Current forest projects

In late 2025, GRCA began a project to thin the conifer plantations at Chesney Wilderness Area. The project is now mostly completed; however, there are a few remaining areas that we hope to thin in the Fall/Winter 2026. See below for current updates and anticipated impacts to property use and trails.

View a map (886 KB PDF) showing the areas of conifer plantation being thinned. Please note this document may not be accessible to people with disabilities. If you have a disability and require this document in an alternate format, please contact us.

Impacts to property use and trails 

• Plantation thinning operations are on hold and the project will resume in Fall/Winter 2026.
• The property is now open.

Thinning Operations

Approximately 26 hectares of conifer plantation will be thinned in total. Trees have been marked for removal using orange tree marking paint. A contractor will be cutting trees that were marked for removal using large forestry equipment. They will remove the portions of the trees that can be used for timber products. Smaller logs and branches will be left on the forest floor to provide cover for wildlife and replenish the soil as they decay.

Thinning will change the appearance of these forests. The canopy will be more open, allowing more sunlight to reach the ground. This will promote the growth of younger trees and shrubs that have established there, or in the case of first thinning, promote their establishment. Over time, through repeated conifer thinnings, the site will have a greater diversity of trees, shrubs, and understory plants – improving the overall health and beauty of the forest!

Visit our plantation restoration page to learn more.

Conifer plantation thinning at the southwest portion of Luther Marsh Wildlife Management Area is currently on hold and is expected to resume in August 2026. See below for current updates and anticipated impacts to property use and trails.

View a map (596 KB PDF) showing the areas of the conifer plantation which are being thinned. Please note this document may not be accessible to people with disabilities. If you have a disability and require this document in an alternate format, please contact us.

Impacts to property use and trails 

• There are no impacts at this time.
• The plantations being thinned (and some surrounding areas) will be closed when operations resume. Signs will be posted along the roadways entering the area to inform the public. 
• Closures are for safety reasons. During the thinning operation, heavy machinery will be cutting trees and moving logs throughout the site. 

History of Luther Marsh forest plantations

The Luther Marsh Wildlife Management Area is a 5,900-hectare property centered around Luther Lake, which was created by Luther Dam in 1954. Surrounding the 1,400-hectare lake are wetlands, grasslands, meadows and forests providing habitat for a wide variety of wildlife.

Most of the area surrounding Luther Marsh was historically cleared for agriculture. Ambitious reforestation projects have been occurring on the property since the late 1950s, resulting in large areas being planted with a mix of White Pine, Spruce, European Larch, White Cedar, Red Pine, and some hardwood species such as White Ash and White/Red Oak. Much of the 62 hectares of plantation scheduled for management were previously thinned in 1988. Several areas were also planted in the early 1980s and are currently being thinned for the first time.

Thinning operations

Approximately 62 hectares of conifer plantation are being thinned. Trees have been marked for removal using orange tree marking paint. A contractor will be cutting trees that were marked for removal using large forestry equipment. They will remove the portions of the trees that can be used for timber products. Smaller logs and branches will be left on the forest floor to provide cover for wildlife and replenish the soil as they decay.

Thinning will change the appearance of these forests. The canopy will be more open, allowing more sunlight to reach the ground. This will promote the growth of younger trees and shrubs that have established there, or in the case of first thinning, promote their establishment. Over time, through repeated conifer thinning, the site will have a greater diversity of trees, shrubs, and understory plants - improving the overall health and beauty of the forest!

Visit our plantation restoration page to learn more.

Starting mid-February 2026, the GRCA will begin a project to thin some of the conifer plantations around Puslinch Lake. See below for current updates and anticipated impacts to property use.

View a map (581 KB PDF) showing the areas of conifer plantation being thinned. Please note this document may not be accessible to people with disabilities. If you have a disability and require this document in an alternate format, please contact us.

Impacts to property use

• The work is expected to stop March 15, 2026, and will resume for completion in the fall of 2026.
• The property being impacted by the work is not open to the public.
• For safety reasons, please do not enter the property during this period.
• During the thinning operation, heavy machinery will be felling trees and moving logs throughout the site.

Thinning Operations

Approximately 30 hectares of conifer plantation will be thinned in total. Trees have been marked for removal using orange tree marking paint. A contractor will be cutting trees that were marked for removal using large forestry equipment. They will remove the portions of the trees that can be used for timber products. Smaller logs and branches will be left on the forest floor to provide cover for wildlife and replenish the soil as they decay.

Thinning will change the appearance of these forests. The canopy will be more open, allowing more sunlight to reach the ground. This will promote the growth of younger trees and shrubs that have established there, or in the case of first thinning, promote their establishment. Over time, through repeated conifer thinnings, the site will have a greater diversity of trees, shrubs, and understory plants – improving the overall health and beauty of the forest!

Visit our plantation restoration page to learn more.

Starting January 2025, GRCA began a project to thin the conifer plantations at Baxendale East/West and Ritchie Tracts. The Baxendale East and Ritchie Tract projects are complete; however, Baxendale West remains incomplete and is expected to resume in 2026. See below for current updates and anticipated impacts to property use and trails.

View a map (922 KB PDF) showing the areas of conifer plantation being thinned. Please note this document may not be accessible to people with disabilities. If you have a disability and require this document in an alternate format, please contact us.

Impacts to property use and trails 

• There are no impacts at this time.
• Baxendale West will be closed when operations resume. Signs will be posted at the main entrance to inform the public. 
• Closures are for safety reasons. Heavy machinery will be moving logs off the site.

Thinning Operations

Approximately 32 hectares of conifer plantation will be thinned in total across the three properties. Trees have been marked for removal using orange tree marking paint. A contractor will be cutting trees that were marked for removal using large forestry equipment. They will remove the portions of the trees that can be used for timber products. Smaller logs and branches will be left on the forest floor to provide cover for wildlife and replenish the soil as they decay.

Thinning will change the appearance of these forests. The canopy will be more open, allowing more sunlight to reach the ground. This will promote the growth of younger trees and shrubs that have established there, or in the case of first thinning, promote their establishment. Over time, through repeated conifer thinnings, the site will have a greater diversity of trees, shrubs, and understory plants –improving the overall health and beauty of the forest!

Visit our plantation restoration page to learn more.