The north shore of Lake Erie is 592 kilometres long. A hotspot of diversity, containing an array of habitats and species, the shore of Lake Erie contains many species and habitats at risk.
Coastal zone is a term that describes the area in which terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems merge. The Lake Erie coastal zone is the area influenced by the climate of Lake Erie and the vegetation that grows as a result of this climate. When considering the coastal zone it is important to consider the entire Lake Erie watershed. With rivers as large as the Grand River, which flows 300 kilometres through 38 municipalities before reaching Lake Erie, the Lake Erie watershed is quite large. The actions that occur upstream in the watershed have impacts on Lake Erie and the coastal zone, and the habitat corridors provided by the streams and rivers of the watershed provide important habitat for many species, including species at risk.
The History & Culture of Lake Erie
The coast has long been a popular area for human settlement, inhabited for several thousand years by First Nations, and then by European settlers since the 17th century. Moments in history, such as the War of 1812 and the Underground Railroad, and the long human history in the area, mean that the Lake Erie coast has many sites of historic and cultural significance.
With a population of more than 1 million people living near the coast, and many more visiting each year, it is not surprising that human activities have a large impact on the coastal zone of Lake Erie. The Lake Erie coast has been recognized as an important environment, and an area requiring special attention since the 1970s. Like many other heavily populated areas in Carolinian Canada, Canada’s southern coast is subject to stress from a variety of human activities, including fishing, recreation, and industry. Water pollution, climate change, and invasive species are significant issues facing the region.
The Geology, Biology & Ecology of Lake Erie
The north shore of Lake Erie contains three prominent and ecologically unique peninsulas, Point Pelee, Rondeau, and Long Point. These peninsulas are areas of sand, forest, marsh and wildlife, not otherwise found in the urban and agricultural landscapes of southern Ontario. The peninsulas are visible examples of the natural geomorphologic processes that have shaped the north shore of Lake Erie, including erosion, deposition, wave, and wind action.
Located in the Carolinian Life Zone, the coastal zone of Lake Erie contains species and ecosystems found nowhere else in Canada. A number of sites along the Lake Erie coast have been identified as priority sites for the conservation of biodiversity, including the Point Pelee Greater Park Ecosystem, and the Dunnville Marshes.