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Frenchman's
Bay Watershed
What We
Look Like
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Frenchman's Bay Watershed
[click
image to enlarge] |
The Frenchman’s Bay watershed, located in the City of
Pickering, covers approximately 27 km2 or 2704 ha. The majority of the
watershed is urbanized, with a current population of 58,000 residents
within the Frenchman's Bay watershed out of the total 93,000 residents
within the City of Pickering, and
is comprised of several natural features including creeks, an
open-water bay, a barrier beach, open meadows, remnant woodlots and
several wetland areas. The bay is a shallow lagoon on the north shore
of Lake Ontario, separated by a dramatic natural sand and gravel beach
barrier, with a maintained navigational channel connecting the lake.
Four main tributaries including Amberlea, Dunbarton, Pine and Krosno creeks feed the
bay. Also, there are two areas in the watershed that
have been deemed provincially significant wetlands; Frenchman’s Bay
and Hydro Marsh. |
Critical Coastal Wetlands |
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Hydro
Marsh |
More than
80 per cent of our coastal wetlands have been filled for
development, dredged for harbours and marinas or fragmented from the
creeks and valleylands. Coastal wetlands provide important natural
linkages, breeding habitat and food for migrating birds, fish and
other wildlife species. These wetlands also provide communities like
ours with a wealth of natural and recreational resources that
contribute to the overall health of our community.
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Historical Perspective |
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Ice Houses on Frenchman's Bay |
More than 12,500 years ago during the last ice period, as the ice
receded, Lake
Iroquois (present day Lake Ontario) was formed. Streams flowing out of
the Oak Ridges Moraine began to cut their valleys creating the
Frenchman’s Bay watershed. Native settlement within the area has been
dated to at least 4,000 years ago when, at different times, the Huron
and Five Nations Iroquois had a number of established villages.
The bay ecosystem has
changed dramatically since that time, mostly in the past 170 years,
since European settlement in the early 1800s. Historically,
Frenchman’s Bay was surrounded by extensive wetlands and the once
forested landscape that provided habitat and natural wildlife
corridors became fragmented as settlers cleared the land for
agriculture and provided opportunities for mills, inns and businesses.
In 1848, there were 26 sawmills operating and by 1851 over half of the
township was cleared of trees. Mills and grain elevators surrounded
the east and west shores of Frenchman’s Bay. However, at one time
wheat and lumber prices fell, along with industrialization and the
building of the Grand Trunk Railway which resulted in the decline of
business opportunities in the area. It was not until the 1940s, when summer
cottages were built, that more communities began to establish,
contributing to the community fabric of Pickering as we know it today.
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Restoring the Watershed |
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Volunteers |
Since
1972, channelization or culverts have modified more than 50 per cent
of the creeks within the Frenchman’s Bay watershed. Other natural
areas affected by urbanization show signs of degradation with the
establishment of invasive species, poor water quality, limited plant
and wildlife diversity, excess erosion and soil compaction.
Despite the many
negatives, the Frenchman’s Bay watershed is still rich in natural and
cultural heritage. Local citizens have recognized that these and other
environmental issues affect the health of their community. In response
to that, multi-level government, citizens’ groups and businesses have
been working cooperatively to change the way they live on the
landscape. The Frenchman’s Bay Watershed Rehabilitation Project was
established to provide opportunities to allow for environmental
change.
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