Hamilton Harbour has been severely degraded by heavy industry, marsh destruction, filling in of the harbour, and urbanization. The two main natural features of the region are Cootes Paradise and the Niagara Escarpment.
Numerous plans are underway which all fit in the category of fish and wildlife habitat restoration.
Rehabilitating Cootes Paradise involves enhancing the existing pike spawning marshes on Grindstone Creek, improving littoral and deep water habitats along the Southwest shore, softening existing hard shores, and creating islands at these 2 sites to provide a sheltered embayment. The construction of park and educational facilities is also under way. Creating islands at these 2 sites will provide a sheltered embayment, erosion protection, shallow water fish habitat, and colonial waterbird nesting and loafing habitats. Underwater habitat construction on the north shore. At the Pier 4 Park located on the Hamilton Waterfront, plans are underway for underwater habitat construction, landscaping, increasing public access, and the possibility of creating an island.