2026

Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation (AOKFN) approached Manitoulin Streams Improvement Association based on our 24 years of experience delivering stream restoration projects across Manitoulin Island and our role as the largest stream restoration not-for-profit organization in Northern Ontario. Working in partnership, we jointly secured funding to develop a bioengineered Sucker Creek Enhancement Strategy to guide the restoration of degraded reaches within the community. Prepared by a geo-fluvial engineer, the strategy provides site-specific reach descriptions, identified concerns, restoration solutions, and estimated material costs to support implementation and long-term protection of the creek, with the shared goal of revitalizing this important community waterway.
The Enhancement Strategy was informed by comprehensive field and desktop assessments, including background reviews, site meetings, synoptic surveys of Sucker Creek and its tributaries, geomorphic assessments, and analysis of historic and current aerial imagery. These efforts supported the development of prioritized, concept-level restoration designs. Baseline ecological data collection was also completed, including vegetation, bird, and wildlife inventories, as well as an electrofishing survey conducted in 2024 by College Boreal in partnership with Manitoulin Streams, establishing critical benchmarks for evaluating restoration outcomes.

Sucker Creek is a 2.5 km coldwater system flowing through AOKFN lands and into Lake Huron, historically supporting rainbow trout, suckers, and a walleye fishery valued by the community for sustenance. The lower reach of the creek was identified as a priority restoration area due to bank erosion, sedimentation, degraded in-stream habitat, altered hydrology, and climate-related stressors such as low water levels and elevated temperatures. Restoration of Reach 1 will include erosion control, improved channel connectivity, and habitat creation through a “string of pearls” pool-riffle design to enhance fish habitat, sediment transport, and aquatic productivity.

The proposed restoration will stabilize streambanks using bioengineering techniques, reduce sediment delivery to spawning areas, improve channel form and substrate, and restore riparian buffers through native and traditional plantings identified by community Elders. A competitive tendering process will be used to select qualified engineering and construction firms to complete detailed site designs, construction, and site supervision in accordance with provincial and federal in-water work timing regulations. This project builds on Manitoulin Streams’ successful restoration of 85 stream sites to date and will contribute to improved water quality, climate resilience, and long-term ecological health of Sucker Creek and the Lake Huron watershed.

The project is expected to significantly improve the overall health and function of Sucker Creek by restoring natural channel form, improving habitat complexity, and re-establishing stable riparian buffers.

These actions will enhance water quality, reduce erosion and sedimentation, and improve connectivity within the stream system, creating conditions more suitable for cool- and cold-water organisms. The restored reach is expected to support increased fish spawning success, greater biodiversity, and improved resilience to climate change impacts.

From a community and cultural perspective, the project will strengthen Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation’s connection to Sucker Creek by revitalizing a culturally and historically important waterway.

Restoration of riparian areas using native and traditional medicinal plants will support the preservation of Indigenous knowledge and provide opportunities for knowledge transfer between Elders, youth, and community members.

The anticipated quantitative outcomes of the Sucker Creek restoration project include the following measurable results:

• 100 metres of stream channel restored in Reach 1 below the waterfall, addressing erosion, channel instability, and degraded habitat.
• Approximately 500 m2 of in-stream habitat enhanced, including the creation of nine spawning pools with approximately 11 m3 of spawning substrate, improving habitat availability for fish and aquatic organisms.
• Installation of approximately 45 m3 of subangular stone (D50 = 200 mm) to stabilize the channel, improve sediment transport, and support pool—riffle formation.
• Placement of 30 root wads, along with grading, coir matting (~60 m2), and seeding (~90 m2), to improve bank stability, habitat complexity, and erosion control.
• Restoration and protection of approximately 600 m2 of riparian buffer (both sides of the creek, 3 m wide over 100 m), including the planting of:
  • 100 native trees
  • 100 native shrubs
  • 50 traditional medicinal plant species recommended by Elders (e.g., cedar, milkweed, red osier dogwood, maple, birch)