Plan B Natural Heritage

Transcription

1 Plan B Natural Heritage Environmental Restoration and Management Brad Bricker, Senior Ecologist, Principal PLAN B Natural Heritage

2 Environmental Policy - Northwest

3 Area 1 Northwest Brantford Most biologically diverse and significant area in the City of Brantford. Grand River Heritage River, supports a warmwater/coolwater fishery with habitat for 8 fish species of concern, including 2 Threatened species (Black Redhorse, Eastern Sand Darter) Grand River Forest ESA associated with steep valley slopes. Tufa Mounds Earth Science ANSI Provincially significant Brant Floodplain Wetland Brantford Northwest Provincially Significant Wetland (PSW) Brantford Prairies and Savannah provincially and locally significant, includes Brantford Perched Prairie Fen, Brantford Golf and Country Club Oak Savannah, Brantford Railway Trench and TCG Railway Prairie

4 Area 1 Northwest Brantford Provincially Significant plant communities include: - Dry Tallgrass Prairie - Dry Black Oak Tallgrass Savannah - Perched Mineral Prairie Fen - provide habitat for 19 provincially rare plant species Riparian and valley slope forests support a high diversity of tree species, including several Carolinian species such as Hackberry, Sycamore, Sassafras, Hickories and Oaks. Invasive plant species such as European Buckthorn, Garlic Mustard, Tartarian Honeysuckle and Manitoba maple are widespread within the bottomlands.

5 Area 1 Northwest Brantford Prairie habitat on slopes exhibits disturbance from trail use and weedy plant invasion. NW Brantford provides habitat for a diverse assemblage of wildlife including species of conservation concern and species at risk. Grand River provides an important corridor function for migrating birds large flocks of warblers and song birds were observed as well as Great Egret. Islands and gravel bars provide suitable habitat for several wildlife species and low human disturbance. Mature riparian Cottonwood and Oak trees provide suitable roosting sites for raptors such as Osprey and Bald Eagle. Prairie sites in NW Brantford have been actively managed using prescribed burns by the Brant Stewardship Council (e.g. Brantford Golf and Country Club and Brant Park GRCA).

6 Area 1 Northwest Brantford

7 Perched Prairie Fen Area 1 Northwest Brantford

8 Environmental Policy Holmedale/Oakhill Drive, Downtown Core Area, & River Tributary

9 Area 2 Holmedale/Oakhill Drive & Waterworks Park Mature riparian forest dominated by Cottonwood, Oaks and Manitoba Maple occurs between the dyke and Grand River. Large Cottonwood trees are favored by Bald Eagles for roosts and nesting. This area supports the largest concentration of mature Cottonwood in the City. The Bald Eagle in Southern Ontario has been re-classified from Endangered to Special Concern - current protocols for the protection of nesting and wintering eagles should be continued.

10 Area 2 Holmedale/Oakhill Drive & Waterworks Park Year-round open water, islands and mature Cottonwood forest provide suitable habitat for Bald Eagles along the Grand River. The mature riparian Cottonwood forest provides important staging habitat for migrant songbirds before they move south through open urban areas. Pine plantations within Brant Conservation Area are overrun with European Buckthorn. A significant number of unauthorized trails provide access to the Grand River several informal trails run through the mature riparian forest. Invasive Manitoba Maple, European Buckthorn and Garlic Mustard are widespread within the riparian forest.

11 Area 3 Downtown Core Area Narrow, confined riparian habitat zone dominated by Manitoba Maple and Cottonwood. Limited habitat for wildlife except for native plantings along the dyke/trail system. Lack of forest cover forces migratory songbirds to use urban areas after dark for migration.

12 Area 7 D Aubigny Creek High quality coldwater stream that provides habitat for brook, brown and rainbow trout. Provides an important corridor function between D Aubigny Creek Swamp PSW/ESA and Grand River valleylands. Limited disturbance and informal trail creation observed. Compared to other urban drainage systems in Brantford, D Aubigny Creek and the small tributaries in the NW sector provide more potential for wildlife usage.

13 Environmental Policy Eagles Nest Tract, Landfill Area, & Canal and Mohawk Lake

14 Area 4 Eagles Nest Tract Area of extensive habitat degradation and weedy plant invasion. Areas of complete dominance by Manitoba Maple, European Buckthorn and Garlic Mustard. Mature stands of cottonwoods are small and scattered throughout. Limited wildlife use documented during site visits.

15 Area 4 Eagles Nest Tract Higher tree diversity and more intact vegetation occur within Gilkison Flats. Gilkison Flats supports a well developed trail system - unauthorized non-river access trails appear minimum. Several unauthorized trails provide access to the river.

16 Area 4 Eagles Nest Tract

17 Area 5 Landfill Area Narrow band of riparian forest and old field meadow adjacent to Grand River and Mohawk Canal outlet. Similar habitat degradation to Area 4. Riparian forest dominated by Manitoba Maple, Black Walnut and Willow. Numerous informal trails.

18 Area 5 Landfill Area Minimal wildlife activity observed. Large number of gulls and Turkey Vultures attracted to landfill site. Landfill site may be visited by over-wintering Bald Eagles due abundant and easy food source.

19 Area 5 Landfill Area

20 Area 6 Mohawk Lake and Canal Urban forest jewel. Intact forest canopy comprised of mature, spreading oak trees. Widespread disturbance evident informal trails, debris/garbage dumping, soil erosion, weedy plant invasion (usual suspects).

21 Area 6 Mohawk Lake and Canal Forests beyond the park dominated by Manitoba Maple, Buckthorn and Black Walnut. Swamp and marsh habitat occurs in low lying areas. Numerous anglers observed along Mohawk Lake/Canal diverse fishery. Several species of butterflies observed along lake and canal.

22 Area 6 Mohawk Lake and Canal

23 Disturbances Valleylands, including prairie/savanna habitat and mature forested floodplain, exhibit a high level of disturbance: Weedy plant species invasion buckthorn, garlic mustard, dog-strangling vine, Manitoba maple, Norway maple Unauthorized trail creation Debris and garbage dumping Companion animals

24 Environmental Policy Areas Brantford Northwest Provincially Significant Wetland PSW Brant Floodplain Wetland Tufa Mounds Earth Science ANSI Brantford Prairies and Savannah Grand River Forest ESA Grand River Heritage River

25 Vegetation Cultural old field meadow, shrub thicket, successional woodland Floodplain/Bottomland, Manitoba maple, Cottonwood, willow, white elm, bur oak, white oak, black maple, hackberry, sycamore Valley Slopes mixed hardwoods (maple, ash, oak, hickory, beech, cherry, hackberry, white pine) Plantations mixed conifers (pine, spruce) Wetlands meadow/cattail marsh, dogwood/willow thicket swamp, ash, silver/red maple and bur oak swamps. Features occur on tablelands, floodplain, meander scars/oxbows and valley slopes (perched fen) Prairie/Savanna tall and short grass prairie species big bluestem, Indian grass, coneflower, bushclover, sky blue aster, black oak, dwarf chinquapin oak habitat for 19 provincially rare plant species

26 Wildlife Habitat Mosaic of wildlife habitat types: Gravel river bars and islands Riparian/bottomland forest and wetlands Mature upland forest interior habitat Wetlands open water marshes, swamps Grasslands old field meadow Prairie significant wildlife habitat (PPS) Thickets and woodlands Urban forest residential areas Study area supports numerous species of conservation concern including species at risk Bald Eagle (Special Concern) Great Egret Acadian Flycatcher Grand River and main tributaries (D Aubigny/Whitemans Creek) provide a significant corridor and linkage function between natural areas along the entire Grand River system (i.e. from Lake Erie to Luther marsh and Dundalk Highlands). Important corridor function for migratory birds as wells as plants, animals and fish.

27 Fisheries Grand River Warmwater & Coolwater System Habitat for a wide variety of sportfish, baitfish and coursefish species including rare species such as: Redside dace (Endangered) Black redhorse (Threatened) Eastern sand darter (Threatened) D Aubigny Creek Coldwater stream Habitat for brook, brown and rainbow trout

28 Natural Heritage System NHS Criteria Habitat size/quality/age Presence of rare species Presence of rare community types prairie, fen Steep or erosion prone valley slopes Fish Habitat Groundwater discharge zone Significant feature under PPS woodland, valleyland, wetland, fish and wildlife habitat NHS encompasses the environmental policy areas (Grand River, ESA, ANSI, PSW, and prairie/savanna) and intact, vegetated valley slopes and floodplain areas. Key areas include: Northwest Brantford Brant Conservation Area Waterworks Park Gilkison Flats Mohawk Park