Rotary Frenchman’s Bay West Park is located on the southwest shore of Frenchman’s Bay on Beachpoint Promenade off the south end of West Shore Drive.
This area has been designated as an Environmentally Sensitive Area by the Toronto Region Conservation Authority due to its diversity of vegetation and significant natural features. The park is characterized by a barrier beach, sand bar coastal wetlands, meadows, and a climax forest. The Barrier Beach is a dynamic beach and sand dune system that is dominated by marram grass and eastern cottonwood. The sand dune complex is an important and rare coastal ecological community found only in a few locations within the Greater Toronto Area. This barrier beach is part of a shoreline and dune stabilization process being undertaken by the TRCA and has helped re-establish and protect the coastal wetlands found in Frenchman’s Bay
Barrier Beach formation
Barrier-beach lagoons are formed when near shore currents deposit a sand or gravel barrier bar across the mouth of an embayment. The resulting shallow pond or lagoon is sheltered from the lake's wave energy; sediments accumulate in the lagoon basin and vegetation can become rooted. Although water levels in the lagoon may be augmented by tributary streams and groundwater seepage, coastal lagoon wetlands are also partially controlled by the Great Lakes, through permanent or intermittent connecting channels, wave overwash, or cross-bar seepage.
Logging Information
The posted coordinates you will find an information sign titled Barrier Beach Bonanza. Based on the information on the sign, answer the following questions and send your answers to my profile. Logs without answers sent will be deleted
- The barrier beach in the Frenchman’s Bay watershed is approximately _________ metres long
- How many metres wide is the is the barrier between Lake Ontario and Frenchman’s Bay and the Hydro Marsh?
- How does the beach grass root or rhizome system protect the barrier beach?
- Name 2 other places in Canada that have barrier beaches.
Note: While not a requirement to log this cache, photos are always appreciated