The City of London Parks Planning and Design Section is undertaking a Conservation Master Plan (CMP) for the Coves ESA. A CMP serves as a guideline document for the purpose of defining the boundary and providing management direction for the area. Over the years, the City of London has made enough key land acquisitions within the Coves Subwatershed to begin the preparation for a CMP for the Coves ESA. The first step in this process is a detailed field based inventory (currently underway) to collect information on plants, wildlife, natural processes and the cultural impacts that share the Coves ESA.
A public open house is scheduled for June 9, 2011 for members of the community and public to ask questions about the current inventory being done and the CMP process. The public can also voice their expectations and important issues that the CMP should address.The meeting is at the German-Canadian Club, 1 Cove Road, London, from 7pm-8:30pm.
Please plan to attend this meeting to have your voice heard.
Background on the Coves ESA
The City of London recognizes a 43-hectare area as the Coves Environmentally Significant Area, a component of London's Natural Heritage System.
The Coves ESA is biologically significant because it contains the habitat of:
- at least 90 bird species, including some sesitive to urban pressures, such as the White-breasted Nuthatch
- at least 5 reptile species, 7 amphibian species, 14 fish species and 14 mammal species
- at least 262 plant species, including some provincially rare plant species and forest types
The Coves ESA is geographically significant because it:
- is the most distint oxbow formation in London
- is adjacent to the Thames River Corridor
- contains habitat of species sensitive to urban pressures
- provides a natural corridor for species migration