Natural Heritage Inventory and Evaluation for the
Medway Valley Heritage Forest South ESA
Public Meeting
January 27, 2014
Welcome!
Tonight you will have the opportunity to learn and comment on:
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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
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:
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Complete a detailed multi-season inventory and analysis on accessible
lands in the MVHF South ESA
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Confirm and refine the ecological boundaries of the MVHF ESA.
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Apply the criteria for the evaluation of ESAs as per the City’s Environmental
Management Guideline to the MVHF ESA.
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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.
MVHF ESA
Study Area
City of London
Public Meeting
January 27, 2014
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The MVHF ESA is located in north London
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Focus of the study is on the MVHF ESA
located south of Fanshawe Park Road
West
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Targeted studies undertaken north of
Fanshawe Park Road West
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Study has occurred only on public lands
Methodology
(Natural Heritage Inventory)
Tasks
ELC Validation
Methods/Criteria Followed
Ecological Land Classification for Southern Ontario
(Lee et al., 1998)
Wildlife Habitat Survey
Amphibian Breeding Survey
Salamander Search
Breeding Birds
Flora
Reptiles
Mammals
Butterflies, Dragonflies &
Damselflies
Aquatic Habitat
Significant Wildlife Habitat Technical Guide (MNR, 2000)
Marsh Monitoring Protocol (Bird Studies Canada et al., 2008)
Marsh Monitoring Protocol (Bird Studies Canada et al., 2008)
Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas Protocol (Cadman et al., 2001)
Wandering transects/area searches
Targeted and incidental observations
Incidental observations
Area searches during peak flight times
Characterization of Medway Creek and
tributaries
Physical Features
Observations recorded during field studies
Existing Uses and Disturbances Observations recorded during field studies
Public Meeting
January 27, 2014
Inventory Results
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
Public Meeting
January 27, 2014
Inventory Results (continued)
Species at Risk Observed
Rare Species Observed
(Threatened, Endangered or Special Concern under the Ontario Endangered Species Act, 2007) (sensitive to human activities, natural events, less
than 100 occurrences reported in Ontario)
False-Rue Anemone (THR)
Butternut (END)
Kentucky Coffee-Tree (THR)
Green Dragon (SC)
Northern Long-eared Bat (END)
Barn Swallow (Visitor) (THR)
Chimney Swift (Visitor) (THR)
Bald Eagle (Visitor) (SC)
American Gromwell
Cream Violet
Harbinger-of-Spring (North Only)
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
Public Meeting
January 27, 2014
Methodology
(Environmental Management Strategy Analysis)
ESA Criteria
Update
Boundary
Refinement
Management
Zones
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
Ecological boundary of ESA was refined using the
Guideline
Document
for
Environmentally
Significant Areas Identification, Evaluation and
Boundary Delineation (July 1997)
Delineated using a matrix found in the City’s
Planning and Design Standards for Trails in ESAs
(June 2012). For MVHF South ESA only.
Public Meeting
January 27, 2014
ESA Criteria Update
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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
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MVHF meets all seven criteria outlined in the Guideline Document
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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
Public Meeting
January 27, 2014
ESA Criteria Update (continued)
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Key updates to the ESA Criteria include:
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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
Public Meeting
January 27, 2014
ESA Boundary Revisions
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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))
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Eight applicable guidelines were used
during the refinement process
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Resulted in a boundary more
representative of the actual ecological
boundary
Public Meeting
January 27, 2014
Guideline 1
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Habitat
Zones
must
be
included within the patch
boundary
Used to protect interior forest by
increasing the forest edge
buffer (> 100 metres from edge)
Public Meeting
January 27, 2014
Guideline 4(b)
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Watercourses must be included within
the boundary if the watercourse
connects two or more patches within
85 metres:
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Public Meeting
January 27, 2014
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)
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Cultural savannahs,
woodlands and old
fields
must
be
included within the
ESA boundary if
they:
A)
Minimize
edge effects by
well-established
the edge of
patches
negative
forming a
mantel at
the tree
Public Meeting
January 27, 2014
Guideline 7(b)
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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”
Public Meeting
January 27, 2014
Guideline 8(b)
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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
Public Meeting
January 27, 2014
Guideline 9(a)
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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
Public Meeting
January 27, 2014
Guideline 10
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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
Public Meeting
January 27, 2014
Management Zones
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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
Public Meeting
January 27, 2014
Management Zones (continued)
Management Zones within the MVHF South ESA are separated
into five designations:
Nature Reserve Zone: Highly sensitive areas,
usually containing populations of SAR.
Elsie Perrin Williams Estate (Cultural Heritage)
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
important culture heritage landscapes.
with
Population of False-Rue Anemone within a Nature
Reserve Zone
Access Zone: Provide an entrance for visitors
to the MVHF ESA
Access Zone off Gainsborough Road
Public Meeting
January 27, 2014
Restoration Overlay Zones
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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
European
Common Reed
(Invasive)
Woodland Sedge (Invasive)
Japanese Knotweed (Invasive)
Public Meeting
January 27, 2014
Naturalization/Stewardship
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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
Area west of Gainsborough Road in MVHF ESA - 2003
Above Area in 2013 after Naturalization Efforts Occurred Over 10 Years
Public Meeting
January 27, 2014
Wildlife Habitat Zones
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Amphibian Breeding Habitat
Amphibian Breeding Habitat
Public Meeting
January 27, 2014
Management strategy recommendations to
protect wildlife habitat identified during the
natural heritage inventory included:
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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.
Summary
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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
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
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.
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