Sandbanks Draft Veg Mgmt Plan - Ontario Parks

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IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE G – Restoration Implementation Plan Intensive restoration is required in the former agricultural areas of the park in order to recreate natural vegetation cover. In 2002, North-South Environmental Consultants were contracted to prepare a restoration strategy for all former agricultural areas in the park. The strategy provides an overview of areas requiring restoration in the park, vegetation history, soils information, priorities for restoration, and general restoration methods. Table G-1 provides a detailed schedule and overview for restoration, based on the Sandbanks Restoration Plan (North-South Environmental 2003) and park staff input. This table should be used as a guideline for planning restoration implementation as funds become available. Financial and “manpower” assistance may be available from a variety of sources. A knowledgeable supervisor will be required if volunteers are used. Once the Phase I sites have been completed, similar methods can be applied to the remaining sites as funding and assistance are available. Methods described below constitute an adaptive management approach and are thought to be the most likely to produce successful results over time. As each method is applied, it should be monitored to determine its success before it is applied in a new section. If necessary, methods can be modified based on observed outcomes. Pits and Mounds This technique is intended to mimic the natural pits and mounds, or “microtopography”, found in forest ecosystems. If the physical makeup of the land can be restored less tree planting will be required as species naturally seed in. There are many benefits to this method: • Facilitates natural regeneration and succession – seeds get trapped in pits, and wildlife using area spread seeds (e.g. squirrels store seeds in mounds) • Provides a variety of microhabitats and allows the landscape to store water • Provides wide range of moisture conditions, increasing diversity • Provides habitat and water for birds, mammals, frogs, salamanders, and invertebrates • Mounds are formed of open aerated soil and organic debris accumulates in pits • Invasive non-native species are less likely to take over because they are habitat generalists and are outcompeted by native species that are adapted to the various microhabitat conditions This method has been refined in New England and was used in 2001 by the Nature Conservancy of Canada in a woodlot and field area in southwestern Ontario (Clear Creek Forest), where they have already seen many positive results. The methods described below are adapted from the methods used by these practitioners: • Review old airphotos to determine natural topography & drainage of site • Determine drainage & request permits to block tile beds from municipality if necessary • Pits and mounds are created in the fall (preferably September-October) using an earth mover with a large scooped blade (10 foot blade & 3 foot track) – doing the work in the fall allows the earth to settle, organic matter to come into the site, and water to collect before the next growing season Sandbanks Vegetation Management Plan A-25 Ontario Parks, SE Zone 2009
IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE G – Restoration Implementation Plan • Vary size and orientation to approximate natural landscapes – small pits and mounds should be 3 – 5 m is diameter and 1 m deep, about 250 of each per hectare • Create several larger ponds per hectare – these will act as deep permanent pools • Leave a 5-10 m buffer near forest edge so roots of established trees are not disturbed • An earth-mover can work approximately 6 hectares/day, at a rate of $500/day • Seed or plant as necessary or possible – see seeding & planting methods Hedgerows Hedgerows should be established around the perimeter of the restoration sites after the land has been treated. These will help to create linkages in the landscape, act as a barrier to the spread of invasive seeds, and improve microclimate conditions. This method is described further in the North-South Environmental report, including appropriate species. • Create hedgerows composed of native species of the area • Use fast-growing tree species and caliper stock - will function as a hedgerow and attain a height out of the reach of deer quicker • Create 3 or 4 staggered rows of trees spaced approximately 3 m apart to provide a barrier (the trees within each row should be placed every 1.5 m apart) • Plant container/potted stock shrubs between each of the rows of trees, spaced approximately 1 m apart • Plant the trees early in the spring (April/May) following the planting method below • Monitor survival of planted stock to determine appropriateness of species • Use poplars, White Ash, Chokecherry, and sumac in areas close to salted roads Detailed Planting Methods Planting trees and shrubs on the sites will speed up the process of creating a continuous canopy by initiating succession and acting as a seed source for continued regeneration. Plant Selection • Select trees and shrubs that: • Grow well in the open and have some deer resistance (e.g. oaks) • Sucker profusely (e.g. Trembling Aspen and Balsam Poplar) • Have heavy annual seed crop • Disperse seeds by birds (e.g. cherries and dogwoods) and wind (e.g. White Birch) • Initially plant pioneer species that will help to condition the soil and provide shade for shade tolerant species to grow later. Some climax species can also be mixed in or added in subsequent years. • Obtain the plant material from a local supplier (Appendix C). • Bareroot or container/potted stock of plants can be purchased. The advantages and disadvantages of each are outlined below. Bareroot Cheaper, easy to transport large quantities Roots must be kept moist at all times Must be planted when dormant in spring and Container/potted stock More expensive, bulky and heavy to transport Can be stored easily More flexible in planting times Sandbanks Vegetation Management Plan A-26 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 34 and 35: APPENDIX A - Hazardous Tree Treatme
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 60 and 61: IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE G - Restora
Page 66 and 67: APPENDIX H - Sandbanks Species List
Page 72: APPENDIX H - Sandbanks Species List
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Sandbanks Draft Veg Mgmt Plan - Ontario Parks

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