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Keppler Nature Sanctuary

Donor:

Christine & Hans Keppler

Acreage:

295

Open to Public:

No

Year Protected:

2020

Protection:

Fee Simple

Interesting Features:

Located in the Chandos Lake area north of Apsley, the 295 acre Keppler property is filled with interesting natural features. It contains a sizable wetland, mixed canopy forest, permanent streams, numerous vernal pools, intermittent stream beds, and is adjacent to more than 600 acres of Crown land.

After enjoying this area for many years, land donors Christine and Hans Keppler want to make sure the property continues to thrive and provide a home for the many species of animals and plants that are found there.

A wetland network, which is part of the Crowe River Watershed, as well as diverse forest habitat are maintained inside this stretch of land. Over 40 species of birds call this area home, including Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Wood-pewee and Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

There is some evidence of historic logging on the property, but today the forests here are very healthy. Sugar maple dominated uplands and lowland hemlock and cedar stands are the two major types of forests on the property. The forest is diverse, teeming with numerous species of ferns and under-story species. Wetlands on the property have not yet been evaluated provincially, but they include graminoid meadow marshes, a dewatered beaver pond, and forested swamps.

There is approximately 566 meters of permanent streams flowing through the North Western corner of the property and feeding into the surrounding seasonally flooded meadow marshes. A large, recently dewatered beaver pond occupies the North East corner of the property, and an active heronry is also present. These significant features provide critical habitat for many Species at Risk.

All communities on the property show very limited disturbance from recent logging or human uses, and are in good condition. Forested areas vary in age, but some pockets contain older and very large maples and hemlocks and abundant woody debris. A minority of areas contain younger and more immature pockets of forest.

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