Short Hills Provincial Park

NOTICE
Short Hills Provincial Park will be closed to the public for a Deer Harvest.

The Haudenosaunee Confederacy has notified the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks that it wishes to undertake a harvest for white-tailed deer in Short Hills Provincial Park.

To help ensure public safety during the deer harvest, Short Hills Provincial Park will be closed on the following dates and will reopen at 8 a.m. the day after each scheduled closure:

• Wednesday, October 28
• Saturday, November 14
• Sunday, November 15
• Saturday, November 28
• Sunday, November 29
• Saturday, December 12

During the harvest, access points will be monitored. Park closures are authorized under the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, 2006. On harvest dates, members of the public are asked to comply with all posted notices and not enter the park.

To help protect the safety of harvesters, staff and the public, several additional measures will be in place throughout the harvest:
• Archery will be the means of harvesting deer.
• A harvest zone has been established, and harvesting will remain in the agreed-upon zone.
• Harvesters will be stationary and away from the park boundary.
• All participants will be advised of the safety protocols and procedures.
• Ministry staff will be present at authorized access points and other locations to advise members of the public that the park is closed during the harvests and that access is prohibited.
• Notices will be posted at park entrances. Each harvest day begins one half-hour before sunrise and ends one half- hour after sunset. Post-harvest maintenance will be completed the following morning by 8 a.m.
• Each harvest day begins one half-hour before sunrise and ends one half- hour after sunset. Post-harvest maintenance will be completed the following morning by 8 a.m.
All harvesters will be made aware of these measures to ensure a safe and humane deer harvest.

If you require additional information about the deer harvest at Short Hills Provincial Park please contact Ontario Parks, Southwest Zone at 519-668-0897 or Ontario.Parks.Southwest.Zone@ontario.ca.

Japanese Stiltgrass, a shade-tolerant invasive annual grass of forests, wetlands, damp fields, lawns, trails and roadside ditches has been identified in Short Hills Provincial Park

Please refer to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) website and park kiosks for additional information and pictures.

https://inspection.gc.ca/plants/plant-pests-invasive-species/invasive-plants/fact-sheets/japanese-stiltgrass/eng/1331745159167/1331745245097

Why it’s a problem
Japanese stiltgrass can form dense stands that outcompete native vegetation. It reduces the regeneration of native woody species and the overall biodiversity of the invaded ecosystem.

What it looks like
Japanese stiltgrass is a sprawling grass. Stems are 40-120 cm long and 1-1.5 mm thick. The lower portion of the plant is prostrate while the upper portions and flowering branches are erect. It roots at its stem nodes. Leaf blades are pale green, narrowly elliptic, 4–9 cm long and 5–15 mm wide, with a characteristic shiny midrib. Leaf sheaths are shorter than internodes. Inflorescences are terminal racemes, 3-9 cm in length.

Where it’s found
Native to Asia, this species has naturalized in the eastern U.S. and continues to spread in the northeast. One small population of Japanese stiltgrass has been confirmed and is under official control in southern Ontario.

How it spreads
Fruits and seeds are dispersed by water and can attach to clothing or animal fur. Bird seed, soil, nursery stock, hay, muddy tires, equipment, vehicles, and footwear are additional means of dispersal. Seeds can persist in the soil for as long as five years.

Regulations
Japanese stiltgrass is regulated as a pest in Canada under the Plant Protection Act. The species is prohibited and therefore importation and domestic movement of regulated plants and their propagative parts is not permitted. If found, regulatory action can be taken.

Similar species
Japanese stiltgrass is similar to the North American native white cutgrass (Leersia virginica). However, distinctive traits of Japanese stiltgrass include hairless nodes, smaller leaf blades, purple fall colouration, and a shinier blade midrib. Moreover, Japanese stiltgrass is an annual weed with fibrous roots and a spike-like inflorescence, whereas Leersia species have rhizomes and a panicle type of inflorescence. Japanese stiltgrass may also be mistaken for another North American native, deertongue panicgrass (Dichanthelium clandestinum), as well as for small carpetgrass (Arthraxon hispidus).

What to do about it
Please contact your local CFIA office if you think you have found Japanese stiltgrass or other regulated invasive plants. The CFIA will follow-up to determine if further action is needed.

*Invasive plants are plant species that can be harmful when introduced into new areas. These species can invade agricultural and natural areas, causing serious damage to Canada's economy and environment. To find out more, visit www.inspection.gc.ca/invasive or contact CFIA’s Invasive Alien Species and Domestic Programs section at cfia.ias-eee.acia@canada.ca. To find your area or regional CFIA office, visit http://www.inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/offices/eng/1313255382836/1313256130232

Short Hills Provincial Park Phased Trail Reopening Update

Short Hills Provincial Park is pleased to announce a phased reopening of several trails following extensive damage assessments and restoration work completed after recent flooding events. While many areas are ready to safely welcome visitors back, some sections remain closed while significant repairs and infrastructure replacement projects continue.

Trails Reopening Week of August 24

The following trails have been assessed and are considered safe for public access:

The Pines Trail

Laura Secord Trail

Paleozoic Path

Minor trail maintenance and cleanup will continue over the coming week to address localized damage and improve trail conditions.

Swayze Falls Trail (Partial Reopening)

A portion of Swayze Falls Trail will reopen to visitors.

Open sections will provide:

A route from the Roland Road Parking Lot to the Bruce Trail entrance on Effingham Road along the west side of the park

A travel corridor connecting the Roland Road Parking Lot and Black Walnut Trail near the Pelham Road Parking Lot.

Trail Reopening Week of August 31

Hemlock Valley Trail

Trails Remaining Closed

Terrace Creek Trail remains closed until further notice.

Inspections have confirmed a complete structural failure of the trail bridge. The bridge must be fully replaced before the trail can safely reopen.

Swayze Falls Trail Northern Section Closure

The northern section of Swayze Falls Trail will remain closed pending bridge replacement.

Inspections have confirmed a complete structural failure of the trail bridge. The bridge must also be fully replaced before the trail can safely reopen.

Bridge removal and replacement planning is expected to proceed after priority trail washout repairs have been completed.

Black Walnut Trail Update

Black Walnut Trail will be accessible from:

Pelham Road Parking Lot

Wiley Road Parking Lot

Visitors will also be able to access the Bruce Trail through:

Very Berry Trail

Laura Secord Trail

Closed Section

The northwest section of Black Walnut Trail remains closed due to significant washouts and erosion damage.

Repair work is expected to begin later this week and continue into next week.

Visitors are reminded to obey all trail closure signs and barriers. Closed areas may contain unsafe conditions, damaged infrastructure, and active construction zones.

The East loop and the North section of the Terrace creek trail is closed due to unsafe trail conditions. The South Terrace Creek trail which connects to Black Walnut remains open at this time.