Basis for Nominating the Grand River as a Canadian Heritage River (continued)

Natural Heritage

The Grand River has a rich diversity of natural heritage features which form the basis for many of excellent recreational opportunities. Five areas in the Grand River watershed stand out for their significant natural features:

• Luther Marsh encompasses a 4 000 ha marsh and open water area, a 500 ha acidic fen, and upland and lowland forests. A dam built in the 1950s created the marsh, providing ideal nesting habitat for birds such as Great Blue Heron, Osprey, Rednecked Grebe, Least Bittern and Wilson's Phalarope.

• The Grand River Marshes near Dunnville harbour abundant wildlife and provide important spawning and rearing sites for fish such as Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, and Yellow Perch.

• The Grand River Forest includes extensive uplands and swamp forest, bogs, fens, oak savannah and prairie remnants. This is one of the best remaining examples of Carolinian forests in Canada and includes southern species such as Sycamore, Sassafras, Chinquapin Oak, Pignut Hickory and Hackberry.

• At Elora Gorge, the Grand River tumbles over a waterfall, then winds over 2 km between sheer walls of limestone. A short distance from the waterfall, Irvine Creek, which flows through an equally impressive gorge, meets the Grand.

• During the last Ice Age, swirling rocks in a glacial meltwater stream eroded not only the largest concentration of potholes in Ontario, but also the Devil's Well, which may be the world's largest pothole. Much of this unique site is protected within the Rockwood Conservation Area on the Eramosa River.

• One of the oldest rivers in Ontario, the Grand River's outstanding geology results from landforms created by the last glaciation 12,000 years ago. Features include unusually large aquifers and numerous special areas such as the Dumfries Landscape Complex, the Guelph Drumlin Field, and the Baden Hills Kame Complex.

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