Your Christmas tree may be shining brightly now, but have you ever wondered where your tree ends up after it goes curbside in the new year? Did you know it could contribute to a water quality and habitat improvement project right here in Hamilton?
HCA stewardship staff received discarded Christmas trees with the help of the City of Hamilton. In August, HCA staff partnered with the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club (HNC) and Nature @ McMaster to use these old Christmas trees to improve an HNC property in Ancaster Creek, a subwatershed of Spencer Creek.
Previous Ancaster Creek Restoration Efforts
Restoration work on this property began in 2018, and it has since shown signs of positive change. The stream now flows in a more natural meandering way, instead of being unnaturally straight. Materials at the bottom of the stream are showing signs of improvement, too. Pebbles, stones, and sand are now layering the stream bottom, creating a better spawning habitat, rather than silt and sediment.
2025 Restoration Efforts
Ancaster Creek restoration work continues, and for this year’s efforts, staff first monitored the stream and took a sampling of the fish. In total, 86 fish were recorded, including Rainbow Trout, Western Blacknose Dace, Longnose Dace, Creek Chub, Green Sunfish, and Largemouth Bass.
The erosion control and habitat structures we installed at this site are part of an ongoing effort to restore Ancaster Creek below the escarpment in Ancaster. HCA stewardship staff work with landowners who have the creek coursing through their property and are willing to partner with us on improvements. Using the recycled Christmas trees, structures were secured to the banks with biodegradable materials like wooden stakes and twine. This technique is called a brush bundle or a cabled debris jam. These features help protect the stream banks, reduce erosion, and provide shelter for fish and other aquatic species.
These structures will help mitigate the effects of urban runoff, enhance in-stream habitat, and assist the stream to naturally regrade its banks. This work could not have been completed without these collaborative efforts, and we hope to keep up the momentum on rehabilitating streams in our community and make a healthy watershed for all to enjoy.
Looking Ahead to 2026!
Thanks to the City of Hamilton, we have already been able to secure two truckloads of Christmas trees in Januray 2026. HCA will be installing them next year at a restoration site in Fletcher Creek. This project will enhance resident Brook Trout habitat while also improving water quality by decreasing temperatures and increasing the effective movement of sediments through the system.
The trees will be arriving in early January to Valens Lake Conservation Area, where they’ll stay until application in mid-July until mid-September.
Who knows? Perhaps your Christmas tree will end up at our restoration site in 2026… stay tuned!
