Peace and Environment News* November 1991
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Peace and Environment News * November 1991 |
by Sheila Urquhart
 Children playing in Sawmill Creek. Photo: Lynn Kaplansky |
A natural green corridor along a heritage creek is about to be severely damaged by the construction of the southeast Transitway extension from Billings Bridge to Hunt Club Road.
Sawmill Creek and its environs teem with life, from insects and butterflies to nesting birds, beaver, foxes, green and blue herons and deer. Birds stop along the creek on spring and fall migrations, since food is bountiful.
Sawmill Creek is the only north-south green corridor with water in the City of Ottawa along which wildlife can safely move and live.
Sawmill Creek is also Ottawa's last fully functioning creek. There are a few remnants of creeks elsewhere, but most have been put underground or into culverts. Transitway construction will remove four of the creek's meanders, changing the water flow and seriously reducing habitat.
The Transitway has had no thorough environmental assessment. The first thirty-one kilometres, which include Sawmill Creek, are exempt from the Environmental Assessment Act, which came into effect in the late 1980s, after transitway plans were completed in the early 1980s. Future extensions of the Transitway will require environmental assessments.
A geologic site on the east bank of the creek, just west of Bank Street and south of Billings Bridge, has been designated an ANSI (Area of Natural Scientific Interest). This area is rated as "provincially significant" by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.
Two splendid colonies of cup plants (silphium perfoliatum) are thriving along Sawmill Creek, their only location in the Ottawa region. Cup plants are listed as provincially rate and nationally rare. Other rare and uncommon plants grow along the creek, including the slashed avens, purple-leaved willowherb and European high-bush cranberry.
The creek corridor from Billings Bridge to Heron Road has been officially designated an Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA). From Heron Road south, the creek corridor is designated open space. It is a heavily wooded, lush area, especially from Brookfield Road to south of Walkley Road. This stretch is used regularly by youngsters on nature hikes. Its rich, varied habitats provide abundant food to a wide variety of wildlife.
Local residents are extremely concerned about the impending loss of green space and damage to a precious wildlife habitat.
A public meeting will be held Tuesday, November 19 at Whitton Hall, City Hall, at 7 P.M. with government representatives to discuss the issue (see listing on page 7).
For more information, please call 521-8788 or 523-4427.
Converted August 28, 2001 - Lg
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