Celebrating the Restoration of the MacEwan Pond
It has taken years of planning, research, cooperation, and financial support to revitalize the MacEwan Pond, and we marked the official re-opening of the pond on Tuesday, May 27.
The event featured remarks from Mississauga Mayor, Carolyn Parrish; Ward 6 Councillor, Joe Horneck; The Riverwood Conservancy’s Executive Director, Sara Wilbur-Collins; Program Director, Derek Stone; and Board Chair, Peeter Poldre.
The frogs, birds, and turtles we spotted at the event seem to be loving the restored natural space, and we hope you will too! Ahead of your next visit to this revitalized area, here’s a little bit of the backstory on the MacEwan Pond.
The problems that plagued the MacEwan Pond
Prior to 2010, the pond had standing water, a mix of vegetation, and a high level of wildlife interactions. Deer would drink from the water’s edge, turtles could be found basking on logs, and swallows would flit along the surface looking for insects spawning in the pond.
In 2011, an invasive species called phragmites (Phragmites Australis) first appeared in the pond, and very quickly grew from a size of approximately 50 stalks to an entire population that took over the majority of the pond, crowding out native vegetation, and making the space inhospitable to wildlife.
How the pond’s challenges were addressed
Beginning in 2014, The Riverwood Conservancy, the City of Mississauga, and Credit Valley Conservation began project planning to remove the invasive phragmites and restore the pond. That year, volunteers from The Riverwood Conservancy began manual phragmites removal and spread prevention, which was successful in managing smaller spreading patches, but the larger core population remained a problem.
The project evolved with additional studies and work in the pond, and eventually herbicide treatments were utilized to control the phragmites. Following the successful removal of the phragmites, the project turned to revitalization plans for the surrounding area, including changes to accessible infrastructure, the creation of the boardwalk, and hydrological adjustments. The project was completed in Fall 2024.
Where the pond stands now
Through conservation efforts, the phragmites population now makes up a very small percentage of the pond’s vegetation. The depth of the pond has increased by a maximum of 16 cm, and wildlife like green frogs, turtles, and dragonflies have returned to the area. Herons and ducks now inhabit the pond, and additional vegetation now grows around the borders of the pond. Although cattails are the prominent plant on site, more native plants continue to retake ground around the pond.
What comes next for the MacEwan Pond
The Riverwood Conservancy’s conservation work in and around the pond is ongoing. Our staff and volunteers manually remove remaining phragmites and continue to assess the pond’s wildlife to ensure appropriate habitat features are present, and that any at-risk species or species of special concern are documented. We also continue to monitor general vegetation growth to see where supplementary plantings and management may be needed.
The new boardwalk and accessible walkway allow park visitors and program participants to engage directly with the pond. In particular, school groups and special needs participants can now take part in meaningful wetland education experiences in accessible, inviting, and up-close ways. We’re thrilled to see how visitors to Riverwood enjoy this revitalized space.
We’re incredibly grateful for our project partners at the City of Mississauga and Credit Valley Conservation, along with the hundreds of volunteers who helped bring the vision of a restored MacEwan Pond to life!