Reforestation on Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Lands

From 2001-2002, the ONE Monitoring Program partnered with the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority and the Canadian Biosphere Reserves Association to restore forest habitat. Reforestation is an essential component contributing to the environmental health and water quality of the Nottawasaga Valley watershed. A watershed area with decreased forest cover experiences an increase in flooding and erosion, which negatively affects water quality.

Three sites on Nottawasaga Bluffs Conservation Lands (Petun Conservation Area, Cholkan and Taylor sites) were identified for restoration because they provided the opportunity to increase forest connectivity, thereby expanding forest interior habitat.

In the spring of 2001, 11 500 native tree seedlings were planted on 7.78 hectares with the help of community volunteers. Prior to planting, the sites mainly consisted of open land that was once under agricultural production. Intermediate-aged forest or hedgerows border the sites. Two of the sites are designated as "Escarpment Protection" and one is "Escarpment Rural" under the Niagara Escarpment Plan. Initial survival and growth assessments have determined that the plantings were very successful with overall survival rates of 93% for the Cholkan site, 85.7% for the Taylor site and 94% for the Petun site.

In May of 2002, an additional 2550 trees were planted on land in the town of the Blue Mountains. Prior to planting, the site consisted of a mix of actively mowed fields and naturally regenerating hardwoods. A mix of coniferous and deciduous seedlings including White Pine, Red Pine, White Spruce, Red Oak, White Ash and Sugar Maple were machine planted in a random fashion. Freegrow tree shelters were installed on some of the seedlings to determine their effectiveness for preventing browsing by deer and rodents. The site will be monitored regularly to determine overall survival and growth rates. Eastern Hemlock was added to the site in the spring of 2003 to increase the diversity of the planted area.

Project Sign Displayed at Nottawasaga Bluffs

A sign, which is situated along a section of the Bruce Trail at an access point to the planting sites, describes the importance of interior forest, describes the restoration efforts and gratefully acknowledges all of our partners who made this project a success. This sign was posted in 2002.

Project support