WELLINGTON NORTH – The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) will be carrying out forest improvement operations in the conifer plantations around the Damascus Reservoir, near Wellington County Road 16, beginning in early November.
This work will result in temporary trail and area closures, the authority advised in an Oct. 28 press release.
It is anticipated that during closures some portions of the property’s main trail system will remain accessible to the public. The project is expected to take six to eight weeks to complete, but may continue until mid-January 2021.
The work is part of the GRCA’s long term forest management program, which includes the conversion of conifer plantations to more natural woodlands.
“Thinning plantations allows more light to reach the forest floor, so that young trees and shrubs can germinate and provides room for the larger trees to grow,”GRCA officials note.
Most of the harvested trees will be used for timber products, while some small logs and branches will be left on the forest floor where they provide habitat and eventually decompose, enriching the forest soil. The ultimate goal of the program is to establish a diverse forest with trees, shrubs and plant species of various ages and sizes.
Thinning is scheduled at this time of year to minimize wildlife disruptions and impact on recreational trail users. Members of the public are asked to obey posted signage so that crews may complete the work safely. Updates and on area closures can be found online at www.grandriver.ca/ServiceDisruptions.
