South Gloucester Conservation Area (5309 Bank Street)

Photo by Betty Campbell

Update - August 2004

The Conservation Committee received a copy of the new Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) prepared by Golder Associates for R.W. Tomlinson, owner of the proposed quarry site at 5309 Bank Street. Several mitigation measures were outlined, including the possibility of transplanting the rare plant species to another site. One of our committee members pointed out that transplanting or relocating species is not easy and does not guarantee that the plants will continue to grow elsewhere.

The committee sent a letter to the City of Ottawa listing flaws in the proposed mitigation measures, particularly those dealing with transplanting species, as above.

The committee also sent a letter to the Aggregate Resources Inspector at OMNR Kemptville opposing the application for rezoning of this site as a quarry (see letter)

A peer review of the above Golder Report was undertaken by Brunton Consulting Services. The Conservation Committee has a copy of this report.

Update - June 2004

The Conservation Committee drafted a letter to OMNR opposing the granting of a licence under the Aggregate Resources Act to R.W. Tomlinson which would allow quarrying at the 5309 Bank Street site. In this we supported the submission made by the Greenspace Alliance (GA) on the same issue.

We believe that the proponent's Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) ignores important documentation pertaining to the existence of significant plant species; the 1997 Natural Environmental Systems Strategy (NESS) which documented the natural value of the site and recommended leaving it in a natural state; and relevant City of Ottawa records.

Update - April 2004

Last year we asked the city not to sell this site at 5309 Bank because of its ecological importance which has been well documented over the years by OFNC members. Unfortunately, the site was sold, albeit with the promise that a full and proper environmental assessment would be performed before any changes were made to the area. In early March, notice was received from city planning of an application to change the zoning from Agricultural to Resource extraction (limestone quarrying). The city planner, when contacted, provided a copy of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and the Level 2 mitigation plan for the site. The EIS is inadequate, missing most of the species documented by professional botanists. For example, it does not include grasses or sedges , and has mis-classified many of the plants it did identify. A full and proper assessment needs to be done. And since a number of species on the COSEWEC list have been identified there this would be a test of the new Species at Risk Act (SARA). The time period for comments has been delayed until May 7, because of concerns of the neighbours over wells and blasting, but the OFNC and others need to act on this issue now.

Background

In 1978, the Blais Road Conservation Area in South Gloucester situated between Rideau Road and Regional Road 8, and between Highway 31 and Baseline Road, encompassed roughly 950 acres (390 hectares) (Dugal 1978). Since then, it has been fragmented and reduced in size primarily due to quarry operations. The remaining portion of approximately 200 acres (80 hectares) contains many significant natural features, outstanding habitat diversity and an unusually high number of plant species, including many considered rare or sparse either within the City of Ottawa or the province.

In 1978 the Ottawa Field-Naturalists' club (OFNC) learned that a proposal had been put forth by the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton (RMOC) to "de-designate" the Blais Road Conservation Area. The OFNC's Conservation Committee examined the reasons for this change, then made 16 detailed site visits in order to assess for themselves the "current state of the area" (Dugal et al, 1978).

These visits resulted in a well-documented report (Dugal et al, 1978), which cogently delineated numerous reasons for preserving the site in its entirety. Proposed boundaries for the site were given along with a suggestion to re-name it the "South Gloucester Conservation Area."

In their proposal, Dugal et al (1978), noted that the area was ecologically diverse, having both botanical and geological significance, contained scenic features and was used for recreational purposes.

Extensive field work undertaken by Albert Dugal in 1978 resulted in an impressive list of plant species found within the area. Further work has since added to the botanical inventory. (See Flora of South Gloucester.)

Natural Values and Significant Features

Within the relatively small, compact remnant of the original Blais Road Conservation Area, lies a unique diversity of habitat.

Limestone Escarpment
Perhaps most unusual is the limestone escarpment, adjacent to one of the quarries along the Hawthorne Road extension, where some of "these outcroppings form sheer cliffs up to 4 metres high" (Dugal et al, 1978). Joyce Reddoch (1974) gives a detailed description of this feature, including the parts now destroyed by quarrying. The OFNC proposal (Dugal et al, 1978) noted that "from a geological and educational point of view this area has great regional significance." The escarpment supports a variety of plants, especially shade and moisture loving mosses, ferns and liverworts.

Cedar Thicket
Many of the cedars (Thuja occidentalis)growing in this area are estimated by Dugal to be 150- 200 years old (pers comm). Within their shade grow such plants as the nationally and provincially rare ginseng (Panax quinquefolius).

Old Fields
This habitat supports a great variety of plants including the very rare saw-toothed sunflower (Helianthus grosseserratus), and such regionally rare or sparse species as pale beard-tongue (Penstemon pallidus) known from only 2 sites in Canada (Dugal pers. Comm), wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), and blue phlox (Phlox divaricata). Fringed by mixed forest, and with natural succession occurring, the fields nonetheless form an important part of the overall habitat diversity.

Flora of South Gloucester
The most outstanding feature of this area is the tremendous plant diversity that occurs owing to the varied soil conditions, particularly the underlying limestone, and topography. Dugal lists 164 native species considered significant in the region. Of these, 92 species are designated rare or sparse. (See Flora of South Gloucester.)

To show how rich the flora of this area really is, Dugal did a comparison between the original 390 hectares and another floristically rich site, NCC's Stony Swamp Conservation Area. (See South Gloucester vs Stony Swamp.)

In addition to species already mentioned, Dugal's list includes nodding trillium (Trillium cernuum), showy orchis (Galearis spectabilis), tall cinquefoil (Potentilla arguta), smooth yellow violet (viola eriocarpa), large-fruited snakeroot (Sanicula trifoliata), mountain mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum), white wild licorice (Gallium circaezans), and umbellate aster (Aster umbellatus). For a listing of regionally rare and sparse species in South Gloucester, please see Appendix below.

Recreational Values

In their 1978 report, the OFNC Conservation Committee recognized the superb passive recreation potential of this site. They noted that the area was already well-used for birdwatching, nature study, hiking, skiing, and snowshoeing. Snowmobiling and dog-sled racing also occurred and were considered to be organized club affairs, restricted to well-defined trails. This being so, the Committee concluded that "they will probably not cause significant damage to vegetation." (Dugal et al, 1978). Although reduced in size, the area still offers excellent opportunities for most of the activities mentioned above. Proposed trails and picnic sites were outlined on a map prepared by the committee. A number of trails now exist, some undoubtedly new since the 1978 report. We suggest that the existing trails be marked and maintained to keep visitors from wandering off them.

Land Use Designation

The previous City of Gloucester owned 100 acres (40 hectares) of the core area under discussion, located on the west side of the Hawthorne Road extension. Ownership of the other 100 acres, known locally as Dawson's Woods, east of the Hawthorne Road extension, was held by the previous RMOC. Both sections fell under the auspices of the new city of Ottawa when the cities and the region amalgamated. There are several other smaller parcels of privately owned land adjacent to the area of concern.

The RMOC had a Conservation Overlay on the site but that gave no formal protection. The Conservation Committee discussed the idea of a land trust being set up for the site, but that was not pursued.

Present Situation

In 2003 the city sold 71.7 ha. of the above site to R.W. Tomlinson for future expansion of the quarry adjacent to the site. The Conservation Committee, along with others, protested the sale of this site (See OFNC letter to mayor and council).

Click on image to see larger map of area

At present the land is zoned AG-Agricultural General. In March 2004, an application was made to amend the zoning to Resource Extraction (for quarrying). The city promised that a full and proper environmental assessment would be performed before any changes were made to the area. A copy of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and the Level 2 mitigation plan for the site was obtained and the EIS was deemed to be inadequate, missing most of the species documented by professional botanists (see Flora of South Gloucester). We believe that a full and proper assessment needs to be done before any futher destruction of the site occurs.

References

Dugal, Albert and Joyce and Allan Reddoch. 1978. The Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club Proposal for the the Retention of the South Gloucester (Blais Road) Conservation Area.
Reddoch, Joyce. 1974. Explorer's Corner: Trail & Landscape, May-Aug. 1974.

Appendix A: Regionally Significant Native Plant Species of South Gloucester

As determined by Gillett and White 1978 (1), and Brunton 1998 (2). The Nature Conservancy rarity code (S1, S2, S3, or S4) employed by the Natural Heritage Information Centre to designate a provincially rare species, as noted in Brunton 1998, is used where applicable.

Status Latin name Common name

S Adiantum pedatum Maidenhair Fern (1)

R Asplenium platyneuron Ebony Spleenwort (1,2)

S Athyrium pynocarpon Narrow-leaved Spleenwort (1)

S Camptosorus rhizophyllus Walking Fern (2)

R Dennstaedtia punctilobula Hay-scented Fern (1)

S Dryopteris clintoniana Clinton's Fern (1)

R Dryopteris x dowellii (D. clintoniana x intermedia)

S Dryopteris goldiana Goldie's Fern (1,2)

R Thelypteris noveboracensis New York Fern (1)

S Sparganium chlorocarpum Green Burweed (1)

S Brachyelytrum erectum Bearded Shorthusk (1)

S Cinna latifolia Drooping Woodreed (1)

R Echinocloa muricata
(=E. pungens) Sharp-pointed Barnyard Grass (2)

S Elymus hystrix Bottle-brush (1)

S Festuca obtusa Nodding Fescue (1)

S Oryzopsis racemosa Mountain Rice (1)

S Panicum philadelphicum Philadelphia Witch Grass (1)

S Phragmites australis Common Reed Grass (1)

S Poa alsodes Woodland Poa (1,2)

S P. saltuensis Forest Meadow Grass (2)

S Sphenopholis intermedia Slender Wedge Grass (1)

S Sporobolus vaginiflorus Ensheathed Dropseed (1)

R Carex annectens Connecting Sedge (1)

S C. blanda Smooth Sedge (1)

S C. hirtifolia Hairy Sedge (1)

R C. hitchcockiana Hitchcock's Sedge (1)

S C. sychnocephala Compact Sedge (1,2)

R C. woodii Wood's Sedge (2)

R Eleocharis elliptica Elliptic Spike-rush (1,2)

S E. intermedia Intermediate Spike-rush (1,2)

R Scirpus lineatus Reddish Bulrush (1)

R S. pedicellatus Pedicellate Wool-grass (1,2)

R Symplocarpus foetidus Skunk Cabbage (1,2)

S Juncus alpinoarticulatus
(J. alpinus) Alpine Rush (1,2)

R J. torreyi Torrey's Rush (1)

S Trillium cernuum Nodding Trillium (1)

R Coeloglossum viride Bracted Orchid (1,2)

S Galearis spectabilis Showy Orchis (1,2)

S Malaxis monophyllos White Adder's-mouth (1)

S Platanthera hookeri Hooker's Orchid (1)

S Spiranthes casei Case's Ladies Tresses (1,2)

S S. cernua Nodding Ladies Tresses (1)

R Betula sandbergii Sandberg's Birch (2)

S Rumex triangulivalvis
(=R. mexicanus) Willow-leaved Dock

R R. obtusifolius x orbiculatus

S Moehringia lateriflora Grove Sandwort (2)

S Dentaria laciniata
(=Cardamine concatenata) Cut-leaved toothwort (1,2)

S Ribes triste American Red Currant (1)

S Potentilla arguta Tall Cinquefoil (1,2)

S P. simplex Common Cinquefoil (1)

S Oxalis dillenii Yellow Wood-sorrel (1)

R Linum perenne Wild Blue Flax (1,2)

R L. sulcatum Grooved Yellow Flax (2) S3

S Euphorbia glyptosperm

S Viola eriocarpa Smooth Yellow Violet (1)

S V. incognita Large-leaved White Violet (1)

S V. selkirkii Great-Spurred Violet (1,2)

S V. soraria Woolly Blue Violet (1)

S Epilobium coloratum Purple-leaved Willow-herb (1)

S E. leptophyllum Narrow-leaved Willow-herb (1)

S E. strictum Downy Willow-herb (1,2)

R Panax quinquefolius Ginseng (1,2) S3

R Sanicula trifoliata Large-fruited Snakeroot (1,2)

R Pyrola chlorantha Greenish Flowered Pyrola (1)

S Menyanthes trifoliata Buckbean (1)

S Apocynum cannabinum Indian hemp (1)

S A. sibiricum Indian Hemp (1)

S Phlox divaricata Blue Phlox (1)

S Hackelia deflexa
(=H. americana) American Stickseed (1,2)

S H. virginiana Virginian Stickweed (1)

S Verbena urticifolia White Vervain (1,2)

R Hedeoma pulegioides American Pennyroyal (1,2)

S Monarda-fistulosa Wild Bergamot (1,2)

R Pycnanthemum tenuifolium Slender-leaved Mountain-mint (2) S3

R Pycnanthemum virginianum Mountain-mint (1,2)

S Gerardia tenuifolia Slender Gerardia (1)

S Penstemon digitalis Fox-glove Beard-tongue

R Penstemon pallidus Pale Beard-tongue

R Veronica anagallis-aquatica
(V. catenata) Water Speedwell (2)

S Galium aparine Cleavers (1)

S G. boreale Northern Bedstraw (1,2)

S G. circaezans White Wild Licorice (1)

R G. tinctorium Dyer's Bedstraw (1)

S Lonicera oblongifolia Swamp-Fly-honeysuckle (1)

S Symphoricarpos albus Snowberry (1)

S Triosteum perfoliatum Horse-gentian (1)

S Aster brachyactis Short-rayed Aster (1)

S A. umbellatus Umbellate Aster (1)

R A. lateriflorus x puniceus

S Bidens tripartita Beggarticks (1)