Hillman Marsh is a designated Provincially Significant Wetland on the east side of the Pelee Peninsula, on Lake Erie. The formerly barrier-protected marsh covers a total area of nearly 1,000 acres providing ecosystem services to the region and critical habitat to endangered species and migratory bird populations. Due to the combined effects of human-induced disruption of coastal processes and increasing climate-related impacts, the barrier beach that once protected Hillman Marsh now features an irreversible breach approximately 500 meters wide. This has resulted in the destruction of habitat, loss of wetland species, impairment of ecosystem services, and has exposed the perimeter dikes surrounding the marsh to waves generated on Lake Erie. These dikes protect more than 2,000 hectares of low-lying agricultural and residential lands from catastrophic coastal flooding. With funding from the Canada Water Agency, the Essex Region Conservation Authority supported by a multi-discipline consulting team have developed an ambitious strategy to restore the Hillman Marsh barrier beach and wetland through a combination of traditional engineering and nature-based approaches. Construction is slated to begin in the second half of 2026. The presentation will explore the history of the site and the development of innovative concepts for the largest barrier beach and coastal wetland restoration project ever initiated on the Canadian side of the Great Lakes.
