NEC Poised to Allow Motorized Vehicles on Beaver Valley Escarpment Natural Area by Richard Stark

Winter 2018/19

The Newsletter of the Beaver Valley Bruce Trail Club Box 3251 Meaford Ontario N4L 1A5 / www.beavervalleybrucetrail.org

NEC Poised to Allow Motorized Vehicles on Beaver Valley Escarpment Natural Area by Richard Stark

In what appears to be a first, the Niagara Escarpment Commission (NEC) has given approval in principle for a Development Permit which would allow snowmobiles – and thus increased motorized traffic of all kinds – in a Beaver Valley area which is mostly Escarpment Natural Area, the most ecologically sensitive land use designation.

A decision by the NEC in November 2018 would give the go-ahead for the installation of two large culverts along the unmaintained 3rd Line D road allowance, thus permitting the passage of ten-foot-wide snow grooming equipment for snowmobilers, and approving this route as a dedicated snowmobile trail. At press time, staff work was proceeding on the framing of possible conditions to be placed on a Permit. NEC Commissioners are expected to consider draft conditions to be placed on the Permit at their next meeting, on January 17, 2019.

NEP policies permit only “non-motorized” trail activities in an Escarpment Natural Area. Approval of the Development Permit turns on the claim that snowmobile traffic was an ongoing, “existing use” at the time of the original approval of the Niagara Escarpment Plan (NEP) in 1985.

For decades, the main route of the Bruce Trail traversed the open unmaintained road allowance on the 3rd Line D, framed by Sideroad 22C on the south and the maintained portion of the 3rd Line to the north just south of Sideroad 25. This section also provides one leg of the very popular Webwood Falls-Siegerman-Fairmount Side Trail loop. The Main Trail passes through undeveloped lands which are part of the most protected NEP land use designation, the Escarpment Natural Area.

The trail crosses a trout spawning stream part way along, and for years there was an old truck trailer forming a “bridge” which by the early 2000’s had been reduced to a rusted-out steel frame somewhat challenging to cross. (In the fall of 2018, BVBTC workers installed a new, NEC-approved, footbridge upstream from that old crossing point and rerouted that part of the Main Trail back to rejoin the 3rd Line, thus removing hikers from the equation.)

Sometime in the summer of 2004, the old trailer was pulled out and the road allowance clear-cut and bulldozed into a wide road bed. This type of construction work within the NEP area requires a Development Permit, but the work was done without a permit. During the 2004/05 winter, a signed snowmobile trail was groomed and used extensively by snowmobilers.

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1 Beaver Valley Bruce Trail Club Special Notice Change to Hike Schedule Officers and Support Volunteers To contact the Club, or any of its Officers or Support Volunteers personally, please write to: Information [email protected] “Beaver Tales” no longer in- cludes information about up- and your inquiry will be directed to the right person. coming hikes and special events.

Directors President Jill Smith-Brodie Land Stewardship Vacant Because “Beaver Tales” only Vice-President Vacant Communication & Pub- Margaret comes out three times a year, licity Yaraskavitch hike leaders and other special Past President Ros Rossetti Volunteers & Member- Kelly Killoran events organizers find they have ship difficulty predicting and keeping Trail Activities Glenda Collings Special Events Vacant to a schedule that is so far in the future. Treasurer Mike Arkless BTC-Club Liaison Bruce King Weather, Intervening events, Secretary Ruth Plant Director at Large Alison Carey and life seem frequently to con- Trail Development Bob Hann Director at Large Alan McPherson spire to mess up the schedule — & Maintenance one that seemed so logical just Information Services Vacant Director at Large Joan Nuffield five months back, when we submitted it to the printers!

Instead, members are asked to Support Volunteers check the BVBTC website or Fa- Newsletter Editor Joan Nuffield Webmaster Irena Marinko cebook page for hikes and special events, which are displayed Chainsaw Crew Leader Blain Horsley Archivist Support Fred Young month by month, and with three months‘ worth of information up Motorized Grass Cutting Peter Bryce Land Securement Secre- Jill Smith-Brodie at any given time. Crew Leader tariat Representative Advertising Revenues Steve Griffiths Invasive Species Bob Hann and Managers Joan Nuffield Go to beavervalleybrucetrail.org Emergency contact: For trees down on the Trail, etc., please contact Blain Horsley at info for more information. @beavervalleybrucetrail.org. For assistance with grass cutting on a section of Trail that is accessible by a rider-mower, or to report any other problem with Trail maintenance, please contact Peter Bryce at info @beavervalleybrucetrail.org.

Volunteers : Like many volunteer organizations, the Beaver Valley Bruce Trail Club is always looking for interested people to serve on the Board, on the Trail, or in other capacities. If you would like to help out, please contact Kelly Killoran at [email protected]. Newsletter Submissions : Are you a hiking addict, a local history buff, a budding auteur, an amateur geologist or naturalist? We would love to print any articles, photos or stories that you send us. Deadline for submissions, Spring Issue: April 15, 2019. Send to Editor of “Beaver Tales” at [email protected]. Get “Beaver Tales” – Electronically: In order for us to save trees and cut our “Beaver Tales” newsletter costs, we are asking members to sign up for it electronically. Please notify the Editor, or BTC’s Lyndsey Wilkerson at [email protected], if you want to switch to receiving the Newsletter electronically, and she will send you a link to each new issue as it comes out. Thanks! Advertising in “Beaver Tales” : Ad rates for one year (3 issues): Business card size $60; ¼ page $120; ½ page $180. Contact Steve Griffiths for advertising information [email protected]. The Bruce Trail Conservancy (BTC): Box 857, Hamilton, L8N 3N9 / 800-665-4453 / 905-529-6821 / Fax 905-529-6832 / www.brucetrail.org / [email protected]. MISSION STATEMENT: Preserving a ribbon of wilderness, for everyone, forever.

“The subject who is truly loyal to the Chief Magistrate will neither advise nor submit to arbitrary measures.” Junius

2 President’s Message – Winter 2018-2019 by Jill Smith-Brodie Another year over, and a new one has begun – 2019. I am sure it wasn’t that long ago that 2019 seemed a long way off! As we transition from one year to the next, it is a good time to reflect on the accomplishments of 2018 and on all that we are looking forward to in the year to come. At the April meeting of the Beaver Valley Bruce Trail Club’s Board of Directors, our speaker, Beth Gilhespy, presented the 2018 to 2025 BTC Strategic Plan. As a follow -up to her presentation, your Beaver Valley Directors met in June 2018 and August 2018 to review and reformat our own Strategic Plan to be sure the work we do as a Board continues to support the BTC Strategic Priorities, as well to provide direction for Club operations. The final BVBTC Strategic Plan was approved at our October 1, 2018 Board meeting with goals set for the next three operational years: definitely a significant accomplishment. This document is available upon request by emailing [email protected]. In 2018, we undertook the re-organization of two portfolios: Trail Development and Maintenance, and Landowner Relations. In doing this, we shared responsibilities and engaged more of our members. We are proud of, and delighted with, the results. Our zone leaders, chain saw crew, mowing team and flying squad teams have shown a commitment to excellence in their tasks: just look at the new 3rd Line bridge! New projects are in the works that will add to the Trail experience of all those travelling the BV Trails. Our Landowner Ambassador programme was launched last spring and in the months since then our newly minted Landowner Ambassadors have worked to contact their Landowner list, update contact information, establish a plan for calendar and information distribution, and deliver the 2019 calendars to all our Landowners. As a result of this outreach, we had overwhelming participation at our Landowner and Volunteer Celebration evening in October. As 2018 closed, we submitted the updated list of Landowner contact information to the BTC Land Management Team to update their files. Some moments from the 2018 Beaver Valley Bruce Trail season that have stayed with me include the amazing old truck wreck adventure that involved David, Peter, Theresa, and Keith at a property we had recently secured in the Beaver Valley. The wreck was buried in the field, and we needed to get it to the road to be hauled away. I will never forget us all standing around the truck trying to decide how best to go about the task. Dragging was the only answer, so the truck was chained to Keith’s tractor. David and Peter jumped in the truck, Theresa walked ahead through the grass to guide them through the undulating terrain, and I walked behind to make sure nothing untoward hap- pened at that end. Our fears of the truck racing ahead on the downhills were soon laid to rest as we realized all wheels were locked and there was no way this truck would race or could be steered. I can still picture Keith in the tractor, David and Peter in the old truck, side win- dows down and elbows sticking out, while Theresa waved her arms to direct passage. We laughed and cheered when we finally made it to the road. Then there were the visits made to the homes of each Landowner Ambassador (LA). Bob Hann and I made the first round of visits to set up Google Drive for them, then Jack Morgan and I visited to familiarize our LAs with the properties on their list. Everyone made time for us and welcomed us. When we met in November, stories were shared about all the wonderful experiences the Landowner Ambassadors had had getting to know their neighbours, the BV Landowners.

2018 was also an exceptional year for land securement in the Beaver Valley. We secured three new properties, and as the year closed, we completed an agreement in principle for a fourth property, scheduled to close in 2019. I remember the first time Jack and I hiked what was / … continued on page 5 ...

3 NEC to Allow Motorized Vehicles / … continued from page 1 In August of 2005, the NEC approved a Development Permit for the Municipality of Grey Highlands through their Agent, the Meaford & District Ridge Runners Snowmobile Club, for the purpose of installing two culverts for a water crossing of a stream located in this section of the unmaintained road allowance. The purpose of the culvert was to allow the Snowmobile Club to drive their trail grooming tractor over the stream – instead of through it – to groom a ten-foot-wide trail along the entire 3rd Line D road allowance.

The approval of the Development Permit was appealed by a neighbouring landowner. In his report for the appeal, the Hearing Officer disagreed with the NEC’s approval of the 2005 Development Permit. The Hearing Officer concluded that there was in- sufficient evidence of the ongoing use of a signed, groomed snowmobile trail in this area. The Staff Report stated that “once a use has been discontinued, it no longer qualifies as an Existing Use”. The Minister of Natural Resources, who makes a final decision on such appeals, concurred, and the 2005 Development Permit was not issued.

• But events continued. In November 2006, a wide wooden bridge was installed in the same location, again without NEC approval, which allowed the snowmobile grooming machine and snowmobiles to cross the river. Motorized vehicle use of all kinds was considerable. The Municipality of Grey Highlands was instructed by the NEC to remove the bridge, but this was not done.

• In the winter of 2014, the Meaford & District Ridge Runner Snowmobile Club once again established a groomed and signed snowmobile trail through the area and in response to complaints, the NEC Compliance Officer stepped in, getting voluntary compliance from the Club to remove the trail and signage.

• In the winter of 2016, the Meaford & District Ridge Runner Snowmobile Club again established the snowmobile trail along with a bridge, and again, the NEC Compliance Officer stepped in, getting voluntary compliance from the Club to remove the bridge.

In 2017, another application – the one currently in process – was made by the Meaford & District Ridge Runner Snowmobile Club for a Development Permit to install culverts over the same stream. They continue to maintain that the area has been in continuous use as a snowmobile route since before 1985.

Apart from the “existing use” policies in the NEP, there are concerns that the culverts would result in a significant intensification of the use (i.e., more motorized use of all kinds). Off-road vehicles of various sizes have already torn up the area significantly, such that some parts are now passable only by a vehicle with a very high wheel base. The impact on the watercourse and potential fisheries resources from the erosion which has already occurred has not been assessed.

Objections have again been raised by various local people, including hikers and dog-walkers. John Thompson, a neighbour on Sideroad 25, walked his dog twice a day on the 3rd Line D from 2004 to 2014, and reports having seen a large number and a wide variety of winter and summer motorized vehicles during that time – snowmobiles, motorcycles, off-road pick-ups, ATVs, snowmobiles, and even a Humvee – all travelling at speed.

The current application by the snowmobile club for the installation of culverts has been approved in principle by the NEC, which is expected to consider conditions to be imposed on the approval at its meeting on January 17, 2019. This was a contentious issue at the October and November 2018 NEC meetings, with Commissioners’ votes narrowly divided for and against, with a majority approving the Permit. The approval decision runs counter to NEP policies and the NEC’s planning staff’s recommendations. A final decision by the NEC is pending, contingent on conditions of approval being developed by staff.

Comments or queries can be directed to senior NEC planner Rick Watt at the NEC’s Thornbury office, or at [email protected]. If you wish your comments to be shared with NEC Commissioners, you should so indicate to Mr. Watt.

“The country is more of a wilderness, more of a wild solitude, in the winter

than in the summer. The wild comes out.” John Burroughs

President’s Message / … continued from page 3 eventually to become the new East Mountain Nature Reserve. I remember how excited we were to discover the vistas, the boulder-strewn ridges, the sink holes and the majestic forest. When the property closed in late autumn, I was able to share these sights with members of our Trail Development and Maintenance and Land Stewardship teams, who were equally inspired. Meeting the Elders of our Beaver Valley Club, members for decades, was another highlight. Jim Couse, at a chance meeting in a Meaford café, reminisced about the wonderful retirement years he and Ann Lis spent together working on their Trail section and socializing within the Club. At the BV Christmas dinner Araby, Helga and Don shared their mem- ories of hikes, activities and good times. Fred Young spent countless hours preserving our history by making digital copies of the photos and clippings he and Shirley had saved over the years. We come together on hikes, in work parties, at social events, meetings and workshops. We enjoy the camaraderie of working together to achieve our common goal, and we inspire each other. It was Beth Gilhespy who inspired me. She was able to share her passion for the vision and mission of the organization in such a way that others were able to feel it too. Shared passion makes organizations soar in the accomplishment of their mission and vision. She was a perfect fit for an organization that depends so much for its effectiveness on the time, effort, knowledge and financial support of volunteers. She will be missed by so many. The very foundation of this organization is the contribution by all of its members. Beth would not want any of us to lose our desire to preserve and protect the Escarpment. May the forest be with you. Jill Smith-Brodie January 2019

Thank you: From the TD&M Director to Beth Gilhespy and her BTC Staff My main report in this issue of “Beaver Tales” (pages 8 and 9, following) quite rightly focuses on the efforts of the Club volunteers whose efforts are essential to the development and world-class maintenance of the Trail – a continuing achievement which, in turn, is essential to governments’, NGOs’, landowners’, donors’ and other volunteers’ continuing support of all the strategic initiatives of the BTC. I often hear from other BTC members that these “volunteer/front-line” efforts are all they wish to focus on. They do not want to get involved in what they call “corporate”, “political” or “organizational” issues. However, as a retired management consultant who has spent many years in the front lines of what the suits call “transformational change”, I have, over the past year as Director of TD&M been keenly aware of the very significant impact CEO Beth Gillespy and her staff have made. They have created the broader “corporate/organizational” environment which has made it far easier (perhaps feasible) for our Beaver Valley Club to carry out a host of key functions. These functions which have been enabled by Beth and her staff include: attracting sufficient numbers of a particular type of volunteer trail workers; providing them with the physical and administrative tools to do their jobs; and retaining them by keeping them feeling that they are part of an organization that values them, provides them the opportunity to accomplish something worthwhile, and provides a stimulating and enjoyable bunch of folks to work with. All of this, Beth Gilhespy and her staff have done exceptionally well. It often goes below the radar, but as TD&M Director I have often had to seek help from BTC staff -- especially biologists Adam Brylowski and Brian Popelier, and cartographer Scott Langley. (Other Beaver Valley Club directors have also expressed similar sentiments about these and other BTC staff.) Every time I asked, they delivered -- and they delivered with speed, enthusiasm, expertise, dedication, and a clear sense of purpose. The strength and constancy of that attitude had to have been developed and nurtured within their team by their boss, Beth. It is even more exemplary that all of this was accomplished, not only in the environment of limited administrative and techno- logical resources that most non-governmental organizations face -- but over a period during which Beth had to lead the organization through significant transformational change (that phrase again) -- from being trail-based to being a combination of trail- based and land conservancy-based, from a focus on maintaining what we had, to securing all we wanted. This organizational transformation she achieved, all the while retaining the spirit and values that remain at the core of the Bruce Trail. Thank you, Beth. Thank you to your staff.

Ed. Note: Some readers may not be aware that as of December, 2018, the BTC Board had decided not to renew Beth's contract as CEO.

7 Report from the Director of Trail Development and Maintenance (December 2018) by Bob Hann

1. So What Have We Done Lately? While I write this, I am hoping that each member of our whole TD&M Team has found his or her own cozy place to curl up beside a warm fire—preferably with ample supplies of food and beverages within easy reach. They have certainly earned the rest! Through the joint effort of our Trail Captains, Zone Leaders, Sawyers, Mowers, Flying Squad members, Buckthorn Bashers, Quartermasters, Construction Designers and Structures Custodians, the state of our Trails continues to reflect well on our Club.

Nonetheless, our team continues to remain unsatisfied until the Trail is even better. For instance, since our last newsletter, volunteer TD&M Flying Squad volunteers have escaped doing housework by begging to be involved in all manner of clandestine activities: • after being approached by one of our Club’s Landowner Ambassadors, a neighbouring landowner allowed us to sneak in heavy materials via ATV to a particularly inaccessible part of the Trail east of Ravenna. The result was a beautiful new boardwalk ex- tension on an already beautiful stretch of Trail. • by building a new boardwalk on the Trail going south of Fox Ridge Road, volunteers have unfortunately eliminated one of the increasingly rare spots where hikers can cool their feet in the wet ground. • we made it even easier to climb straight up the Kimberley/Old Baldy Trail by putting in even more steps-- and almost babying hikers by installing long hand ropes. • our flying squads—together with help from our hiking activities volunteers—did an all-out major blitz to get our Trails ready for the September Falling Water Hike (and then I forgot to thank them enough in the last newsletter). • we took the lead in developing the first version of a Master Plan and design for improving the Trail and visitor experience at Hoggs Falls (more on this later). • if the weather hadn’t turned so wintry so quickly, we could have finished the creation and final blazing of Phase 1 of the new Stew Hilts Side Trail. As it is, the blaze paint wouldn’t have dried, and we will have to put off bragging about the opening of a new Side Trail until the next newsletter —and hikers will have to put off seeing a spectacular waterfall. • …..and, we have finally built the “third permanent bridge on the 3rd Line D”. All it took to build this quite magnificent structure, was: the support of Robin Siegerman and Stephen Uzielli, the private landowners who kindly agreed to us building the bridge and Trail reroute on their land; a significant monetary donation for materials from the Roots Foundation of Trillium Mutual In- surance Company; a small top-up contribution from our Club’s board (i.e., from us Club members); approvals from NEC and GSCA; more work parties of volunteers than I can count to haul in the wood and rock supplies and to build the edifice ... and the jobs done by our project leader, Blain, and our design leader, Cliff. Exceptionally well done!

2. Changes to the Team The last newsletter announced the retirement of some Trail Captains. All these vacancies have now been filled. (In fact,we have a small short list of new applicants!) We are also continuing to examine the workload each section entails and are making adjustments accordingly. Fortunately, all of these changes bring new faces and energy, and new opportunities. Since the last newsletter: • at the previous TC’s request, we have split Trail Section 3 into two – A and B sections. Pauline Craig is the new TC of section A between km 4.2 and km 6.2. The previous TC will remain as TC of section B. Pauline will also assist Linda Pim monitor part of the Len Gertler Side Trail. • April Poppe has stepped in to replace Lynn and Larry Mann as the TC of Section 16 (Campbell’s Hill Road to Eugenia). • Ron Billings is the new TC of the Ken Young Side Trail (taking over from Barb Dufton). • Marilyn Crawford is the new Assistant TC helping John Doyle, long time TC of section 18. Marilyn has also agreed to be the new TC of the Stew Hilts Side Trail. • Art Smith felt his Trail Captain skills were more needed by the Sydenham Club. He will continue to help on our Flying Squads -- and, of course, he did not leave until he had recruited a very fine replacement. Our new TC for Old Art’s (oops, “Art’s Old”) section will be Laura Simmons. Laura has also volunteered to assist the TCs of two other sections. • ….and, on the support side of operations, I am pleased (very pleased) that: • Peter Bryce has offered to take over from me the responsibilities of the lead of our Mowing Crew (more formally known as the mechanized division of our Department of Grass Destruction), • Marj Horsley has offered to take over the job of creating (with the help of our TCs) an inventory of all the BVBTC structures, plaques, etc., found on our Trails, and • Glenda Collings, our Club’s Director of Hiking Activities, has agreed to take over preparation of the monthly notices I had been sending to TCs about upcoming organized hikes on their Trail Sections.

Please join me in welcoming Pauline, April, Ron, Marilyn, Laura, Peter and Marj and Glenda to their new roles. The lengths of the TD&M chain are even stronger.

8 Report on Trail Development and Maintenance / … continued

3. But ... What Will You Do for us Tomorrow? No doubt over the next few months our sawyers will continue to respond to snowshoers affronted by the sight of fallen trees block- ing their Trails, and those of us with backroom planning and administrative chores will continue to slave away into the cold, dark night. However, I for one will be encouraging other members of the TD&M team to – as much as possible – down tools until they have to prepare their Trails once again for the hikers who have a habit of reappearing in the Spring.

Winter Wanderers, Please Beware of “Tree Wells”!

Last year, at least five people died in Canada after falling into a “tree well” and suffocating. A tree well is a void, or area of loose snow, around the trunk of a tree which is en- veloped in deep snow. These voids present a danger to hikers, snowshoers, skiers, and snowboarders who fall into them. In winter, it can be very difficult to judge where the Trail is in deep snow, and it is important to steer clear of trees in deep snow. Please do not venture onto a Trail you are not familiar with – and know that being familiar with it in summer will not necessarily help you in winter!

As well, we will need all the energy we can muster to undertake a full slate of special projects next year. For instance: • at least two major (really major) reroutes (including North of Fox Ridge Road northwest of Duncan, and near the junction of the 4th line A and the Artemesia/Euphrasia Town Line) which will get large stretches of the Trail off-road (made possible by very recent, significant Camplin and East Mountain land purchases), • at least two new Trails (look for the opening of Phase 1 of the Stew Hilts Side Trail, a good start on Phase 2, and hopefully some very exciting developments in the Kolopore), • even more ropes on the Old Baldy/Kimberley section, • working with GSCA to improve the Trail around Eugenia Falls, and • completing some embellishments to a number of specific Trails (including the Valley Crossover and the Siegerman Side Trail).

However, our most ambitious project for the year will be the planning, funding, design and start of construction of the Hoggs Falls Project(s). This project is developing into one of the most ambitious undertaken by our Club to date. Especially important is there- fore the comprehensive consultation and master-planning process we have initiated to ensure the active participation—from con- cept to completion—of all key stakeholders from the Municipality of Grey Highlands, Grey County, MNRF, NEC and GSCA. By early spring, we hope to have a draft Master Plan and design specification, and to be well under way to securing the necessary funding (and maybe even construction assistance).

Exciting times! That’s it for now. See you out on the Trail.

Bob