One of the best defenses against shoreline erosion is the extensive roots of native trees and shrubs. Thanks to our funders, the Ministry of Natural Resources, hundreds of native shoreline plants have been installed along the shoreline with rock protection at Mission Island Marsh Conservation Area. Access to the shoreline and views of Sleeping Giant have been maintained by installing low-lying shrubs and establishing 3-metre-wide paths to the water’s edge. On the northern side of the parking lot, lawn remains intact for the loading and unloading of kayaks, windsurfing and kite boards, and other water sports equipment.

In collaboration with the City of Thunder Bay, the LRCA restored 1,000 square metres of riparian habitat at Mountdale Boat Launch on the Kaministiquia River by eradicating invasive species, planting native species, and implementing green infrastructure to reduce impacts from stormwater runoff.

The addition of biofiltration basins to catch and filter water before it enters the Kaministiquia River has improved water quality and habitat function along an important part of the river. Improvements to the parking area, accessible dock, and viewing platform will be addressed as funding becomes available.

If you’re interest in being involved in upcoming site clean-ups, plantings, and volunteer events, send us an email.

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The LRCA is currently connecting with local Indigenous partners to establish an Indigenous Community Garden along the Neebing-McIntyre Floodway Habitat Corridor. The purpose of the garden will be to provide a space for reflection for the Indigenous community while hosting a space for plants native to Northwestern Ontario to flourish and re-naturalize the area. The garden space is beside our existing Hope and Memory Garden in the centre of town. Similar to the concept of our volunteer-run Hope and Memory Garden, which honours those who are fighting and have been lost to cancer, we intend to offer an open healing space for community members to access to honour their loved ones. This project is funded by the Canada Water Agency.

In partnership with the City of Thunder Bay, and thanks to funding from Environment and Climate Change Canada’s EcoAction Community Funding program, the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority widened and naturalized the riparian area along Boulevard Lake, just south of the new JumpStart Playground and public beach. The removal of a retaining wall and restoration with native shrubs will increase shoreline habitat and provide essential shelter and forage space for waterfowl, birds, and pollinators. Increasing the riparian area will also help filter runoff from the adjacent open field.

In 2024, thanks to funding from the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks Wetland Conservation Partnership Program, three storm lines shedding directly into Boulevard Lake were daylighted, and a 3-hectare engineered wetland was excavated to slow and filter runoff from nearby roadways.  This stormwater management project will address water quality concerns in Boulevard Lake while providing terrestrial and aquatic habitat for fish, birds, amphibians, and pollinators.  Special thanks to Confederation College, Lakehead University, and La Verendrye high school students, along with Enbridge Gas volunteers for successfully getting over 5,000 plants in the ground!

Shoreline surrounding the Hazelwood Lake beach was revegetated in 2025 to address ongoing cyanobacteria blooms and harmful, nuisance algae at Hazelwood Lake. Seeds for Conservation collected seeds for this project in the fall of 2024, thanks to successful funding from TD Friends of the Environment and TC Energy.  Native shrubs and perennials along the water’s edge will filter runoff entering the lake while offering nearshore shading and temperature regulation.  Reestablishment of fen habitat, historically present at the beach location, will help improve water quality and mediate nearshore water temperatures.