East Mountain Master Plans & Management Plans
We welcome your comments and feedback to help us draft new ten-year plans for our conservation areas!
Master Plans and Management Plans provide a long-term vision for HCA-owned and operated properties. These plans help HCA to effectively direct staffing and resources to manage, restore, and improve areas in an appropriate way. They provide a detailed property evaluation for property and natural resource management, as well as development decisions.
In 2019, HCA adopted a Ten-Year Master Plan Update Strategy. The strategy sets out overall goals, objectives, and a schedule for the updating of HCA’s Master Plans and Management Plans.
For 2023 the areas to be studied include:
- Eramosa Karst Conservation Area
- Felker’s Falls Conservation Area
- Mount Albion Conservation Area
- Chippawa Rail Trail
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Eramosa Karst Conservation Area
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A new Master Plan is being written for Eramosa Karst Conservation Area (EKCA). The 2023 Master Plan will update and replace the 2007 EKCA Master Plan and 2013 EKCA Feeder Lands Operating Plan. EKCA is 111 hectares (274 acres) in area and located south of the Niagara Escarpment. The karst topography formed by the dissolving of rock and characterized by sinkholes (dolines), sinking streams, caves, and underground drainage that is found at EKCA is uncommon in Ontario. The karst features found in the conservation area have caused it to be designated as an Area of Natural and Scientific Interest (Eramosa Karst ANSI). The conservation area provides passive recreational trails for visitors to appreciate the sensitive karst landscape and its associated ecology and presents opportunities for environmental education. A portion of the East Mountain Trail Loop also passes through this conservation area.
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Felker’s Falls Conservation Area
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A new Management Plan will be written for Felker’s Falls Conservation Area (FFCA). This new Management Plan will update and replace the 1975 Master Plan prepared during the land acquisition. FFCA is located above and below the Niagara Escarpment and contains natural areas of significance in the urbanized Hamilton watershed. It is also within the NEP area. The conservation area contains Felker’s Falls, which is a waterfall over the Escarpment for the east branch of Redhill Creek. HCA manages the wooded areas of the Escarpment, and the Bruce Trail Conservancy maintains the Bruce Trail running through the property. The East Mountain Trail Loop also passes through FFCA.
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Mount Albion Conservation Area
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A new Master Plan will be written for Mount Albion Conservation Area (MACA). This new Master Plan will update and replace the 2000 Master Plan. MACA is a 41-hectare (101-acre) passive conservation area located on the Niagara Escarpment south of the Lincoln Alexander Parkway at Dartnall and Stone Church Road. Hannon Creek, a tributary of the Red Hill Creek, flows through the centre of the property from south to north. These lands are within the Niagara Escarpment Plan Area (NEP). HCA began acquiring the lands in 1970 to provide access to the public for recreational activities such as hiking, picnicking, nature observation and winter sports. The property is a significant node and staging area for the Chippawa Rail Trail. It offers multi-use recreational trail connections to the Red Hill Creek Valley System and the City of Hamilton’s East Mountain Trail Loop.
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Chippawa Rail Trail
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A new Management Plan will be written for the Chippawa Rail Trail (CRT). This new Management Plan will update the 1998 Master Plan, which guided the initial construction of the trail. The plan will focus on the HCA-owned portion of the trail from Stone Church Road East to Haldibrook Road. The Chippawa Rail Trail follows the abandoned Canadian National Railways line acquired by HCA in 1996. This 15km trail is part of the Niagara section of the Trans Canada Trail from Hamilton to Caledonia. HCA manages 12 km of the trail north of Haldibrook Road. The parking lot on Dartnall Road in the Mount Albion Conservation Area serves as a staging area for the trail.
Who's Listening
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Landscape Designer
Phone 905-525-2181, 118 Email marmstro@conservationhamilton.ca