It’s been almost a year since Genesee Land Trust donors saved Deer Creek Woods on Lake Road in Ontario. This land is the “rawest” place ever acquired, so it will take a lot of planning, time, and investment to make Deer Creek Woods accessible for people of all ages and abilities to explore and enjoy.
Staff have been getting familiar with the land through the seasons, and Deer Creek Woods provides year-round beauty.
In May 2023 environmental consultants joined us to walk the property. We discussed land management options and gauged conditions for future improvements. Below are some observations and rough ideas:
Wetlands:
Enjoy a brief visit to the wetlands along Deer Creek Woods. (Video by Elliotte Bowerman)
Water was knee high in the wetlands along Deer Creek and there are many dead ash trees due to the emerald ash borer. Some of the ash trees will need to be cut down for visitor safety, while most others will be left for woodpeckers to enjoy. In addition to woodpeckers, we observed several species of warblers, green heron, and even an American bittern. To get to this scenic wetland area, we hope to identify funding in the next few years that will allow us to construct a boardwalk that you’ll be able to access year-round for some great sights and sounds.
(Images by Elliotte Bowerman. Video by Kevin Farrell)
Meadow:
This is the meadow area closest to the road, with a woody wet area in one section. (Video by Kevin Farrell)
The grassy meadow along the road doesn’t have trails yet, and we’re considering a potential loop path but the area nearest the creek can get quite muddy.
The meadow is also divided by a tree-filled hedgerow which might get removed to create one large meadow for grassland birds. It will still be some time before the land management team determines what will happen.
Woods:
We discovered a large vernal pool in the woods, a wonderful feature for frogs and salamanders.
This vernal pool is a type of wetland that appears in spring and dries out in the summer. (Video by Kevin Farrell)
Parking (for staff only at this time):
To make it easier and safer for staff to work at Deer Creek Woods, a parking lot has been installed, but the property is still closed to the public. Look for events later this year that will allow for an initial look at this new nature preserve. We hope to share a timeline for the opening of this property later this year.
If you’re interested in supporting phase 2 of Deer Creek Woods, including potential naming projects, please contact Whitney Brice at wbrice@geneseelandtrust.org.
This crawly bug was spotted on the mossy ground near the creek. (Photo by Elliotte Bowerman)
Other Deer Creek Woods images:
Fall update on Deer Creek Woods in November.2022
Summer 2022 images by Kevin Farrell:
