In 2007 and 2012, when there was low water level in Lake Ontario and a favorable wind, all the water was pushed out of Cootes Paradise and the remaining carp swam out into Hamilton Harbour. RBG staff removed the fish gates and herded out the last of the carp, and then replaced the gates. Since then the wetland has been relatively carp free. In the absence of these large destructive bottom feeders there is a gradual return natural native plant species populations. Record high water levels in 2017 and 2019 allowed many carp back in again.