Background Report - Town of Georgina

Sutton Secondary Plan Review Study May 2008
Existing Environmental Conditions and Opportunities/Constraints Analysis
Project No. TA4468
2.2 In-season Field Surveys
Due to the size of the study area and access limitations, in-season vegetation, wildlife and fisheries
surveys were not completed to verify environmental conditions and constraints/opportunities to future
urban land use. Vegetation, wildlife and fisheries characterization was based on a desk-top analysis of
existing background reports/mapping and windshield surveys.
2.3 Application of Environmental Data
The results of the background data review, as described above, were used to:
• characterize and map the natural environment features/functions within and adjacent to the
study area;
• identify opportunities/constraints to future urban land use; and,
• identify habitat restoration/enhancement opportunities, including buffers and corridor/linkage
enhancements.
The results of this analysis were used to develop a Natural Heritage System for the Sutton Secondary Plan
Review Study area. A more detailed discussion of the environmental analysis is provided below.
3.0 EXISTING CONDITIONS OVERVIEW
3.1 Vegetation
The study area is comprised of a mosaic of cultural, terrestrial and wetland communities, active
agricultural land and existing built-up urban areas (Sutton, Jackson’s Point).
Cultural vegetation features within the study area consist of meadow, shrub thicket and woodland
communities that have established on former agricultural lands. Terrestrial features include deciduous,
mixed and coniferous forest associations of varying species composition, age structure and disturbance
history. Wetlands within the study area consist of swamp (coniferous, mixed, deciduous, shrub thicket),
marsh (meadow, open water) and aquatic communities associated with areas of high water table
conditions, riparian zones (e.g. Black River and tributaries) and closed depressions.
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