Preserve Our Heritage Harbour (POHH) is both outraged and saddened by the damage to Cobourg’s treasured Waterfront Nature Park that occurred during the Town’s dredging operations of November 2024.
What was promised to be a carefully managed project that would “remain undisturbed throughout the process” has turned into an assault on one of Cobourg’s most cherished natural spaces.
We demand transparency about the Town’s plans for next steps in the dredging operation as well as an interim management plan.
A Broken Promise
On October 7, 2024, the Town of Cobourg assured the public that essential dredging operations would not disrupt the Waterfront Nature Park, a “Nature Park” defined in the Parks By-law Number 022-2016.
On October 19, 2024, Richard Pope submitted a Memorandum outlining concerns about the Proposed “Mechanical Dredging” in the Harbourfront Nature Park .
He noted that Director Brian Geerts had written, “Please rest assured that the dredge operations are not in place to blindly destroy nature.”
Yet, by November 12, 2024 heavy equipment had moved into the Harbourfront, removing sand willows and other vital vegetation. Much of the wetland was bulldozed and thousands of cubic metres of sand were dumped on the wetland.
These actions destroyed much of a protected wetland as well as a shoreline ecosystem, habitat that is home to a diverse array of wildlife.
A Haven for Wildlife
The Waterfront Nature Park is more than just a green space. In an earlier POHH memorandum, Richard Pope, citing biologists from the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority, emphasized that a portion of the area is a wetland—defined and protected by its ecological significance.
And the shoreline with its sand willows, brush, and naturalized areas serves as valuable cover and food for birds and other wildlife.
As highlighted in Margaret Bain’s renowned book, The Wildlife of Cobourg Harbour, this “screen of shrubs and small trees” shields birds from disturbance and provides foraging opportunities for a host of species.
To the west and north, the taller vegetation, alongside its corresponding trees, offers crucial cover for landbirds—especially migratory species.
These birds, often exhausted after an overnight lake crossing or preparing for a southbound migration, rely on the headland as a safe haven.
Over 270 bird species and 235 plant species have been documented in this unique habitat, including the spring azure butterfly, Gilbert’s Tortoiseshell, and amphibians like the American Toad.
A Wildlife Crisis
This local destruction is a microcosm of a larger crisis. According to a 2024 Nature Canada report, shorebird populations in Canada have declined by 42%.
The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada declared that 45% of Canada’s frog species are at risk due to habitat loss. Frogs depend on the seamless transition between land and water, making them especially vulnerable to habitat loss.
By disrupting this delicate balance, the Town of Cobourg is contributing to the ongoing erosion of biodiversity.
Why This Matters
The Waterfront Nature Park’s willows and other vegetation also play a critical role in stabilizing the shoreline by anchoring the sand and mitigating erosion.
Councillor Miriam Mutton even noted in an October 10 memo that nature systems, such as the sand willows, are used worldwide to stabilize breakwaters and clean water.
As noted in the Lake Ontario Shoreline Management Plan (2020), this area acts as a “dynamic beach setback,” a flexible buffer zone that allows natural coastal processes to adapt to environmental changes, reduces flood risks, and protects infrastructure.
Ignored Warnings
During the process of designating the Waterfront Nature Park, conservation experts including Willow Beach Field Naturalists (WBFN) cautioned about the care needed during dredging operations.
Despite these warnings and calls for transparency by the POHH, unfortunately the Town pressed on with invasive operations using heavy machinery.
Heavy equipment was brought into a protected wetland, and the removal of sand willows was carried out without regard for the long-term consequences.
Days of bulldozing the green space and naturalized area, dumping of sand and compacting soil took place.
By November 14, much of the wetland had been destroyed.
Frogs, butterflies and wildlife habitat buried under metres of dredged, potentially contaminated sand. Today, it looks more like a parking lot than a nature park.
Moving Forward: A Call for Action
POHH is not opposed to dredging. We acknowledge it’s needed. But we insist it be done in a manner that respects the ecological significance of the Waterfront Nature Park.
In past operations, sand removal was carried out without disrupting the naturalized areas.
Why was this precedent not followed?
Now, more than ever, Cobourg needs an official plan for the Nature Park – a plan that will safeguard natural areas, ensure sustainable development, and prevent this kind of ecological destruction in the future.
How You Can Help
We urge you to take action today. Share this post and make your voice heard!
Contact the following officials to demand accountability and a commitment to protecting Cobourg’s Waterfront Nature Park going forward.
For future dredging we need to know what will the construction access be and where will the removed dredge be situated for draining before it is transported.
Contact:
- Director, Community Services: Brian Geerts – bgeerts@cobourg.ca
- Mayor: Lucas Cleveland – lcleveland@cobourg.ca
- Deputy Mayor: Nicole Beatty – nbeatty@cobourg.ca
- Councillor: Miriam Mutton – mmutton@cobourg.ca
- Councillor: Aaron Burchat – aburchat@cobourg.ca
- Councillor: Adam Bureau – abureau@cobourg.ca
- Councillor: Brian Darling – bdarling@cobourg.ca
- Councillor: Randy Barber – rbarber@cobourg.ca
To make your voice count, be sure to copy in Town Policy Clerk: Brent Larmer – blarmer@cobourg.ca and request your correspondence be included in the Correspondence agenda so it’s public record.
Follow our efforts and share updates on the Cobourg Harbour Facebook Page. Together, we can ensure that the Waterfront Nature Park is preserved for future generations.
Before, During, and After: A Visual Record
Below is a gallery of photos documenting the shoreline and wetland before, during, and after the dredging operations. These images are a stark reminder of what we stand to lose—and why we must act now.
Prior to Dredging Operations of November 2024
During Dredging Operations November 2024
After Dredging and Clearing Operations of November 2024
Burying a wetland under sand destroys critical habitats for frogs and other wildlife.
It disrupts access to food, shelter, and overwintering sites during the fall when many species prepare for hibernation, potentially leading to population declines or local extinctions.
