An envelope with comments…

   An envelope with comments on the Proposed Natural Heritage System has been mailed to Ms. Ala Boyd via Canada Post and should arrive the afternoon of October 4. Should it be delayed, below is the text (figure included in mailed comments):

  Dear Ms. Boyd,

 With reference to the opportunity for comments on mapping of the Proposed Regional Natural Heritage System listed on the Environmental Registry, EBR Registry Number 013-1014:

  The Concerned Residents Coalition recommends the addition of an area of Wellington County land bounded by 6th Line Guelph/Eramosa Township, Highway 7, Guelph/Eramosa Erin Town Line and County Road 50 (see figure).  Most of this land is situated on the Paris-Galt Moraine, which is important in groundwater recharge and storage, groundwater conveyance and springs, surface water detention, and streamflow conveyance.  The 840 hectare area contains woodlands, wetlands, agricultural land and streams.  Some of the latter are tributary to the Eramosa River and others to the Blue Springs Creek/Eramosa River Complex.

  As an example, a 222 ha sub-area between the 6th Line, Highway 7, 7th Line Guelph/Eramosa Township, and the railway line (see figure) contains 92.8 ha of woodlands, 28.3 ha of wetlands and the balance, agricultural land, hedgerows, idle land, watercourses, and ponds.  Much of the woodland, wetland and tributaries are designated as Greenland or Core Greenlands in the Wellington County Official Plan.

  The woodlands provide essential habitat.  At 35.5 ha, the forest on the proposed ‘Hidden Quarry’ site (see figure) constitutes Significant Woodland, and provides Significant Wildlife Habitat for numerous bird species including area-sensitive breeding birds, as well as the endangered Little Brown Bat.  The presence of the endangered Little Brown Bat on the site and the ‘Threatened’ Eastern Wood Pewee, and the two “Species of Special Concern” - Monarch Butterfly and Snapping Turtle - qualify the site as Significant Wildlife Habitat.  The site’s woodland also provides an ecological connection (linkage) to natural areas in adjacent lands. Woodland at the southwest corner of the site is little more than 20 metres from woodland in the Natural Heritage System of Halton Region.  Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy Lands are located on the adjacent Mudge property to the east of the site.

  This area also contains several wetlands, four of which are Provincially Significant Wetlands (PSWs). The Northwest PSW on the proposed quarry site is recognized as part of the Eramosa-Blue Springs Provincially Significant Wetland Complex by the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) and provides habitat for a number of amphibian species as well as Snapping Turtles.

  This area lies immediately to the north of the Greenbelt in Halton Region/Milton which contains a Natural Heritage System, Earth Science Area of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI) and the Blue Springs Creek/Eramosa River Complex (see figure).

 The eastern portion of the proposed quarry site contains a cold water stream which, after passing through a 1.5 m diameter culvert under Highway 7, connects to Brydson Creek in the Natural Heritage System. This on-site Tributary B (designated as an unevaluated cold water stream by the Grand River Conservation Authority) and its associated floodplain “…traverses the woodland area and ultimately connects two large natural areas offsite.” (GRCA).  Hence, it provides an important linkage between the upstream Allen and de Grandis woodlands, their associated Provincially Significant Wetlands and the de Grandis Ponds located in Wellington County with the downstream Brydson Creek and the Eramosa-Blue Springs Valley Provincially Significant Wetland Complex in Halton Region.  This Halton Region complex is a regionally significant Life Science Area of Natural and Scientific Interest.

  Brydson Creek is also fed by Brydson Spring groundwater originating from up-gradient bedrock (i.e., from across the highway).  Flow from this creek and spring flows into Blue Springs Creek. Both cold water creeks contain a healthy, reproducing population of Brook Trout.

  We feel that this suggested area or even just the part of it below the railway line, merits Regional Natural Heritage designation, since it provides an important connection between Wellington County and Halton Region lands, not only in terms of environmental features and habitat, but also in terms of essential surface- and ground-water flow.

  Thank you for your consideration,

  Doug Tripp, PresidentDr. Peter Kauss

 Concerned Residents CoalitionEnvironmental Scientist

  cc. Wellington County

 Guelph Eramosa Township

 Halton Region

 Town of Milton

 Grand River Conservation Association

 Ted Arnott MPP

 Wellington Water Watchers

 Ontario Nature

[Original Comment ID: 211092]