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Join the Detroit River Coalition and members in celebration of Earth Day this year on both sides of the Detroit River!
There will be many events and stewardship activities you can participate in along the Detroit River for the entire month of April.
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Sandwich Litter Cleanup (Canada)
April 15 2023, 10am to 12pm, various locations in Sandwich, Windsor
Register here
Little River Litter Cleanup (Canada)
April 15 2023, 10am to 12pm, Teedie Park, 2470 Lauzon Road, Windsor
Register here
Belle Isle Conservancy + the Cleanup Club (United States of America)
April 22 2023, 9:30am to 12pm, outside of the Belle Isle Aquarium
Register here
Detroit Riverfront Conservancy (United States of America)
April 22 2023, 10am to 1pm, Dequindre Cut Greenway
DNR Outdoor Adventure Centre (United States of America)
April 22 2023, 9am to 12pm, Miliken State Park
Friends of the Detroit River (United States of America)
April 22 2023, 10am to 12pm, Trenton Rotary Park
Friends of the Rouge (United States of America)
April 22 2023, 8am to 1pm, Rouge Park
Friends of the Rouge (United States of America)
April 22 2023, 9am to 12pm, Fort Street Bridge Park
Earth Day Celebration at Malden Park (Canada)
April 23 2023, 10am to 3pm, Malden Park, 4200 Malden Road, Windsor, ON
More information
Earth Day Community Tree Planting (Canada)
April 23 2023, 10am to 12pm, green space between Wyandotte Street east and Florence Avenue
Register here
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At last, Ojibway Shores land transfer! | |
Hip hip horray! Sincerest thanks to the many individuals and organizations who have advocated for a long time to SAVE OJIBWAY SHORES!
"The Port Authority is promising to donate two parcels of land in Ojibway shores, totaling 10 acres, to Transport Canada and Parks Canada. The land is valued at about 4-million dollars. The real estate will be combined with 16 acres of Crown land."
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Video: Windsor Port Authority president and CEO Steve Salmons speaks near the Ojibway Shores land on Monday, March 20, 2023, that the organization has relinquished for the creation of a national urban park (Windsor Star, March 20 2023) | |
Conservation Authorities across the province rolled out their watershed report cards to mark World Water Day, March 22. ERCA launched its 2017-2021 5 year Watershed Report Card, highlighting groundwater, surface water quality, forest conditions and restoration efforts. | |
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Prescribed Burns in the Region | |
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In late March, ERCA and the City of Windsor's Prescribed Burn teams were busy conducting Low Complexity Prescribed Burns (LCPB) at Hillman Marsh Conservation Area as well as areas around Ojibway Park, Black Oak Heritage Park, Spring Garden Natural Area, Chappus Street and Howard Avenue South near Highway 3.
Throughout history, fire has been nature’s method of revitalizing and maintaining tallgrass prairie ecosystems, keeping them open and free of shrubbery, allowing rare plants and animals to flourish.
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Planting native plants in your garden | |
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Now that spring is around the corner it is time to think about what you're planting in your garden. Consider native plants!
WWF-Canada has partnered with Loblaws to source native plants for 35 of their Garden Centres across southern Ontario. This initiative supports the Carolinian Canada Coalition In the Zone program to bring native plants to your backyard. Loblaws/Superstore/Zehrs garden centres in Windsor-Essex will carry a variety of locally grown and ethically sourced native plants, including shade and sun-loving species as well as grasses and sedges, all of which grow easily in local conditions. They’ve been carefully selected and grown by the following Ontario native plant growers and will make excellent habitat for pollinators and other wildlife in your garden: Native Plants in Claremont, St. Williams Nursery & Ecology Centre and Native Trees and Plants nursery in Amherstburg. These plants will be available sometime in May.
For more information about this initiative, visit: https://inthezonegardens.ca/where-to-find-native-plants.
Other ways include native plants:
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Lower Detroit River Key Biodiversity Area Count Update: 2021 to 2023 | |
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This article was written by Jeremy Hatt, submitted to the Essex County Field Naturalists' Club's The Egret, March 2023.
The Lower Detroit River KBA is labeled a Key Biodiversity Area for the high numbers of waterfowl that stage here during the winter months. In particular, Canvasbacks can be found in the tens of thousands and the region supports at least >7% of the global population of the species in the winter, but possibly more.
Highest concentrations of Canvasback occur in Essex County where the mouths of the Detroit River meet Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair during the coldest months when both lakes are partially to mostly frozen.
Although the counts for 2023 did not yield high numbers of Canvasbacks, there were still significant counts within Essex County during the winter period. The most impressive was about 40,000 Canvasback on January 8, 2023, carefully estimated by Michael and Steve McAllister from Brighton Beach Park, a small parkette in Tecumseh that looks out onto Lake St. Clair. This massive raft of Canvasback stayed until at least February 5th when 15,000 birds were still estimated to be present.
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Friends of Ojibway Prairie share insight about National Urban Park | |
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On Tuesday March 14 2023, President Mike Fisher of the Friends of Ojibway Prairie (FOOP) presented to the DRCC Public Advisory Council and Education and Public Involvement Work Group members about the National Urban Park.
In 2021, the Government of Canada announced interest in exploring the possibility of creating the Ojibway National Urban Park. In Canada and around the world, there is growing awareness of the importance of urban parks as essential places for conservation, recreation, learning, and mental and physical wellbeing. FOOP has been instrumental in voicing their support for this effort. They are in a great position to advocate for the proposed Ojibway NUP and the DRCC commends FOOP for their dedication on this matter.
Thank you to Mike who came out and shared this important information with members of our PAC and EPI work group!
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Invitation: Baseline Coastal Habitat Survey for the Canadian Great Lakes Webinar Series - April 19 to 27, 2023 | |
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You are invited to attend the Baseline Coastal Habitat Survey for the Canadian Great Lakes Webinar Series – a four-part webinar series on Wednesdays and Thursdays on April 19-20, and April 26-27, 2023.
Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada recently completed a novel baseline coastal habitat survey for the Canadian Great Lakes.
For the first time, a standardized methodology has been developed to assemble, catalogue, classify, map, and survey existing coastal habitats along the Canadian Great Lakes including wetlands, shorelines and uplands, tributaries, inland lakes and ponds, and the broader coastal landscape. This foundational data is available to the public (baseline coastal habitat survey) and can be used to measure, track, and report on coastal ecosystem changes over time and help advance conservation planning.
Please see the poster and fact sheet for more information. A draft agenda is also attached and found online: https://trca.ca/baseline-coastal-habitat-webinars/
The webinar series is open to members of the public and focused on the following themes:
- Session 1: Wednesday, April 19 (1-4pm EDT)
- Introduction to the Canadian Great Lakes Baseline Coastal Habitat Survey
- Shorelines and Uplands: From the Mixed-wood Plains to the Boreal Shield
- Session 2: Thursday, April 20 (1-4pm EDT)
- A Survey of Coastal Wetlands: Where Land Meets Water
- Session 3: Wednesday, April 26 (1-4pm EDT)
- A Survey of Select Canadian Tributaries: Aquatic Habitat Connectivity
- Session 4: Thursday, April 27 (1-4pm EDT)
o Identifying Priority Habitats for Conservation, Protection, and Restoration
This registration link will register you for all four webinars. You can choose which ones you’re able/interested to attend.
The webinars will be held virtually via Zoom. Upon registration, you will receive a confirmation email from Zoom with an event link that is unique to you and should not be shared with others.
We welcome you to share this invitation with others within your network and hope to see you at these upcoming sessions.
Sincerely,
The Canadian Great Lakes Baseline Coastal Habitat Survey Webinar Series organizing team
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Development of the 2024-2028 Lake Erie Lakewide Action and Management Plan | |
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The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement commits Canada and the United States to prepare and issue Lakewide Action and Management Plans (LAMPs) for each of the five Great Lakes every five years on a rotational basis. We are pleased to advise you that the Lake Erie Partnership has begun to develop the next Lake Erie LAMP, which is scheduled for completion by the end of 2023.
At this time, we are offering interested organizations and individuals an opportunity to provide input to the plan at an early stage. Specifically, we welcome your perspective on the environmental conditions, issues, or concerns about Lake Erie that should be considered in the development of the Lake Erie LAMP, and any suggestions on actions or approaches that could be taken to address them.
The 2024-2028 Lake Erie LAMP will build upon the accomplishments of the 2019-2023 Lake Erie LAMP.
This is your first chance to participate in the development of the Lake Erie LAMP, but not your last! A draft plan will be made available for comment later this year.
Please direct your suggestions or questions to the Lake Erie Partnership using the contact page on Binational.net by April 17, 2023.
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Beavers reclaiming land on abandoned island in Detroit River | |
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GROSSE ILE, Mich. (FOX 2) - Wandering into a beaver habitat can be like entering a disaster zone.
Shoreline bushes chewed back. Nearby trees felled and demolished. Hundreds of branches piled near a mound damming up a river and flooding the area. To some people the scene looks like environmental havoc.
To the beaver, it's home.
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Restore and Protect | First Nations Contributions to Great Lakes Management
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Environment and Climate Change Canada, Great Lakes Ecosystem Management Section - Ontario Region:
As you know, the Great Lakes are a vital source of life, sustenance, and well-being to all who inhabit and use this region. These large bodies of freshwater have strong ecological, social, cultural, and economic importance but have their integrity threatened. Since time immemorial, First Nation peoples have been active stewards of the land and the waters of the Great Lakes. First Nations communities of the Great Lakes continue their roles as the original caretakers of the land, guided by traditional values deeply rooted in their relationships to the land. They are engaged in various stewardship efforts that support the objectives of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement to address issues throughout the Great Lakes region. This effort is reflected in numerous unique community-driven efforts to restore and protect the Great Lakes waters and surrounding lands. It focuses on their ecological, cultural, and economic significance, fulfill short-term objectives, and ensures the land and the waters are looked after for future generations. Protecting lands and waters critical to life and community is a common goal for First Nations and the Government of Canada.
Working in collaboration with nine First Nations around the Great Lakes, together we have completed a document that brings awareness to these communities' important steps to restore and protect the Great Lakes. The community profiles featured in this document captured the stories of First Nations' environmental stewardship of the Great Lakes in their own words. They were created to highlight a subset of these community-driven stewardship projects that are grounded in the unique context of each First Nation community and blend traditional and scientific knowledge, practices, and protocols.
I am excited to share the document “First Nations Contributions to Great Lakes Management.” You can download the document at the link below. I encourage you all to share amongst your staff and networks.
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National Volunteer Week - March 14
The National Volunteer Week theme for 2023 is Volunteering Weaves Us Together. This reveals the importance of volunteering to the strength and vibrancy of our communities through the interconnected actions we take to support one another.
We are so thankfu for our volunteers who help keep the Detroit River clean!
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Earth Day - April 22
This year, we rally behind the theme “Invest In Our Planet”, which highlights the importance of dedicating our time, resources, and energy to solving climate change and other environmental issues.
Investing in our planet is necessary to protect it and the best way to pave a path towards a prosperous
future.
When we Invest In Our Planet together, we are supporting
healthy, happy, and wealthy communities worldwide.
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Save the date for these great local events! Contact the organizers for more information. | |
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National Wildlife Week
April10 to 16 2023, Jack Miner Migratory Bird Sanctuary, 332/360 Road 3 west, Kingsville, ON
Celebrate National Wildlife Week at Jack Miner!
- Monday April 10 - 1pm to 3pm: Jack's birthday party. All buildings will be open, kids' activities and cider by the fire!
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- Tuesday April 11th to Friday April 14th at 6:30pm, Wildlife and Habitat Conservation Speaking Series: A series of talks on topics like native plants, banding, pawaw trees, monarchs and pollinators. Please register by emailing molewski@jackminer.com!
- Saturday April 25th, 10am to 4pm: Open Doors, all buildings again will be open, kids' activities and more.
- Sunday April 16th, 9am to 3pm: Hunting and Fishing Yard Sake: Canadian Raptor Conservancy will do three shows, 11am, 1pm and 3pm.
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Self-guided Dark Sky Night
April 22 2023, 7:30pm to 11:59pm, Point Pelee National Park, 1118 Point Pelee Drive, Leamington, ON
Explore the park on your own after dark and experience the dark skies of Point Pelee. You will have the opportunity to stay late and see what goes on after dark. Hosted by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada - please check at the entrance kiosk for the location of programming in the park. The park is open until midnight, unless otherwise stated. For more information please contact us at pelee.info@pc.gc.ca. More information on Dark Sky Nights
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Citizens Environment Alliance Annual General Meeting
April 29 2023, 2pm, 101-1501 Howard Avenue, Windsor, ON
All current CEA members and supporters are invited to the CEA's 2023 Annual General Meeting. This year's AGM will be the first held in-person at our new location at 101-1501 Howard Ave. Current issues will be discussed, last year's accomplishments will be reviewed, new business can be introduced and this year's board members will be elected.
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Detroit River Walleye Classic
May 6 2023, Gil Maure Park in LaSalle (Laurier & Front Road).
The Detroit River Walleye Classic is an annual fishing tournament, hosted by the LaSalle Firefighters Associations. It takes place at Gil Maure Park, the first Saturday of May each year.
All proceeds from the tournament benefit the LaSalle community through sponsorships, donations, families in need and local charities.
Registration is open to the public, and we also offer a wide range of sponsorship opportunities. Please contact us with any questions you may have regarding the Detroit River Walleye Classic.
More information: https://www.detroitriverwalleyeclassic.com.
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Windsor Sportsmen's Club Kids, Cops and Canadian Tire presents the 65th Annual Fishing Derby
June 6 2023, 8am to 11:30am, Reaume Park, 236-246 Pillette Road, Windsor, ON
This free event is open to all kids 12 and under to participate in the 63rd annual derby at both Reaume and Dieppe Parks in Windsor at the riverfront. Free bait is provided. Awards and a light lunch will be held at the Windsor Sportsmen's Club afterwards. Please bring your own rod and bait containers. For more information, please contact Greg Rossyan at truckergreg62@gmail.com.
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Detroit River Family Fishing Day
July 8 2023, 8am to 1pm, Riverdance Park, Front Road, LaSalle, ON
Save the date! We will be hosting the Detroit River Family Fishing Day on July 8 2023 with Just Fishin' Friends!
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Extra! Extra! Read all about it! |
The Detroit River and Great Lakes in the news. Here are some links to articles that may pique your interest. Click the link to read on.
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The Detroit River Canadian Cleanup is a partnership between government, industry, academics, as well as environmental and community organizations that work together to improve the Detroit River ecosystem through a Remedial Action Plan. Our goal is to remove the Detroit River from the list of Great Lakes Areas of Concern. |
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