Transcript Westminster Ponds Mills Environmentally Significant Area - Latino-Star

By Erick Arellano
December 2012
Description
The Westminster
Ponds Mills
complex is one of
the largest Natural
Areas in London,
comprising some
300 hectares over
an area 3
kilometres long and
1.5 kilometres
wide.
The Westminster is
significant because it
possesses a rich variety
of natural habitats in a
relatively undisturbed
state, even though it is
situated within the
boundaries of a major
urban centre.
In fact, this marsh, swamp and
bog complex is a Class 1
provincially significant
wetland.
There are two type habitats
 Aquatic Habitats

Ponds & Streams
Marsh
Bogs
Swamps
Terrestrial Habitats
Meadow
Shrubs
Forest
Plantation
Pond and Stream
This ecosystem
has an area of 36.4
hectares,
accounting for
12.2% of the total
area. A pond is a
standing body of
water, while a
stream is flowing
water. The area has
six major ponds.
Marsh
This ecosystem has
an area of 12.5
hectares and
represents 4.2% of
total area. Is
identifiable by
continuous stands
of tall emergent
vegetation such as
cattails, sedges and
rushes.
Bog
This ecosystem is the
smallest with an area
of 1.2 hectares
representing 0.4% of
total area. It is
composed of a deep
layer of saturated peat,
and moss (sphagnum).
Swamp
This ecosystem has an
area of 21.0 hectares
and represents 7.1 % of
total area. This habitat
type is characterized by
closed canopy of
hardwood trees or tall
shrubs growing in an
area where the water
table is at the surface.
Meadow
This ecosystem has
an area of 27.5
hectares,
accounting for 9.2%
of the total area.
The dominant
species are grasses
and forbs which are
usually less than
two feet in height.
Shrub
This ecosystem has an
area of 32.0 hectares,
accounting for 10.7%
of the total area.
Scattered woody plants
up to twenty feet in
height are typical of
this habitat.
Forest
This habitat has an area
of 167 hectares,
accounting for 22.6 %
of the total area. This
type is characterized by
a closed canopy of tree
species over twenty feet
in height.
Plantation
This area has 2.8
hectares, accounting
for 0.9 % of the total
area. Just four
plantations are
present.
Diversity of species
 757 species of vascular plants,





including 30 that are
nationally and/or
provincially rare
Over 200 species of birds
19 species of fish
14 species of amphibians
Nine species of reptiles
Numerous insect species
We must have to protect this
valuable natural resource
Work cites
 City of London, ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
GUIDELINES, London, Ontario, 2007.
 City of London, MASTER PLAN 2005, London,
Ontario, 2005.
 City of London, BIOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE
PROPOSED, London, Ontario, 1981.