Sandbanks Draft Veg Mgmt Plan - Ontario Parks

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APPENDIX A – Hazardous Tree Treatment Options Hazardous tree removal is restricted to development and historical zones, along roadsides, and along trails in natural environment and nature reserve zones. The following treatment options should be considered in the order given. Assessment of hazardous trees will be done by the park superintendent or designate. 1. No action required No action is required for trees if they are: • Dead or living trees that are leaning away from trails, roadways, or facilities, provided the upturned root mass will not cause damage to trails or roads • Trees within naturalization areas of development zones that do not pose a risk to trail, roadways, or facilities outside the naturalization area 2. Thinning of crown A hazardous tree may be treated by removal of selected limbs in the crown (thinning) when the trunk and base is sound and: • The tree has a slight lean or shows signs of shifting (heaving or cracking of soil). Removing part or all of the crown will reduce its weight and the stress on the lower trunk and roots • Weakness and rot is restricted to the upper crown/limbs • Limbs are interfering with power lines of buildings 3. Cut top and upper limbs leaving bare trunk Trim back the crown and limbs to the main trunk(s) and limbs, relieving stress on the root system and reducing the possibility of the tree falling while leaving valuable wildlife habitat. Document the location of these trees and inspect annually. Use this method when: • The tree is located in a campground and day use areas and has significant rot or weakness in the crown or upper limbs but sound trunk and base. • Rot is present in the trunk, but enough sound wood is left to support a bare trunk. • The tree is a softwood or crotched oak. 4. Felling Felling of a hazardous tree is the final recourse when options 1 to 3 are not adequate to ensure the safety of park users and facilities. Complete removal is necessary only when: • The base will not provide support to a bare trunk • The tree is leaning such that the root system will not be able to support it, or a hazard is created by the uplifted roots • There is substantial cracking in the trunk, indicating that the tree will likely fall due to wind or to ice accumulation • When limbing or crown removal is not safe for the cutter/feller or park staff Unless they obstruct a roadway, trail, or facility or create a safety hazard, felled trees should be left in place. Sandbanks Vegetation Management Plan A-1 Ontario Parks, SE Zone 2009
IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE B – Plantation Renaturalization Plan Background and Site Description The West Lake Dunes were naturally forested until around 1850. Timber cutting and cattle grazing concentrated in the late 1800s destabilized the dunes and caused their migration inland. Some large cedar skeletons in the northwest portion of the plantation remain as evidence of this history. The area originally known as Sandbanks Provincial Park was established as a forestry station in 1921. Reforestation of the eastern portion of this sector from the 1930s to the 1960s prevented further migration of the dunes, but the unforested parts of the dunes remain active. The core plantation area covers approximately 80 hectares, with 25% of that south of the road in the Richardson Campground area. This plan refers specifically to the plantation in the natural environment zone on the north side of the road. The entire plantation area is extremely patchy. Most of the area was planted in Scots Pine, with scattered individuals or patches of Jack Pine, Mugho Pine, Eastern White Pine, European Larch, Red Pine, Norway Spruce, and Black Locust. Large Cottonwoods are also present throughout, although it is not clear if these were planted. Some areas appear older than others, spacings vary, and the condition and size of the trees is very variable. The largest Scots Pines are approximately 20 – 29 cm diameter at breast height (dbh), although most trees are less than 15 cm dbh. In some sections where the Scots Pine have done well and are quite tall (> 10 m height), they are surprisingly straight and are perhaps marketable (although there is very low volume present). Most Scots Pine are unhealthy due to a number of factors including poor site quality, Pine Shoot Beetle, and Sirex Wood Wasp. Some Black Locust also appear unhealthy. Similarly, the understorey and ground cover are variable: in sections of dense pine, there is almost no understorey or ground layer of vegetation. In more patchy or open areas, young Scots Pine, White Pine, willows, Eastern White Cedar, Chokecherry, and White Birch have established to a limited extent. In the most open areas, aggressive pioneer species dominate. Deciduous species are moving into the edges of the plantation. In particular, the west side of the plantation is quite diverse and a variety of deciduous trees and shrubs are present. This area does not require active restoration. The entire site is ecologically fragile: the substrate is almost pure sand with a thin layer of organic material that is mainly composed of pine needles; many areas are diseased; and invasive or aggressive species other than Scots Pine are scattered throughout. Fire is a concern at this site. The increasing volume of standing dead timber and downed woody debris, as well as the extremely dry conditions, make the site vulnerable to fire. Unlike other types of areas requiring restoration in southern Ontario, fire will not enhance this site – it will destroy the very thin layer of soil and duff present and create open conditions too quickly to allow for renaturalization. The area is of unknown value to wildlife. The dense conifer areas likely provide winter cover to deer and other species. At least one canid den has been found in the plantation. Forest Bird Monitoring has not revealed any notable species and bird species diversity is relatively low. Hawks (Sharp-shinned, Coopers) have occasionally nested in the plantation in the past, and Wild Turkeys are often seen. Sandbanks Vegetation Management Plan A-2 Ontario Parks, SE Zone 2009
Page 1 and 2: Sandbanks Vegetation Management Pla
Page 4 and 5: Summary of Key Management Recommend
Page 6 and 7: 1.0 Introduction This vegetation st
Page 8 and 9: Outlet Sector and the former “sug
Page 10 and 11: 2.0 Vegetation Communities - Descri
Page 12 and 13: sector receive much heavier visitat
Page 14 and 15: Shallow Marsh Ecosites A few small
Page 16 and 17: 2.5. Plantations The current versio
Page 18 and 19: Hazardous Trees and Windthrows Safe
Page 20 and 21: Prescribed burning is the deliberat
Page 22 and 23: Table 3.1. Provincially rare specie
Page 24 and 25: disturbances in accordance with the
Page 26 and 27: The park staff has controlled Purpl
Page 28 and 29: Zones Management Objectives Managem
Page 30 and 31: 6.0 Funding/Linkages The projects i
Page 32 and 33: Norris, T. and D. Cuddy. 1990. An E
Page 36 and 37: IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE B - Plantat
Page 38 and 39: IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE B - Plantat
Page 40 and 41: APPENDIX D - Invasive Species Monit
Page 42 and 43: APPENDIX E - Invasive Species Infor
Page 52 and 53: APPENDIX F - Woodlands Monitoring P
Page 58 and 59: IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE G - Restora
Page 66 and 67: APPENDIX H - Sandbanks Species List
Page 72: APPENDIX H - Sandbanks Species List

Sandbanks Draft Veg Mgmt Plan - Ontario Parks

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