Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1984-05-02, Page 18• ° • . • • N .14•Atort otatto otopttA 4.T", 4 4•"'"'",,,, • • .0..ereerTle r A -ciAliToDI-NNWS,RECOAP- WED -MPH -MAY Wetlands are ildli• Minister of Natural Resources Alan Pope (left) and Ducks Unlimited Canada Vice President Duncan Sinclair ( right) officially opened the Hullett Wildlife Management Area on April 25. Mr. Pope was even decked out in a Ducks Unlimited hat for the day. Ortlasio Miniltfy of Nuturai ilesource$ HUL:LETT. PROVINCAL ItAINTENANCE*OFKE::OMPLEX r The Hullett Wildlife Management Area was created after nearly two decades of planning. This year marks its first full season of operation in what is proving to be one of the most successful manmade wetlands ever created. astelands rot e area is proving its worth By Rod Hilte F five-year waterfowl management agree - Following nearly two decades of planning meat signed on April 28, 1983 between Ducks and development by the Ministry of Natural Unlimited (Canada) and my ministry," Mr. Resources and Ducks Unlimited Canada, Pope said. the creation of a valuable wetlands complex The minister said he was committing a in Hullett Township has become reality. total of $250,000 annually for the next three On April 25, the Hallett Wildlife Manage- to four years to complete the inventory and merit Area (HWMA) was officially opened classification of southern Ontario's by Minister of Natural Resources (MNR) wetlands. Alan Pope and Vice President of Ducks The importance of the Hullett Wildlife Unlimited (DU) Duncan Sinclair. The Management Area can't be over estimated. highlight of the ceremony was the unveiling Not only does the wetland help control the of a plaque in recognition of the site. spring runoff but it gives wildlife a place to HWMA is located in • an extensive breed and grow. floodplain of the south Maitland River. It s Deer, Ca3roWa, fox, raccoons, beavers, purpose is to provide additional waterfowl muskrats, minks, weasels and "frogs by the habitat and when developed to its fullest ex- millions" are the major creatures that roam tent will not only provide a variety, of hun- the Hullett Marsh. ting and other recreational opportunities to "When it was created a lot of animals the people of Ontario, but will also alligtnent came to the area. Wildlife and other growth existing biological research. has been stable for the last 10 years. There's "This project reinforces my ministry's commitment , to managing wetlands. Wetlands are vital because they not only provide a habitat for fish and wildlife, but maintain and improve water quality and help control flooding," Mr. Pope said. This year marks the first full season of operation for the HWMA complex in what is proving to be one of the most successful man-made wetlands ever created. HWMA Site Manager Doug Puffer has - been involved with the project since May of 1980 and says the progress within the wetlands is on schedule. "It is definitely going to plan. There's been phenomenal growth, especially in water fowl population. Until Ducks Unlimited came along it was just a river flood plain with old -pastes and-- second, third and fourth rate farmland," Mr. Puffer said. In 1979, the MNR and DU (Canada) signed an agreement to cooperatively develop 2,100 hectares (5,000 acres) of land in Hullett Township into a manageable wildlife area. Under the terms of the agreement DU undertook to design the water control struc- tures and pay for construction. OVer the last three years, DU has provided $1.25 -million to construct 20 kilometres of dikes, flooding 800 hectares (2,000, acres) in the wildlife area. DU also maintains and repairs the structures. MNR acquired the land, which cost $825,000, and prepared it for flooding. They are also responsible for overseeing the • day-to-day use of the area. According to Mr. Puffer DU and MNR have put approx- an especially healthy deer population of between 50-75" Mr. Puffer said. The wildlife area is divided into seven ma- jor pools, each one bigger than 25 hectares (75 acres). The largest pool of water is 570 acres in size. Water levels in the marsh are monitored and can be manipulated to en- sure that the area remains highly produc- tive. The original concept of HWMA called for a dam and dike system. The plan was to build a dam across the Maitland River and back the water up to form a large marsh. DU revised the plans to allow the river to re- main on its historical course. The present dike system runs parallel to the river and doesn't intersect it at any point Mr. Puffer added that the dikes are set back far enough to anew an adequate flood plain (200 to 300 metres). Marsh rejuvenation occurs when the water levels recede and the germination of the vegetation takes place. Mr. Puffer said that because of HWMA's system, they can actively duplicate the process of receding the water levels. He calls it a "draw down sytem". "Marsh rejuvenation is a tricky business. It has to be done at the right time of year so you can establish the right vegetation," Mr. Puffer said. Mr. Puffer explained the drawing down system occurs about once every seven or eight years. Pools three and four were flood- ed for the first time this year. Pools 1 and lA were also flooded for the first time this year. Pools 2 and 2B have been underwater for imately the same amount of funds into ,the , their second season. Pool 2A has been project ... , . ' underwater for three seasons. Mr. Puffer Rem* retired MNR CO:Ordiiiiitorlik -Sitid the—ainaller—peolt -We been under - Bellinger was the.first person to reeegilWePliewaterforiour,seasons now. Thevoolsrare the Hullett area as the ideal place fora • kept at a depth of 18 inches to one foot. wetlands project. HWMA is divided into two sections. Sec - Mr. Bellinger explained that in the mid tion A is the wetlands area and section B is 1950s conservation officers were asked to upland, with rolling terrain. look for places like the HullettMarsh that Because of its marshy characteristics, flooded over in the spring. They were asked section A is a Migratory zone inhabited by to submit a sketch and location to MNR. Mr. ducks, geese, coots, gallenules, rails and Bellinger said he submitted a sketch in ear- herons. Mr. Puffer said that Mallard, Blue- ly 1956 and sent it to Hespeler, which used to winged teal and Wood ducks are the most be MRS's head office. •,' • .• popular water fowl in the marsh. He said "I fired off a sketch and ageS.later they there is also a lot of Canada Geese. (MNR) said they'd do it," Mr. Bellinger "Five or six years ago there were 150 geese and ducks in the marsh. Migratory population in the spring and fall is now up to 20,000 birds. The resident population is growing tremendously. There are over 2,000 pairs of water fowl breeding here," Mr. Puf- fer said. Mr. Pu er explained that one of the main jgreasons U got involved with the project be was cause the Hullett Marsh located in the natural fly ways of geese and ducks. He said the birds fly up the Atlantic coastal said. Most of the land purchases were carried out from the late 1960s until 1975. The pro- cess took over a decade. MNR's District Manager in Huronia, Dan Mansell, was one member of the ministry's negotiating team and he said the initial concern while making the deals was that the people didn't want to sell their land. "When the three of us representing the ministry weren't sure if we were going to get out unscathed. The local people were route and along the Mississippi Valley and very worried about expropriation," Mr... meet over the area of the Hullett Marsh. Mansell told the ministry magazine, Land- "The location couldn't be better," Mr. Puf- marks, recently. fer said. John Bain, the Provincial Manager for "There's no other place like. this in DU, said that his organization entered the Southern Ontario. Hell it's unique. The land scene when they learned that MNR was purchases couldn't have been made at a bet - short of development funds for the project. ter time," Mr. Puffer said. He said MNR approached DU and asked Mr. Bain, the Provincial Manager for them to consider the area and asked for Ducks Unlimited said that the natural fly their engineering input. ways intersecting over the Hullett Marsh "Ducks Unlimited changed the concept of certainly made the site attractive but their the Hullett Marsh and drew up the plans and prime consideration was the high quality of here's what you see today," Mr. Bain said the wetland. as he proudly pointed across the vast com- The HWMA is under the direction of a plex. • management committee made up of two Prior to the Hullett Marsh project, DU members from MNR and two from DU. and MNR were involved in another wetlands Mike Malhiot, the District Biologist from development project north of Barrie. In the the Wingham office and Area Manager Glen late 1970s they developed over 3,000 acres in- Sturgeon represent MNR while Ron - to the first mutual wetlands project in On- Schiedel, a London -area Biologist arid Dan \ s. 4 West, Regional Manager for Southwestern Ontario represent Ducks Unlimited. The committee meets every spring and fall to discuss operational strategy. Hunting in the marsh is controlled by parking spots that correspond -to the hunter location number. Each hunting site is mark- ed with a stake. Shooter e must stand within 10 metres of the mark and hide themselves as best they can without building a blind. Hunters must make sure that what they're hunting is in season. For those people who enjoy boating more than hunting, a boat launching location is on the site. Mr. Puffer noted that during the sensitive time of year from mid-May to August 1 the water fowl are breeding and signs are posted to prohibit boaters in cer- tain areas. He said the waterfowl must be able to raise their young undisturbed. "The main idea for the project is manage- ment for wildlife species. Public recreation is secondary. Whatever the area can stand ecologically. It is primarily an area for wildlife," Mr. Puffer said. Mr. Puffer said that at the present time they have 97 pheasants confined for -breeding purposes. They collect the eggs and incubate them.. In the fall, Mr. Puffer and HWMA maintenance man Bill Flynn release 1,000 pheasants for hunting. "Within five years we should be at our full potential for wildlife management. But we could go a lot further for visitor recreation. We don't have the money for guided tours. The funds we have are primarily for main- taining wildlife habitat," Mr. Puffer said. Mullett Wildlife Management Area W.M.A.HIIoII Office tario. IvrNR Minister Alan Pope said that had it not been for the support of DU, the Hullett project may have been delayed six or seven years." Mr. Pope said that in addition to the , Hullett project, MNR proposes to co- operatively develop with DU, 16,000 hec- tares of waterfowl habitat throughout On • - tario by 1987. "This fulfils some of the objectives ot a Pope announces wetlands, poltcy • next three to four years. In their natural state, wetlands maintain and improve water quality, help control flooding and provide a habitat for fish and wildlife. They contribute substantial social and economic benefits including outdoor recreation and tourism benefits from hun- ting, fishing and bird -watching amounting to more than 53 -million user -days a year. Wetlands are also a source of many impor- tant resource products such as fur, weed and wild rice, valued in excess of $300 - million annually. "The government recognizes that wetlands constitute an important element of land use planning and must be considered along with other uses such as housing, forestry, agriculture, mining, watershed management, tourism, recreation, en- vironmental protection and the concerns of native people," said Mr. Pope. National Wildlife Week (April 8-14) with its theme of "Wetlands and Wildlife" took on an added significance to Ontario when Natural Resources Minister Alan Pope an- nounced phase one of a new provincial policy to manage and protect Ontario's wetlands. Mr. Pope told the legislature: "The guidelines I am introducing today are part of the process leading to a policy statement • under the provincial Planning Act, and will be finalized after appropriate testing, refinement and consultation with municipal officials." He added that about 80 per cent of the original wetlands in southern 'Ontario have been drained for a variety of uses. "The pro- vince is concerned that the remaining wetland areas be carefully managed to meet both present and longterm needs, of the people of Ontario." Wetlands are areas covered either per- manently or seasonally with standing water. These include swamps, marshes, bogs and fens. Under the guidelines, individual wetlands will be identified and classified according to a standardized evaluation system, • and ranked -into seven classes. "When properly classified according to their significance, wetlands can be better managed for their maximum benefit," said Mr. Pope. "The guidelines will assist municipal governments, conservation authorities and other land -use planning agencies to consider all values of wetlands when dealing with proposed alternate uses of land." The Minister also advised that he has committed $250,000 a year toward the target of completing the inventory and classifica- tion of southern Ontario's wetlands over the Seven canoes made a tour of the Hallett Wildlife Area wetland on April 25. the wildlife area is divided into seven major pools, each one divided larger than 25 hectares (75 acres) Photos and story • by Rod Hilts ,o=toortycgtellato 44,,,;•:; Many people are unfamiliar with the Hallett Wildlife Area, but in the past two decades the region, north of Clinton. has become a valuable wetlands area. The Hallett Township land provides and extensive waterfowl habitat as well as hunting and recreational facilities.