2007 Upper Thames River Watershed Report Cards

• 1.1 Introduction & 1.2 The Process

• 1.3 Water Quality

• 1.4 Forest Conditions

• 1.5 Watershed Features, Action Plan and Highlights of Progress

• 1.6 References

Back to the 2007 Report Card homepage.

1.4.5 Results

Table 7 lists the data and final grades for each of the 28 watersheds and Table 8 summarizes the data. Map 6 illustrates the distribution of watershed grades in map form.

The average grade for forest conditions is a D, which is the same overall grade achieved in the 2001 report cards. This low grade is not surprising considering the upper Thames River basin is located in a highly developed part of southern Ontario where only 11.4% forest cover remains, which is in the mid- to low range for southern Ontario.

Forest conditions are poorest (F grade) in the top end of the watershed in North Mitchell where agriculture is very prosperous and only small woodlots remain. Urban development has also occurred at the expense of the local forests. Forest cover around London is low and, in some cases, still declining. Forest conditions are highest (C grade) in watersheds such as Dorchester and Komoka where large wetlands remain that have avoided the plow or bulldozer.

The percent forest interior is generally quite low throughout the watershed (1.6%, F grade), due to the fact that most woodlots are small and narrow. Woodlots must be over 200 metres wide or 4 ha in area (assuming a square shape) to contain forest interior. Percent forest interior ranges from a low of 0.2% in the Forks watershed to a high of 5.7% in the Black Creek watershed. Ellice Swamp within Black Creek is the largest tract of forest in the Upper Thames basin.

There has been no perceptible change in forest cover since the 2001 report cards as forests take decades to grow. Tree planting and naturalization projects are being undertaken at a steady pace, but can only cover a small percentage of the watershed each year. In time, these projects will show good results. However, forests and natural cover continue to be lost in some areas, making it a challenge to achieve a net gain.

Table 7. Forest Conditions Grades (Avon - Mud)

* Final grade is determined by adding the points for each indicator and dividing by two.

Table 7. Forest Conditions Grades (North Mitchell - Wye)

* Final grade is determined by adding the points for each indicator and dividing by two.

Table 8. Summary of Forest Conditions Grades and Scores

• 1.1 Introduction & 1.2 The Process

• 1.3 Water Quality

• 1.4 Forest Conditions

• 1.5 Watershed Features, Action Plan and Highlights of Progress

• 1.6 References

Back to the 2007 Report Card homepage.

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