Download Elbow Lake Environmental Education Centre Background Information

Elbow Lake Environmental Education Centre Background Information
Natural Features
Frontenac Arch Natural Area
The Frontenac Arch (or Axis) is the southern extension of the Precambrian Shield rocks of the Algonquin
Highlands that connects the Algonquin region with the Adirondack Mountains of New York State. The
Frontenac Arch is characterized by rugged igneous and metamorphic ridges, often heavily forested,
alternating with deep valleys containing a variety of mesic forests and wetlands. The fractured landscape
produces many blocked drainages resulting in a multitude of lakes and a diverse system of wetland types.
The Arch is an area of significant ecological overlap between southern Carolinian elements and northern
boreal and mixed forest systems. As a result, this is one of the most biologically diverse areas in Ontario,
particularly rich in plant and bird species.
Hewlett-Packard Property (Elbow Lake)
This property is the heart of one of the three critical acquisition zones identified in the emerging Frontenac
Arch Natural Area Conservation Plan currently under development. This parcel has been identified as a
Priority 1 property. The Hewlett-Packard property is situated between two existing core areas within the
Natural Area – Frontenac Provincial Park (12,000 acres) and the Queen’s University Biological Station
(7,000 acres).
The Hewlett-Packard property features rugged terrain characteristic of the Frontenac Arch with high
domed granite and metamorphic ridges with deep wooded valleys and lowland and shoreline wetlands
including beaver ponds, marshes, and wooded swamp. Soils are shallow. The property is a mix of wetland
and heavily forested areas. The property includes approximately six kilometres of shoreline frontage on
Elbow, Spectacle, and Upper Rock Lakes. The shoreline areas are dominated by White Pine (Pinus
strobus). The southern one third of the property consists of shallow soils over largely metamorphic
sandstones and limestone in fairly low relief and is dominated by Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata),
Bitternut Hickory (C. cordiformis), Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa) and White Pine. Bare rock ridges are
sparsely covered with grasses and lichen interspersed with patches of Common Juniper (Juniperus
communis). The northern two thirds of the property has a spectacular series of high granite ridges and
deep wooded valleys. Forests are more typical of the Frontenac Arch Till Plain Forests dominated by
Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum), White Ash (Fraxinus americana), Red Oak (Quercus rubra) and White
Oak (Quercus alba) with strong Carolinian elements such as Shagbark Hickory, Blue Beech (Carpinus
caroliniana), Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor), Rock Elm (Ulmus thomasii), and Black Maple (Acer
saccharum var. nigrum). There are a number of large wetlands on the property including shallow lakes,
beaver ponds, and wooded swamps. Approximately 30% of the property is lake or wetland. While none of
the wetlands are listed as Provincially Significant, none have yet been inventoried by Ontario Ministry of
Natural Resources. PSWs occur both to the immediate north (Stonehouse Lake Wetland Complex) and
south (Leland Wetland). Similarly, no ANSI has been recorded for the property but there are ANSI lands
both to the immediate north (Hebert Fen) and south (Loughborough Lake Swamp).
Several significant plant and animal species have been observed on or near this property. Eastern
Ratsnake is known to be common on the property. Other significant species which likely occur on the
property include Five-lined Skink, Stinkpot, Cerulean Warbler, and Butternut.
The property also contains significant infrastructure: 19 buildings with more than 12,000 square feet of
heated space as well as docks, boats, storage facilities, and machinery.
- received in an email (personal communication) from Dr Stephen Lougheed, Queens University Biological
Station Director, on April 30, 2013.