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The Wingham Advance-Times, 1983-04-20, Page 26Page 4—Valleys and People BIRCH TREE TRAIL—An extensive trail system existed on the Naftel's Creek property when acquired by the Authority. Goderich C.A. LOCAL CONTEXT Saltford Benmiller Porte Hill Holmesville NMI INN r - Clinton scale Mel IMO MIf• MVCA Watershed Houndry enatTligi 0 1 2km �iteThCree ,'`{,`.. Cons Naftel's Creek Conservation Area represents an extremely `diverse and integrated woodlot of distinct importance to the Mait- land Valley Conservation Author- ity. 'The property's extensive variety of vegetation can ac- commodate both forest and wild-' life management, while the class one trout stream and existing trails contribute to the area's popularity for recreation and its potential for outdoor education. ACQUISITION Naftel's Creek Conservation Area was acquired by the Mait- land Valley Conservation Author- ity in two stages, during 1981 and 1982. The 49 hectares which make up the total area are located on the east side of Highway 21, six kilometers south of the Town of Goderich. HISTORY OF THE PROPERTY The history of the property began to evolve through the land- owners, who, as early as the 1930s, realized that the sandy knolls and poor soil fertility made the ,property better suited for forest management practices than agricultural uses. Due to the'`' fact that the reforestation took place over many decades, under the direction of several property owners, the property has taken on a,. patchwork quality which adds greatly to the area's char- acter and charm. The property was officially named Naftel's Creek Conserva- tion Area in February off this year. This name was decided upon for two reasons; the refer- ence to Naftel's Creek as found in Belden's Historical Atlas of Huron County 1879, and, the existing association by the gen- eral public to the name Naftel's Creek. 'MASTER PLANNING'; WHAT'S INVOLVED All conservation area pro- perties must now undergo a planning process that is known as master planning. The purposeof developing a master plan for each specific property is to establish the goals and objectives for an area, and to outline the long term conceptual e a development and management plans for each particular property. The master plan for Naftel's Creek has been underway now for several months. The preliminary goals and objectives for the area are outlined on the next• page. The most important aspect of these goals and objectives to note is, that the overall intentions of the Authority, in regard to this property, are ones which will retain the existing character and usage of the site. There will how- ever, be a shift in the emphasis from a passive to a more active level of resource management. After the goals and objectives for an area have been established in their initial form, the next step in the master plan process is to conduct an inventory of the re- sources and facilities which presently exist on the site. For Naftel's Creek Conservation Area an extensive vegetation inventory was carried out in Sep- tember and October of 1982. The results of this study will now be used to direct the forest man- agement, erosion control, recrea- tional, and educational programs for the property. Other resource inventory characteristics which were studied include: existing site characteristics, climate, physiography (land forms) , soils, topography ( land elevation) , hydrology (water characteristics - flow, amount, temperature, etc.) and wildlife. Once the inventory is com- pleted, the analysis of this material begins. It should be noted at this point, that while the tion basic steps in a master plan may be expressed by a step by step procedure, the process itself is actually a cyclical one. This is especially true in terms of the goals and objectives for an area. Therefore, throughout the planning process, it is necessary to return to this initial step,' in order, to re-evaluate the inten- tions and accuracy of the original statements. The analysis itself essentially involves studying the material in order to determine the capabili- ties and limitations present at the site. This step includes the mapping of sensitive areas and hazard lands which should be protected from any future development. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES The goals and objectives of the property focus on four manage- ment issues. We will take a closer look at these issues now. FOREST MANAGEMENT At the master plan level, the forest r.management objective .of the property will be discussed at a general level in order to deter- mine what areas will be man- aged; what they will be managed for; and the cost involved in this work. ' Following the approval of the Master Plan by Authority mem- bers and the Ministry of Natural Resources, a comprehensive forest management plan will be described at the site plan level. This process will involve taking such factors as; timber demands and production; accessibility; wildlife habitat; types of "to undertake resource management practices and to provide oppor- tunities for outdoor recreation and limited forms of recreation which are compatible with the resource management programs of the area." management; forestry demon- stration and future recreational use into consideration. This in- formation will then be analyzed in regards to the physical re- straints as determined by vegetation, soil type, topography and the age of each specific . vegetation zone. EROSION CONTROL The stream bank erosion control component, which will be recommended at the Master Plan level, will designate those areas of the Naftel's Creek, which need to be protectecd or improved upon in order to maintain Naftel's Creek water quality and quantity and the fish habitat at a class one level. RECREATION The recreational emphasis for the property will remain very much as it exists today; that being an extensive form of recre- ation. The primary recreational facility of the property will remain the extensive trail system, which can be used throughout the year. At the Master Plan level, a conceptual diagram will be used to designate the proposed trail system which will, for the most part, use the existing trail system. Some alternatives may prove necessary on the trails where existing ones may not be able to withstand an increase in use. These alterations are also seen as necessary in order to direct people from the trails which now fall on private property. This winter (1982-83), trail signage was erected on a tempor- ary basis. It is hoped that by next winter, a permanent trail mark- ing system will be established. The intent of this marking, is to ensure that any newcomer to the property will be able to easily orient themselves and enjoy the property. • 0 NATURAL POND—Scene along the nature trail at Naftel's Creek Conservation Area. DEVELOPMENT BEGINS—The fir(I IL"wTE��cC4"$[1TeL:7::.NasiN,:Lf..°rE7lwr"awativ