Get involved! Have your say on our BUI assessment reports
Two BUI assessments are available for public comment.

The DRCC is looking for your feedback on its recommendation to remove the 'Degradation of Benthos' and 'Fish Tumours and other Deformities' beneficial use impairments or BUIs from the Detroit River's list of impaired beneficial uses. The DRCC uses a list of 14 BUIs to determine the condition of the Detroit River. As of July 2019, the Detroit River has 6 impaired BUIs, 7 not impaired BUIs and 1 BUI that requires further assessment. The proposed re-designation status on these two BUIs brings us all closer to removing the Detroit River from the list of Great Lakes Areas of Concern.
 
We need your input! We want to know what you think about the recommendation to change the status of these two BUIs from impaired to not impaired. Comments can be submitted online here.   
 
More information about the proposed status change can be found in the Assessment of Degradation of Benthos (BUI#6) Detroit River Area of Concern report, the Assessment of Fish Tumours and other Deformities (BUI#4) report, and associated factsheets (Benthos Factsheets 1 and 2, Tumour Factsheet). Please submit your comments by August 30, 2019. 
 
Thank you in advance for your feedback and if you have any questions please contact [email protected].
Tracking progress and our plans as we restore the Detroit River together
An updated 2019 Pathway to Delisting document can now be found on our website. This document outlines our workplan and the remaining actions required to achieve the delisting of all beneficial use impairments (BUIs) so that the Canadian side of the Detroit River will no longer be considered a Great Lakes Area of Concern. 

We have been making great progress towards delisting and are excited to continue research and monitoring on the river.
2019-2023 Draft Lake Erie Lakewide Action and Management Plan Available for Public Review
The Draft Lake Erie Lakewide Action and Management Plan (LAMP) is now available for public comment. The Lake Erie LAMP "identifies key priorities for the lake and connecting rivers, and guides the coordination of binational environmental protection and restoration activities aimed at preserving and protecting Lake Erie's water quality and ecosystem health." Comments are due by  August 26, 2019 .

For more information, please visit the  Lake Erie Lakewide Action and Management Plan website .
 
Monitoring projects in the Detroit River watershed
Continued monitoring of BUIs being conducted this summer

This summer, researchers from the federal government will be on the Detroit River to sample for phytoplankton and zooplankton as well as to assess habitat in coastal wetlands. The DRCC is planning to participate in this sampling and will provide photos and updates as the summer progresses. 

Canada and the United States release progress report showing continuing restoration of Great Lakes Areas of Concern
On June 14, 2019, Environment and Climate Change Canada and the US Environmental Protection Agency released the 2019 Progress Report of the Parties . The Report documents progress made between 2017 and 2019 by both nations, in meeting commitments under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement .
 
Working together and in conjunction with many partners, Canada and the United States have made significant progress in restoring and protecting the water quality and ecosystem health of the Great Lakes. There has been significant progress in addressing long-standing environmental degradation in Great Lakes Areas of Concern on both sides of the border. 

Highlights of AOC progress include:
  • 5 Areas of Concern (AOCs) have been delisted and one or two are projected to have all restoration actions completed by the end of 2019.
  • 33 beneficial use impairments (BUIs) have been removed since 2016.
  • 15 BUIs are currently undergoing assessment and could be removed by December 2019.
Save the Date - State of the Strait Conference, November 19

The 8th Biennial State of the Strait Conference will be held at the University of Windsor on November 19, 2019. The event is free and the conference will focus on the status and trends of ecosystem health indicators in the Detroit River. More information can be found here or on the SoS website.

Community benefits announced
Bridge announces plan to improve economic, social, and environmental conditions

The Gordie Howe International Bridge announced their community benefits plan for the communities directly impacted by the construction of the bridge. They introduced numerous projects that will benefit both the community and environment including seed money for an ecopassage to connect Ojibway Park, neighbourhood greening projects, and the construction of trails. They also approved funding for a project on the American side for the Friends of the Detroit River's Fort Street Bridge Project.
No family fishing day this year

Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, we are unable to offer family fishing day this year. We are hoping to be able to offer this event next year. 

But, you are able to fish on any Ontario waterbody without a license during Family Fishing week ( June 29-July 7, 2019). For more information, click here.

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.  
Upcoming events  
Save the date for these great local events! Contact the organizer for more information. 
Annual butterfly count 
July 6 2019, 9am to 5pm, Ojibway Nature Centre, 5200 Matchette Road, Windsor, ON 
Join the Ojibway Nature Centre for their 26th annual butterfly count! Whether you're a beginner or an expert, all butterfly lovers are welcome to help with the annual tally of these beautiful insects. $5 participant fee by the Friends of Ojibway Prairie. 
Intriguing Interactions of Pollinators and Plants on the Stone Road Alvar 
July 7 2019, 10am to 12pm, Stone Road Alvar Nature Reserve, Stone Road, Pelee Island Ontario
Pelee Island's unique habitats support a wide variety of insect pollinators, and especially wild bees. Come for a walk on the Stone Road Alvar with the research team from the University of Toronto Scarborough to learn about the ecology and diversity of bee species visiting different flowers, and why these relationships are so important. Visit www.macivorlab.ca for additional details on the research team.
 
Meet at the entrance to Ontario Naturalists' Nature Reserve on the Stone Road Alvar. Best to wear long pants, socks and shoes or boots with closed toes; be prepared for the weather (e.g. sunscreen, hat), rough terrain, and poison ivy.
 
To register, click here.  
Citizen Science Tree Survey 
July 13 2019, 10am to 2pm, green space near Florence Avenue and Wyandotte Street east, Windsor, ON 
ERCA is looking for individuals who are looking to gain some field experience collecting data from a sample of the Earth Day trees planted in spring 2019 with the DRCC. This event will take place on Saturday July 13 2019 from 10am to 2pm at the green space near Florence Avenue and Wyandotte Street east in Windsor. For more information and to register, click here.  
Walking Tour of a Wetland and Meadow Habitat Complex 
July 13 2019, 1pm to 3pm, Victoria Road, Pelee Island, ON 
David Kraus, an Essex District Biology and Science teacher, will take you on a tour of his impressive created ponds and habitats on what was flat farmland only a few years ago. Hear how and why different features of this site were built, look at important plants for restoration and think what you could do on your own land! Hear about and observe the wildlife the site has attracted. There is a mowed path in but be prepared to go off path with suitable footwear. Meet at Victoria Rd. just south of Homeward Rd. at 1:00pm. 
 
To register, click here.  
31st Annual Essex Region Conservation Golf Tournament  
July 18 2019, all day, Pointe West Golf Club, 200 Golfwood Drive, Amherstburg, ON  
Join the Essex Region Conservation Foundation for their 31st annual Golf Tournament Fundraiser on Thursday, July 18, hosted at the beautiful Pointe West Golf Club in Amherstburg.
 
Attendees will enjoy 18 holes of golf, many on-course opportunities to win great prizes, silent and live auctions and a fabulous dinner buffet. All proceeds from this event will support the protection of the significant natural resources of Essex Region, including the development of regional trail systems and the protection and restoration of local forests and wetlands, among many other important initiatives, for enjoyment today and for generations to come.

For sponsorship information, contact Peter Baldwin at 519-776-5209 ext 367 or via email at  [email protected]. 
Monarch madness
Thursday July 18 2019, 6pm to 7:30pm, Ojibway Nature Centre, 5200 Matchette Road, Windsor, ON.  
This is part of the all-ages Thursday evening program series. The cost is $7.50 for adults and $6 for children. Visa, MasterCard, and debit cards are accepted for in-person registration. There is a 10 per cent discount for families and seniors. You can register online at www.activewindsor.ca. 
Self-guided dark sky night 
July 27 2019, 7:30pm to 11:59pm, Point Pelee National Park, 1118 Point Pelee Dr, 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. Note that there are no formal programs on these evenings. Visitors can pick up a seasonal star chart at the gate upon arrival. The park is open until midnight, unless otherwise stated.
 
For more information please contact 519-322-2365 or [email protected].
Explore the shore 
July 27 and 28 along Essex County Road 50, Lake Erie Shoreline 
A weekend (July 27th & 28th) event created from a partnership between businesses and organizations to promote tourism on Essex County Road 50 along the shore of Lake Erie south of Harrow, Ontario.
 
Spend the day reliving that drive along the Lake Road that you may have experienced in your life. Stop by one of the many businesses to sample the local foods, taste the local wine or check out the shops. It is the perfect event for all ages.
 
Participants offer a variety of unique activities to showcase their businesses. The variety of businesses include: farmers, wineries, road side vegetable stands, restaurants, bed and breakfast hoteliers, outdoor recreation (golf, conservation areas, beaches, harbour/marina), artists, authors, and small business owners.
 
Be sure to stop in at John R. Park Homestead, and take a glimpse at what life was like in the early settler days of Essex County. The restrooms and picnic area will be open to the public.
Holiday Beach Conservation Area, a natural gem along the shore of Lake Erie will be open as well. Enjoy the beautiful tree lined trails, a great beach, and some of Canada's best bird watching!
Prairie day 
July 28 2019, 10am to 2pm, Ojibway Nature Centre, 5200 Matchette Road, Windsor, ON 
Join the Ojibway Nature Centre for an exploration of the summer wonders found in their tallgrass prairie. Guided hikes, art activities, and unique photo opportunities are just some of the family-friendly activities in store! Free admission. 


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.