Home
Related links
Investing in Essex County’s wetlands
Barrie, Ontario, April 6, 2010—As a result of financial support from the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) and the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) has been conducting extensive renovations within Hillman Marsh Conservation Area, the beautiful and provincially significant area located along the northern shore of western Lake Erie, in Essex County. Hillman Marsh not only attracts people from all over the region with a variety of recreational amenities but as a major waterfowl migration stopover; it is one of the region’s finest bird viewing areas.
“Protection of the western Lake Erie and Detroit River coastal marshes are one of DUC’s top conservation priorities in Southern Ontario,” said Jim Brennan, DUC’s Ontario Manager of Provincial Operations. “Some of North America’s most important waterfowl migration habitats are located along the shores of the Lower Great Lakes and in spite of wetland loss, this area still supports some of the highest migratory waterfowl densities in the province.”
The restoration of Hillman Marsh is being made possible through a FedDev Ontario commitment of up to $3 million for wetland renewal. DUC is contributing an additional $1.3 million, resulting in a $4.3 million investment to rebuild 57 wetlands throughout Southern Ontario.
Back in the early 1990s Hillman Marsh’s water quality and aquatic plant communities suffered due to excessive water level fluctuations and the presence of large numbers of common carp. Through a partnership with the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA), DUC constructed a system of earthen dykes and water control structures enabling a large part of the marsh’s water levels to be managed independently from those of Lake Erie, which successfully restored the health of the Hillman Marsh wetlands. Today, DUC is increasing the wetland’s capacity by rebuilding and repairing the project’s original dyking system to handle large storm events, high lake levels and wave action. To help protect them from erosion and prevent flooding, DUC is also rebuilding the earthen dykes in the adjacent shorebird habitat that had been constructed in 2002. Additionally, improvements to the project’s water supply pumping system are being implemented.
“DUC wetland projects are designed to have a productive life of 25-30 years” said Owen Steele, DUC’s Manager of Conservation Programs, “and like many other projects selected for this wetland rebuild program, Hillman Marsh is approaching the end of its normal operational lifespan. These infrastructure repairs will sustain the health and productivity of these wetlands for many years to come”.
The work at Hillman Marsh is already underway and with ERCA assisting in overseeing the final construction, work will be substantially completed in April, with minor trim work to be finished up later this spring.
In addition to Hillman Marsh, DUC and ERCA have partnered on other wetland conservation initiatives over the years aimed at protecting the provincially significant coastal marshes across Essex County. Another recent partnership resulted in the acquisition of two significant coastal wetland properties along the Detroit River and Cedar Creek in order to preserve important staging habitat for migrating waterfowl.
“Ducks Unlimited Canada continues to be a valued partner in the restoration of our region’s wetlands,” said Richard Wyma, ERCA’s General Manager. “Protecting and restoring these critical amenities continues to be among ERCA’s top priorities, and the importance of partners like DU cannot be overstated.”
In addition to providing habitat for waterfowl and other wetland dependent wildlife, wetlands provide essential functions such as water purification, ground water recharge, erosion control and flood reduction as well as recreational and economic opportunities.
For more information, contact:
Joanne Barbazza, j_barbazza@ducks.ca
Ducks Unlimited Canada
Phone: 705-721-4444, ext 240
