Hillman Marsh is a designated Provincially Significant Wetland. Historically, the marsh was a thriving ecological system providing critical habitat to aquatic endangered species and numerous migratory bird populations, while providing ecosystem services such as water quality benefits. However, cumulative stresses from human development and climate change, particularly rising lake levels, have severely threatened its ecological value.

DHI has partnered with SJL Engineering Inc. and the Essex Region Conservation Authority to restore the critically endangered Hillman Marsh ecosystem on Lake Erie, leveraging MIKE Powered by DHI technology to design nature-based solutions. In September 2024, DHI’s team in Canada commenced this multi-year project with a comprehensive field campaign, deploying wave monitoring, streamflow and water level monitoring instrumentation within the marsh.

The project’s overall objective is to create a restored marsh environment with protection from lake waves and storm surge. This initiative is supported by grant funding from Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) under the Great Lakes Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative (GLFEI).