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Middlesex/London Area

WELCOME
TO
SHARON CREEK
CONSERVATION AREA

LOCATION
HISTORY
USES
SPECIAL FEATURES
‘friends of sharon creek’ SPECIAL PROJECTS
HABITATS
GRASSLAND
AQUATIC
WETLANDS
FOREST
VISITING A NATURAL AREA
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LOCATION
The Sharon Creek Conservation Area is located on Springer Road, Middlesex County. To get there follow County Road 2 (Longwoods Road) east of Delaware, then go south on Delaware Township Concession Road #1, which is also known as Springer Road. Watch for the sign for Sharon Creek Conservation Area on the east side. The address is 4212 Springer Road.

HISTORY
1797 The lake or reservoir at Sharon Creek was named after Daniel Springer who came to the area as a result of the American Revolution. This man had a huge impact on Middlesex County as a pioneer, postmaster and magistrate for the town of Delaware.

1966 Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority acquired the 125 acre park. The Sharon Creek Dan and Reservoir were constructed.

The Sharon Creek Dam was built for two reasons:

in order to raise groundwater levels
to provide a municipal water supply for the Delaware region

1999 the “friends of sharon creek” planted a 7 acre tall grass prairie and demonstration garden

USES
The park is predominantly used by conservation oriented camping groups such as Scouts, Guides, and Youth Groups. In addition to camping it is a great place for day use activities including picnicking, bird watching, hiking, fishing, canoeing, non-power boating, and swimming. Please keep in mind that hunting is prohibited, you must swim at your own risk, and all pets must be leashed.
Curriculum based conservation programs about the tall grass prairie habitat are offered to elementary school students every spring and fall in the natural settings at Sharon Creek Conservation Area. Programming information can be found at www.lowerthames-conservation.on.ca or by phoning (519) 264-2420.

SPECIAL FEATURES
There are many special features to explore at Sharon Creek Conservation Area.
There is a memorial forest called The Elliott-Madill Memorial Forest. The Elliott-Madill Funeral Homes Ltd. of Mt. Brydges and Komoka, donate a tree to be planted in the forest in memory of loved ones.
A Tall grass Prairie site has been planted at Sharon Creek. In 1999, the Friends of Sharon Creek planted a 7 acre tall grass prairie and demonstration garden. Over 70,000 grasses and flowers were planted, including many rare species.

The Sharon Creek area is situated among a series of significant wetlands. Over half of the area is covered by Springer Lake Reservoir. This reservoir was formed as a result of damming Sharon Creek, which was at one time a small, meandering stream. There is an “earthen dam” (made of earth) with a spillway that has a capacity for 1 in 10 year regional storm. Another spillway is designed to hold extra water to protect the dam. Both the dam the reservoir can also be used for flood control within the site area.

Sharon Creek Conservation Area also has a walking path that takes you by the north shore of Springer Lake, around a small wetland and through the bluebird nesting box area.
Canoes can be launched from the shoreline canoe dock and there is an amphitheatre overlooking Springer Lake.

‘friends of sharon creek’ SPECIAL PROJECTS

‘friends of sharon creek’ is a volunteer group working in partnership with the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority, Lower Thames Valley Conservation Foundation, and many community groups to raise money for the annual maintenance and operating costs of Sharon Creek Conservation Authority. They can be reached at (519) 652-5562. Their current projects are as follows:

tall grass prairie habitat upkeep
wetland and shoreline restoration
water quality monitoring
community events
bluebird nest box monitoring
Elliott-Madill Memorial Forest and Trail
grounds upgrades
fund-raising
Sharon Creek Trust Fund Growth

HABITATS
There are a variety of habitats to experience at Sharon Creek Conservation Area. The 125 acre park is 83 acres of aquatic/wetland habitat and 42 acres of forest and grassland habitat.

GRASSLAND HABITAT AT SHARON CREEK
In May 1999, a demonstration garden with 30 marked common species, was planted by the students of Our Lady of Lourdes. On June 15 and 16, 1999, ‘the friends of sharon creek’, a group of volunteers from the Delaware Area committed to the preservation and enhancement of the Sharon Creek Conservation Area, planted 7 acres of tall grass prairie. ‘the friends of sharon creek’ had the help of many sponsors, conservation groups, and local school children. Over 70,000 grasses and flowers were planted.
The Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority has developed a tall grass prairie education program for schools

The objectives for The Sharon Creek Tall grass Prairie are:

To establish tall grass prairie vegetation on a 7 acre site
To create a site that demonstrates the close relationship between a wetland/lake habitat and a tall grass prairie environment. The project includes a shoreline restoration program for Springer Lake that in turn will enhance wildlife and ensure a diverse environment. This provides nesting cover for waterfowl and forms additional forage areas for other species.
To develop educational programs
To enhance and compliment other sites under development
To provide a source of information and technology transfer for the community and other environmental groups.

The open grassy areas in Sharon Creek have attracted bluebirds. Numerous nesting boxes have been placed near the grassland area. Bluebirds and Tree Swallows use these boxes during the spring and summer months.

GRASSLAND HABITAT
Grasslands are open areas where few or no trees grow. A true grassland is sometimes called a prairie. A prairie is a long-lived grassland that is dominated by native grasses. In comparison, the grasses that you may see growing along the side of the road are called meadows, they are not true prairies or grasslands.
A meadow is an open, treeless area covered by grasses and is usually the result of a disturbance. Meadows are the first stage of forest regeneration. These areas have hundreds of different species of grasses and wildflowers.

Grasses make up between 50-75% of all plants found in tall grass prairies. The most common grasses found within a Tall grass Prairie includes: Big Bluestem, Little Bluestem, Indian Grass and Switch grass. Some plants that can be found within this habitat include Wild Lupine, Gray-headed Coneflower, Prairie Smoke, Wild Bergamot, Butterfly Milkweed, Blazing Asters, Goldenrods and Sunflowers.
Before European Settlement tall grass prairies were abundant in Southern Ontario. Now, they are endangered. Less than 3% of the original tall grass prairies still exist in Ontario today. The prairies were converted into agricultural fields and pastures. However, restoration projects are underway in Southern Ontario to help save the prairie.

Unfortunately, along with the loss of habitat comes the loss of species. Of the plant species considered rare in Ontario, approximately 20% are associated with prairie ecosystems.

LIFE IN A GRASSLAND
Here are some species you might find in a grassland habitat:

BIRDS	Red-tailed Hawk Brown-headed Cowbird Killdeer Field Sparrow Rock Dove Barn Owl *at risk	Eastern Meadowlark Barn Swallow Turkey Vulture Song Sparrow Short-eared Owl *at risk Eastern Bluebird	American Goldfinch Pheasant Northern Harrier American Kestrel Loggerhead Shrike *at risk	Wild Turkey Bobolink Horned Lark Snow Bunting Northern Bobwhite *at risk
INSECTS	Dragonflies Crickets Preying Mantis Various Species of Flies Various Species of Spiders (not insects)	Damselflies Grasshoppers Ants Bees and Wasps Ladybird Beetles	Monarch Butterfly Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly Great Spangled Fritillary Butterfly Red Admiral	American Painted Lady Butterfly Cabbage White Butterfly Summer Azure Clouded Sulpher Orange Sulpher
MAMMALS	Deer Mouse Field Mouse Short-tailed Shrew Common Shrew	Eastern Cottontail Rabbit Red Fox Smoky Shrew	Meadow Vole White-tailed Deer Skunk	Groundhog Star-nosed Mole American Badger *at risk

REPTILES	Eastern Garter Snake Eastern Milk Snake	Eastern Hognose Snake Fox Snake *at risk	Smooth Green Snake Eastern Ribbon Snake
PLANTS	Tall Fescue Big Bluestem Little Bluestem Indian Grass Red Fescue Canada Wild Rye Switch Grass Wool Grass Quack/Twitch Grass	Canada Tick- Trefoil Black-eyed Susan New England Aster Virginia Mountain Mint Blazingstar New Jersey Tea Tall Sunflower Canada Thistle	Goldenrod Wild Bergamot Gray-headed Coneflower Purple Coneflower Prairie Dock Smooth Beardtongue CommonDandelion Joe-Pye-Weed	Wild Carrot Common Milkweed Swamp Milkweed Butterfly Weed Common Plantain Meadowrue Common Burdock

AQUATIC HABITAT AT SHARON CREEK
The Sharon Creek Reservoir, otherwise known as Springer Lake sits among a series of significant wetlands. The reservoir was formed as a result of damming a small stream. Some property owners in the Sharon Creek Watershed have started projects such as:

creating stream buffers
improving water quality
restoring stream banks
restoring fish and wildlife habitats

AQUATIC HABITAT

Aquatic habitats are areas containing permanent water. Ponds, rivers, and lakes are examples of aquatic habitat. Animals such as turtles can be seen basking on logs, frogs can be heard communicating with each other, toads can be seen hopping away, salamanders hiding, birds flying overhead, beaver busily building, muskrats swimming by and much more!

Aquatic habitats provide a home for many different species of plants, insects, birds and mammals. These areas supply much food and water for wildlife. Many mammals come to drink from the aquatic habitat. Some may be looking for food. Next to aquatic systems you can often find wetland vegetation species. Some examples are cattails, reeds, grasses, willows and dogwoods.

AQUATIC LIFE

Here are some aquatic habitat species that you might find:

BIRDS	Common Loon Canada Goose Mallard Duck Hooded Merganser American Pipit Cliff Swallow	Double –crested Cormorant Spotted Sandpiper Red-winged Blackbird Northern Pintail Great Blue Heron	American Black Duck Bank Swallow Wood Duck Brown-headed Cowbird Ring-necked Duck Green Heron	Killdeer Belted Kingfisher Herring Gull Ring-billed Gull Ruddy Duck
FISH	Common Carp Catfish Walleye Rainbow Trout Shiners	Minnow Sunfish Brown Trout Brook Trout	Johnny Darter Crappy Chub	Bass Pike Rock Bass Perch
AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES	Pickerel Frog American Toad Spring Peeper	Bull Frog Green Frog Gray Treefrog	Snapping Turtle Painted Turtle Map Turtle Blandings Turtle	Mudpuppy Northern Water Snake

INSECTS	Dragonflies Damselflies Mayfly Nymph	Water Strider Mosquito Water Beetle	Water Spider Water Boatman Water Strider
PLANTS	Yellow Water Lily Common Duckweed Water Milfoil Cattails Water Plantain Algae	Blue Flag Bulrush Bladderwort Arrowhead Reeds Bugleweed	Black Ash Blue Beech Various species of Willows Silver Maple	Bur Oak Large-toothed Aspen Red Maple Sycamore

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*Many mammals use the aquatic habitat for water, food and shelter. Beaver, muskrats, mink, opossums, and raccoons are some of the mammals you might see in or near an aquatic area. Very often you will be able to find their tracks.

WETLANDS AT SHARON CREEK
You may find wetland areas around the Sharon Creek Reservoir. A wetland was also created when earth was excavated from an old parking in the conservation area to build a viewing mound. This lowland pond is to be restored with cattails and other wetland plants to create a marsh habitat for wildlife. This is a good example of human impact on a natural area. Can humans change the environment in order to enhance areas for wildlife?

Wetlands
A wetland is an area that has standing water at or near the surface for most of the year. Wetlands may be located along shorelines and riverbanks or can often be found in isolated depressions or hollows. Wetlands are very important within nature for the following reasons:

A. Wetlands provide habitat (food, water, shelter and space) for mammals, reptiles, amphibians and many bird species.
B. Wetlands act like a giant sponge, holding water that reduces flooding.
C. Wetlands release water slowly, supplying water to other communities.
D. Wetlands help to control erosion.
E. Wetlands act like water filters.

MARSHES

These are found along the edges of rivers, streams, ponds and lakes. They support many plants that are rooted in the soil and grow out of the water called emergent plants. Cattails and Arrowheads are two examples of emergent plants. Marshes receive their water from the body of water next to them, groundwater, rain or snow. As a result of this the water levels can vary from a few centimetres up to two metres.

LIFE IN A WETLAND
Here are some species that might be found in a wetland habitat:

BIRDS	Tundra Swan Canada Goose Mallard Duck American Black Duck Wood Duck Hooded Merganser Gadwell Northern Shoveler Red-winged Blackbird Sandhill Crane	Greater &Lesser Scaup Common Goldeneye Bufflehead Green-winged Teal Pied-bill Grebe Horned Grebe American Bittern Northern Harrier Least Bittern Snow Goose	Green Heron Great Blue Heron Great Egret Solitary Sandpiper Common Moorhen American Coot Greater &Lesser Yellow Legs Wilson Phalarope Spotted Sandpiper	Pectoral Sandpiper Dowitchers Common Snipe Belted Kingfisher Killdeer Virginia Rail Yellow Rail Sora Rail Marsh Wren Sedge Wren Marsh Hawk
MAMMALS	Beaver Mink Red Fox Weasel Coyote Raccoon	Various Mole Species Various Vole Species Various Shrew Species	Skunk Grey Squirrel Opossum White-tailed Deer Muskrat
AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES	American Toad Green Frog Spring Peeper Wood Frog Bull Frog Pickerel Frog	Mudpuppy Red Spotted Newt Blue Spotted Salamander Red-backed Salamander Four-Toed Salamander	Snapping Turtle Map Turtle Painted Turtle Blandings Turtle Spotted Turtle Five-lined Skink	Eastern Garter Snake Eastern Milk Snake Ribbon Snake Eastern Hognose Snake Smooth Green Snake Black Rat Snake Brown Snake

INSECTS	Dragonflies Damselflies Mayfly Nymph	Mosquito Various Species of Flies	Various Species of Bees and Wasps
PLANTS	Cattail Bulrush Various Sedge Species Various Grass Species Pond Weed Swamp Milkweed Jewelweed	Waterfoil Pickerel Weed Arrowhead Blue Flag Smartweed Marsh Marigold Dense Blazingstar Skunk Cabbage Sensitive Fern Northern Maidenhair Fern Christmas Fern	Choke Cherry Crab Apple Hawthorns Autumn Olive Red-Osier Dogwood Pussywillow Honeysuckle Roundleaf Dogwood	White Birch White Elm White Ash White Cedar Trembling Aspen Red Maple Silver Maple Ironwood Poplar White Willow Sandbar Willow

FOREST HABITAT AT SHARON CREEK
Woodland areas are important habitat for a variety of species including birds, reptiles, insects, amphibians and mammals. A habitat is where plants and animals live; it is their home. These homes in the forest can be large old hollow trees known as den trees, or standing dead trees called snag trees. These trees are very important within the forest ecosystem because animals like raccoons and flying squirrels make their nest in den trees, while birds like woodpeckers nest in snag trees.

Many nut producing trees such as oak, beech and hickory supply food for the woodland creatures. These trees are called mast trees. Without these trees in the forest the animals would either starve or move to another forest that contained these trees.

Conifer trees (have cones) or “evergreens” are important because they are used as shelter and cover from the snow, wind and rain by many forest animals. Conifer tree seeds can be found in cones.
Even dead trees have a place in the forest since all of the dead logs and leaves on the forest floor provide habitat for insects and amphibians, which in turn are food for other animals.

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THE CAROLINIAN FOREST LIFEZONE
Carolinian Canada is one of Canada’s most significant landscapes. Often known as the “banana belt”, this area supports an amazing diversity of wildlife and natural habitats. The area has a relatively warm climate, providing suitable habitat for many species that are not found anywhere else in Canada. The area has the warmest average temperatures and the longest frost-free seasons in Ontario. This results in relatively mild winters compared to the rest of Ontario. The Carolinian forest reaches its northern most limit in Southern Ontario.

Much of Ontario’s rare and endangered species can be found nestled away in the last remaining acres of the Carolinian Forest. Species that can be seen here include trees such as Sassafras, the Tulip Tree, Blue Ash, Flowering Dogwood, Chestnut, Hop Tree, Paw Paw, Black Gum, Cucumber Tree and the Kentucky Coffee Tree. The Green Dragon, the Creeping Fragile Fern, Swamp Rose Mallow, Lizard’s Tail, Yellow Mandarin, Virginia Bluebells and Oswego Tea are a few of Canada’s rare plants existing now only within the Carolinian Zone. Bird species, such as, the Acadian Flycatcher, Summer Tanager, Carolina Wren and the Prothonotary Warbler can be found here. Some mammals are restricted to this area, they include the Badger, Eastern Mole, Southern Flying Squirrel and Opossum.

Unfortunately this life zone is one of the most threatened landscapes in Ontario, covering less than 1% of Canada, but yet it is home to more rare plants and animals than any other region in the country. This is mainly because the species found here are at the northern most point of their habitat. As well, these species live in developed and settled landscapes, resulting in a minimum amount of habitat remaining. It is found within an extremely busy corridor between Windsor and Toronto. Urbanization, agriculture and industry have destroyed a large portion of this beautiful forest. Because of this the Canadian Carolinian Forest has been a focus for conservation and stewardship.

If you would like to learn more about the Carolinian Life Zone, or have any questions please do not hesitate to contact:

CAROLINIAN CANADA
TELE: 519-873-4631
www.carolinian.org

LIFE IN A FOREST
Here are some wildlife species you might see in the forest habitat

BIRDS	American Woodcock Downy Woodpecker Eastern Kingbird Chickadee American Crow Cedar Waxwing American Goldfinch Various Sparrow species	Eastern Screech Owl Hairy Woodpecker Purple Martin Junco Nuthatch European Starling Common Grackle Various Warbler species	Great Horned Owl Pileated Woodpecker Blue Jay American Robin Wood Thrush Ruffed Grouse Rose-breasted Grosbeak	Mourning Dove Flicker Cardinal Gray Catbird Wild Turkey Red-tailed Hawk
MAMMALS	Eastern Cottontail Rabbit Various Bat species Red Fox	Raccoon Gray Squirrel Coyote	White-tailed Deer Red Squirrel Opossum	Skunk Groundhog American Badger
AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES	American Toad Wood Frog Tree Frog	Eastern Redback Salamander Blue-spotted Salamander	Milk Snake Little Brown Snake

INSECTS	Mosquitoes Yellow Jackets	Ants Termites	Millipedes Wasps	Centipedes
PLANTS	May-apple Bloodroot Jack-in-the-Pulpit Canada Anemone Trout Lily Wild Columbine Canada Violet Solomon’s Seal Wild Bergamot White Trillium Red Trillium False Solomon’s Seal	Ostrich Fern Christmas Fern Maidenhair Fern Lady’s Fern Poison Ivy Virginia Creeper