yorkregion.com
August 23, 2008, Keely Grasser

Conservation authority buys Swan Lake

A partnership between the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, York Region, the town and others has ensured the protection of a Richmond Hill Lake.

The conservation authority bought a 20-hectare parcel of land on Swan Lake, a kettle lake on Bethesda Sideroad, east of Lake Wilcox. It already owned three parcels of land in the area, but the recent purchase means the authority now owns the whole lake, conservation authority manager of acquisitions and sales Mike Fenning said.

It also owns about 150 metres around the small lake’s perimeter.

The lake is part of Oak Ridges Moraine, part of the Jefferson Forest Environmentally Significant Area and has been designated by the province as an area of natural and scientific interest, Mr. Fenning said. He added that the property includes forest, wetland and bogs.

“We wanted to make sure it’s protected,” he said.

The authority purchases land to protect it, rehabilitate it or to provide relief from flood and erosion hazards.

The property, bought for $3.58 million from the Hollander Family of Richmond Hill, was purchased with help from five community partners including the Regional Municipality of York, the Town of Richmond Hill, the City of Toronto, the Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation and Ducks Unlimited.

Richmond Hill contributed about $300,000. The region and Toronto both gave $1.2 million.

“Swan Lake is a good example of the partnership we have. We don’t always hold the deeds to these properties,” said Pam Fulford, a stewardship specialist with the region’s natural heritage and forestry services.

The Swan Lake property is a natural heritage corridor, she said, adding the region knew the authority already had a number of properties in that area.

“We were very happy to be able to support the authority’s initiative in securing that property,” she said.

Though the authority took the lead on securing the property, it has likewise supported the region when they have taken the lead in securing other land.

Among other conservation authority-region partnerships was the securement of the Baker Sugar bush in Vaughan.

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