Wetland Restoration at West Confederation Park
Project update - September 2026
Design and planning work for the West Confederation Wetland Restoration project are continuing. Construction is expected to begin in spring 2027.
The project will restore a historic wetland by improving water movement through the site, re-establishing native wetland vegetation and enhancing wildlife habitat. New pathways, a boardwalk and a viewing area will help visitors experience and learn about this important natural area while protecting sensitive habitat.
This work will support a healthier, more resilient ecosystem for both people and wildlife.
More updates will be shared as the project progresses. The project is funded through the Government of Canada's Natural Infrastructure Fund.
About the Project
We’re restoring a historic, seasonal wetland in the southeast area of West Confederation Park. Over time, development changed how water moved through the area and affected the wetland's natural functions.
This seasonal wetland will play an important role in our city. It will become a valuable habitat for many plants and animals. The wetland will also help purify the water before it recharges local groundwater.
Wetland features
- The wetland will be approximately half a hectare in size, about half the size of a football field.
- This type of wetland will experience seasonal wet and dry periods. During the spring when it’s typically wet and rainy, the water level will be up to ½ metre deep. In the middle of summer, the wetland will become mainly dry.
- Visitors can use the gravel trails, a boardwalk and viewing area to check out aquatic plants and wildlife that live in the wetland.
What you might see
Once established, the wetland will include a variety of native plants and shallow marsh vegetation, including:
- Cattails
- Foxtail and wheatgrass
- Sedges
- Rushes
- Pin cherry
- Willows
The wetland will attract many species of birds and insects, and may potentially include:
- Amphibians: boreal chorus frog, and salamanders
- Insects: dragonflies, damselflies, clam shrimp, and caddis fly
- Birds: sora, yellow-headed blackbird, redwing blackbird, pine siskin, and hawks
- Bats
Photos above from left to right show a dragonfly, yellow-headed blackbird, and a hawk.
Background
Before The City established a Wetland Conservation Plan (2004), it was more common for wetlands, like the one in West Confederation Park, to be drained to accommodate new communities and homes in the area.
Today, as homes and industry are created, we work hard to protect these precious natural areas, or ensure that what is lost is re-created somewhere else. This project is one of the ways we’re fulfilling our ‘no net loss’ principle of the Wetland Conservation Plan.
Previous studies and engagement
In 2015, we gathered community feedback to understand how the park is being used and public opinions about restoring the wetland. Then, we completed a feasibility study in 2017 that included conducting a technical assessment to see if the wetland can be restored.
What we heard from community and park visitors
- More than 200 Calgarians participated in the online and in-person engagement.
- We heard strong support for the project. Participants were excited to restore the wetland and preserve nature in our urban settings.
- Based on the size of the wetland and the fact that it’s already a generally wetter area, people didn’t foresee the wetland interfering with how they use the park; in fact, they thought the wetland might encourage them to visit the park more.
Project timeline
- Detailed design and planning: Ongoing
- Anticipated construction start – Spring 2027
Click to view full size image
Project documents
Frequently asked questions
Why has the project been ongoing since 2015?
Community engagement began in 2015, followed by a feasibility study in 2016. Since then, the project team has been completing the planning, design, funding and regulatory work needed to restore the wetland.
Construction is expected to begin in Spring 2027.
How will the wetland impact the current park amenities?
The wetland will be located within an underutilized area of the park that typically remains wetter than other areas. The feasibility study completed in 2017 concluded the nearby regional pathway will not be impacted by flooding from the wetland in the event of a major rainstorm.
Will this wetland lead to more mosquitoes in the area?
Over the long-term, once the wetland is established and becomes a healthy functioning habitat, it will attract natural mosquito predators like birds and dragon flies that will balance the mosquito population.
In the first few years of the wetland establishing, the number of mosquitoes may increase, but it will balance out over time.
In general, mosquitoes rely on still, standing pools of water. Since the water level in a wetland fluctuates throughout the season based on ground saturation and rain fall levels, the timing of standing water in the wetland will control the population to some extent.
How do wetlands recharge groundwater?
Wetlands recharge groundwater by storing water before releasing it slowly. Wetlands help to recharge local groundwater and prevent downstream flooding. They will trap nutrients and sediments in water. Wetlands will then send cleaner water downstream.
Why is the pond smaller than the original?
While the original wetland was larger, as a result of urban development, existing park amenities and existing underground infrastructure such as a stormwater line, the new wetland will have a slightly smaller footprint (approx. 0.5 hectares).