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 Mac Johnson Wildlife Area - Brockville, Ontario
N 44° 37.817 W 075° 43.821
18T E 442068 N 4942140
An place to get away and enjoy the outdoors.
Waymark Code: WME9HF
Location: Ontario, Canada
Date Posted: 04/23/2012
Views: 33
I have spent a great deal of time in the Mac Johnson Wildlife Area, from activities such as geocaching, hiking, trail riding, bird watching to watching dog sled races, skating, cross country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. It's a great place to relax and I'd suggest it to anyone who loves the outdoors. It's open from dawn until dusk and entrance is free. There is a lot of room for parking and there are washroom facilities. There are also several well maintained trails.
Located north of Brockville, just two km from Highway 29, Mac Johnson Wildlife Area includes 532 hectares of wetland, field and forest. The reservoir located on this property maintains water levels for the Buells Creek System which flows through the Township of Elizabethtown-Kitley and the City of Brockville. The reservoir is also a Class 1 provincially significant wetland with a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Also known locally as the Back Pond, the Wildlife Area was renamed by the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority in 1987, to recognize the efforts and achievements of a Brockville resident and early Conservation Authority member Mac Johnson.
Hiking and Cross Country Skiing
11km of trails cross woodland, wetland and field areas. The Wildflower Loop (trail 1) has been developed as an interpretive trail.
Picnicking
Picnic tables, a large picnic shelter, a group firepit, barbecues and handicapped washrooms are available on the north side of the reservoir. A small picnic area is also located on Centennial Road near the Broome-Runciman Dam.
Trumpeter Swan Restoration Program
The CRCA has been an active participant in the Trumpeter Swan Restoration Program since 1999. While we no longer have a captive breeding pair we are still active in the program and swans are frequent visitors to the Wildlife Area. Find out more information about Trumpeter Swans here.
Canoeing
A canoe access point is located on Centennial Road near the dam.
Skating
A skating rink is maintained on the pond when conditions permit. A skating shelter and a bonfire pit are available beside the pond.
Nature Centre
Contains picnic tables, a woodstove and washrooms. It is available for rent by education and community groups.
Provided on site by the CRCA.
History:
In the late 1700s and early 1800s, mills were an important feature in the settlement of southeastern Ontario. They cut lumber for carpentry and ground grain for food. Mills required water to provide the energy for operation procedures. Therefore, the early settlements developed adjacent to bodies of water. Brockville is no exception to this pattern.
Buells Creek, with its potential for providing power to operate mills, attracted settlers to the area. William Buell, after whom the creek was named, was a merchant who settled at the mouth of the creek in 1784. Buell's activities opened up the area for further settlement, settlement which led to the development of Brockville, and in which Buells Creek played a key role. At one time, Buells Creek supported eight mills, these being Brockville's first industries.
As a result of the mill ponds which were located along Buells Creek in the early 1800s, the water level of the creek was quite high. The marsh, at the headwaters of the creek, was also dammed to supply water for a mill, bringing its water level to a height comparable to or above the current level.
With the end of the milling era in the late 1800s, the headwaters of the creek were given over to a new industry. It was officially known as "Peat Works" and was operated by a Mallory family. The marsh was drained, and the extraction procedures began. However, the operation soon ran into financial difficulties and was abandoned.
After this initial drainage of the marsh, further drainage was attempted, to enable the area to be used for agricultural purposes. It was discovered, however, that much of the marsh was unsuitable for grazing due to the land's lack of solidity. According to local accounts the land remained very wet and mucky after draining, and heavy objects would sink into the mud as if it were quicksand. Many horses and cows were reported lost in this manner. The Cataraqui Region Conservation Report (1968) states that the area was "found to be a 'floating bog' as far back as 1958." This "floating bog" interpretation, if correct, would explain this phenomenon.
In 1967 the Broome-Runciman Dam was built to regulate the flow of water in the Creek.
From 1966 to 1970, the CRCA bought the lands around the Buells Creek area that today form the Wildlife Area. The properties were bought from a variety of vendors including, Mallory Estate, Wood Estate, H. Wordon, Wright Family, Brown Family, Fitzpatrick Family, Warren Family, McLarry Family, DeBruge Family, Stewart Family, Elizabethtown Township, Smith Family, Reynolds Family, V.L.A., Campbell Family, and the City of Brockville.
Also known locally as the "Back Pond," the Wildlife Area was renamed by the CRCA in 1987, to recognize the efforts and achievements of a Brockville resident and early Conservation Authority member, Mac Johnson.
*Information sourced from the Mac Johnson website
Estimated size of the public land (in regional measurement standard: hectares, acres, kms, etc.): 532 hectares
Is there a trail system?: Yes
If there is a trail system, please describe length, terrain, etc.:
There is a trail system that is well groomed. It goes all the way around the lake.
What points of interest are there?:
A huge pond with varying species of birds, multiple trails, trumpeter swan program
What activities are available?:
Hiking, trail riding, canoeing, cross country skiing, skating
Hours of accessibility?: Daylight hours only. No admittance between dusk til dawn.
List of known hazards (cliffs, snakes, poison plants, etc.):
Poison Ivy in some spots
Dogs Allowed?: Yes
Is a permit/fee required?: No
Please supply the website of the land if available: [Web Link]
If a permit/fee is required please describe in detail how to get one, how much, etc.: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Visitors are encouraged to supply a picture of either themselves or their GPS at the trailhead and/or signage of the public access lands - describe your experience there and what you saw - tell us why other folks should come visit!
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