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Home: Science: Great Lakes Research: Hamilton Harbour Fish and Wildlife Restoration Project
The Hamilton Harbour Fish and Wildlife Habitat Restoration Project
Scientists with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Canadian Wildlife Service, McMaster and
Brock Universities and the Royal Botanical Gardens are co-ordinating monitoring and research
to advance fish and wildlife habitat restoration throughout the Great Lakes. The Fish and
Wildlife Habitat Restoration Project in Hamilton Harbour and Cootes Paradise proposes to
create 372 ha of fish habitat, 299 ha of wildlife habitat, 16 km of shore habitat for fish and
wildlife and 9 km of trails. Substantial progress has already been made:
- Shoreline rehabilitation and a new trail at Chedoke Creek
- Development of a carp barrier/fishway, aquatic plant nursery and
breeding and nursery ponds for amphibians and reptiles in the Cootes
Paradise marsh
- Pike spawning habitat, rehabilitated flood plain habitat and a new
boardwalk at Grindstone Creek
- Restoration of the lower Grindstone Creek, employing recycled
Christmas tree
- Shoreline naturalization and development of underwater reefs at
Bayfront Park
- Shoreline naturalization, beach restoration, development of reefs
and a new trail at LaSalle Park
- Shoreline naturalization, and the development of colonial nesting
bird islands, underwater reefs, trail and lookout at the Northeastern
Shoreline
- Sand dune rehabilitation and a new trail at Burlington Beach
In 1997 the operation of a carp barrier/fishway began at the Cootes Paradise marsh,
blocking the passage of carp into the marsh during spawning season but allowing the
migration of all other spawning fish. As a result, aquatic vegetation has made a dramatic
recovery throughout Cootes Paradise and the harbour. Fisheries monitoring has indicated
a positive change in the composition of the fish community, including an increase in numbers
of top predators and in species diversity. Recently, over 200 spawning pike were counted
at the Cootes Paradise fishway. Prior to restoration, only 19 pike were recorded at the
fishway. Similarly, waterfowl numbers in Cootes Paradise have increased dramatically due
to the increased distribution and abundance of aquatic plants. Birds have been staying
longer in the marsh and gaining strength for their migratory flight south.
The Grindstone Creek pike spawning marsh has been a 20-year restoration effort. The
Grindstone Trail, connecting Cherry Hill Gate to Sunfish Pond is open to the public and
provides educational interpretation and protects the flood plain by directing the large
number of visitors to the boardwalk. Tours are open to groups and can be arranged by
contacting Royal Botanical Gardens.
To date, habitat restoration efforts and improvements to public access have laid a strong
foundation for continuing enhancement. Research and monitoring provide essential feedback
for the design and construction of the next phases of habitat and public access projects.
For more information on the Fish and Wildlife Restoration Project in Hamilton Harbour and
Cootes Paradise, please visit the Royal Botanical
Gardens web site.
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