Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan

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Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan

Our goal is to improve the health of the Harbour by completing restoration actions and ultimately remove Hamilton Harbour as an Area of Concern.

The Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan (HHRAP) is a collective of partners committed to returning Hamilton Harbour as the vibrant centrepiece of its community.

05/29/2026

We had a reel-y fun time fishing at City of Hamilton's Children's Water Festival this week! 🎣 💧

Hundreds of Grade 4 students learned about the Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan and got to know the harbour’s fish community. Students fished, identified species, spotted invasive carp and goldfish, and used the Guide to Eating Ontario Fish to decide what is safe to eat.

Heading out on the water soon? Explore the guide https://www.ontario.ca/page/guide-eating-ontario-fish

05/08/2026

Get out on the water this Mother’s Day weekend! On May 9 and 10, fishing licenses will not be required in Ontario. 🎣

It’s the perfect time to try out a new hobby or take your loved ones out and share the experience! Remember, Ontario’s Fishing Regulations still apply: https://www.ontario.ca/page/free-family-fishing

04/13/2026

Spring is here and waterbirds are flocking to the islands. 🐣

To help rebuild lost habitat, nesting islands were created along the northeastern shore in Hamilton Harbour and in Windermere Basin. These places are managed to help give sensitive species like Common Terns a chance at regaining their population sizes.

Register for our next Deep Dive webinar this Wednesday, April 15 at 5:30 pm to learn about how we’re working to restore a balanced waterbird community in : hhrap.ca/events/deep-dive-webinars/

04/08/2026

Our Bay Area Implementation Team partner McMaster University is active with research and remediation in Hamilton Harbour and upstream. 🌳🐣

The Nature at McMaster team leads planting and habitat management around Cootes Paradise Marsh, McMaster Forest, and along the creeks in between. They study and restore the ecosystem while getting students and the community involved.

On the other end of the harbour, Dr. James Quinn and his students have spent decades studying group-nesting waterbirds and replacing lost habitat. Their efforts supported a more balanced bird community—an important improvement as part of the Remedial Action Plan!

With this research and so much more, McMaster is making waves in . 🌊

Join us on April 15 at 5:30 pm for a free Deep Dive webinar to learn more about the research and adaptive management of colonial waterbirds in the harbour: hhrap.ca/events/deep-dive-webinars/

📸 credit: J. Quinn

04/02/2026

We are pleased to present the Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan’s 2025 Annual Report! 🎉

Bay Area Implementation Team partners continue to work together to delist Hamilton Harbour as an Area of Concern. Read about our progress and key activities last year, and how we’re getting the community involved! Read the report here:https://hhrap.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025-Annual-Report.pdf

03/25/2026

Deep Dive into the wonderful world of Hamilton Harbour's waterbirds! 🐣🌊

Register for our next free Deep Dive webinar on April 15 at 5:30 pm to learn about how past human disturbance in the harbour led to habitat loss and an overabundance of species like Ring-billed Gulls and Double-crested Cormorants, and about efforts to restore a balanced community of waterbirds.

We’ll take a journey through the years of research, adaptive management and monitoring of colony-nesting birds in Hamilton Harbour with our guest speakers, Dr. Jim Quinn from McMaster University, and Shane de Solla, a toxicologist from Environment and Climate Change.

Register here: https://hhrap.ca/events/deep-dive-webinars/

03/20/2026

Today is World Frog Day and we’re celebrating these ribbet-ing amphibians! 🐸

The Hamilton Harbour area is home to nine species of frogs and toads, and this time of year, many are hibernating under the leaf litter, in deep burrows, or underwater. A few species can even make their own antifreeze! ❄️

Frogs and toads can tell us a lot about the water quality and habitat conditions around them. Protecting frogs means protecting clean water, healthy wetlands, and resilient ecosystems for everyone. 💚

03/03/2026

Hamilton Harbour is part of a biodiversity hotspot—a rich web of life that depends on healthy water and habitats. Home to wetlands, woodlands, and waterways, the harbour and surrounding watershed support hundreds of species of birds, fish, plants, insects, and mammals. 🐦 🐟 🌿 🐞 🦌

Through the HHRAP, our partners are working together to restore ecosystems, improve water quality, and protect the wildlife that call home. Happy !

02/23/2026

It’s Invasive Species Awareness Week! Did you know some familiar pets can harm Hamilton Harbour when released into the wild? 🐢🐟

Red-eared slider turtles and goldfish are invasive species in Hamilton Harbour that can outcompete native wildlife, damage habitat, and disrupt the harbour’s ecosystem. Here are some tips to help protect nature:

🚫 Never release pets or aquarium species into local waterways

✅ Rehome pets responsibly or contact local pet stores, rescues, or animal services for options

🐟 Only flush the three Ps: p*e, p**p, and (toilet) paper

Learn more about invasive species and what you can do: https://www.invasivespeciescentre.ca/

02/13/2026

Celebrate Family Day weekend with some reel fun! 🎣 From February 14 to 16, you can fish in Ontario without a licence. It’s the perfect chance to introduce family and friends to the joy of fishing and make some memories together.

Ontario’s Fishing Regulations still apply: https://www.ontario.ca/page/free-family-fishing.

Once you’re on the ice or water, keep safety first: never fish alone, watch for thin ice around shorelines, and dress warmly for changing weather. ❄️

Enjoy your Family Day adventures!

Address

2596 Britannia Road
Burlington, ON
L7P0G3

Website

https://hhrap.ca/

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