moderately abundant (25 to 50%).
Two riffle habitats were located upstream of the
confluence with the Barge Canal. The
uppermost riffle was the larger of the two, was about 200 feet long, and was
located approximately 2.5 miles upstream of the Barge Canal (Photo 3). The water depth was relatively shallow (e.g.,
less than one foot) and the gradient was steeper than the adjacent runs. The bed was composed of small cobble
substrates. The second riffle, located
approximately 2 miles upstream of the Barge Canal, was approximately 100 feet
long. The bed consisted of small to
large sized cobble substrates and the water was approximately two feet deep.
A deep emergent marsh dominated by a monoculture of water
willow was mapped approximately 0.6 miles upstream of the confluence with the
Barge Canal (Photo 4). The area was relatively shallow
(2.3 feet), was about 160 feet long, and had substrates that ranged in size
from silt to large cobbles (predominately silt and sand). EAV areal coverage in this marsh area was
considered abundant (70 %). Two
additional emergent marshes (Photo 5) each about 250 feet
long and 20 to 40 feet wide and comprised primarily of narrow-leaf cattail were
observed along the creek bank approximately 4.6 miles downstream of the
confluence with the Barge Canal. These
patches of EAV were approximately 600 feet apart from one another and located
along the west bank. The water depth was
relatively shallow (3.6 feet) and the substrates were composed of silt and
muck.
Riparian vegetation was characterized as northern
succession hardwood forest. Predominant
tree species included: Norway maple, black walnut, green ash, basswood,
cottonwood, silver maple, weeping willow, and crack willow. Predominant shrubs and vines included
riverbank grape, gray dogwood, black raspberry, willow, green ash, and smooth
sumac.
A significant riparian habitat boundary was observed near
the confluence with the Barge Canal.
Upstream of the Barge Canal, the riparian zone was densely covered by
riparian vegetation, was relatively unaltered by human activities, and had few
manmade structures (i.e., homes, boat docks, etc.). Downstream of the Barge Canal, the riparian
zone and shoreline was significantly more altered by human activities than the
portion of the creek upstream of the Barge Canal. Land use generally consisted of more
residential properties, parkland, mowed lawns, and manmade structures (e.g.,
boat docks, sheet piling, etc.).
Commercial land use was most intense near the Robinson Road Bridge, and
from Delaware Street to the confluence with the Niagara River.
There are five tributaries to Tonawanda Creek that were
examined as part of this study. These
included Mud Creek, Ransom Creek, Black Creek, Bull Creek, and Sawyer
Creek. Aquatic and riparian habitats
were mapped at a total of 16 road crossings (intersections of the tributaries
and roads).
Mud Creek
Aquatic and riparian habitats were examined and mapped at
the intersection of Mud Creek and Transit Road (Route 78). The aquatic habitat consisted of a somewhat
turbid run with silt, gravel, and cobble substrates. SAV coverage was dense and included coontail,
curly leaf pondweed, and sago pondweed.
EAV species included broad-leaf cattail and soft-stem bulrush. Riparian vegetation consisted of successional
shrubland with several eastern cottonwood and green ash trees, crack willow and
silky dogwood shrubs, and riverbank grape vines. Riparian herbaceous species included mugwort,
teasel, Queen Anne’s lace, and ragweed.
With the exception of Transit Road, the riparian zone next to this road
crossing was relatively undeveloped (Photo 6).
Ransom Creek
For Ransom Creek, aquatic and terrestrial habitats were
examined at four road crossings. From
downstream to upstream, these included Tonawanda Creek Road, Hopkins Road, New
Road, and a road in a housing subdivision (Photo 7 and Photo 8). The aquatic
habitats at these road crossings consisted of three runs (Tonawanda Creek Road,
Hopkins Road, and the subdivision road) with silt substrates and one riffle
(New Road) with silt and gravel substrates.
In general, SAV coverage was moderate and the dominant species included
Eurasian water milfoil and sago pondweed.
No EAV was observed in these areas.
The riparian zones consisted of successional northern hardwood forest
with the tree stratum composed of eastern cottonwood, green ash, and crack
willow. Shrubs and vines included crack
willow, gray dogwood, green ash, staghorn sumac, and riverbank grape, while the
riparian herbaceous stratum was composed primarily of purple loosestrife and
reed canary grass.
Black Creek
Aquatic and riparian habitats associated with Black Creek
were mapped at the Smith Road crossing.
The aquatic habitat consisted of a run with silt and small cobble
substrates. SAV included curly leaf
pondweed and Eurasian water milfoil. In
addition, the bed was covered with filamentous green algae. No EAV was observed. Riparian habitat was successional hardwood
forest composed of American elm and green ash trees, green ash shrubs and
saplings, and an herbaceous stratum of purple loosestrife and false
nettle. In addition, the riparian zone
adjacent to this road crossing was undeveloped (Photo 9).
Bull Creek
Aquatic and riparian habitats associated with Bull Creek
were mapped at five road crossings. From
downstream to upstream, these included two crossings at Town Line Road, one
crossing at Loveland Road, a third crossing at Town Line Road, and one crossing
at Aiken Road (Photo 10). The aquatic habitats observed at these road
crossings included one pool with silt substrate (Aiken Road), three runs with
large cobble, silt, and muck substrates (at the three Town Line Road
crossings), and one riffle with large cobble substrates (Loveland Road). No SAV was observed at any of the road crossings. Several patches of EAV were observed and the
predominant species was common arrowhead.
Possible evidence of the influence of water level fluctuations in the
Upper Niagara River and/or flow reversal for navigation in the Barge Canal was
observed and included water flowing upstream rather than downstream toward
Tonawanda Creek.
Riparian habitats at these road crossings were relatively
undeveloped and consisted of successional northern hardwood forest. The tree stratum was composed of American
elm, green ash, willow sp., box elder, red oak, swamp white oak, and silver
maple, while the shrub and vine stratum included green ash, gray and red-osier
dogwood, hawthorn sp., and river bank grape.
The herbaceous stratum included reed canary grass, purple loosestrife,
and purple-stemmed aster.
Sawyer Creek
Aquatic and riparian habitats associated with Sawyer Creek
were mapped at five road crossings. From
downstream to upstream, these included Lockport Avenue, Shawnee Road, Delmer
Drive, a business driveway between Schultz Road and Nash Road, and Nash
Road. Aquatic habitats at the Lockport
Avenue, Shawnee Road, and Delmer
Drive crossings consisted of runs with silt and muck substrates, and pools with
silt and muck substrates at the Nash Road crossing and driveway crossing. In general, SAV coverage was moderate and
consisted of duckweed, sago pondweed, Eurasian water milfoil, and wild
celery. Extensive EAV growth was
observed along the creek segment that parallels Niagara Falls Boulevard and
included purple loosestrife, water willow, and narrow leaf cattail. In addition, filamentous green algae were
common within this segment. This segment
was highly channelized and was functioning more like an emergent wetland than a
stream due to the extensive EAV growth and the lack of discernible flow (Photo 11 and Photo 12). This segment possibly also functions as a
roadside ditch due to its proximity to Niagara Falls Boulevard. Possible evidence of the influence of Niagara
River water levels and/or flow reversal for navigation in the Barge Canal was
observed just upstream of the confluence of Sawyer and Tonawanda Creeks (water
flowing upstream rather than downstream).
Riparian habitat along the segment of Sawyer Creek from
the confluence with Tonawanda Creek to Niagara Falls Boulevard consisted of
Successional Northern Hardwood forest.
Tree, shrub, and vine species included Norway maple, green ash, box
elder, weeping willow, crack willow, silver maple, eastern cottonwood, staghorn
sumac, dodder, riverbank grape, and Virginia creeper. The most common plant in the herbaceous layer
was reed canary grass. Riparian habitat
along the segment that parallels Niagara Falls Boulevard was composed of
successional shrubland, old-field, and mowed lawn. Some trees, shrubs, and vines were observed
and included Norway maple, green ash, box elder, willow sp., silver maple,
staghorn sumac, and riverbank grape.
Reed canary grass, fescue sp., Canada blue grass, crown vetch, and bird’s
foot trefoil were the most common plants in the herbaceous layer.
The aquatic and riparian habitat of Ellicott Creek varied
throughout the investigation area (Figure 3.3-1
and 3.3-2).
Flood control and dredging operations have altered the creek’s natural
habitat. Both the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (USACE) and local government entities have made channel improvements
consisting of deepening and widening the stream channel and construction of
diversion channels to alleviate flooding (URS et al.
2005c). The predominant aquatic habitat type of Ellicott Creek was a highly
turbid run with silty-muck substrates; however, the channel width, sinuosity
and depth varied between the dredged portion and non-dredged portion of the
creek. Riparian vegetation varied along
the bank due to land use changes and was composed of northern successional
hardwood forest species, native and ornamental shrubs, and mowed
fields/lawns. Commercial land use was
greater downstream of Twin Cities Memorial Highway and there were numerous
docks, homes, and sheetpiles/retaining walls along the shoreline. Measured run depths ranged between 1.6 and
6.2 feet. Depths in the dredged bypass
channels were not measured. It appeared
that water depths were greater in the dredged portion of Ellicott Creek than in
the undredged upstream main-stem. SAV
was difficult to map due to the high turbidity; however, it was occasionally
observed and mapped.
A relatively large riffle (Photo 13),
approximately 6.9 miles from the mouth, was located at the estimated upstream
extent (e.g., Millersport Highway), which extended approximately 1,200 feet
downstream of the Millersport Highway. The average depth of this riffle was
approximately one foot and the bed was composed of substrates that ranged in
size from sand to large cobble. The
riparian vegetation largely consisted of mowed lawn with few trees (box elder
and silver maple) and shrubs (dogwood).
Purple loosestrife and reed canary grass were observed along the stream
banks. This riffle has a significant
slope and is thought to represent the upstream extent of influence of Niagara
River water levels on Ellicott Creek water levels.
The adjacent downstream aquatic habitat type was a run,
which contained silt and sand substrates with an approximate depth of three
feet. The run extended from the end of the riffle to approximately 900 feet
downstream of the John James Audubon Parkway.
The riparian vegetation was characterized as northern successional
hardwood forest and tree species largely consisted of box elder, green ash and
crack willow. Shrub species included
crack willow, dogwood, and riverbank grape.
Two species of EAV, purple loosestrife and narrow leaf cattail, were
observed along the creek shoreline and a moderately dense SAV bed, dominated by
slender naiad, was observed beneath the water surface.
A significant change in riparian vegetation was observed
approximately 900 feet downstream of the John James Audubon Parkway. In this reach, which extended another 2400
feet downstream, the riparian landscape was primarily composed of mowed lawns
with few trees. Land use was more urban
and there was a small area devoted to a recreational trail. The dominant plant species on the creek banks
were purple loosestrife and narrow leaf cattail. These riparian conditions continued for
approximately 2400 feet until the riparian vegetation changed back to
successional northern hardwood forest. This segment located approximately 3300
feet downstream of the John James Audubon Parkway, extended another 3400 feet
downstream, and represented the most natural riparian habitat within the
Ellicott Creek portion of the investigation area. Within the riparian zone was a dense stand of
trees composed of box elder, willow, green ash, and crack willow, and green ash
and crack willow shrubs. The riparian vegetation provided significant shade to
this segment of Ellicott Creek.
Further downstream (e.g., approximately 1600 feet upstream
of the Lockport Expressway), Ellicott Creek divided into two channels. The northernmost channel was similar to the
adjacent upstream habitat whereas the southernmost channel was more channelized
with less riparian cover. The aquatic
habitat consisted of a highly turbid run with silty-muck substrates. There was a grass buffer between the creek
and the surrounding forest. This buffer
ranged from 20-60 feet in width. In
addition, narrow leaf cattail, purple loosestrife, and Japanese knotweed were
common along the shore, as well as shrubs including dogwood, willow, smooth
sumac, and riverbank grape. The
surrounding forest consisted of weeping willow, green ash, box elder, silver
maple, cottonwood, and American basswood trees.
Ellicott Creek divided into two channels again directly
downstream of the Lockport Expressway, which is approximately 500 feet
downstream of the confluence of the aforementioned channels. Both channels were aquatic run habitat types
with silty-muck substrates. The northern
channel was more channelized, deeper, and the adjacent land use was primarily
commercial. The riparian zone was
predominately grass and had few tree species.
Purple loosestrife, common reed, and riverbank grape were observed along
the immediate shore. The southern
channel was more sinuous and contained a higher density of trees in the
riparian zone. Vegetation in the
riparian zone included willow, box elder, and green ash trees, and gray and
red-osier dogwood shrubs. The areal
coverage of SAV was moderate and included sago pondweed and coontail. From approximately 1700 feet downstream of
Sweet Home Road to the confluence with the northern channel, the water surface
was coated with a green algal film.
Downstream of the confluence of these two channels, the
aquatic habitat was similar to the northern channel; however, the riparian zone
contained a mix of mowed lawns and successional forest. Tree species included weeping willow, green
ash, box elder, silver maple, cottonwood, and basswood. Shrubs and vines included gray and red-osier
dogwood, willow, smooth sumac, and riverbank grape. Common herbaceous plants included narrow leaf
cattail, purple loosetrife, and Japanese knotweed. Commercial land use of the riparian zone was
more prevalent downstream of Twin Cities Memorial Highway and continued to the
confluence with Tonawanda Creek.
Tonawanda
Creek - Downstream view from Barge Canal
Tonawanda Creek - Typical Run
Habitat Upstream of Confluence with Barge Canal
Tonawanda Creek - First Riffle
Habitat Downstream of Route 78 (Transit Road)
This
photo was taken during the winter as part of another study.
Tonawanda Creek - Facing Downstream
with a View of the Deep Emergent Marsh Vegetation
Tonawanda Creek - View of EAV
Stand in Run Habitat
Mud Creek - Facing Downstream with
View of Run Habitat just Downstream of Transit Road Crossing
Ransom Creek - Downstream View
Sawyer Creek – Downstream View
Sawyer Creek – Downstream View
Ellicott Creek - Facing Upstream with
a View of the Riffle Downstream of Millersport Highway
1.
The aquatic habitats in the lower reaches of Ellicott
and Tonawanda Creek are relatively uniform (e.g., turbid runs) and have been
dredged. The upper reaches are not
dredged, are relatively more sinuous, and have greater habitat variability
(e.g., runs with the occasional riffle);
2.
The riparian habitats of Ellicott and Tonawanda Creeks
consist of northern successional hardwood forest species or mowed lawns. The riparian zones along the upper reaches of
both creeks are relatively undeveloped, while the riparian zones in the lower
reaches are more developed (e.g., more houses, boat docks, boat launches,
parks, commercial development, sheet pile bulkheads);
3.
Data reported by Stantec et al. (2005)
along cross-sectional transects are representative of the general aquatic and
riparian habitat characteristics of the lower reaches of Tonawanda and Ellicott
Creeks.
Arend, K. 1999.
Macrohabitat Classification. In: Aquatic
Habitat Assessment: Common Methods. ed.
M.B. Bain and N.J. Stevenson. Bethesda,
MD: American Fisheries Society. pp.
75-93.
Stantec Consulting Services, Inc., URS Corporation, Gomez and Sullivan
Engineers, P.C., and E/PRO Engineering & Environmental Consulting,
LLC. 2005. Effect of Water Level and Flow Fluctuations
on Terrestrial and Aquatic Habitat, prep. for the New York Power Authority.
URS Corporation, Gomez and Sullivan Engineers, P.C., and E/PRO
Engineering & Environmental Consulting, LLC. 2005c.
Upper Niagara River Tributary Backwater Study (Draft). Prep. for the New York Power Authority.
URS
Corporation, Gomez and Sullivan Engineers, P.C., and E/PRO Environmental &
Engineering Consulting, LLC. 2005a. Niagara River Water Level and Flow
Fluctuation Study. Prep. for the New
York Power Authority.
URS Corporation,
Gomez and Sullivan Engineers, P.C., and E/PRO Engineering & Environmental
Consulting, LLC. 2005b. Ecological Condition of Gill, Fish, and
Cayuga Creeks . Prep. for the New York
Power Authority.
|
Scientific Name |
Common Name |
|
Acer platanoides |
Norway
maple |
|
Juglans nigra |
Black
walnut |
|
Fraxinus pennsyulvanica |
Green
ash |
|
Tilia ame |