Wetlands in Village of Blair given to rare to steward
Posted Mar 21, 2024 06:27:17 AM.
Last Updated Mar 21, 2024 06:27:21 AM.
About 11.5 acres of wetland are set to be transferred over to rare Charitable Research Reserve that sit in the Village of Blair. The wetlands are connected to land where the new Amazon Fulfillment Centre is located.
The community in Blair started to question what would happen to the wetlands after the land was purchased. At the time it was unclear it would be for Amazon. The developers, Broccolini, worked with rare and the community to find solutions, which is when it was decided that rare would become stewards of the wetlands.
“We’re just hoping we can do the best we can and maintain a landscape element for the vegetation,” said Tom Woodcock, a planning ecologist for rare Charitable Research Reserve.
The wetlands are located next to a major highway – the 401, which Woodcock said raises concerns of pollution, garbage, and other problems for the wetlands.
“It has some invasive species issues, notably buckthorn and also some common reed creeping in from the 401 side, there is a lot of common reed along the 401,” said Woodcock.
Besides removing invasive species, rare will also have to do tree planting and monitor water levels.
“Generally, wetlands have a tendency to start to dry up, so we wanted to make sure that was monitored as well… and just to make sure that we could do the best that we can to look after it.”
Rare is still waiting for ownership of the wetlands to transfer over to them, though Woodcock said they have already started surveying the land while they wait.
