Simon Bay Nature Preserve

Property Description

On the west shore of the Saugeen Bruce Peninsula, 35 km northwest of Wiarton, the 8 ha Simon Bay Property is rich in natural beauty and biodiversity. The Property is jointly held by the Greenough and North Bruce Wilderness Alliance (Wilderness Alliance) and the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy. The Simon Bay Property is part of a Provincially Designated Area of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI) with significant natural heritage value for both the region and the Province.

The Property is home to a variety of ecosystems including Great Lakes rocky shoreline, open sand dunes, coastal fen, limestone alvars and mature cedar forest. Ecological studies to date have recorded 16 species at risk (SAR) and species of conservation interest on the Property. Rare vascular plant species include the Dwarf Lake Iris (special concern) and the Ram’s Head Lady’s Slipper (Provincially Rare). The coniferous forest hosts ancient cedars, lichens, mosses, and orchids and forms part of the largest remaining intact forest in Southwestern Ontario and part of a Stratum II Deer Wintering area. The Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake (threatened) and Eastern Ribbonsnake (special concern) inhabit the Property.

The Property along Simon Bay is a significant habitat link between the waters of Lake Huron and contiguous forest lands of the 276 ha Gauley’s Bay property owned by Nature Conservancy of Canada to the east and municipal lands zoned open space to the north. These contiguous properties increase the value of the Simon Bay Property for habitat and species protection. The vision of the Wilderness Alliance is to conserve the shoreline and forest habitat linkage along the west shore of the Saugeen Bruce Peninsula and preserve it from the threats of shoreline cottage development in perpetuity.

Content and property pictures courtesy of Greenough and North Bruce Wildlife Alliance.