Phase 2 of the restoration project at Carlisle Conservation Area gets underway this month.
According to the Conservation Halton website, staff will be at the Centre Road site alongside Bronte Creek in February to remove trees and work with a contractor to manage invasive species. The Conservation Area parking lot will remain open for use throughout the month.
The work will prepare the area for construction this summer at the 69-acre site, which will support creek restoration “to enhance community and ecological resilience to climate change,” according to the Conservation Halton website.
Phase 1 of the project was carried out in 2024 upstream of the Centre Road site. The work included:
- Creating equipment access routes and temporary closure of the parking area
- Excavating wetland and salvaging vegetation for replanting
- A fish rescue within the isolated work area (prior to construction of banks)
- Removing invasive species, phragmites
- Using excavated material, clean soil and logs to create new stream banks
- Planting native species
- Installing habitat features, including riffles in the stream
Phase 2 will be a continuation of these activities downstream of Centre Road.
According to Conservation Halton, Bronte Creek was widened, straightened and dredged in the 1960s, which led to warmer water temperatures, increased erosion and sedimentation. It also resulted in reduced quality of aquatic habitat at the property, and downstream.
In addition, the modifications reduced the creek’s natural water absorption capacity, which increased the local flood risk.
Conservation Halton says the project will restore the natural function of the creek by improving water quality and aquatic habitat, thereby boosting biodiversity in the floodplain.
