Put Nature First in Rondeau Provincial Park

Patience may be a virtue, but in the case of Rondeau Provincial Park, we’ve waited long enough. For over 60 years, the Government of Ontario has acknowledged the need to phase out private cottages in provincial protected areas, such as Rondeau Provincial Park. And now it’s proposing a three-year extension of the leases while it figures out “an alternative option for the long-term occupation of cottage lots in Rondeau Provincial Park.”

What does “long-term occupation” mean? Rumour has it that the government is contemplating 99-year leases or worse – selling the lots to the cottagers. The government contact at the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks is unwilling to say. But either way, long-term occupation of any sort is bad news for Rondeau and the people of Ontario.

Ontario’s Provincial Parks are dedicated to the people of Ontario. Everyone should have equal access for their inspiration, education, health, recreational enjoyment and other benefits, not just privileged cottagers.

Rondeau is renowned for its exceptional biodiversity which includes rare dune, prairie and savannah ecosystems, a provincially significant wetland, and the largest remaining tract of deciduous forest in Carolinian Canada. These provide habitat for over 80 species at risk, the highest of any Ontario Provincial Park, including prothonotary warbler, Fowler’s toad, five-lined skink, spotted gar and nodding pogonia (one of only two locations in Canada for this endangered wildflower). Over 300 nationally, provincially or locally significant plant species, and over 1,700 insect species – many of which are found in only a few places in Ontario – are also among its inhabitants.

Most of Rondeau’s 282 private cottage lots are located within its nationally rare freshwater dune ecosystems, occupying about 67% of park’s Lake Erie shoreline.

According to government assessments, the private cottages are not only causing harm to species at risk and rare vegetation communities, but are also leading to elevated concentrations of phosphorous and nitrates in groundwater, the release of contaminants in soils and sediments, and erosion. These negative impacts are the result of cottage structures, vegetation removal and mowing, foot paths, road mortality, invasive species introduction, pets (dogs and cats) and more.

The proposal for long-term occupation of the park runs contrary to the guiding management principle for Ontario’s Provincial Parks, which is to maintain ecological integrity and leave them unimpaired for future generations. Private cottages are demonstrably incompatible with this goal. The need to put nature first in this small and extremely biodiverse protected area could not be more obvious.

Speak up for the park’s at-risk wildlife and vulnerable ecosystems

Anne Bell is Ontario Nature's Conservation Policy Advisor. Anne directed Ontario Nature’s conservation and education programs from 2007 to spring 2024 and is currently acting as a part-time advisor prior to her full retirement. She holds a Ph.D. in environmental studies and has over 30 years of experience working as an environmental educator, researcher and advocate. Anne loves to go birding, camping, swimming, cross-country skiing, and to play hockey with family and friends.