HERITAGE OLD SCHOOL 1 SOUTH

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1 HERITAGE OLD SCHOOL 1 Region of Peel NAI Area # 8005 Toronto and Region Conservation Authority Town of Caledon Size: 27 hectares Watershed: Etobicoke Creek Con 5 WHS, Lots Ownership: 100% private Subwatershed: Upper Etobicoke Creek General Summary This natural area containing mainly swamp and forest forms part of the headwaters of Etobicoke Creek. The area is isolated from other nearby natural areas and from major regional and provincial natural corridors, although these corridors are not too distant. The combination of flat topography and poorly-draining soils has created extensive wetlands in the area. Some of the forest communities are abundant producers of mast (nuts). The area supports several species of area-sensitive grassland birds and several species of colonial-nesting birds which demonstrates the interaction between natural areas and adjacent agricultural lands in providing for the different habitat needs of species. TRCA ELC surveyors, botanists and ornithologists have provided complete data coverage for the core NAI inventories (vegetation communities, plant species, breeding birds) plus incidental observations of other fauna over the delineated area (Table 1). TRCA ecologists have also surveyed frog species in this area. Table 1: TRCA Field Visits Visit Date Inventory Type 24 Apr Fauna 18 June 2003 Fauna 10 Sept ELC, Flora 11 Sept ELC, Flora Physical Features This area is in the South Slope physiographic region; characterized by low-lying ground moraines. The topography of this area is almost flat. Soils of this region tend to be clay loams with pore sizes between soil particles so small that flow of groundwater to aquifers is slow. The flat topography and poorly-draining soils have contributed to the formation of swamp wetlands through much of this natural area. This area is at the edge of the watershed boundary between the Credit River and Etobicoke Creek. Under natural conditions, water from this site would drain slowly east via swales into Upper Etobicoke Creek. However, agricultural drains have been constructed across and through the natural area in an attempt to hasten drainage. Human History The former community of Alloa was located nearby at the crossroads of Creditview Rd. and Mayfield Rd. Early settlers were from Ireland and Scotland. The community was named after Alloa, Scotland, the birthplace of William Sharpe who was an early mill owner and storekeeper (Caledon Public Library, 2009). Surrounding land use is predominantly agricultural along with several rural residential lots. A commercial landscaping materials business is located adjacent to this natural area on the south side.

2 HERITAGE OLD SCHOOL 2 Vegetation Communities The general community types present here are deciduous forest (40%), mixed forest (7%), marsh (5%), deciduous swamp (40%) and cultural woodland (8%). Eighteen plant communities were mapped for this area, comprised of ten different vegetation types, none of which are provincially rare (Table 2). Two of the communities are considered to be TRCA regional Communities of Conservation Concern: Fresh-Moist Red Maple Lowland Deciduous Forest (FOD7-D, L-rank L3) and Fresh-Moist Hemlock - Hardwood Mixed Forest (FOM6-2, L-rank L3). Two of the communities of one vegetation type (Fresh-Moist Bur Oak Deciduous Forest), are types that produce abundant mast (nuts) and are a particularly important source of food for fauna. All of the treed communities, both forest and swamp, are young to mid-aged. Table 2: ELC Vegetation Communities Map reference * Vegetation type Size in hectares FOD4-1 Dry-Fresh Beech Deciduous Forest Fresh-Moist Ash Lowland Deciduous Forest (2 FOD7-2 communities) FOD7-D Fresh-Moist Red Maple Lowland Deciduous Forest Fresh-Moist Bur Oak Deciduous Forest (2 FOD9-3 communities) Reed Canary Grass Mineral Meadow Marsh (2 MAM2-2 communities) Black Ash Mineral Deciduous Swamp (2 SWD2-1 communities) % of natural area Silver Maple Mineral Deciduous Swamp (4 communities) SWD3-2 CUM1-c Exotic Forb Old Field Meadow CUT1-E Red Osier Dogwood Cultural Thicket CUW1-A3 Native Deciduous Cultural Woodland (2 communities) TOTAL AREA INVENTORIED * Note: The map reference code refers to the vegetation type shown on mapping for this area and also to the Appendix list of species typically encountered in this vegetation type. Species Presence Vascular Plants A total of 91 species of vascular plants occur in this natural area, of which 70 (77%) are native. None of these are Species At Risk or provincially rare. One species, River Wild-rye (Elymus riparius) is regionally rare (Table 4). Seven of the species are TRCA regional Species of Conservation Concern (Table 4). Breeding Birds A total of 35 breeding bird species are present at this site, all of them native. One of these, Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica), is Threatened nationally (Table 3). One of the breeding bird species present here is a TRCA regional Species of Conservation Concern (Table 4). Three species of colonial-nesting birds, Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia), Barn Swallow and Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis), are present in this natural area. This area plus the surrounding agricultural fields provide habitat for the nesting of three species of grassland birds, namely Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus), Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) and Savannah

3 HERITAGE OLD SCHOOL 3 Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis). Of these grassland birds, Savannah Sparrow is areasensitive. Herpetofauna Three species of frogs are present and likely breed in wetlands of this site. All of these species are native. Two frog species are TRCA regional Species of Conservation Concern (Table 4). Mammals Six species are recorded as incidental observations for this site. All are native and common. Table 3: Designated Species At Risk Scientific name Common name COSEWIC COSSARO S rank G rank BIRDS Hirundo rustica Barn Swallow THR S5B G5 Table 4: Regionally Rare Species (shown in bold) and TRCA Regional Species of Conservation Concern (L1-L3) (Kaiser, 2001; Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, 2007) Scientific name Common name S rank G rank L-rank VASCULAR PLANTS Anemone quinquefolia Nightcaps SU G5T4T5 L3 Carex crinita Fringed Sedge S5 G5 L3 Carex lupulina Hop Sedge S5 G5 L3 Carex tuckermanii Tuckerman Sedge S4 G4 L3 Carya ovata var. ovata Shag-bark Hickory S5 G5 L3 Elymus riparius River Wild-rye S4? G5 Euonymus obovatus Running Strawberry-bush S5 G5 L3 Iris versicolor Blue Flag S5 G5 L3 BIRDS Hylocichla mustelina Wood Thrush S4B G5 L3 HERPETOFAUNA Pseudacris crucifer Spring Peeper S5 G5 L2 Rana sylvatica Wood Frog S5 G5 L2 Site Condition and Disturbances This natural area is in good condition with generally only light, localized disturbances. Some localized trails/trampling disturbance is present in the northern half of this natural area. Disturbance from exotic species occurs in most of the communities here at light to moderate levels. There are some light localised patches of invasive species and some areas where there is moderate disturbance from scattered invasive species. Several communities have been disturbed by trash dumping. Most of these communities located where there is vehicle access. The presence of agricultural drains running through this natural area suggests that the hydrology has been disturbed to some degree and that the area may have been wetter in the past.

4 HERITAGE OLD SCHOOL 4 The active landscaping materials business adjacent to the south side of this natural area is a source of noise and dust that could disturb nesting birds or other species that rely on vocalizing for establishing territories, calling mates or other activities. Ecological Features and Functions With forest communities greater than 4 ha and wetlands well over 0.5 ha in size, this natural area has the potential to support and sustain biodiversity, healthy ecosystem functions and to provide longterm resilience for the natural system. By containing a wide variety of habitat types, this natural area supports biodiversity, particularly for species that require more than one habitat type for their life needs. This area is isolated from other natural areas. There are three other natural areas in the 5-10 ha size range in the same concession block, all of which are also isolated. This area supports one bird Species At Risk and one regionally rare plant species. Three species of colonial-nesting birds are present at this site. In conjunction with the surrounding agricultural lands, this area supports three species of grassland birds, one of which is area-sensitive. The wetlands of this natural area support amphibian breeding. Based on the above features, this area should be evaluated to determine if significant wildlife habitat is present in accordance with the Provincial Policy Statement, Region of Peel Official Plan, and area municipal Official Plan. Two communities are of an abundant mast (nut) producing forest type (FOD 9-3, Fresh-Moist Bur Oak Deciduous Forest) which is an important source of food for fauna. Opportunities This is one of several natural areas within this concession block that are isolated from each other. Establishing or widening connections with other natural patches in the same concession block is also desirable to increase the resilience of the isolated communities. These connections could be made by allowing natural vegetation to flourish along fencerows or by augmenting the width of existing fencerows by plantings with native species of trees and shrubs. Strengthening connectivity to the east along the agricultural drain is also desirable. The east part of the drain continues across Mississauga Rd. and eventually connects with tributaries of Etobicoke Creek, and while very narrow, does afford connectivity for aquatic or water-loving species. As part of the headwaters of Etobicoke Creek, landowners are encouraged to allow vegetation to grow and shade the drain in order to lower the temperature of water flowing into Etobicoke Creek. Vigilance is recommended to ensure that invasive species are not introduced from the landscaping material business adjacent to this natural area. Invasive species can also be introduced and spread into natural areas along trails, so vegetation communities with trails should be monitored for invasive species and problematic species removed. Additional inventories of some mammal groups (e.g. small mammals, bats), dragonflies/damselflies, butterflies and reptiles may be productive.

5 HERITAGE OLD SCHOOL 5 Literature cited Caledon Public Library Caledon s History. Available at Last Accessed 18 November 2010 Kaiser, Jeff The Vascular Plant Flora of the Region of Peel and the Credit River Watershed. Prepared for: Credit Valley Conservation, the Regional Municipality of Peel, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. Toronto and Region Conservation Authority Terrestrial Natural Heritage Program Data Collection Methodology.

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