West Carleton Environmental Centre

About the Program
WM's West Carleton Environmental Centre serves the city of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and is situated on 380 acres. The site consists of 20 acres of wetland, which includes a surface water pond, two sediment ponds, wooded areas, a grassy berm and sand pit. The area is rich in wetland vegetation, and ponds provide food, water and shelter for various animal species, including painted turtles, a variety of butterfly species and resident and migratory birds. A team of employees actively manages conservation projects on-site through monthly planning meetings, on-the-ground monitoring and the construction and installation of new structures. WM aspires to enhance the natural beauty of the site and return some of the land to its natural state while attracting and supporting native wildlife.

Practices and Impacts

• The painted turtle is the most widespread native turtle in North America. The team installed sunning logs and basking rocks for painted turtles and their offspring. Every month, the team monitors for the turtles and evaluates which types of basking structures the turtle population prefers. To ensure a safe environment for the turtles, the team also placed turtle crossing signs on-site, and they perform a morning walk observing for turtles crossing roads. Next steps include providing a turtle nesting area on-site.
• The team has planted three wildflower gardens totaling 1,450 square feet to support the habitat needs of pollinators like monarch butterflies and bumblebees. Species planted include milkweed, bee balm and cone flower. The team also added bee hotels and bird baths to attract pollinators. The team monitors the gardens for bloom times and pollinator use. Species observed include monarch caterpillars, swallowtail butterflies and carpenter bees.  
• The team constructed nesting tubes, bird boxes and raptor nest platforms to enhance nesting habitat for over 20 avian species that have been observed on-site. They also planted fruiting trees, sunflowers and nectar-producing flowers to supply a variety of food sources for the birds. 
• WM partners with local schools and environmental interest groups, as well as Ducks Unlimited, Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority, Aecon and Brinkman.