Design Intent
Brookline Corridor Habitat Enhancement was designed to provide new habitat and wildlife connections through the landscape. This 560m-long wildlife corridor restoration project was developed in collaboration with ecologists to provide a habitat for Blanding’s turtles, amphibians, fish and mammals to inhabit and move along. Habitat was created through the construction of earthwork features including deep pools, shallow pans, and deep pockets which provide valuable water holding areas and ideal conditions for aquatic plants. Above-grade features including basking logs and root wads were installed to attract turtles and birds.
A wildlife barrier was designed to prevent the movement of Blanding’s turtles into the adjacent roadways and future subdevelopment while preventing unsafe access into the wildlife habitat. This restoration project aims to protect the ecological functions of the Shirley’s Brook watercourse and to improve the quality of aquatic habitat by:
- Creating habitat for Blanding’s turtles, a threatened species in Ontario.
- Enhancing the woodlot by planting native trees and shrubs, including Sugar Maples, Bur Oaks, Staghorn Sumacs.
- Expanding and creating valuable wetland areas adjacent to the existing brook, providing water storage during spring high water and stormwater events.
Identifying and protecting endangered and rare species, such as Butternut trees.