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The goal for the Cootes Paradise Marsh is to restore the marsh to an ecosystem
made up of emergent, submerged and floating-leaved plant species and to achieve optimal
diversity and ecosystem function. By providing better conditions for spontaneous
regeneration through reductions in stress and by accelerating and augmenting natural
regeneration by planting historically present species, vegetation re-establishment becomes
possible.
Planting Methods
Experimental planting techniques began
in earnest in 1991 with the first small scale wire cage carp exclosures. Since then more
than a dozen techniques have been tried in an attempt to re-establish marsh vegetation
under a wide range of micro-habitat conditions. Examples of these techniques include: carp
exclosures, Aqua Dam technology, deep water cattail transplants, bog mats, burlap rolls,
grape boxes, floating rafts, floating net exclosures, tern rafts, shoreline straw bale
exclosures, floating straw bales, shoreline plugs, tree root sediment traps and species
interspersion. In addition, exotic vegetation management has been ongoing, particularly
with respect to purple loosestrife control.
Deep Water Research
Researchers at McMaster University and
Royal Botanical Gardens field assistants are studying marsh plants to determine if they
are genetically suited to withstand the stress imposed by Lake Ontario water level
management. For instance, selecting appropriate deep water strains may ensure long term
successful vegetation. A genetic strain of cattail may be found which is more adapted to
deeper water conditions.
Aquatic Plant Nursery
Royal Botanical Gardens established an
aquatic plant nursery to propagate and over winter aquatic plant material. The nursery
stock provides over 40 species of marsh plants for local restoration efforts as well as
other restoration sites within Ontario.
Targeted Planting Areas
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Hickory Valley Amphibian Ponds
 What
exactly is a amphibian? It’s a creature with moist, glandular skin, and toes without
claws. Its young pass through a larval, usually aquatic, stage (such as the tadpole stage
of frogs) before they change into their adult form. Frogs, toads and salamanders are all
amphibians.Over the years, the number and kinds of
amphibians have decreased in Cootes Paradise due to the loss of quantity of quality
habitat. The Hickory Valley Amphibian Ponds were constructed to provide a sheltered
breeding area to help re-colonize the amphibian populations in Cootes Paradise marsh.
Green frogs, northern leopard frogs, American toads and spotted salamanders have all
reproduced in the ponds.
The Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle
 This nationally threatened species of turtle has a soft shell. It
prefers clear, clean water. This turtle was rediscovered in 1996 in Cootes Paradise after
a 12 year absence.
Spotted
Salamander
 Spotted salamanders were rarely seen. Since the amphibian ponds were
built in 1995, 3 breeding sites were found and hundreds of egg masses were discovered
in 1997. |
Cattail
Arrowhead
