Provincial funding to expand Lynde Shores and restore coastal wetland habitat
The Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (CLOCA) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) have launched a restoration and expansion project at Lynde Shores Conservation Area in Whitby that will add about 23 acres (9.4 hectares) of coastal wetland and bolster climate resilience in the lakeshore landscape.
The work is supported by a $1.5-million investment from Ontario’s Wetlands Conservation Partner Program, DUC said, and will also help complete the Westside Creek Wetland Restoration and Resilience Project in neighbouring Clarington. CLOCA and DUC aim to finish the field work before the end of 2026.
The initiative combines habitat restoration with public access improvements so residents can spend more time near the water while benefiting from healthier wetland systems. Officials say restored coastal wetlands increase biodiversity, improve flood buffering and provide important stopover habitat for migrating waterfowl.
“Successful partnerships are essential to building a more resilient Ontario – for nature and future generations,”
said Marie-Paule Godin, Manager of Provincial Operations for DUC in Ontario. She added the funding is an investment in community well‑being and the health of local landscapes, including habitat for migrating waterfowl.
What the project will deliver
- Expansion: roughly 23 acres (9.4 hectares) added to Lynde Shores Conservation Area.
- Restoration: coastal wetland restoration works to improve habitat quality and resilience.
- Timing: completion targeted before the end of 2026.
- Community engagement: a free wetland opening event is scheduled for Oct. 3 at Lynde Shores.
For Whitby residents, Lynde Shores has long been a local destination for birding, walking and shoreline access along Lake Ontario. The conservation area includes trails, viewpoints and natural shoreline features that are vulnerable to changing water levels and storm impacts. Restoring and expanding wetlands along the coast helps maintain those public amenities by increasing the landscape’s natural capacity to moderate flood and erosion forces.
Local and regional implications
Wetlands serve multiple functions that are relevant to municipalities across Durham Region: wildlife habitat, water quality improvement through filtration of runoff, and flood attenuation by temporarily storing stormwater. By restoring coastal wetlands, CLOCA and DUC are investing in infrastructure that is natural rather than engineered — an increasingly common approach to climate adaptation.
Project work at Lynde Shores also ties into broader regional conservation planning. The addition of nearly 10 hectares to the conservation area increases protected habitat contiguous with an existing natural corridor along the lakeshore and the Lynde Creek system. That continuity benefits species that move between inland and coastal habitats, particularly migratory waterfowl mentioned by project partners.
CLOCA and DUC are inviting the public to a free wetland opening event on Oct. 3 at Lynde Shores Conservation Area. The event is intended to celebrate the restoration work and provide opportunities for residents to learn about wetland function and conservation outcomes in their community.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Funding | $1.5 million (Ontario’s Wetlands Conservation Partner Program) |
| Area added | 23 acres / 9.4 hectares |
| Completion target | Before end of 2026 |
Restoration projects such as this typically involve earthworks to re-establish wetland hydrology, planting native vegetation, and measures to discourage invasive species. While CLOCA and DUC have outlined the scope and funding, detailed designs, phasing and timing of on‑the‑ground activities are being managed by the partner agencies as the project proceeds.
As Whitby continues to balance growth with protection of natural assets along Lake Ontario, projects that expand and restore coastal wetlands represent a measurable investment in both ecological health and community resilience.
