Lynde Creek Watershed. Lynde Creek Watershed CLOCA LYNDE CREEK WATERSHED EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT CHAPTER 1 STUDY AREA

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1 Lynde Creek Watershed CLOCA Lynde Creek Watershed CLOCA LYNDE CREEK WATERSHED EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT CHAPTER 1 STUDY AREA June 2008

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 STUDY AREA Lynde Main Subwatershed Heber Down Subwatershed Kinsale Subwatershed Ashburn Subwatershed Myrtle Station Subwatershed...14 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Lynde Creek watershed Figure 2: Lynde Main subwatershed Figure 3: Heber Down subwatershed... 9 Figure 4: Kinsale subwatershed Figure 5: Ashburn subwatershed Figure 6: Myrtle Station subwatershed Page 2 of 15

3 1.0 STUDY AREA The Lynde Creek Watershed is located at the western end of Central Lake Ontario Conservation s jurisdiction. The Lynde Creek and its tributaries drain an area of approximately 130 km2 (Figure 1). The northern part of this watershed abuts the Nonquon River Watershed in Kawartha Region Conservation s jurisdiction and the western side of the watershed lies adjacent to Carruthers Creek Watershed which is in the jurisdiction of the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. The northern half of the east side of this watershed abuts the Oshawa Creek Watershed, while the southern half lies beside the Pringle Creek Watershed. The watershed is located entirely within the Regional Municipality of Durham and traverses five local municipalities (Town of Uxbridge, Township of Scugog, City of Pickering, Town of Ajax, and the Town of Whitby). the Lynde Creek and its tributaries drain an area of approximately 130 km2 Lynde Creek Watershed CLOCA The watershed drains southerly towards Lake Ontario, from its headwaters in the Oak Ridges Moraine (ORM) and empties into Lake Ontario through Lynde Creek Marsh, a coastal wetland. Cutting through the middle of this watershed is the shoreline of glacial Lake Iroquois. This shoreline deposit is predominantly comprised of sand and gravel. The Lake Iroquois Shoreline and the Oak Ridges Moraine (ORM) are dominant features within the watershed playing a role in some of the natural features and functions that exist within the watershed. Page 3 of 15

4 Figure 1: Lynde Creek watershed. Page 4 of 15

5 Chalk Lake is a unique feature that exists in the north portion of this watershed. Chalk Lake is the only kettle lake within CLOCA s jurisdiction. Another important feature is the Lynde Creek Marsh which is a Provincially significant coastal wetland complex. Although CLOCA has a number of coastal wetlands, there are not many of these wetlands left along the Lake Ontario shoreline, offering another rare find within the Lynde Creek watershed. A diverse landscape exists within the Lynde watershed which includes urban settlements, rural settlements, agriculture, and natural areas, all having various and different influences and impacts on the watershed. The urban area of the Town of Whitby occupies most of the south, with Lynde Shores Conservation Area forming the dominant open space on the Lake Ontario waterfront. The Village of Brooklin is located about half way between the top and bottom of the watershed. A few hamlets are scattered throughout the watershed with the hamlets of Myrtle, Myrtle Station, and Ashburn situated in the north portion of the watershed. The hamlets of Kinsale and Macedonian Village are in the middle of the watershed, with Almond Village located in the south portion of the watershed. Generally, within the rural area, agricultural activities are prevalent. The watershed has been divided into 5 subwatersheds: Lynde Main, Heber Down, Kinsale, Ashburn and Myrtle Station. a Kettle Lake is a depression formed by glacial action and permanently filled with water Ministry of the Environment a diverse landscape exists within the Lynde watershed which includes urban settlements, rural settlements, agriculture, and natural areas, all having various and different influences and impacts on the watershed Lynde Creek Watershed Lou Wise Page 5 of 15

6 1.1 Lynde Main Subwatershed The Lynde Main subwatershed (Figure 2) drains an area of almost 3000 ha (30 km 2 ). A substantial amount of the built up area of Whitby, including Brooklin, is found in this subwatershed, however there are no hamlets located in this area. Between Whitby and Brooklin, agricultural and rural land uses dominate. About 16% of this subwatershed is situated within the Greenbelt. While the provincial Greenbelt Plan includes lands within the ORM, for the purpose of the discussion within this chapter, lands within the Greenbelt exclude those within the ORM (see Chapter 4 Land use and Policy, for more detail). The amount of Lake Iroquois Shoreline within this subwatershed is also 16%. A very small portion (less than 1%) of this subwatershed is within the ORM. At the south end of this subwatershed are the Lynde Creek Marsh and Lynde Shores Conservation Area. A portion of the Heber Down Conservation Area is located within this subwatershed. the Lynde Main subwatershed drains an area of almost 3000 ha Lynde Main Subwatershed Lou Wise Page 6 of 15

7 Figure 2: Lynde Main subwatershed. Page 7 of 15

8 1.2 Heber Down Subwatershed Heber Down subwatershed (Figure 3) is the largest subwatershed draining approximately 4600 ha (46 km 2 ). The headwaters of this subwatershed reach into the Oak Ridges Moraine, with the south portion draining into the Lynde Main just north of Dundas Street in the urban area of Whitby. The ORM and Greenbelt lands outside of the ORM represent a major portion of this subwatershed, having 18% and 40% respectively of the land area. Just over 15% of this subwatershed is within the Lake Iroquois Shoreline. The western portion of Brooklin and the hamlet of Macedonian Village are situated within this subwatershed. Heber Down Conservation Area is located within this subwatershed. Heber Down subwatershed is the largest subwatershed draining approximately 4600 ha Heber Down Subwatershed Lou Wise Page 8 of 15

9 Figure 3: Heber Down subwatershed. Page 9 of 15

10 1.3 Kinsale Subwatershed The Kinsale subwatershed (Figure 4) intersects with the Lynde Main subwatershed at the southern end within the Lynde Creek Marsh. This subwatershed drains about 2200 ha (22 km 2 ) of land. The subwatershed contains three local municipalities including the Town of Whitby, Town of Ajax and City of Pickering. Urban development within this subwatershed is less dominant, with agricultural and rural land uses predominating. The hamlets of Kinsale and Almond Village are found within this subwatershed. A major portion of this subwatershed (56%) is within the Greenbelt, and 17% is within the Lake Iroquois Shoreline. This is the only subwatershed that does not have any lands within the Oak Ridges Moraine. With respect to Conservation Area land holdings, in addition to Lynde Shores Conservation Area, the Audley Road Woods are situated within this subwatershed. the Kinsale subwatershed drains about 2200 ha (22 km 2 ) of land Kinsale Subwatershed Lou Wise Page 10 of 15

11 Figure 4: Kinsale subwatershed. Page 11 of 15

12 1.4 Ashburn Subwatershed The Ashburn subwatershed is located within the upper reaches of this watershed. This subwatershed drains about 1700 ha (17 km 2 ) of land (Figure 5). The hamlet of Ashburn is located in this subwatershed. Agricultural land uses are dominant on the lands south of the moraine. Only a small portion of this subwatershed, located in the south, is not within the Oak Ridges Moraine or the Greenbelt. In fact, 80% of this subwatershed is in the ORM and 18% is in the Greenbelt outside of the ORM. A portion of Crow s Pass Conservation Area is found in this subwatershed, at the very crest of the Oak Ridges Moraine. this subwatershed drains about 1700 ha (17 km 2 ) of land Ashburn Subwatershed Lou Wise Page 12 of 15

13 Figure 5: Ashburn subwatershed. Page 13 of 15

14 1.5 Myrtle Station Subwatershed Like the Ashburn subwatershed, the Myrtle Station subwatershed is also located in the upper reaches of the Lynde Creek watershed (Figure 6). Approximately 1500 ha (15 km 2 ) of land area is drained by this subwatershed. The hamlets of Myrtle and Myrtle Station are located in the subwatershed, and agricultural land uses dominate. Also like the Ashburn subwatershed, only a small portion of this subwatershed is not located within the Oak Ridges Moraine or the Greenbelt, as 76% of this subwatershed is in the ORM and 22% is within the Greenbelt outside of the ORM. approximately 1500 ha (15 km 2 ) of land area is drained by this subwatershed Myrtle Station Subwatershed Lou Wise WHAT WE DO ON THE LAND IS MIRRORED IN THE WATER Page 14 of 15

15 Figure 6: Myrtle Station subwatershed. Page 15 of 15