Conservator, Wetlands

Amazing feats of nature!

By Julie Pollock July 10, 2024

Nature is quietly over-performing in the background of our lives, from managing meltwater in Moncton to fending off floods in St. John’s to sheltering wildlife in Saskatoon. The amazing feats of nature are everywhere in the form of wetlands acting as purifiers, forests serving as classrooms, and ecosystems reviving at surprising speeds. Join us for a birds-eye view of the many ways that nature is making life better in Canada.

Meltwater marvel

It’s been a decade since Moncton. N.B., officials acted on their concerns about “snow dump” runoff harming a local waterway. All winter, their snow-removal facility at Berry Mills handles truckloads of snow from city streets. In spring, the meltwater — which may contain road salts, deicing chemicals and sediments — was flowing toward a brook. Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) sprang to the rescue with a constructed wetland designed to capture and filter meltwater before it reaches the waterway. The shallow wetland slows the water flow, which helps park particulates in the wetland basin. This innovative approach not only improves water quality by 20 per cent — evidenced by regular testing at the wetland’s intake and outflow — but has also created a favourite hangout for wildlife. With this success, what began as a goal to safeguard a single brook has become a beacon of urban sustainability turning heads in other cities.

Headwaters haven

Pippy Park is a natural haven at the north edge of the city of St. John’s, N.L. Situated at the confluence of the Virginia River, Rennie’s River, and Leary’s Brook, the park’s many wetlands play an important role in filtering and regulating the flow of water across three watersheds. One of these is Fogarty’s Wetland, a DUC-restored complex of fen, bog and open-water habitats. As visitors hike the park’s boardwalks and trails, they may not know it but the waters beneath their feet are being naturally purified and regulated — a silent process with profound effects. Natural infrastructure like Fogarty’s Wetland is key to the health and resilience of entire river ecosystems downstream, preserving clean water and ecosystem integrity.

Fogarty’s Wetland is hopping with wildlife, notably green frogs. Though native to eastern Canada, these frogs were introduced in Newfoundland nearly 200 years ago and now thrive in this haven of biodiversity. © DUC/Jeope Wolfe

Rapid responder

Habitat restoration at Howe Island in Ontario has emerged as a showcase for the remarkable resilience of nature. The transformation has unfolded in the wetlands of a coastal island near the confluence of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. Without DUC’s dedicated consulting branch, Conservation PRO, the slowly degrading coastal habitat might be a missed opportunity for biodiversity. Instead, DUC restored the open-channel habitat through a provincial commitment to compensate for fish habitat lost in the construction of local transportation infrastructure. In the first year of monitoring alone, the restored habitat had become a refuge for 13 native fish species, including one of special concern, far surpassing early expectations. Soon, staff spotted Blanding’s turtles basking in the channels and wild rice emerged to attract a range of marsh-dwelling birds. Today, the renewal on Howe Island underscores the importance of coastal wetlands for fish but it also serves as a reminder of how swiftly restoration revitalizes ecosystems, allowing them to become fully functional once more.

Lush vegetation and open-water channels draw fish and other wildlife into the restored habitat at Howe Island. © Ducks Unlimited Canada

People pleaser

The visionary conversion of former farmland into the Parc de conservation du Ruisseau de Feu marks a natural milestone for the city of Terrebonne, Que. Designed with biodiversity enhancement in mind, the park’s construction and water-management systems were thoughtfully planned and brought birds, fish, turtles and other wildlife to the habitats. At its core, the project prioritized the creation of natural ecosystems increasing the community’s well-being. After developing the natural space with the Direction de la gestion de la faune de Lanaudière du gouvernement du Québec, recreational services were built and today, the park, with its trails, observation tower, and picturesque wooden footbridge, has been embraced by thousands, inviting them closer to nature for a respite from their busy lives. Terrebonne residents, and others, can take pride in the foresight that brought together the gouvernement du Québec, their city, and the conservation partnerships that preserved a large wildlife park just outside Canada’s second-largest urban area.

Methane miser

Researchers from DUC and their academic partners shed light on the role of salt levels in small inland water bodies for controlling emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Through field surveys and modelling, they found that wetlands in Prairie Canada, characterized by higher salinity, emit substantially less methane compared to those with lower salt concentrations. That’s because salinity — the presence of salt — hampers the microbes responsible for producing methane, leading to far lower emissions than previously understood. In fact, prior models not accounting for the effect of salt in these water bodies likely overestimated emissions by 81 per cent or more — a figure that rivals other major national emission sources. The research suggests that these measures are not unique to the Canadian Prairies and may extend to other “hardwater landscapes” worldwide, potentially correcting a widespread overestimation of methane emissions in environmental projections. As scientists continue to refine models of global processes, this study adds a new facet to the dynamic interactions in environmental science, where new insights continually reshape our knowledge.

Ducks Unlimited Canada scientists (clockwise from left): Pascal Badiou, Lauren Bortolotti, Bryan Page and Paige Kowal found that due to their higher salinity, Prairie wetlands emit less methane than previously understood. © Ducks Unlimited Canada

Wildlife preserver

Saskatoon’s Hyde Park is tucked into the urban neighbourhood of Rosewood. The park’s prairie grassland and wetlands attract nesting birds and other wildlife that contribute to the community’s biodiversity and ecological health. The 123 acres (50 hectares) of naturalized wetland support the city’s stormwater system with a significant role in water purification and regulation — helping to mitigate spring flooding and large storms. The commitment to care for these natural spaces is part of an urban shift that seeks to balance growth with the many benefits of nature in the city. In addition to stormwater pond area, carbon storage and biodiversity, the Hyde Park wetland has even increased property values of adjacent homes. But it’s not all hard work for this park! It’s an outdoor classroom for students of the Colette Bourgonje School, a DUC Wetland Centre of Excellence supporting hands-on education. And it’s a natural playground that welcomes the community to enjoy the city-managed trails and other amenities — including the beautiful wildlife.

The naturalized wetland in Saskatoon is boosting the community’s biodiversity and ecological health. © iStockphoto.com

Two-way teacher

In the rich, outdoor learning environment of the Treaty 8 Territory, the DUC-run Boreal Wetland Centre near Grande Prairie, Alta., is an exceptional place to experience wetlands training, science and education. The centre and surrounding boreal landscape host thousands of visitors — from Indigenous rights holders to foresters to families to researchers — who collaborate to gain hands-on experience and share their ideas in the study and stewardship of wetlands. Members of the public discover and collaborate on citizen-led data projects. Practitioners in the energy and forestry sectors learn about wetlands and their interactions, but also can discuss the challenges of adopting sustainable practices and how to best overcome them. Every workshop and excursion advances the cause of conservation on the boreal landscape, reminding us that nature is ready to teach us whenever we’re ready to learn.

The DUC-run Boreal Wetlands Centre is the country’s first outdoor hands-on site for boreal wetlands training, research and demonstrations. © Ducks Unlimited Canada

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