It is with mixed emotions that I present to you the current special issue: State of Hamilton Harbour ecosystem: Health, remediation and restoration. Though I am pleased to offer a comprehensive assessment of Hamilton Harbour, an embayment of Lake Ontario with a reputation of being polluted, Hamilton Harbour is not just the focus of our research activities, it is also where we choose to work, live and raise our families: it is our home. This personal and professional connection is apparent throughout this special issue.
Hamilton Harbour covers 21 km2 on the western end of Lake Ontario with a maximum depth of 24 m. The harbour has a long history of contamination from urban and industrial growth dating back to the 1800s. It is a physically disturbed and highly variable ecosystem due to the hydraulic exchange with Lake Ontario and frequent navigation by large vessels (Harris et al.,...
