Contact(s)
Between November 2022 and March 2023 we will undertake a project to thin a number of the conifer plantations around Belwood Lake.
Thinning plantations increases forest diversity, improves wildlife habitat and increases resilience to insect pests, diseases and climate change.
Impacts on cottage lots and trails
- Activities are planned for mid-November 2022 through mid-March 2023.
- Individual forest areas will be closed to all public access while forest thinning is underway.
- Portions of the Grand Valley Trail on the north(west) side of the reservoir will be temporarily closed during operations.
- No closure of the Elora Cataract Trailway is required.
- Temporary blockages on a couple cottage roads will be required. Affected cottagers in those areas will be contacted prior to operations in their area.
- Property signage and the map below will indicate current closures. You may also subscribe to this webpage to receive updates.
Current closures and map
Current closures:
- Forest plantations between 3rd Line and the cottage road (3rd Line Road) are closed.
- Forest plantations and the trail between 4th street and 5th street south of Belwood are closed.
- Forest plantations and the trail between 2nd street and 3rd street (near Wellington Rd 16) and along 2nd street are closed.
- Logging trucks are loading and hauling logs at several locations adjacent to cottage roads - please use caution when traveling cottage roads.
- View a map (229 KB PDF) showing the areas to be thinned as well as any current closures. (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.)
| History of Belwood Lake forest plantations |
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Since Shand Dam was constructed in 1942, we have planted over 400 hectares (1,000 acres) of forest on our properties around Belwood Lake. Over 600,000 seedlings have been planted. White pine and spruce were the most commonly planted species, however, cedar, larch, scots pine and various deciduous species were also planted. The older plantations are now more than 75 years old and most have been thinned twice. Many of these now contain a more diverse mix of trees, shrubs and understory plants. Black cherry, ash, and alternate-leaf dogwood are some of the most common species that have naturally established following thinning. Some of the younger plantations established in the 1980s are now being thinned for the first time. The two pictures below show the transformation of the area around Belwood Lake between 1947 and the present. Current plantation thinning is an ongoing part of this transformation.
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| Thinning operations |
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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, where they provide cover for small animals and replenish the soil as they decay. Thinning will change the appearance of these forests. They will be more open and more sunlight will reach the understory. This will promote the growth of tree and shrubs that have established there, or in the case of first thinnings, promote their initial establishment. Visit our plantation restoration page to learn more. |
