Second Marsh in Oshawa. Photo by AJ Groen
The species at risk that call Oshawa’s Second Marsh home just received a $1 million boost thanks to the City of Oshawa and the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (CLOCA), who announced $1,008,460 in provincial funding aimed at continuing the restoration of this important coastal wetland and habitat.
This funding comes from the province’s Species Conservation program, managed by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. It will back the Oshawa Second Marsh Restoration and Resilience plan, which focuses on restoring habitats to enhance climate resilience while supporting local endangered species like the Least Bittern (threatened), Blanding’s Turtle (threatened), and American Eel (endangered).
The aim is to strengthen efforts that boost both the marsh’s long-term climate resilience and its ecological health.
“Oshawa Second Marsh provides critical natural infrastructure – including habitat for species at risk,” said Environment, Conservation and Parks Minister Todd Mc Carthy, who also serves as the MPP for Durham Riding. “Through the Species Conservation Program, our investment will strengthen long-term resilience and support habitat restoration for the species that depend on it.”
In collaboration with partners like Ducks Unlimited Canada, Friends of Second Marsh, and Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority, CLOCA plans to restore essential wetland and coastal habitats over the next four years.
This provincial funding works alongside a $1.6 million investment slated for 2024 from the federal Canada Water Agency through their Great Lakes Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative. Together, these funds will promote a thorough restoration strategy focused on endangered species and habitat improvement while boosting both climate resilience and ecological integrity at Oshawa Second Marsh.
<p“The Second Marsh is one of the largest coastal marshes on the north shore of Lake Ontario, providing important habitats and vital ecological services,” said CLOCA CAO Chris Darling. “The funding from the province supports CLOCA’s ability to continue working alongside our valued partners to advance climate resilience, improve habitats and further enhance the health of the marsh ecosystem.”
With both federal and provincial money secured, partners are set to move forward with detailed designs, permits, and phased implementation of restoration activities at Second Marsh. The restoration work began this spring.
<p“We are grateful for the Ontario government’s significant investment in Oshawa Second Marsh, one of our community’s most valuable natural assets,” said Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter. “This funding will help advance restoration work to support local species at risk and strengthen the marsh’s ecosystem.”
Project details and updates are available on CLOCA’s Second Marsh Restoration webpage at cloca. com/second-marsh-restoration.
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