Importance of hydrologic connectivity for coastal wetlands to open water of eastern Georgian Bay
Coastal wetlands are hydrologically connected to their watershed and the lake. Water levels in Georgian Bay have been at a sustained low for thirteen years and thus connectivity of wetlands to the lake is being threatened as water levels decline. Decreased connectivity has likely… Read More
Synergistic impact of water level fluctuation and invasion of Glyceria on Typha in a freshwater marsh of Lake Ontario
The effects of multiple stressors on the native Typha marsh community (mainly Typha latifolia) were examined using historical records of water levels, human census population, and field vegetation maps. Percent cover of the major plant species was estimated in a GIS, and the… Read More
Review of the Lake Ontario – St. Lawrence River Studies
This report reviews selected works of the Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Study for the International Joint Commission (IJC). The IJC is a bi-national organization created in 1909 to consider water and related issues along the U.S.-Canada boundary. In 1999, the IJC prepared a… Read More
Ecosystem response to changes in water level of Lake Ontario marshes: lessons from the restoration of Cootes Paradise Marsh
A general understanding of how aquatic vegetation responds to water-level fluctuations is needed to guide restoration of Great Lakes coastal wetlands because inter-annual and seasonal variations often confound effects of costly remedial actions. In 1997, common carp (Cyprinus… Read More
Untangling the confounding effects of urbanization and high water level on the cover of emergent vegetation in Cootes Paradise Marsh, a degraded coastal wetland of Lake Ontario
An approach based on a digital elevation model (DEM) was used to untangle the confounding effects of long-term water-level fluctuations and increasing human population on the cover of emergent vegetation in Cootes Paradise Marsh, a degraded coastal wetland in Lake Ontario, Canada… Read More