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The Landscape

Natural Areas and Corridors Improving the Quality of Water Resources Improving Air Quality Reducing the Amount of Waste Consuming Less Energy

Natural Areas and Corridors

Vision 2020 describes a system of interconnected protected natural areas threading through both the rural and urban areas of Hamilton-Wentworth (now the new City of Hamilton). These natural areas are places for wildlife to co-exist with human activities.

The system of natural areas consists of natural core areas, such as, wetlands, forests and other ecologically significant habitats used by local wildlife. These core areas would be inter-linked by stream corridors, farm hedgerows and newly created linear links, with vegetative buffers providing additional protection.

These natural corridors would enable wildlife to move from one geographic area to another. Facilitating the movement of wildlife is important to ensure the interchange of different genetic pools of species and to give larger animals a sufficient geographic area to roam free of harassment while providing enough territory to support the functioning of the other levels of the ecosystem.

"A recreational greenway gives residents access to this system of natural areas."

Improving the Quality of Water Resources

Substances that are discharged into our waters - be they surface or ground water - eventually show up in our water supplies and in the food chains of our natural aquatic ecosystems. Approximately 10% of the region's population relies directly upon wells for drinking water. Maintenance of groundwater resources is of utmost importance for rural residents and for the health of natural communities that require uncontaminated drinking water.

While Lake Ontario is a good source of fresh water, there are significant concerns about the effects of disposing waste water and storm water into Hamilton Harbour, and about the long term effects of the release of contaminants either directly or indirectly into Hamilton Harbour, Lake Ontario and the region's streams, creeks and groundwater.

During the public outreach program the Task Force heard many people express concerns about water pollution, ground water contamination and the state of Hamilton Harbour. People were disappointed about being unable to swim in the Harbour and in Lake Ontario and about the lack of public access to the waterfront. Essentially the views and concerns of the public can be summarized as clean-up the lake, clean-up the harbour, and clean-up the waterfront.