Natural infrastructure: more than jargon

TANGIBLE RESULTS

Wetland restoration in lake country

City of Kawartha Lakes

Kathleen Cooper wanted to see more wildlife on her 100-acre farm. She didn’t have to wait long. The pond was constructed in 2019, adding new breeding habitat for ducks and geese to the already rich mix of wetlands, waterways and forests on the landscape northwest of Lindsay—a mosaic connected to protected wetland habitat south of Balsam Lake.

What this little pond can do:

• Make space for waterfowl and other wildlife, including declining species such as turtles
• Improve water quality by filtering sediment in surface-water runoff
• Capture excess nutrients and sequester carbon
• Help restore resiliency to the landscape to reduce flooding and flood-damage costs
• Create jobs for local contractors hired for construction, monitoring and other work

This restoration was supported in part by the Eastern Habitat Joint Venture, an international partnership that provides matching grants for wetland conservation projects for migratory birds in eastern Canada, and the Species at Risk Partnerships on Agricultural Lands.

PROOF OF CONCEPT

Avian arrivals at a new wetland near Napanee

Lennox & Addington County

A heron with a knack for “selfies” has been keeping the outdoor cameras busy beside a new wetland in Eastern Ontario.

The recently constructed habitat is at the Lennox Generating Station north of Lake Ontario near Napanee, a priority region for waterfowl conservation. So, we weren’t surprised when birds and other wildlife appeared on the trailcam feed—but we were definitely delighted.

The wetland gets a boost from adjacent newly planted trees and nearly six acres (2.4 hectares) of new grassland habitat, explained Mike Williams. “The cameras are rewarding because they demonstrate how quickly wildlife find new habitat on the landscape.”

Mike is the Ontario head of DUC’s consulting service, which provides science-based restoration to offset loss of wetland, aquatic and upland habitats. Mike worked with TC Energy, Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority to carry out the project on the grounds of the natural gas-fired facility.

The design of the wetland harnesses natural processes and vegetation to create robust habitat that will shelter wildlife and withstand harsh environmental conditions. Birds and other wildlife are attracted by the varying water depths and adjacent mounded terrain for shelter. Other features help keep the habitat resilient, such as a silt trap to stop sediment in surface runoff from entering the wetland and a spillway overflow for high water.

Healthy landscapes with wetlands, grasslands and forests support waterfowl and other birds. But these habitats do even more work on the landscape, supporting clean water, reducing the impacts of flooding and helping to sequester carbon.

OPG, the owner and operator of the Lennox Generating Station, is collaborating with TC Energy to expand its existing wetland habitat. OPG supported additional grassland habitat at the site.