Cootes Paradise: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 07:11, 18 June 2005

Revision as of 03:29, 21 June 2005

Line 1:

'''Cootes Paradise''' is a large [[wetland]] at the western end of Hamilton Harbour, bordering the cities of [[Hamilton, Ontario|Hamilton]] and [[Burlington, Ontario]], Canada. It is owned and managed by the [[Royal Botanical Gardens]] (RBG). Originally a shallow marsh providing habitat for a wide variety of lifeforms, the marsh was gradually degraded in the 20th century by human overuse; by 1985, 85% of its plant cover was lost. Following its ecological decline, the RBG introduced Project Paradise in 1993, part of the Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan. The project focusses on removing sources of stress to the marsh. There are five identified anthropogenic stresses: [[overgrazing]] by [[carp]] and [[Canada Goose|Canada Geese]], high nutrient levels, water turbidity, sediment accumulation, and the controlled water level in Lake Ontario. Controlled forest fires are also performed to maintain the [[Oak Savanna]] ecosystem, a rare grouping of Carolian<!--?--> plants and animals. Today, Cootes Paradise is home to species such as the [[Caspian tern]], [[snapping turtle]], 64 species of fish (including walleye, bigmouth buffalo, perch, and greater redhorse), [[sassafras]] tree, [[Kentucky Coffee Tree]], and [[tulip tree]].