HERITAGE 407 NORTH. Ownership: 3% private, 97% public (Province of Ontario, City of Mississauga)

Transcription

1 1 Region of Peel NAI Area # 2373, 3675 Credit Valley Conservation Authority City of Brampton Size: hectares Watershed: Credit River Con 5 W, Lots ; south of Hwy. 407 between Heritage Road and Mississauga Road Ownership: 3% private, 97% public (Province of Ontario, City of Mississauga) Subwatersheds: Mullett Creek; Levi Creek General Summary Heritage 407 North is a large, urban natural area that straddles the boundary between the City of Brampton and the City of Mississauga. This natural area is in a key geographic position at the intersection of the east/west habitat corridor provided by the Parkway Belt West corridor, north of Highway 407 and the northwest/southeast valley of Mullett Creek. Additional biological inventories have been conducted for the southern part of the area that lies within Mississauga, as part of the Mississauga Natural Areas Survey (NAS). Brampton NAI work was only conducted in the Brampton part of the area and thus, the inventory data presented in this summary pertains only to the north half of the site, although more general comments on ecological function refer to the whole natural area. This natural area is in relatively good condition. While there is substantial disturbance from invasive species, the large size of the area, its good connectivity with other areas of natural habitat and its support of Species At Risk and regionally rare plant species, give this area importance as a natural area in south Brampton. An Ecological Land Classification vegetation community inventory was conducted over 64% of this area that the field crew had access to. A thorough inventory of the plant species was conducted in conjunction with the ELC work (Table 1). Fish species presence was taken from sampling conducted by a consultant firm in Fish species presence was also extrapolated from sampling undertaken a short distance downstream of the site, where no barriers occurred to obstruct fish movement and where no major change in stream size occurs that would affect species composition. Other fauna were recorded as incidental observations. The part of the natural area surveyed was within the City of Brampton. Table 1: BNAI Field Visits Date Visited Inventory Type 11 Sept Fish 20, 21 Sept ELC Natural Feature Classifications and Planning Areas Physical Features Heritage 407 North is within the Peel Plain physiographic region (Chapman and Putnam, 1984), characterized by a relatively flat topography which gradually slopes toward Lake Ontario. This plain contains numerous rivers and streams with deeply cut valleys along their lower reaches. The bedrock underlying this area is Queenston shale. The bedrock is covered with Halton Till, clayey silt to silt, low permeability tills deposited as the glacier retreated from this area. Along the shallow valley of Mullett Creek, there are various gravel, sand, silt and clay alluvial post-glacial deposits. Soils at this site are clay loams. The tableland to the east and northwest of Mullett Creek has Chinguacousy series clay loams, which are slightly stony and have imperfect drainage. To the west of Mullett Creek the Oneida series clay loam soils have good drainage. Along the shallow Mullett Creek valley the Jeddo series clay loam soils are poorly draining. At the southern tip of the site recent alluvial bottomland soils occur composed of variable materials.

2 2 Mullett Creek runs through this area in a shallow valley and is the main hydrological feature of the site. The creek takes a natural meandering course for most of its transit through this area, although at the south end of the area near Heritage Rd, it appears to have been diverted and now runs through a new channel until it reaches the original streambed. Human History The Heritage 407 North natural area is situated four kilometers southeast of Huttonville and two kilometres southwest of Churchville. The first European settlers arrived in the late 1810s to early 1820s. In this early period, forests were abundant, buildings were made of logs and Winston Churchill Boulevard existed as a plank road (Mair, 2009). In 1830, the population density in the area was only people per square mile (Spelt, 1972) and settlement and clearing of the original forest was slow. By 1851 the population density had grown to people per square mile although less than a third of the land owned by farmers had been cleared and the forest still limited views across the landscape (Spelt, 1972). Amaziah Church built a grist mill on the Credit River in what is now Churchville in 1815 and J.P. Hutton built a saw and turning mill on the Credit River in what is now Huttonville in Hutton s mill was improved it in 1855, (Loverseed, 1987), supporting early settlement, land clearing and the processing of local agricultural products. In Huttonville, a woollen mill was added later by J.O. Hutton. The forests were removed almost completely as agricultural use expanded. A photograph of the Hutton woollen mill from the late 1800 s (Hydro One Brampton, 2010) shows a landscape almost bare of trees, especially along the banks and valley wall of the Credit River. The nature of agriculture changed from subsistence farming in the 1830s to commercial farming in response to the wheat boom of the mid 1800s. The Brampton area had good soils for farming and the railroad s arrival in 1856 provided transportation of production to distant markets, allowing this area to become an important area for agricultural production. Farming boomed and by 1881 most of the good land had been cleared and put into agricultural production (Spelt, 1972). This area was far enough from the urban centres that it remained in agricultural use until relatively recently. The building of the Highway 407 expressway within the Parkway Belt West Plan area has dramatically changed the immediate surroundings of Heritage 407 North. Agricultural lands were acquired for the highway in the 1960s adjacent to a hydro transmission right-of-way, although the land remained vacant until the highway was built between 1993 and Highway 407 was opened for traffic in December 1997 in this area. It was built with landscaped embankments for aesthetic purposes, with stormwater management ponds at interchanges and lighting. The Heritage 407 North natural area is the naturalizing aftermath of the highway construction period along a narrow roadside strip and along the shallow valley of Mullett Creek. Highway 407 is periodically busy, but not as much as Highway 401 and the QEW, that are farther south. Part of this natural area includes a wide hydro transmission corridor. The land under the transmission towers is naturalizing old meadow. The area is flanked by Highway 407 to the north and the Meadowvale Business Park on the east, south and west sides. Vegetation Communities This natural area is in the Carolinian Forest Ecoregion (Lake Erie Lake Ontario Ecoregion; 7E). The general community types present here are deciduous forest (24%), mixed forest (6%), cultural meadow (64%), cultural thicket (4%) and cultural savannah (2%). A total of two vegetation communities were mapped for the 64% of this natural area that was accessed, representing two different vegetation types (Table 2). Both of the communities at Heritage 407 North contain patches of vegetation different from the main community type, but too small to map and recognize as separate communities. Although they are

3 3 small, they still contribute additional habitat diversity and are noted as inclusions. The large size of the Exotic Forb Old Field Meadow community (CUM1-C, polygon ) allows for variation in topography and associated with these variations are several inclusions including four Cattail Graminoid Mineral Meadow Marsh (MAMM1-2) inclusions, a Reed Canary Grass Mineral Meadow Marsh (MAM2-2) inclusion, Turbid Open Aquatic (OAO-T) inclusion, a Hawthorn Deciduous Shrub Thicket (THDM2-11) inclusion and an Exotic Shrub Hedgerow (CUH1-D) inclusion. The Miscellaneous Exotic Cultural Thicket community (CUT1-C, polygon ) contains a small Reed Canary Grass Mineral Meadow Marsh (MAM2-2) inclusion at the base of the valley slope, associated with a creek. Table 2. ELC vegetation communities surveyed Polygon ID Size (ha) Community Type Canopy Sub-canopy Understory Ground Layer (60.29%) 2.42 (3.50%) Exotic Forb Old Field Meadow (CUM1-c) Miscellaneous Exotic Cultural Thicket (CUT1-C) Common Buckthorn, Red-osier Dogwood, Tartarian Honeysuckle, Hawthorn species Hawthorn species, Manitoba Maple, Common Apple, Riverbank Grape Dominant Species at each height layer Multiple Grass Late Goldenrod, species, Multiple Aster Common Red species, Raspberry, Creeping Thistle, German Teasel Mayweed, Queen Anne's Lace Multiple Hawthorn species, Common Buckthorn, Staghorn Sumac, Riverbank Grape Common Buckthorn, Tartarian Honeysuckle, Hawthorn species, Multiple Blackberry species Multiple Grass species, Common Crownvetch, Tufted Vetch, Prickly Lettuce Common Buckthorn, Garlic Mustard, White Avens, Woodland Strawberry Species Presence Vascular Plants A total of 116 vascular plant species occur in Heritage 407 North, of which 63 (54%) are native. One of these is planted. Two of the plant species at this site are regionally rare (Table 4), although one (White Spruce, Picea glauca) might be planted. Of the non-native plant species found at Heritage 407 North, 26 are invasive. Six of these invasive species are considered to be transformers which exclude all other species and dominate sites indefinitely, four species are highly invasive which tend to dominate only certain niches or do not spread rapidly from major concentrations, nine species are moderately invasive which can become locally dominant given certain conditions and seven are minimally invasive species which do not pose an immediate threat to natural areas but compete with more desirable native species. Birds A total of ten bird species were observed at this site, of which nine (90%) are native. None are at risk or rare. One colonial-nesting bird species, Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) and one waterfowl species, Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) were observed at Heritage 407 North. As these observations were made late in the season (20 Sept.), they are not indicative of breeding status per se, however visits to this natural area during the breeding season are recommended in order to determine if these species are breeding here, as they may be indicators of significant wildlife habitat. Fish Only a single native fish species has been recorded from this area in the last 20 years. This species, Longnose Dace (Rhinichthys cataractae) requires high oxygen levels, indicating that the reach of Mullett Creek that passes through this area is well-oxygenated. Three additional historical records of

4 4 native species fish exist from sampling in Two of these, Fantail Darter (Etheostoma flabellare) and Rainbow Darter (Etheostoma caeruleum) are mixed cool/cold water species suggesting that historically the stream here was cool. Butterflies and Skippers Three butterfly species were observed at this natural area, all of which are native. One of these, Monarch (Danaus plexippus) is a Species At Risk, considered to be Special Concern both nationally and provincially (Table 3). Monarch is also provincially rare (S-rank S2N,S4B). Dragonflies and Damselflies One native dragonfly species was observed at this site. It was not identified to species but it belongs to a genus (Meadowhawk, Empetrum sp.) that is not at risk or provincially rare. Herpetofauna One native snake species was observed at this site. It is not at risk or rare. Mammals Three common mammal species were observed at Heritage 407 North all of which are native. Table 3. Designated Species at Risk Scientific Name Common Name COSEWIC COSSARO S-Rank G-Rank Butterflies Danaus plexippus Monarch SC SC S2N,S4B G5 Table 4: Regionally rare species (Kaiser, 2001) Scientific Name Common Name S-Rank G-Rank Vascular Plants Equisetum fluviatile Water Horsetail S5 G5 Picea glauca White Spruce S5 G5 Site Condition and Disturbances This area is important in large part due to its size. It has been highly impacted by past land use but is now naturalized and undergoing succession. This site offers a large area of open habitat along the Parkway Belt West lands intersecting with a large, treed valley system in good condition along the Mullett Creek corridor. This natural area is in fairly good condition. Non-native and invasive species are abundant and widespread, but other disturbances are only low to moderate, which is good for an urban site. Several problematic invasive species are present here in concentrations that should be addressed. They are Tartarian Honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica), Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata), Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica), Dame s Rocket (Hesperis matronalis) and Manitoba Maple (Acer negundo), with the most abundant being the Common Buckthorn, Purple Loosestrife and Tartarian Honeysuckle. There is light recreational use of this area, with some faint trails creating localized disturbance. Highway noise is high near the road but only moderate over most of the site. The highway adjacent to this area is also lit all night. Even though lighting may not be bright or shining directly onto the natural community, it may still disrupt wildlife activities. Light localized patches of garbage exist, mostly having being blown by the wind. Disturbance from deer browsing is evident throughout the area.

5 5 The north margin of the area has a ditch that drains runoff from the highway. This runoff will contain high levels of salt during the winter/spring and oil and other pollutants stemming from traffic. Some restoration efforts have been made through native tree plantings. Ecological Features and Functions With forest communities greater than 2 hectares (in the Mississauga portion) and cultural meadow over 10 hectares in size, this natural area has the potential to support and sustain biodiversity, healthy ecosystem functions and to provide long-term resilience for the natural system. Heritage 407 North includes the riparian area of Mullett Creek, providing a transitional zone between terrestrial and aquatic habitats, helping to maintain the quality of the stream, and providing a movement corridor for plants and wildlife. By containing a relatively high number of habitat types (including types not surveyed that are different from types that were inventoried), this natural area has the potential for high biodiversity function, particularly for species that require more than one habitat type for their life needs. Heritage 407 North lies at an important intersection of habitat corridors, running along the Parkway Belt West (south of Highway 407) and along the Mullett Creek valley, but has relatively poor connectivity with other natural areas along these corridors. The best connections are along Mullett Creek. Highway 407, is a barrier at the north end of this site due in part to the traffic and high speed of vehicles on the highway and also because the highway is securely fenced. The highway bridge spans Mullett Creek and includes some riparian area above the stream bank that allows for limited safe wildlife movement along the valley. The south end of the natural area also has a poor connection downstream along Mullett Creek. The stream travels under Meadowvale Avenue, a busy road, via a culvert that limits wildlife movement at a risky road crossing. There is an opportunity to establish a substantial wildlife movement corridor along the Parkway Belt West lands (south of Highway 407 and including the hydro right-of-way), however the current impediments of absence of natural vegetation in some parts of the corridor and industrial land use along the bisecting roads would need to be overcome for wildlife movement corridor to be effective. The east end of Heritage 407 North lies adjacent to Mississauga Road, a very busy road that serves as a barrier to wildlife movement. Heritage Road is adjacent to the west end of Heritage 407 North, and this barrier is further exacerbated by industrial land use along Heritage Road and agricultural land use on the west side of the road adjacent to Highway 407 create a large break in the potential for a natural corridor along the highway. The relatively close proximity of other areas of natural habitat creates some potential for wildlife movement between natural areas, but the potential is limited by barriers and fragmentation of habitat along the corridors. This natural area supports a butterfly Species At Risk, a provincially rare butterfly species and two regionally rare plant species. Based on the above features, this area should be evaluated to determine if significant wildlife habitat is present, in accordance with the Provincial Policy Statement, Region of Peel Official Plan, and Brampton Official Plan. Recommendations 1. Invasive Species Control: Although there are invasive species present in various quantities at this site many will be challenging to control. Control measures that are undertaken would have to be continued for several years until native vegetation increases to dominate the communities. a) Transformer-type invasive species: Some of the invasive species at this site are transformer-type, and thus pose a significant threat to the native plant communities due to their aggressive nature. Although this type of invasive species can be difficult to eliminate, any progress that can be made to control it is beneficial in reducing the impact on the natural community.

6 6 b) Common Buckthorn removal: Patches of Common Buckthorn could be removed, followed by dense plantings of fast growing tree and shrub species which could help to speed up the transition of this area to native forest. c) Purple Loosestrife removal: Purple Loosestrife could be hand-pulled in early summer when in flower but before it has gone to seed to help limit its spread. 2. Meadow Maintenance: Large patches of meadow at this site provide habitat for grassland species including a butterfly Species At Risk. Maintaining this habitat as meadow, preventing it from undergoing succession to treed communities, would help maintain a diversity of habitats, resulting in higher biodiversity over the whole natural area. Mowing every three to five years in the late summer after grassland birds have fledged would maintain the area as a meadow habitat. 3. Species At Risk Habitat: A Species At Risk was found in this natural area and a detailed assessment of the habitat condition is recommended, in order to identify actions that may help to retain or enhance the habitat for the SAR. 4. Enhance Water Purification Capacity of Site: The ditches along the north side of the area have been primarily designed to collect and direct storm water runoff from the highway, including salt and other pollutants. It is recommended to enhance the water quality functions of the vegetation communities at this site to minimize the potential for highway runoff to adversely affect the water quality of Mullett Creek and the Credit River. Establishing rich, diverse and natural aquatic, marsh and riparian communities at the Heritage 407 North site, including the ditch vegetation, will assist to retain and improve water quality before it leaves the site. This could be achieved by additional, extensive restoration plantings. 5. Restoration Plantings: Extensive additional restoration plantings using a variety of native tree, shrub and herbaceous species is recommended adjacent to the highway. Such plantings can be used to deliver ecological goods and services that benefit the natural area as well as highway users. Dense plantings along the ditches and around the stormwater management pond will help to reduce water temperatures and thus mitigate thermal impacts when water enters Mullett Creek and the Credit River. Plantings of taller species will also help to filter dust and exhaust coming from the highway and may reduce some of the highway noise, thus mitigating some of the highway-associated disturbances. Strategic planting of coniferous trees may help to reduce snow drifting and blowing across the highway in winter, improving driving safety conditions. 6. Enhance Wildlife Movement Corridor: This area, forms part of an east-west corridor of natural habitat running across the urban areas of Brampton and Mississauga that is important in facilitating wildlife movement between valleylands. However, this corridor is transected by several busy arterial roads which may limit wildlife movement to varying degrees. There are opportunities to enhance wildlife movement along this corridor, by making passage safer for wildlife. Fencing of the natural area along the major roads and the construction of eco-passages would help to prevent wildlife from being hit by vehicles and would provide safe places for movement along the corridor. It is recommended that consideration be given to incorporating eco-passages as the roads crossing the corridor are upgraded. 7. Additional Inventory Work: Additional ecological knowledge about Heritage 407 North could be gained by performing additional inventories of breeding birds, butterflies and dragonflies/damselflies. Literature Cited Chapman, L.J. and Putnam, D.F The Physiography of Southern Ontario. 3rd ed. Special Volume 2. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Ontario Geological Survey, Toronto. Hydro One Brampton, Kaiser, Jeff The Vascular Plant Flora of the Region of Peel and the Credit River Watershed. Prepared for: Credit Valley Conservation, the Regional Municipality of Peel, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority.

7 7 Loverseed, Helga V Brampton: An Illustrated History. 1 st ed. Windson Publications. Mair, Nicole Whaley s Corners. Spelt, J Urban Development in South-Central Ontario. McClelland & Stewart Ltd., Toronto.

8 8 Vascular Plant Species at Heritage 407 North R= regionally rare Invasive Score: 1=Transformer, 2=Highly Invasive, 3=Moderately Invasive, 4=Minimally Invasive, 5=Potentially Invasive See "CVC Priority Invasive Plants" list for additional information about invasive score *Planted species have been denoted with an asterisk unless additional natural specimens occur Native Vascular Plant Species Scientific Name Common Name Acer saccharum ssp. nigrum Black Maple Acer saccharum ssp. saccharum* Sugar Maple Alisma plantago-aquatica American Water-plantain Ambrosia artemisiifolia Common Ragweed Apocynum cannabinum Clasping-leaf Dogbane Asclepias syriaca Common Milkweed Bidens frondosa Devil's Beggar-ticks Carex vulpinoidea Fox Sedge Carya cordiformis Bitter-nut Hickory Carya ovata Shag-bark Hickory Chenopodium simplex Giant-seed Goosefoot Intermediate Enchanter's Circaea lutetiana ssp. canadensis Nightshade Cornus stolonifera Red-osier Dogwood Epilobium ciliatum ssp. ciliatum Hairy Willow-herb subspecies Equisetum arvense Field Horsetail Equisetum fluviatile Water Horsetail R Erigeron annuus Eastern Daisy Fleabane Eupatorium maculatum ssp. maculatum Spotted Joe-pye Weed Euthamia graminifolia Flat-top Goldentop Fragaria vesca ssp. americana Woodland Strawberry Fraxinus americana White Ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica Green or Red Ash (no var. recorded) Geum canadense White Avens Glyceria grandis American Manna-grass Glyceria striata Fowl Manna-grass Impatiens capensis Spotted Touch-me-not Juglans nigra Black Walnut Juncus sp. Rush species Leersia oryzoides Rice Cutgrass Onoclea sensibilis Sensitive Fern Oxalis stricta Upright Yellow Woodsorrel Parthenocissus inserta Thicket Creeper Phalaris arundinacea Reed Canary Grass Picea glauca White Spruce R Polygonum lapathifolium var. lapathifolium Hedge Cornbind Polygonum sp. Smartweed species Populus deltoides Eastern Cottonwood Populus grandidentata Large-tooth Aspen Prunus serotina Wild Black Cherry Prunus virginiana ssp. virginiana Chokecherry Quercus macrocarpa Bur Oak Quercus rubra Northern Red Oak

9 9 Rhus hirta Ribes americanum Rubus idaeus Rubus odoratus Rudbeckia laciniata Salix eriocephala Salix petiolaris Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani Scirpus atrovirens Solidago altissima var. altissima Symphyotrichum ericoides var. ericoides Symphyotrichum lanceolatum ssp. lanceolatum Symphyotrichum novae-angliae Symphyotrichum puniceum Tilia americana Typha latifolia Ulmus americana Urtica dioica ssp. gracilis Verbena hastata Vitis riparia Xanthium strumarium Staghorn Sumac Wild Black Currant Common Red Raspberry Purple Flowering Raspberry Cut-leaved Coneflower Heart-leaved Willow Meadow Willow Soft-stem Bulrush Dark-green Bulrush Late Goldenrod White Heath Aster Panicled Aster subspecies New England Aster Swamp Aster American Basswood Broad-leaf Cattail American Elm California Nettle Blue Vervain Riverbank Grape Rough Cocklebur Non-native Vascular Plant Species Scientific Name Common Name Invasive Score Acer negundo Manitoba Maple 1 Alliaria petiolata Garlic Mustard 1 Arctium minus ssp. minus Common Burdock Cichorium intybus Chicory Cirsium arvense Creeping Thistle 2 Cirsium vulgare Bull Thistle Coronilla varia Common Crown-vetch 2 Cynoglossum officinale Common Hound's-tongue Daucus carota Queen Anne's Lace Dipsacus fullonum ssp. sylvestris Teasel 3 Epilobium parviflorum Small-flower Willow-herb Geranium robertianum Herb-robert 3 Hesperis matronalis Dame's Rocket 1 Hordeum vulgare Common Barley Hypericum perforatum Common St. John's-wort 4 Inula helenium Elecampane Flower 4 Lactuca serriola Prickly Lettuce Leonurus cardiaca ssp. cardiaca Common Motherwort Linaria vulgaris Butter-and-eggs 4 Lonicera tatarica Tartarian Honeysuckle 1 Lotus corniculatus Birds-foot Trefoil 3 Lythrum salicaria Purple Loosestrife 1 Malus pumila Common Apple Matricaria recutita German Mayweed Medicago sativa ssp. sativa Alfalfa 4 Melilotus albus White Sweet Clover 3 Melilotus officinalis Yellow Sweet Clover 3 Pastinaca sativa Wild Parsnip 3 Phleum pratense Meadow Timothy Picea pungens Blue Spruce

10 10 Plantago major Common Plantain Ranunculus acris Tall Buttercup Rhamnus cathartica Common Buckthorn 1 Robinia pseudo-acacia Black Locust 2 Rumex crispus Curly Dock Salix pentandra Laurel Willow Solanum dulcamara Climbing Nightshade 3 Sonchus arvensis ssp. arvensis Perennial Sowthistle Spergularia media Middle-size Sandspurry Syringa vulgaris Common Lilac 3 Taraxacum officinale Brown-seed Dandelion Trifolium pratense Red Clover 4 Trifolium repens White Clover 4 Tussilago farfara Colt's Foot 4 Typha angustifolia Narrow-leaved Cattail 2 Verbascum thapsus Great Mullein Viburnum lantana Wayfaring-tree Vicia cracca Tufted Vetch 3

11 11 Fauna Species at Heritage 407 North Type Common Name Scientific Name Bird American Goldfinch Carduelis tristis Bird Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus Bird Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata Bird European Starling Sturnus vulgaris Bird Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis Bird Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias Bird Killdeer Charadrius vociferus Bird Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Bird Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura Bird Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus Butterfly, Skipper Isabella Tiger Moth Pyrrharctia isabella Butterfly, Skipper Monarch Danaus plexippus Butterfly, Skipper Viceroy Limenitis archippus Damselfly, Dragonfly Meadowhawk species Sympetrum sp. Fish Longnose Dace Rhinichthys cataractae Herpetofauna Northern Brownsnake Storeria dekayi dekayi Mammal Eastern Cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus Mammal Northern Raccoon Procyon lotor Mammal White-tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus *Designated Species at Risk and provincially rare species shown in bold

12 12

13 13