Maclure Wetland

The Maclure Wetland is located at 33350 Industrial Avenue. It is 15 acres and was donated to the Fraser Valley Conservancy during the Fall of 2008.

The property is bounded by Willband Creek on the east and Horn Creek to the north, with various channelized streams flowing throughout it. Much of the property is dominated by invasive Reed Canary Grass, with small areas of wetland plant complexes. Maclure Wetland lies within the Coastal Western Hemlock very drymaritime (CWHxm1) Biogeoclimatic subzone and is part of a large floodplain.

The Maclure Wetland has numerous Ecosystem Functions:

• It provides homes for many species including the blue-listed Mountain Beaver, Green Herons, and Red-legged Frogs and is potential habitat for the Red-listed Pacific Water Shrew which is found in these swampy areas. It also provides homes to Starlings, Chickadees, Red-winged Blackbird, Steller’s Jay, Red Shafted Northern Flicker, Warbler Fox Sparrow, Great Blue Heron, and many types of Water-fowl.

• It acts as a corridor between properties within the City of Abbotsford, allowing coyotes and other mammals to migrate with minimized threat.

• It is aesthetically pleasing and provides an environmental connection for neighbours in the surrounding area.

• It plays a significant role related to water filtration, storage, and year-round flow characteristics.

• It provides refuge for fish bearing species and invertebrates.

The Major Threats to the Maclure Wetland are:

• Introduction of silt and pollution-laden water along the south border.

• Establishment of invasive garden plants along the west boundary

• Changes to the area’s hydrology could have major implications for the ecology of Maclure Wetland. Changes to the periodicity, duration and magnitude of flooding (inflow of water) will affect the persistence of plant communities and plant species. This, in turn, will affect the assemblage of animals.

• Garbage and contaminants from Horn Creek accumulating in the wetland.

South Fraser Way Ravine

The Ravine is 2.5 acres and was donated to the Fraser Valley Conservancy in August of 2007 by South Fraserway Development Ltd.