Brampton receives $1.2 million to restore wetlands and reduce flood risk

Ontario is investing nearly $1.2 million to help the City of Brampton enhance local wetlands and reduce flood risk to roads while improving the natural ecosystem in the Heart Lake Wetlands Complex and Spring Creek.

The funding is part of the province's $9.6 million Wetlands Conservation Partner Program, which aims to conserve wetlands and protect communities against the threat of flooding, drought, and other extreme weather events. Led by the City of Brampton in partnership with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, the Heart Lake Road Wetlands Connectivity Project will enhance 25 acres (10 hectares) of wetlands by restoring wetland shorelines and upgrading stormwater infrastructure.

The project will also remove invasive species such as Common Buckthorn and plant native species in their place. This work will help reduce flooding while enhancing ecosystem function within the Heart Lake Wetlands Complex, which drains water southward into Spring Creek.

Environment Minister Todd McCarthy said wetlands are vital natural infrastructure. "Wetlands are vital natural infrastructure that protect our homes and businesses against drought and flooding, clean the water and create habitat for a variety of wildlife," McCarthy said.

Since 2020, Ontario has invested nearly $41 million in 660 wetland projects across the province, restoring and enhancing over 12,200 acres (4,950 hectares) of wetlands in the Great Lakes watershed. In its first five years, the Wetlands Conservation Partner Program projects have improved water quality, reduced flood risks, and strengthened climate resilience, while avoiding over $10 million in damages to built infrastructure and creating 270 full-time green jobs in Ontario's rural and near-urban communities.

Brampton has been funded for two projects under the program for a total of $3.69 million to enhance over 37 acres (15 hectares), with previous work focused on addressing stormwater runoff and supporting urban habitat for species such as turtles.