| Tony Fleischman - Manager, Forestry. More to come
The Cawthra Ratepayers'
and
Residents' Association (CRRA)and the FRIENDS OF THE CAWTHRA BUSH
&
GREATER MISSISSAUGA AREA (FCB)
Station B Box 1504 Mississauga Ontario L4Y 4G2 - donbar@arvotek.netCity of Mississauga.
ATTN: Urban Forest Management Advisory Committee
- Karin Brent, UFMAC Committee Coordinator. RE: [#109] Norway maples wrongly removed - the second attack on Jefferson Salamander habitat this year and why are
UFMAC members enthusiastic about creating forest management plans that are being used by the City to destroy
what the plans claim to protect ???? It is specifically requested that this letter should be included in the earliest possible UFMAC agenda. Dear Sirs: Sept. 17, 2001 [#109] The City was caught red-handed violating the City's Cawthra Woods Management and
Implementation Plans. In Tony Flaischmann's letter dated Jul. 31, a confession to that fact then
falsehoods to try and distract from the true nature of events. There is no apology for not following
the management plan, in fact there is no mention of any part of the plan that was violated. The letter
also contains a promise to further violate the City's forest management plans for the Cawthra Bush.
How can this happen? He, like some many other City staff hide behind the Mayor's skirt and do as
they please, knowing they can't be held accountable. Why is this of interest to UFMAC members? Well ask your self this question; What is the point of creating forest management plans to
protect forests' when they are not carried out or worse used by the City to destroy what they
should protecting?? I don't use the term that the City most often uses, "woodlot", as that term
means a place where you cut down trees for firewood and construction material. Currently UFMAC
is setting its priorities for what parklands' they will provide aid to the City in creating management
plans for. This exercise is also designed to ensure matters concerning the Cawthra Bush will not be
allowed to presented to UFMAC by way of presentation or deputation, which will greatly aid the
City in hiding just how it misuses the management plans created by UFMAC. In fact, the forest
management plans that UFMAC creates to protect environmentally significant/sensitive areas are
being used to destroy those very same areas by City staff that ignore or deliberately
misinterpreted them! UFMAC needs to set as one of its priorities the review of how City staff are
carrying out UFMAC's and City Council's approved forest management plans. If City staff are NOT
carrying out the very specific instruction contained in the forest management plans that UFMAC
approves, then surely this fact must be taken into account before aiding the City in any future forest
management plans. UFMAC needs to know what the City will, in reality do, not do and why.
- 1 -
- 2 - Further more to what UFMAC's priorities should be - wildlife issues in Mississauga. Those
of note, rare, threatened or endangered should be welcome on every UFMAC agenda as their
survival depends on a speedy response to any concerns. UFMAC has to act like it cares by its actions
and role. The Jefferson Salamander needs to be one of those species that UFMAC is willing to hear
about at any time and especially if City staff have any dealings regarding the Jeffersons', they should
report it to UFMAC, not hide it. Also, lands that are environmentally significant should also be
welcome on any given UFMAC agenda. UFMAC appears to have taken the first step in ensuring
the City will totally control UFMAC's agenda. UFMAC should make the review of how the City is carrying out the Cawthra Management
plans a top priority as the Cawthra Bush has been significantly upgraded to a Provincially
Significant Wetlands Complex with a Federally declared threatened species, (the Jefferson
Salamander), two very important environmental features that the existing management plans do not
properly address. Further more the City has shown that it is not carrying out the existing
Management plan. A list of questions is provided for UFMAC to ask the City to get the best
possible understanding of the gravity of the situation and know more then just what the City wants
you to know. Time is an issue, to allowing the City to delay hearing the facts till the Oct 22, UFMAC
meeting is more then enough time for City to finish removing the rest of forest cover and too late for
UFMAC to intervene to stop this attack on the Jefferson Salamanders/Cawthra Bush. When UFMAC
or its Chair, decided to not allow this issue to be presented by way of presentation to UFMAC it
aided the City in hiding the facts, eliminating a THREATENED species from Mississauga (Cawthra
Bush is likely the last place the Jeffersons' occur in Mississauga), and it is very significant that City
staff didn't report that the Ministry of Natural Resources had to called in again to stop the City, twice
in one year. This should have been automatically reported to UFMAC and as it was not, should be
seen as a sign of a guilty mind. Further more Jefferson salamanders have been know to migrate from the inside the forest 400
m (0.25 mi) and up to 1,600 m (1 mi), to get to their breeding ponds. The City claims that a buffer
zone of 73 feet is somehow going protect these Salamanders? Given distance the Jefferson
Salamanders can travel most of forest should be considered their habitat and subjected to forest
management that specifically protects their habitat requirements and error on the side of caution to
ensure their survival. In saying this it also needs to be clearly noted the City's management plans
were not written to take into consideration two very important developments. The Cawthra Bush
being declared a Provincially Significant Wetlands Complex with a Federally declared threatened
species, (the Jefferson Salamander). The fact the City is having problems shows that it doesn't act
like this matters. The City needs to upgrade its plans and present them to UFMAC and the FCB for
review. UFMAC needs to give the City direction to do this as otherwise it will not happen in a
timely fashion.
I withdraw my request, made in my letter dated Jul. 29/01, that the work be done at a later time in the
year as the City has not done any of the studies it should have done before even starting the work, as they were
to be used to control the work. Therefore the work needs to be put off till these studies are done and reviewed
by UFMAC.
- 3 -
From the UFMAC and City Council approved forest implementation plan for the Cawthra Bush
dated Dec. 15/99 page AA 9, regarding controlling the Norway maples. Emphasis added. Control Approaches:
In order to minimize disturbance to wildlife habitat in the vicinity of the pond, Norway maple
control measures are to be phased over a seven (7) year period, with the objective to gradually thin
out the Norway maples. No control measures are to take place in early spring and in mid-summer,
in order to prevent any harm to salamanders and other amphibians at critical times in their
breeding and migration. Any such control measures must take place well outside those time periods
(by as much as 3 weeks to one month outside the two critical time periods), and the critical time
periods are to be confirmed on a year-by-year basis by amphibian monitoring, before control measures
can proceed. [ COMMENTS - There is no "gradually thin out", it is a clear cut. This forest management plan calls
specifically for no cutting when the salamander would be "breeding and migration" and the City's
clear cutting was done right in the middle of the time the Jefferson Salamanders are known to be
leaving the pond and travelling that route. The City paid for a Salamander study that made that
very clear and they keep that study hidden from not only public but UFMAC as well. It is Sept. and
there are still salamanders coming out of the pond and in the general area. I have seen them in the
pond as late as Nov. I have studied the Salamanders more then the City. The City's plan says all
the right words, about how to respect "critical time periods" but it is just window dressing as the
actions are not there. There has been no report of any "year-by-year basis by amphibian monitoring",
made known. Another reason why no work should have been done. ] Until such time that the complete exotic species survey is completed, the following interim control
measures will be adopted:
- Killing the identified parent trees by ring girdling no more than two (2) parent trees annually
(followed up by cutting off stump suckers and new trees forming from the stump) beginning in the
summer of 2000. Retention of the standing dead trees (including or excluding the crown branches
for habitat diversity) will have to be assessed individually on proximity to public use areas and the
element of risk. Branches or stems of norway maples that are felled are to be left on the forest
floor for habitat. [ COMMENTS - The City has jumped ahead and tried to girdle four trees at one time, in 2000. It
needs to noted that the Norway maples have not been properly girdled by the City's forestry staff.
From; http://www.eeb.uconn.edu/cipwg/art_pubs/GUIDE/x15norway.html#C; Norway Maple
(Acer platanoides) - Management Options - Girdling: Girdling is useful on large trees where
removal of large trees is not practical. Using a hand axe, make a cut through the bark encircling the
base of the tree, approximately 15 cm (6 in) above the ground. Be sure that the cut goes well into
the cambium layer. In fact, I would say great care was taken not to cut into the wood under the
bark. To make sure a chain saw should have been used to cut at least an inch deep cut around the
tree. From July till now the one stump sucker off a Norway maple has reached more then three feet.
The plan clearly calls for the "Branches or stems of norway maples that are felled are to be left on
the forest floor for habitat." and not only were the branches and steams not left to cover the area that
they once covered, even after I requested it, but they were chipped up and removed from the forest.
Which is not what was reported to the MNR by City staff. If the branches were left then it would
not have created the death trap that the City has created. Jefferson Salamanders start to travel north
along their established migration route only to find themselves exposed to predators and
dehydration due to loss of forest cover. - 4 - Further to the wrongful loss of forest cover - no plants were planted to replace those removed and
the City says it will keep on cutting this Oct., unless UFMAC stops the City. ]
From the UFMAC and City Council approved forest implementation plan for the Cawthra Bush
dated Dec. 15/99 page AA 10, regarding controlling the Norway maples. Emphasis added. - Removal by manual severing of saplings below grade (with a shovel) and hand pulling of
seedlings, not exceeding one-fifth (1/5) of the sapling population, beginning in the summer of
2000. The objective is to minimize habitat disturbance by gradually thinning out the Norway
maples. This material is to be either chipped and left on site, or removed from the site, to prevent
possible re-rooting. Assistance from the public is to be sought and training/guidance of volunteers
by City staff will be a prerequisite. [ COMMENTS - Saw no evidence of any trees being removed by shovels. Again the City states "The
objective is to minimize habitat disturbance by gradually thinning out the Norway maples", but it
was a clear cut. Material was removed from site which further harmed the environment. This was
hidden from the public and assistance from the public was not sough, in fact the stewardship
recording (615-4099), is still the same one being played back in May of this year. If I had known when the
cutting was going to be done I would have been there to ensure it was done right. Also the removal
was hidden to make sure no one (such as myself), would be there to quote the Cawthra Woods
Management plan to City staff as they were violating it. The City plan calls specifically for a certain
course of action and City staff did just the opposite. Maybe UFMAC should write forest
management plans that call for the destruction of forests so City staff will do the opposite? To aid the survival of the Jefferson Salamanders no further work should be done to Norway maples
in the area till forest management plans have been updated to reflect the new environmental
significance of the Cawthra Bush and the Jefferson Salamander. ]
From the UFMAC and City Council approved implementation plan for the Cawthra Bush dated Dec.
15/99 page 11. Emphasis added. 3.8 Wildlife - Issue Definition The presence of breeding populations of amphibians (newts and salamanders) has been confirmed
by members of the ‘Friends of Cawthra Bush’, who are continuing to investigate the finding
independent of City staff involvement. ... Downed wood is a particularly important habitat requirement for
salamanders (as well as many other amphibians, reptiles, insects, small mammals, etc.). In light of
this finding, and the possible presence of relatively rare amphibians, there may be opportunity for
provision of additional breeding habitat. City staff have contacted appropriate authorities/experts and are
analysing these opportunities. [ COMMENTS - Yes we are "continuing to investigate the finding independent of City staff
involvement", but no one is listening. "Downed wood is a particularly important habitat
requirement for salamanders", branches and stems should have been left but the City did just the
opposite. Who are the people who are doing this and why are they not following the plan? The
only habitat modifications opportunities that City staff are acting on, is removing habitat! ] - 5 - From the UFMAC and City Council approved implementation plan for the Cawthra Bush dated Dec.
15/99 page 12. Emphasis added. Management Recommendations 1. Through the park partnership program (See 3.1 above) contact special interest groups having
the necessary knowledge or train other interested groups or individuals to begin an inventory
of the fauna of Cawthra Woods. [ COMMENTS - The City still shuts out the FCB and refuses to recognize the CRRA. Either way I
was not contacted about this. ] 2. Continue the existing policy of leaving, standing den and snag trees and downed wood in
the
Cawthra Woods if public safety is not jeopardized. [ COMMENTS - Downed wood was removed even after it was requested that it be left and the City
informed the MNR that it would remain. The City should right away lay down about a foot thick
layer of branches with leaves to replace this habitat, even if it means using material from outside
Cawthra Bush. ] ... 4. Control of invasive plants, especially norway maple, must be assessed in known Jefferson
complex salamander habitat to ensure that restoration plantings with native species are
carried
out immediately. [ COMMENTS - Not done and Norway maples should remain till this situation is fully reviewed. ]
From the UFMAC and City Council approved forest management plan for the Cawthra Bush dated
Dec. 15/99 page 20. Emphasis added. Several recent discoveries have been made by members of The Friends of Cawthra Bush, a local
group. In the spring of 1997, Jefferson complex salamanders (Ambystoma jeffersonianum x
Ambystoma laterale) were observed to be mating in the pond located at the southerly end of the
south lawn. The presence of this salamander was confirmed again in April of 1998. Jefferson
salamanders are relatively rare, having a National Rank of G5 (the highest) and a Regional Ranking
of 2 (second highest ranking for scarcity) as listed by the Natural Heritage Information Centre
(Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, 1997). Other reported sitings by the Friends of Cawthra
Bush include: red-backed salamanders, frogs located by the pond at the end of the south lawn,
numerous toads and chimney crayfish found on the property adjacent to the easement. More
research on herptile species inhabiting and/or breeding in Cawthra Woods and the adjacent
easement needs to be done. It must include a much more rigorous inventory process to accurately
assess population levels and habitat utilization. [ COMMENTS - What has the City done in almost 2 years???? ] - 6 - From the UFMAC and City Council approved forest management plan for the Cawthra Bush dated
Dec. 15/99 page 32. Emphasis added. 4.7 Wildlife Management - Issue Definition
As previously cover under 2.2 Present Condition Wildlife, inventory data on herptile species is
lacking. A detailed inventory of herptile population and continued seasonal monitoring of
population levels, possibly in conjunction with a University (e.g. University of Guelph, University
of Toronto) college, high school groups and local naturalists and residents is to be investigated.
Protection of existing breeding and larval habitat for amphibians and possible provision of
additional ponds is to be investigated. [ COMMENTS - Staff should report on what they have done. Below is what is repeated in the
"Recommended Management Activities", repeated like it was important. ]
From the UFMAC and City Council approved forest management plan for the Cawthra Bush dated
Dec. 15/99 page 33 & 34. Emphasis added. A detailed inventory of reptiles and amphibians and continued seasonal monitoring of population
levels, possibly in conjunction with the University of Guelph and/or other universities, colleges,
high schools and local naturalists will be investigated. Protection of existing breeding and larval
habitat for amphibians and possible provision of additional ponds is to be investigated.
From the UFMAC and City Council approved forest management plan for the Cawthra Bush dated
Dec. 15/99 page A 42. Emphasis added. 4. It should be recognized that non-native plants are performing some ecological functions (e.g.,
soil stabilization, provision of habitat) and may be better than nothing at all. Thus the removal
of non-native populations must be done in conjunction with re-establishment of native
communities to prevent creating a greater ecological problem. [ COMMENTS - The moisture regime is very important and the removal of the dense forest cover
that Norway maples provide would have lower the moisture levels in the areas of removal and
would be deadly to small Jefferson Salamanders leaving the pond. Moisture levels should be
studied as well. A letter has been received from the University of Toronto offering a free study of
the watertable at the Cawthra Bush and both the City and UFMAC has turned its back on this offer.
WHY? ] Another detail is the management plans doesn’t contain the same details about Jefferson
Salamanders as the implementation plan does and creates the opportunity for the old the left hand
doesn't know what the right hands is doing, political trick.
- 7 -
The enclosures and comments; The "Salamander Survey at Cawthra Park" done for the City of Mississauga by James P.
Bogart, dated Aug. 26/99. This study, that the City paid for and which under the City's
management plans should be used for decision making is being ignored. It clearly states when the
majority of the salamanders will be leaving the pond (Jeffersons included), and still the City
undertakes the work that its own management plans specifically states should not be done. The City
management plans even say NO work (and even noted it was regarding the Norway maple
removal), for weeks or a month after the "critical time periods", it could not be clearer. I have seen
salamanders come out of that pond as late as Nov. Further more these salamanders have been know
to migrate from inside the forest 400 m (0.25 mi) and up to 1,600 m (1 mi), to get to the breeding
ponds. The City claims that a buffer zone of 73 feet is somehow going protect these Salamanders?
This study and facts contained in it, needs to be summarised to make it useful for UFMAC and the
City. My July 29/01 letter to the MNR, CVC and City of Mississauga. Although I state that the
issue is just timing in that letter, since then the City forest management plans have been reviewed
in greater depth and timing is not the only issue. I withdraw my request that the work be done at
a later time of the year as the City has not done any of the work it should have done before even
starting the work. Therefore; the work needs to be put off till the City does the needed studies that
are promised in its forest management and implementation plans and reviewed by UFMAC to
ensure they are appropriate. E-mails, dated Jul. 30/01 - Jul. 31/01 (from John Lohuis), Jul. 31/01 (to John Lohuis), Aug.
1/01 (from Judi Orendorff), Aug. 1/01 (to Judi Orendorff) and Aug. 2/01 (from Judi Orendorff).
These tell another tale of how the City operates (misleads). I have asked for the City to present its
side of the story and it will not, clearly the persons involved know they are at fault. The City makes
no mention or acknowledgement the parts of the forest management plans they have violated. The
very specific and reasonable request that branches be left on site to replace the cover the City was
removing, which would be in accordance with the City's own management plans, disregarded. The
fact is, that areas along a known Jefferson Salamander migration route, that were fully covered, are
now fully exposed to the sun and drying them out. The destruction of Jefferson Salamander habitat
and now a potential death trap for them. What was noted in phone conversations was that the City
did in fact change its plans to continue its cutting from the next week, till later on in the year. The other e-mails. John Lohuis suggest that I will get a response from "Tony" but I never did.
This is the way the City of Mississauga treats a community representative. The MNR has no such
problem in responding to me. The e-mail from Judi Orendorff shows the City has certainly fooled
the MNR with falsehoods. Way to make Hazel proud! The City's letter dated Jul. 31/01, from Tony Fleischmann, the so-called Manager of Forestry.
A master piece of deception and it is no wonder they didn't sent it to me, as I would not be fooled.
Here are some point form comments; * The statement that "associate brush material is to remain on site." is an outright falsehood.
I have even check and photographed the piles of chipped wood around the Cawthra Bush and
none had recently added material, to their piles of the same kind of material chipped up by
this
operation. And even if the City tries to argue this is not right, it will not change the fact the
forest management plan called for the branches to be left to replace the very cover the City
was removing. - 8 -
* First of all I am the person who sounded the alarm about the City attacking the Jefferson
Salamanders habitat, again, and do I get a copy of the letter sent out by the City? NO! The
City sends out a letter to everyone I did (the persons at the MNR would share the same letter)
but not to the community representative who originally raised these concerns. This is proof
the City is shutting the community and especially me out of the picture. In fact the opening
line reads as if I didn't even write everyone first! Please remember this the next time UFMAC
members feel the urge to suggest that I contact staff, this is proof of how unprofessional City
staff are, they will not communicate with me. Clearly there are political forces at work
here. * This letter doesn't say who made the decision to go in, at the time they did or who did the
supervision by City Forestry staff? * There is no suggestion in this letter of any error on the City's part, all actions that are
presented as being deliberate and premeditated. This letter doesn't refer to the specific
requirements that the City Council approved forest management plan imposed on any work
undertaken near the Jefferson Salamander breeding pond. This is called a cover up. Unless
the writer of this letter wishes to state he is so totally incompetent that he has not even read
the Cawthra Woods forest management plans or capable of carrying out it specific
instructions. After all no reason has been given for totally ignoring the plan. * Where in the City's forest management plan does it say "the habitat of the Jefferson
Salamander paramount" or something even close??? This not the case and even if the City
did try and pull a quote about how it (in writing), claims to care about the survival of the
Jefferson Salamander actions speak louder. It is well and truly said that if there is a difference
between what is said and what is done, only a fool would believe what was said. * The control of Norway maple is not being carried out according to the City forest
management plan. And current City actions are endangering the ecological processes at the Cawthra Bush. * Were these students presented with the forest management plan and if so why did they
disregard it and City staff allow it? * There are no details given about how the salamanders were monitored and what was seen. * The idea that there is a reasonable "buffer zone" left for the Jefferson Salamanders is
something that only fool those who are unaware of the facts. It is an established fact that
Jefferson Salamander can travel in their migrations up to a mile, NOT just the 73 feet the City
left uncut. (Refer to "Amphibians and Reptiles of the Great Lakes Region" by James H.
Harding, enclosed.) This letter also states the City's intention of removing that buffer zone
this year. In fact if you look at what the City did do, there is no reasonable pattern to call a
properly thought-out buffer zone, it just looks like City stopped in mid job. * Just as a side note - this letter have been provided to the Provincial government as a example
of how City staff will provide falsehoods in writhing to fool the Provincial government.
- 9 - Questions/actions UFMAC should ask the City require a written report from staff on. UFMAC is a
committee of Council and it can request this. Answers should be in writing as they would need to be
verified. If UFMAC fails to act, then what else can the public believe but that UFMAC is knowing aiding the
City in destroying the Cawthra Bush? * How was the monitoring done by worker removing the Norway Maples and what was done to make
sure salamanders were not stepped on? * What specific training did the students who were doing the work have? * Peter Lyons has reported to UFMAC there was a good crop of salamanders this year, he should be
asked to provide, in writing, these facts as well as what ever else the City has to show the City has
been studying and monitoring that the Cawthra Bush forest management and implementation plans have
required the City do. * Peter Lyons has earlier reported that a fence was to be built around the Jefferson breeding pond earlier
this year and it was not. He should be asked to when it will be. * James Bogart's study needs to rewritten so that the important facts contained in it can be used by staff
and be shared with UFMAC, the FCB, MNR and CVC. * The forest management plans calls for amphibian monitoring, what has been done and what has been
done that relates to control of Norway maples? * Has the "complete exotic species survey " been done? * Has "City staff have contacted appropriate authorities/experts and are analysing these opportunities."
in regrades to creating habitat for Jefferson Salamanders and what do they have to report. * The City's forest management plans call for - More research on herptile species inhabiting and/or
breeding in Cawthra Woods and the adjacent easement needs to be done. It must include a much
more rigorous inventory process to accurately assess population levels and habitat utilization. Has this
been done? If not, when? * Are moisture levels going to be studied? Why has the City not agreed to the University of Toronto's
offer of a free study of the watertable at the Cawthra Bush? * Who decided how big the buffer zone should be and why is it that size? * What has the City done to upgrade its plans to take into account the Cawthra Bush is now a
Provincially Significant Wetlands Complex with a Federally declared threatened species, (the Jefferson
Salamander)? If the City not, then the City should be told to do so. * Ask for a copy of the City work order for the removal of the Norway maples and a copy of anything
else used as instructions by the workers. * A copy of the Cawthra Woods management and implementation plans should be sent to the MNR
and CVC. * Direct City staff to immediately do plants to replace the lost forest cover and lay down a foot or two
of branches with leaves to create Jefferson Salamander habitat. This is so important that branches
from outside the forest should be used. - 10 - The Significance of Cawthra Woods, just so we don't forget the Cawthra Bush is worth the special
effort to over see the City actions to make sure the City is properly controlled.
Geomatics (1996) has noted the following factors which contribute to the significance of Cawthra
Woods: * High native Floristic Quality Index and native mean coefficient
* Identified as a regional Area of Natural and Scientific Interest and Environmentally Significant Area
* Historical nesting record for red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus)
* Diversity of plant species (292)
* Large size (21.56 ha)
* Twelve plant species documented from this site are considered to be rare within the City
(known from 3 or fewer locations).
* Thirty-four plant species documented from this site are considered to be uncommon within
the City (known from 4 to 10 locations)
* Area known as a migratory stopover
* Presence of Jefferson complex salamanders
-------
In 2000
* The Cawthra Bush was declared a Provincially Significant Wetlands Complex.
* The Jefferson Salamander (likely the last place in Mississauga it is found is in the Cawthra
Bush), is declared (Federally), by COSEWIC as a threatened species
I am willing to discuss my letter with you, in case the wording seems a little ambiguous or
you want a request explained. My phone number is (905) ******** & e-mail donbar@arvotek.net.
There is an answering machine you can leave private messages on. As long as you are talking the
machine will record. If someone answers the phone before the machine can come on, please ask
them to hang up and let the next call ring through. I would appreciate your co-operation in using
the answering machine, rather than leaving messages with anyone else answering the telephone. Please find enclosed;
1). A copy of the cover page and page 6 of the "Salamander Survey at Cawthra Park" done for the City of Mississauga and done by
James P. Bogart. Dated Aug. 26/99.
2). A copy of page 66 from the "Amphibians and Reptiles of the Great Lakes Region" by James H. Harding.
3). A copy of my July 29/01 letter to the MNR, CVC and City of Mississauga.
4). A copy of my e-mail dated Jul. 30/01
5). A copy of 2 pages with e-mails dated Jul. 31/01 (from John Lohuis), Jul. 31/01 (to John Lohuis), Aug. 1/01 (from Judi Orendorff),
Aug. 1/01 (to Judi Orendorff) and Aug. 2/01 (from Judi Orendorff).
6). A copy of the City's letter dated Jul. 31/01.
7). A map to show the wrongful cutting done by the City. Sincerely yours - Donald Barber, President, FCB & Chair, CRRA.
Side note for map
Cawthra Bush - 2001 The wrongful removal of Norway
Maples in direct violation of the City's own
forest management plans for the Cawthra
Bush, that were suppose to protect the
Jefferson Salamanders, listed as a
THREATENED species, Federally. Instead the
management plans are being used to destroy
amphibian habitat, threatening the Jefferson
existence. The measurements noted here were
taken just after the cutting was discovered and
the City was in the middle of its clear cut, July
29/2001. The City has a study that clearly
notes the Jefferson Salamander youth would
be leaving their only breeding pond in
Mississauga, and migrating along the route the
City was clear cutting. That between Jul. 19th
and Aug. 5th, the majority would be leaving
the breeding pond. These young are only 2 or
so inches long and dark brown or black, very
well camouflaged. Very hard for those who
are doing the removing the forest cover to see. The removal of heavy forest cover
created by the Norway Maples has many
negative affects. It removes protection from
predators including little boys with buckets. It exposes the whole area to direct sun light, drying it out and greatly lowering the ground
moisture. By leaving some saplings by the pond, this leads the salamanders north to what could
be called a death trap. The City's own plans and my request was that the branches be left to
provide cover and habitat. They too were removed. With them, should also go, any trust for the
City of Mississauga and the promises, even those made in writing, that it makes.
G is for the trees Girdled. A is for remaining areas Norway maple saplings are still, generally.
B is for the areas where jewel weed grows.
The Cawthra Ratepayers'
and
Residents' Association (CRRA) and the FRIENDS OF THE CAWTHRA BUSH
&
GREATER MISSISSAUGA AREA (FCB)
Station B Box 1504 Mississauga Ontario L4Y 4G2 - donbar@arvotek.net City of Mississauga.
ATTN: Tony Fleischman, Forestry Manager.
RE: Jefferson Salamander and their habitat in the Cawthra Bush.
Dear Sir: Sept. 28, 2001 Enclosed is letter 109 to UFMAC for your review and I would like your comments
before posting on the internet. They should be no later then Oct. 3, preferably in writing.
If you could, please clarify who authorized the removal of the Norway maples in the
Cawthra Bush in July/01 and who signed the work order. What other details you can supply
would be helpful.
I am willing to discuss my letter with you, in case the wording seems a little
ambiguous or you want a request explained. My phone number is ***-**** & e-mail
donbar@arvotek.net. There is an answering machine you can leave private messages on.
As long as you are talking the machine will record. If someone answers the phone before the
machine can come on, please ask them to hang up and let the next call ring through. I would
appreciate your co-operation in using the answering machine, rather than leaving messages
with anyone else answering the telephone. Sincerely yours - Donald Barber, President, FCB & Chair, CRRA.
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