Barrie, Ontario ─ As a result of financial support from the Government of Canada, Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) has been conducting extensive wetland renovations within Charlottenburgh Park and Cooper Marsh Conservation Area. Situated along the picturesque northern shores of Lake St. Francis, near Cornwall, this region has been identified as a provincially important waterfowl staging area and bird migration stopover and is quickly developing into an outdoor classroom for school children and a year-round destination for outdoor enthusiasts.

“Protection of coastal marshes is 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 St. Lawrence River and in spite of wetland loss, this area still sees good numbers of waterfowl during the spring and fall migrations.”

The restoration of these two provincially significant wetlands was made possible through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) commitment of up to $3 million for wetland renewal and in partnership with the North American Waterfowl Management Plan’s Eastern Habitat Joint Venture (EHJV). DUC contributed an additional $1.3 million, resulting in a $4.3 million investment to rebuild 57 wetlands throughout Southern Ontario.

“Our government is proud to partner with Ducks Unlimited Canada on this important community project,” said Guy Lauzon, MP for Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry. “This investment will stimulate the local economy today, while benefiting residents and protecting our wetlands and wildlife for the future.” 

DUC’s initial wetland enhancement efforts at the Cooper Marsh Conservation Area commenced in the early 1980’s when DUC constructed an earthen dyke and installed a water pumping structure to enable the water level within the wetland impoundment to be managed independently from those of the St. Lawrence River. Similar work took place at Charlottenburgh Marsh in the early 1990’s to address the overgrowth of emergent vegetation that had resulted in low species diversity and limited the use by breeding and staging waterfowl. Through the FedDev Ontario’s Southern Ontario’s Southern Ontario Development Program, DUC has refurbished the dyke infrastructure within both wetland impoundments to protect them from erosion, replaced the original water control structures and completed improvements to the observation tower.

“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, these two wetlands are approaching the end of their normal operational lifespan. These infrastructure repairs will sustain the health and productivity of these wetlands for many years to come”.

The work at Cooper Marsh and Charlottenburgh Marsh is already substantially completed with the remaining minor trim work to be finished up later this spring. In addition to Cooper Marsh and Charlottenburgh Marsh, other key wetland projects receiving the SODP’s invaluable restoration work in this Eastern Ontario region include; Aultsville Marsh and the Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary.

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.