Recycled Christmas Trees Anchored in Niagara River to Rebuild Lost Wetland Habitat

A long-term restoration program launched in 2016 aims to replace the coastal wetlands that once covered most of the Canadian shoreline of the Niagara River. Using discarded Christmas trees, ash trunks killed by emerald ash borer, and large boulders, Niagara Parks and its partners have built underwater structures that dampen wave energy and provide shelter for fish such as lake sturgeon and muskellunge. The effort has installed 1.64 km of habitat across the Upper Niagara River, adding roughly 240 m of new wetland at sites like Black Creek and Boyer’s Creek.

Early monitoring shows higher fish and shorebird numbers and improved water quality at restored locations. The project demonstrates how repurposing waste material can aid ecological recovery while protecting the shoreline.