Conservation Projects Ontario Minesing Wetlands Securement, Irwin Property 2010-11
Goals and Objectives
The successful protection, through acquisition, of the Irwin property will contribute the NCC’s overall conservation goals for the Minesing Wetlands including: securing the remaining priority lands within the wetland, mitigating threats associated with incompatible uses such as logging and ATV use in high priority areas of the wetland, implementing annual monitoring and research projects associated with the hydrogeological and landscape functions, engaging local municipal governments in wetland protection strategies and supporting existing natural heritage policy demonstrating ecological and community leadership, improving our understanding of hydrogeological regimes impacting the wetland and supporting viable populations of Species at Risk.
In August 2009, NCC and the NVCA completed the Minesing Wetland Property Management Plan 2009-2014. The plan, attached as a support document, outlines the top conservation actions necessary to maintain and enhance the biological values of the wetland, to engage the local communities and user groups in stewardship and best practices.
Activities
The acquisition portion of the Irwin project will take place within a one year time period. The following actions will be part of the securement process:
a) Secure approval by NCC Conservation Operations Vice President for the Irwin Project (month one),
b) Obtain up to two quotes and contract a local AAIC accredited appraiser to conduct an appraisal of the target lands, (month 2),
c) Secure match funding from supporters such as local steward group, local field naturalists, and other potential funding sources such as Ducks Unlimited and NCC’s internal acquisition programs, (month 2)
d) Develop and implement a strategic communications strategy to i) raise stewardship funds to support both short term and long term stewardship needs, ii) provide profile to NCC and funding partners upon closing, (from month 1 to month 12),
e) After closing, develop an addendum to the Minesing Property Management Plan recognizing the values and stewardship needs specific to the Irwin property (to occur six months following closing).
Specific Habitat Products/Results to be Supported by WHC’s Contributions
The property is approximately 38 acres (15.4 ha) in size and is adjacent to 738 (300 ha) acres purchased in 2006 by NCC and later transferred to the NVCA.
Over the last three decades, over 10,000 acres of Minesing Wetland habitat has been conserved for conservation ownership. Approximately, 44 landowners have worked directly with NCC either through inquiries, land donations or land purchases.
Through various landowner contact programs, hundreds of landowners living adjacent to and in communities surrounding the Minesing Wetlands complex have been part of outreach and education programs conducted by the NVCA, MNR, NCC and DU over the last thirty years. The acquisition of the Irwin property will be communicated in NCC and NVCA materials, NCC’s website and a widely broadcasted media release will be sent to media outlets in Simcoe County.
Benefits to Waterfowl, Wetlands-Associated Species, and/or Other Wildlife
Recent monitoring records indicated Mallard, Wood Duck and Blue-winged Teal are breeding in the area. During the spring, Northern Shovellers, Ring-necked Duck, Bufflehead and Northern Pintail (and possibly others) use this area as an important stopover on their way to northern breeding grounds. Our two downstream marsh monitoring stations on Willow Creek are close to the southwest property boundary. The following species were observed during monitoring: Virginia rail, Sora, Wilson’s snipe, Marsh Wren, Great Blue Heron, Red-winged Blackbird, Sandhill Crane, Swamp sparrow, Common Yellowthroat, Black-crowned Night Heron, Tree swallow, Yellow warbler, Downy Woodpecker, Warbling Vireo, American bittern and Mallard.
Relevance to Habitat Planning, Decision Making and/or Management
Securing the Irwin property for conservation ownership directly impacts wetland habitat conservation through virtue of it becoming private property. Purchasing the 38 acre property to the approximately 10,000 acre protected area ensures the Irwin parcel will be folded into both NCC’s Minesing Wetlands Natural Area Conservation Plan and the Minesing Wetlands Property Management Plan (2009-2014) completed in 2009 by NCC, NVCA with input from the Minesing Management Committee (MNR, Ducks Unlimited, Friends of Minesing Wetlands, Kids for Turtles and Brereton Field Naturalists). All of the members of the Minesing Management Committee will benefit from the addition of this important habitat to the overall wetland complex.
Project Location
The Irwin property is located at CON 11 W PT LOT 7, Vespra. The roll number is 43410100052140100000.