By Tom Spears, Ottawa Citizen, March 21, 2017
In celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday, the Citizen is rolling out one fact each day for 150 days until July 1, highlighting the odd, the fascinating and the important bits of Ottawa history you might not know about.
The little NCC conservation area at Mud Lake may be one of the most ecologically diverse spots in Canada. It has more than 640 species of vascular plants (i.e. not counting mosses) and 200 recorded bird species. The secret: A mix of soil types occurring close together support different plants, and these in turn attract different birds and animals. The contrast between the Ottawa River (fast and oxygen-rich) and the still, murky Mud Lake also encourages the growth of very different species of fish and other water organisms.
http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/capital-facts-mud-lake-may-be-one-of-the-most-ecologically-diverse-spots-in-canada