Hamilton Harbour lies on the western tip of Lake Ontario, naturally separated by a sand bar. The bay is enclosed by both the city of Burlington and the city of Hamilton. The 7.5-kilometre-long triangle of Hamilton Harbour is full of various attributes making it a desirable location for all who surround it. The bay includes features such as various parks and beaches available for public access. The abundance of greenspace surrounding the bay allows for plenty of recreational activities as well as various restaurants and trails to explore. The waters of the Hamilton Harbour are also seen as a desirable spot for fishing, swimming and transportation. Named the Largest Canadian Port on the Great Lakes, the deep waters of the harbour make it ideal for shipping and receiving. The Hamilton Harbour Port is located within a day's drive of 100 million North American Consumers creating shipping destinations in the Great Lakes and around the Globe (Move Cargo: Hopaports.ca). The Hamilton Harbour also has historical significance as the Harbour was at the centre of the economic and urban growth of Hamilton. The abundance of fish and wildlife resulted in the Harbour being part of the First Nations life for centuries before the arrival of French Explorer Étienne Brûlé in 1616 (About the Bay: Hamiltonharbour.ca). Additionally, it has historical significance as the deep-water harbour as well as the 1854 arrival of the Great Western Railway, resulted in Hamilton being positioned to become an industrial centre. With the historical railway expansion, the requirement of steel led the city's economy to boom as it acquired the title: "Steel City". This then led to ecological issues as the Hamilton Harbour quickly went from beautiful clean waters to being identified as one of the 43 "areas of concern" (AOC) on the Great Lakes in 1987 (Our Harbour: Hamilton.ca). This then led to the Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan (HHRAP) in 1992 as a roadmap to restoring Hamilton Harbour's ecological health in hopes of having the harbour removed from the list of AOCs. Various changes have occurred to the harbour over time beginning with the contamination of the water which resulted from the slow spread of contaminants across the Harbour Floor. This resulted as a consequence of the various industrial processes humans have performed such as coal gasification, petroleum refining, steel making, municipal waste and overland drainage. This has affected the recreational engagement as the swimming and fishing quality decreased due to the contamination of the waters. Several wildlife within the bay were affected as various aquatic creatures were not able to survive and various land animals such as birds disappeared. Over the years as citizens partook in projects to improve the water quality all activities and wildlife were restored as long vanished fish and bird species have returned and public swimming is made possible again. The role of humans was key to enhancing the attributes of the Hamilton Harbour and creating a clean, safe environment as was once before.

Municipality: Hamilton

Local area name: Hamilton Harbour

Other identifying names or descriptions: Steel City

Latitude and longitude: 43° 17' 21.35" N, -79° 50' 7.74" W

Physical Dimensions

Length: 7.5km

Width: unknown

Surface Area: 21.5 km²

Elevation:

The beautiful Hamilton Harbour is a large (21.5 km²) protected harbour located on the western end of Lake Ontario, naturally separated by a sand bar and joined to Cootes Paradise by a narrow channel. The Bay has a minimum elevation of 73m and a maximum elevation of 180m with an average elevation of 85m. The latitude is 43° whereas the longitude is -79°. Bounded by the City of Burlington on the northwest end and by the City of Hamilton on the south end, the 7.5-kilometre-long triangle harbour is highly accessible and enjoyed by many.

The Bay was first discovered and written about by LaSalle in 1669 and then was known as Lake Macassa (Smith, 2012). The early name given by aboriginals meant "beautiful waters" which is an accurate description for the area. Since this time, the Bay has been labeled various names including Onilquiton, Lake Washquarter, Lake Geneva, and Little Lake. It was not until 1972, where Governor Simcoe officially changed the name to Burlington Bay and today, we know the waters as Hamilton Harbour (Smith, 2012). Like all freshwater ecosystems, the Hamilton Harbour does not exist in isolation, but is inherently connected to a variety of surrounding land-uses that influence functions within the system.

Over the years, the Harbour has balanced industrial use and community engagement. While named the largest Canadian Port on the Great Lakes, the deep waters of the harbour served as an ideal place for shipping and receiving. While moving cargo was significant the abundance of green space surround the harbour also made it great for community engagement with various parks and trails to explore. While the deep waters were ideal for transportation they also served as a desirable spot for fishing and swimming bringing communities together. The harbour has also grown into a blooming recreational destination, attracting thousands each year to the waterfront for festivals, sporting activities, hiking, bird watching and sightseeing.

Map 1: This satellite google map shows the location of Hamilton Harbour in Hamilton. As visible in the map the Hamilton Harbour covers a large amount of space and is surrounded by various parks, communities and an industrial area.

Valued as a natural Harbour, the Bay has a very large and diverse biota. From the time it was discovered it was a lush natural area abounding in fish, waterfowl, and birds (Smith, 2012). This was often very beneficial to the Natives at the time as they had large campsites on the Bay for trading purposes and took advantage of the ample amount of recourses. In addition to the wildlife itself, a forest of oak and pine stretched along the north shore of the bay and, marshy wetlands lay on the Bay's edge (Smith 2012). With the expansion of the industry, an evident threat to plants and animal species brought upon a decrease in the Bay's Biota.

Animal Species:

When looking back, historically the Hamilton Harbour provided some of the best fishing habitat in the great lakes (Smokorowski et al., 1998). The cold-water fishery was dominated by lake trout, whitefish and lake herring (Holmes and Whillans, 1984). The marshland and Cootes Paradise, were ideal for spawning, nursing and providing a habitat for a diverse group of fish including pike, bass, yellow perch, sunfish, muskellunge, walleye, drum, burbot, channel catfish, and brown bullhead. With an evident abundance of fish, in 1900 the Harbours fishery actually accounted for 15% of Lake Ontario's total commercial catch (Smokorowski et al., 1998). Providing an idealistic habitat for aquatic animals, the Hamilton Harbour has been home to millions of fish.

In addition to aquatic species, various birds are spotted surrounding the Hamilton Harbour. In fact, in the 1990s, Hamilton Harbour has become one of the most important colonial waterbird nesting areas in the Great Lakes basin (Blokpoel and Tessier 1991). The Harbour has been known for providing a nesting habitat for several birds including; cormorants, black-crowned night-herons, herring gulls, ring-billed gulls, common terns, and Caspian terns (Ewins et al.,1996). Three of these species have special concern as they have become endangered and threatened.

Human Integration:

With a change of conditions over time, the biota of the Hamilton Harbour has been affected by endangering the various wildlife surrounding it. With the expansion and development of population and industrialization, water conditions as well as shoreline habitats have been altered disrupting various living organisms. By 1988, Hamilton Harbour was labeled one of the most severely degraded ecosystems in the Great Lakes (COA, 1992). This resulted from various human activities which led to inputs of treated and untreated sewage from municipalities, industrial waste, and urban runoff. This resulted in extreme cultural eutrophication, siltation, highly contaminated sediments, and to a lesser degree, contaminated water (Smokorowski et al., 1998). Hough (2004), emphasizes the importance of vegetation to filter dust, reduce temperatures and absorb a variety of chemical pollutants. Therefore, the vegetation within and around the harbour play a large role in contributing to keeping the waters clean and contamination free. The contamination of the harbour further resulted in aquatic animals to shift from the traditional desirable native species including pike, bass, muskellunge, and walleye to one dominated by species who are more tolerant of degraded conditions including exotics such as carp and white perch (Holmes, 1988). Evidently, over time changes have occurred threatening several aquatic species as a result of various human activities.

Plant Species:

With many visits and much research, it is evident plant species consist of herbaceous vegetation such as celandines, mustards, and nettles. Several other aquatic plants can be spotted in and around the harbour which produce cover for fish, produce oxygen and act as food for some fish and wildlife. As Hough (2004) reinforces that plants are the basis for life on earth, they produce all the oxygen in the earth's atmosphere along with food and habitat through photosynthesis that supports all living creatures. There is a large array of oak and pine trees surrounding the bay which also produce oxygen. Forest cover benefit streams by reducing the runoff rate therefore reducing erosion encouraging recharge to groundwater (Bowlby, McCormack, and Heaton, 2009). There has been a large amount of biotic changes over the years although Hamilton Harbour is still home to a large amount of plants and animals.

The Hamilton harbour, created during the last glacial period, is strategically located at the western tip of Lake Ontario in the center of the St. Lawrence Seaway System. Its watershed covers an area of 500 square km, contained by a shoreline measuring 45 km in length (Port of Hamilton, 2012). Several events have taken place which have resulted in the bay at the end of the lake. The results of five separate periods of construction may be seen in the topography of the area at the head of the lake (Ozanian, 1957). Streams eroded rocks and were the dominant geomorphic agents in the area, there was also erosion and deposition by proglacial lakes. Lake Ontario was also a large agent in forming the bay into what is it today as it caused the bay to go through deposition and erosion. In the shallow areas of the harbour sand, mud and shells are accumulated, some of these sand and gravel particles were also carried by winds and the particles were deposited where they built up and formed a bar on the surface (Ozanian, 1957). The soils of the Hamilton Harbour watershed are predominantly loams, sandy loams, and silty loams (Long et al., 2014).

One of the few major human induced changes that have occurred to the landscape included the plowing of soil during the construction of the canal and the grading and leveling around the canal. Degradation was also a human induced change as areas which were reclaimed were shallow and degradation was necessary in order to allow for large ships to enter the harbour and dock (Ozanian, 1957). It is evident there are several natural and human induced changes which have resulted in our present-day harbour.

Hamilton Harbour is surrounded by a variety of man-modified land units. With the development of various factories and other miscellaneous developments, soil sealing was required to allow for further development. The layering of impermeable materials, such as concrete, to cover soils for development is known as soil sealing. As Wessolek (2008) explains, the process of soil sealing is known to have effects on the natural water cycle, generally reduces evapotranspiration and increases and accelerates surface runoff. As a result, frequent concentration of rainwater into unsealed and partly sealed areas, often causes highly pollutant concentrations in the topsoil which later flow into the water cycle, thus contaminating it.

Hamilton Harbour is a large protected harbour located on the western end of Lake Ontario, naturally separated by a sand bar and joined to Cootes Paradise by a narrow channel. The Hamilton Harbour is linked to two major Great Lakes shipping routes including the Welland Canal and the St. Lawrence River. The streams, ponds, lakes and wetlands comprise the surface water resources in the Hamilton Harbour watershed, and include Northshore tributaries, Grindstone Creek, Spencer Creek, Red Hill Creek, Lake Medad, Valens Reservoir, Christie Reservoir, Beverly Swamp, Cootes Paradise, and Hamilton Harbour (Bowlby et al., 2009). Overtime, as development furthered it became evident the deep waters of the harbour were essential in commercial development. The original large natural sandbar restricted boat traffic among the lake and harbour restricting access to only small vessels. In 1823, there was a granted approval for the construction of a canal that would allow ships to access the harbour from Lake Ontario (Port of Hamilton, 2012). Eight years later in 1832 the canal was completed and opened which was a result of human induced changes. Furthermore, with more expansion and a rapidly developing community the canal entrance into the harbour was widened and dredged to 23 feet in 1972 in order to accommodate the larger ships expected to arrive after the opening of the Welland Canal (Port of Hamilton, 2012). Evidently, although the natural harbour was viewed as an optimal spot to further development, the rapid expansions resulted in required human induced changes to allow the harbour to continue to thrive and reach the needs of the community. While focusing on meeting the needs of the rapid expansion, the natural capacity of the harbour was neglected. The neglection of the water quality is problematic as Alberti (2008) emphasizes the importance of the water cycle as it plays an essential role in the functioning of ecosystems by integrating the complex physical, chemical, and biological processes that sustain life. Water is a key factor in determining the productivity of ecosystems, species composition, and biodiversity. Therefore, the contamination of the Hamilton harbour put a big toll on the ecosystems, species and biodiversity within the harbour.

This then led to ecological issues as the Hamilton Harbour quickly went from beautiful clean waters to being identified as one of the 43 "areas of concern" (AOC) on the Great Lakes in 1987 (Our Harbour: Hamilton.ca). This then led to the Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan (HHRAP) in 1992 as a roadmap to restoring Hamilton Harbour's ecological health in hopes of having the harbour removed from the list of AOCs. Various changes have occurred to the harbour over time beginning with the contamination of the water which resulted from the slow spread of contaminants across the Harbour Floor. With the skyrocketing economic development several damages came upon the natural harbour. Various industrial processes humans have performed such as coal gasification, petroleum refining, steel making, municipal waste and overland drainage are responsible for a large contribution to the damage. With water contamination, fish populations declined and soon the south shore of Hamilton Harbour became unrecognizable (About the Bay). Canals and infill eliminated more than two thirds of the original wetlands, protected inlets, and shallow areas (About the Bay). This brought about a large amount of stress on the Hydrogeology of the Harbour and resulted in various natural and human induced changes. This further effected various recreational activities as swimming and fishing were no longer as desirable until the water quality was restored several years later. The water within the harbour has been through a lot over the years but still manages to impress everyone with its beauty and serves several roles.

The Hamilton-Burlington area is situated within the Niagara Fruit Belt Climatic Region, which is one the warmest regions in Ontario (Brown, McKay, and Chapman, 1980). The climate in parts of Southern Canada reflects a continental climate and is greatly impacted by the proximity of the Great Lakes. Specifically, the climate of the Hamilton Harbour is impacted by its location in terms of latitude and longitude and its proximity to Lake Ontario.

In terms of microclimate, the topography of the area and the influence of human settlement are extremely important. All of the principle components of climate including solar radiation, wind, precipitation and temperature are all influenced by the landscape (Hough, 2004). A key control of climate in the local landscape is the presence of water. Large bodies of water have a moderating effect on temperature. Having a high heat capacity, water can absorb a lot of thermal energy and maintain it, resulting in less drastic changes in temperatures. Therefore, large bodies of water heat up and cool down more slowly than adjacent land masses. Additionally, because there are two large bodies of water, the process of evapotranspiration will be more significant, because water converts solar energy into latent heat, reducing air temperatures (Hough, 2004).

The Niagara Escarpment serves as a natural divide between two microclimate zones in the watershed (Bowlby, McCormack, and Heaton, 2009). Areas above the escarpment tend to be cooler and moister, whereas the drier and warmer region is below (Bowlby et al., 2009). Evidently, the areas below the escarpment are influenced by the lake effect as Lake Ontario has a moderating effect resulting in the lower watershed being cooler in the simmer and warmer in the winter. North-facing slopes experience less intense solar radiation and cold air drainage off the escarpment plateau (Jalava et al., 2010). The average annual precipitation in the watershed of the Hamilton Harbour is approximately 760mm (Bowlby et al., 2009). When comparing the microclimate around the harbour to more inland, it is evident around the harbour the microclimate would be more dense, moist and windy as a result of the close proximity to such a large body of water. As opposed to inland which would reflect a drier and colder microclimate due to the absence of a body of water which regulates temperatures and releases moisture. As water has the ability to store heat for longer periods of time it is clear temperatures would be higher surrounding the harbour in comparison to further inland. Within Hough (2004), it is stated that, wind affects temperatures, evaporation, the rate of moisture loss and transportation, from vegetation and drifting snow; all of which are particularity important to local micro-climate conditions. With this in mind it is evident the harbour has an effect on the climate as the large body of water produces evaporation and moisture loss which alters the microclimate surrounding the harbour.

Human settlement can also influence micro-climate conditions. Whether situated in a rural or urban area plays a key role in the influence of the micro-climate. While urban areas contain a higher presence of concrete surfaces which are dark and absorb thermal energy, rural areas are filled with more vegetation which absorb less heat. While the harbour is near two large cities being Hamilton and Burlington there is a lot of concrete surfaces which absorb and store thermal energy therefore the temperatures can be slightly higher but still moderated by the proximity of the water. As Hough (2004) explains it, in big cities this is known as the urban heat island effect. With the constant development surrounding the harbour, humans are seen to contribute to the urban heat island over time thus influencing the microclimate over time.

Archaeological influences:

The Hamilton Habour was part of First Nations life for centuries before the arrival of French explorer Étienne Brûlé in 1616 (Our Harbour). Seen as an appealing location, the harbour has been of significance for a very long time. Lake Ontario, near the Hamilton harbour was established as an area of the French fur trade (Hamilton). European settlement to the Harbour area began in about 1785, with the arrival of United Empire Loyalists fleeing the American Revolution south of the border (Port of Hamilton, 2012). By 1815, the area has inspired permanent European settlement and from this moment more and more settlers came and called Hamilton Harbour home. George Hamilton then went on to establish a village which was known as Barton Township, where he was successful in 1833 after the opening of the Canal which connected Hamilton Harbour to Lake Ontario (Our Harbour).

Land use history:

There are several different uses of the land in the Hamilton Harbour. When the harbour was first recognized by early settlers the land was viewed as a unique environment that could provide enjoyment for residents and serve practical needs through the use of the water for transportation and industrial purposes. Moving forward there were several different ways the land was utilized. The majority of the Hamilton Harbour watershed is designated to agricultural use. Where Urban areas account for around 30% of the watershed's land use (Bowlby et al., 2009). The Hamilton Harbour waterway is also used for the movement of raw materials between the connecting lakes. The Bay is also a reservoir from which water may be drawn to use in various industrial processes and also where various liquid wastes are disposed. This has influenced the harbour over time as it has resulted in overuse of the harbour leading to contamination of the waters. This became problematic as it effected the various living organisms in the harbour and became problematic to the environment. Since 2002, the land of the Hamilton waterfront has evolved to include a greater proportion of public space. Pier 8 now includes popular attractions like the waterfront skating rink and cafes (Land use plan). As time went on, several developments were expanded and updated to meet the needs of the growing population.

Education / Interpretation:

A significant educational resource available which educates on the Hamilton Harbour is the The Ontario Workers Arts and Heritage Centre (OWAHC). An exhibit called "The People and the Bay: A Popular History of Hamilton Harbour", focuses on the history of the early days of European settlement through to the present day. This exhibit introduces visitors to the historical themes and issues relating to an important element in Hamilton's development (Mercier, 1998). The museum looks into the various histories of Hamilton Harbour including urban, environmental, social, industrial/labour and economic. Additionally, going in depth on the uses of the Harbour from the early days of European settlement through to the present day, this exhibit introduces visitors to the historical themes and issues relating to an important element in Hamilton's development (Mercier, 1998). The Museum utilized a variety of sources for educational purposes including archival photographs and records, local government records, reports and newspaper clippings, and even interviews with local residents, about their memories of Hamilton Harbour. This museum is located on Stuart Street in Hamilton and plays a big role in educating individuals on the past and present of the Hamilton Harbour.

Architectural Heritage:

The Hamilton Harbour has had several built environments and buildings overtime. With the large industrial expansions, there is a wide range of industries situated on the Harbour. Tenants surrounding the harbour typically fall in one of the several categories including agricultural food, bulk storage, liquid bulk, manufacturing, warehouses, business and commercial (Land use plan). Evidently, there has been a built environment of industry surrounding the harbour where several buildings were built in order to support the developing industry. The city's older industries are clustered along the waterfront and Canadian National Railway tracks (Hamilton). Evidently, since the discovery of the harbour several buildings were developed over time in order to support the industrial environment surrounding the harbour. The early rapid expansion and development of the harbour supports Baeker and Hanna (2009) when stated that the old assumption in economic development was that people follow business and investment. When business was booming around the harbour, it drew the attention of others and made it a desirable location which further expanded.

Recreational Uses:

The large coverage of the harbour results in various recreational uses. One fairly new recreational activity includes the HamBur loop, which extends the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail which is a 50km loop connecting Hamilton and Burlington around the harbour. The waters of the harbour are also used for recreation use as individuals swim, fish and boat on these waters. There are also various beaches and parks surround the harbour which are used recreationally. Bay Front Park is a great example of recreation around the harbour as it has a walking trail, a beach area and a boat dock. This is a great area to enjoy the beauty of the harbour while enjoying leisure time. These areas are controlled by jurisdictional authority as they are formal, marked and maintained. Pier 8 of the Hamilton harbour also has lots of recreational activities ranging from an outdoor rink, bike rentals, boat tours, and several cafes and restaurants. Each pier holds a variety of recreational activities including trails, parks and playgrounds where individuals of all ages can find something to enjoy. There are also clubs such as the Royal Hamilton Yacht Club, Leander Boat Club, Hamilton Power Boat Association and the Good Times Fishing Club which also provide recreational activities on the Hamilton Harbour (Ozanian, 1957). Overall, there is a wide range of activities to enjoy in and around the Hamilton Harbour.

The land that I am studying is controlled by the municipal government of Hamilton and is publicly accessible. Land ownership has definitely altered the way this landscape looks today because of the projects put in place on behalf of the municipal government to repair and protect the harbour. The government was essential in funding the Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan (HHRAP) in 1992 which was a necessary program to enhance water quality and natural habitat of the harbour (Hamilton). It is evident the ownership has influenced the harbour as it helps keep the harbour clean and ensures water quality. The Hamilton harbour is protected under the Hamilton Watershed Stewardship Program (HWSP) which strives to protect, enhance and restore environmentally significant natural areas, watercourses and drinking water sources in the Hamilton watersheds (About HWSP). The Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan (HHRAP) recommends that citizens in urban and rural areas of the Hamilton Harbour and its watershed take responsibility for restoring and maintaining the quality of the environment in which they live. This is the foundation upon which the Bay Area Restoration Council (BARC) initiated the Hamilton Harbour Watershed Stewardship Project together with the Hamilton Conservation Authority and Conservation Halton in 1994. This also has an impact on the harbour as it ensures the harbour meets water quality needs and there is precautions taken to ensure water quality is maintained.

As Alberti (2008) describes, landscape connectivity is the degree to which the landscape enables the flow of resources or the movement of organisms between resource patches. Evidently, connectivity was a vital part of the harbours development as there was a lot of movement between various areas using the different connections which linked to the Hamilton harbour. The Hamilton Harbour does not exist in isolation, it is linked to two major Great Lakes shipping routes including the Welland Canal and the St. Lawrence River. Several streams, ponds, lakes and wetlands comprise the surface water resources in the Hamilton Harbour watershed, and include Northshore tributaries, Grindstone Creek, Spencer Creek, Red Hill Creek, Lake Medad, Valens Reservoir, Christie Reservoir, Beverly Swamp, Cootes Paradise, and Hamilton Harbour (Bowlby et al., 2009). These connections have an influence on the harbour as they allow for the transportation of goods. With so many important connections, the harbour had and has the ability to further its rapidly growing industrial development. Additionally, the arrival of the Great Western Railway in 1954 provided a link between Hamilton with Niagara Falls and Windsor which resulted in further commercial growth (Port of Hamilton, 2012). There are several connections which are seen as key to the development of the harbour. The several connections have made the harbour very appealing and have been very important in the development of the Hamilton Harbour

For more information about the Hamilton Harbour please contact:

Hamilton City Hall

71 Main Street West

Hamilton, Ontario L8P 4Y5

City Hall Hours: Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Website: https://www.hamilton.ca/city-hall

Phone: 905-546-2489

Email: askCITY@hamilton.ca

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Szeliga, K. (2020) View from Hamilton Harbour [Photograph]. Source. JPEG file.

Szeliga, K. (2020) Shoreline of Hamilton Harbour [Photograph]. Source. JPEG file.

Szeliga, K. (2020) Fish in the Hamilton Harbour [Photograph]. Source. JPEG file.

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This Local Landscape Report was prepared by Kasia Szeliga for the Brock University course TMGT 2P94: Human Dominated Ecosystems on November 7, 2020.

All copyrights for cited material rest with the original copyright owners.