Naturalization

The Rouge River Marshes Rehabilitation Initiative

The Provincially Significant Wetland complex (Class 1) had suffered a variety of human abuses over the last half century or so. Harrington McAvan Ltd. worked with several agencies, including The City of Toronto, OMNR, Ontario Streams, Save the Rouge and Rouge Park, to rehabilitate the marshes and help restore the site to its former natural grandeur.

Harrington McAvan Ltd completed an environmental assessment of the site, and development grading and planting plans and habitat structures. Interpretive signage was designed to inform and educate the public on the rehabilitation process as well as to encourage direct participation.

In the end a stretch of shoreline over one kilometre in length was re-graded and re-vegetated to provide a natural interface between the marsh and the parts of the site intensively used by people. The project re-established the wetland and riparian plant and wildlife communities while accommodating human activities such as wildlife observation, fishing, skating, and canoeing.