Minesing Wetlands Biological Inventory
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Minesing Wetlands Biological Inventory February 2007 Prepared for: Friends of Minesing Wetlands Minesing Wetlands Biological Inventory & Nottawasaga Valley Conservation12/13/2007 Authority Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority MINESING WETLANDS BIOLOGICAL INVENTORY Prepared by ROBERT L. BOWLES, JOLENE LAVERTY and DAVID FEATHERSTONE February 2007 Prepared for Friends of Minesing Wetlands & Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority Minesing Wetlands Biological Inventory 12/13/2007 Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority FOREWARD The Minesing Wetlands Biological Inventory and Evaluation was conducted during 2005-2006 field season. Technical investigations were conducted within the Minesing Wetlands by Bowles Environmental Consultants and Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA) for the NVCA Minesing Wetlands Management Plan and for Friends of Minesing Wetlands (FOMW). This report received technical review prior to its publication and does not necessarily signify that its contents reflect the views and policies of the Friends of Minesing Wetlands or their partners; nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use. For additional copies of this report or information about NVCA or FOMW, please contact: Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority Centre for Conservation John Hix Conservation Administration Centre 8195 Concession Line 8 Utopia, Ontario L0M 1T0 Phone: (705) 424-1479 Fax: (705) 424-2115 www.nvca.on.ca Friends of Minesing Wetlands www.minesingswamp.ca Minesing Wetlands Biological Inventory 12/13/2007 Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Minesing Wetlands Flora and Fauna Biological Inventory was completed for the Friends of Minesing Wetlands (FOMW) and Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA) as part of the Minesing Wetlands Management Plan. Funding support for the project was provided by the FOMW, the NVCA and the following organizations: Brereton Field Naturalists Friends of the Environment Foundation Helen McCrae Peacock Foundation Rotary Club of Barrie Shell Environmental Fund Throughout the project; many individuals provided valuable information about the general area, history, flora and fauna sighting, volunteering and support. The following individuals’ time, effort and support was greatly appreciated: y Byron Wesson, NVCA y Greg Bray, NVCA y Adam Scott, NVCAy Katherine Watson, NVCA y Brian Smith, NVCA y Tina DesRoches, NVCA y David Crossman, NVCA y Iaian Docherty, NVCA y Rick Grillmayer, NVCAy Fred Dobbs, NVCA y Jennifer Koen, NVCA y Steve Green, NVCA y Matt McCool, NVCAy Dan Kraus, Nature Conservancy of Canada y Ric Symmes, Nature Conservancy of Canada y Kevin Rich, Ducks Unlimited Canada y Harold Parker NVCA Past Chair/FOMW Director/Landowner y Harold McMaster FOMW Director/FWIG/Landowner y Lynn Brennan, FOMW Chair y Gary Allen, MNR y Greg Cull, MNR y Graham Findlay, MNR y Suzanne Robinson, MNR y Dr. Jacqueline Litzgus, Laurentian University y Brian Gibbon, Brereton Field Naturalists y Jennifer and Jeff Howard, Brereton Field Naturalists y Phyllis Trembly, Brereton Field Naturalists y Peter Mills, Brereton Field Naturalists y Lisa Moran, Brereton Field Naturalists y Chris Evans, Volunteer Naturalist y Ervin Ozvart, Landowner y George Mason, Landowner y Lisa and Peter Maher, Landowners y Terry Walton, Landowner y Sciensational Snakes Staff y Minesing Wetland Monitoring Team Members y All ATV Dealerships in the NVCA watershed y Special thanks to Dan Kraus (Nature Conservancy of Canada), Graham Findlay and Suzanne Robinson (Ministry of Natural Resources), and Byron Wesson (NVCA) for their comments on the draft report which added to the strength of the final document. All photographs in this report were taken by Robert L. Bowles and Jolene Laverty, unless otherwise noted. Minesing Wetlands Biological Inventory 12/13/2007 Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...........................................................................................................................I 1.0 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 STUDY PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES .................................................................................................. 3 1.2 STUDY AREA................................................................................................................................... 4 1.3 STUDY TEAM................................................................................................................................... 6 2.0 MINESING WETLANDS OVERVIEW ............................................................................................. 7 2.1 PHYSIOGRAPHIC SETTING................................................................................................................ 7 2.2 CULTURAL HISTORY ....................................................................................................................... 7 2.2.1 Native Settlements................................................................................................................... 7 2.2.2 European Contact to Settlement ............................................................................................. 8 2.2.3 Present Day ............................................................................................................................ 9 2.3 PLANNING DESIGNATIONS............................................................................................................. 11 2.3.1 RAMSAR............................................................................................................................... 11 2.3.2 Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI) ................................................................... 12 2.3.3 Provincially Significant Wetland Designation...................................................................... 12 2.3.4 Simcoe County Greenland .................................................................................................... 12 2.3.5 Local Official Plans.............................................................................................................. 13 2.4 NATURAL HERITAGE OVERVIEW................................................................................................... 13 2.4.1 Significant Features.............................................................................................................. 13 2.4.2 Hydrology and Hydrogeology .............................................................................................. 13 2.4.3 Corridors and Linkages........................................................................................................ 13 3.0 STUDY METHODOLOGY................................................................................................................ 13 3.1 MINESING WETLANDS INVENTORY (SITES OF INTEREST).............................................................. 13 3.1.1 Sites of Interest ..................................................................................................................... 13 3.2 TURTLE SURVEY ........................................................................................................................... 13 4.0 RESULTS............................................................................................................................................. 13 4.1 VEGETATION COMMUNITIES ......................................................................................................... 13 4.2 VASCULAR PLANTS AND WILDLIFE............................................................................................... 13 4.2.1 Vascular Plants..................................................................................................................... 13 4.3.2 Invertebrates......................................................................................................................... 13 4.3.3 Fish....................................................................................................................................... 13 4.3.4 Reptiles and Amphibians ...................................................................................................... 13 4.3.5 Birds ..................................................................................................................................... 13 4.3.6 Mammals .............................................................................................................................. 13 5.1 NON-NATIVE SPECIES.................................................................................................................... 13 5.2 ILLEGAL ACCESS........................................................................................................................... 13 5.3 LOG JAMS...................................................................................................................................... 13 5.4 PRIVATE LAND MANAGEMENT...................................................................................................... 13 5.5 TURTLE MORTALITY ..................................................................................................................... 13 5.6 WILDLIFE IMBALANCE .................................................................................................................. 13 6.0 RECOMMENDATIONS ....................................................................................................................