By Cecilia Nasmith
Cramahe Township has announced a special donation – a 5.5-acre wetland property at Telephone and Ibbotson roads donated to the township by its owner, Mark Charlton of St. Catharines.
“Wetlands are central life-support systems in the natural environment, providing services like water filtration, unique habitat, floodwater control and preservation of our all-important water table,” the press release stated.
Charlton added in the announcement that the property was not a wetland when he purchased it in 2000 in anticipation of a job-related move to Oshawa that, in the end, did not happen.
“The beavers moved in and created wetlands, so it is now a wetland,” he said.
As such, it would not be a place where residential land use is allowed, so he proposed that the municipality assume the property as an environmental asset.
“I'm sure there are all kinds of waterfowl, and I know deer and wild turkeys are on the property,” he said.
“I'm very happy the township is thrilled to assume ownership.”
Township planner Victoria Heffernan commented on the high concentration of habitat biodiversity present in wetlands. At the official ceremony transferring the property, it was alive with returning spring migratory birds, the first wildflower blooms and the rush of water draining into Lake Ontario.
“This wetland will be preserved, an important indication of how seriously Cramahe Township considers our natural ecological assets,” Mayor Mandy Martin pledged.
“We are very grateful and pleased to receive this generous legacy from Mark Charlton.”
It is proposed that the property be designated the Charlton Wetland.
