Shorewood Promenade Shoreline Rehabilitation

The Town of Oakville is undertaking stabilization work along Shorewood Promenade to ensure long-term shoreline protection.

Shoreline protection

From 2017 to 2019, high water levels in Oakville caused significant erosion at Shorewood Promenade, making it a high priority for shore protection. This area, a 10-meter high and 100-meter-long eroding bluff, is also home to about 600 Bank Swallows which visit the bluff every year to nest during their breeding season.  

Shoreline protection will include building a reinforced armour stone wall at the base of the bluff to protect the shore from further erosion, while preserving the upper bluff where the Bank Swallows’ nest.

Icon of a bird.

Bank Swallows: A threatened species

These small birds, now classified as "threatened," nest in sand banks. Their population is decreasing due to factors like habitat loss, flooding, erosion, and fewer insects to feed on. 

Learn more about Bank Swallows on the Government of Ontario's website.

Conservation efforts

The Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) requires that the project include measures to provide overall benefit to the species. Planned actions include work at South Shell Park to create an artificial habitat wall and restoring a hectare of wetland within Oakville, where the birds are known to roost and forage.

Learn more about the artificial habitat being built as part of the South Shell Park Shoreline Rehabilitation project.

Construction timeline and impact

As of November 15, shoreline restoration at Shorewood Promenade has been completed, and construction has concluded.

Construction began in early September 2024, after the end of Bank Swallow breeding season.

Background

The town completed the Shorewood Promenade Shoreline Rehabilitation Study to assess the problem of shoreline erosion and evaluate alternatives to reduce risk to public and private property. 

The recommended solution to reduce erosion risk within the study area includes construction of an armour stone revetment to protect the toe of the natural bluff. The recommended solution addresses the long-term sustainability of the shoreline and considers such factors as lake levels, wave events, ecological function, tableland uses and impacts on adjacent shoreline sites.

Contact

For more information, contact: 

Diana Michalakos
Project Leader, Capital Projects
diana.michalakos@oakville.ca

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