Wetlands Resources

More about wetlands

Here are some resources to help you with your stormwater management improvements and wetlands enhancement. 

The links below are provided for your information:

​Wetlands on My Lands?

• Wetlands on My lands? from Ducks Unlimited Canada –  A Landowner's Guide to Wetland Restoration in Ontario – PDF file

Plant Native Species of Plants

You can help to provide habitat for local species by planting native species of plants.

Check out this guide:

• Download Beautiful Non-Invasive Plants for Your Garden –  A Guide for Southern Ontario – PDF file

It is important to plant native species of plants. Animals, like birds, depend on native plants as a food source. Invasive plants can out-compete native plants and this impairs habitat and may result in invasive pests. Native plants have adapted to local conditions so they generally require less water. Monarch butterflies and other butterflies depend on specific native plant species for food. Hummingbirds and native bees and other pollinators rely on the nectar from native plants. ative nuts, seeds and fruits are essential for wildlife.

The Huron County Library is a source of native seeds with their seed library catalogue.

• Learn more: Huron County Library Seed Library Catalogue

Living with Nature (A Landowner's Guide to Native Vegetation for the Grand Bend to Port Franks Corridor)

• Download Living with Nature, a guide to local plant species.

This guide is written by Ausable Bayfield Conservation's Kari Jean and Ian Jean. You may download it for free. Or, if you would like a printed copy (limited number available) for only $5, contact Rosalind to get your copy.

Learn about native plants that we need ... and invasive plants we don't want.

Huron County Backyard Ecosystems

You are also encouraged to check out the Huron County Backyard Ecosystems initiative.

The photo contest runs monthly from May 15 to September 15.

Native Species of Plants Available from Local Suppliers

You can find native species of plants available from several local plant nurseries.

Some Ontario nurseries, where native species of plants are available for purchase, are included in the list below:

• List of some Ontario nurseries where native species of plants are available for purchase – 250 KB (medium-sized) PDF file

*Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority does not endorse any product or service provider. These are provided as a starting reference for some local plant nurseries and there are many other options available.

From Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry:

• Wetland conservation
• What are wetlands?
• Why are wetlands important to us?
• Wetlands in a Watershed Context 
• Wetland Restoration Fact sheet 
• Significant Wetlands and OWES

Plant Identification

• Ontario Wildflowers Identification
• Ontario Grasses, Sedges, Rushes Identification
• Ontario Fern Identification
• Ontario Tree and Shrub Identification
• Michigan Flora website

Invasive Species

• Ontario Invasive Plant Council  
• The Landowner’s Guide to Controlling Invasive Woodland Plants (Kawartha Conservation, 2009) (4 MB - Large PDF file)
• A Guide to the Identification and Control of Exotic invasive Species in Ontario’s Hardwood Forests 2013  (Invasive Species Research Institute) (8 MB - Huge PDF file)

Phragmites australis - Common Reed

Here are some resources about "Canada's worst invasive plant," Phragmites australis subsp. australis (or 'European Common Reed' or 'Invasive Phragmites'):

• A Landowner's Guide to Phragmites Control (6 MB - Huge PDF file) (Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, 1994)

• Phragmites australis - European Common Reed - Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation

• Invasive Phragmites – Best Management Practices 2011 - Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Invasive Phragmites – Best Management Practices, Peterborough, Ontario. Version 2011.17 pp. (2 MB - Large PDF file)

• A fact sheet on Phragmites for agricultural producers and other rural landowners (Lambton Shores Phragmites Community Group)

Buckthorn

Another one of Ontario's most unwanted invasive plant species:

• Common Buckthorn: One of Ontario's Most Unwanted Invasive Plant Species (PDF file) - Ontario Invasive Plant Council

Giant Hogweed

• Giant Hogweed: Best Management Practices in Ontario (PDF file) - Ontario Invasive Plant Council

For other resources visit the other pages of the Ausable Bayfield Conservation website:

• Ausable Bayfield Conservation

To return to the main wetlands stormwater improvements page click the button below:

For examples of past projects completed by your neighbours click on the button below: