38 Conservator | fall 2012

Did you know human impacts on wetland and wildlife habitat in southwestern Ontario, such as urban develop-ment and agricultural expansion, rank with the highest on the continent? Research shows that outright wetland loss over the last 200 years in this part of the province exceeds 94 per cent. This area remains one of the most important wetland complexes in Ontario and the remaining habitat continues to face loss and degradation.

Southwestern Ontario’s Lambton County, bordered by Lake Huron to the north and Lake St. Clair to the south, includes the provincially owned Bickford Oak Woods Con- servation Reserve. In 1995, the County obtained a 432-acre collection of land parcels adjacent to this significant area that includes 170 acres of land leased out for farming. The balance is made up of forest, swamp or old pasture. Bowen Creek flows through and there is coastal wetland at the mouth of the creek where it meets the St. Clair River.

Surrounded by industry, and with this parcel itself being identified in the County’s Official Plan as future industrial land, the County Council asked for a report in 1998 to look at options for how the land could be used. It was at this point that the naturalization of the area began.

In 1999, the County partnered with the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority to start restoration with planting the first 10,000 trees. Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) came into the mix in 2011 and again in 2012. DUC excavated many shallow depressions found throughout the field that temporarily held water each spring, to moderately deepen and create wetlands of longer duration. The materials from these excavations were blended into the existing topo- graphy, covered with topsoil and left in a condition suitable for further tree plantings. These efforts created dozens of new wetland habitat acres.

“Restoration of the Lambton County lands along Bowen Creek enhances the best remaining example of contiguous habitats in southwestern Ontario,” says Steve Arnold, warden of Lambton County. “Without the support, efforts and contributions by so many partners, this work just wouldn’t have happened.”

Contributing partners on the Bowen Creek Restoration efforts include the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority, Friends of St. Clair River, RBC Blue Water project, the Great Lakes Sustainability Fund, Enbridge Pipelines, Shell’s Fueling Change program and DUC.

Bowen Creek restoration: many years and many partners in the making

eastern regiono n ta r i o

“Restoration of the Lamb- ton County lands along Bowen Creek enhances the best remain-ing example of contiguous habitats in southwestern Ontario.”

– Steve Arnold, Warden, Lambton County

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For more information and to register, visit ducks.ca/event

“the Convention Committee has been working hard to ensure this volunteer convention is the best one yet! i urge everyone to join us as we have lots of exciting events planned for our volunteers and their families. Hope to see you there!”

2013 Ontario Volunteer ConventionApril 18-21, 2013

Delta Meadowvale Resort and Conference Centre – Mississauga, ontario

– Jackie Down, 2013 Ontario Volunteer Convention Chair