Cootes Paradise is a large wetland at the western end of Hamilton Harbour, bordering the cities of 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 went into decline beginning in the late 19th century through human overuse and the introduction of carp into Hamilton Harbour. By 1985, 85% of its plant cover was lost. In an effort to reverse this ecological decline, the RBG introduced Project Paradise in 1993, part of the Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan. The project focuses on removing sources of stress to the marsh by minimizing the number of spawning carp and the planting of native plants. There are five identified anthropogenic stresses: overgrazing by carp and Canada Geese, high nutrient levels, water turbidity, sediment accumulation, and the controlled water level in Lake Ontario. Project Paradise is one of the largest wetland rehabilitation projects in North America.
Controlled burns have also been conducted in an effort to restore some of the forest areas to their original Oak savanna ecosystem, a rare grouping of Carolinian plants and animals. Cootes Paradise is connected to Hamilton Harbour via the Desjardins Canal which was dug through Burlington Heights in the early 19th century in an effort to connect Dundas, Ontario with shipping on the Great Lakes. In 2000, the City of Hamilton constructed a 3 km recreational trail connecting Cootes Paradise to Pier 4 Park; this trail is also part of the Waterfront Trail system.
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Birds
Many species of birds use Cootes Paradise at some point during the year, most notably during the Spring and Autumn migratory periods. Notable species include the Double Crested Cormorant, Caspian tern, Black-crowned night heron, Osprey, Pileated woodpecker, and the Prothonotary warbler. Recently, a nesting pair of Bald Eagle have recolonized the marsh on the North Shore of Cootes Paradise. This is the first such nest on Lake Ontario in more than 40 years.
Fish
Numerous species of fish are found in the murky waters of Cootes Paradise, among them being bottom-feeders such as the Brown bullhead and invasive species such as the White perch. Sport fish such as pike, Largemouth bass, and Yellow perch are also found in limited numbers. Also still abundant is the carp. The spring and fall season also brings several migrating salmon and trout.
Mammals
A number of mammals inhabit Cootes Paradise, including White-tailed deer, Red Fox, Raccoon, Beaver, Cottontail Rabbit, Muskrat, Mink, Oppossum, Red Squirrel, Coyote, Southern Flying Squirrel, Northern Flying Squirrel, star-nosed mole, and water vole.
Plants
Cootes Paradise is home to numerous plant species of all sorts, a number of which have been introduced following European settlement of the area. Among the trees found in Cootes Paradise are various species of oak, maple, and pine, as well as less common species such as sassafras tree, Kentucky Coffee Tree, and tulip tree. In recent years there has been a noticeable die-off of trees on the RGB property surrounding Cootes Paradise, and in 2005, following the death of a child participating on a nature hike, the RBG was forced to cut down numerous dead and dying trees that posed a public-safety concern.
A recent analysis of the checklist of all plants growing within the nature sanctuaries of RBG reveals that these properties are among the richest spots in Canada for plant diversity, with 24% of the flora of Canada and 38% of the flora of Ontario present. Among this diversity are endangered species such as the few-flowered club rush which is now the only population in Canada.
How to get there
Exit Highway 403 at Highway 6 North. Turn right at the first traffic lights, and continue to the next traffic lights. A left turn onto Plains Road West leads to Royal Botanical Gardens Centre, (RBG Centre), and the Hendrie Valley Trails. A right turn onto York Boulevard leads to Old Guelph Road, the Nature Centre, and Cootes Paradise. Follow the signs for the Arboretum/Nature Centre or continue on York Boulevard across the Thomas McQuesten High-Level Bridge. Lookouts on each side of the bridge offer spectacular panoramic views of Cootes Paradise and Hamilton Harbour.
References
External links
- McGuiness, Eric. May 25, 2005. Fish Paradise [Online]. Hamilton Spectator. http://www.waterkeeper.ca/lok/index.cfm?DSP=content&ContentID=7528
- Royal Botanical Gardens. Project Paradise [Online]. http://www.rbg.ca/pages_sci_conserv/sci_conserv_proparadise.html.
- Smith, T. 2003. Checklist of the spontaneous flora of Royal Botanical Gardens' nature sanctuaries. [Online]. http://www.rbg.ca/pdf/RBGChecklist03.pdf
Coordinates: 43°16′37″N 79°54′11″W / 43.27696°N 79.90305°W
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