Environmental attributes for assessing impacts of water level regulation on Lake Ontario using management and public interests.

<p>Environmental attributes for assessing impacts of water level regulation on Lake Ontario using management and public interests.</p

Shoreline classes for assessing lake level effects throughout the Great Lakes.

<p>The classes were identified, characterized, and illustrated by Stewart and Pope <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0003806#pone.0003806-Stewart1" target="_blank">[25]</a> and later refined and applied to all shoreline segments in the US and Canada. The percentage of the Lake Ontario shoreline composed of each class and its basic features relative to potential impacts are provided. Not included are artificial shorelines and other minor classes. Drawings included here were made from sketches in Stewart and Pope <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0003806#pone.0003806-Stewart1" target="_blank">[25]</a>.</p

Relationships between Lake Ontario water level and environmental attributes.

<p>A) bank swallow nesting in bluff habitat, B) piping plover nest area on sand beaches, C) benthic invertebrate habitat along coarse beaches, D) rock bass habitat along coarse beaches, E) killdeer foraging and nesting area on coarse beaches. Relationships for both baymouth-barrier beach shorelines and protected wetland and backwater shoreline classes: F) area of submerged aquatic vegetation, G) area of emergent vegetation, and H) area of wetland vegetation. Baymouth-barrier beach shoreline relations included: I) suitability of habitat for Northern pike embryos and the earliest fry stages, J) nesting suitability for black tern, and K) nesting suitability for king rail. Relations only for the protected wetland and backwater shoreline classes were: L) suitability of habitat for bowfin early life stages, M) area of rainbow smelt adult staging and early life rearing habitat, N) nesting suitability for marsh wren, and O) suitability of habitat for overwintering beaver.</p

A sample 3-year sequence of monthly water levels under each water management plan.

<p>Simulated data were obtained from the Lake Ontario - St. Lawrence River Study Board <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0003806#pone.0003806-Lake1" target="_blank">[9]</a>. Elevation in meters IGLD 1985 (International Great Lakes Datum of 1985) is the current standard that includes a baseline adjustment for glacial rebound in the earth's crust under the Great Lakes.</p

Seven Lake Ontario water management plans defined by the Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Study Board [9].

<p>Seven Lake Ontario water management plans defined by the Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Study Board <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0003806#pone.0003806-Lake1" target="_blank">[9]</a>.</p

Matrix of environmental attributes and shoreline classes.

<p>Check marks indicate significant impacts were expected; empty cells indicate that no significant effect was anticipated for the range of water level changes being considered.</p

Figure 1

<p>Map of the Hudson River estuary with key habitats used by shortnose sturgeon and the salinity zones in the system. Summer habitat, winter juvenile habitat, and salinity zones match horizontally on the figure with locations in the river. The width of the summer habitat designation corresponds with most and least heavily used sections of the river.</p

Figure 2

<p>Size distribution of adult shortnose sturgeon captured in targeted sampling in spawning and adult wintering habitats, and the size distribution of shortnose sturgeon captured in random sampling during summer. Shortnose sturgeon greater than 50 cm fork length (FL) were classified as adults. During summer sampling, all life stages of shortnose sturgeon are well distributed in the river system.</p

Detection of VHSV in fish and water and the presence of VHSV positive fish at sampling sites in and outside of invasion hotspots shown in Figure 1.

<p>Detection of VHSV in fish and water and the presence of VHSV positive fish at sampling sites in and outside of invasion hotspots shown in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0010156#pone-0010156-g001" target="_blank">Figure 1</a>.</p

Fish analyzed for VHSV and number of fish determined to be positive with data on fish sizes and known vulnerability to VHSV.

<p>1. VHSV susceptibility is reported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0010156#pone.0010156-Center1" target="_blank">[12]</a> although other species can be infected.</p