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Fort Erie Creeks Watershed Plan - Niagara Peninsula Conservation ...

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TABLE 5.3.6:<br />

INTEGRATED RATING OF TERRESTRIAL NATURAL HERITAGE SYSTEMS<br />

BAKER CREEK<br />

Natural Area Form Minimum Guideline 2002/2005* Status Target Target area (ha)<br />

% wetland<br />

10%<br />

39.8 OK -<br />

% original wetland**<br />

Max. 80.9; Min. 32.4<br />

% natural cover<br />

72.7<br />

- Aquatic<br />

- Beach/dunes<br />

- Prairie<br />

- Shrub/Meadow or<br />

Marsh<br />

25.5<br />

- Treed 30%<br />

47.2 OK -<br />

Slough Mosaic 75.1 % (original %) 8.3 ( loss of 88.9%) +66.8% of natural +221<br />

Largest Forest Patch 200 ha 98.3 ha. Without roads, OK<br />

>200 ha<br />

% Forest Interior<br />

- > 100 m from edge 10%<br />

9.2<br />

+0.8% +3.6<br />

- > 200 m from edge 5%<br />

0.8<br />

% riparian cover (30 m either 75% 78.8 OK<br />

side)<br />

% Regional EPA 18%<br />

33.3 OK<br />

% Regional ECA<br />

21.3 OK<br />

Natural Landscape<br />

Target (original)<br />

Distribution<br />

82.5%<br />

OK<br />

78.9% fine soil lowland<br />

19.1% fine soil mesic<br />

2.0% alluvial<br />

15.8%<br />

1.8 %<br />

Subwatershed Form<br />

Description<br />

Area<br />

455.0 ha<br />

Outfall<br />

<strong>Niagara</strong> River<br />

Shape<br />

Oval<br />

Topography<br />

Flat, slight slope in north east<br />

Alterations since Settlement Levelled slough mosaic, drains including reversing a stream originally into Miller.<br />

Older forest in headwaters, more recent in lower basin and along creek<br />

Shore<br />

NA<br />

Natural Area Distribution Very good<br />

Function<br />

Implications of Form on Function<br />

Habitat<br />

High value, though lost some diversity where slough mosaic levelled<br />

Water Protection<br />

High value<br />

Other<br />

Potentially significant biota migration corridor for climate change adaptation. IBA<br />

Key Natural Heritage Issues Proposed golf course will possibly affect wetlands & interrupt important corridor. OMB will assess<br />

Other Issues<br />

Flood potential at mouth. Spread of imperviousness in east drain.<br />

Critical fish habitat. Natural Areas Inventory found unevaluated wetland.<br />

* June 2005 for wetlands; December 2005 for Regional EPA and ECA; 2003 for Natural Cover; 2002 for Forest.<br />

** Maximum is sum of original lowland, alluvial and organic landscapes (where soil data). Minimum is sum of<br />

40% of original lowland + 40% of original alluvial landscape + 100% of original organic landscape to account for<br />

slough mosaic that is not all wetland.<br />

March 2008 163 <strong>Fort</strong> <strong>Erie</strong> <strong>Creeks</strong> <strong>Watershed</strong> <strong>Plan</strong><br />

General Report (105116)

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