The new Lynde Shores wetlands, a 30-metre boardwalk and a lookout platform will be introduced to the public during a free opening event in Whitby on October 3.
Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority and Ducks Unlimited Canada are hosting the family-friendly event from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Lynde Shores Conservation Area, 623 Halls Road South.
The program will include guided tours, children’s activities, educational displays, live animal ambassadors, wetland-artifact touch tables and hands-on dispersal of native flower seeds. Free parking is planned for the event.
Three new wetlands connect sensitive habitat
The Halls Road restoration has converted a former field into three wetlands covering about six acres, or 2.4 hectares. The new habitat creates stepping-stone connections between Cranberry Marsh and the Shisko Wetland/Lynde Creek Marsh system.
Different water depths are intended to serve different species. Deeper sections provide cool-water refuge for fish, while shallow areas create feeding habitat for shorebirds. Smaller seasonal pools can also support amphibians such as frogs and salamanders.
CLOCA says the added habitat will give plants and animals more room to move as water levels and weather patterns change. More diverse wetland vegetation can also improve water quality and make the marsh system more resilient to droughts, flooding and other climate pressures.
Boardwalk brings visitors closer to the water
The new boardwalk extends approximately 30 metres along the Great Blue Heron Trail. Its shoreline has been graded and planted to support frog habitat while creating an accessible place for visitors to observe the wetland from both sides.
The opening also includes a viewing mound and interpretive signs explaining the restoration work. CLOCA advises visitors to respect wildlife rules and keep pets on the paved Waterfront Trail.
The broader restoration program has received $2.1 million from the Canada Water Agency and another $1.5 million through Ontario’s Wetland Conservation Partnership Program in partnership with Ducks Unlimited Canada. The Region of Durham and other partners have also supported work at Lynde Shores.
Registration details for the October 3 opening are available through CLOCA’s events page. The conservation area is open from dawn to dusk, with regular paid parking outside the special event.
Sources: Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority event listing; Lynde Shores Restoration and Resilience Plan; INdurham
