HomeA Second Chance for Second Marsh 
Restoring the largest remaining coastal wetland in the Greater Toronto Area
Oshawa ON, Nov. 5 – Oshawa's Second Marsh will soon be a healthier wetland thanks to the concerted restoration efforts of Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) and lead corporate sponsor, Ontario Power Generation.
"Second Marsh is the most precious wetland within the heart of urban Canada and once restored it will provide one of the most significant recreational experiences for the Greater Toronto Area," said Tom Worden, provincial chair for Ducks Unlimited Canada. "Waterfowl, birds, fish, and other wildlife will benefit from the marsh's restoration as well as people living near the marsh and within the Greater Toronto Area."
Located between two migratory bird flyways on the shores of Lake Ontario, Second Marsh is a 123-hectare wildlife area that has been designated a Provincially Significant Wetland and an Area of Natural and Scientific Interest by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.
Ontario Power Generation is donating $100,000 to launch "A Second Chance For Second Marsh" - a $500,000 community-driven and volunteer-based Ducks Unlimited Canada fund-raising campaign.
"Ontario Power Generation is proud to support this project," said Helen Howes, vice-president of sustainable development for Ontario Power Generation. "This is another example of our company's commitment to biodiversity enhancement in Southern Ontario. It's a great addition to the work we've done to restore and preserve natural lands on our sites, as well as our efforts to restore forest habitat in Southern Ontario."
To improve the marsh's water quality, Ducks Unlimited Canada will create a channel and a dike to extend Harmony Creek's flow around Second Marsh. DUC will also construct a water control system to introduce fluctuating water levels, reflective of natural processes, that will promote the wetland's rehabilitation.
The ultimate goal of Ducks Unlimited Canada and its project partners, that include the City of Oshawa, Friends of Second Marsh, Environment Canada, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority, is to restore the watershed and the resilience of the wetland to historic conditions.
Healthy wetlands help purify water by filtering out contaminants and recharging groundwater supplies. They also act as carbon sinks, helping to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Through the industrialization and urbanization of coastal areas, over 80 percent of historic wetlands in Southern Ontario have disappeared, making the conservation and restoration of Second Marsh a priority.
Ducks Unlimited Canada is a private, non-profit charitable organization dedicated to conserving wetlands and their associated upland habitats for the benefit of North America's waterfowl, wildlife and people.
Ontario Power Generation is an Ontario-based company whose principal business is the generation and sale of electricity to customers in Ontario and interconnected markets. Our goal is to be a premier North American energy company, focused on low-cost power generation and wholesale energy sales, while operating in a safe, open and environmentally responsible manner.
