This is a good short letter to noting how the Cawthra Bush is and it is being recognized as being more and Environmental Significant, the more it is studied.  It was the FCB that got the ball rolling.  But soon it will just recording what was there and now gone forever because the Mayor wants the Cawthra Bush and the Northmount community that has protected it for so long, gone for good.  Your tax dollars at work.

City of Mississauga
Planning & Development meeting - Jan. 12-04.

RE: For file: OZ 02/023 W1 - The Cawthra Bush's environmental significance.

Dear Committee:                                     Jan. 12, 2004.#1

 The following list of the Cawthra Bush's environmental significance will be destroied by over use from "INTENSIFICATION" or over-populating the area if the City does not join the taxpayers and residents in opossing townhouses in the Northmount area and change the zoning accordingly.  The character of the community in terms of its built form will be eilminated, as well as, its character in terms of its environmental features, the Cawthra Bush.

 This letter contains documentation of only some of the Cawthra Bush's important environmental features.  From the City of Mississauga's own Cawthra Woods Management Plan, notation of the Jefferson
Salamander in the Cawthra Bush and a rare acknowledgment of the Friends of the Cawthra Bush's work to help save the Cawthra Bush.  Further to acknowledgment of the benefits of our efforts can be found in Natalie
J. Helferty's Natural Heritage Planning for Amphibians and their Habitats, report.  In which are pictures of an important element in understanding the habitat requirements for Jefferson Salamanders, they nest communally.  In the Ministry of Natural Resource's Wetlands Evaluation of the Cawthra Bush, it lists the Jefferson Salamander as being rare and the Committee On the Status of Endangered Wildlife In Canada (COSEWIC), lists it as being THREATENED.  The Province rates the Jefferson Salamander differently then the Federal Canada government.  Salamanders are amphibians and considered a key indicator of ecosystem health.

 For years the FCB has petitioned the City for a Wetlands Evaluation for the Cawthra Bush and the results were that the Cawthra Bush is recognized as Provincially Significant Wetlands Complex.  However, there are more important wetlands features not yet added to the official list for the Cawthra Bush, such as the Vernal ponds and Fairly Shrimp.  The City's own Natural Areas Survey shows that more study is finding more species, at the Cawthra Bush;

In the 1996 survey it lists 292 floral species and 75 faunal species documented.
In the 2002 survey it lists 331 floral species and 79 faunal species documented.

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In the 1996 survey it lists no rare species in the Cawthra Bush.
In the 2002 survey it lists 2 rare species in the Cawthra Bush.
The Jefferson Salamander and Eastern milk snake (Federally as a species of concern).

In the 1996 survey it lists no Herptiles (Amphibians & Reptiles).
In the 2002 survey it lists  5  Herptiles species.

In the 1996 survey it lists 34 plant species considered to be uncommon within the City.
In the 2002 survey it lists 47 plant species considered to be uncommon within the City.
 
In the 1996 survey it lists the native FQI at 57.67 and the native mean coefficient at 4.17
In the 2002 survey it lists the native FQI at 62.88 and the native mean coefficient at 4.21
(both Floristic Quality numbers are high)

In the 1996 survey it lists no bird species of concern by the Credit Valley Conservation.
In the 2002 survey it lists  3  bird species of concern by the Credit Valley Conservation.

In the 1996 survey it lists the Cawthra Bush just as a Regional Area of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI) and Environmentally Significant Area (ESA) by the Credit Valley Conservation.  In the 2002 survey it lists also list the Cawthra Bush as a Provincially Significant Wetland Complex.

 The Bird and Hale study done in 1989 lists most trees as being between 80 & 90 years old, however that study did not look at the whole forest.  The south section was left out and the City was made to admit it had trees that are estimated at 125 years old.  The south section is understudied, the north has received limited logging in the late 1920's and 1994.  Everything has grown back from its own seeds and the south goes all the way back to the ice age as a forest.  Even if the age of trees noted in the Bird and Hale report are taken as fact, then many trees in other parts of the forest would be in the 94 to 104 year range.  Paul F. Maycock, retired Professor, University of Toronto - Mississauga, has written to us saying the Cawthra Bush should be considered an Old-Growth forest (more then just the age of the trees, the ecosystem as well), which is in an urban setting.

 There is likely even more to be discovered in the Cawthra Bush BUT we must ensure its survival or they will be gone before they are even found and to ensure this natural Heritage community treasure can be passed on to future generations.  This can only mean the recognition of the fact, that the low density housing around the Cawthra Bush for about 100 years has protected the Cawthra Bush.  Now the Cawthra Bush is recognized as having both Provincially & Canadian (National) significant features.  Mississauga should not drop the ball for future generations.  Say no to the money from high density townhouse subdivisions.

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 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.

Please find enclosed:

1).    Copy of Paul F. Maycock's Feb. 21-94, letter (retyped for legibility).
2).    Copy of page, 15 & 20 from the City of Mississauga's Cawthra Woods
         Management Plan, Dec. 15-99.
3).    Copy of the City's of Mississauga's Natural Areas Survey (1996).
4).    Copy of a letter from the Ministry of Natural Resources, dated
         Aug. 23-00.
5).    Copy of a page from the Ministry of Natural Resources Wetlands
         Evaluation of the Cawthra Bush.
6).    Copy of the Committee On the Status of Endangered Wildlife In Canada
         (COSEWIC), dated Feb. 22-02.
7).    Copy of the City's of Mississauga's Natural Areas Survey (2002).
8).    Copy of the front page and centre spread (4 & 5), of the Amphibian
         Voice a newsletter put out by the Toronto Zoo, Summer 2002.
9).    Copy of 4 pages from Natalie J. Helferty's Natural Heritage Planning for
         Amphibians and their Habitats, report dated Dec. 2002.

Sincerely yours, Donald Barber, President, FCB & Chair, CRRA.