Barrie Creeks, Lovers Creek, and Hewitt's Creek Subwatershed Plan

The Barrie Creeks, Lovers Creek and Hewitt’s Creek Subwatershed Plan
6.2.2 Wetlands
The Provincial Policy Statement defines wetlands as lands that are seasonally or permanently
covered by shallow water, as well as lands where the water table is close to or at the surface. In
either case the presence of abundant water has caused the formation of hydric soils and has
favoured the dominance of either hydrophytic or water tolerant plants. The four major types of
wetlands are swamps, marshes, bogs, and fens.
Wetlands provide numerous functions for an ecosystem. These include (OMNR, 2010):
• Natural water filtration: by removing contaminants, suspended particles, and excessive
nutrients, wetlands improve water quality and renew water supplies
• Habitat: wetlands provide nesting, feeding and staging ground for several species of
waterfowl and other wildlife including reptiles and amphibians, as well as spawning
habitat for fish
• Natural shoreline protection: these vegetated areas protect shorelines from erosion
• Natural flood control: by providing a reservoir, wetlands help to control and reduce
flooding through water storage and retention
• Contribution to natural cycles: wetlands provide a source of oxygen and water
vapour, thus playing a role in the natural atmospheric and climatic cycles
• Opportunities for recreation: these include hiking, bird watching, fishing, and hunting
In its ‘How Much Habitat Is Enough?’ guidelines (2004), Environment Canada recommends that
at least 10% of a watershed be in wetland cover, and that these wetlands should be well
dispersed through the area. Subwatersheds that meet these characteristics experience greatly
reduced flood frequencies, and more stable base flow. The additional benefits of wetland cover,
listed above, are also maintained. In addition, improvements to water quality have been found
when wetlands occupy more than 18% of a given watershed, and amphibian and fish
communities are more persistent when wetlands occupy more than 30% and 50% of the total
watershed area, respectively (Detenbeck et al., 1993; Gibbs, 1998; Brazner et al., 2004).
Although the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan does not set a quantitative target for wetland cover
within the watershed, it identifies the “protection of wetlands” as a target, implying no further
loss of wetland beyond that in existence when the LSPP came into force.
Chapter 6: Terrestrial Natural Heritage 272