Management Guidelines: Pelee Island Alvars Western Lake Erie Islands Southwestern Ontario Program Township of Pelee Island, Essex County ON
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Management Guidelines: Pelee Island Alvars Western Lake Erie Islands Southwestern Ontario Program Township of Pelee Island, Essex County ON Nature Conservancy of Canada – Southwestern Ontario May 2008 1 Recommended Citation Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC). 2008. Management Guidelines: Pelee Island Alvars. NCC – Southwestern Ontario Region, London, Ontario. 43 pp. Cover Illustration: Stone Road Alvar, Western Lake Erie Islands. Photo by Heather Arnold. © Nature Conservancy of Canada 2008. This report may be used without permission, with appropriate credit to the source. Copies of this report have been distributed to the following partners: • The Government of Canada Habitat Stewardship Program for Species at Risk • Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources • Essex Region Conservation Authority • Ontario Nature • Pelee Island Heritage Centre • Township of Pelee Island For additional information, please contact: Science and Stewardship Co-ordinator Southwestern Ontario Nature Conservancy of Canada Suite 1606 148 Fullarton Street London, Ontario N6A 5P3 Tel: 519 640 6822 or 1 866 281 5331 Fax: 519 640 6816 www.natureconservancy.ca Mission Statement The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is a non-profit, non-advocacy organization that takes a business-like approach to preserving Canada’s natural heritage. Our focus is on conservation through private action. Our success is based on partnership with individuals, corporations, community groups, conservation groups, foundations and government agencies to create solutions that benefit nature. Since 1962, NCC has protected over 2.0 million acres of ecologically significant lands in Canada. This includes over 121 000 acres within over 600 properties in Ontario. 2 Table of Contents Acknowledgements......................................................................................................................................4 Executive Summary .....................................................................................................................................4 1.0 Introduction.............................................................................................................................................4 2.0 Site Context.............................................................................................................................................5 2.1 Geographic Context................................................................................................................5 2.2 Ecological Context .................................................................................................................5 2.3 Socio-Economic Context........................................................................................................6 2.4 Stone Road Alvar ...................................................................................................................7 2.4.1 Shaughnessy Cohen Memorial Savanna (NCC) .............................................................8 2.4.2 Porchuk Property and Pelee Development Interests Property (NCC).............................8 2.4.3 Ontario Nature property ..................................................................................................8 2.4.4 ERCA property................................................................................................................9 2.5 Brown’s Road Alvar...............................................................................................................9 2.6 Red Cedar Savanna ................................................................................................................9 2.7 Verbeek Savanna..................................................................................................................10 3.0 Existing Uses ........................................................................................................................................10 4.0 Conservation Rationale .......................................................................................................................10 5.0 Threats...................................................................................................................................................16 5.1 Invasive Non-Native Species ...............................................................................................19 5.1.1 Garlic Mustard...............................................................................................................19 5.1.2 Cool Season Grasses .....................................................................................................19 5.1.3 Sweet White Clover.......................................................................................................19 5.1.4 Emerald Ash Borer........................................................................................................20 5.2 Succession ............................................................................................................................20 5.3 Tourism and Recreational Areas ..........................................................................................20 5.3.1 Trail Maintenance..........................................................................................................20 6.0 Conservation Goals and Objectives...................................................................................................21 7.0 Management Actions ...........................................................................................................................22 7.1 Fire and Fire Suppression.....................................................................................................22 7.1.1 Beneficial Impacts.........................................................................................................23 7.1.2 Negative Impacts...........................................................................................................24 7.1.3 Summary .......................................................................................................................24 7.2 Mechanical Removal............................................................................................................25 7.2.1 Beneficial Impacts.........................................................................................................25 7.2.2 Negative Impacts...........................................................................................................25 7.2.3 Summary .......................................................................................................................26 7.3 Grazing and Browsing..........................................................................................................26 7.3.1 Beneficial Impacts.........................................................................................................27 7.3.2 Negative Impacts...........................................................................................................27 7.3.3 Summary .......................................................................................................................27 7.4 Herbicide Application ..........................................................................................................28 8.0 Recommended Management Approach.............................................................................................28 8.0.1 Burning..............................................................................................................................28 8.0.2 Thinning ............................................................................................................................29 8.1 Stone Road Alvar .................................................................................................................29 8.2 Brown’s Road Alvar.............................................................................................................29 3 8.3 Red Ceder Savanna (Richard and Beryl Ivey Property).......................................................30 9.0 Monitoring .............................................................................................................................................30 9.1 Target Indicator Species.......................................................................................................30 9.2 Permanent Monitoring Plots.................................................................................................32 10.0 Data Gaps............................................................................................................................................32 11.0 References Cited ................................................................................................................................32 Table 1: ELC definition of alvars, savanna and woodlands.............................................................6 Table 2: Alvar communities...........................................................................................................12 Table 3: Alvar species ....................................................................................................................14 Table 4: Summary of threats by ecosite type: Pelee Island alvars and woodlands........................17 Table 5: Target indicator species....................................................................................................31 Appendix 1: Species Inventory Appendix 2: Discounted Species Rationale Appendix 3: ELC Communities