Downey Tract (wetland)

The 20 ha Downey Tract, located east of Woodstock, is part of the Provincially Significant Wetland known as the Central Whiteman’s/Horner Creek Wetland Complex. This very large (3,485 ha) wetland complex of ponds and swamps is situated on both sides of the watershed divide of the Thames and Grand River watersheds. The Downey Tract, also known locally as the Blandford Blenheim Agreement Forest, is located at the headwaters of a creek that drains to the South Thames River at Pittock Reservoir.

The forest is slowly healing after years of disturbances. In the 1930s or 1940s, the land was cleared for agriculture, but this effort proved unsuccessful and was abandoned. The land was purchased in 1952 with funding from Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) under the Managed Forest Program, established to reforest marginal farmland. UTRCA took ownership while MNR undertook the reforestation and management. Several blocks of coniferous trees were planted in the 1950s, while other areas were allowed to succeed naturally. In 2001, MNR turned over the management responsibilities of all the agreement forests to the landowners.

In 1989, the UTRCA undertook fourth row thinning of the Red and White Pines to open up the canopy. Seed-bearing Black Cherry trees were protected during the thinning and, with the added sunlight, the cherries have regenerated well. Some Red Oaks were under-planted as well. The species composition of the Downey Tract continues to change as the Red Pines, which are not adapted to the wet conditins, are dying out, and ash trees have succumbed to the Emerald Ash Borer. Other wetland species are moving in.

In addition to wildlife habitat, this wetland property contributes to carbon sequestration, flood reduction, ground water recharge, and water quality improvements.