In the winter of 2015, Ducks Unlimited Canada completed construction of four wetland ponds along a 600m stretch of the Carp River near the Huntmar bridge. Each pond is connected to the river through a rocky outlet channel, which allows the ebb and flow of water and encourages the passage of both fish and other aquatic species.
The four ponds were created in existing wetland basins comprising a 4 acre area. The basins were excavated to extend their period of hydration and re-contoured to encourage the establishment of productive, permanent wetland habitat. A turtle nesting area was also created to support the existing population.
Ducks Unlimited Canada obtained the $500K of funding needed to undertake this major wetland restoration and habitat creation project. Half of the funds came from a federal government program. Key support from Councillor Eli El-Chantiry secured the remaining 50% of the funding from the City of Ottawa’s Environmental Resource Area Acquisition Reserve Fund. The restored wetland will contribute to the basal flow of the river and act as a filter to improve water quality, which are important goals for a river that is an upstream tributary of the Ottawa River, a source of the City’s drinking water.
Learn more: Read DUC’s article about the restoration Wildlife Returns to the Carp River Wetlands.
The Oakleigh restoration is on private property and not open to the public.