MOUNTAINVIEW ESCARPMENT NORTH 1

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1 MOUNTAINVIEW ESCARPMENT NORTH 1 Region of Peel NAI Area # 9615 Toronto and Region Conservation Authority Town of Caledon Size: 84 hectares Watershed: Humber River Con 6 EHS, Lots 8-10 Ownership: 100% private Subwatershed: Main Humber River General Summary This large natural area lies on the moraine-covered slope of the Niagara Escarpment. Although the overall shape of this natural area is moderately compact, it is highly fragmented by residential development and past clearing of forest. The presence of regenerating old fields adds to the total habitat types and supports overall biodiversity. Aside from the presence of exotic species in many communities, the area is relatively undisturbed. This area has a variety of wetland community types, with some provincially rare wetlands and a Carolinian element in the flora. TRCA ELC surveyors, botanists and ornithologists have provided complete data coverage for the core NAI inventories (vegetation communities, plant species, breeding birds) over the delineated natural area, plus incidental observations of other fauna (Table 1). TRCA ecologists have also surveyed frog species in the area. Note that full species lists are not currently available so only TRCA-tracked species and species dominant in the vegetation communities are reported here. Table 1: TRCA Field Visits Visit Date Inventory Type 16 Apr Fauna 07 May 2002 Fauna 09 May 2002 ELC, Flora 27 May 2002 ELC, Flora, Fauna 30 May 2002 ELC, Flora 03 June 2002 ELC, Flora 06 June 2002 ELC, Flora 19 June 2002 Fauna 03 July 2002 Fauna 15 July 2002 ELC, Flora, Fauna 16 July 2002 ELC, Flora, Fauna 18 July 2002 Flora 19 July 2002 ELC, Flora 20 Aug ELC, Flora Natural Feature Classifications and Planning Areas This natural area is part of: Niagara Escarpment Plan Greenbelt Plan Physical Features This area is in the Oak Ridge Moraine physiographic region; characterized by hilly topography of finegrained sand glacial deposits. Soils tend to be sandy loams that support high rates of recharge to groundwater aquifers. These permeable soils make this area an important contributor to baseflow of the tributary stream. Water from this area drains into a tributary of the main branch of the Humber River. The tributary stream originates at the margin of this natural area. Human History This area is a short distance north of the current village of Caledon East. The village was first settled by Europeans in 1821 and was once known as Tarbox Corners after early settlers Elisha and Elizabeth Tarbox. The Tarbox family received a 200 acre United Empire Loyalist land grant. The village was later known as Munsie s Corners, then Paisley, and now Caledon East. By the late 1800 s

2 MOUNTAINVIEW ESCARPMENT NORTH 2 the village was sufficiently populated and developed to warrant a stop on the rail line (Caledon Public Library, 2009). Almost half of this natural area is occupied by cultural savannah suggesting past agricultural usage. Parts of the natural area are undergoing succession and as they regenerate into forest they will reconnect older forest and wetland patches into a single habitat unit. The position of this area on the moraine hills and escarpment slope provide scenic views of Peel Plain farms and south to the cities farther off along the Lake Ontario shoreline. This scenic location has led to rural estate residential development which deeply fragments the natural area. The area is bordered on the southwest side by a Mountainview Rd. and on other sides by agricultural use. Vegetation Communities The general community types present here are coniferous forest (4%), deciduous forest (41%), mixed forest (2%), meadow marsh (0.1%), shallow marsh (0.3%), deciduous swamp (0.3%), thicket swamp (4%), floating-leaved shallow aquatic (0.1%), mixed shallow aquatic (0.7%), cultural savannah (43%) and cultural woodland (3%). Forty-four plant communities were mapped for this area, comprised of 30 different vegetation types (Table 2). Two of these vegetation types, the Winterberry Organic Thicket Swamp and the Buttonbush Organic Thicket Swamp (with two communities each), are provincially rare (S3/S4 and S3 respectively). In particular the Buttonbush communities are notable in that the community dominant, Buttonbush, is a Carolinian species. Several of the communities are considered to be TRCA regional Communities of Conservation Concern: Dry-Fresh Oak Red Maple Deciduous Forest (FOD2-1, L- rank L2), Dry-Fresh Hardwood Hemlock Mixed Forest (FOM3-1, L-rank L3), Fresh-Moist Hemlock Mixed Forest (FOM6-2, L-rank L3), Broad-leaved Cattail Organic Shallow Marsh (MAS3-1A, L-rank L3), Pondweed Mixed Shallow Aquatic (SAM1-4, L-rank L3), Water Lily Bullhead Lily Mixed Shallow Aquatic (SAM1-A, L-rank L3), Swamp Maple Organic Deciduous Swamp (SWD6-3, L-rank L3), Willow Organic Thicket Swamp (SWT3-2, L-rank L3), Buttonbush Organic Thicket Swamp (SWT3-4, L-rank L2), Red-osier Organic Thicket Swamp (SWT3-5, L-rank L3) and Winterberry Organic Thicket Swamp (SWT3-7, L-rank L2). Most of the communities in this area are young or mid-aged. The cultural communities are young, as are several of the forests dominated by fast-growing early successional tree species (Elm, Ash, Poplar and Birch dominated communities). The Sugar Maple forests are mid-aged (except one which is mature) and the forests with conifer tree species as dominants or co-dominants are mature. Table 2: ELC Vegetation Communities Map reference * Vegetation type Size in hectares % of natural area FOC3-1 Fresh-Moist Hemlock Coniferous Forest FOD2-1 Dry-Fresh Oak Red Maple Deciduous Forest FOD5-1 Dry-Fresh Sugar Maple Deciduous Forest FOD5-2 Dry-Fresh Sugar Maple Beech Deciduous Forest FOD5-3 Dry-Fresh Sugar Maple Oak Deciduous Forest FOD5-7 Dry-Fresh Sugar Maple Black Cherry Deciduous Forest FOD5-8 Dry-Fresh Sugar Maple White Ash Deciduous Forest FOD5-10 Dry-Fresh Sugar Maple Paper Birch Poplar Deciduous Forest

3 MOUNTAINVIEW ESCARPMENT NORTH 3 FOD7-1 Fresh-Moist White Elm Lowland Deciduous Forest FOD7-2 Fresh-Moist Ash Lowland Deciduous Forest FOD8-1 Fresh-Moist Poplar Deciduous Forest FOD8-B Fresh-Moist Paper Birch Deciduous Forest FOM3-1 Dry-Fresh Hardwood Hemlock Mixed Forest FOM6-2 Fresh-Moist Hemlock Mixed Forest MAM2-9 Jewelweed Mineral Meadow Marsh MAS2-4 Broad-leaved Sedge Mineral Shallow Marsh MAS2-9 Forb Mineral Shallow Marsh MAS3-1A Broad-leaved Cattail Organic Shallow Marsh SWD6-3 Swamp Maple Organic Deciduous Swamp SWT2-2 Willow Mineral Thicket Swamp SWT2-5 Red-osier Mineral Thicket Swamp (4 communities) SWT3-2 Willow Organic Thicket Swamp SWT3-4 Buttonbush Organic Thicket Swamp PROVINCIALLY RARE S-rank S3 SWT3-5 Red-osier Organic Thicket Swamp SWT3-7 Winterberry Organic Thicket Swamp PROVINCIALLY RARE S-rank S3S4 SAF1-3 Duckweed Floating-leaved Shallow Aquatic SAM1-4 Pondweed Mixed Shallow Aquatic SAM1-A Water Lily Bullhead Lily Mixed Shallow Aquatic CUS1-A1 Native Deciduous Cultural Savannah (3 communities) CUW1-A3 Native Deciduous Cultural Woodland TOTAL AREA INVENTORIED * Note: The map reference code refers to the vegetation type shown on mapping for this area and also to the Appendix list of species typically encountered in this vegetation type. Species Presence Vascular Plants At least 135 species are recorded for this area, of which 130 (96%) are native. One species, Butternut, (Juglans cinerea) is Endangered nationally and provincially, as well as being provincially rare (S-rank S3?; Table 3). In addition, the area supports 27 regionally rare plant species (Table 4). Sixty-six of the species present at this site are considered to be TRCA regional Species of Conservation Concern (Table 4). One species of stonewort algae (Chara sp.) is also present here. The presence of several moderate populations of Common Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis), a Carolinian species, is notable. Breeding Birds At least six species of breeding birds are known at this site, of which all are native. None of these are Species At Risk or provincially rare. Four of the species of breeding birds present at this site are considered to be TRCA regional Species of Conservation Concern (Table 4) Woodland communities at this site are sufficiently large enough to provide interior habitat that supports at least three area-sensitive forest interior bird species, namely Black-throated Green Warbler (Dendroica virens), Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) and Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea).

4 MOUNTAINVIEW ESCARPMENT NORTH 4 Herpetofauna Three herpetofaunal species occur here, all of which are native. All three are considered to be TRCA regional Species of Conservation Concern (Table 4). Two species of frogs, Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) and Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica) are recorded from this area. Both call abundantly during their breeding season. One turtle species, Midland Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta marginata), was also present at this site, possibly breeding here. Mammals A dead Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) was found at this area in Porcupines are a native species and a TRCA regional Species of Conservation Concern (Table 4). Table 3: Designated Species At Risk Scientific name Common name COSEWIC COSSARO S rank G rank VASCULAR PLANTS Juglans cinerea Butternut END END S3? G4 Table 4: Regionally Rare Species (shown in bold) and TRCA Regional Species of Conservation Concern (L1-L3) (Kaiser, 2001; Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, 2007) Scientific name Common name S rank G rank L-rank VASCULAR PLANTS Acer x freemanii Hybrid Maple SNR GNA L3 Acorus americanus American Sweetflag S4 G5 L3 Agrostis scabra Rough Bentgrass S5 G5 L3 Alopecurus aequalis Short-awn Foxtail S4S5 G5 L3 Aralia racemosa ssp. racemosa Spikenard S5 G4G5 T4T5 L3 Brasenia schreberi Watershield S5 G5 L1 Calla palustris Water Arum S5 G5 L2 Callitriche palustris Vernal Water-starwort S5 G5 L3 Cardamine concatenata Cutleaf Toothwort S5 G5 L3 Carex atherodes Awned Sedge S4S5 G5 L3 Brownish Sedge subspecies S5 G5T5 L3 Carex brunnescens Carex canescens Hoary Sedge S5 G5T5 L3 Carex comosa Bristly Sedge S5 G5 L3 Carex laevivaginata Smooth-sheath Sedge S4 G5 L3 Carex lupulina Hop Sedge S5 G5 L3 Carex tuckermanii Tuckerman Sedge S4 G4 L3 Caulophyllum giganteum Giant Blue Cohosh S4? G4G5Q Cephalanthus occidentalis Common Buttonbush S5 G5 L3 Ceratophyllum demersum Common Hornwort S5 G5 L3 Chamaedaphne calyculata Leatherleaf S5 G5 L3 Claytonia caroliniana Carolina Spring-beauty S5 G5 L3 Corallorhiza maculata Spotted Coralroot S5 G5 L1 Dicentra canadensis Squirrel-corn S5 G5 L3 Dicentra cucullaria Dutchman's Breeches S5 G5 L3 Diphasiastrum digitatum Fan Clubmoss S5 G5 L2 Dryopteris cristata Crested Shield-fern S5 G5 L3 Dulichium arundinaceum Three-way Sedge S5 G5 L2 Eleocharis smallii Creeping Spike-rush S5 G5? L3 Equisetum fluviatile Water Horsetail S5 G5 L3

5 MOUNTAINVIEW ESCARPMENT NORTH 5 Gaultheria procumbens Eastern Teaberry S5 G5 L2 Glyceria borealis Small Floating Mannagrass S5 G5 L3 Glyceria canadensis Rattlesnake Manna-grass S4S5 G5 L2 Glyceria septentrionalis Floating Manna-grass S4 G5 L3 Gymnocarpium dryopteris Oak Fern S5 G5 L3 Ilex verticillata Common Winterberry S5 G5 L3 Iris versicolor Blue Flag S5 G5 L3 Juglans cinerea Butternut S3? G4 L3 Lemna trisulca Star Duckweed S5 G5 L3 Menispermum canadense Canada Moonseed S4 G5 L3 Mitchella repens Partridge-berry S5 G5 L3 Monotropa uniflora Indian-pipe S5 G5 L3 Nuphar variegata Yellow Cow-lily S5 G5T5 L3 White-grained Mountainricegrass Oryzopsis asperifolia S5 G5 L3 Osmunda cinnamomea Cinnamon Fern S5 G5 L3 Polygonum cilinode Fringed Black Bindweed S5 G5 L3 Potamogeton berchtoldii Small Pondweed S4S5 G5 L2 Potamogeton foliosus Leafy Pondweed S5 G5 L3 Potamogeton gramineus Grassy Pondweed S5 G5 L3 Potamogeton natans Floating Pondweed S5 G5 L3 Potamogeton zosteriformis Flatstem Pondweed S5 G5 L2 Potentilla palustris Marsh Cinquefoil S5 G5 L2 Pyrola elliptica Shinleaf S5 G5 L3 Ranunculus flabellaris Yellow Water-crowfoot S4? G5 L2 Eastern White Watercrowfoot S4S5 G5 L2 Ranunculus longirostris Salix lucida Shining Willow S5 G5 L3 Scirpus cyperinus Cottongrass Bulrush S5 G5 L3 Sisyrinchium montanum Strict Blue-eyed-grass S5 G5 L3 Sparganium emersum Greenfruit Bur-reed S5 G5 L3 Sphenopholis intermedia Slender Wedge Grass S4S5 G5 L3 Spirodela polyrrhiza Greater Duckweed S5 G5 L3 Triadenum fraseri Marsh St. John's-wort S5 G5 L2 Vaccinium myrtilloides Velvetleaf Blueberry S5 G5 L3 Veronica scutellata Marsh Speedwell S5 G5 L3 Viburnum acerifolium Maple-leaf Viburnum S5 G5 L3 Viburnum cassinoides Northern Wild-raisin S5 G5T5 L2 Viola canadensis Canada Violet S5 G5 L3 Viola rostrata Long-spur Violet S5 G5 L3 BIRDS Black-throated Green G5 L3 Dendroica virens Warbler S5B Pipilo erythrophthalmus Eastern Towhee S4B G5 L3 Piranga olivacea Scarlet Tanager S4B G5 L3 Seiurus aurocapilla Ovenbird S4B G5 L3 HERPETOFAUNA Chrysemys picta marginata Midland Painted Turtle S5 G5T5 L3 Pseudacris crucifer Spring Peeper S5 G5 L2 Rana sylvatica Wood Frog S5 G5 L2

6 MOUNTAINVIEW ESCARPMENT NORTH 6 MAMMALS Erethizon dorsatum Porcupine S5 G5 L2 Site Condition and Disturbances This area is in good condition with some disturbance from exotic species, light-occasional disturbance from trails/trampling (in the forests), and occasional trash/dumping (primarily in communities adjacent to the residential developments). Many of the communities in this area have disturbance due to the presence of exotic species. The wetland communities are least affected, and only a few are lightly disturbed. All of the forest communities have exotics species and some of these exotics are also invasive. Half of the forest communities have only light disturbance from exotic species, but half are moderately disturbed. Ecological Features and Functions With three forest blocks that are over 4 ha in size, two wetland patches over 0.5 ha in size and well over 10 ha of cultural savannah, this natural area has the potential to sustain biodiversity, healthy ecosystem functions and to provide long-term resilience for the natural system. By containing a wide variety of habitat types, this natural area supports biodiversity, particularly for species that require more than one habitat type for their life needs. This area contains four communities representing two provincially rare vegetation types and thus has the potential to support additional biodiversity above and beyond that found in common community types. Other natural habitat occurs across Escarpment Sideroad and Mountainview Road to the west and southwest of this area respectively. While the immediate interface for this connectivity is somewhat interrupted by manicured areas, the overall connecting area is extensive and allows many opportunities for wildlife movement. This relatively close proximity to other areas of natural habitat creates above-average potential for wildlife movement between natural areas, species dispersal and recovery from disturbance, creating additional resilience for the ecosystem. This natural area supports one Species At Risk plant, one provincially rare plant species and 27 regionally rare plant species. Interior forest habitat is present here, supporting three species of area-sensitive forest interior birds. Turtles may breed on site. 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 area municipal Official Plan. This area contains a vegetation community (Dry-Fresh Oak Red Maple Deciduous Forest, FOD2-1) that produces abundant mast (nuts) which serve as an important food source for a variety of wildlife species. Opportunities Outreach efforts directed at landowners to assist them in the control of invasive species while infestation is still light and/or localized may be effective in eliminating or arresting the spread of invasive species in this natural area.

7 MOUNTAINVIEW ESCARPMENT NORTH 7 Fragmentation due to residential development in this area could be partially mitigated by encouraging the use of native species in landscaping and by allowing some manicured areas to naturalize, providing habitat complexity across the developed area. Restoration plantings to increase the width of the narrow corridor connecting the easternmost forest block with the rest of the natural area would facilitate wildlife movement and would help to decrease fragmentation of the area. Since some of the forest communities are mature, they could be checked for characteristics of old growth, which may be considered a significant habitat feature. Additional inventories of mammals, dragonflies/damselflies and butterflies might be productive given the variety of habitat types present at this site. Midland Painted Turtles are known from this natural area and additional field work could be done to determine their population size and if they are nesting in this area. Literature Cited Caledon Public Library Caledon s History. Available at Last Accessed 18 November 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. Toronto and Region Conservation Authority Terrestrial Natural Heritage Program Data Collection Methodology.

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