Short Hills Provincial Park was established as a provincial park in 1985 and is the largest provincial park in the Niagara region. Short Hills Provincial Park is located along the borders of the city of St. Catharines and the town of Pelham. There are three sanctioned entrances with parking which the park can be accessed; the Wiley Road entrance, the Roland Road entrance, and the Pelham Road entrance. There are governmental plans to increase the parks sustainability through creating specific zones such as "vegetation restoration" areas and phasing out the agriculture for creation of new corridors for wildlife.

The park consists of 1,600 acres made up of valleys and small yet steep hills hence the name "short hills" which were created from melting glaciers after the previous Ice Age. Short Hills Provincial Park is a wild and natural area, therefore only basic facilities are available for supporting trail usage. Short Hills has many different attributes which make the destination appealing such as the scenery of dense forests to open meadows, the wide variety of plant and animal species, the trails, and the rivers/creeks running throughout the park. There are six trails in total, including the Bruce Trail, which are for hiking purposes or for multiuse purposes(mountain biking, horseback riding).

Short Hills were inhabited by a tribe of Iroquois with a large village east and west of the area. When European settlers came to the area they cleared large parts of the forests for lumber, as it was a prime foundation for the milling industry. The settlements left behind are now known as St. John's West and Decew Town. There is a plaque along Holland Road for the battle of 1837, which was a rebellion that took place in the valleys of the park.

Municipality: Niagara

Local area name: Short Hills Provincial Park

Other identifying names or descriptions Short hills, Provincial Park

Latitude and longitude: 43°06′43″N, 79°15′56″W

Physical Dimensions

Length: 4113 m

Width: 3715 m

Surface Area: 660 ha (1,600 acres)

Elevation:

Highest Point 183 m / lowest point 92 m

Short Hills Provincial Park is the largest provincial park in the Niagara Region. Home to at least 30 federally and provincially designated Species At Risk (SAR) within the past 30 years. It is a wild and natural area, therefore only basic facilities are available for supporting trail usage. Short Hills has many different attributes which make the destination appealing such as the scenery of dense forests to open meadows, the wide variety of plant and animal species, the hiking/multi-use trails, and the rivers/creeks running throughout the park.

Map 1: A map of Short hills with the river systems running though the park as well as some of the trails which are open for public access.

Map 2: A Satellite map showcasing the park.

Short Hills offers a variety of different plants and animal species, from common to endangered species to alien species.

Looking at the plant species living in Short Hills, there are Carolinian trees such as sassafras, flowering dogwood, black oak, pin oak, black walnut and red mulberry. There are white ash, oak, hardwoods, white pine, white cedar and silver maple, sugar maple/ Flowers and vegetation such as the white trillium flower, sharp-lobed hepatia, and wild leek.

The animal species are the mammals in the park such as the Brush wolves, White tailed deer, Red fox, Chipmunk, and the Meadow vole. The some of the recorded birds are Great horned owl, Indigo bunting, Bobolink, Baltimore oriole, and the Scarlet Tanager. There are the amphibians/reptiles Eastern milksnake, Butler Snake, Leopard Frog, American toad, Red-backed salamander, and the Brown snake. The invertabrates such as Swallowtail butterfly, Orange sulpher, Least skipper, and Great Spangled Fritillary. And lastly the fish found in the streams and creeks are the Brown trout, Brook trout, Carp, Hornyhead chub, American eel, Rock bass, and Blackside Darter.

The rare and threatened species in the last 30 years there have been at least 30 federally and provincially designated Species At Risk in the provincial park. Some of these species consist of the Cucumber Magnolia, sassafras, and black gum trees and the Pawpaw, sweet chestnut and tulip-tree.

Looking into the spectrum of the fragmentation and introduction of alien species there is the Garlic Mustard which is a European species of weeds, there is also the golden seal, autumn coralroot, yellow harlequin and wild indigo which are displacing native species. Not to mention the large scale clearing of the forest for agriculture causing loss of natural habitats for both plants and animals. An example of this is the eyesore of the hydro lines traveling right through the middle of the park.

The geographical features included in Short Hills are portions of a re-entrant valley, there is bedrock exposures, some waterfalls, there are wetlands, the creeks, the forests and rare Carolinian plants.There are patchworks of fields and forests as well as the three hydro corridors which meet within the parks boundaries.

The composition of the soils is clay and loam soils which were left from the glaciers as they scoured the surface as they retreated widening these valleys and exposing bedrock. As well as the water levels in lake Ontario lowering and cutting off some of the streams and creeks causing erosion of landscapes.

Humanity has caused some deterioration of the natural landscape through leveling, plowing and clear cutting areas across the park. An example of this is the meeting of the three hydro lines creating hydro corridors within the parks boundaries as well as the gas pipeline that runs though the park, in the mosaics you can see the corridors starting to be made around 1948. Then there are the zones in which there was deforestation to create plots for agriculture. However the government was making plans to phase out agriculture and restore the natural communities back from abandoned farms and certain zones around the area approximately one hundred and eight hectars of land.. As shown in the map provided below.

The government is aiming to plant more trees and allow natural rejuvenation to rehabilitate the streams, hide the utility corridors and make it so the park isn't linear while increasing the parks perimeter and creating larger forested areas.

There are numerous waterways in Short hills, from the waters falls to the cold water streams, the vernal pools and the pocket wetlands. There are a few larger streams which run throughout the park such as the Twelve Mile Creek, the Terrace Creek, and the Northeastern Creek which is in a small, inaccessible floodplain area. The wetlands in Short Hills take up about two hectares of space. Over time as glaciers retreated they widened the valley and created a kind of drainage ditch where the water ran off into these valley which fed into larger rivers. However as the water levels in lake ontario lowered the streams slowly eroded the river banks and the water ways became shallower. The human-induced changes of the hydrology were mainly when agricultural land was plowed, the absence of trees meant there was little to no support for the creek banks collapsing these banks widening the channels and making the water more shallow. These shallow waters soon became warm endangering many native species as they needed cold water in order to survive. Over time some creeks and streams have dried up others have become seasonal such as Swayze Falls which only has water fall from it when there is either a rainstorm or it is winter and the snow is melting.

This site is a part of the natural Carolinian Forest that is growing throughout the Niagara region. Which was created from the glaciers receding and leaving the composure of clay, sand and gravel allowing for the unique features of the area. The open meadows, the dense forested parts and the valleys which give the area a unique climate. As Hough points out vegetation has the ability to direct solar radiation to the ground, vegetation also can direct heat back from the surface. This means that the vegetation is able to partially control the overall temperature of the surrounding area it covers. This means the forests are able to take in 90 percent of light and lower the maximum temperature variation during the year (Hough,2008). However with how dense the forest canopy is in some forested areas, there is the issue of sun being blocked out lowering the temperature of the forest floor. A unique observation about forests is that forests reduce wind speeds to less than 10 percent of wind and maintain more equitable day and night temperatures (Hough, 2008) which shows that forests break up the wind into many smaller breezes. Vegetation controls not only the temperature of forests but also the amount of rain that falls onto the forest floor.

Due to these factors, forests play major roles in controlling the microclimate of areas. However when land was cleared for agriculture, vegetation is taken away and the climate stops being controlled as drastically. With agricultural zones areas have become more exposed to the natural elements, the wind patterns have changed and become stronger due to lack of trees, the rain and snow patterns begin to effect the hydrology of the areas causing faster erosion of the landscape changing the structures of the river beds causing the effect of drying up wetlands, creeks and streams. The removal of trees has led to rivers being heated up from the sun and become unsuitable for certain species such as the Brook trout.

Evidence has been found in the area of Short Hills providing some insight that the area had been inhabited for at least 12,000 years, it is believed that the early civilization of Paleo-Indians had lived in the area during the Archaic area through the artifacts uncovered such as tools and weapons. As the years passed by the Short Hills area became inhabited by tribes of Iroquois or the "Neutral Indians" when they had created villages to the east and to the west of the Short Hills area.

Later when the European settlers came and settled to the area, they began to clear large parts of the forests for lumber. The fast moving creeks and density of trees made the area a prime foundation for the milling industry. As the fast moving creeks and streams provided early settlers the ability to power their mills and the ability move lumber though the terrain with ease rather than having to move it across land. The settlers created towns which are now known as St. John's West and the Decew Town. The European settlers used the large clear cut parts of the land for agriculture and orchards. These plots of land designated for agriculture and the construction of the historic buildings created the linear shape of the forest found in short hills. As shown in the pictures below where the forest just abruptly stops before farm land.

Architectural Heritage:

There are some historical buildings and monuments found around the Short Hills area such as the town of St. Johns and the DeCew town, as well as the plaque along Holland Road for the battle of 1837.

Some of the buildings in the towns still are maintained and kept as historical landmarks of the early settlements such as the Brown-Jouppien house which was built in 1810 and is one of the only surviving early settlers houses. Here is a link providing more information on the abode: https://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lie...

The battle of 1837 involved 36 men sympathetic to William Lyon Mackenzie under the leadership of James Morrow who invaded the Niagara Peninsula, while in Short Hills they gained 22 supporters and attacked a group of 13 British Soldiers, who after surrendering to James Morrow were rescued by another platoon of British Soldiers. James Morrow had been aided by a wagon maker from St. Johns village, with the intention to get locals to rebel against the "repressive" colonial government. However after Chandler and Morrow and 31 Patriots under Morrow's command were captured, the invasion ended. Leading to a victory of Niagara forces.

Recreational Uses:

The Short Hills Provincial Park offers informal jurisdictional authority as it is a wild and natural area, the park only offers basic facilities for supporting trail usage. Short Hills offers three sanctioned entrances with parking which the park can be accessed as well as six trails in total, including the Bruce Trail which connects to the Swayze Falls trail, which are for hiking purposes or for multi-use purposes(mountain biking, horseback riding).
The trails classified as Hikers only are marked by blue markings these trails include the Terrace Creek, the Scarlet Tanager, and the Hemlock Valley trails. While the multi-use trails permitting mountain biking, hiking, and horseback riding are marked by yellow markings these trails include the Swayze Falls, Very Berry, and the Black Walnut trails.

However there is the Palaeozoic Path which is covered in gravel to allow people with disabilities to move around the park without being disbarred from the experience of the park.

There are certain rules in place such as No camping in the park, this means no cooking fires or campfires are allowed in the park. Motorized vehicles(trail bikes) are not allowed in the park. Pets are welcome in the park but must be kept on a leash and owners are required to clean up after their pets. Cutting and any removal of trees or plants is not permitted.

Ownership, jurisdiction, access, and management

The land ownership falls under the Regional Municipality of Niagara, Short Hills Provincial Park is classified as a non-operating park. A non-operating park means that it is free to enter and explore however there are limited basic facilities available. This also means that it is the visitors discretion if anything should occur inside the park, the visitors are requested to obey the rules of Short Hills Provincial Park. Public Access is permitted in Short Hills Provincial Park. The operating hours are all year round, open 7 days a week. The Park closes at 10:00 pm each day and opens at sunrise for the safety of visitors.

Maintenance is performed every few years in order for vegetation not to over grow the hydro corridors and to maintain the hiking trails for visitors to use. The municipality works with The Friends of Short Hills, on vegetation restoration areas by planting and thinning out trees as well as phasing out certain trails and pushing other trails for the creation of new corridors for wildlife and to help revitalize the park.

While many native species live and grow throughout this park, some species have had their habitats destroyed from human development on the surrounding areas an example of this is the Brook trout, these fish live in cold water streams. With the agricultural plowed fields, the lack of trees widens and makes these streams shallow causing the streams to become warm. The Friends of Short Hills are planting trees along the river banks in attempt to slow erosion and allow for these streams to stay cooler. The Friends of Short Hills are slowly reintroducing the native species back into their natural habitat.

The White-tail deer population has exceeded the carrying capacity of the area. To prevent massive damage to the provincial park, the government has worked with the Six Nations people and their treaty to allow indigenous people to hunt some of the deer in the park in accordance to the guidelines. For six days during November and December a hunt is carried out on the fact that both the Six Nations and the municipality agreed that hunters would only use bows and arrows, and the deer would be carried out to the trucks by government officials recording the deer that have been caught and killed. Due to protesters, the government requires provincial police to make sure no one enters the area during this hunt.

Some local landmarks near the area are DeCew Falls is located 2 km northeast of Short Hills, the Power Glen is 2.5 km northeast of Short Hills, St. Johns is located 2.5 km southeast of Short Hills, Effingham is 3.5 km southwest of Short Hills and St. Johns Conservation Area Reserve is 3.5 km south of Short Hills. There are also two smaller lakes nearby Lake Moodie 2.5 km northeast of Short Hills, and Lake Gibson 4.5 km east of Short Hills.

Also If you are hiking along the Bruce Trail, the trail will lead you through the western part of short hills along side the Swayze Falls.

Ontario Provincial Parks/ Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry

Phone:

(905) 774-6642

Toll-Free Number:

1-800-ONTARIO

1-800-668-2746

Friends of Short Hills Park (community-based organization)

Address:

c/o PO Box 158,

Dunnville, Ontario N1A 2X5

Email:

shorthillspark@gmail.com

Short Hills Provincial Park Management Plan. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2018, from https://www.ontario.ca/page/short-hills-provincial-park-management-plan

Short Hills Provincial Park. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2018, from http://www.niagaragreenbelt.com/listings/76-parks-gardens-a-conservation-areas/357-short-hills-provincial-park.html

Friends of Short Hills Park. (n.d.). Home. Retrieved September 21, 2018, from http://www.friendsofshorthillspark.ca/page/home

Short Hills. (n.d.). Retrieved November 02, 2018, from https://www.ontarioparks.com/park/shorthills

Brown-Jouppien House (n.d.). Retrieved November 17, 2018, from https://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lie...

Niagara Falls Settlement History | The Mackenzie Rebellion, Niagara Falls Ontario & Niagara Falls New York. (2017, February 07). Retrieved November 17, 2018, from https://www.niagarafallsinfo.com/niagara-falls-his...

This Local Landscape Report was prepared by Paul Sanocki for the Brock University course TMGT 2P94: Human Dominated Ecosystems on November 18, 2018.

All copyrights for cited material rest with the original copyright owners.