SUMMER program aims to restore health of Beechwood’s Macoun Marsh
Urban wetland highlights the biodiversity of this historic cemetery
Foxes, salamanders, blue herons, frogs, turtles, woodpeckers and groundhogs. These and 1,500 other species find their home in Beechwood Cemetery’s Macoun Marsh. The ecosystem, tucked away in the cemetery’s southeast corner, is more than a green space. Macoun Marsh is a living classroom for students, a place of reflection for community members and a rich source of insights for scientists. So, when Beechwood’s team noticed low water levels threatening habitat conditions, they sprang into action to restore the precious wetland.
“We’ve teamed up with local partners such as ASL Contractors and Jennifer Lamoureux, a volunteer biologist, to enhance the marsh, which serves a vital purpose to the species that rely on it and is a place of enjoyment for visitors,” says Erika Wagner, Beechwood’s programming and fundraising coordinator. “The drought years we are experiencing have reduced the marsh’s water levels. We’ve also noticed an increase in the number of non-native invasive plants and cattails, which have grown to the point where there is little water visible from any safe point.”
RESTORING MACOUN MARSH
The habitat enhancement project, Sustainability of Urban Macoun Marsh Environmental Restoration (SUMMER), is a comprehensive endeavour aimed at restoring the health of Macoun Marsh. It involves several key objectives, such as opening up pockets of cattail beds through excavation. While cattails serve a vital function in treating wastewater, Wagner says their overgrowth has stripped students of unique learning opportunities and jeopardizes the habitat of local wildlife.
“There is a small outdoor wooden classroom at Macoun Marsh, but students can’t get the educational benefits of observing the marsh because of the number of cattails,” says Wagner. “A main component of our enhancement project is removing some cattails in the area closest to the classroom and walking paths.”
FUNDRAISING TO IMPROVE THE BIODIVERSITY
Other SUMMER efforts include installing wood structures using trees that fell naturally and were stockpiled, deepening the pool habitat within the wetland and removing invasive shrubs from the shoreline and replanting it with native plants. The enhancement will take place in the fall, which is the least invasive time for implementation. Once the work is completed, it won’t take long for the wetland to adjust, for the plants to take hold and for wildlife to thrive, says Wagner.
“It’s all about improving the biodiversity,” says Wagner. “These measures will help us restore the marsh to its former glory. We know how much Macoun Marsh means to our visitors, and we are currently at the tail-end of our fundraising efforts to help us with this restoration.”
To donate to Beechwood’s SUMMER project, visit beechwoodottawa.ca/en/donation.