Duffins CreekState of the Watershed Report

Greenspace, Trails andRecreationJune 2002

Other topics in this series for both the Duffins Creek and the Carruthers Creek include:� Introduction� Study Area� Human Heritage� Land Use� Air Quality� Climate� Surface Water Quality� Surface Water Quantity� Stormwater Management� Fluvial Geomorphology� Hydrogeology� Aquatic Habitat and Species� Terrestrial Natural Heritage

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Toronto and Region Conservation, 5 Shoreham Drive, Downsview, Ontario M3N 1S4Telephone: (416) 661-6600 � Fax: (416) 661-6898 � www.trca.on.ca

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Table of ContentIntroduction to Greenspace, Trails and Recreation . . . . . . . . . . . .2The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority

Land Holdings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3South Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3Duffins Headwaters Management Plan and Related Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3Goodwood Resource Management Tract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3The Secord Forest and Wildlife Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4Clubine Agreement Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4Walker Woods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Timbers Brothers Gravel Pit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Glen Major Resource Management Tract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Claremont Field Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6Greenwood Conservation Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Municipal Lands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7Rotary Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Other Lands that Provide Outdoor Recreation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8Private Parks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8Golf Courses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Skiing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9Recreational Fishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9Educational Institutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10Trails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Waterfront Trail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10Inter-Regional Trail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11Trans Canada Trail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11Oak Ridges Moraine Trail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11Great Pine Ridge Equestrian Trail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13Seaton Hiking Trail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13Millers Creek Trail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15Tables and Figures

Table 1: Golf Courses Located in the Duffins Creek Watershed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8Figure 1: Duffins Creek Headwaters Management Plan Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Figure 2: Exisiting and Proposed Trails in the Duffins Creek Watershed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

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Introduction to Greenspace,Trails and RecreationIn 1999, Environment Canada released The Importance of Natureto Canadians: Survey Highlights. This summary of a 1996 survey of87,000 people tells us that Canadians commit large amounts oftheir leisure time to activities that depend on natural areas andwildlife. As stewards of these valuable natural assets, Canadians areresponsible for managing them to allow sustainable use. This�management� requires an understanding of the state of the naturalenvironment, the threats to its sustainability, and an appreciation ofthe ways in which people make use of these natural assets. Thischapter will explore the greenspace and recreational lands withinthe Duffins Creek watershed and the ways in which peoplecurrently make use of these lands.

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The Toronto andRegionConservationAuthority (TRCA)Land HoldingsSince 1957, Authority lands have provided thebasis of an interregional greenspace system andhave conserved and enhanced the renewablenatural resources of the Authority�s watershedsin the Greater Toronto Area.Lands owned by the TRCA within the DuffinsCreek watershed (totaling 23.3 km2) are currentlyused for a variety of purposes including conservation,education, recreation, forestry and agriculture.The following sections briefly describe TRCAowned lands in the Duffins Creek watershed andtheir current uses.South ParkLocated in the hamlet of Goodwood, Townshipof Uxbridge, this five hectare (12 acre) parcellocally known as South Park is maintained as acommunity park by the Township of Uxbridge.Duffins HeadwatersManagement Plan andRelated PropertiesOn September 24, 1999, the TRCA Boardmembers approved the process for preparing acomprehensive management plan for the sevenproperties which comprise the TRCA landholdings in the headwaters of the Duffins Creek.The properties include the Goodwood ResourceManagement Tract, Secord Forest and WildlifeArea, Clubine Agreement Forest, Walker WoodsTract, the former Timbers Brothers Gravel Pit,Glen Major Resource Management Tract and

Claremont Field Centre (Figure 1). The TRCAowns all of these lands with the exception of72 hectares in the Glen Major ResourceManagement Tract, which is owned by theOntario Heritage Foundation and managed bythe TRCA. The entire planning area of theDuffins Creek Headwaters Management Plantotals 1950 hectares (19.5 km2).The objective of the Duffins Creek HeadwatersManagement Plan process is to examine the landsand determine their environmental features andfunctions, heritage values, and their potential forrecreation or other public uses. The review is usedto establish a plan for the future management ofthe properties, recommend important landstewardship practices and identify importantlinkages between TRCA properties. At the outset of the management plan processTRCA established an Advisory Committee, whichincluded representatives from municipalities,public interest groups and local citizens. Thecommittee has assisted TRCA staff to finalize theproject Terms of Reference, determine themanagement zones, management recommendationsand assist with public outreach.Goodwood ResourceManagement TractThis Resource Management Tract was formed asa result of six acquisitions that took place duringJuly and August of 1967. These lands wereacquired under the Goodwood Forest andWildlife Area. The property is currently used bycross-country skiers, cyclists and hikers along theOak Ridges Moraine Trail.

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The Secord Forest andWildlife AreaThe Secord Forest and Wildlife area is comprisedof 93 hectares (230 acres) of ecologically sensitiveland. There are four residences on the property, threeof which are currently occupied. The property alsoincludes a barn, a pet cemetery, three ponds, anda mixture of wooded areas, wetlands and openfields. Site services include a well and septic system.The largest pond is a dominant feature on theproperty and is maintained by the dam on theWest Duffins Creek at the pond outlet.There are numerous informal trails on the propertyand, at present, the Oak Ridges Trail runs throughthe property linking Concessions 3 and 4 in theTown of Uxbridge.Since assumption of the land by the Authority,the Secord Forest and Wildlife Area has been openfor public access on a limited basis. This access hasbeen primarily restricted to hiking on the property.Recreational fishing is currently not permittedon the property and, as per Authority regulations,hunting is prohibited.

Clubine Agreement Forest The Clubine property is an Agreement Forestowned and managed by The Toronto and RegionConservation Authority and is currently beingused by cross-country skiers, cyclists and hikersalong the Oak Ridges Moraine Trail. Forestmanagement operations have been conducted bythe Ministry of Natural Resources in the pastand will continue as necessary.

Secord Forest and Wildlife Area

Cross-Country Skiing

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Figure 1:Duffins Creek Headwaters Management Plan Properties

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Walker WoodsThe Walker property consists of two parcels oflands located on part lots 12-14, Concession 5and part lots 6-10, Concession 6 in the Townshipof Uxbridge. Mr. Walker operated his propertiesas production forests, until the 1991 sale. WalkerWoods is currently part of the TRCA ManagementForest. Forest Management Practices are conductedon the property by TRCA staff on a periodic basisto ensure a sustainable and healthy forest. Thissite contains three residences and the remainderof the property has been used for research by theUniversity of Toronto and the University ofGuelph, commercial filming, equestrian riding,and cross-country skiing. Timbers Brothers Gravel PitThe �Timbers Brothers� site was operated as afarm until the early 1960s when it was purchasedfor aggregate extraction. In 1998, the TRCApurchased the property which currently includesan abandoned sand and gravel pit. This site alsoincludes a diversity of meadow, hedgerow, forestand wetland communities. The Authority hasdesignated a small portion of the rear of the propertyas the Uxbridge Forest Kames EnvironmentallySignificant Area (ESA #111), and the Provincehas designated a larger part of the rear of theproperty as a Provincially Significant Area ofNatural and Scientific Interest (ANSI). Locatedon the Oak Ridges Moraine, the deposition oftills, sands and gravel outwash work as a majorgroundwater recharge zone and principal sourcearea for the Duffins Creek. TRCA has been workingto restore the former pit portion of the site and itis anticipated that the major regeneration phaseof the work will be completed in 2002. TRCAplans to continue tree and shrub planting on thesite until 2006.

Glen Major ResourceManagement TractThe Glen Major Resource Management Tract iscurrently used by equestrian riders, hikers, cyclistsand bird watchers. A local conservation group, theUxbridge Naturalists, have created a trail knownlocally as the �Blue Bird� trail on the property.The property contains a trail linkage to the Dagmarand Lakeridge ski resorts. In addition, Glen Majoris a major wintering area for white-tailed deer.Forest Management Operations are conductedon the property by TRCA staff on a periodicbasis to ensure a sustainable and healthy forest. One residence is located within the Glen MajorResource Management Tract. The former OslerProperty contains a residence that is occupiedthrough a life tenancy.There are three farmland rental agreementswithin in the Glen Major Resource ManagementTract which can be renewed annually. Dagmar Ski Resort has also entered into an annuallicence agreement with the TRCA. Dagmar SkiResort operates an alpine ski facility adjacent toTRCA lands in the Glen Major Area. Since 1975,the TRCA has allowed Dagmar Ski Resort to usea portion of the Glen Major Resource ManagementTract lands as cross-country ski trails in winterand mountain bike trails in summer to supplementtheir ski operation.

Timbers Brothers Gravel Pit

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Claremont Field CentreThe Claremont site includes a variety of habitats- fields and ponds, a maple/beech woodlot, cedarlowland and plantation forest. Forest ManagementPractices are conducted on the property by TRCAstaff on a periodic basis to ensure a sustainableand healthy forest. Much of the property wasformerly farmland which was replanted in 1962with a combination of wildlife shrub rows and foodplots to enhance habitat and attract birds andwildlife. The area continues to provide opportunitiesfor lasting conservation education experiences. The Claremont Field Centre is a cedar logstructure that opened in 1970. Almost 30 yearslater, many of the area school boards send classesto the centre. The building can accommodate upto 60 students and six leaders for a three- to five-day stay. The Durham District School Boardsends grade six classes to the field centre whichmakes up approximately 65 per cent of theschool year participants. Other users include theToronto District School Board, the Toronto

Catholic District School Board, other privateschool groups, community-based groups such asGuides and Brownies, church groups and serviceclubs. The program at Claremont focuses onoutdoor and conservation education. Some of thefirst students who attended programs at thisfacility now work at the TRCA, which illustratesthat one of the many benefits of exposingchildren to outdoor education programs is anencouragement to pursue careers related toenvironmental protection.In the fall of 1999, the Licence Agreement withthe Durham District School Board for theoperation of the Duffins Creek EnvironmentalEducation Centre (formerly named the ClaremontEnvironmental Education Centre) was renewedfor another five years. There is one residence located on the property atthe corner of Westney Road and Highway 7,which is rented on an annual basis. There is alsoone farmland agreement (former Pegg Estate) for12 hectares of crops.

Claremont Field Centre

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Greenwood ConservationAreaGreenwood Conservation Area, located just southof the Claremont property, was purchased andoperated by the TRCA from 1958 until May 1,1999. During this time, the area provided publicoutdoor recreation opportunities, includingfamily and group picnics, fishing, youth groupcamping, hiking and an annual fall festival. Themanagement responsibilities for the land in thesouthern portion of the Greenwood ConservationArea have been transferred to the Town of Ajaxwho intends to use the area for recreation andconservation purposes.

Municipal LandsLocal municipalities provide parks, recreation,and cultural facilities and programs through themandates of their Departments of Parks andRecreation and/or Culture. Each municipalitydevelops a parks and recreation master planswhich guides development for parks, open space,recreation and culture. These documents alsoprovide inventory information and coordinaterecreation service delivery.In 1970, the TRCA was designated as theimplementing agency for the Waterfront Plan forall sectors in which it had jurisdiction, includingthe Town of Ajax waterfront. The Authority, inconjunction with the Town of Ajax and theRegion of Durham, prepared a Master Plan forthe lands from Duffins Creek to, and including,Carruthers Creek. This plan provides for protectionof the marsh areas, development of trails, habitatregeneration, parking and washroom facilities,and an interpretive centre and marina.Rotary ParkIn May of 1995, the Town of Ajax released thestrategic Waterfront Management Plan thatidentified long term goals, objectives and a visionfor the waterfront including Rotary Park. The

primary goal of this plan is to ensure that thewaterfront lands are appropriately used in waysthat reflect the values of the community, whilepreserving and protecting the waterfront fromoveruse or over-development. The Waterfront Planalso provides specific direction for modifying theMaster Plan and its implementation throughsubsequent multi-year projects. During the winter of 2000-2001 a new pavillionwas constructed at Rotary Park. The new RotaryPark Pavillion, replaced an existing woodenstructure with limited amenities. The pavillionwill anchor the many activities of Rotary Park,the Ajax Waterfront Trail and the Trans CanadaTrail. This multi use facility supports theRecreation Services Music in the Park concerts,�Creative Kids� summer camp and a variety ofspecial events. The multi use room is availablefor lectures, meetings and exhibits. Theconcession stand and washrooms will welcomepark users who need a break and refreshments. According to the architect from the firm whodesigned the facility, �The building takes itsinspiration from the local built heritage. As as markerof place, it echoes church spires, grain elevatorsand teepees. The witch�s hat roof draws on ourrailway history. Its interior webbed roof structureinvokes images of barns. As a place of refuge fromthe elements, it�s large overhangs provide shelterand shade, and reaches out to the passer-by. Thewide expanse of glass on the south wall takes inthe panoramic view of Lake Ontario.�

Greenwood Conservation Area

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Rotary Park Pavillion is open to the public everyweekend from 12 noon until 8 p.m. throughoutthe summer until Thanksgiving.

Other Lands thatProvide OutdoorRecreationIn addition to lands traditionally considered aspublic greenspace, public golf courses, schools,utility corridors and other lands may be used bythe public for passive recreational activities. Private ParksPleasure Valley, located just south of the WalkerWoods property, is a private outdoor recreationpark which provides a variety of facilitiesincluding rollerblading, roller skating, miniaturegolf, frisbee golf, water slide and children�s waterslide, giant children�s playground, horse drawnhayrides, climbing wall and horseback riding.Golf CoursesThere are 12 golf courses in the Duffins Creekwatershed. Table 1 provides a summary of the namesand the municipalities in which they are located.

Enjoy Hitting the Golf Ball

Table 1: Golf Courses Locatedin the Duffins Creek WatershedGolf Course Name MunicipalityAnnadale Ajax Bushwood Markham Cherry Downs Pickering Four Seasons Pickering Glen Cedars Pickering Granite Club Stouffville Hawthorne Valley Pickering Riverside Pickering Seaton Pickering Sleepy Hollow Stouffville Spring Creek Pickering Whitevale Pickering

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SkiingThe majority of the skiing that takes place in theDuffins Creek watershed occurs on cross-country trails rather than downhill runs. Cross-country skiers tend to use the informal trailnetworks in the Walker Woods, the Glen MajorResource Management Tract and the Seaton Trail.Dagmar Ski Resort maintains 25 kilometres offormal cross-country trails on a portion of GlenMajor lands within the Duffins. Mountainbiking is welcomed on these trails during theremainder of the year. The rugged topography of the Oak RidgesMoraine provides sufficient terrain for downhillruns, although these are primarily located on thenorth slope of the moraine which drains intoLake Simcoe and Lake Scugog. Dagmar Ski Resortoffers alpine and night skiing plus snowboardingadjacent to the Glen Major lands, providing apopular local attraction for watershed residents.

RecreationalFishing

Recreational fisheries are intrinsic to whatCanada offers its citizens and visitors. Protectingthese fisheries and their habitat, promotingresponsible use of the resource, and maintainingand developing angling opportunities makes sensefor us and for future generations. This statementprovides a starting point for governments andprivate sector to work together to conserve anddevelop these fisheries.

From: Recreational Fisheries Conference,1986, Federal Fisheries and Oceans ascited in the Durham Region SportsFishing Study, 1989.

In 1999, Environment Canada released TheImportance of Nature to Canadians: SurveyHighlights. This summary of a 1996 survey of87,000 people tells us that in 1996 an estimated

Fly Fishing in the Duffins Creek

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4.2 million Canadians fished for recreation inCanada. In comparison with the population in general,recreational fishing was more popular among menthan women. Fishing was also more popular amongrural Canadians than among urban Canadians.Participation was more concentrated among thoseyounger than 45 years of age than among theolder age groups. The survey also revealed thatOntario residents spent an estimated $4,283 millionon various nature related activities in Ontarioincluding wildlife viewing and recreational fishing.Recreational fishing can be defined as catching orattempting to catch fish for non-commercialpurposes. The Duffins Creek is well known as arecreational fishing spot and it is recognized forits excellent aquatic habitat. It has the strongestrun of migratory rainbow trout (up to Whitevale),and the midsection, north of Whitevale, isabundant with brown trout. The headwater areascontain brook trout while the mouth and marshareas of the watercourse are popular for pike fishing.There has also been a report of a run of walleyesouth of Highway 401, however, it has not beenofficially documented. A variety of lake fish canbe found in the creek at different times of theyear including white and yellow perch, bass andcarp. Refer to the Aquatic Habitat and Specieschapter for a complete summary of fish speciesfound in the Duffins Creek.There are two private fishing clubs in the headwatersof Duffins Creek in addition to public landsalong the watercourse that provide moderate togood fishing opportunities. All recreational anglers,whether fishing from public or private lands andwaters, are required to obtain a fishing licence,and have regard for open seasons.The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) publishesa summary of the regulations that govern fishing inOntario called the Ontario Sport Fishing Regulations.It can be obtained free of charge at any office of theMNR. Vital information regarding size, catch andpossession limits, licences, fish sanctuaries and openseasons are found in this booklet. For consumptionpurposes refer to the Ministry of the Environment�sGuide to Eating Freshwater Fish.

EducationalInstitutionsThere are a number of elementary and secondaryschools within the watershed which contribute topublic uses through their outdoor sports facilitiesand fields, playgrounds, open spaces andlinkages to other greenspace areas. Often schoolsare clustered with other public facilities and arelocated adjacent to valley and stream corridors.The Claremont Field Centre (residential) and theDuffins Creek Environmental Education Centre(day use) are the only outdoor education centreslocated within the watershed. These field centresoffer programming and facilities for students andcommunity organizations.

TrailsThere are a number of existing and proposed trailsystems that connect the natural, cultural, heritage,recreational and educational features in the studyarea with one another and with other destinationsoutside of the watershed (Figure 2). The followingtrails are located within the Duffins Creekwatershed and are described in more detail below:� Waterfront Trail� Inter-Regional Trail (proposed)� Trans Canada Trail (proposed)� Oak Ridges Moraine Trail� Great Pine Ridge Equestrian Trail� Seaton Hiking Trail� Millers Creek TrailWaterfront TrailThe Waterfront Trail follows the shoreline of LakeOntario from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Trenton,with plans to extend to Kingston. It passes throughthe shallow broad valleys of the Duffins Creekwaterfront in the City of Pickering and the Townof Ajax (Waterfront Regeneration Trust, 1995).

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Inter-Regional TrailThe TRCA approved the concept of the GreaterToronto Inter-Regional Trail System in 1992. Theinter-regional trail system relies on trail links throughmany of the TRCA properties in the headwatersof the Duffins Creek including Goodwood, Secord,Clubine, Walker Woods and Glen Major.Trans Canada TrailPlanning, registration and development for theOntario portion of the Trans Canada Trail (TCT)has been initiated. The Ontario Trails Council(OTC), under its partnership with the TransCanada Trail Foundation, is acting as the leadrepresentative for coordinating the developmentof the TCT route across Ontario. There is growingsupport for the OTC�s concept of a �TrilliumTrail� network of community-based, shared-usetrails that would provide the main trunk of theTCT and provide connecting links to areas that

are not on the main TCT route (e.g., Owen Sound,Stratford, Kingston and Timmins). The Ontario portion of the TCT will be morethan 3,500 kilometres long, which represents about25 per cent of the national total. The Ontariosection of the TCT will result from linking up to200 different segments of community shared-usetrails. The TRCA is coordinating a north-southlink into the Greater Toronto Area from Uxbridgevia the east Duffins Creek to Ajax, Pickering andthe Toronto Waterfront. The north-south connectionmay involve trail links through some of theTRCA properties such as Greenwood, WalkerWoods, Glen Major and Claremont (informationobtained from the Trans Canada Trail, TrailBuilder Update - Ontario, May 1, 1999). Oak Ridges Moraine TrailThe first attempt to provide a trail along theOak Ridges Moraine was undertaken in 1973when the Great Pine Ridge Equestrian Trail wasestablished by the Ontario Trail Rider�sAssociation (OTRA). The concept of a system ofpublic recreational trails along the full length ofthe moraine, from Albion Hills in the west to theNorthumberland Forest in the east (approximately160 kilometres), was developed by a group ofvolunteers in October 1991 with the cooperationof Save the Oak Ridges Moraine (STORM), theTRCA and Hike Ontario.The ORTA was officially inaugurated in May of1992 at a public meeting at Albion Hills. TheORTA is an incorporated body with charitablestatus governed by a Board of Directors electedat an annual general meeting. The main objectiveof the association is to develop and secure theOak Ridges Trail in a manner that promotesappreciation and respect for the moraine�s ecological,cultural and scenic integrity, while also conservingthe natural features and processes on the moraine.Most of the trail development is undertaken byORTA members, although other groups (e.g.,local environmental groups, conservation authorities,conservation volunteers) do have the opportunity

Hiking

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Figure 2:Existing and Proposed Trails in the Duffins Creek Watershed

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to help establish the trail. The Oak Ridges Trailpasses through a number of properties includingGoodwood, Secord, Clubine and Walker Woods. Great Pine Ridge EquestrianTrailThe 320 kilometre (200 mile) Great Pine RidgeEquestrian Trail was established by the OntarioTrail Riders Association (OTRA) in 1973. TheOTRA is a non-profit organization that wasfounded in 1970. OTRA�s mission is to identify,develop, and preserve multi-use trails (such asbiking, walking, bird watching, equestrianriding) throughout Ontario. The Great Pine Ridge Equestrian Trail begins atthe Trent River in the east and ends at theNiagara Escarpment on the west, with a portionof the trail running over the Oak Ridges Moraine.The trail incorporates both existing local trails androad sections. This trail runs adjacent to WalkerWoods and above Glen Major and, as such, provideslinks to the Inter-Regional, Trans Canada andOak Ridge Moraine Trails (Ontario Trail RidersAssociation, Inc., The Best Way to Discover Ontario isthe Ride Way. Pamphlet, Etobicoke).Seaton Hiking TrailThe Seaton Hiking Trail is located along theWest Duffins Creek valley in the North PickeringPlanning area. The 9.7 kilometre trail followsthe valley and is used for hiking and cross-country skiing. Access points include Highway7, Green River, Whitevale Road, Whites Road,Forest Stream, Clarkes Hollow and RosslandRoad. Additional lands along this trail within theWest Duffins Environmentally Sensitive Areawill pass into public ownership care of the TRCAin the future. TRCA and City of Pickering staffhave had initial meetings regarding these landsand, ultimately, a Management Plan will bedeveloped, in partnership with hiking groups todetermine the best practices for ensuring boththe health of these environmentally sensitive landsand the enjoyment potential for local residents.

Millers Creek TrailOf the three valley systems, Millers Creek, withits wide-open profile, is best suited to a continuouspaved trail system that can accommodate bothcycling and walking. Through the existingcommunities south of Rossland Rd., the valley ismaintained as open parkland, and several sectorsof paved trails have already been developed. Thetrail system is planned to extend northward asgrowth occurs, with a link to GreenwoodConservation Area. Although North Ajax will bewell served by the completion of this trailsystem, to create a continuous off-road systemlinking the Millers Trail to the South DuffinsTrail would require an underpass under the 401.The existing culvert has sufficient headroom toput a raised walkway through. However, publicsafety with respect to lighting and entrapmentwould need to be addressed. The alternativeconnection is on-road, either westerly along localstreets to the Church Street unerpass, or easterlyto Westney Road (Vision 2020 � A Bicycle andLeisure Trail System Plan for the Town of Ajax,Final Report, 2001).

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SummaryThe amount of land within the Duffins Creek watershed that iscurrently in public ownership exceeds 132 km2. Approximately,fifty per cent of the entire watershed is in the care of The Torontoand Region Conservation Authority, the Federal and Provincialgovernments, and the Regional and Local Municipalities. Publicly-owned lands may appear fragmented, but they have beenintentionally acquired to protect Environmentally Significant Areas,Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest, or are properties withstrategic ecological watershed attributes or public use functions.Linkages between these areas will only improve the health of theenvironment and wildlife, as well as provide much neededrecreational opportunities for residents. All TRCA public lands arebeing, or will be, managed under the direction of Conservation AreaManagement Plans. The development of management plans is underway by TRCA, inpartnership with local municipalities and residents, for the DuffinsCreek Headwaters, Duffins Marsh and Greenwood ConservationArea. Future initiatives that may help to link these areas includeproposed extensions to the Trans Canada Trail, the Oak RidgesMoraine Trail, the Waterfront Trail, and trail planning by the localmunicipalities.Due to the rural nature of the northern two-thirds of thiswatershed, perhaps the most enjoyable recreational activitiesinvolve cycling or driving to the rolling hills and scenic vistas on theOak Ridges Moraine. Hamlets and villages scattered throughoutthe watershed contain beautiful historic buildings and cemeteries,reminding us of an earlier time. Self-guided walking tours of historicdowntown Stouffville or the Whitevale Heritage ConservationDistrict, for instance, are enjoyable as well as educational. Withinthese areas, trails and fishing spots provide focal points for outdoorrecreation. In other areas of the watershed, recreational facilities,golf courses and ski resorts allow for more active recreationalpursuits. There are many opportunities for discovery and outdoorrecreation within the varied and special Duffins Creek watershed.

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ReferencesEnvironment Canada, 1999. The Importance of Nature to Canadians: Survey

Highlights.Regional Municipality of Durham, 1989. Durham Region Sports Fishing Study.Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, 1992. Trail Planning and Design

Guidelines. Downsview, Ontario.Waterfront Regeneration Trust, 1995. Lake Ontario Greenway Strategy: Next

Steps. Toronto: Hambly and Woolley, Inc.