Conservation Area Master Plan October 2011 A Bruce’s Mill Conservation Area Master Plan 1.0 INTRODUCTION TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................... iv 6.3 Existing Regional and Local Trail Systems ......... 44 Chapter 1. Introduction .............................................1 6.3.1 Existing Regional Trails .............................. 44 1.1 Overview ........................................................ 1 6.3.2 Existing Local Trails .................................. 45 1.2 Context ........................................................... 1 6.4 Proposed Trail Systems ................................... 45 1.2.1 TRCA’s Terrestrial Natural Heritage 6.4.1 Bruce’s Mill Trail ....................................... 47 System Strategy.......................................... 2 6.4.2 Forest Trail - Short .................................... 47 1.2.2 Rouge River Watershed Plan ........................ 4 6.4.3 Forest Trail - Long ..................................... 47 1.2.3 TRCA and Conservation Lands ..................... 5 6.4.4 Lookout Trail ............................................ 48 1.3 Study Process ................................................. 5 6.4.5 Wagon Trail .............................................. 48 1.3.1 The Advisory Committee .............................. 6 6.4.6 Sugar Shack Trail ...................................... 48 1.3.2 Public Consultation ..................................... 6 6.4.7 Butterfly Meadow Trail .............................. 48 1.4 Location, Site Description and Resource Uses ..... 7 6.4.8 Multi-Use Trail ......................................... 48 Chapter 2. Plan Vision, Goals, 6.4.9 Trail Heads and Access Points .................... 49 Objectives and Principles ..........................9 6.5 Planning Recommendations ............................ 49 2.1 A Vision for Bruce’s Mill Conservation Area ......... 9 6.5.1 Public Uses .............................................. 50 2.2 Concept Themes .............................................. 9 6.5.2 Signage ................................................... 51 2.3 Guiding Principles .......................................... 10 6.5.3 Trail Linkages ........................................... 52 2.4 Master Plan Goals and Objectives .................... 10 6.5.4 Implementation Strategy ............................ 52 Chapter 3. Management Zones ................................12 6.5.5 Monitoring and Review .............................. 52 3.1 Management Zones Defined ............................ 12 6.5.6 Summary ................................................. 52 3.2 Determining the Management Zones ................ 12 Chapter 7. Plan Implementation ..............................53 Chapter 4. Management Recommendations...............17 7.1 Master Plan Implementation Schedule ............. 53 4.1 Natural Heritage Resources ............................. 18 7.2 Partnership Opportunities ............................... 56 4.1.1 Terrestrial Natural Heritage ........................ 18 7.3 Stewardship Committee .................................. 57 4.1.2 Wetlands ................................................. 24 7.4 Agency and Municipal Stewardship .................. 58 4.1.3 Geology ................................................... 25 7.5 Private Land Stewardship ............................... 58 4.1.4 Aquatic Resources and Conditions ................ 25 7.6 Public Use .................................................... 58 PREPARED BY: 4.2 Cultural Heritage Resources ............................ 26 7.7 Safety and Security ........................................ 58 4.3 Conservation Education and Tourism ................ 27 7.8 Endorsement and Maintenance of the Bruce’s Mill Conservation Area Master Plan Advisory Committee 4.3.1 Conservation Education ............................. 27 Master Plan .................................................. 59 4.3.2 Tourism ................................................... 28 7.9 Plan Review and Amendment ......................... 59 Conservation Lands Group, TRCA 4.4 Stewardship and Outreach .............................. 28 References .............................................................60 4.5 Operations and Park Management ................... 29 Acknowledgements .................................................61 4.6 Land Use and Management ............................ 30 Appendices ............................................................61 4.7 Implementation, Monitoring and Review Appendix A: List of Fauna Species Found in of the Master Plan ......................................... 30 Bruce’s Mill Study Area ......................... 62 Chapter 5. Public Use and Recreation Plan Appendix B: Fauna Species List ................................ 64 and Recommendations ............................31 Appendix C: Vegetation Communities ........................ 73 5.1 Public Use and Recreation Plan ....................... 31 Appendix D: Public Use and Recreation Plan Study .... 75 5.1.1 General Recommendations ........................ 33 Appendix D1: Outdoor Recreation Trends .................. 75 5.1.2 Key Elements & Recommendations ............. 34 Appendix D2: Demographic Profile: Whitchurch 5.1.3 Sustainable Design Standards .................... 38 Stouffville, Richmond Hill 5.2 Implementation Strategy ................................. 40 and Markham .................................... 80 Chapter 6. Trail Plan and Recommendations .............41 Appendix D3: Review of Concepts Considered in Public 6.1 Introduction .................................................. 41 Use and Recreation Planning Process ... 83 6.2 Trail Plan Goal, Objectives and Appendix E: Sustainable Design Measures ................. 87 Management Principles .................................. 42 Appendix F: Trail Design and Management ................ 91 6.2.1 Trail Plan Objectives.................................. 42 Appendix G: Detailed Implementation Guide ............ 101 6.2.2 General Management Recommendations ..... 44 Appendix H: Bruce’s Mill Conservation Area – Site ... 109 i ii Bruce’s Mill Conservation Area Master Plan Bruce’s Mill Conservation Area Master Plan MAPS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Map 1.1: Bruce’s Mill Conservation Area location in the Rouge River watershed ................................................. 8 Map 1.2: Bruce’s Mill Conservation Area ........................................................................................................ 8 The Bruce’s Mill Conservation Area Master Plan was Advisory Committee. Input was gathered throughout the Map 3.1: Management Zones ..................................................................................................................... 16 developed to protect, conserve and restore the valuable process at public meetings and through surveys. Map 4.1: Terrestrial Natural Heritage System Strategy – Target System for Bruce’s Mill Conservation Area ........... 19 ecological features and functions of the site, while guiding Map 5.1: Public Use and Recreation Concept Plan ........................................................................................ 33 the current and potential future public uses of the area. Map 5.2: Bruce’s Mill Master Plan ............................................................................................................... 34 It is intended to provide a vision of what is possible at Map 5.3: Nature-based Recreation Area, North East Field .............................................................................. 36 Bruce’s Mill Conservation Area (BMCA), and inspire Map 5.4: Habitat Enhancement Concept Plan, North West Field .................................................................... 38 partners and supporters to help Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) achieve that vision. Map 6.1: Bruce’s Mill Conservation Area Trail Plan ........................................................................................ 42 Map 6.2: Oak Ridges Trail Association Optimum Trail Corridor ........................................................................ 43 Bruce’s Mill Conservation Area (BMCA) occupies 108 Map 6.3: Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville Trail Map ........................................................................................ 45 hectares in the Rouge River watershed, within the Town Map 6.4: Rouge River Watershed Trails Concept Plan .................................................................................... 46 of Whitchurch-Stouffville. Its diverse ecosystem includes Map 6.5: Trail Improvements and Realignments ............................................................................................ 50 Bruce Creek, a tributary of the Rouge River, a number Map G1: Implementation Action Areas at Bruce’s Mill Conservation Area ....................................................... 101 of high-quality wetlands and extensive forests including ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– almost nine hectares of interior forest. TABLES The Bruce’s Mill Conservation Area Master Plan was Table 3.1: Permitted Resource Uses by Management Zone ............................................................................ 14 initiated by TRCA in 2004. At meeting #06/2004 of the Table 3.2: Bruce’s Mill Conservation Area Management Zone Definitions .......................................................... 15 TRCA Board on June 25, 2004, Resolution #A180/04 Table