EC Brown Wetland FAQs

If there are any further questions please dont hesitate to contact us at www.niagaracollege.ca.
1. Who is responsible for this project?
The Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority is the sole owner of this property. For this
particular project Niagara College Ecosystem Restoration students are working in partnership
with Jocelyn Baker a watershed supervisor at the NPCA.
2. What does this project entail?
This project is focused on the creation and implementation of invasive species management plans
in conjunction with a vernal pool rehabilitation strategy.
3. Where is the project taking place and when?
EC Brown Wetland. This property is located on 480 River Road, Pelham Ontario.
4. What are the issues this area is facing, and what makes this project important to
the area?
The property has suffered through a large influx of invasive species that have taken over much of
the property, including the waterfront and the vernal pool. This is an issue because it means that
native species are being pushed out of this habitat and the diversity of the site is quickly
decreasing. Another issue is the missing components needed for a healthy vernal pool, such has
shade and amphibian habitat features. These problems are important for many reasons, and one
is in regards to the EC Brown property being an outdoor classroom. This area is a large
educational opportunity, and therefore highlighting the current issues while thoroughly explaining
what was done and it is need is a large goal. It is necessary to manage the property through
invasive monitoring and the creation and maintenance of amphibian habitat, while also teaching
the public about it.
5. What are invasive species?
Invasive species are species that have entered into an area do to human actions, and are therefore
not naturally found in the area. Invasive species often have little to no competition or predators
which can make them highly successful at colonizing an area. This can ultimately lead to a
decrease in diversity and habitat degradation.
6. What invasive species are present on the site?
Phragmites, purple loosestrife, European black alder, giant hogweed, poison parsnip and black
locust. Although only three of the most prolific species are being targeted, phragmites, purple
loosestrife and European black alder.
7. How are the invasive species going to be managed and removed?
As was stated earlier, there will be a focus on phragmites, purple loosestrife, and European black
alder. The phragmites stocks will be cut in the spring, hopefully to exhaust the roots and create a
die off of the species. The Purple Loosestrife will be pulled out, and removed from the site. Two
weeks after this the area will be seeded to help compete with the new growth from the seed bank
left behind. This will be continued until the seed bank is exhausted which will happen in 5 years if
the sight is managed properly. The seed heads in the European black alder were cut to decrease
their seed bank and the rest of the trees will be cut down and applied with herbicide in the fall to
ensure the death of the stumps.
8. What benefits will result from the removal of the invasive species?
The removal of the invasive species will create conditions for increased species diversity and will
provide the needed room for native species to successfully regrow in the area. Specifically the
phragmites management will create better amphibian habitat, as it will prevent it from continuing
to take over the vernal pool, and provide an opportunity to replant with native and useful species.

9. Dont the invasives also provide habitat?

Yes, but they can create a monoculture out of an area, which will ultimately decrease the
diversity. This means that removing them will be beneficial in the long term, and native species
will provide similar if not better habitat for species in the area.
10. What plant species are being planted to replace the ones being removed, and
where?
The subgroups of species that will be planted are wildflower mixes, trees and shrubs. Specifically
the wildflowers will be used to compete with the Purple Loosestrife and European dominated
areas to compete with the invasive regrowth. Shrub species like pussy willow and red osier
dogwood will be used to help compete with new Phragmites growth and be used as egg anchors
for amphibians. The trees will be planted by the wetland, vernal pool and pit & mounds to
provide the necessary shade for successful reproduction conditions.
11. Invasive species are notorious for being difficult to manage and usually take many
years to adequately control them. How will this be dealt with considering that this
project is only from September 2015 to April 2016?
These are all valid concerns, and to address them long term management plans have been created
to continue to manage the property after April of 2016. Partnerships between Niagara College
and SERNC have been proposed and present to ensure that the site is continually receiving the
attention and mitigation it requires to manage it invasive and amphibian habitat issues. The
creation of a framework to continue the work on the property to eradicate the invasive species on
the property should ensure that the 5 year plans will be carried out.
12. What is a vernal pool?
A vernal pool is a seasonal wetland that provide reproductive habitat for amphibian and reptile
species. It is relatively shallow and is stagnant and therefore doesnt house any predatory fish
species. These habitats are unique and crucial for many different species, which means there
management and overall success is important to the local and global area.
13. Why isnt the vernal pool providing adequate habitat for housing amphibians?
Unfortunately phragmites is taking over the vernal pool, this is creating conditions that are too
dense to provide appropriate habitat for amphibian species. Amphibians prefer deep pools that
have cooler temperatures and lots of organic material to attach their egg masses too. Phragmites is
preventing the pools from getting the their needed depths, and also not providing the necessary
shade that a tree or shrub would provide. Although in some ways it may seem that phragmites
offer the things needed by the amphibians, there is a distinct lack of plant diversity in the current
vernal pool. This lack of diversity means there are many species that wont use the space because
their habitat requirements have not been met by the plant species that are currently there.
14. What is being done to improve the vernal pool habitat?
The first step is the removal of the phragmites to allow for native species to move back into the
pool and its surroundings. Plants such as red osier dogwood and pussy willow will be planted with
in the pool, where these native plants provide more appropriate habitat for the wildlife that
inhabit EC Brown Wetland.
15. What is the purpose of planting shrubs within the vernal pool?
Vernal pools needs shrubs and vegetation to provide shade and suitable habitat for the species it
supports throughout the year. Shrub species such as pussy willow and red osier dogwoods are
being planted into the vernal pool because they can withstand the wet ground and will be able to
compete with the phragmites that is currently in the pool. These shrubs also provide vegetation to
be used as egg anchors and they can also provide predator protection.
16. What wildlife will benefit from the management from this site?
The management of this site could create a chain reaction for the benefit of wildlife. The species
that will be directly impacted in a positive way are the amphibians and reptiles that are gaining
reproductive habitat thats usable, and birds that are gaining new habitat in trees and shrubs. The
species that will be indirectly impacted are the predators of the amphibians and reptiles, and any
other species that may have a connection to the increase in wildlife using the EC Brown Wetland
site.