ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY & PLAN
Markham Green is a fully certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary New! Golf Business Canada has published an article about Markham Green in their Summer 2005 edition. Click here to read the article.
Please check out an article written by Bob Fisher which was posted on the Corporate Markham Website in June 2003.
Click Here to view the article.
Markham Green strives to provide its clients with the best possible playing conditions. Located in the GTA, Markham Green is situated in the Rouge River valley.
Our goal is to provide our customers with excellent playing conditions while reducing the input of pesticides, fertilizers and other materials.
A continuous 10 acre hard wood lot is located in the central portion of the property. A continuous 7 acre cedar corridor is located on the south perimeter of the property. A continuous 2 km (5 acre) of river runs through the property. We have developed 3.5 acres of buffer along the river. We have developed 7.5 acres of non-mowed and naturalized buffer between the community and the golf course. Acting as a corridor there are two continuous sections of 4 and 3.5 acres. These areas join wood lots where possible.
The buffer zones along the Rouge River, around a storm water pond, and around 90 % of the property receive minimal maintenance. The total acreage of minimum maintenance areas is 35 acres (54% of the property). These areas are not mowed and are in the process of being replanted with indigenous vegetation. We select plant material from a list of species native to the Rouge valley. We cross reference selected plant material to ensure that the plants are useful to birds, butterflies or other wild life. . Undesirable weeds, such as ragweed, are removed by hand.
The Rouge River is contiguous throughout the property. The buffer area along the river is kept at a minimum of 10'. 90% of the low maintenance area is contiguous, in that a ten acre deciduous wood lot meshes with the river which adjoins coniferous embankment which adjoins community buffer.
Protection of Special Habitats
The naturalized areas receive a minimum of inputs. The buffer areas
are being planted with native material to attract birds and
butterflies. The hard wood area is left undisturbed to provide
suitable environment for trilliums, foxes, ferns and other indigenous
wild life. Areas along the Rouge river are left undisturbed to allow
fish to breed. Trees are left or have been planted to shade river and
pond water.
Protection of Species of Special Concern
Salmon and trout: We have removed obstacles to fish movement. Buffer
areas along Rouge River includes overhanging trees to shade the water.
Deer: Contiguous naturalized areas on course which adjoin natural type areas at either end of property.
Turtles: We monitor their activity especially when they are laying eggs. Eggs are laid in sandy areas including sand traps, and we note those locations. Later in the year, usually early September the eggs hatch and we post areas to prevent people from stepping on them.
When selecting plant material, preference is given to indigenous material (from Rouge Valley list), as well as lists of beneficial plants for birds and butterflies.
In the last few years we have planted the following: dogwood, alternate leaved, redosier dogwood, american elder, nannyberry, hawthorn, sumac, raspberries, river bank grape, dogwoods, Salix sp.
Native Plant Landscaping
Existing vegetation includes alien material. We have no intention, at
this point, to remove existing imports. We are monitoring areas around
and under some exotic species, Norway Maple for example, to ensure
that the imported material does not unduly discourage native material.
We are in the process of replanting with indigenous vegetation. We select plant material from a list of species native to the Rouge valley. We cross reference selected plant material to ensure that the plants are useful to birds, butterflies or other wild life.
Birds: We are concentrating on providing native food sources for bird. For example we encourage the growth of Mullin as a food source. Once we have resource personnel available we will provide a suitable food source for those species which we wish to promote.
Questions regarding Markham Green's enviromental policy should be directed to Don Crymble, Course Superintendent at (905)294-4315 or
ENVIROMENT LINKS
trca.on.ca Website of the Toronto Region Conservation Authority
naba.org Website of the North America Butterfly Association
Rouge Park Website of the Rouge Park
Audubon Website of Audubon International
