Natural Heritage Inventory and Evaluation for the Medway Valley Heritage Forest South ESA Public Meeting January 27, 2014
Natural Heritage Inventory and Evaluation for the
Medway Valley Heritage Forest South ESA
Public Meeting
January 27, 2014
Tonight you will have the opportunity to learn and comment on:
• Purpose of the Inventory and Evaluation
• Approach and Methodology
• Summary of Fieldwork Results
• ESA Criteria Applicable to MVHF
• Revisions to the MVHF Boundary
• Designation of Management Zones
Welcome!
Public Meeting January 27, 2014
Introduction
• This work is in support of the development of a Conservation Master Plan for
the City of London’s Medway Valley Heritage Forest (MVHF)
Environmentally Significant Area (ESA).
• A current natural heritage life science inventory is an important first step
• Most natural heritage data (e.g. flora lists, wildlife observations, Species at
Risk) for the MVHF ESA was collected during the late 1980’s to mid 1990’s.
Public Meeting January 27, 2014
Objectives
The main objectives of the Natural Heritage Inventory and Evaluation were to:
• Complete a detailed multi-season inventory and analysis on accessible
lands in the MVHF South ESA
• Confirm and refine the ecological boundaries of the MVHF ESA.
• Apply the criteria for the evaluation of ESAs as per the City’s Environmental
Management Guideline to the MVHF ESA.
• Propose an environmental management strategy for the ESA.
Public Meeting January 27, 2014
Our Study Area
This study is focused on updating information and completing
evaluations within the MVHF ESA only.
• The MVHF ESA is located in north London
• Focus of the study is on the MVHF ESA
located south of Fanshawe Park Road
West
• Targeted studies undertaken north of
Fanshawe Park Road West
• Study has occurred only on public lands
Study Area
Public Meeting January 27, 2014
MVHF ESA
City of London
Methodology (Natural Heritage Inventory)
Public Meeting January 27, 2014
Tasks Methods/Criteria Followed
ELC Validation Ecological Land Classification for Southern Ontario (Lee et al., 1998)
Wildlife Habitat Survey Significant Wildlife Habitat Technical Guide (MNR, 2000)
Amphibian Breeding Survey Marsh Monitoring Protocol (Bird Studies Canada et al., 2008)
Salamander Search Marsh Monitoring Protocol (Bird Studies Canada et al., 2008)
Breeding Birds Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas Protocol (Cadman et al., 2001)
Flora Wandering transects/area searches
Reptiles Targeted and incidental observations
Mammals Incidental observations
Butterflies, Dragonflies & Damselflies
Area searches during peak flight times
Aquatic Habitat Characterization of Medway Creek and tributaries
Physical Features Observations recorded during field studies
Existing Uses and Disturbances Observations recorded during field studies
Inventory Results
Public Meeting January 27, 2014
Tasks Summary of Results
ELC Validation Validation of ELC resulted in a total of 16 vegetation communities
Wildlife Habitat Survey Ten different types of habitat were identified
Amphibian Breeding Survey Four species were observed; all of which are common to London
Salamander Search Historic population confirmed to be still present in Snake Creek Valley
Breeding Birds During the breeding season, 55 species were observed and an additional 25 during the migration periods. Ten species (9 migrants, 1 breeding) had not been previously identified in the MVHF ESA
Flora A total of 564 flora species were identified during the inventory with 151 of those not previously recorded in the MVHF ESA
Reptiles Seven species were observed within the MVHF ESA and the Medway Creek/Thames River confluence
Mammals Twenty species were observed during the inventory and by the general public
Butterflies, Dragonflies & Damselflies
Forty-eight species of butterfly (25 not previously documented) and 41 species of dragonflies/damselflies (13 not previously documented) were observed during surveys
Inventory Results (continued)
Public Meeting January 27, 2014
Species at Risk Observed (Threatened, Endangered or Special Concern under the Ontario Endangered Species Act, 2007)
Rare Species Observed (sensitive to human activities, natural events, less
than 100 occurrences reported in Ontario)
False-Rue Anemone (THR) Northern Long-eared Bat (END) American Gromwell
Butternut (END) Barn Swallow (Visitor) (THR) Cream Violet
Kentucky Coffee-Tree (THR) Chimney Swift (Visitor) (THR) Harbinger-of-Spring (North Only)
Green Dragon (SC) Bald Eagle (Visitor) (SC) White-haired Panic Grass
Cucumber Magnolia (END) Canada Warbler (Migrant)(SC) Slender Satin Grass
Snapping Turtle (SC) Common Nighthawk (Migrant)(SC) Shrubby St. John’s Wort
Eastern Milksnake (SC) Olive-sided Flycatcher (Migrant)(SC) Tri-coloured Bat
Queensnake (END) Monarch (SC) Giant Swallowtail
Spiny Softshell (THR) Tawny Emperor
Little Brown Bat (END) Pronghorn Clubtail
Swamp Darner
Blue-tipped Dancer
Methodology (Environmental Management Strategy Analysis)
Public Meeting January 27, 2014
ESA Criteria Update
The City’s Guideline Document for Environmentally Significant Areas Identification, Evaluation and Boundary Delineation (July 1997) was reviewed to verify the continued applicability of the ESA Criteria attributed to the MVHF ESA
Boundary Refinement
Ecological boundary of ESA was refined using the Guideline Document for Environmentally Significant Areas Identification, Evaluation and Boundary Delineation (July 1997)
Management Zones
Delineated using a matrix found in the City’s Planning and Design Standards for Trails in ESAs (June 2012). For MVHF South ESA only.
ESA Criteria Update
Public Meeting January 27, 2014
• To qualify as an Environmentally Significant Area (ESA) within the City of London,
a natural area must fulfill, at minimum, two of the criteria listed by the City
• MVHF meets all seven criteria outlined in the Guideline Document
• It was determined that some of the rationale or supporting information for the ESA
Evaluation was out-dated or new information could be added for extra support to the ESA
designation
ESA Criteria Update (continued)
Public Meeting January 27, 2014
• Key updates to the ESA Criteria include: • High concentrations of species indicative of high quality habitat are present (Twinleaf, Sycamore)
• Confirming the presence of 16 ecosites or vegetation communities and a high biodiversity of flora (564
species)
• MVHF ESA is an important migratory stopover for birds; 26 species in addition to the breeding species were
documented using the ESA during the spring and fall migratory periods
• MVHF ESA contains habitat for a number of provincially significant species including Species at Risk
Twinleaf
ESA Boundary Revisions
Public Meeting January 27, 2014
• Revisions to the ESA Boundary were
completed through interpretation of
applicable guidelines (Guideline Document for Environmentally Significant Areas Identification, Evaluation and Boundary Delineation (July 1997))
• Eight applicable guidelines were used
during the refinement process
• Resulted in a boundary more
representative of the actual ecological
boundary
Guideline 1
Public Meeting January 27, 2014
• Habitat Zones must be
included within the patch
boundary
• Used to protect interior forest by
increasing the forest edge
buffer (> 100 metres from edge)
Guideline 4(b)
Public Meeting January 27, 2014
• Watercourses must be included within
the boundary if the watercourse
connects two or more patches within
85 metres: – The connection must include a minimum
corridor width of 30 metres on each side of
the high water mark of small watercourses or
100 metres on the side(s) of large
rivers/creeks such as Medway Creek
Guideline 7(a)
Public Meeting January 27, 2014
• Cultural savannahs,
woodlands and old
fields must be
included within the
ESA boundary if
they: A) Minimize negative
edge effects by forming a
well-established mantel at
the edge of the tree
patches
Guideline 7(b)
Public Meeting January 27, 2014
• Cultural savannahs, woodlands
and old fields must be included
within the ESA boundary if they: B) Strengthen internal linkages in the
patch by filling in “bays”
Guideline 8(b)
Public Meeting January 27, 2014
• Plantations contiguous with
patches of natural vegetation
must be included in the
boundary if the plantation: B) Minimizes edge effects to natural
heritage features by providing a buffer
between the feature and the surrounding
land use
Guideline 9(a)
Public Meeting January 27, 2014
• Existing land uses within or adjacent to a
patch are subject to the following boundary
considerations: A) Existing lands uses within a patch, such as
recreational trails are included in the patch
Guideline 10
Public Meeting January 27, 2014
• Residential sites and institutional
areas within or adjacent to a
patch area subject to the
following boundary
considerations
• Stormwater Management
Facilities including supporting
infrastructure are not included
within the ESA Boundary
Management Zones
Public Meeting January 27, 2014
• Using the revised boundary, management zones were delineated based on
ecological significance and sensitivity to disturbance
• A matrix available in the City’s Planning and Design Standards for Trails in ESAs
(June 2012) was used to identify and delineate zones
• The seven criterion used to evaluate the ESA are used to determine the applicable management zone
• The ecological indicator with the greatest sensitivity rating is used to determine the management zone of each delineated area
Management Zones (continued)
Public Meeting January 27, 2014
Nature Reserve Zone: Highly sensitive areas, usually containing populations of SAR.
Natural Area Zone 1: The majority of these zones are areas with a moderate to high sensitivity.
Natural Area Zone 2: These zones are those with low sensitivity.
Cultural Heritage Zone: Associated with important culture heritage landscapes.
Access Zone: Provide an entrance for visitors to the MVHF ESA
Management Zones within the MVHF South ESA are separated
into five designations:
Elsie Perrin Williams Estate (Cultural Heritage)
Access Zone off Gainsborough Road
Population of False-Rue Anemone within a Nature Reserve Zone
Restoration Overlay Zones
• Those areas within the MVHF South ESA that require active ecological restoration or special management.
• This primarily involves management of invasive species and planting of native trees & shrubs
• Fifteen Restoration Overlay Zones have been identified
Public Meeting January 27, 2014
European Common Reed
(Invasive)
Woodland Sedge (Invasive)
Japanese Knotweed (Invasive)
Naturalization/Stewardship
• Areas within the MVHF South ESA that are optimal locations for naturalization projects (e.g. tree planting) were identified, generally these areas overlap with Restoration Overlay Zones
• Private properties that extend into the highest sensitivity management zones (Natural Reserve Zone) are identified as potential partnerships between the landowner and the City for stewardship of the ESA
Public Meeting January 27, 2014
Above Area in 2013 after Naturalization Efforts Occurred Over 10 Years
Area west of Gainsborough Road in MVHF ESA - 2003
Wildlife Habitat Zones
• Management strategy recommendations to protect wildlife habitat identified during the natural heritage inventory included:
– Existing sensitivities of habitat;
– Potential threats to habitat;
– Current activity levels within habitat;
– Potential opportunities for education, restoration; and,
– Priority levels for protection and/or active management.
Public Meeting January 27, 2014
Amphibian Breeding Habitat
Amphibian Breeding Habitat
Summary
• The ESA continues to meet all seven criteria for designation for as an ESA.
• Inventory data collected was used to designate Management Zones and develop an Environmental Management Strategy specific to MVHF South ESA.
• The refinement of the ESA boundary has resulted in an ESA boundary more representative of the actual ecological boundary.
• The refined boundary excludes residential sites and infrastructure (i.e. SWM facilities) from the ESA that were previously included within the ESA.
• Management Zones have been applied to MVHF South ESA based on ecological significance and sensitivity to disturbance
• Management Zones were identified based on background and ecological inventory information, and guided by the ESA Criteria that the MVHF South ESA has been recognized for.
• The Environmental Management Strategy considered areas that may benefit from restoration (Restoration Overlays), naturalization, and wildlife habitat protection.
Red-backed Salamander
Green Dragon
Marsh Marigold
Next Steps
Information will be collected in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. With
the exception of personal information, all comments will become part of the public record.
Following this public meeting, the City of London will review your comments and
address questions or concerns that were raised.
Please complete a comment form tonight, or respond by mail or email before March 10, 2014.
• Phase 2 Start-up Meeting 2014 Date TBD
• Phase 2 Local Advisory Committee (LAC) Meeting – 2014 Date TBD
• Phase 2 Process Completed –2015
Public Meeting January 27, 2014
ESA North Results Tasks Summary of Results
ELC Validation Validation of ELC resulted in a total of 9 vegetation communities
Amphibian Breeding Survey Two species were observed; all of which are common to London
Breeding Birds During the breeding season, 47 species were observed. One species, House Sparrow, had not been previously identified in the MVHF ESA
Flora Focus was on rare and sensitive species at pre-determined sites. Documented five species (Two SAR, Two SCC, One High CC)
Reptiles Two species were observed within the MVHF ESA