2020 Lake Erie Canadian Baseline Coastal Habitat Survey

Executive Summary

Coastal habitats are a critical ecological link between the waters of the Great Lakes and the surrounding watersheds. The Great Lakes ecosystem contains globally significant habitat and a diversity of native species, some of which are at risk of disappearing. Threats like invasive species, climate change, pollution, urban development, shoreline development and dams and barriers have forever changed the Great Lakes ecosystem.

The 2020 Lake Erie Canadian Baseline Coastal Habitat Survey provides a detailed summary of habitat types and key information to establish a benchmark of habitat quantity, quality, condition, function, protection and restoration. It focuses on four habitat categories–wetlands, uplands, tributaries, and inland lakes and ponds–and analyses the Lake Erie coastal ecosystem from Sarnia to the mouth of the Niagara River.

The survey shows that development impacts, including habitat loss and pollution, combined with climate change challenges are greatly affecting the health of the Lake Erie coastal ecosystem. Canadians can gain from this survey an understanding of the extent of natural habitats and human land use; identify areas and actions for restoration or protection of natural habitats; and compare present and future habitat inventories to identify gains or losses.