St. Johns Conservation Area is one of many beautiful parks in Niagara. St. Johns has a unique ecological, cultural, and historical significance.

St. Johns history will be analyzed first. 4.5 million years ago the landscape was very different. The area now known as the St. Johns Conservation Area used to be an ancient sea. This ancient sea can be credited for much of the ecological functions the area has today. The ancient sea eventually turned into multiple geological formations. Over thousands of years these geological formations retreated and advanced creating the hills and valleys that can be seen today. In the conservation area itself, hikers can see the different hills in the land. Another big natural event that occurred in the St. Johns Conservation Area is the microburst of 1996. This microburst uprooted many trees and plants along its path. Today, the area of St. Johns Conservation Area is left with relevantly new trees, that will eventually grow back to its high, dense forest that once was. The historical aspects of St. Johns are highly connected to its ecological functions.

St. Johns has unique plants, water, and animals. The forest of St. Johns is a Carolinian Forest, which can only be found in Southern Canada. There are also over 400 types of unique plants. The water supply of St. Johns also leads to its unique ecological functions. There are many waterfowl that call this area home. The area is also home to unique birds as well including the Hooded Warbler and Scarlet Tanager. The forest, water and birds all lead to a unique ecological environment.

The cultural functions of St. Johns are very important to its functioning. In 1792, a local entrepreneur created the first sawmill in St. Johns, which led to much of the surrounding community (Duquemin, 1987). In the 18th century, the community was flourishing including the first non-denominational free school in Upper Canada (St. Johns Ontario, 2020). Today, St. Johns is a part of the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority.

The St. Johns Conservation Area is significantly important to the Niagara Escarpment due to its history, ecological functions, and its important cultural aspects.

Municipality: Niagara, Fonthill

Address: 3101 Barron Rd, Fonthill, ON L0S 1E6

Local Name: St. Johns Conservation Area

Latitude: 43°03°57.49"N, 79°17°00.10"W

Physical Dimensions

Length: 1.16km

Width: 0.81km

Surface Area: 143.42 Acres

Perimeter: 4.15 km

Elevation:

Highest Point: 187m

Lowest Point: 144m

Niagara is home to an abundance of animal and plant species. Many people visit and choose to live in Niagara for the amazing biota. There is a high importance placed on protecting biota in the Niagara area. The St. Johns Conservation Area, which is one of many parks in Niagara, is no stranger to the abundance of flora and fauna. This section will cover the forest, plants, and animals that can be found in the St. Johns Conservation Area.

Forest

The forest of St. Johns Conservation Area is unique. When visitors first approach St. Johns Conservation Area, there are two parking lots. The first is directly outside the park, and the other is after following a long narrow road. This road is surrounded by forest on both sides and gives the impression that visitors are away from the city. Many people from the city are looking for this forest aesthetic while visiting urban parks. When I first explored the St. Johns Conservation Area, I did not think I could drive down the road. I ended up parking outside the park and walking in. Once I was in the park, I saw all the other cars in the wide parking lot. The forest of the St. Johns Conservation Area is spectacular. The forest is part of the very few Carolinian forests in Canada (Info Niagara, 2020). Rarely do Carolinian forests grow this far North (Info Niagara, 2020). The Carolinian Forest is more common in eastern and south-eastern United States (Info Niagara, 2020). The forest is small with 76 acres of land (Info Niagara, 2020). The forest has never been developed or farmed therefore nature enthusiasts can see rare species and trees that are 200 years old (Info Niagara, 2020). One of the trees that is unique to the area is the Sassafras Tree (Info Niagara, 2020). The Sassafras Tree which is also called the White Sassafras has three distinctive leaf shapes (Griggs, 1990). The leaf shapes are entire, mitten shaped and three lobed (Griggs, 1990). It is a medium-sized tree which grows moderately fast (Griggs, 1990). A unique fact about the Sassafras Tree is that the oil is often extracted to use in the perfume industry (Griggs, 1990). The forest is amazing and has a unique growth history.

Succession

A forest is a form of life, therefore there are various stages of life that the forest grows from (Hough, 2008). Each forest goes through age classes such as periods of youth, maturity, old age and rebirth (Hough, 2008). Forest succession is defined as the order or predictability of the dominant species (Smallidge, 2016). When a dominant species starts its end of life cycle, a new species can become dominant in the forest (Smallidge, 2016). There are external influences that influence the succession of a forest. A few of these external influence's fires, twisters, and flooding. The St. Johns Conservation Area experienced a time of rebirth around twenty-five years ago when a microburst hit in 1996 (Lindsay, 2021). The microburst uprooted many trees and plants along its path. This microburst uprooted trees as old as 100 years and as tall as 70 feet (Lindsay, 2021). The microburst went over an area that was the size of 49 football fields (Lindsay, 2021). Before the microburst hit the St. Johns Conservation Area, the forest was highly dense (Lindsay, 2021). Today the forest is going back to what it once was.

Plants

The St. Johns Conservation Area is home to many diverse types of unique plant species. There are over 400 types of unique plant species in the area (Info Niagara, 2020). Some of the plant species found at St. Johns Conservation Area include tulip trees, may apply, ginseng and sensitive fern (Info Niagara, 2020). The above photo shows one of the amazing plants that can be found in St. Johns Conservation Area. The photo is a picture of a purple trillium. There are also many different types of mushrooms growing in the forest. Visitors can spot fungus, moulds, mushrooms, and toadstools growing along the ground and on the trees (Info Niagara, 2020). Visitors can see these diverse types of plants, along the trails in St. Johns.

Animals

The animals that are found in the St. Johns Conservation Area are also unique. The animals have different roles they play in the ecosystem. On the forest floor different insects are creating their homes such as spiders, ants, and beetles. Up on the trees, birds are flying overhead. St. Johns is often visited by avid bird watchers because of the enormous amount of bird species found in the area. Many migratory songbirds visit the area. They create an incredibly beautiful sound while exploring the area. Visitors can also see hooded warblers, scarlet tanagers, and indigo buntings. The area also has deer, brown bats, and other small animals such as chipmunks that like to run across the trails. Due to the special type of Carolinian forest, some of the animals that are seen are distinct to the forest. There are many types of waterfowl that will be talked about in the Hydrology section. The forest, water, and birds all lead to a unique ecological environment.

Water plays a significant role in everyday life. Within St. Johns Conservation Area, water plays an essential role in the functioning of ecosystems such as the physical, chemical, and biological processes (Alberti, 2008). It is also the key in ecosystem productivity, species composition, and biodiversity (Alberti, 2008). Hydrology is the study of how water moves and is distributed on and below the Earth's surface (National Geographic Society, 2019). It also studies the human impacts of the availability of water and the conditions (National Geographic Society, 2019). Many people visiting the St. Johns Conservation Area are aware of some of the hydrology features of the area. The hydrology features of the area are famous to locals. There are two ponds located in the St. Johns Conservation Area. The two ponds are the Spring Fed Pond and the Trout Pond. The Trout Pond is bigger than the Spring Fed Pond, as it is one of the key features of the Conservation Area. These ponds are the main hydrological features of the St. Johns Conservation Area.

Before looking at the main hydrological features of the St. Johns Conservation Area, it is important to look at the hydrological history. The St. Johns Conservation Area has an important history that is crucial to understanding its functioning today. To fully understand the St. Johns Conservation Area hydrology, we are going to jump back 4.5 million years ago. 4.5 million years ago, Niagara used to be covered by two Ice Sheets which is now a part of the legacy of the last ice age (Lindsay, 2021). These ice sheets were around two to three kilometers each (Lindsay, 2021). Some parts of the Twelve Mile Creek Valley had over 76 meters (250 feet) of glacial material (Lindsay, 2021). An interesting fact about our water in Niagara today is that much of it is fossil water. This means that many Niagara residents today are still drinking the water that was left over from the ice age. The ancient sea, which is now the land that the St. Johns Conservation Area sits on owes much of its ecological functions today to the last ice age. The ancient sea eventually turned into multiple geological formations. Over thousands of years, these geological formations retreated and advanced across the landscape. Today, the hydrological features of St. Johns Conservation Area have seen many human influences.

Humans are able to have many different influences on an ecosystem, this includes trying to regulate how water moves. The Trout Pond is one of the main hydrological features of the St. Johns Conservation Area. This pond is one of the man-made features in the St. Johns Conservation Area. The pond is unique in the Niagara Peninsula, because it is part of the only identified cold-water stream, where water is continually supplied from a cold underground water table (NPCA, 2020). All the trails that are in the area lead to this pond, ensuring that everyone who visits the area sees the pond. The pond creates a very welcoming atmosphere for visitors. There is a Pond Trail that is approximately 500m long (Lindsay, 2021). The trail is accessible as it is flat and paved (Lindsay, 2021). It is great for people with difficulties walking and for young families. This trail goes along the outer edge of the pond. There are multiple benches and picnic tables located around the pond encouraging visitors to stay awhile. The pond creates an inclusive atmosphere. The Trout Pond is famous to the local community because of its flora and fauna. The pond attracts many local recreational fishers. The pond is stocked with many trout and rainbow fish every year (Forsyth, 2019). Because the fish are brought in and did not grow there, locals are able to bring the fish home and enjoy them (Forsyth, 2019). Children in the community can learn about conservation while doing an activity that they highly enjoy. This can be done by using the financial support of people visiting the park.

There is also a smaller pond that is connected to the Trout Pond. The smaller pond is named the Spring Fed Pond. The Spring Fed Pond can be visited by following the Sassafras Stroll Trail. It is very close to where the Sassafras Stroll Trail connects to the Horseshoe Trail. This pond used to be a gravel pit (Lindsay, 2021). Water percolated through to form this spring fed pond. Percolating water means that that water flows and is filtered through the ground without any definite channel (Duhaime's, n.d.). It is interesting to hear how this pond got formed.

The Trout Unlimited Canada supplies all the trout and rainbow fish to the Trout Pond at St. Johns Conservation Area (Edell, n.d.). The group is committed to the restoration and preservation of cold-water habitat to the Niagara Region (Edell, n.d.). It is amazing to see groups wanting to protect the Niagara region (Edell, n.d.). The Trout Unlimited Canada focuses on the cold-water watershed, that is the Trout Pond (Edell, n.d.). The group works with the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority and the Niagara College Environmental Program (Edell, n.d.). It is very empowering to see groups such as the Trout Unlimited Canada, protecting Niagara's very important waterways.

The geomorphology of the land that St. Johns Conservation Area sits on is very significant. Before studying the geomorphology of the St. Johns Conservation Area, it is important to know a bit about what geomorphology is. Geomorphology is the science of studying landforms (Summerfield, 2014). To better understand the geomorphology of a landscape it is important to study the land's history (Summerfield, 2014). Over 4.5 million years ago Niagara was covered by two ice sheets (Lindsay, 2021). These ice sheets will be discussed more in the hydrological section below. As the two ice sheets moved across the landscape, they eroded the soil. As they eroded the soil, hills and valleys which can be seen today in the landscape were created (Lindsay, 2021). This soil helped to grow the forest. An interesting fact about the soil in the St. Johns Conservation Area is that it takes up to 1,000 years to make one inch of soil from the fallen leaves and branches (Info Niagara, 2020). It takes a very long time for the forest to grow and for geomorphology functions to take place, therefore it is essential that we do our part to protect the forest.

St. Johns Conservation Area is located in Fonthill. Fonthill's Climate is impacted by climate change, just like the rest of the world. I was unable to find how climate change specifically affected Fonthill, but I found many resources on Niagara as a whole. Climate Change is how the long-term temperature and weather patterns will be altered (Penny, 2012). Ever since the industrial revolution, the man-made greenhouse gases in our atmosphere have increased. They have increased by about 39% (Penny, 2012). These greenhouse gases have raised the global temperature by 4-7'c in the next century and will likely continue to raise the temperature (Penny, 2012). These rising temperatures are of high concern for the Niagara Region because they will affect many different industries in the region (Penny, 2012). A few of the climate changes that have already been seen include an increase in annual average temperature by 1.3'c in the last 40 years, more days over 30'c, an increase in heat waves lasting 3 days or more, and more summer droughts and dry spells (Penny, 2012). The rise in temperature of climates will have many effects on the community.

The first impact is on Niagara's beautiful ecosystem. Niagara is known for its unique ecosystem. A few examples of how it will affect Niagara's ecosystem includes an increase in insect and disease outbreak in trees, woodlands becoming more vulnerable to fires and an expansion of warm water invasive species including the sea lamprey and zebra mussels (Penny, 2012). It will be devastating to see the beautiful Niagara ecosystem being affected by climate change.

The second impact that a changing climate will have on Niagara is it's infrastructure. Many diverse types of infrastructure will be affected by the increased climate temperatures. The water supply infrastructure, electricity demand, stormwater management, and transportation infrastructure, are just a few examples of the different types of infrastructure that will be affected (Penny, 2012). This will all lead to increased costs, which will be reflected in the taxes on the residents.

The third and final impact of climate change on Niagara is on its economy. A few of the rising costs for the economy include damage from extreme weather, increased power outages so less businesses can get work done, increased insurance premiums and increased health care costs (Penny, 2012). There is a chance that the increase in temperature can benefit the economy, as long as not damaging the climate more is kept in mind (Penny, 2012).

By visiting parks such at the St. Johns Conservation Area, visitors can easily see why we need to do our part to slow climate change and keep the Nigara region beautiful for longer.

Centuries before our time, there were other people that called the St. Johns Conservation Area home. There were different First Nations people that lived in the St. Johns Conservation Area. The First Nations People that lived in the St. Johns Conservation Area include Anishinaabe, Attiwonderonk, Haudenosaunee and the Mississauga's of the Credit (Lindsay, 2021). These First Nations people were the original people that called the St. Johns Conservation Area home. Unfortunately, these people were forcefully removed from their lands by the British and French settlers (Lindsay, 2021). Although the First Nations people are still present in the community, they can no longer live like they used to in their home.

In the late 17th century, the first real human impact was made on the conservation area. A gentleman by the name of John Darling established a sawmill near the Short Hills Park (Green Belt, 2012). The area that he established turned into the St. Johns Village (Green Belt, 2012). The sawmill that Darling created brought many people into the area (Green Belt, 2012). This sawmill had a consistent flow, which was encouraging to other local entrepreneurs (Green Belt, 2012). The stream of water was reliable. The stream was steady in the spring, summer and fall, whereas other streams could only be relied on in the spring and fall (Green Belt, 2012). Eventually as more people came to the area, the area was established. Due to this stream St. Johns was the prominent industrial village in Niagara (Green Belt, 2012). Grist mills, fulling mills, iron foundry and tannery were just a few of the industries that were established there thanks to the stream (Green Belt, 2012). This village started to die down somewhere between 1835 and 1840 (Green Belt, 2012).

In 1799, John Darling built a log cabin which he used as his home until 1803. In 1804, the cabin was turned into its first non-denominational free school in Upper Canada (Hutchinson, 2021). This means the first public school (Hutchinson, 2021). This school was open for the children in the St. Johns Community, and attendance was free (Hutchinson, 2021). In 1958, the St. John's Outdoor Studies Center that is still open today was established. This school will be discussed in the next Cultural Features section.

In 1963 the St. Johns Conservation Area was established (Lindsay, 2021). The St. Johns Conservation Area is one of the 34 Niagara Conservation areas that is under the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (Lindsay, 2021). The St. Johns Conservation Area was originally created to protect the water source at the headwaters of the Twelve Mile Creed (Yakiwchuk, 2021).

In 2021, the St. Johns Conservation Area is an important Conservation Area in the Fonthill Community. The Conservation Area is visited by many families, the local community, and even some Brock University Students.

Education

St. Johns Conservation Area has always been a place of learning, and still is today. In 1804, a schoolhouse for the local students was built (Hutchinson, 2021). This schoolhouse was called the St. Johns Common School. This schoolhouse is incredibly important because it was the first non-denominational free school in upper Canada (Hutchinson, 2021). This means the first public school. Visitors can still see St. Johns Common School on their way into the St. Johns Conservation area.

In 1958, the St. John's Outdoor Studies Center that is still open today was established. The education center is now run by the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority and serves more than 10,000 students every year (Niagara Catholic District School Board, 2016). Today the education center is called the Niagara Catholic Outdoor Education Program (Niagara Catholic District School Board, 2016). The school specializes in nature inspired learning experiences, and authentic cultural, spiritual, and environmental lessons (Niagara Catholic District School Board, 2016). The school partners with Brock University, Niagara Regional Native Center, Niagara Catholic District School Board and Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (Niagara Catholic District School Board, 2016). By partnering with the different organizations in the community, the school board is showing that they care about being a partner in the community.

The St. Johns Conservation Area plays a key role within the First Nations of Niagara. The Niagara Regional Native Center runs a program at St. Johns Conservation Center titled Soaring Eagles Alternative Secondary School Program (NRNC, 2021). This school is for students ages 14-21 and has grades 9-12 (NRNC, 2021). The school partners with the Niagara Catholic District School Board to provide an alternative program (NRNC, 2021). The Niagara area strives to be inclusive, which can be seen from the different schools.

Recreational Uses

Interested in visiting the St. Johns Conservation area? There are many recreational activities that visitors can do. These recreational activities include fishing, hiking and bird watching. There are four trails of different lengths located in the St. Johns Conservation Area (Lindsay, 2021). The four trails are The Tulip Tree Trail (blue marker), Sassafras Trail (red marker), Horseshoe Trail (yellow marker) and the St. Johns Ridge Trail (white marker) (Lindsay, 2021). The trails all form a loop. If visitors want a longer trail, they can easily hike all four of them or just hike one of them (Lindsay, 2021). The time for each of the trails are located on the large map at the entrance of the trails (Lindsay, 2021). Trail goers should ensure they have access to this map whether it be taking a picture of it, having it on your phone or printing a copy at home, to ensure their safety.

The Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority

The Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA) manages and controls the St. Johns Conservation Area. The St. Johns Conservation Area is just one of the 41 Conservation Areas that is managed by the NPCA (NPCA, 2021). The mission statement of the NPCA is "To implement our Conservation Authorities Act mandate by remaining a responsive, innovative, accountable and financially sustainable organization" (NPCA, 2021). The NPCA was created in 1946 after the Conservation Authorities Act was created (NPCA, 2021). The NPCA's objectives are to develop and implement services around conservation, restoration, development, and management of natural resources other than gas, oil, coal and minerals (NPCA, 2021). The NPCA have shown that they are responsible leaders for the green initiatives in Niagara (NPCA, 2021). The NPCA has developed programs and services that focus on keeping people and property safe (NPCA, 2021). They do this by overseeing development of watercourses and natural features, issuing public flood warnings, guiding the protection of raw drinking water sources, testing water quality, managing, and conserving natural resources, and education (NPCA, 2021).

The St. Johns Conservation Area is overseen by the NPCA. The NPCA works hard to maintain the integrity of this green space. They have completed several programs in doing so. Some of the projects that they have done include a 0.2-hectare erosion control project with the help of a local landowner, an invasive fish removal and installed kiosk signs with information about the grounds that visitors can read (NPCA, 2021). One of the major features of the St. Johns Conservation Area is its water body. As was stated above the water bodies at St. Johns Conservation Area are extremely important and date back to the last ice age. The water bodies are a part of the Twelve Mile Creek watersheds that the NPCA are protecting. The NPCA protects the watersheds by developing and implementing programs that protect life and property from natural hazards. The NPCA also works with other municipalities on the development and protection of the watersheds.

Twelve Mile Creek

The Twelve Mile Creek is a watershed that is located on the Niagara Peninsula. The Twelve Mile Creek is often divided between the upper and lower area (Wikipedia, 2021). The upper area of the Twelve Mile Creek has not been affected by human activity much and is one of the most unspoiled natural areas in Niagara (Wikipedia, 2021). However, the lower part of the creek is a different story. The lower creek goes through urban areas of Thorold and St. Catharine's (Wikipedia, 2021). This lower part has been heavily altered by human activity for almost two centuries now (Wikipedia, 2021). The headwater of the Twelve Mile Creek is called the Fonthill Kame Delta Complex (Wikipedia, 2021). This complex was formed by debris left behind by glaciers as they retreated around 12, 000 years ago (Wikipedia, 2021). People can enjoy public access to the Twelve Mile Creek through the Short Hills Provincial Park and the St. Johns Conservation area (Wikipedia, 2021).

Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority

Number: 905-788-3135

Fax: 905-788-1121

Email: info@npca.ca

Address: 250 Thorold Road West; 3rd Floor
Welland, ON L3C 3W2

Niagara Catholic District School Board

Number: (905) 735-0240

Fax: 905-735-2940

Address: 427 Rice Road Welland ON L3C 7C1

The Niagara Regional Native Center

Number: 905-688-6484

Fax: 905-688-4033

Address: 382 Airport Road

Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S 1J0

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This Local Landscape Report was prepared by Sarah Devine for the Brock University course TMGT 2P94: Human Dominated Ecosystems on November 14, 2021.

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