Gifford Hill is a unique glacial formation in Southern Ontario, with waterflows that empty into several areas including Harmony Creek and the Oshawa Harbour. The environmentally sensitive Second Marsh is recognized as the last major costal wetland on the western end of Lake Ontario.

As Waterkeeper President Mark Mattson explains, "residents, politicians and scientists have fought for decades to protect this land. After the recent recommendations issued by the Crombie Report of 2008, we are being forced to waste our time discussing the industrialization of Gifford Hill again."