Leslie Street Spit (11350)
Canada, North America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2022
National site name: Leslie Street Spit
Central coordinates: Latitude: 43.6600, Longitude: -79.3400
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 75 to 80
Area of KBA (km2): 10.83961
Protected area coverage (%): 32.60
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Leslie Street Spit extends from the Toronto shoreline about 5 km southwest into Lake Ontario. It is located immediately to the east of the Toronto Islands and Harbour. It is a human-made feature that includes both Tommy Thompson Park and the Endikement Area. Tommy Thompson Park consists of a main road and four peninsulas that were constructed from dredge spoil between 1972 and 1975. Construction of the Endikement Area began in 1980 and is continuing. The three cells, which are closed to the public, store contaminated dredge from the Toronto Inner Harbour. Much of Tommy Thompson is now covered with dense thickets of cottonwoods and willows that support an impressive number of Black-crowned Night Heron nests.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: Leslie Street Spit was initially identified as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area. Recent analysis shows that this site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of global significance for two aggregating bird species (Double-crested Cormorant and Ring-billed Gull). In addition to global significant bird species, this site also supports nationally significant populations of one canadian threatened bird species (Chimney Swift) and two aggregating bird species (Little Gull and Red-breasted Merganser).
Manageability of the site: Leslie Street Spit currently does not intersect or contain any protected areas.
Delineation rationale: The Leslie Street Spit extends from the Toronto shoreline about 5 km southwest into Lake Ontario. It is a human-made feature that includes both Tommy Thompson Park and the Endikement Area.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 4 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 24 | |
| Other | 10 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 10 | |
| Forest | 2 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Ongoing | |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Problematic native species/diseases | Ongoing | |
| Natural system modifications | Other ecosystem modifications | Ongoing | |
| Other options | Other threat | Ongoing | |
| Pollution | Ongoing |