Land use adjacent to wetlands in Southern Ontario

Wetlands can be greatly affected by their adjacent land uses. Existing regional databases on land use and evaluated wetland location were analysed for the amount of various land uses abutting evaluated wetlands in southern Ontario. A sample of 27 National Topographic System map sheets was chosen based on a set of criteria to ensure representation of land use conditions. Wetland boundaries overlaid on land use maps were measured for the different abutting land uses. Evaluated wetland perimeters totalling 6,704.6 kilometers were measured within a sample study area of 21,445 square kilometers. Half the abutting uses were natural, dominated by forest. Agriculture accounted for 40% of the wetland perimeter - 11.4% Row Crop, 9.4%; Traditional Mixed and Grain systems; 18.2% Hay, Pasture and Grazing systems; 0.6% Specialty crop systems.Built-up uses abutted 5% of the evaluated wetland perimeter, dominated by rural road and non-farm residential uses. Water occurred along 4.4% of wetland perimeters. Minor differences are noted with a smaller sample set and between wetland class groupings. The spatial distribution of land uses abutting evaluated wetlands shows a wide range of wetland perimeter occurrence. Natural and agricultural uses dominate in 25 of the 27 sample areas. Agricultural system types adjacent to wetlands generally reflect their distribution in southern Ontario.