Changes in Fish Communities of Lake Ontario Coastal Wetlands before and after Remedial Action Plans

Table 1

Impairment of beneficial uses and stage of Remedial Action Plans for Lake Ontario Areas of Concern. Beneficial use impairments are (1) restrictions on fish and wildlife consumption, (2) tainting of fish and wildlife flavor, (3) degradation of fish and wildlife populations, (4) fish tumors or other deformities, (5) bird or animal deformities or reproduction problems, (6) degradation of benthos, (7) restrictions on dredging activities, (8) eutrophication or undesirable algae, (9) restrictions on drinking water consumption, (10) beach closings, (11) degradation of aesthetics, (12) added costs to agriculture or industry, (13) degradation of phytoplankton and zooplankton populations, (14) loss of fish and wildlife habitat.

Area of concern	Stage	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	Total
Hamilton Harbour, ON	2	X	—	X	X	X	X	X	X	—	X	X	—	X	X	11
Toronto and Region, ON	2	X	—	X	—	—	X	X	X	—	X	X	—		X	8
Port Hope, ON	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	X	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1
Bay of Quinte, ON	2	X	—	X	—	—	X	X	X	X	X	X	—	X	X	10
Oswego River, NY	2	X	—	X	—	—	—	—	X	—	—	—	—	—	X	4
Rochester Embayment, NY	2	X	—	X	—	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	12
Eighteen Mile Creek, NY	2	X	—	—	—	—	X	X	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	3
Niagara River, ON, NY	2	X	—	—	X	—	X	X	—	—	—	—	—	—	X	5