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Cheltenham Badlands Cheltenham Badlands Management Planning Background Information Updated October 2012 Primary changes between November 2008 and October 2012: • Updated maps • Updated Ecological Information • Inclusion of 2009 Erosion Study • Inclusion of Thanksgiving 2011 Public Use Study The Bruce Trail Conservancy Cheltenham Badlands Background Information TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 1 2. Regional Context/Land History/Land Use ........................................................................................... 1 2.1 Overview .................................................................................................................................. 1 2.2 Regional Context ..................................................................................................................... 2 2.3 Land Classification ................................................................................................................... 4 2.3.1 Ecology ...................................................................................................................................... 4 2.3.2 Niagara Escarpment Plan ........................................................................................................... 5 2.4 Land Tenure ............................................................................................................................. 7 2.4.1 Previous Ownership ................................................................................................................... 7 2.4.2 Summary of Acquisition ............................................................................................................ 7 2.4.3 Current Uses .............................................................................................................................. 8 2.5 Climate ..................................................................................................................................... 9 2.6 Earth Science Features ......................................................................................................... 10 2.7 Geomorphology ..................................................................................................................... 10 2.8 Surface Water, Drainage and Groundwater .......................................................................... 12 2.9 Soils ....................................................................................................................................... 12 2.10 Life Science Features ............................................................................................................ 13 2.10.1 Biotic Conditions ..................................................................................................................... 13 2.10.2 Wildlife .................................................................................................................................... 17 2.10.3 Federally, Provincially and Regionally Rare Species .............................................................. 19 2.10.4 Aquatic Resources ................................................................................................................... 21 3. Market Analysis .................................................................................................................................... 21 3.1 Public Use Study – March 2000 to April 2002 ....................................................................... 21 3.2 Public Use Study – Thanksgiving Weekend 2011 ................................................................. 23 4. Issues ..................................................................................................................................................... 25 5. References ............................................................................................................................................ 28 Appendix A Assessment of Erosion at the Cheltenham Badlands, Peel Region, Ontario Appendix B List of Observed Flora and Fauna Appendix B 2005 OBBA Summary for Cheltenham Badlands Area List of Figures Figure 1 Regional Map of Cheltenham Badlands Area ........................................................................ 2 Figure 2 Shale Slopes of the Cheltenham Badlands ............................................................................. 4 Figure 3 Aerial Photograph of the Cheltenham Badlands (looking south) ............................................. 6 Figure 4 Cheltenham Badlands Site Map .............................................................................................. 8 Figure 5 Soil Units on the Cheltenham Badlands Property ................................................................. 13 Figure 6 Badlands Property Vegetation Communities ......................................................................... 17 Figure 7 Cars on Olde Base Line Road – Thanksgiving Weekend 2011 ............................................ 24 Figure 8 Site Traffic Conditions During October 2011 Thanksgiving Weekend .................................. 25 Updated October 2012 Page i The Bruce Trail Conservancy Cheltenham Badlands Background Information List of Tables Table 1 Cheltenham Badlands Physical Location ................................................................................ 9 Table 2 Brampton's Average Climate (Source: www.brampton.ca) ................................................... 10 Table 3 Herpetofaunal Species Sited in the Cheltenham Badlands Area ......................................... 18 Table 4 NHIC records of Species at Risk and provincially rare species on the Badlands property ... 20 Table 5 Summary of Results from Badlands Visitor Monitoring Program ......................................... 22 Table 6 Summary of Traffic Data for Thanksgiving Weekend 2011 ................................................... 24 Table 7 Summary and Status of Recommendations from 2001 Stewardship Plan ........................... 26 Updated October 2012 Page ii The Bruce Trail Conservancy Cheltenham Badlands Background Information 1. Introduction The Cheltenham Badlands property is located on the Niagara Escarpment northwest of Brampton, near the villages of Inglewood and Cheltenham. The Badlands are a popular tourist destination due to the unique topography of the area, and its relative proximity to major urban areas. In 2000 the 36.6-hectare property containing the Badlands was purchased for inclusion in the Niagara Escarpment Parks and Open Spaces System (NEPOSS) with Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) funding. The Ontario Heritage Trust (OHT) holds title and the Bruce Trail Conservancy (BTC) manages the lands. Acquisition of the property ensured public ownership of this Provincially Significant Earth Science ANSI (Area of Natural and Scientific Interest) and secured 1.4 km of the Bruce Trail optimum route. Under the Niagara Escarpment Plan, a management plan must be developed for the property, which will give guidance to the landowner, land managers and the planners on how the property should be used. Over the course of the management planning process a series of documents are produced, which include the Terms of Reference, Background Information, Preliminary Management Plan and Final Management Plan. This document provides the Background Information in support of the Management Planning Process. As work progresses on the project, additional background material has been added to the document. The first version of the Background Information document was provided in November 2008. This current version represents information acquired as of September 2012. 2. Regional Context/Land History/Land Use 2.1 Overview The Cheltenham Badlands (also referred to as the Inglewood Badlands) are located approximately 2 km west of Highway 10 on Olde Base Line Road, near the villages of Inglewood and Cheltenham (Figure 1). Major transportation routes in the area include Highway 10. Peel Regional Road 12 (Olde Base Line Road) forms the northern boundary of the property. The Badlands are part of Ontario’s Niagara Escarpment, which was designated a UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Biosphere Reserve in 1990. The property contains one of the best examples of “badlands topography” development in southern Ontario, and has been designated a provincially significant Earth Science Area of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI) by the Ministry of Natural Resources. Badlands topography is rare in Ontario because in most areas the shale is protected from erosion by overlying hard rock (limestone, dolostone or sandstone), sand or gravel. In this area, the unprotected shale has eroded into a series of striking ridges and gullies, which are a popular tourist draw. The Badlands also lie within the Inglewood Slope Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA), which is an important groundwater discharge area. The coldwater stream on the property at the foot of the badlands is a tributary of the Credit River. Updated October 2012 Page 1 The Bruce Trail Conservancy Cheltenham Badlands Background Information Figure 1 Regional Map of Cheltenham Badlands Area 2.2 Regional Context The regional area consists of rural properties, some of which have been severed into hobby farms and individual residences. The closest business centres are Cheltenham, approximately 3 kilometres to the south, Belfountain to the
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