Healthy Wetlands,Healthy Communities

A Ducks Unlimited Canada/Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Partnership

By investing in improvements to key interpretive facilities, MNR and DUC are making it easier and more fun to learn about the important role wetlands play in ensuring healthy, sustainable communities and ecosystems.

Introduction 2Baxter Conservation Area 6Bowmanville Westside Marshes Conservation Area 8Charlottenburgh Park 10E.C. Brown Conservation Area 12Herb Kebbel Wetland 14Kortright Centre 16Laurel Creek Nature Centre 18Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area 20Longwoods Road Conservation Area 22MacSkimming Outdoor Education Centre 24Sifton Bog 26T.J. Dolan Natural Area 28Westminster Ponds/Pond Mills Environmentally Significant Area 30Wye Marsh 32

Healthy Wetlands, Healthy Communities

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The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) have long recognized that wetlands are crucial to conserving Ontario’s biodiversity and maintaining healthy communities and natural environments. In 2004, they joined forces to launch and fund the Healthy Wetlands, Healthy Communities (HWHC) initiative – a $1.25 million, three-year partnership to improve 14 key wetland interpretive facilities across southern Ontario.

The Healthy Wetlands, Healthy Communities Initiative

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The iniTiaTive focused on funding improvements to high-priority conservation areas. Many of these areas had declining attendance due to poor access or dangerous facilities. Some, like Charlottenburgh Park, were in the initial stages of development. Most are near population centres that are cumulatively home to over six million people – half of Ontario’s population. In southern Ontario, where 70 to 90 per cent of wetland habitat has been lost due to human impact,

the HWHC initiative was a much-needed and valued partnership effort.

By investing in improvements to key inter-pretive facilities, MNR and DUC are making it easier and more fun to learn about the important role wetlands play in ensuring healthy, sustainable communities and eco-systems. Each of the areas has benefited significantly from HWHC improvements that ranged from parking, boardwalk, trail ab

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and signage development and upgrades, to ensuring wheelchair access.

As part of HWHC’s goal to create shared interest and participation in the conservation of Ontario’s wetlands, a public education web-site, “Down at the Pond,” was also created. This educational website is an interactive tool for teachers, students and all enthusiasts interested in learning about wetland habitats and the animal and plant species that inhabit

them. The site also hosts a message board that invites postings of wildlife sightings and other wetland experiences.

The HWHC initiative has received hearten-ing responses from hundreds of Ontario teachers and students. It has given Ontario residents the opportunity to discover first-hand experience of the natural wonders and values of wetlands. With the many improvements, combined with various marketing and

Ecological ignorance breeds indifference: what we know, we may choose to care for. What we fail to recognize, we certainly won’t.

Robert Michael Pyle

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education campaigns, attendance at the key areas is expected to increase significantly over the next few years.

This unprecedented collaboration between MNR and DUC reflects the commitment that both organizations share for improving the quality of life for Ontarians. With the improvement of outdoor facilities and acti-vities across southern Ontario, MNR and DUC are reinforcing that wetlands are a vital

component of a healthy landscape. Promoting HWHC sites through local municipal and tourism partnerships and the “Down at the Pond” website will increase public awareness and participation in outdoor activities while stimulating economic benefits.

This report highlights the many accomplish-ments of MNR and DUC’s Healthy Wetlands, Healthy Communities initiative and the success of their partnership effort to ensure Ontario’s

precious natural resources are available for future generations.

The DUC/MNR Healthy Wetlands, Healthy

Communities initiative was nominated for

the MNR PRIDE Award, special recognition

for a program within MNR that represents

people recognizing innovation, dedication

and enthusiasm.

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The 68-hecTare BaxTer conservaTion

Area, on the west bank of the Rideau River

and within the City of Ottawa, is one of the

finest remaining public wetland forest and

riverine marsh areas in eastern Ontario. Its

network of more than five kilometres of

trails through wetlands, forests and nut groves,

provides educational opportunities for 8,000

youth and recreational opportunities for

another 12,000 adult visitors annually.

Through the HWHC partnership, improve-

ments have been made that will not only

help secure the ecological integrity of the

area, but also strengthen educational and

recreational opportunities. These improve-

ments included:

• Teaching platform and student work

tables at the edge of the marsh;

• 300 metres of new boardwalk;

• Installation of an observation tower;

• Better year-round access;

• Composting toilets;

Baxter Conservation Area

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Left: Baxter’s new teaching platform turns wet-

lands into outdoor classrooms for these students.

• Interpretive self-guiding equipment,

including signage; and

• Trail upgrades, including stonedust, cul-

vert and crib installation.

The Baxter Conservation Area is well known

for its scenic views and riverside vistas that

do not exist elsewhere in eastern Ontario.

Because of the improvements made possible

with HWHC funding, public attendance is

expected to increase by about five per cent

annually.

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Right: (From left) Jamie Fortune, DUC, Jofre Cote,

MNR and John Miller, Rideau Valley Conservation

Authority, at the official opening of the Baxter

Conservation Area in June, 2006.

The Baxter Conservation Area’s overhaul now offers inner-city students a greater opportunity to experience wetland wildlife in ways that are not generally available to them. Visits to the area open up a whole new world for our youth and are always one of the highlights of the school year.

Michelle Richardson, elementary school teacher

The provincially significanT Bowman-ville Westside Marshes Conservation Area is located south of Bowmanville and north of Lake Ontario. The Area consists of two wet-lands totaling 64 hectares – with nine hectares of agricultural land and three hectares of forest – managed by the Central Lake On-tario Conservation Authority. The land use surrounding the marshes includes residential, commercial and industrial, and is subjected to both road and marine traffic.

The purpose of the Area is to provide oppor-tunities for wildlife and wetland education, outdoor recreation and public access for over 20,000 annual visitors. This is accom-plished through a series of trails, interpretive signs, viewing platforms and habitat resto-ration and enhancements. Habitats include wetlands, agricultural lands and deciduous forests that provide visitors with a diversity of ecosystems and wildlife viewing oppor-tunities.

Bowmanville Westside Marshes Conservation Area

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Area improvements to the site made possible with funding from the HWHC partnership included:

• Five-panel trailhead kiosk and signage;• Two-kilometer trail; • Viewing platform and mound;• Interpretive signage;• Nest boxes; and• Parking for 20 cars.

With the support of HWHC funding, the Area will continue to offer its many visitors a safe and accessible outdoor experience while educating about the importance of Ontario’s wetlands. Benefits from HWHC funding will also help to demonstrate the

crucial link between healthy communities and healthy natural areas in one of the greater Toronto area’s fastest growing communities.

Left, right: Local community groups and corp-

orations were invited to tour the Area as part

of the HWHC opening.

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Thanks to the efforts of MNR and DU, local youth have been spend-ing more time fishing in the Westside Marsh and exploring the entire Bowmanville marsh wetland area. I hope MNR and DU will continue their involvement and vigilance to maintain and improve wildlife habitat in these marshes for years to come.

Iain Maciver, local residents’ association

in 1990, charloTTenBurgh park’s 95 hectares along the shore of Lake St. Francis, near Cornwall, closed due to funding con-straints. But by 2003, the Raisin Region Conservation Authority was prepared to re-open the Park with the goal to educate visitors about their natural environment through example, signage and experience. Situated in a moderately developed area,

Charlottenburgh Park is a natural sanctuary for wildlife.

The Park hosts a variety of habitat types, including a white pine and spruce plantation, mixed hardwood forest, meadows, wetlands and a certified Forest Stewardship Council-managed forest. Re-opening the Park meant rebuilding and extensive cleanup. The main access roads, picnic and swimming areas and construction of a trail system to better access the Park’s Class 2 Provincially Significant Wetland were completed.

Charlottenburgh Park

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Left: Trails and boardwalks provide safe passage

to otherwise inaccessible areas of Charlotteburgh

Park’s provincially significant wetlands.

Improvements made possible by HWHC funding included:

• Trails and boardwalk; and• Signage: interpretative, directional, trail- head and front entrance.

Fourteen years ago the park averaged 11,000 visitors per season. With the recent improve-ments, these numbers are expected to not only return but escalate. The support of the HWHC program was key in helping to put Charlottenburgh Park back on the map.

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Above: Charlottenburgh is home to wildlife like

black ducks and muskrats. Right: The Park now

features interpretive signs that challenge visitors

to participate in the conservation experience.

Charlottenburgh Park’s new interpretive panels guide visitors along well planned and maintained trails. The Park’s association with DU and MNR is encouraging and I am pleased to see such strong emphasis placed on the conservation of our wetlands.

Brian Crewe, park camper

adjacenT To The welland river, The six-hectare E.C. Brown Conservation Area is located seven kilometres outside the city of Welland. It is one of 36 areas managed by the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority. A major goal of the Conserva-tion Authority is to double the amount of wetland cover managed on their lands. The expansion of the E.C. Brown Conservation

Area to include an 8.5-hectare restored wetland is a key addition toward achieving that goal.

Funding received from the HWHC partner-ship has been instrumental in the completion of this project. Improvements carried out at the site included:

• Construction of a new parking lot;• Boardwalk repairs and development;• Interpretive signage; and• Trailhead/partner signage.

E.C. Brown Conservation Area

Left: The E.C. Brown Conservation Area is being

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The E.C. Brown Conservation Area will serve as a demonstration site showcasing various techniques for re-establishing and restoring wetlands, riparian buffers and nat-uralized areas. It is an important addition for helping to educate landowners, school chil-dren and the general public about the value of protecting and restoring wetlands.

Right: A new parking lot installed under the

HWHC partnership is expected to entice more

visitors to the area.

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The Healthy Wetlands, Healthy Communities partnership with DU and MNR has enabled the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority to leverage an additional $255,000 in partnership funding. We are pleased to be working with so many other project partners; without their support, the E.C. Brown Conservation Area would not be a reality.

Jocelyn Baker, watershed restoration coordinator, Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority

The 10-hecTare herB keBBel weTland Project, part of the Yarmouth Natural Heri-tage Area (YNHA), located east of the Village of Sparta, officially opened in May 2006. The wetland is part of the 85-hectare natural area owned and managed by the Catfish Creek Conservation Authority located along Cat-fish Creek. The area has been extensively disturbed and managed but it is still consi-

dered to be an excellent remnant example of Carolinian valley slopes, bottomland and flood plain deciduous and mixed forests.

The Herb Kebbel Wetland is the centrepiece of the YNHA, which is one of the most important natural refuges in southwestern Ontario. Ecological Land Classification surveys have documented 492 species of vascular plants (including 11 rare or imper-illed species), 86 species of birds, 13 species of mammals, 10 species of amphibians, 55

Herb Kebbel Wetland

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Left: A dedication plaque has been installed at

the Herb Kebbel wetland.

species of insects (two significant) and 47 species of fish.

A newly established trail network was made possible through HWHC. These trails pro-vide area access while protecting numerous significant and sensitive species of flora and fauna. The Herb Kebbel Wetland is another excellent example of positive results coming from the MNR and DUC partnership, under the HWHC banner.

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Right: New signage has been installed at the

entrance to the Herb Kebbel Wetland in the

Yarmouth Natural Heritage Area.

Seeing MNR and DU working together to improve the Herb Kebbel Wetland is a testament to the importance of partnerships when it comes to furthering wetland conservation in Ontario.

Ric Wellwood, fundraising/communications coordinator, Catfish Creek Conservation Authority

The korTrighT cenTre is a 325-hecTare area of rolling landscapes along the East Humber River and managed by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. Kort- right area abuts a region that is quickly being engulfed by urban sprawl. It’s predicted that in five years there will be over 50,000 residents living on the east boundary of the property.

Kortright offers 16 kilometres of hiking trails and boardwalks that lead visitors through fields, meadows, wetlands, rivers, creeks and

forests. Along with Kortright’s many natural attributes, it is also home to a variety of cul-tural remnants, including an aboriginal arch-aeological site and old farm homesteads.

As an educational centre, Kortright creates innovative experiences designed to inspire people to think and act sustainability, and to improve the quality of life for individuals, communities and wildlife. This is accom-plished by providing more than 50 curri-culum-based school programs, as well as a variety of guided and unguided environ-mental programs for Boy Scouts, Girl Guides and the general public.

Kortright Centre

Left: Thousands of students visit Kortright Centre

each year as part of 50 curriculum-based school

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Improvements carried out at Kortright with the HWHC funding partnership are expected to dramatically increase access to its wetland habitats and present wetlands in a much more integrated and holistic manner. These im-provements included:

• Constructed and enhanced permanent and seasonal wetlands;• Trails, including boardwalk;• Floating docks for critter dipping;• Interpretive signage;• Promotional and education materials, including a colouring book and children’s wetland story booklet;• Educational structures, equipment; and • Storage facilities.

Attracting over 135,000 people annually, Kortright is the flagship education and

interpretation facility for the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. The newimprovements will not only enhance on-site wetland habitat, but also improve public understanding and appreciation of wetlands.

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Right: Bill Murch, MNR communications coordi-

nator; Alex Waters, Kortright general manager

and Natalie Zalkind, Kortright education pro-

grams supervisor at the official opening of the

improved Kortright Centre.

Kortright Centre visitors are impressed with our new interpretive signs because they appeal to many ages and interests facilitating a more participatory experience for the entire community.

Alex Waters, general manager, Kortright Centre

The laurel creek naTure cenTre is located on 48.5 hectares of land within the 291-hectare Laurel Creek Conservation Area in Waterloo. The area is designated as an inter-pretive facility attended by 10,000 students annually. All programs hosted by the centre are developed in conjunction with school board staff and meet criteria of the Ontario New Curriculum.

Laurel Creek supports a variety of habitats, including wetland, creek/stream, upland hardwood, plantation and succession/meadow. Wetlands are one of the teaching modules. As such, an interpretive pond was created to demonstrate the important role wetlands play in the watershed.

As with any outdoor facility, regular main-tenance and upgrades are inevitable. The trail system at Laurel Creek, originally con-structed in 1977, was due for major upgrades. Through the HWHC partnership, much-

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Left: A new interpretive kiosk and exhibit was

erected as part of much-needed improvements

to the Laurel Creek Nature Centre.

needed funds were made available for the following improvements:

• Bridge repairs;• Boardwalk repairs; and • Installation of a study platform.

The Grand River Conservation Authority facilities were designed and built as outdoor education sites – Laurel Creek is currently one of five permanent and three seasonal sites that welcomes 40,000 students from within the watershed’s six school boards every year. At 291 hectares, the conservation area and nature centre constitute a significant natural area in an increasingly urbanized part of Ontario.

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Right: The study platform at Laurel Creek is

visited by over 10,000 students during the

spring, summer and fall months.

Thanks to the Healthy Wetlands, Healthy Communities initiative, we now have access to a beautiful wetland habitat where we have seen and heard several bird species that had not previously been sighted in the area. We have also caught water boatman, backswimmers and minnows, and have seen and heard numerous frogs including spring peepers, gray tree frogs, green frogs and leopard frogs.

Mary-Anne Cain, resource interpreter

The liTTle caTaraqui creek conser-vation Area is a 394-hectare property located just north of Highway 401 at Kingston. The facilities are used for both environmental education and recreation and are important assets to the local community. The facility holds educational conservation programs that emphasize wetland education for schools and the general public, as well as a summer day camp. The facility is also available, at a cost, for community group meetings, weddings and other events, including the local Ducks Unlimited Greenwing program.

Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area

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Little Cataraqui has diverse habitat, including forests, fields and wetlands adjacent to a large reservoir. The wetland habitat is pre-dominately marsh but has characteristics of both lacustrine and riverine systems. There are 14 kilometres of hiking and cross-country ski trails, a demonstration sugar bush, canoe rentals, warming huts, picnic areas and an outdoor centre.

Funding through the HWHC partnership included:

• Signage, including entrance, trail markers, directional maps and interpretive signs;• Map kiosk;• Boardwalk and trail improvements;• Brochures and displays;• Observation deck repairs; and• Wetland deck/educational dock.

Little Cataraqui Creek hosts upwards of 30,000 visitors each year. In addition, over 7,000 students participate in its educational programs.

Right: (From left) Bret Colman, MNR, Lynne

Kenny, Cataraqui Conservation Foundation,

Bob Morrison, Cataraqui Region Conservation

Authority and Lynette Mader, DUC, participate

in the unveiling of the map kiosk.

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Thanks to the DU and MNR partnership, we have made tremendous enhancements that offer visitors better access and the opportunity to learn more about the importance of the Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area.

Bob Morrrison, chair, Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority

The longwoods road conservaTion Area lies 32 kilometres west of London and consists of 63 hectares of forest, meadows and a provincially significant wetland located entirely within the Carolinian Life Zone. It is managed by the Lower Thames Conser-vation Authority to provide environmental and cultural information to the public with

educational components ranging from native studies to science.

The more than 26,000 annual visitors are made up of students, camping groups such as Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, locals and tourists. Visitors may take advantage of six kilometres of trails that now include a safe and convenient boardwalk for close explo-ration of the water’s edge. Recent visitors have reported better access to view some of the marsh’s more elusive species such as damselfly nymphs, giant water bugs and

Longwoods Road Conservation Area

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Left: Children who learn the beauty and fragility

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bullfrog tadpoles, not to mention waterfowl and aquatic mammals.

The Longwoods Road Conservation Area is a facility where visitors can be inspired by their wetland education through discussions and experiences surrounding wetland wild-life and their habitat. Thanks to the HWHC initiative, generous funding was made avail-able for a new boardwalk by which visitors can experience the Longwoods Road Conservation Area.

The marsh boardwalk gives visitors hands-on learning experiences associated with wetlands, conservation, soils, plants and wildlife.

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Jerry De Zwart, Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority

Above left, right: The new boardwalk at Long-

woods has been a hit with visitors. The marsh

itself is home to wood ducks (above) and other

wetland denizens.

The macskimming ouTdoor educaTion Centre is located on the south shore of the Ottawa River, about 25 minutes from the heart of Ottawa. The Centre is part of Beck-ett’s Creek Migratory Bird Sanctuary and has been designated as a Class 1 Provincially Significant Wetland. Notable wildlife species in the area include American bittern, black tern, green heron, hooded merganser, bald eagle, eastern bluebird, beaver, northern

leopard frog, painted turtle and the common garter snake.

The Centre is operated by the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and hosts approximately 18,000 visitors annually to its four field centers. With the recent improve-ments, staff now have facilities that will allow them to deliver programs in a safe and envi-ronmentally friendly manner. The improve-ments made to the MacSkimming Outdoor Education Centre through HWHC partner-ship funding included:

MacSkimming Outdoor Education Centre

Left: The outdoor classroom allows wetland

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• Floating docks;• Outdoor classroom;• Interpretive signs;• Road upgrades to the waterfront; and • Four outhouses.

The HWHC initiative ensures that students, community groups and the general public have better access to natural science education, especially relating to wetlands. The site improvements support delivering hundreds of wetland programs annually, thereby advan-cing outdoor education in the Ottawa area.

Above left: One of four new outhouses built for

visitors to MacSkimming’s new wetland educa-

tion site. Above: Green herons are one of many

species spotted at MacSkimming. Right: Floating,

interchangeable docks provide access for “critter

dipping” along the water’s edge.

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It was a pleasure to take our grade two students to such a lovely, well-constructed outdoor educational facility. Before we even returned to our school I rebooked the facility for next year.

Wayne Lapointe, teacher, Carson Grove Elementary School

The 58-hecTare sifTon Bog, locaTed within the City of London, is a provincially significant wetland. It is London’s most unique natural area as it is one of the most southerly bogs in Canada, with habitat characteristics that are more typical of northern Ontario, such as bog, marsh, woodland and shrub features.

Sifton Bog contains many regionally rare bog plants and vegetative communities. Biological studies and inventories have identified 477 species of vascular plants, including 56 that are considered nationally, provincially or reg-ionally rare; 124 species of birds; 19 species of mammals and 19 species of reptiles and amphibians.

The area receives approximately 11,000 local visitors, students and tourists annually. Area schools use the bog as a teaching tool for their outdoor curriculum and the Upper pi

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Left: Sifton Bog is one of the finest examples of

northern bog-type habitat, located in the heart

of London; it is popular with visitors (above left)

and home to flora like pitcher plants (above right).

Sifton Bog

Thames River Conservation Authority has adopted the site for their wetlands interpre-tative program.

To improve recreational, interpretative and educational values and help protect the en-vironmental integrity of the site, a boardwalk extension project was built as part of the HWHC initiative. Providing better public access to the marsh via the new boardwalk will offer visitors much needed access to Sifton Bog for continued educational and recreational opportunities. Paul Hubert, Ward 8 councillor, City of London

Right: Thanks to Sifton Bog’s new boardwalk,

visitors can meander through the area without

disturbing the natural landscape.

The new boardwalk at Sifton Bog was well used this past weekend as part of “Doors Open London.” Over 700 people visited the board-walk to see one of the most southern bogs in all of Canada. London residents appreciated the opportunity to see this unique natural feature and that the City is protecting the fragile ecosystem.

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The ciTy of sTraTford, a premier Tou-rist destination in Ontario, has a long history of environmental awareness. In 1832, the original town planners located the railway away from the river corridor to preserve park and natural areas. Today, with funding supplied through the HWHC initiative, the T.J. Dolan Natural Area in the heart of town has a new kiosk showcasing the importance of the Avon River’s riparian zone.

T.J. Dolan Natural Area

Left: Stratford’s Avon River is a central attraction and the site of local activities and announcements.

Above: T.J. Dolan provides urban habitat for riverside residents like the common yellowthroat. top,

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The T.J. Dolan riparian area is a focal point in the community for aesthetics, leisure and outdoor experience. With the addition of the new kiosk, the area’s 25,000 annual visi-tors will have the opportunity to be better informed of wetland and wildlife issues along the historic Avon River.

The HWHC initiative has been instrumental in helping to advance Stratford’s conservation goals. It has enabled the community to install a kiosk along the river that promotes the benefits of natural landscapes and sustainable practices in the Stratford community.

The new entrance kiosk at the T.J. Dolan Natural Area has increased awareness of the history and naturalization of this site. The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and DU have helped create a trail that informs and provides the residents of Stratford with opportunities for passive recreation.

Dan Martin, director of community services, City of Stratford

Right, opposite (top): T.J. Dolan’s new entrance

kiosk will help to educate visitors about the Avon

River ecosystem.

The wesTminsTer ponds/pond mills Environmentally Significant area is a 240-hectare provincially significant wetland lo-cated in the heart of London. It is a complex of five kettle lakes consisting of marshes, swamps and bogs. Recent biological surveys have identified an impressive 757 species of plants, including 30 that are considered nat-ionally and/or provincially rare; 232 species of birds; 20 species of mammals; 18 species

of fish; 12 species of amphibians and seven species of reptiles.

The area has approximately 25,000 visitors plus an additional 25,000 students from kindergarten to grade 11 annually. It is serviced by two adjacent outdoor education centres that rely on the area for delivering their conservation programs.

On-site facilities include a dock which is used extensively, three kilometres of trails, boardwalks and educational facilities. It is

Westminster Ponds/Pond Mills Environmentally Significant Area

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Left: The South Pond boardwalk gives access to

one of the best interpretive walks in London.

also home to archaeological digs, yielding artefacts dating back to 2500 and 1000 B.C.

Funding through the HWHC partnership helped make the following improvements possible:

• 400 feet of new boardwalk; • Two structures that double as a shelter and sign kiosk; and • A teaching platform.

This project is an excellent example of com-munity stewardship. By engaging the local community, from school clubs to businesses, a sense of community ownership and res-ponsibility has been fostered. This approach, along with HWHC funding, will go a long

way toward encouraging continued environ-mental awareness and education.

Bob McLeod, local advisory committee member, Westminster Ponds/Pond Mills Environmentally Significant Area

Right: The official opening of the HWHC-funded

Westminster Ponds upgrades had visitors gath-

ering around the new kiosk at South Pond in

London in June 2006

The new entrance kiosk and boardwalk at Westminster Ponds/Pond Mills Environmentally Significant Area have improved access to this environmental jewel and increased awareness of its importance. Ducks Unlimited Canada and MNR have created a site that balances environmental protection with opportunities for passive recreation.

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The wye marsh is an ecological gem, located on the edge of Midland in Canada’s historic resort destination on Georgian Bay. The marsh, designated as a National Wildlife Area and an Important Bird Area, forms part of the flood plain of the Wye River before it enters Georgian Bay.

Public visitation to Wye Marsh has been steadily growing over the past few years. With the combination of increased usage and the

lack of maintenance and development fund-ing, the infrastructure was deteriorating to the point where it had become nonfunctional and a safety concern. The number one com-plaint was lack of directional and interpretive signage and the ramshackle look of existing signs. The boardwalk was in such poor shape that if repairs were not made immediately, it would be closed.

Funding was desperately needed to upgrade interpretative facilities. Through the HWHC initiative, funding was secured and the fol-lowing improvements were made:

Wye Marsh

Left: Volunteers lend a helping hand building

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• Installation of over 70 interpretive and directional signs; • Purchase of cameras for archiving;• Upgrades to the exhibit hall, including an interactive wetland exhibit; • Installation of a frog call board;• Tree Challenge Program; and• Reparation and raising of the existing boardwalk.

Wye Marsh is one of the few places near Midland where visitors can get up close to nature. Although the marsh is a managed unit, it is still an excellent example of a naturally functioning system. Thanks to

HWHC partnership funding, Wye Marsh now offers a safer, more accessible environ-ment to learn about wetlands and wildlife.

Visitors are impressed by the attractiveness, versatility and safety of our rebuilt boardwalk. The new interpretive signs not only direct visitors along the trail, but teach them about the marsh and its wildlife in both English and French, another wonderful feature.

Irene Berry, volunteer

Right: The 200-metre section of the new Wye

Marsh boardwalk meanders down to an open

water area where a floating section allows visi-

tors to experience the thrill of close-up viewing

of nesting and foraging waterfowl.

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For more information about the Healthy Wetlands, Healthy Communities initiative, visit www.downatthepond.ca or contact Ducks Unlimited Canada at (705) 721-4444.

Ducks Unlimited conserves, restores and manages wetlands and associated habitats for North America’s waterfowl. These habitats also benefit other wildlife and people.