Winston Churchill - Highpoint - Peel Region · WINSTON CHURCHILL - HIGHPOINT Date of this Site Summary: July 2012 2 separated by meltwater channels that give a rolling topography

WINSTON CHURCHILL - HIGHPOINT

Date of this Site Summary: July 2012

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Region of Peel NAI Area # 9590 Credit Valley Conservation Authority

Town of Caledon Size: 180 hectares Watershed: Credi t River Con 6 WHS, Lots 21-25 Ownership: private

100% Subwatersheds: Shaw’s

Creek & West Credit General Summary This large, broadly linear natural area is comprised predominantly of wetland communities with some mixed and coniferous forest. Parts of this natural area abut Winston Churchill Blvd. to the west and Highpoint Sdrd. to the north and are well-linked to other extensive natural areas across each road. This natural area has a high diversity of flora and fauna due to the relatively undisturbed habitat and diversity of vegetation communities. Some of the flora species have more northern affinities. This site provides extensive interior forest habitat, extensive wetlands as well as open country successional habitat suitable for grassland species. This area contains the headwaters of tributaries for two subwatersheds and straddles two physiographic regions. CVC and NAI ELC surveyors, botanists and ornithologists inventoried vegetation communities, plants and breeding birds and made incidental observations of other fauna (Table 1), covering 38% of the natural area (determined by access permission). With respect to the NAI core inventories (vegetation communities, plants, breeding birds), this area is considered data-complete. Fish were inventoried both within the natural area and from upstream and downstream sampling stations. As there are no barriers between the upstream and downstream stations and this natural area, the data from the other stations was extrapolated to this natural area. Table 1: CVC & NAI Field Visits Visit Date Inventory Type 06 July 2001 Fish 13 July 2004 Fish 20 July 2004 Fish 09 June 2005 ELC 17 June 2005 ELC 28 June 2005 Fish 12 June 2006 Fish 28 June 2007 Fish 09 June 2008 Fauna 24 June 2008 ELC

25 June 2008 ELC 25 June 2008 Fish 27 June 2008 ELC 02 July 2008 Fauna 16 July 2008 Flora 17 July 2008 Flora 28 July 2008 Flora 20 Aug. 2008 ELC 24 Sept. 2008 Flora 02 July 2009 Fish

Natural Feature Classifications and Planning Areas This natural area is part of: Life Science ANSI - regionally significant Alton Branch Swamp ESA - Alton Swamp Complex ESA PSW - Alton-Hillsburgh Wetland Complex Greenbelt Plan – Natural Heritage System Physical Features The north part of this natural area lies in the Hillsburgh Sandhills physiographic region and the south portion of the area is in the Guelph Drumlin Field region. The Hillsburgh Sandhills physiographic region is characterized by large, rolling hills of coarse glacial sediments that deeply bury the bedrock. The Guelph Drumlin Field physiographic region is characterized by low, streamlined drumlins



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separated by meltwater channels that give a rolling topography. Soils of both regions are sandy loams that support high rates of recharge to groundwater aquifers. The north part of this natural area drains into a branch of Shaw’s Creek, which joins the main course of Shaw's Creek at Alton. In turn, Shaw's Creek flows into the Credit River a short distance southeast of Alton. Wetlands of the south part of the natural area form the headwaters for two tributaries of the West Credit River. The southeast corner of the area drains into one tributary, and most of the remaining south part of the area drains into the second tributary. Both tributaries flow generally southwest to form the West Credit River at the village of Erin. The West Credit River then empties into the Credit River at Belfountain. Human History The nearby community of Alton is located 3 kilometres northeast of this natural area. Alton was settled in 1834 and early industry focused around a number of mills (grain and saw mills) built along Shaw’s Creek. There were also two lime kilns that employed local people and supplied lime to Toronto. By the 1870’s, a rail-line passed through Alton. Early businesses included a harness shop, blacksmith, wagon shop, furniture factory, tanning factory, and a foundry that manufactured agricultural equipment (Caledon Public Library, 2009). These businesses and industries supported the local agricultural community. Thus land use of the surrounding area was generally agricultural. While much of the natural area is now relatively undisturbed, there are signs of past human usage. In some of the forest patches, younger trees and numerous forest openings indicate past logging. Some treed areas dominated by fast-growing, early successional tree species, such as elm and aspen, and weedy ground cover suggest that the land was previously cleared and used for grazing. The presence of old stone and cedar rail fences also supports this conjecture. This area is bound by roads and agricultural lands, and as a whole, is rural. The north end of the natural area is bounded by Winston Churchill Blvd. and Highpoint Sdrd. for extensive stretches along these roads. Other occasional properties that make up this natural area are maintained in natural cover to the roads, particularly along Shaw's Creek Rd. and to a somewhat lesser extent along Winston Churchill Rd. at the south of this area. Otherwise, surrounding land use is agricultural and rural estate. Conifer plantation patches in the southeast part of this area connect two blocks of natural vegetation with the larger natural area core. Adjacent cultural meadows over 2 ha in size support the ecological function of this natural area. Vegetation Communities The general community types present are coniferous forest (11%), deciduous forest (2%), mixed forest (12%), marsh (1%), coniferous swamp (5%), deciduous swamp (20%), mixed swamp (4%), thicket swamp (10%), open aquatic (1%), cultural meadow (7%), cultural thicket (3%), cultural savannah (4%), cultural woodland (5%) and plantation (16%). A total of 22 vegetation communities of 15 different types were mapped over the 38% of this area to which the NAI ELC crew had access (Table 2). Two communities of the White Cedar-conifer Organic Coniferous Swamp vegetation type (SWC3-2), is regionally rare. Table 2: ELC Vegetation Communities Map reference*

Vegetation type Size in hectares

% of natural area

FOC4-1 Fresh-moist White Cedar Coniferous Forest (3 communities) 5.95 3.30

FOM7-2 Fresh-moist White Cedar – Hardwood Mixed Forest (2 communities) 7.37 4.09

FOMM10-1 Fresh-moist Balsam Fir – Hardwood Mixed Forest (2 communities) 4.92 2.73



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MAS2-D Reed Canary Grass Mineral Shallow Marsh 1.20 0.67 SWC3-2 White Cedar – Conifer Organic Coniferous Swamp

(2 communities) 7.89 4.37 SWD2-1 Black Ash Mineral Deciduous Swamp 4.72 2.62 SWD3-1 Red Maple Mineral Deciduous Swamp 3.16 1.75 SWD7-1 White Birch – Poplar Organic Deciduous Swamp

(2 communities) 5.79 3.21 SWDO3-3 Trembling Aspen Organic Deciduous Swamp 2.86 1.58 SWM4-1 White Cedar – Hardwood Organic Mixed Swamp 5.70 3.16 SWT2-1 Alder Mineral Thicket Swamp (2 communities) 4.99 2.77 SWT2-5 Red-osier Mineral Thicket Swamp 4.11 2.28 SWT3-5 Red-osier Organic Thicket Swamp 0.78 0.43 CUP3-1 Red Pine Coniferous Plantation 2.33 1.29 CUP3-8 White Spruce – European Larch Coniferous

Plantation (2 communities) 7.43 4.12 TOTAL AREA INVENTORIED 69.20

* Note: The map reference refers to the vegetation type code shown on mapping for this area and also to the Appendix list of species typically encountered in this vegetation type. Species Presence Vascular Plants Plant species diversity is high in this natural area. A total of 292 vascular plant species are recorded for this area, of which 238 (81%) are native. One of these, Butternut (Juglans cinerea) is Endangered nationally and provincially, as well as being provincially rare (S-rank S3?; Table 3). One Butternut sapling was observed. An additional 24 vascular plant species are regionally rare (Table 4). One regionally rare species, Chestnut-colored Sedge (Carex castanea), was previously only known in Peel Region from moist thickets a short distance away at Caledon Lake (Webber, 1984). Its occurrence here is likely due to the existence of relatively undisturbed mixed swamp with northern affinities (Cecile, 2008). This site tends to be rich in flora species with northern affinities. Breeding Birds Breeding bird diversity is high at this site. A total of 66 bird species were observed, of which 65 (98%) are native. Two of these species are presumed to be visitors. The remaining 64 bird species present here showed some level (possible, probable, confirmed) of breeding evidence. Three of these are Species At Risk (Table 3). Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) is Threatened nationally and provincially and both Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) and Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) are Threatened nationally. This site supports two species of colonial-nesting birds, Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) and Barn Swallow. Wetlands at this site provide habitat for two species of waterfowl, Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) and Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos). Interior forest habitat is present at this site, supporting nine species of area-sensitive forest interior birds, namely Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus), Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus), Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis), Brown Creeper (Certhia americana), Winter Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes), Veery (Catharus fuscescens), Black-throated Green Warbler (Dendroica virens), Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) and Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla). Open and successional habitat in this natural area and adjacent agricultural lands support five species of grassland birds, Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark, Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis), Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) and Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla); three of which (Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark, Savannah Sparrow) are area-sensitive. The natural area supports three species of raptors, Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus), Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) and an owl species.



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Fish A total of 13 fish species are recorded for this area, of which all are native. Pearl Dace (Margariscus margarita) occurs at this site, one of only a few locations where this species has been detected in the Credit River watershed. This natural area supports coldwater fish communities, including Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). CVC has a fish monitoring site at the upstream end of this study area. It has been sampled every year since in 2005. As of 2011, the average IBI score is 7 or “fair” stream health and the regression line suggests this station is getting healthier. Butterflies and Skippers A total of 27 species of butterflies/skippers are recorded here as incidental observations, of which 25 (93%) are native. One species, Monarch (Danaus plexippus), is designated Special Concern both nationally and provincially (Table 3). The Monarch is also provincially rare. Dragonflies and Damselflies Twenty species of dragonflies/damselflies were observed at this site as incidental observations, all of which are native. This is one of only three sites where Red-waisted Whiteface (Leucorrhinia proxima) was found during NAI field work of 2008 and 2009. The 2008 record of this species may have been the first record of it in Peel Region. It is listed as regionally rare in adjacent Halton Region (Dwyer, 2006). The coldwater stream in the northwest part of this natural area is particularly good for dragonflies and damselflies (Curry, 2008). Herpetofauna Nine species of herpetofauna were recorded as incidental observations for this site, all of which are native. Two of these are Species At Risk (Table 3). Western Chorus Frog (Pseudacris triseriata) is Threatened nationally and Eastern Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) is designated Special Concern both nationally and provincially. The Eastern Snapping Turtle is also provincially rare (S-rank S3). Tadpoles of American Toad (Bufo americanus), Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens) and Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica) were observed. The remaining herpetofaunal species occurring here consist of three frog species and one snake species. Mammals A total of six common mammal species were detected here as incidental observations, all of which are native. 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 BIRDS Hirundo rustica Barn Swallow THR S5B G5 Dolichonyx oryzivorus Bobolink THR THR S4B G5

Sturnella magna Eastern Meadowlark THR S5B G5

BUTTERFLIES Danaus plexippus Monarch SC SC S2N,

S4B G5

HERPETOFAUNA Chelydra serpentina Eastern Snapping

Turtle SC SC S3 G5T5

Pseudacris triseriata Western Chorus Frog

THR S4 G5



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Table 4: Regionally Rare Vascular Plant Species (Ka iser, 2001) Scientific name Common name S rank G rank VASCULAR PLANTS Campanula aparinoides Marsh Bellflower S5 G5 Carex aquatilis Water Sedge S5 G5 Carex castanea Chestnut-colored Sedge S5 G5 Carex cryptolepis Northeastern Sedge S4 G4 Carex lasiocarpa Slender Sedge S5 G5 Carex trisperma var. trisperma

Three-seeded Sedge subspecies S5 G5T5

Cirsium muticum Swamp Thistle S5 G5 Cypripedium reginae Showy Lady’s-slipper S4 G4 Dalibarda repens Robin Runaway S4S5 G5 Epilobium coloratum Purple-leaf Willow-herb S5 G5 Equisetum sylvaticum Woodland Horsetail S5 G5 Gaultheria hispidula Creeping Snowberry S5 G5 Geum rivale Purple Avens S5 G5 Glyceria borealis Small Floating Manna-grass S5 G5 Ledum groenlandicum Common Labrador Tea S5 G5 Lonicera hirsuta Hairy Honeysuckle S5 G4G5 Lonicera oblongifolia Swamp Fly-honeysuckle S4S5 G4 Nemopanthus mucronatus Mountain Holly S5 G5 Packera aurea Golden Ragwort S5 G5 Pilea fontana Springs Clearweed S4 G5 Salix serissima Autumn Willow S4 GG4 Solidago uliginosa Bog Goldenrod S5 G4G5 Trillium cernuum Nodding Trillium S5 G5 Vaccinium myrtilloides Velvetleaf Blueberry S5 G5

Site Condition and Disturbances This natural area is relatively undisturbed and may have been largely spared from development due to its abundant wetlands. It is however, regenerating from past land clearing for logging and grazing purposes as evident by early successional species, canopy openings, and an old stone and cedar rail fence. Most of the treed communities are young to mid-aged with some being mature. This area has been somewhat fragmented by clearing for agriculture. Some of this fragmentation is being restored by plantations. Some of the notable invasives present here are Manitoba Maple (Acer negundo), European Lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria majalis), Tartarian Honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica), Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) and Colt’s Foot (Tussilago farfara). For the most part, they are localized in occurrence. Some (private) well marked trails sustain light recreational use. Noise represents a light disturbance throughout the natural area. There is some flooding from Beaver (Castor canadensis) activity.



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Ecological Features and Functions This area is part of the regionally significant Alton Branch Swamp ANSI, part of the Alton Swamp Complex ESA, and part of the provincially significant Alton-Hillsburgh Wetland Complex. With forest communities greater than 4 ha and wetlands over 0.5 ha 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. The riparian area provides a transitional zone between terrestrial and aquatic habitats, helping to maintain the water quality of the creek and providing a movement corridor for plants and wildlife. By containing a relatively high number of habitat types, this natural area has the potential for high biodiversity function, particularly for species that require more than one habitat type for their life needs. This natural area contains a regionally rare vegetation community and thus has the potential to support additional biodiversity above and beyond that found in common community types. The major wetland feature of this natural area continues to the southwest across Winston Churchill Rd. There are also large natural areas to the north, across Highpoint Sideroad, and also diagonally across from the northwest corner of this area. Thus this natural area provides connections between these other habitat patches. There is additional linkage to the south along narrow tributary stream corridors. The relatively close proximity of 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. Vernal pools are present. This natural area contains one regionally rare vegetation community type. The natural area supports seven Species At Risk (one plant species, three bird species, one butterfly species, one turtle species, one frog species), three provincially rare species (one plant species, one butterfly species, one turtle species) and 24 regionally rare plant species. This area supports nine area-sensitive forest interior bird species, five grassland bird species of which three are area-sensitive, two colonial-nesting bird species, two waterfowl species and three raptor species. This area supports the breeding of at least three species of amphibians. 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. Opportunities Since the occurrences of problematic invasive species are still localized, an opportunity is presented to support landowners in removal of these, before they spread farther into the natural area. Maintenance and, where possible, enhancement of existing linkages to other natural areas is encouraged, both within the concession block and with natural habitat across roads. An opportunity exists here for some regenerating old fields to be maintained as meadows by periodic mowing (once per 3-5 years), providing habitat for declining grassland birds. Mowing should be done in after the young of grassland birds have fledged. This natural area contains three mature forest communities which could be checked for old-growth forest characteristics.



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Data gaps exist for butterflies/skippers and for dragonflies/damselflies and in view of the high diversity in these groups already detected within a limited sampling window (during the breeding bird inventory period), targeted inventories for these groups would likely be productive. Data gaps also exist for mammals, which could be addressed by a variety of inventories including winter tracking, bat audio inventories and small mammal inventories. Literature Cited Caledon Public Library. 2009. Caledon’s History . Available at http://www.caledon.library.on.ca/ Last Accessed 18 November 2010. Cecile, C. Botanical Inventories For Natural Areas Inventory P roject 2008-Credit Valley Conservation. Prepared for Credit Valley Conservation. Curry, B. Peel Natural Areas Inventory Bird and Faunal Survey s 2008. Prepared for Credit Valley Conservation. Dwyer, J. Halton Natural Areas Inventory. 2006. 2 volumes. Volume 1: Site Summaries.Volume 2: Species Checklists. ISBN 0-9732488-6-6, 0-9732488-7-4. Self-published. Kaiser, J. 2001. 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. Webber, J. 1984. The Vascular Plant Flora of Peel County, Ontario . Botany Press, Toronto. Ontario.



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Winston Churchill - Highpoint - Peel Region · WINSTON CHURCHILL - HIGHPOINT Date of this Site Summary: July 2012 2 separated by meltwater channels that give a rolling topography