Toronto s Urban Wilderness

Transcription

1 Tommy Thompson Park Toronto s Urban Wilderness

2 Park History Early Construction Construction began in 1959 by Toronto Harbour Commissioners Expand port related facilities Dispose of rubble and fill from the construction industry Create opportunities for dredged material disposal

3 Park History In the 1970s Expected increase in shipping not realized Vegetation communities naturally established on constructed lands Wildlife and public benefiting from the lands TRCA awarded the responsibility of interim management and Master Plan development

4 Master Plan (1989) and Addendum (1992) The main objectives of the Master Plan are to: Preserve significant species Protect environmentally significant areas Enhance aquatic and terrestrial habitat Enhance public recreational opportunities

5 Ecological Significance The ecological health of the shoreline and adjacent watersheds are closely connected and dependant on Tommy Thompson Park Don River Watershed Portlands Toronto Islands Tommy Thompson Park

6 Local and Regional Context ESA

7 Vegetation Communities GENERAL CLASSIFICATIONS AREA (Ha) Cultural Meadow Deciduous Swamp Fresh-Moist Poplar Deciduous Forest Meadow Marsh Sand Dune Manicured Beach Thicket Shallow Marsh Savannah or Mixed Scrub Woodland or Immature Woodlands Shallow Aquatic Forb Sand Barren Coastal Fen

8 Toronto s only Important Bird Area globally significant 7 Species of Colonial Nesting Waterbirds. The largest colony of Double-crested Cormorants in the Great Lakes The largest colony of Black-crowned Night-Herons in Canada Concentration area for migratory bird species. Significant overwintering area for waterfowl.

9 Colonial Waterbirds of Tommy Thompson Park, 2011 Double-crested Cormorant 11,374 nests Common Tern 53 nests Black-crowned Night-Heron 423 nests Great Egret 7 nests Herring Gull <20 nests Ring-billed Gull 30,000 nests

10 Birds

11 Canadian Migration Monitoring Network

12 Bird Migration Activity Buffalo, New York NEXRAD location on the evening of May 16, 1999 Radar device is located at the center of the screen, showing migratory bird activity during nocturnal migration. Deep reds and purples indicate larger numbers of birds.

13 Top Ten Species Banded SPECIES TOTAL Golden-crowned Kinglet 4099 White-throated Sparrow 3165 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2970 Myrtle Warbler 2236 Hermit Thrush 1507 Swainson's Thrush 1487 Magnolia Warbler 1443 Nashville Warbler 1006 Slate-colored Junco 972 Brown Creeper 865 Results consistent with Point Pelee, Long Point

14 Recaptures The Story of Yellow Warbler Adult male originally banded on May 20, 2003, has been recaptured at TTPBRS 21 times! He has migrated back and forth between Toronto and Latin America at least ten times covering 30,000 kilometres! He establishes a territory at TTP in almost exactly the same place year after year.

15 Winged Migration Education Program I loved watching the birds and learned the great things about nature. I took some pictures and I will never forget the memory of the beautiful birds. ~ Grade 6 student

16 Wildlife

17 Eastern Coyote

18 American Mink Population Boom Always been present in small American Mink Population numbers Boom Recent population increase Indicator of quality wetland habitat

19 Mammals COMMON NAME beaver mink little brown bat hoary bat eastern cottontail woodchuck muskrat meadow vole white-tailed deer Virginia opossum big brown bat grey squirrel deer mouse white-footed mouse coyote red fox raccoon striped skunk L-rank L3 L3 L4 L4 L4 L4 L4 L4 L4 L5 L5 L5 L5 L5 L5 L5 L5 L5 Beaver Ponds, protected shorelines, and heavily structured areas surrounded by good food source Mink Dense forested areas, isolated ponds/ bays, back water areas, lakes, and wooded shorelines Meadows Voles Grassy meadows, heavily vegetated areas, well drained soils, and Thick covered areas for protection

20 Amphibians/Reptiles COMMON NAME Blanding's turtle northern map turtle northern watersnake snapping turtle milk snake northern red-bellied snake northern leopard frog American toad green frog midland painted turtle eastern gartersnake Dekay's brown snake L-rank L2 L2 L2 L3 L3 L3 L3 L4 L4 L4 L4 L4 Northern Leopard Frog Isolated ponds, protected back bays, heavily vegetated shorelines, terrestrial meadows Blanding s Turtle Isolated cover, weedy bays / woody debris, islands, and shallow mucky areas Northern Map turtle Shallow bays, dense cover, and rocky /vegetated shorelines

21 Butterflies 55+ recorded species Important staging area for monarchs

22 Increasing Activity Natural Area Enhancement Plan Protection Rehabilitation Enhancement Creation

23 Conservation Design Planning and designing landform to facilitate the growth and natural development of native plant and animal communities

24 Cell One pre-construction, 2001

25 Cell One during construction, 2004

26 Cell One Coastal Wetland, 2007

27 Cell One Wetland Creation Year 1

28 Cell One Wetland Creation Year 4

29 Tommy Thompson Park Aquatic Habitat Enhancement Plan

30 Shoreline Structural Habitat

31 Vegetated Shorelines

32 Embayment A Shoreline Habitat Enhancement Existing Conditions Uniform shoreline Poor aquatic vegetation growth Limited aquatic habitat 2003 Enhancements Project Goals: Improve functional shoreline community Increase emergent vegetation Create nursery and juvenile fish habitat Optimize transitional zones 2009 Enhancement Plan

33 Backwater Structural Habitat Aquatic vegetation planting Terrestrial Log Tangles & Reinforced Shoreline Terrestrial Planting

34 Embayment A Shoreline Habitat Enhancement Conditions After: Additional 1km protected shoreline Increase of 5ha of habitat Increase of 1ha emergent & riparian vegetation Essential habitat for birds, reptiles and amphibians Warm water refuge for fish

35 Before After

36 Deep Water and Shoreline Structural Habitat

37 Deep Water Enhancements

38 Deep Water Habitat Shoreline Shoal

39 Meadow enhancements

40 Sand dune enhancements

41 Essential Habitat Enhancements

42 Invasive Species Management

43 Trails Trails Master Plan includes 4 levels: Multi-Use Designed for multiple uses Asphalt for maximum durability Can accommodate heavy equipment Primary Pedestrian Level 1 Designed for pedestrian use only Conflict and accidents reduced 3.7 km complete Primary Pedestrian Level 2 Improved surface for pedestrian use only 1.7 km Nature Viewing Grass of bark chip surface Seasonal access

44 Park Infrastructure ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH STATION STAFF BOOTH and INTERPRETIVE AREA PARK ENTRANCE ENVIRONMENTAL SHELTER

45 Staff Booth Concept Sketch Montgomery Sisam Arc

46 Environmental Shelter Concept Sketch Montgomery Sisam Architects Inc.

47 Ecological Research Station Concept Sketch Montgomery Sisam Architects Inc.

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