Results received of 2008 Natural Area Inventory from Credit Valley Conservation-Butternut Trees found on the property and a Chimney Swift forages on the site-

Credit Valley Conservation has submitted the results of its Natural Areas Inventory of the Badlands for the 2008 visit year.

The report notes, “this is a very unique site due to the exposed areas of Queenston shale and deeply incised valley systems.”

Findings included one or more butternut trees found on the property. Butternut is an endangered species, with its decline caused by the spread of a canker disease. (A recovery program is underway, where healthy –potentially resistant – butternut trees are identified, and their seeds collected and germinated to create new seedlings for out-planting.)

The report also noted, “The physical aspects of the land draw not only many visitors, but also several regionally rare species of birds to which the bare ground and scrub vegetation are attractive.” One nationally threatened Chimney Swift was seen foraging over the site.

To date, this is the only known location in the Credit River watershed for the Beaverpond Clubtail dragonfly.

The plant inventory was collected by professional biologists who made incidental observations of birds, butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies, amphibians, reptiles and mammals (including mammal signs). In addition to these incidental observations, bird specialists conducted a detailed inventory of bird breeding activity in the natural area.

The uncommon (provincially or regionally) native plant species that were observed are: Yellow Sedge, Hitchcock's Sedge, Loose Flowered Sedge, Giant Blue Cohosh, Catchweed Bedstraw, Butternut, Whorled Loosestrife, Water Loosestrife, White Spruce, Water Smartweed, Peach-leaved Willow, Strict Blue-eyed-grass, White Heath Aster variety and American Speedwell.

The uncommon species of birds that were observed are: Black-billed Cuckoo, Blue Winged Warbler, Bobolink, Broad-winged Hawk, Brown Thrasher, Chimney Swift, Nashville Warbler, Pileated Woodpecker, Ruffed Grouse and Wood Thrush.

The CHBTC members of the Management Planning Committee are looking forward to the next meeting of the Committee where we can learn more about the significance of these results from Dawn Renfrew, the Natural Areas Project Coordinator at Credit Valley Conservation, and integrate them in an appropriate scientific context.

Assessment of Erosion – a Study Proposal by Professor Joe Desloges, Dept of Geography, University of Toronto-

The BTC has requested and received a study proposal from Professor Joe Desloges from the Department of Geography at the University of Toronto.

The study proposal suggests 5 approaches for assessment and characterization of erosion processes and rates at the Cheltenham Badlands, i.e. a literature review, installation of benchmarks, gully form today as compared to 1992 and 1974, establishment of baseline measurements of gully form and impact of human foot traffic.

There will be more information to follow at a later date from this important scientific study.

Traffic Study –

This fall, we are expecting a final report from the Region of Peel with regard to traffic/parking concerns at the Badlands and the alternatives to deal with the situation. This critical study has been much anticipated and we look forward to sharing the results as soon as we can.

For ongoing updates on any of the above, please go to our website, caledonbrucetrail.org.

-Janice McClelland, President, CHBTC

FEBRUARY 2008 UPDATE ON THE BADLANDS

UPDATE ON THE BADLANDS – MANAGEMENT PLANNING TEAM IS STARTING ITS WORK…

The Cheltenham Badlands is a magnetic property with its exposed red hills, streaked with gray.  Standing on the windswept hills of the Badlands, you can see the Peel Plain unfolding below and the skyline of Toronto in the distance.  The Badlands is managed by the Bruce Trail Conservancy, located within the Caledon Hills Section near Inglewood, and visited by thousands of tourists every year.

No doubt one of the reasons that so many people visit the Badlands is that it presents a very different geography than 99% of Ontario.  The bare, windswept red hills and gullies are reminiscent of the Alberta badlands, but here we are in southern Ontario – home of forest and productive farmland.  “Farmland” is the key word because it was back in the 1930’s that poor farming practices contributed to the overgrazing of this land and the resultant exposure of the Queenston shale that supports little or no vegetation.

A grant from the Ministry of Natural Resources in 2000 enabled the Bruce Trail Conservancy to purchase this 90 acre property (on optimum route) from Russell Cooper, a former editor with the Toronto Telegram.  Prior to the purchase, a handshake agreement with Russell Cooper allowed the Bruce Trail to cross the property. 

In 2002 the title to the land was transferred to the Ontario Heritage Trust with the Bruce Trail continuing to manage the property.  The Land Stewardship Plan was accepted in January 2002 and Jan Hannah, a nearby resident and Bruce Trail activist, volunteered to be the Land Steward.  The Caledon Countryside Alliance partnered with the CHBTC to help monitor the site.

The Bruce Trail crosses this property just to the west of the main Badlands site.  Our Trail is on Optimum Trail Route here as it winds it way through the Caledon Hills section.  In 2007, Bruce Trail volunteers invested thousands of hours of time and energy  and $9000. of Club funds (supported by outside organizations) in the rehabilitation of the one kilometer of main trail that crosses the property between Creditview Road and Olde Baseline.  This section of the Trail had become seriously eroded due to heavy use, including non-permitted uses – i.e. bicycling and horse riding. The trail work began in April and was completed, with the installation of fencing and stiles at the trail entrances on those two roads, at the end of September 2007.

Unusual Vandalism…

Unfortunately just after our volunteers had completed the fencing and stiles, someone came along and cut the fences back at both locations and destroyed one of the stiles.  Such vandalism is unusual for the Bruce Trail.  Was the vandal a horse rider or bicyclist who was unhappy with the stiles impeding his/her access to this Trail??  The Bruce Trail is clearly signed in this area as “No Bicycles”.  The signs show permitted uses of hiking, skiing & snowshoeing. 

It is the landowner, in this case Ontario Heritage Trust, who defines the permitted uses.  There is good reason to be cautious about permitted uses in this area where the environment is so sensitive – the Badlands are illustrative of the result.

The Club notified the OPP concerning the vandalism, asked for increased police patrols and alerted the public through articles published in the local newspapers.  Anyone caught vandalizing will be dealt with under the law. 

The Caledon Hills Bruce Trail Club is also currently working with the Region of Peel to have a ban on parking along Olde Base Line at the Badlands site from 9 pm to 7am. 

Whither this site – with its unusual geography and its magnetic quality?  This site has been declared part of the NEPOSS system.  That’s Niagara Escarpment Parks and Open Spaces System.  Being part of NEPOSS means that a management plan must be prepared for the site and the Bruce Trail Conservancy (BTC) is now taking the lead on this.  A management plan is akin to a Land Stewardship Plan, perhaps one could say a strengthened, deeper land stewardship plan that will include public input.

A CHBTC Committee met in October 2007 with Beth Kummling, Executive Director of the BTC, to discuss how the management plan for this site would proceed.  There will be three steps to the plan – formulating the terms of reference, developing a preliminary park plan and then developing the recommended park plan.

It is also probable that a scientific study will be included as part of the management plan.  A scientific study may help us to answer the question – are the many visitors having a negative impact on the main Badlands site, i.e. are their footsteps wearing down the hills at a significantly faster rate than rain, snow, wind, etc.??  The answer to that erosion question may help guide us as to how to handle visitor access on a future basis.

Are there “issues” with this site?? Yes.  Here’s what the CHBTC has proposed for the draft Terms of Reference:

Management challenges for the Badlands appear to be related primarily to high public use of the site and include:

• Concerns over safety along the road adjacent to the site, due to number of visitors and their cars
• Garbage and littering
• Vandalism of signage and trail structures
• Creation of trespass or “rogue” trails
• Impact from pedestrian, equestrian and wheeled traffic on the slopes, trails and other areas

There has also been verbal acknowledgement by the Management Planning Team that there will be discussion as to whether this site is appropriately designated as a Public Access park and whether the BTC is the most appropriate manager of the site.

Developing the management plan will give the BTC and the Club an overall picture and guidance on how to best handle the site into the future.  It will also guide the Niagara Escarpment Commission in terms of granting permissions in the future for any suggested changes to the property, e.g. whether or not to build a viewing platform.

In terms of potential interim measures, in order to combat some of the rogue trails, the CHBTC is currently investigating the cost of page wire fencing along Olde Baseline Road.  And we are also working on improving our signage on various parts of the site to make it crystal clear what activities are not permitted and to guide responsible usage.  We have been discussing a walkway or delineated path and/or viewing platform to give the property a more cared for look and to guide visitors to certain areas of the site around the interpretative sign.   More thought and discussion are needed in this area.

Regarding the hazardous parking, a sub committee of the Management Planning Team has been struck, (including reps from the Region of Peel), on this matter and this will be one of the items that will be emphasized as the management plan is developed. 

The initial meetings of the Management Planning Team were held on November 20th and Dec. 10, 2007. The CHBTC reps attending are:  President Janice McClelland, BTA Rep Peter Leeney, Land Stewardship Director Dave Moule, and our Land Steward for the property, Jan Hannah.  (Jan also represents the Caledon Countryside Alliance.)  The meetings are chaired by BTC Executive Director Beth Kummling and also include BTC Ecologist Alison Watt and representatives from Ontario Heritage Trust, the Region of Peel, Caledon Environmental Advisory Committee and Town of Caledon Council.  Credit Valley Conservation and the Niagara Escarpment Commission have ex-officio representation.

It is planned that the draft terms of reference for the management plan and background information will be released to the public in early 2008 and public consultation will begin. (The current target – which may be somewhat optimistic - is to have MNR approval of a finalized plan for the Badlands as of Spring 2010.)

The public is invited to a meeting on the Badlands, sponsored by the Bruce Trail Conservancy, on Thurs April 3rd, 7:30 pm at the Brampton Flying Club, (the Caledon Room), at 13691 McLaughlin Rd.  (south of King St.)  This meeting will discuss the preparation of a Management Plan for the Badlands.

We will keep our members informed through our membership newsletter, the Caledon Comment.  We will use our CHBTC website and the BTC website, as well as mailings to adjacent landowners and interest groups, paid notices in local newspapers and posting on the Badlands itself to inform the public of the fact that we are developing a management plan for the site and to invite their input.  There will also be public meetings at key steps.

After the initial public consultation, the Management Planning Team will finalize the Terms of Reference and then move to preparing the preliminary Park Management Plan, which will lead to the next stage of public consultation.  (All of this is within a framework prescribed by the Niagara Escarpment Commission and the MNR.)

Some CHBTC members have volunteered to be “Friends of the Badlands”.  These Friends have handed out information to visitors to the Badlands and helped on various environmentally friendly activities on the site.  If you’d like to improve awareness re responsible behaviour at the site and help the site, contact Roy Parry at royparry@rogers.com.  Roy is our Membership and Correspondence Director and coordinates our Friends of the Badlands in requested activities.

Janice McClelland, President, Caledon Hills Bruce Trail Club

NOVEMBER 2007 UPDATE ON THE BADLANDS

The Cheltenham Badlands is a magnetic property with its exposed red hills, streaked with gray.  Standing on the windswept hills of the Badlands, you can see the Peel Plain unfolding below and the skyline of Toronto in the distance.  The Badlands is managed by the Bruce Trail Conservancy, located within the Caledon Hills Section near Inglewood, and visited by thousands of tourists every year.

No doubt one of the reasons that so many people visit the Badlands is that it presents a very different geography than 99% of Ontario.  The bare, windswept red hills and gullies are reminiscent of the Alberta badlands, but here we are in southern Ontario – home of forest and productive farmland.  “Farmland” is the key word because it was back in the 1930’s that poor farming practices contributed to the overgrazing of this land and the resultant exposure of the Queenston shale that supports little or no vegetation.

A grant from the Ministry of Natural Resources in 2000 enabled the Bruce Trail Conservancy to purchase this 90 acre property (on optimum route) from Russell Cooper, a former editor with the Toronto Telegram.  Prior to the purchase, a handshake agreement with Russell Cooper allowed the Bruce Trail to cross the property. 

In 2002 the title to the land was transferred to the Ontario Heritage Trust with the Bruce Trail continuing to manage the property.  The Land Stewardship Plan was accepted in January 2002 and Jan Hannah, a nearby resident and Bruce Trail activist, volunteered to be the Land Steward.  The Caledon Countryside Alliance partnered with the CHBTC to help monitor the site.

The Bruce Trail crosses this property just to the west of the main Badlands site.  Our Trail is on Optimum Trail Route here as it winds it way through the Caledon Hills section.  In 2007, Bruce Trail volunteers invested thousands of hours of time and energy  and $9000. of Club funds (supported by outside organizations) in the rehabilitation of the one kilometer of main trail that crosses the property between Creditview Road and Olde Baseline.  This section of the Trail had become seriously eroded due to heavy use, including non-permitted uses – i.e. bicycling and horse riding. The trail work began in April and was completed, with the installation of fencing and stiles at the trail entrances on those two roads, at the end of September 2007.

Unusual Vandalism…

Unfortunately just after our volunteers had completed the fencing and stiles, someone came along and cut the fences back at both locations and destroyed one of the stiles.  Such vandalism is unusual for the Bruce Trail.  Was the vandal a bicyclist or horse rider who was unhappy with the stiles impeding his/her access to this Trail??.  The Bruce Trail is clearly signed in this area as “No Bicycles”.  The signs show permitted uses of hiking, skiing & snowshoeing. 

It is the landowner, in this case Ontario Heritage Trust, who defines the permitted uses.  There is good reason to be cautious about permitted uses in this area where the environment is so sensitive – the Badlands are illustrative of the result.

The Club notified the OPP concerning the vandalism, asked for increased police patrols and alerted the public through articles published in the local newspapers.  Anyone caught vandalizing will be dealt with under the law. 

The Caledon Hills Bruce Trail Club is also currently working with the Region of Peel to have a ban on parking along Olde Base Line at the Badlands site from 9 pm to 7am. 

Whither this site – with its unusual geography and its magnetic quality?  This site has been declared part of the NEPOSS system.  That’s Niagara Escarpment Parks and Open Spaces System.  Being part of NEPOSS means that the Bruce Trail Conservancy (BTC) will prepare a management plan for the entire site.  A management plan is akin to a Land Stewardship Plan, perhaps one could say a strengthened, deeper land stewardship plan that will include public input.

A CHBTC Committee met in October 2007 with Beth Kummling, Executive Director of the BTC, to discuss how the management plan for this site would proceed.  There will be three steps to the plan – formulating the terms of reference, developing a preliminary park plan and then developing the recommended park plan.

It is also probable that a scientific study will be included as part of the management plan.  A scientific study may help us to answer the question – are the many visitors having a negative impact on the main Badlands site, i.e. are their footsteps wearing down the hills at a significantly faster rate than rain, snow, wind, etc.??  The answer to that erosion question may help guide us as to how to handle visitor access on a future basis.

Are there “issues” with this site?? Yes.  Those issues that the CHBTC has identified so far include potential erosion of the site (which the scientific study will assess), creation of rogue trails, vandalism, garbage and hazardous parking. 

Developing the management plan will give the BTC and the Club an overall picture and guidance on how to best handle the site into the future.  It will also guide the Niagara Escarpment Commission in terms of granting permissions in the future for any suggested changes to the property, e.g. whether or not to build a viewing platform.

In terms of potential interim measures, in order to combat some of the rogue trails, we are currently investigating the cost of page wire fencing along Olde Baseline Road.  And we are also working on improving our signage on various parts of the site to make it crystal clear what activities are not permitted and to guide responsible usage.  We have been discussing a walkway or delineated path and/or viewing platform to give the property a more cared for look and to guide visitors to certain areas of the site around the interpretative sign.   More thought and discussion are needed in this area.

Regarding the hazardous parking, this will be one of the items that will be considered as the management plan is developed. 

The initial meeting of the Management Planning Team was held on November 20th in Inglewood.  Representatives attended from the Bruce Trail Conservancy, CHBTC, Ontario Heritage Trust, Niagara Escarpment Commission, the Region of Peel and Credit Valley Conservation.

The next Management Planning Team meeting will be Monday Dec. 10th, 2007, 7 pm at the Niagara Escarpment Commission office, 232 Guelph St in Goergetown.  It is hoped that the draft terms of reference for the management plan will be released to the public early in 2008, and the public consultation will begin. 

After that initial public consultation, the Management Planning Team will consult with  the Niagara Escarpment Commission to finalize the Terms of Reference and then move to preparing the preliminary Park Management Plan, which will lead to the next stage of public consultation.

Some CHBTC members have volunteered to play the role of Friends of the Badlands.  These Friends have handed out information to visitors to the Badlands and helped on various environmentally friendly activities on the site.  If you’d like to improve awareness re responsible behaviour at the site and help the site, contact Roy Parry at royparry@rogers.com.  Roy is our Membership and Correspondence Director and coordinates our Friends of the Badlands in requested activities.

What do you think are the issues for this site?  What ideas do you have as to helpful courses of action for this property?  Don’t hesitate to e mail us at webmaster@caledonbrucetrail.org.  Please respect the fact that the Executive of the CHBTC and the Land Steward are all volunteers – we’re doing what we can, when we can and we appreciate all constructive suggestions.

Janice McClelland, President
Caledon Hills Bruce Trail Club