Many people in the community were upset about the removal of the sand willows on the West Headland. They were upset about the dredging and angry that no one knew about this in advance.

Then people (myself included) were stunned to learn that the dredged area has somehow been excluded from the Waterfront Nature Park, which even Council did not know about.

When Council voted to create the Nature Park, they thought this area was included in it.

After mulling this over, I thought I should give people a heads-up on the plans for the area because much worse is yet to come and the public is apparently not going to be shown an action plan with a timeline for what is planned.

The intent of this memo, however, is not to criticize forth-coming action but to focus public attention and the attention of Council on how we can salvage the West Headland and re-naturalize it after the damage is done.

There is light at the end of the tunnel and the public can help to ensure that this light gets to shine. 

As we know, the Town needs to undertake major repair to the East Pier, the inner harbour, the Centre Pier, and the West Breakwater. It appears that contrary to the original schedule, the West Breakwater is to be tackled first (work was originally scheduled for 2024).

Some of the work will be done from the water by barge, but the large number of huge rocks (riprap) weighing tons apiece is to be trucked out over the headland, much of which is in the Nature Park. Sadly, this cannot be avoided.

Obviously, the West Headland will be severely damaged and further compacted by the time the breakwater repair is finished. All we can do is prevail upon Director Geerts to use his influence to minimize the damage.

Since the damage to the Headland is unavoidable,  it seems to me that we should focus our attention and the attention of Council on ensuring that proper restoration and rehabilitation take place after work on the West Breakwater is completed.

An idea that the Council has already endorsed when approving the creation of the Nature Park.

The West Headland is a disappointing eyesore after the spread of soil contaminated with glass and plastic from end to end (photo 1), grading and denuding (photo 2), unsuccessful attempts to seed it with lawn turf seed, the dumping of broken cement and rebar all over the southern end (photo 3), and roads punched down to the beach by sand removal trucks.

It was not always this way and used to be a pleasant old field with flowers.

How can it be re-naturalized and made better than it has ever been? How can we make it into a beautiful place we can all be proud of?

The now defunct Parks and Recreation Committee (PRAC) made many suggestions on how to improve the area that have not yet been carried out (though they were endorsed by Council).

Among these the following should be revisited and kept foremost in mind for the restoration of the West Headland:

Soil Study: The Town should conduct an environmental soil study of the composition of the West Headland before finalizing the rehabilitation process. In particular, this study should include analysis of core sampling by augur.

Land/Soil Rehabilitation: Once results of the environmental soil study are received, plans to rehabilitate the land and soil should be undertaken.

In the Natural Heritage Study in the Waterfront User Needs Assessment (May 2018), many specific recommendations were made: “Clean up headland to remove concrete debris and miscellaneous waste” (p. 39).

Note also that BEA (Beacon Natural Heritage Stewardship Report, December 2021) 6.2.6 recommends Shoreline Clean-Up, “specifically the western pier [the West Headland] and breakwall” (p. 15). 

BRI (Plan B Natural Heritage by Brad Bricker, an Appendix to Waterfront User Needs Assessment (May 2018; p. 4) explains that “The west headland exhibits a long history of disturbance.

Various types of rock and debris have been deposited in this area to reinforce it and to help to protect the harbour. The lack of native topsoil in the headland constrains the establishment of plants.

From an aesthetic standpoint, this area of the waterfront would benefit from clean-up and restoration, and on-going maintenance.”                                                                                                                                   

Invasive Species: Invasive species (e.g., European Reed, Dog-strangling Vine, Wild parsnip) should be removed.

Replanting: The Natural Heritage Report in the Waterfront User Needs Assessment recommends: “Augment selective portions of the headland with sufficient topsoil to facilitate plant establishment and restoration plantings. Locally indigenous plant species should be used to supplement the existing vegetation. Include thicket-forming shrubs (red-osier dogwood, willow, bramble, serviceberry, viburnum) to provide additional cover/food for birds and other wildlife species.” “Incorporate additional riprap/armour stone at south end of headland to create small coves or embayments for shorebirds and waterfowl.”

Headland Walkway: The Town should construct a meandering accessible pedestrian walkway along the Headland, complete with occasional benches, composed of limestone crush wide enough to accommodate access by maintenance vehicles.

Pavilion: The Town should construct a pavilion, comprised of a basic hard floor, waist-high walls, open sides, and a cedar-shake roof.

This pavilion/overlook should be located at the end of the Headland walkway, just before the West Breakwall.  [The little pavilion in the Bond Head Waterfront Park at the south end of Newcastle is a nice example of what is possible].

In the lamentable absence of any official channel through which members of the public can have a say in these matters, members of the public should be considering the best ways to keep these existing ideas in the mind of Council and Director Geerts and the Department of Public Works.

The PRAC recommendations also included the idea of community partnership and the encouraging of the participation of the general public in the stewardship of the area. It was felt that people should be given some say and a chance to help.

Willingness has already been demonstrated; witness the recent tree plantings on the headland. The public’s interest in the area has been clear ever since The West Harbour Waterfront Development Plan – March 1995, and the many studies and plans of the last thirty years (yes, this has been going on for over thirty years) have underscored this.

In my memo of December 4, 2024, on “The Waterfront Nature Park and its Immediate Environs,” I floated the idea of an ad hoc committee that would include members of the public, a member or members of Council, Director Geerts and staff to discuss plans for the area (including the threatened and declining West Beach) and how best to manage nature in light of the up-coming harbour repairs.

Is this too much to ask? Surely the Town is accountable to the public.

Richard Pope

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.