2. Break down Presentation on ELC and OWES Break Field exercise will consist of (1h-1.5): Performing a soil survey Delineate a wetland boundary using plants Wetland community groups Break What your wetland is worth

3. Why are Wetlands Important?

4. They are the heart of the ecosystem! All things need water to survive Food hub Reproduction hub Most biologically diverse areas of Ontario

5. Water Management Flood prevention Filters sediments and chemicals Recharge areas for ground water (Drinking Water)

6. Why We Evaluate Wetlands Categorize landscape Relativity to other wetlands Environmental impact assessments Municipal and Provincial planning Quantifying Significant Determine value based on environmental and economical qualities

7. Benefits to Evaluation Protect Existing Wetland 72% of the wetlands present prior to European settlement have been destroyed in Southern Ontario. Interest Know what's on you property Track changes and heath of your environment Tax Break The Conservation Land Tax Incentive Program offers 100 % tax exemption of PSWs Land must be at least 1/5 of a hectare (1/2 acre) in size.

8. Controversy The Provincial Policy Statement prohibits development and site alteration in and adjacent (PSWs). Problems Assessment can impact neighbor Exemptions allow for infrastructure works, agriculture and some resource extraction activities MNR is responsible for evaluation approval

9. ELC Components

11. ELC Example Image: TRCA, 2013

12. OWES Components A numerical ranking of wetland values or functions 1. Biological Component: productivity and habitat diversity 2. Social Component: direct human including economically valuable products, recreational activities and educational uses 3. Hydrological Component: water-related values, such as the reduction of flood peaks and contributions to groundwater recharge and discharge, and water quality improvements. 4. Special Features Component: geographic rarity of wetlands, rare species, ecosystem age, and habitat quality for wildlife

13. Are You Significant? PSW defined as any evaluated wetland that scores: 600+ total 200+ in Biological Component or Special Features Component Note each category capped at 250 points

14. Easy Points Special Features 200 points gets you PSW stats RARITY Wetlands Type (80 points) Endangered or Threatened Species Breeding (250 points) Endangered or Threatened Species Feeding Habitat (150 points) SIGNIFICANT FEATURES OR HABITAT (25 to 150 points) Colonial Waterbirds Waterfowl Staging and Moulting Migratory Passerine, Shorebird or Raptor Stopover Ungulate Habitat Fish Habitat

15. Red-necked Grebe Black-crowned Night Heron Black Tern Common Tern Caspian Tern (smaller) Great Egret Great Blue Heron scored for nesting occurrences, only U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2013 Photo: Philip JeffreyPhoto: Badjoby CCPhoto: Mdf CC

16. International concern under the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. Goal of 640,000 breeding birds in the original breeding ground survey area.

17. Delineation Wetland boundaries uses the “50% wetland vegetation” rule is used. (BIRDS EYE VIEW or Relative Cover )

18. Categorize Your Wetland Community Type Wetland Type Dominate vegetation type >25%

19. Wetland Types M = marsh W = open water marsh S = swamp F = fen B = bog

20. Swamp (100 to 200yrs) Swamps are wooded wetlands with 25% cover or more of trees or tall shrubs and standing water What about Ephemeral pools?

21. Photo : UFORA Photo: Ben Kimball Trees of silver maple, hybrid soft maple, white elm, black/green ash and yellow birch are among the best indicators of a deciduous swamp Black spruce, eastern hemlock, and tamarack indicate conifer swamps.

22. M-Marsh W-Open Water Marsh (10-15yrs) Marsh: communities dominated by narrow-leaved emergents, robust emergents, broad-leaved emergents or herbs Open water marsh: communities dominated by submergents, floating plants or un-vegetated open water <1m deep Marshes are wet. Standing or slowly moving water. No dominant trees species. Do not completely dry up.

23. W Vs. M Pictures

24. Marsh Indicator Species W - Marsh Myriophyllum sp. Water-milfoil Potamogeton sp. Pondweed Nuphar or Nymphaea sp. Water-lily M-Marsh Carex emoryi Riverbank Sedge Typha sp. Cattail (also in swamps) Photo: André Karwath Photo: Christian Fischer Photo: Marcus, Joseph A. Photo: User:Bogdan CC

25. Fen (+500yrs) Live tree cover can’t exceed 25%. Peat-filled, chiefly Sphagnum. Fens can be dominated by sedges, grasses, and low shrubs, e.g., sweet gale (Myrica gale).

26. Fen species Sphagnum moss sp. Scheuchzeria sp. Pod-grass Drosera sp. Sundew Orchids James Lindsey at Ecology of Commanster Photo: Jacopo Werther James Lindsey at Ecology of Commanster

27. Bog (+1000yrs) Peat-filled, chiefly Sphagnum. Not diverse usually less than 14 species of vascular plants with over 25% cover Surface water and peat are strongly acidic (pH 4.7) and deficient in mineral nutrients. Note: Do not use harvested peat for gardening!

28. Vegetation Forms Trees: >6m Tall shrubs: 1-6m Low shrubs: <1 m

29. Example Sheet What looks 25% (absolute cover) f,*ne water lily (f) su*, f, ne pondweed (su) Wetland Type (M<W<F<B<S) Map Code: suW1 Soil % Fish Habitat ?

31. Field Work Soil Plant ID Delineation Community Groups On your own

33. What is your Wetland Worth? Biological Component Productivity Growing Degree Days

34. Biodiversity 1.1.2 Wetland Type 1.1.3 Site Type 1.2.1 Number of Wetland Types

35. 1.2.2 Vegetation Communities

36. 1.2.3 Diversity of Surrounding Habitat 1.2.4 Proximity to Other Wetlands 1.2.5 Number of Interspersions 1.2.6 Open Water Type 1.3 Size

37. Biological Component Final Score:

38. Economically Valuable Products 2.1.1 Wood Products 2.1.2 Lowbush Cranberry 2.1.3 Wild Rice 2.1.4 Commercial Fishing (Bait/Coarse) 2.1.5 Furbearers What is your Wetland Worth? Social Component

39. 2.2 Recreational Activities Landscape Aesthetics 2.3.1 Distinctness 2.3.2 Absence of Human Disturbance Education and Public 2.4.1 Uses 2.3.2 Facilities and Programs 2.4.3 Research and Studies

40. 2.5 Proximity to Human Settlement 2.6 Ownership 2.7 Size in relation to Social Component Add 2.1, 2.2 and 2.5 / Total Wetland Size 2.8 Aboriginal Values Social Component Score:

41. References All photos not sited on slides are property of Adopt-A- Pond All material taken from 1 st ed. 2013. Northern Manuel Ontario Wetland Evaluation System. 978-1-4606-0203-4 PDF Ecological Land Classification SCSS Field Guide FG-02, Ministry of Natural Resources