Wetlands in Ontario

An overview of Wetlands in Ontario

What are Wetlands?

Wetlands are areas of low-lying land layered by shallow water (Wetlands Alberta, n.d.). Within these waters, they allow aquatic life and plants to be supported which makes wetlands a very diverse, dynamic ecosystem (Wetlands Alberta, n.d.).

Wetlands play an important environmental role in sustaining healthy watersheds (Wetlands Alberta, n.d.). The following ways of doing so are by (Wetlands Alberta, n.d.):

  • protecting water quality
  • providing water storage and infiltration
  • providing wildlife, fish, and plants with a habitat
  • sustaining biodiversity

Wetlands can be divided into two major classes: Peatlands and non-peatlands (Wetlands Alberta, n.d.).

Peat - partially decomposed organic vegetation that accumulate in these wetlands (Wetlands Alberta, n.d.)

Peatlands

  • Bogs – surface water is found to be low in nutrients and strongly acidic due to decay of plant material and poor drainage (Wetlands Alberta, n.d.). Typically dominated by shrubs and sphagnum mosses (Wetlands Alberta, n.d.). Trees may be supported (Wetlands Alberta, n.d.). 
  • Fens – the flow of groundwater influences these wetlands and thus tend to be basic and more productive than bogs (Wetlands Alberta, n.d.). Mainly dominated by sedges but can also contain trees and shrubs (Wetlands Alberta, n.d.). 
  • Swamps – very productive and nutrient rich wetlands (Wetlands Alberta, n.d.). Mainly contains trees or shrubs (Wetlands Alberta, n.d.).

Non-Peatlands

  • Shallow open water ponds – these wetlands are commonly represented as the stage between marshes and lakes, seen as relatively small bodies of flowing or standing water (Wetlands Alberta, n.d.). 
  • Marshes – wetlands are regions in which flowing or standing water is permanently or periodically covering it (Wetlands Alberta, n.d.). These wetlands are rich in nutrients and typically have emerging rushes, reeds, cattails, and sedges (Wetlands Alberta, n.d.).

Importance of Wetlands

Role in Flood Prevention

Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and more severe with the threats of climate change. With more urbanization, wetlands have been destroyed and disturbed leading to increased flooding in urban areas. Wetlands moderate precipitation events by absorbing water into its surface and slowly releasing the water over time. By mitigating floods with existing and restored wetlands, the human and economic cost of flood damage will be reduced by up to 38% (Ontario ministry of natural Ressources and Forestry, 2014).  

Destruction of Wetlands can result in flooding in urban areas (Higginson, 2019)

Role in Carbon Sequestration

Wetlands cover about 35% of Ontario’s surface area and of those wetlands, 90% of them are peatlands (Wetland carbon, n.d.). The peatlands in Ontario alone store ~25% of the total peatland carbon in Canada (Wetland carbon, n.d.). Importantly, wetlands have an immense capacity to store large quantities of carbon (Wetland carbon, n.d.). So much so that peatlands and other rich, organic wetland soils can store far much more carbon than forests and agricultural soils can store (Warner et al., 2003). The annual sequestration rate of carbon in global wetlands also exceeds oceanic sequestration which illustrates the importance of wetlands in managing climate change with regards to greenhouse gases (Wetland carbon, n.d.).

Estimated peatland carbon balance per year in the North of Ontario (Wetland carbon, n.d.).

Annually, the Ontario wetlands sequester ~10.6 million tonnes of carbon while also losing ~4.3 million tonnes of carbon via methane emissions, fires, and carbon transport to surface water (Wetland carbon, n.d.). Overall, the net rate of carbon sequestration is positive (Wetland carbon, n.d.). Modifying or eliminating our wetlands can potentially alter the release and/or sequestration of greenhouse gases (i.e., carbon dioxide and methane) which in turn can influence the impact of climate change (Warner et al., 2003).

Role in Ecosystem Health

Wetlands are one the most important habitats on Earth, as they support a disproportionally high fraction of wildlife biodiversity, including significant numbers of species at risk (Wisconsin Wetlands Association, 2016). The shallow water and high nutrient combination creates an extremely ecologically productive environment (US Environmental Protection Agency, 2016). Many species of amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals rely on wetlands for specialized habitat.

Wetland habitat provides cover for migratory birds

Migratory birds are particularly dependent on wetlands during periods of migration when they are most vulnerable (Wisconsin Wetlands Association, 2016). During this time, it is crucial that they are able to locate habitat that can provide sufficient cover and protection from predators or weather. Migratory waterfowl, such as ducks, geese, and swans, also require specific conditions for feeding. They require shallow water depths of less than 0.5m which allow them to feed on submerged plants (Wisconsin Wetlands Association, 2016). Migratory shorebirds require very shallow water (2-20cm) and sparsely vegetated wetlands with an undisturbed resting area and invertebrates for feeding (Wisconsin Wetlands Association, 2016). These specific conditions occur only in seasonally flooded wetlands and floodplains. Many of these species are so dependent on wetland habitats that they would become extinct without them (US Environmental Protection Agency, 2016). 

Role in Water Quality

Wetlands are also highly valuable for water quality improvement. Wetlands act as a filter for surface runoff by removing excess nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, reducing suspended sediment, and decomposing organic pollutants (US Environmental Protection Agency, 2016). Wetlands act as a buffer to prevent these water impurities from entering water bodies such as lakes or streams, where aquatic life may be impacted by low water quality (US Environmental Protection Agency, 2016). The filtering of nutrients also prevents eutrophication and the growth of algae blooms, which can be toxic in some cases (US Environmental Protection Agency, 2016). Wetlands can even improve groundwater quality and reduce costs of municipal drinking water treatment (US Environmental Protection Agency, 2016).

Cultural Significance

Across Canada, peatlands are a part of the traditional territories of Indigenous Peoples. These lands provide community, culture, social and economic value to Indigenous Peoples. Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) are crucial to Canada’s climate goals and wetland conservation (Wildlife Conservation Society Canada, 2021). Use the map below to explore established IPACs located in Northern peatlands across Canada.

The protected area represents our way of life. It represents our home

-- Isidore Manuel, leader behind Ts'udé Nilįné Tueyata IPAC

Wetlands have always been important places for First Nations. They provided food and medicines for our survival

-- Clayton Coppaway, First Nations Scientist (Ontario Nature, 2016)

History of Wetlands in Ontario

This map outlines wetland depletion across Ontario from 1800-2002 and 2002-2011. Click and slide the arrows to see the full images.

Wetlands around Ontario

Conservation Efforts

Indigenous Peoples and Wetland Conservation

Kettle and Stony Point First Nation Phragmites Control Program

The Chippewas people of Kettle and Stormy Point First Nation in Southern Ontario have implemented a successful invasive Phragmites control program that protects the coastal meadow marsh in their community (Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, 2017).

Invasive phragmites also known as Common Reed is an invasive species threatening Ontario’s wetlands (Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, 2017).

Invasive Phragmites (Phragmites australis) (The University of Texas at Austin, 2019)

It is a grass that grows mainly in wetlands and spreads quickly outcompeting native species for water and nutrients resulting in decreased biodiversity – approximately 25% of Ontario’s species are threatened by Phragmites (Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, 2017). In 2005, it was labelled Canada’s worst invasive plant, spreading by 30% in between 2010-2017 (Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, 2017). Phragmites also release toxins from its roots which impede the growth and kills surrounding plants (Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, 2017). Generally, they are a poor food source for wildlife and don’t provide a good habitat (Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, 2017).

Kettle and Stony Point First Nations Phragmites Control (Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, 2017)

This Indigenous led wetland conservation effort demonstrated the restoration benefits of using a combination of mechanical and herbicide control methods (Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, 2017). Pre-intervention, common reeds covered 20-100% of the area and post-intervention the average coverage declined to just 1.5%. There was also an increase in the diversity of native plants and animals (Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, 2017).

Walpole Island First Nation

Walpole Island First Nation in its native language as “Bkejwanong” (‘where the waters divide’) has an extensive wetland system (Beckford et al., 2010). Walpole Islanders have preserved natural areas and species that are sometimes now found anywhere else in Canada (Beckford et al., 2010). Although the Walpole Island First Nations only occupy 0.002% of Canada’s landmass, it’s believed that the Walpole Island First Nations land is one of the last habitats for 12% of Canada’s at-risk species (Beckford et al., 2010). 

St. Clair River and Walpole Island Wetlands (Walpole Island First Nations, 2020)

Government Conservation Efforts

The Government of Ontario launched a Wetland Conservation Plan in 2017 with the following targets:

1.  By 2025, the net loss of wetland area and function is halted in areas where wetlands have been depleted the most (Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, 2017)

2.  By 2030, a net gain in wetland area and function is achieved where wetlands have been depleted the most (Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, 2017)

Ontario's wetland conservation strategy involves spreading awareness about wetland conservation, and increasing knowledge about Ontario's wetlands, like distribution, function, and vulnerability (Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, 2017). Another goal is to collaborate with First Nation and Métis communities, other levels of government, and other groups involved in wetland conservation to improve wetland conservation efforts.

References

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Destruction of Wetlands can result in flooding in urban areas (Higginson, 2019)

Estimated peatland carbon balance per year in the North of Ontario (Wetland carbon, n.d.).

Wetland habitat provides cover for migratory birds

This map outlines wetland depletion across Ontario from 1800-2002 and 2002-2011. Click and slide the arrows to see the full images.

Invasive Phragmites (Phragmites australis) (The University of Texas at Austin, 2019)

Kettle and Stony Point First Nations Phragmites Control (Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, 2017)

St. Clair River and Walpole Island Wetlands (Walpole Island First Nations, 2020)