CLOCA, Oshawa restoring local creeks with recycled holiday trees

The Christmas season is the season that’s still giving, at least in Oshawa where the City of and the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (CLOCA) have teamed up to help the environment by turning last year’s holiday trees into building blocks for stream restoration.

Trees collected in January were delivered to CLOCA and are being used to stabilize stream banks, control erosion, collect sediment, and improve overall stream habitat and water quality at the Enniskillen Conservation Area.

This innovative approach falls under the practice of bioengineering, where woody structures crafted from recycled trees are strategically placed to increase the complexity of in-stream habitats for fish and wildlife species. The initiative promotes floodplain connectivity, creating healthier riverscapes and a more resilient local ecosystem.

Although widely used in the USA, ‘post-assisted log structures’ (PALS) are a relatively new concept in Ontario. These low-tech, process-based techniques use locally sourced woody materials such as Christmas trees and untreated wooden posts to create structures that initiate natural processes, allowing streams to repair themselves.

CLOCA uses the PALS technique by strategically placing structures in conservation areas as part of its stream restoration program.

The practice, is however, one that is not recommended to try at home in your nearby  creak as residents are reminded not to dispose of woody materials in streams, as these actions could harm the City’s drainage and pipes.

The City of Oshawa has a network of community parks, wildlife corridors, creeks, and marshes and is internationally recognized for its green spaces and gardens. Learn more about the City’s environmental initiatives.