Eurasian Marsh Renovations   It's impossible to miss the big changes happening in the Eurasian Marsh area at the west end of the island.  Unfortunately, many of the old poplars and cottonwoods on the island are in the last stages of their lives and some have been deemed to be potentially hazardous.  Regular assessments have been conducted each year to check the health of the trees; regular maintenance by our garden staff and contracted arborists has kept these trees going as long as possible.

These considerations, along with the need for a major upgrade to the Eurasian Marsh area to create a healthier habitat for the waterfowl, have lead to the dramatic changes to the landscape that you now see and resulted in the difficult decision to remove many large old trees in this area.  It is often with some sadness that we let go of the past, but we hope that you will embrace this beautiful new tranquil park that will be home to many waterfowl and a peaceful oasis at the west end of the island. 

The new Eurasian Marsh will be a beautiful park setting with new trees, including pines and flowering specimens, shrubs, cattails and grasses to enhance the updated lagoon.  Expanding the pond and opening up the area will allow the cattails and other marginal plants to act as biofilters that will improve water quality before storm water and runoff enters the Bow River.  Other features of the new Eurasian Marsh will include pathways, decorative bridges, a waterfall, two feeding stations and direct access to the marsh lagoon edge to further enhance the visitors' experience.  

Trees that were removed have been recycled as woodchips in shrub beds and animal exhibits.  Large logs were cut and will be used as enrichment 'furniture' for many of the zoo's animal exhibits, such as elephants, hippos and giraffes.  Willow and poplar branches were fed as browse to a number of the animals and several long lengths of trees were reserved to be used for replacing edges of the prehistoric park bridges.