Sudbury restoration project complete in Lake Laurentian Conservation area

A vital restoration project to rehabilitate a dam in the northeast portion of the Lake Laurentian Conservation Area (LLCA) is now complete in Sudbury.

Restoration on a 40-acre marsh in the Lake Laurentian Conservation area of Sudbury has been completed.

The project to rehabilitate a dam in the northeast portion of the wetland area along the Moonlight Beach Trail was a collaboration between Conservation Sudbury and Ducks Unlimited Canada over several months.

“First constructed in 1992, the original wetland was created by building a dam to restore and sustain a 16-hectare (40-acre) marsh for waterfowl and other wildlife,” Ducks Unlimited said in a news release Tuesday.

“Over three decades later, maintenance and rehabilitation efforts were essential to ensure the long-term functionality of the wetland, that plays an important role in flood mitigation and water quality.”

A popular recreation spot, the conservation area features more than 60 km of recreation trails for hiking, biking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing that attracts more than 20,000 visitors every year.

“The area’s distinctive topography, characterized by exposed bedrock and shallow soils, limits the capacity to absorb excess rainwater,” Ducks Unlimited said.

“As a result, wetlands play a critical role in flood and erosion control. With little soil to retain water, the region’s numerous wetlands are relied upon to help manage and mitigate the impact of rainfall and runoff.”

The conservation area is part of the Ramsey Lake watershed.

The project was funding by the Province of Ontario through its Wetlands Conservation Partner Program.

Local contractor Bruce Tait Construction Ltd. completed the work.

“The rehabilitation process has been a true partnership, with both Ducks Unlimited Canada and Conservation Sudbury collaborating closely to protect the ecological integrity of the site by minimizing any impact on the existing wetland,” said Carl Jorgensen, Conservation Sudbury’s general manager.