City of Mississauga.
ATTN: Urban Forest Management Advisory Committee
- Karin Brent, UFMAC Committee Coordinator.
RE: [#109] Norway maples wrongly removed - the second attack on Jefferson
Salamander
habitat this year and why are UFMAC members enthusiastic about creating
forest management plans that are being used by the City to destroy what
the plans claim
to protect ????
It is specifically requested that this letter should be included in the earliest possible UFMAC agenda.
Dear Sirs: Sept. 17, 2001 [#109]
The City was caught red-handed violating the City's
Cawthra Woods Management and
Implementation Plans. In Tony Flaischmann's letter dated Jul.
31, a confession to that fact then falsehoods to try and distract from
the true nature of events. There is no apology for not following
the management plan, in fact there is no mention of any part of the plan
that was violated. The letter also contains a promise to further
violate the City's forest management plans for the Cawthra Bush.
How can this happen? He, like some many other City staff hide behind
the Mayor's skirt and do as they please, knowing they can't be held accountable.
Why is this of interest to UFMAC members?
Well ask your self this question; What is the point of creating forest management plans to protect forests' when they are not carried out or worse used by the City to destroy what they should protecting?? I don't use the term that the City most often uses, "woodlot", as that term means a place where you cut down trees for firewood and construction material. Currently UFMAC is setting its priorities for what parklands' they will provide aid to the City in creating management plans for. This exercise is also designed to ensure matters concerning the Cawthra Bush will not be allowed to presented to UFMAC by way of presentation or deputation, which will greatly aid the City in hiding just how it misuses the management plans created by UFMAC. In fact, the forest management plans that UFMAC creates to protect environmentally significant/sensitive areas are being used to destroy those very same areas by City staff that ignore or deliberately misinterpreted them! UFMAC needs to set as one of its priorities the review of how City staff are carrying out UFMAC's and City Council's approved forest management plans. If City staff are NOT carrying out the very specific instruction contained in the forest management plans that UFMAC approves, then surely this fact must be taken into account before aiding the City in any future forest management plans. UFMAC needs to know what the City will, in reality do, not do and why.
- 1 - ....2
Further more to what UFMAC's priorities should be - wildlife issues in Mississauga. Those of note, rare, threatened or endangered should be welcome on every UFMAC agenda as their survival depends on a speedy response to any concerns. UFMAC has to act like it cares by its actions and role. The Jefferson Salamander needs to be one of those species that UFMAC is willing to hear about at any time and especially if City staff have any dealings regarding the Jeffersons', they should report it to UFMAC, not hide it. Also, lands that are environmentally significant should also be welcome on any given UFMAC agenda. UFMAC appears to have taken the first step in ensuring the City will totally control UFMAC's agenda.
UFMAC should make the review of how the City is carrying out the Cawthra Management plans a top priority as the Cawthra Bush has been significantly upgraded to a Provincially Significant Wetlands Complex with a Federally declared threatened species, (the Jefferson Salamander), two very important environmental features that the existing management plans do not properly address. Further more the City has shown that it is not carrying out the existing Management plan. A list of questions is provided for UFMAC to ask the City to get the best possible understanding of the gravity of the situation and know more then just what the City wants you to know.
Time is an issue, to allowing the City to
delay hearing the facts till the Oct 22, UFMAC
meeting is more then enough time for City to finish removing the
rest of forest cover and too late for UFMAC to intervene to stop this attack
on the Jefferson Salamanders/Cawthra Bush. When UFMAC or its Chair,
decided to not allow this issue to be presented by way of presentation
to UFMAC it aided the City in hiding the facts, eliminating a THREATENED
species from Mississauga (Cawthra Bush is likely the last place the Jeffersons'
occur in Mississauga), and it is very significant that City staff didn't
report that the Ministry of Natural Resources had to called in again to
stop the City, twice in one year. This should have been automatically
reported to UFMAC and as it was not, should be seen as a sign of a guilty
mind.
Further more Jefferson salamanders have been know to migrate from the inside the forest 400 m (0.25 mi) and up to 1,600 m (1 mi), to get to their breeding ponds. The City claims that a buffer zone of 73 feet is somehow going protect these Salamanders? Given distance the Jefferson Salamanders can travel most of forest should be considered their habitat and subjected to forest management that specifically protects their habitat requirements and error on the side of caution to ensure their survival. In saying this it also needs to be clearly noted the City's management plans were not written to take into consideration two very important developments. The Cawthra Bush being declared a Provincially Significant Wetlands Complex with a Federally declared threatened species, (the Jefferson Salamander). The fact the City is having problems shows that it doesn't act like this matters. The City needs to upgrade its plans and present them to UFMAC and the FCB for review. UFMAC needs to give the City direction to do this as otherwise it will not happen in a timely fashion.
I withdraw my request, made in my letter dated Jul. 29/01, that the work be done at a later time in the year as the City has not done any of the studies it should have done before even starting the work, as they were to be used to control the work. Therefore the work needs to be put off till these studies are done and reviewed by UFMAC.
- 3 -
From the UFMAC and City Council approved forest implementation plan for the Cawthra Bush dated Dec. 15/99 page AA 9, regarding controlling the Norway maples. Emphasis added.
Control Approaches:
In order to minimize disturbance to wildlife habitat in the vicinity
of the pond, Norway maple control measures are to be phased over a seven
(7) year period, with the objective to gradually thin out the Norway maples.
No control measures are to take place in early spring and in mid-summer,
in order to prevent any harm to salamanders and other amphibians at critical
times in their breeding and migration. Any such control measures must take
place well outside those time periods (by as much as 3 weeks to one month
outside the two critical time periods), and the critical time periods are
to be confirmed on a year-by-year basis by amphibian monitoring, before
control measures can proceed.
[ COMMENTS - There is no "gradually thin out", it is a clear
cut. This forest management plan calls specifically for no
cutting when the salamander would be "breeding and migration" and the City's
clear cutting was done right in the middle of the time the Jefferson Salamanders
are known to be leaving the pond and travelling that route. The City
paid for a Salamander study that made that very clear and they keep that
study hidden from not only public but UFMAC as well. It is Sept. and there
are still salamanders coming out of the pond and in the general area.
I have seen them in the pond as late as Nov. I have studied the Salamanders
more then the City. The City's plan says all
the right words, about how to respect "critical time periods" but
it is just window dressing as the actions are not there. There has
been no report of any "year-by-year basis by amphibian monitoring", made
known. Another reason why no work should have been done. ]
Until such time that the complete exotic species survey is completed,
the following interim control measures will be adopted:
- Killing the identified parent trees by ring girdling no more than
two (2) parent trees annually (followed up by cutting off stump suckers
and new trees forming from the stump) beginning in the summer of 2000.
Retention of the standing dead trees (including or excluding the crown
branches for habitat diversity) will have to be assessed individually on
proximity to public use areas and the element of risk. Branches or stems
of norway maples that are felled are to be left on the forest floor for
habitat.
[ COMMENTS - The City has jumped ahead and tried to girdle four trees
at one time, in 2000. It needs to noted that the Norway maples have
not been properly girdled by the City's forestry staff. From; http://www.eeb.uconn.edu/cipwg/art_pubs/GUIDE/x15norway.html#C;
Norway Maple (Acer platanoides) - Management Options - Girdling:
Girdling is useful on large trees where removal of large trees is not practical.
Using a hand axe, make a cut through the bark encircling the base of the
tree, approximately 15 cm (6 in) above the ground. Be sure that the
cut goes well into the cambium layer. In fact, I would say great
care was taken not to cut into the wood under the bark. To make sure
a chain saw should have been used to cut at least an inch deep cut around
the tree. From July till now the one stump sucker off a Norway maple
has reached more then three feet.
The plan clearly calls for the "Branches or stems of norway maples that are felled are to be left on the forest floor for habitat." and not only were the branches and steams not left to cover the area that they once covered, even after I requested it, but they were chipped up and removed from the forest. Which is not what was reported to the MNR by City staff. If the branches were left then it would not have created the death trap that the City has created. Jefferson Salamanders start to travel north along their established migration route only to find themselves exposed to predators and dehydration due to loss of forest cover.
- 4 -
Further to the wrongful loss of forest cover - no plants were planted to replace those removed and the City says it will keep on cutting this Oct., unless UFMAC stops the City. ]
From the UFMAC and City Council approved forest implementation plan for the Cawthra Bush dated Dec. 15/99 page AA 10, regarding controlling the Norway maples. Emphasis added.
- Removal by manual severing of saplings below grade (with a shovel)
and hand pulling of
seedlings, not exceeding one-fifth (1/5) of the sapling population,
beginning in the summer of 2000. The objective is to minimize habitat disturbance
by gradually thinning out the Norway maples. This material is to be either
chipped and left on site, or removed from the site, to prevent possible
re-rooting. Assistance from the public is to be sought and training/guidance
of volunteers by City staff will be a prerequisite.
[ COMMENTS - Saw no evidence of any trees being removed by shovels.
Again the City states "The objective is to minimize habitat disturbance
by gradually thinning out the Norway maples", but it was a clear cut.
Material was removed from site which further harmed the environment.
This was hidden from the public and assistance from the public was not
sough, in fact the stewardship recording (615-4099), is still the same
one being played back in May of this year. If I had known when the
cutting was going to be done I would have been there to ensure it was done
right. Also the removal was hidden to make sure no one (such as myself),
would be there to quote the Cawthra Woods Management plan to City staff
as they were violating it. The City plan calls specifically for a
certain
course of action and City staff did just the opposite. Maybe
UFMAC should write forest
management plans that call for the destruction of forests so City
staff will do the opposite?
To aid the survival of the Jefferson Salamanders no further work should be done to Norway maples in the area till forest management plans have been updated to reflect the new environmental significance of the Cawthra Bush and the Jefferson Salamander. ]
From the UFMAC and City Council approved implementation plan for the Cawthra Bush dated Dec. 15/99 page 11. Emphasis added.
3.8 Wildlife - Issue Definition
The presence of breeding populations of amphibians (newts and salamanders) has been confirmed by members of the ‘Friends of Cawthra Bush’, who are continuing to investigate the finding independent of City staff involvement. ... Downed wood is a particularly important habitat requirement for salamanders (as well as many other amphibians, reptiles, insects, small mammals, etc.). In light of this finding, and the possible presence of relatively rare amphibians, there may be opportunity for provision of additional breeding habitat. City staff have contacted appropriate authorities/experts and are analysing these opportunities.
[ COMMENTS - Yes we are "continuing to investigate the finding independent of City staff involvement", but no one is listening. "Downed wood is a particularly important habitat requirement for salamanders", branches and stems should have been left but the City did just the opposite. Who are the people who are doing this and why are they not following the plan? The only habitat modifications opportunities that City staff are acting on, is removing habitat! ]
- 5 -
From the UFMAC and City Council approved implementation plan for the Cawthra Bush dated Dec. 15/99 page 12. Emphasis added.
Management Recommendations
1. Through the park partnership program (See 3.1 above) contact special interest groups having the necessary knowledge or train other interested groups or individuals to begin an inventory of the fauna of Cawthra Woods.
[ COMMENTS - The City still shuts out the FCB and refuses to recognize the CRRA. Either way I was not contacted about this. ]
2. Continue the existing policy of leaving, standing den and snag
trees and downed wood in
the Cawthra Woods if public safety is not jeopardized.
[ COMMENTS - Downed wood was removed even after it was requested that it be left and the City informed the MNR that it would remain. The City should right away lay down about a foot thick layer of branches with leaves to replace this habitat, even if it means using material from outside Cawthra Bush. ]
...
4. Control of invasive plants, especially norway maple, must be assessed in known Jefferson complex salamander habitat to ensure that restoration plantings with native species are carried out immediately.
[ COMMENTS - Not done and Norway maples should remain till this situation is fully reviewed. ]
From the UFMAC and City Council approved forest management plan for the Cawthra Bush dated Dec. 15/99 page 20. Emphasis added.
Several recent discoveries have been made by members of The Friends of Cawthra Bush, a local group. In the spring of 1997, Jefferson complex salamanders (Ambystoma jeffersonianum x Ambystoma laterale) were observed to be mating in the pond located at the southerly end of the south lawn. The presence of this salamander was confirmed again in April of 1998. Jefferson salamanders are relatively rare, having a National Rank of G5 (the highest) and a Regional Ranking of 2 (second highest ranking for scarcity) as listed by the Natural Heritage Information Centre (Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, 1997). Other reported sitings by the Friends of Cawthra Bush include: red-backed salamanders, frogs located by the pond at the end of the south lawn, numerous toads and chimney crayfish found on the property adjacent to the easement. More research on herptile species inhabiting and/or breeding in Cawthra Woods and the adjacent easement needs to be done. It must include a much more rigorous inventory process to accurately assess population levels and habitat utilization.
[ COMMENTS - What has the City done in almost 2 years???? ]
- 6 -
From the UFMAC and City Council approved forest management plan for the Cawthra Bush dated Dec. 15/99 page 32. Emphasis added.
4.7 Wildlife Management - Issue Definition
As previously cover under 2.2 Present Condition Wildlife, inventory
data on herptile species is lacking. A detailed inventory of herptile population
and continued seasonal monitoring of population levels, possibly in conjunction
with a University (e.g. University of Guelph, University of Toronto) college,
high school groups and local naturalists and residents is to be investigated.
Protection of existing breeding and larval habitat for amphibians and possible
provision of additional ponds is to be investigated.
[ COMMENTS - Staff should report on what they have done. Below is what is repeated in the "Recommended Management Activities", repeated like it was important. ]
From the UFMAC and City Council approved forest management plan for the Cawthra Bush dated Dec. 15/99 page 33 & 34. Emphasis added.
A detailed inventory of reptiles and amphibians and continued seasonal monitoring of population levels, possibly in conjunction with the University of Guelph and/or other universities, colleges, high schools and local naturalists will be investigated. Protection of existing breeding and larval habitat for amphibians and possible provision of additional ponds is to be investigated.
From the UFMAC and City Council approved forest management plan for the Cawthra Bush dated Dec. 15/99 page A 42. Emphasis added.
4. It should be recognized that non-native plants are performing some ecological functions (e.g., soil stabilization, provision of habitat) and may be better than nothing at all. Thus the removal of non-native populations must be done in conjunction with re-establishment of native communities to prevent creating a greater ecological problem.
[ COMMENTS - The moisture regime is very important and the removal of the dense forest cover that Norway maples provide would have lower the moisture levels in the areas of removal and would be deadly to small Jefferson Salamanders leaving the pond. Moisture levels should be studied as well. A letter has been received from the University of Toronto offering a free study of the watertable at the Cawthra Bush and both the City and UFMAC has turned its back on this offer. WHY? ]
Another detail is the management plans doesn’t contain the
same details about Jefferson
Salamanders as the implementation plan does and creates the opportunity
for the old the left hand doesn't know what the right hands is doing, political
trick.
- 7 -
The enclosures and comments;
The "Salamander Survey at Cawthra Park" done for the City of
Mississauga by James P.
Bogart, dated Aug. 26/99. This study, that the City paid for
and which under the City's
management plans should be used for decision making is being ignored.
It clearly states when the majority of the salamanders will be leaving
the pond (Jeffersons included), and still the City undertakes the work
that its own management plans specifically states should not be done.
The City management plans even say NO work (and even noted it was regarding
the Norway maple removal), for weeks or a month after the "critical time
periods", it could not be clearer. I have seen salamanders come out
of that pond as late as Nov. Further more these salamanders have
been know to migrate from inside the forest 400 m (0.25 mi) and up to 1,600
m (1 mi), to get to the breeding ponds. The City claims that a buffer
zone of 73 feet is somehow going protect these Salamanders? This
study and facts contained in it, needs to be summarised to make it useful
for UFMAC and the City.
My July 29/01 letter to the MNR, CVC and City of Mississauga. Although I state that the issue is just timing in that letter, since then the City forest management plans have been reviewed in greater depth and timing is not the only issue. I withdraw my request that the work be done at a later time of the year as the City has not done any of the work it should have done before even starting the work. Therefore; the work needs to be put off till the City does the needed studies that are promised in its forest management and implementation plans and reviewed by UFMAC to ensure they are appropriate.
E-mails, dated Jul. 30/01 - Jul. 31/01 (from John Lohuis),
Jul. 31/01 (to John Lohuis), Aug.
1/01 (from Judi Orendorff), Aug. 1/01 (to Judi Orendorff) and Aug.
2/01 (from Judi Orendorff). These tell another tale of how the City
operates (misleads). I have asked for the City to present its side
of the story and it will not, clearly the persons involved know they are
at fault. The City makes no mention or acknowledgement the parts
of the forest management plans they have violated. The very specific
and reasonable request that branches be left on site to replace the cover
the City was removing, which would be in accordance with the City's own
management plans, disregarded. The fact is, that areas along a known
Jefferson Salamander migration route, that were fully covered, are
now fully exposed to the sun and drying them out. The destruction
of Jefferson Salamander habitat and now a potential death trap for them.
What was noted in phone conversations was that the City did in fact change
its plans to continue its cutting from the next week, till later on in
the year.
The other e-mails. John Lohuis suggest that I will get a response from "Tony" but I never did. This is the way the City of Mississauga treats a community representative. The MNR has no such problem in responding to me. The e-mail from Judi Orendorff shows the City has certainly fooled the MNR with falsehoods. Way to make Hazel proud!
The City's letter dated Jul. 31/01, from Tony Fleischmann, the so-called Manager of Forestry. A master piece of deception and it is no wonder they didn't sent it to me, as I would not be fooled. Here are some point form comments;
* The statement that "associate brush material is to remain on site." is an outright falsehood. I have even check and photographed the piles of chipped wood around the Cawthra Bush and none had recently added material, to their piles of the same kind of material chipped up by this operation. And even if the City tries to argue this is not right, it will not change the fact the forest management plan called for the branches to be left to replace the very cover the City was removing.
- 8 -
* First of all I am the person who sounded the alarm about the City
attacking the Jefferson
Salamanders habitat, again, and do I get a copy of the letter
sent out by the City? NO! The City sends out a letter to everyone
I did (the persons at the MNR would share the same letter) but not to the
community representative who originally raised these concerns. This
is proof the City is shutting the community and especially me out of the
picture. In fact the opening line reads as if I didn't even write
everyone first! Please remember this the next time UFMAC members
feel the urge to suggest that I contact staff, this is proof of how unprofessional
City staff are, they will not communicate with me. Clearly there
are political forces at work here.
* This letter doesn't say who made the decision to go in, at the
time they did or who did the
supervision by City Forestry staff?
* There is no suggestion in this letter of any error on the City's
part, all actions that are
presented as being deliberate and premeditated. This
letter doesn't refer to the specific
requirements that the City Council approved forest management
plan imposed on any work undertaken near the Jefferson Salamander breeding
pond. This is called a cover up. Unless the writer of this
letter wishes to state he is so totally incompetent that he has not even
read the Cawthra Woods forest management plans or capable of carrying out
it specificinstructions. After all no reason has been given for totally
ignoring the plan.
* Where in the City's forest management plan does it say "the habitat
of the Jefferson
Salamander paramount" or something even close??? This
not the case and even if the City did try and pull a quote about how it
(in writing), claims to care about the survival of the Jefferson Salamander
actions speak louder. It is well and truly said that if there is
a difference between what is said and what is done, only a fool would believe
what was said.
* The control of Norway maple is not being carried out according
to the City forest
management plan. And current City actions are endangering
the ecological processes at the Cawthra Bush.
* Were these students presented with the forest management plan and
if so why did they
disregard it and City staff allow it?
* There are no details given about how the salamanders were monitored and what was seen.
* The idea that there is a reasonable "buffer zone" left for the
Jefferson Salamanders is
something that only fool those who are unaware of the facts.
It is an established fact that
Jefferson Salamander can travel in their migrations up to
a mile, NOT just the 73 feet the City left uncut. (Refer to "Amphibians
and Reptiles of the Great Lakes Region" by James H. Harding, enclosed.)
This letter also states the City's intention of removing that buffer zone
this year. In fact if you look at what the City did do, there is
no reasonable pattern to call a properly thought-out buffer zone, it just
looks like City stopped in mid job.
* Just as a side note - this letter have been provided to the Provincial government as a example of how City staff will provide falsehoods in writhing to fool the Provincial government.
- 9 -
Questions/actions UFMAC should ask the City require a written report from staff on. UFMAC is a committee of Council and it can request this. Answers should be in writing as they would need to be verified. If UFMAC fails to act, then what else can the public believe but that UFMAC is knowing aiding the City in destroying the Cawthra Bush?
* How was the monitoring done by worker removing the Norway Maples and what was done to make sure salamanders were not stepped on?
* What specific training did the students who were doing the work have?
* Peter Lyons has reported to UFMAC there was a good crop of salamanders this year, he should be asked to provide, in writing, these facts as well as what ever else the City has to show the City has been studying and monitoring that the Cawthra Bush forest management and implementation plans have required the City do.
* Peter Lyons has earlier reported that a fence was to be built around the Jefferson breeding pond earlier this year and it was not. He should be asked to when it will be.
* James Bogart's study needs to rewritten so that the important facts contained in it can be used by staff and be shared with UFMAC, the FCB, MNR and CVC.
* The forest management plans calls for amphibian monitoring, what has been done and what has been done that relates to control of Norway maples?
* Has the "complete exotic species survey " been done?
* Has "City staff have contacted appropriate authorities/experts and are analysing these opportunities." in regrades to creating habitat for Jefferson Salamanders and what do they have to report.
* The City's forest management plans call for - More research on herptile species inhabiting and/or breeding in Cawthra Woods and the adjacent easement needs to be done. It must include a much more rigorous inventory process to accurately assess population levels and habitat utilization. Has this been done? If not, when?
* Are moisture levels going to be studied? Why has the City not agreed to the University of Toronto's offer of a free study of the watertable at the Cawthra Bush?
* Who decided how big the buffer zone should be and why is it that size?
* What has the City done to upgrade its plans to take into account the Cawthra Bush is now a Provincially Significant Wetlands Complex with a Federally declared threatened species, (the Jefferson Salamander)? If the City not, then the City should be told to do so.
* Ask for a copy of the City work order for the removal of the Norway maples and a copy of anything else used as instructions by the workers.
* A copy of the Cawthra Woods management and implementation plans should be sent to the MNR and CVC.
* Direct City staff to immediately do plants to replace the lost forest cover and lay down a foot or two of branches with leaves to create Jefferson Salamander habitat. This is so important that branches from outside the forest should be used.
- 10 -
The Significance of Cawthra Woods, just so we don't forget the Cawthra
Bush is worth the special effort to over see the City actions to make sure
the City is properly controlled.
Geomatics (1996) has noted the following factors which contribute
to the significance of Cawthra Woods:
* High native Floristic Quality Index and native mean coefficient
* Identified as a regional Area of Natural and Scientific Interest
and Environmentally
Significant Area
* Historical nesting record for red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus)
* Diversity of plant species (292)
* Large size (21.56 ha)
* Twelve plant species documented from this site are considered
to be rare within the City
(known from 3 or fewer locations).
* Thirty-four plant species documented from this site are considered
to be uncommon within the City (known from 4 to 10 locations)
* Area known as a migratory stopover
* Presence of Jefferson complex salamanders
-------
In 2000
* The Cawthra Bush was declared a Provincially Significant Wetlands
Complex.
* The Jefferson Salamander (likely the last place in Mississauga
it is found is in the Cawthra Bush), is declared (Federally), by COSEWIC
as a threatened species
I am willing to discuss my letter with you, in case the wording
seems a little ambiguous or
you want a request explained. My phone number is .....
Please find enclosed;
1). A copy of the cover page and page 6 of the "Salamander Survey
at Cawthra Park" done for the City of Mississauga and done by James P.
Bogart. Dated Aug. 26/99.
2). A copy of page 66 from the "Amphibians and Reptiles of the Great
Lakes Region"
by James H. Harding.
3). A copy of my July 29/01 letter to the MNR, CVC and City of Mississauga.
4). A copy of my e-mail dated Jul. 30/01
5). A copy of 2 pages with e-mails dated Jul. 31/01 (from John Lohuis),
Jul. 31/01 (to John Lohuis), Aug. 1/01 (from Judi Orendorff), Aug. 1/01
(to Judi Orendorff) and Aug. 2/01 (from Judi Orendorff).
6). A copy of the City's letter dated Jul. 31/01.
7). A map to show the wrongful cutting done by the City.
Sincerely yours
____________________________________________
Donald Barber, President, FCB & Chair, CRRA.
Side note for map Cawthra Bush -
2001
The wrongful removal of Norway
Maples in direct violation of the City's own
forest management plans for the Cawthra
Bush, that were suppose to protect the
Jefferson Salamanders, listed as a
THREATENED species, Federally. Instead the
management plans are being used to destroy
amphibian habitat, threatening the Jefferson
existence.
The measurements noted here were
taken just after the cutting was discovered and
the City was in the middle of its clear cut, July
29/2001. The City has a study that clearly
notes the Jefferson Salamander youth would
be leaving their only breeding pond in
Mississauga, and migrating along the route the
City was clear cutting. That between Jul. 19th
and Aug. 5th, the majority would be leaving
the breeding pond. These young are only 2 or
so inches long and dark brown or black, very
well camouflaged. Very hard for those who
are doing the removing the forest cover to see.
The removal of heavy forest cover
created by the Norway Maples has many
negative affects. It removes protection from
predators including little boys with buckets.
It exposes the whole area to direct sun light,
drying it out and greatly lowering the ground
moisture. By leaving some saplings by the pond,
this leads the salamanders north to what could
be called a death trap. The City's own plans
and my request was that the branches be left to
provide cover and habitat. They too were removed.
With them, should also go, any trust for the
City of Mississauga and the promises, even those
made in writing, that it makes.
G is for the trees Girdled. A is for remaining areas
Norway maple saplings are still, generally.
B is for the areas where jewel weed grows.
PLEEASSE
SIGN
OUR PETITION
It will make a difference!
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