Duffins Creek State of the Watershed Report Greenspace, Trails and Recreation June 2002 Other topics in this series for both the Duffins Creek and the Carruthers Creek include: Introduction Study Area Human Heritage Land Use Air Quality Climate Surface Water Quality Surface Water Quantity Stormwater Management Fluvial Geomorphology Hydrogeology Aquatic Habitat and Species Terrestrial Natural Heritage This document is intended to be shared for non-commercial use. We are promoting the electronic use of this document to minimize the consumption of paper resources. Toronto and Region Conservation, 5 Shoreham Drive, Downsview, Ontario M3N 1S4 Telephone: (416) 661-6600 Fax: (416) 661-6898 www.trca.on.ca Table of Content Introduction to Greenspace, Trails and Recreation . .2 The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority Land Holdings . .3 South Park . .3 Duffins Headwaters Management Plan and Related Properties . .3 Goodwood Resource Management Tract . .3 The Secord Forest and Wildlife Area . .4 Clubine Agreement Forest . .4 Walker Woods . .5 Timbers Brothers Gravel Pit . .5 Glen Major Resource Management Tract . .5 Claremont Field Centre . .6 Greenwood Conservation Area . .7 Municipal Lands . .7 Rotary Park . .7 Other Lands that Provide Outdoor Recreation . .8 Private Parks . .8 Golf Courses . .8 Skiing . .9 Recreational Fishing . .9 Educational Institutions . .10 Trails . .10 Waterfront Trail . .10 Inter-Regional Trail . .11 Trans Canada Trail . .11 Oak Ridges Moraine Trail . .11 Great Pine Ridge Equestrian Trail . .13 Seaton Hiking Trail . .13 Millers Creek Trail . .13 Summary . .14 References . .15 Tables and Figures Table 1: Golf Courses Located in the Duffins Creek Watershed . .8 Figure 1: Duffins Creek Headwaters Management Plan Properties . .5 Figure 2: Exisiting and Proposed Trails in the Duffins Creek Watershed . .12 1 Introduction to Greenspace, Trails and Recreation In 1999, Environment Canada released The Importance of Nature to Canadians: Survey Highlights. This summary of a 1996 survey of 87,000 people tells us that Canadians commit large amounts of their leisure time to activities that depend on natural areas and wildlife. As stewards of these valuable natural assets, Canadians are responsible for managing them to allow sustainable use. This management requires an understanding of the state of the natural environment, the threats to its sustainability, and an appreciation of the ways in which people make use of these natural assets. This chapter will explore the greenspace and recreational lands within the Duffins Creek watershed and the ways in which people currently make use of these lands. 2 Claremont Field Centre (Figure 1). The TRCA The Toronto and owns all of these lands with the exception of 72 hectares in the Glen Major Resource Region Management Tract, which is owned by the Ontario Heritage Foundation and managed by Conservation the TRCA. The entire planning area of the Duffins Creek Headwaters Management Plan Authority (TRCA) totals 1950 hectares (19.5 km2). The objective of the Duffins Creek Headwaters Land Holdings Management Plan process is to examine the lands and determine their environmental features and Since 1957, Authority lands have provided the functions, heritage values, and their potential for basis of an interregional greenspace system and recreation or other public uses. The review is used have conserved and enhanced the renewable to establish a plan for the future management of natural resources of the Authoritys watersheds the properties, recommend important land in the Greater Toronto Area. stewardship practices and identify important linkages between TRCA properties. Lands owned by the TRCA within the Duffins Creek watershed (totaling 23.3 km2) are currently At the outset of the management plan process used for a variety of purposes including conservation, TRCA established an Advisory Committee, which education, recreation, forestry and agriculture. included representatives from municipalities, The following sections briefly describe TRCA public interest groups and local citizens. The owned lands in the Duffins Creek watershed and committee has assisted TRCA staff to finalize the their current uses. project Terms of Reference, determine the management zones, management recommendations South Park and assist with public outreach. Located in the hamlet of Goodwood, Township Goodwood Resource of Uxbridge, this five hectare (12 acre) parcel locally known as South Park is maintained as a Management Tract community park by the Township of Uxbridge. This Resource Management Tract was formed as a result of six acquisitions that took place during Duffins Headwaters July and August of 1967. These lands were Management Plan and acquired under the Goodwood Forest and Related Properties Wildlife Area. The property is currently used by cross-country skiers, cyclists and hikers along the On September 24, 1999, the TRCA Board Oak Ridges Moraine Trail. members approved the process for preparing a comprehensive management plan for the seven properties which comprise the TRCA land holdings in the headwaters of the Duffins Creek. The properties include the Goodwood Resource Management Tract, Secord Forest and Wildlife Area, Clubine Agreement Forest, Walker Woods Tract, the former Timbers Brothers Gravel Pit, Glen Major Resource Management Tract and 3 Secord Forest and Wildlife Area The Secord Forest and Wildlife Area The Secord Forest and Wildlife area is comprised of 93 hectares (230 acres) of ecologically sensitive land. There are four residences on the property, three of which are currently occupied. The property also includes a barn, a pet cemetery, three ponds, and a mixture of wooded areas, wetlands and open fields. Site services include a well and septic system. The largest pond is a dominant feature on the property and is maintained by the dam on the West Duffins Creek at the pond outlet. There are numerous informal trails on the property Cross-Country Skiing and, at present, the Oak Ridges Trail runs through the property linking Concessions 3 and 4 in the Clubine Agreement Forest Town of Uxbridge. The Clubine property is an Agreement Forest Since assumption of the land by the Authority, owned and managed by The Toronto and Region the Secord Forest and Wildlife Area has been open Conservation Authority and is currently being for public access on a limited basis. This access has used by cross-country skiers, cyclists and hikers been primarily restricted to hiking on the property. along the Oak Ridges Moraine Trail. Forest Recreational fishing is currently not permitted management operations have been conducted by on the property and, as per Authority regulations, the Ministry of Natural Resources in the past hunting is prohibited. and will continue as necessary. 4 Figure 1: Duffins Creek Headwaters Management Plan Properties 5 Walker Woods The Walker property consists of two parcels of lands located on part lots 12-14, Concession 5 and part lots 6-10, Concession 6 in the Township of Uxbridge. Mr. Walker operated his properties as production forests, until the 1991 sale. Walker Woods is currently part of the TRCA Management Forest. Forest Management Practices are conducted on the property by TRCA staff on a periodic basis to ensure a sustainable and healthy forest. This site contains three residences and the remainder Timbers Brothers Gravel Pit of the property has been used for research by the University of Toronto and the University of Guelph, commercial filming, equestrian riding, Glen Major Resource and cross-country skiing. Management Tract Timbers Brothers Gravel Pit The Glen Major Resource Management Tract is currently used by equestrian riders, hikers, cyclists The Timbers Brothers site was operated as a and bird watchers. A local conservation group, the farm until the early 1960s when it was purchased Uxbridge Naturalists, have created a trail known for aggregate extraction. In 1998, the TRCA locally as the Blue Bird trail on the property. purchased the property which currently includes The property contains a trail linkage to the Dagmar an abandoned sand and gravel pit. This site also and Lakeridge ski resorts. In addition, Glen Major includes a diversity of meadow, hedgerow, forest is a major wintering area for white-tailed deer. and wetland communities. The Authority has Forest Management Operations are conducted designated a small portion of the rear of the property on the property by TRCA staff on a periodic as the Uxbridge Forest Kames Environmentally basis to ensure a sustainable and healthy forest. Significant Area (ESA #111), and the Province has designated a larger part of the rear of the One residence is located within the Glen Major property as a Provincially Significant Area of Resource Management Tract. The former Osler Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI). Located Property contains a residence that is occupied on the Oak Ridges Moraine, the deposition of through a life tenancy. tills, sands and gravel outwash work as a major groundwater recharge zone and principal source There are three farmland rental agreements area for the Duffins Creek. TRCA has been working within in the Glen Major Resource Management to restore the former pit portion of the site and it Tract which can be renewed annually. is anticipated that the major regeneration phase of the work will be completed in 2002. TRCA Dagmar Ski Resort has also entered into an annual plans to continue tree and shrub planting on the licence agreement with the TRCA. Dagmar Ski site until 2006. Resort operates an alpine ski facility adjacent to TRCA lands in the Glen Major Area. Since 1975, the TRCA has allowed Dagmar Ski Resort to use a portion of the Glen Major Resource Management Tract lands as cross-country ski trails in winter and mountain bike trails in summer to supplement their ski operation. 6 Claremont Field Centre Claremont Field Centre Catholic District School Board, other private school groups, community-based groups such as The Claremont site includes a variety of habitats Guides and Brownies, church groups and service - fields and ponds, a maple/beech woodlot, cedar clubs. The program at Claremont focuses on lowland and plantation forest. Forest Management outdoor and conservation education.