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Carolinian
Climate The Grand River
Forest, a narrow ribbon of land
between Cambridge and Paris,
closely resembles the habitat
of the Carolinas in the southeastern
United States. Known as a Carolinian
forest, this diverse ecosystem
supports over 800 plant species,
including oaks, hickories, butternuts
and the sun-loving sassafras,
tulip and mulberry trees. The
forest contains more endangered
bird and animal species than
any other zone in Canada. Hike
or cycle through the Grand River
Forest on the 18 kilometre Cambridge
to Paris Rail Trail.
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Magic
in the Marsh
Pick up your paddle and push off
into the ecological marvel of the Luther
Marsh, at the headwaters of the Grand. Picture
prehistoryçs primeval swamp as entire colonies
of great blue herons gather overhead. Search
the sky for osprey, egrets, red-necked grebes.
Try to be among the lucky few to spot a
mink frog, a ribbon snake, or a spotted
turtle.
Like a boggy river bookend,
the Luther Marsh on the Dundalk Plateau
at the head of the Grand is an ecological
metropolis, the pinnacle in a watershed
of such diversity that it counts a genuine
Carolinian forest and a rare hillside Prairie
fen in its nature inventory. The Marsh is
the result of the man-made Luther Dam, constructed
in 1954 as part of the Grand River Conservation
Authorityçs flood control system.
Botany
and Birds The Marsh is massive. In
total, it covers over 5,200 hectares. About
one quarter of the Marsh is open, surrounded
by lowland swamps, shrubby bogs, plantations,
natural forest and crop land. Besides being
one of the most significant wetlands in
Ontario, it has been designated as an Important
Bird Area. Visiting birders can see species
such as least bitterns, Wilsonçs Phalaropes
and yellow-rumped warblers. As a waterfowl
staging area, it reigns supreme: as many
as 50,000 ducks and geese pass through the
Marsh on their migratory path.
| Prairie
on the Hill At Brantford,
the Prairie Fen is the only example
of its kind in Ontario. A perched
fen, or hillside wetland, this
rare habitat of wet prairie sedges,
grasses and shrubs gives rise
to an ecosystem all its own. |
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Hikers in the Marsh
will find themselves in an Alleghenian Forest
Zone, with sub-boreal plant species such as
black spruce, pitcher plant and sphagnum moss
along their trails. Keen naturalists can search
the Wylde Lake area for rare boreal species
such as tawny-cotton, royal fern, small cranberry
and round-leafed sundew. Winters are cold
in the Luther Marsh, which may explain the
presence of cotton grass, more common to the
Arctic tundra than a southern Ontario upland.
 The
Luther Marsh Conservation Area is operated
year-round by the Grand River Conservation
Authority. Hiking, mountain biking, snowmobiling,
snowshoeing, skiing, nature observation, birding,
hunting, canoeing, picnicking, and photography
are some of the activities available. Canoe
routes, trails, interpretive displays, observation
towers, parking areas, picnic areas, and boat
launches are all in place.
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