Tallgrass prairie is a unique habitat that has become rare in Ontario. With less than one per cent of the area remaining (according to 1600’s historical documents), preserving this habitat is vital for many species at risk. We are thrilled to announce that we received a $10,000 grant from the Canadian Wildlife Federation’s Rights-of-Way Pollinator Habitat Restoration Program and a $33,700 grant from the Greenbelt Foundation to expand and enhance the native grassland habitat at Long Sault Conservation Area!
Long Sault Conservation Area is the largest Conservation Area owned and managed by Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (CLOCA). It includes almost 1,000 acres of diverse natural habitats within the Oak Ridges Moraine and Greenbelt. Remnant native grassland habitat can be found in small locations within Long Sault Conservation Area, with larger patches found further east in Pontypool, Ganaraska Forest. Many of these grassland sites are associated with the Hydro One high voltage hydro transmission corridor that runs east-west through this region. This right-of-way is mowed regularly by Hydro One to restrict woody growth under the hydro lines which maintains appropriate conditions for native grassland/tallgrass prairie.
Grassland restoration in the hydro corridor at Long Sault Conservation Area began in 2011. CLOCA collaborated with Hydro One to restore a 17 acre area which involved invasive species removal and/or herbicide treatment, seedbed preparation, and seeding with a variety of native grasses and wildflowers. That area currently supports a thriving population of native tallgrass species. Of particular interest has been the extremely successful establishment of Big Bluestem (aka Turkeyfoot, named for its distinctive seed heads – this grass can grow up to 2.5 metres tall!) and Switchgrass. Other native tallgrass prairie species growing there include Canada Wild Rye and Prairie Thimbleweed.
In 2018, CLOCA expanded the original restoration area by 27 acres as part of a species at risk habitat compensation project (compensation projects involve the recreation of a natural feature in a nearby location when it is compromised due to development). Management of this addition has been ongoing and has consisted of selective herbicide treatments for invasive species and rotational mowing to encourage establishment of native grasses and plants.
Together, these two projects created approximately 44 acres of high-quality grassland habitat (native meadow/tallgrass prairie) for rare and at-risk grassland dependent bird species, as well as many other species including pollinators and pollinators-at-risk.
New Addition!
This year’s grants from the Canada Wildlife Federation and the Greenbelt Foundation will allow for further addition and enhancement to what will be the largest Grassland Restoration site in the region! An additional 17.5 acres will be converted to high-quality grassland to further increase the value of the habitat that occupies this Right-of-Way. The restoration areas will form one contiguous 61.5-acre native grassland!
Please Note: The grassland restoration area is not accessible by trails within the Conservation Area. For the protection of this rare habitat and the species-at-risk it supports, as well as your own safety, please do not explore off-trail.
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