What is Randle Reef?

What is Randle Reef?

Located in the southwest corner of Hamilton Harbour on Lake Ontario, Randle Reef is the largest contaminated sediment site on the Canadian side of the Great Lakes.

What was the sediment at Randle Reef contaminated with?

The sediment at the Randle Reef site is contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals. Even the addition of hydrocarbon-eating microorganisms into the water, which naturally helped along BP’s Gulf of Mexico oil spill clean-up, couldn’t break down the persistent compounds.

How does pollution affect the health of coral reefs?

Many of these issues are made worse because of the geographic and climatic characteristics found in tropical island areas. Together they create unique management challenges. As human population and development expands in coastal areas, the landscape is altered, increasing land-based source of pollution and threatening coral reef health.

How big is the spill at Randle Reef?

The 60-hectare blob at Randle Reef is a so-called “spill in slow motion,” releasing cancer-causing chemicals into the water and creating an ecological dead zone. But a solution is in the works.

Why is Randle Reef important to Hamilton Harbour?

Cleaning up Randle Reef is one of the most significant steps remaining to remediate Hamilton Harbour and remove it from the list of Areas of Concern. The project will reduce the amount and spread of contaminants through the Harbour, significantly improving water quality and fish and wildlife habitat.