Habitat restoration and water quality protection are essential components of the overall species restoration program. This component identifies critical habitat areas within each of the streams targeted for restoration. Also, major limiting factors affecting the life history stages of Atlantic salmon are identified and addressed as needed.

One of the main challenges associated with this type of work in southern Ontario is 95% of the land is privately owned. To address this reality, the OFAH Atlantic Salmon team will work with landowners, MNRF, DFO, conservation authorities, and non-government organizations such as Ontario Streams, and Trout Unlimited Canada.

The following are the types of projects we work on:

1. Tree planting in riparian areas to stabilize banks and decrease sedimentation and water temperature;
2. Debris management to enhance and restore natural flows, clean substrate and enhance habitat for adult and juvenile fish;
3. Bank stabilization projects to minimize erosion and sedimentation of spawning and nursery areas;
4. Wetland protection to ensure high quality and quantity of water;
5. Cattle fencing and alternate watering systems to prevent riparian grazing, erosion, and in-stream habitat destruction; and
6. Modification, by-pass or removal of online dams and ponds to re-establish natural channels, decrease stream temperatures and allow fish passage.

By early 2016, the program has completed 200 habitat restoration projects in ten years across five watersheds, planting over 85,000 trees and shrubs.  To learn more about the OFAH’s habitat projects, please see the links to reports below.

2017

LOASRP Habitat Project 2017 – Transport Canada Pickering Lands Vimy Ridge PS

LOASRP Habitat Project 2017 – Transport Canada Pickering Lands TD Tree Days

LOASRP Habitat Project 2017 – Transport Canada Pickering Lands Milliken Mills HS

LOASRP Habitat Project 2017 – Transport Canada Pickering Lands Community Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2017 – Transport Canada Pickering Lands Claremont PS

LOASRP Habitat Project 2017 – Transport Canada Live Staking

LOASRP Habitat Project 2017 – Nashville TD Tree Days Event

LOASRP Habitat Project 2017 – Nashville Humberview SS planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2017 – Lowville TD Tree Days Event

LOASRP Habitat Project 2017 – Brock Lands TD Tree Days Event

LOASRP Habitat Project 2017 – AHCA Palgrave PS planting

2016

LOASRP Habitat Project 2016 – Transport Canada Pickering Lands Vimy Ridge PS

LOASRP Habitat Project 2016 – Transport Canada Pickering Lands TD Tree Day

LOASRP Habitat Project 2016 – Transport Canada Pickering Lands FW Fleming College

LOASRP Habitat Project 2016 – Transport Canada Pickering Lands EM Fleming College

LOASRP Habitat Project 2016 – Transport Canada Pickering Lands Claremont PS

LOASRP Habitat Project 2016 – Lowville Park TD Tree Day #2

LOASRP Habitat Project 2016 – Lowville Park TD Tree Day #1

LOASRP Habitat Project 2016 – Earth Day Stream Clean-up (2)

LOASRP Habitat Project 2016 – Earth Day Stream Clean-up (1)

LOASRP Habitat Project 2016 – Brock Lands North TD Tree Day

LOASRP Habitat Project 2016 – Albion Hills CA TD Tree Day

LOASRP Habitat Project 2016 – Albion Hills CA Palgrave PS

2015

LOASRP Habitat Project 2015 – Transport Canada Pickering Lands Vimy Ridge Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2015 – Transport Canada Pickering Lands TD Tree Day

LOASRP Habitat Project 2015 – Transport Canada Pickering Lands Live Willow Shrub Staking

LOASRP Habitat Project 2015 – Transport Canada Pickering Lands Fleming College Shrub Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2015 – Transport Canada Pickering Lands Dunbarton White Cedar Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2015 – Transport Canada Pickering Lands Claremont Public School Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2015 – Lowville Park TD Tree Day Trail Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2015 – Lowville Park TD Tree Day Field Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2015 – Earth Day Stream Clean-up

LOASRP Habitat Project 2015 – Brock Lands North TD Tree Day

LOASRP Habitat Project 2015 – Annie Crescent Bank Stabilization

LOASRP Habitat Project 2015 – Annie Crescent Bank Stabilization Tree Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2015 – Albion Hills Conservation Area TD Tree Day Planting

2014

LOASRP Habitat Project 2014 – Transport Canada Pickering Lands Bypass Channel

LOASRP Habitat Project 2014 – Transport Canada Lands TD Tree Day

LOASRP Habitat Project 2014 – Transport Canada Lands Bypass Channel Tree Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2014 – Transport Canada Lands Bypass Channel Shrub Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2014 – Transport Canada Lands Bypass Channel Live Willow Shrub Staking

LOASRP Habitat Project 2014 – Terra Cotta Conservation Area Jaquith Property TD Tree Day

LOASRP Habitat Project 2014 – Terra Cotta Conservation Area Jaquith Property Bypass Channel

LOASRP Habitat Project 2014 – Pickering TD Tree Day Planting – Brock Lands

LOASRP Habitat Project 2014 – Lowville Park TD Tree Day Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2014 – Earth Day Stream Clean-up (2)

LOASRP Habitat Project 2014 – Earth Day Stream Clean-up (1)

LOASRP Habitat Project 2014 – Cobourg Conservation Area TD Tree Day Monitoring Event

LOASRP Habitat Project 2014 – Brock Lands Pond Decommissioning

LOASRP Habitat Project 2014 – Brock Lands Decommissioned Pond Tree and Shrub Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2014 – Brock Lands Decommissioned Pond Shrub Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2014 – Brock Lands Decommissioned Pond Live Willow Shrub Staking

LOASRP Habitat Project 2014 – Albion Hills Conservation Area TD Tree Day Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2014 – Ajax TD Tree Day Planting- Brock Lands

2013

LOASRP Habitat Project 2013 – Upper Credit Conservation Area Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2013 – Terra Cotta Conservation Area Jacquith Property TD Tree Day Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2013 – Rodar Park Riparian Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2013 – Lowville Park TD Tree Day Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2013 – Greenwood Coservation Lands Rodar Property Field Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2013 – Earth Day Stream Clean-up (2)

LOASRP Habitat Project 2013 – Earth Day Stream Clean-up (1)

LOASRP Habitat Project 2013 – Duffy’s Lane Live Willow Shrub Staking

LOASRP Habitat Project 2013 – Cobourg Conservation Area TD Tree Day Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2013 – Cobourg Conservation Area Earth Day Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2013 – Brock Lands Wetland Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2013 – Brock Lands TD Tree Day Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2013 – Albion Hills Conservation Area Wetland Live Willow Staking

LOASRP Habitat Project 2013 – Albion Hills Conservation Area TD Tree Day Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2013 – Albion Hills Conservation Area Buffer Expansion Planting

2012

LOASRP Habitat Project 2012 – Transport Canada Pickering Airport Lands TD Tree Day Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2012 – Terra Cotta Conservation Area Spring Pond Live Shrub Staking

LOASRP Habitat Project 2012 – Pine Point Park TD Tree Day Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2012 – Lowville Park TD Tree Day Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2012 – Lowville Park Buffer Expansion Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2012 – Earth Day Stream Clean-up (2)

LOASRP Habitat Project 2012 – Earth Day Stream Clean-up (1)

LOASRP Habitat Project 2012 – DC Transport Canada Pickering Airport Lands Wetland Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2012 – Albion Hills Conservation Area Trail Side Revetment

LOASRP Habitat Project 2012 – Albion Hills Conservation Area Trail Side Live Staking

LOASRP Habitat Project 2012 – Albion Hills Conservation Area Stream Bank Live Shrub Staking

LOASRP Habitat Project 2012 – Albion Hills Conservation Area Shrub Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2012 – Albion Hills Conservation Area Gabion Basket Removal

LOASRP Habitat Project 2012 – Terra Cotta Conservation Area Spring Pond Planting

2011

LOASRP Habitat Project 2011 – Transport Canada Pickering Lands Upper NRCAN Decommissioned Pond Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2011 – Transport Canada Pickering Lands Sideline 26 Riparian Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2011 – Terra Cotta CA Wolfe Lake Bypass Channel Berm Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2011 – Terra Cotta CA Riparian Tree and Shrub Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2011 – Sinclair Park Conservation Area Live Staking

LOASRP Habitat Project 2011 – Silver Creek Conservation Area Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2011 – Nashville Resource Management Tract Shoreline Stabilization Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2011 – Nashville Resource Management Tract Riparian Buffer Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2011 – Mcnab Park Riparian Buffer Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2011 – Holmes Restoration Corridor Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2011 – Greenwood Conservation Area South Rodar Live Willow Shrub Staking

LOASRP Habitat Project 2011 – Greenwood Conservation Area Rodar Log Revetment

LOASRP Habitat Project 2011 – Greenwood Conservation Area Rodar Live Shrub Staking

LOASRP Habitat Project 2011 – Greenwood Conservation Area Rodar Boulder Placement

LOASRP Habitat Project 2011 – Greenwood Conservation Area Rodar Bank Stabilization Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2011 – Godfrey Headwaters Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2011 – Forge Park Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2011 – Earth Day Stream Clean-up

LOASRP Habitat Project 2011 – Cobourg Conservation Area Riparian Buffer Creation Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2011 – Cobourg Conservation Area Buffer Expansion Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2011 – Bolton Resource Management Tract Riparian Buffer Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2011 – Bolton Resource Management Tract Log Revetment Bank Stabilization

LOASRP Habitat Project 2011 – Bolton Resource Management Tract Live Shrub Staking

2010

LOASRP Habitat Project 2010 – Uxbridge Pickering Townline Barkey Cattle Exclusion Fencing

LOASRP Habitat Project 2010 – Transport Canada Pickering Lands Upper Barkey Pastureland Reforestation Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2010 – Transport Canada Pickering Lands Sideline 34 Old Farm Cedar Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2010 – Transport Canada Pickering Lands Lower Barkey Headwaters Bank Stabilization Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2010 – Greenwood Conservation Area South Riparian Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2010 – Greenwood Conservation Area Root Wad Placement Bank Stabilization

LOASRP Habitat Project 2010 – Greenwood Conservation Area North Hydro Corridor Riparian Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2010 – Greenwood Conservation Area Hydro Corridor Boulder Placement

LOASRP Habitat Project 2010 – Greenwood Conservation Area Failed Foot-bridge Removal & Bank Stabilization

LOASRP Habitat Project 2010 – Laurie Lawson Outdoor Education Center Live Shrub Staking

LOASRP Habitat Project 2010 – Hie Pond to Stream Interface Reconstruction

LOASRP Habitat Project 2010 – Hie Pond Shading and Bank Stabilization Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2010 – Cobourg Conservation Area Bridge South Riparian Buffer Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2010 – Baker Road Headwaters Reforestation Planting

2009

LOASRP Habitat Project 2009 – Uxbridge-Pickering Townline Cattle Fencing

LOASRP Habitat Project 2009 – Transport Canada Pickering Lands Sideline 32 Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2009 – Transport Canada Pickering Lands Sideline 30 Garbage Clean Up

LOASRP Habitat Project 2009 – Transport Canada Pickering Lands Sideline 22 Culvert Removal

LOASRP Habitat Project 2009 – Transport Canada Pickering Lands Leung Pond Live Willow Staking

LOASRP Habitat Project 2009 – Transport Canada Pickering Lands Gabion Stone Clean Up

LOASRP Habitat Project 2009 – Greenwood Conservation Area Rodar Wetland Enhancement Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2009 – Greenwood Conservation Area Rodar Wet Meadow Cedar Thicket Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2009 – Greenwood Conservation Area Rodar Riparian Wet Meadow Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2009 – Greenwood Conservation Area Rodar Bank Erosion Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2009 – Greenwood Conservation Area Hydro Corridor Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2009 – Greenwood Conservation Area Failed Gabion Basket Removal

LOASRP Habitat Project 2009 – Greenwood Conservation Area Bridge Erosion Mitigation and Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2009 – Bushwood Golf Course Riparian Corridor Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2009 – Bushwood Golf Course Fairway Shrub Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2009 – Bushwood Golf Course Dogwood and Cedar Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2009 – Bushwood Golf Course Cedar Thicket Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2009 – Bushwood Golf Course Bank Stabilization Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2009 – Barkey Property Headwaters Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2009 – Willis Property Planting Phase 3&4

LOASRP Habitat Project 2009 – Laurie Lawson Outdoor Education Centre Shrub Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2009 – Holmes Bank Stabilization Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2009 – Hie Property Cedar Trans-planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2009 – Hardwood Road Cedar Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2009 – Earth Day Stream Clean Up 2009

LOASRP Habitat Project 2009 – Dale Road Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2009 – Cold Springs Riparian Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2009 – Baker Property Cattle Fencing and Low Level Stream Crossing

2008

LOASRP Habitat Project 2008 – Greenwood Conservation Area Tree and Shrub Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2008 – Greenwood Conservation Area Bank Stabilization Project

LOASRP Habitat Project 2008 – Cherry Downs Golf Course Riparian Planting Project

LOASRP Habitat Project 2008 – Cherry Downs Golf Course Barrier Removal

LOASRP Habitat Project 2008 – Cherry Downs Golf Course Additional Fox Den and Snake Habitat

LOASRP Habitat Project 2008 – Holmes-Town of Cobourg Bank Stablization Project

LOASRP Habitat Project 2008 – Holmes Shrub Planting and Live Staking

LOASRP Habitat Project 2008 – Holmes Riparian Tree Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2008 – Holmes Property Shrub Planting and Live Staking

LOASRP Habitat Project 2008 – Holmes Property Riparian Tree Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2008 – Holmes Property Boulder Placement Project

LOASRP Habitat Project 2008 – Hie Property Bank Stabilization Project

LOASRP Habitat Project 2008 – Earth Day Stream Clean Up

LOASRP Habitat Project 2008 – Cobourg Brook Headwaters Cattle Fencing and Alternate Water Source

2007

LOASRP Habitat Project 2007 – Paulynn Park Riparian Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2007 – Greenwood CA Riparian Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2007 – Greenwood CA Live Cribwall Installation

LOASRP Habitat Project 2007 – Great Canadian Shoreline Clean Up

LOASRP Habitat Project 2007 – Claremont Outdoor Education Centre Gabion Basket Removal

LOASRP Habitat Project 2007 – Claremont OEC Riparian Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2007 – Barkey Property Low-level Crossing

LOASRP Habitat Project 2007 – Willis Property Livestock Fencing, Crossing and Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2007 – Stream Clean Up and Riparian Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2007 – Nelson Property Riparian Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2007 – Holmes Property Riparian Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2007 – Holmes Property Riparian Planting Part 2

LOASRP Habitat Project 2007 – Hie Property Riparian Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2007 – Els Property Bank Stabilization

LOASRP Habitat Project 2007 – Ball Property Riparian Live Shrub Staking Planting

2006

LOASRP Habitat Project 2006 – Paulyn Park Tree and Shrub Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2006 – Stream Clean Up

LOASRP Habitat Project 2006 – Nelson Property Low Level Stream Crossing and Planting

LOASRP Habitat Project 2006 – Holmes Property Woody Debris Management

LOASRP Habitat Project 2006 – Ball Property Logjam Removal