The Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA), together with its partners in the Niagara River Remediation Action Plan (RAP) have announced a major environmental milestone for the Niagara River. The Degradation of Fish and Wildlife Populations Beneficial Use Impairment (BUI) has been officially re-designated from Impaired to Not Impaired for the Canadian side of the Niagara River Area of Concern.
The re-designation was confirmed in December 2025 following approval by federal and provincial representatives and reflects decades of coordinated remediation, monitoring, and restoration efforts.
“This is an exciting and meaningful milestone for the Niagara River, demonstrating what is possible through science, collaboration, and long-term commitment,” said Jessi Nelson, Coordinator for the Niagara River RAP. “While this achievement reflects decades of monitoring and partnership, work continues to improve other issues for the river and sustain these gains for future generations.”
Scientific assessments confirmed that fish and wildlife populations in the Niagara River are healthy, diverse, and comparable to those in neighbouring Great Lakes. Contaminant levels in colonial bird populations were found to be stable or declining and below thresholds associated with population-level effects, indicating that historical contamination is no longer impairing ecosystem health.
The recommendation to change the status of the BUI was informed by engagement conducted between April 2024 and June 2025 with Indigenous communities, government agencies, U.S. partners, and the public, with strong overall support for the re-designation.
While this milestone reflects significant progress, three BUIs remain impaired in the Niagara River (Canadian) Area of Concern. RAP partners will continue working collaboratively toward the goal of removing the Niagara River from the list of Great Lakes Areas of Concern.
A full copy of the assessment report and webinar presentation is available at: https://getinvolved.npca.ca/niagara-river-fish-wildlife
About Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority:
As a community-based natural resource management agency, the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority envisions a healthy and vibrant natural environment with shared greenspace and clean water for all. NPCA’s work supports the conservation, enhancement, and sustainability of healthy watersheds with programs and services that focus on drinking water source protection, flood and hazard management, ecosystem restoration, community stewardship, education, and land management. The NPCA is a key leader in driving the actions toward a healthy Great Lakes ecosystem through its coordination of the Niagara River Remedial Action Plan since 1999.
NPCA is the caretaker of 43 conservation areas within the Niagara Peninsula watershed held in public trust for recreation, heritage preservation, conservation, and education. These natural and shared greenspaces marry nature, culture, and adventure to create limitless opportunities for discovery.
About Niagara River Remedial Action Plan (NRRAP)
The Niagara River Remedial Action Plan initiative brings together various organizations to improve the river’s water quality and ecosystem health through implementing targeted monitoring and/or restoration efforts. The goal of RAP is to improve environmental conditions related to up to 14 indicators (referred to as beneficial use impairments (BUIs)) to remove the Niagara River from the list of Great Lakes’ Areas of Concern.
Media inquiries to be directed to:
Jennifer McQuillan
Communications & Marketing Specialist
Mobile: 905.933.0532
jmcquillan@npca.ca