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Do you fish the Detroit River? If so, fill out our fish consumption survey!
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We're interested in knowing what fish people catch and eat from the Detroit River. Your input will provide valuable information to Detroit River Canadian Cleanup (DRCC) staff to help guide future research, education and outreach, monitoring and remediation efforts in the Detroit River and its watershed.
Participants will receive a $5 Tim Horton's gift card (while supplies last) for their time.
Take the survey now!
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REMINDER... Get involved! Have your say on our BUI assessment reports
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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.
Thank you in advance for your feedback and if you have any questions please contact [email protected].
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| Draft Canada-Ontario Agreement out for comment |
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Canada and Ontario have a long history of working together to improve conditions in the Great Lakes. Since 1971, federal and provincial agencies have cooperated under a series of Canada-Ontario Agreements (COA).
COA provides a 5 year work plan for how Canada and Ontario will work together to restore and protect the Great Lakes. It also describes how they will implement provisions of the Canada-United States Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. The 2014 COA expires in December 2019.
Provide your comments on the new Canada-Ontario Agreement
here
by September 4, 2019
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Phytoplankton and Zooplankton Research
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In July, scientists from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada began conducting research on the Detroit River to assess phytoplankton and zooplankton community composition in the water column to inform BUI #13, Degradation of Phytoplankton and Zooplankton Populations. The goal is to conduct a population assessment of both phytoplankton and zooplankton and compare results to upstream, upper lakes, and reference conditions.
Plankton are small (usually microscopic), floating organisms that live in freshwater and marine ecosystems. Phytoplankton are tiny plants including diatoms, desmids, and algae that require photosynthesis to live, while zooplankton are small animals that feed on those tiny plants. Together, phytoplankton and zooplankton make up an important part of the aquatic food web.
The scientists invited the DRCC on board to show off their sampling techniques!
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| Remembering the life of longtime DRCC Public Advisory Council member Ric Coronado |
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Natalie Green (left, former DRCC coordinator), Derek Coronado, Ric Coronado, Ian Naisbitt, and Doug Haffner at the DRCC Remedial Action Plan press conference in 2012. Photo credit: Jason Kryk/Windsor Star.
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Ric Coronado was a longtime member of our Public Advisory Council and the founder of Citizens Environment Alliance of southwestern Ontario. Ric was a tireless and effective citizen advocate for e
nvironmental issues in the Detroit River and Essex County. His passion for the river and contributions to our Public Advisory Council will be forever appreciated and greatly missed. Click here for a great tribute to Ric in the Windsor Star.
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High Water Level Information Sessions
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If you live along the shoreline or in a low-lying, flood-prone area, you may wish to attend one of these sessions
Record-high lake and river levels are significantly impacting the Windsor-Essex region. Forecasts continue to predict water levels at these unprecedented highs. The potential for localized intense rainfall raises additional concerns. To help residents be as prepared as possible, regional municipalities and the Essex Region Conservation Authority will co-host a series of information sessions to identify current and predicted water level impacts and be prepared in the case of a flooding emergency.
Session Dates and Locations
Monday August 12 2019, 7:15pm to 8:30pm, Atlas Tube Centre,
447 Renaud Line Rd,
Belle River, Ontario Canada
Tuesday August 13 2019, 6:30pm to 8:00pm, WFCU Centre - Collavino Hall,
8787 McHugh Street, Windsor, Ontario Canada
Wednesday August 14 2019, 6:30pm to 8:00pm, Vollmer Centre,
2121 Laurier Pkwy, Windsor, Ontario Canada
Thursday August 15 2019, 6:30pm to 8:00pm, Lakeside Park, 315 Queen St, Kingsville, Ontario, Canada
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SAVE THE DATE: Detroit River Boat Tour
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Join the Citizens Environment Alliance on September 7 from 12:30 pm
to 3:30 pm
and tour the Detroit River with expert narration about environmental issues and unique fish and wildlife habitats. This is an excellent opportunity to see why we must continue to value this special river and do what we can to protect it.
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2019-2023 Draft Lake Erie Lakewide Action and Management Plan Available for Public Review
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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
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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.
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Citizen Science and Bees!
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The bees need your help! These animals are widely distributed and tracking them through citizen science is a great way to learn more about them and collect information from many volunteers.
Participating in Bumble Bee Watch is simple and you can get started by creating an account online. Once you have an account, go out and check your garden, local parks, or any other natural areas you frequent for bumble bees.
Be sure to snap a photo (learn more about how to photograph bees) and then sign in and submit your data via our Bumble Bee Sightings form. Have fun while learning more about bumble bees and the vital role they play in our environment!
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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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Upcoming events
Save the date for these great local events! Contact the organizer for more information.
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Wild Ontario
Saturday and Sunday August 3 and 4, 2019, 11am to 4pm, Point Pelee National Park, 1118 Point Pelee Dr, Leamington, ON
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Join Wild Ontario at the visitor centre and see live birds of prey. Learn about the role they play in the environment.
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Meteor Shower Beach Party
Saturday August 10 at 9pm to Sunday August 11 at 2am 2019, Point Pelee National Park, 1118 Point Pelee Dr, Leamington, ON
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The park will be open for optimal viewing of the Perseid meteor showers. Join members of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada Windsor Centre on the beach and view the early night sky before sitting back and enjoying the meteor shower.
Bring a chair or blanket and settle in on the West Beach for the evening. The event is included in the admission cost to enter the park.
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Lost Arts Festival
Sunday, August 11 2019, 12pm to 4pm, John R. Park Homestead, 915 Essex County Road 50, Essex, ON
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Celebrate summer on the shore of Lake Erie. See demonstrations of lost arts and visit the voyageur encampment. Stay to enjoy hands-on activities, live music, livestock displays and games for kids.
Watch as the Homestead's resident blacksmith turns raw iron into detailed pieces, and learn about native plants and pollinators in the garden. Other demonstrations include beekeeping, butter making, and textile weaving, all of which will give guests the chance to meet the artists and learn how to fit one of these 'old' hobbies into modern life.
Admission: $6 per adult; $4 per child (ages 3-16); $20 family maximum.
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Tree and Singing Insect Cycling Tour
August 11 2019, 1:30pm to 3:30pm, Pelee Island, ON
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Come out and see some of the amazing trees of this island, learn about their ways and how to tell them apart; with John Ambrose, who first came to Pelee Island in the late 1970's because of the high tree diversity while he was Curator at the University of Guelph Arboretum. Ron Tiessen, Curator Emeritus of the Heritage Centre, will help us in a quest to document Pelee's big trees. Rob Tymstra will join us to identify signing insects such as cicadas, grasshoppers, crickets, and katydids.
The tour will cover the north end of the island from Sheridan Pt. to Lighthouse Pt. Would you rather see the trees by car? Register and indicate that. Meet at the cemetery on Sheridan Pt. Rd. Register
here.
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ECFNC Member Meeting
August 14 2019, 7:30pm, Ojibway Nature Centre, 5200 Matchette Road, Windsor, ON
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Join the Essex County Field Naturalists' Club in welcoming Karen Alexander, of the Nature Conservancy of Canada!
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Project Purple
August 15 2019, 10am to 2pm, Hillman Marsh Conservation Area, 1826 Mersea Rd 2, Leamington, ON
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Join ERCA staff for a unique one day experience learning about this invasive plant and gain knowledge on different management strategies. Citizen scientists will work in groups to map out hot spots and remove the invasive plant from the wetlands!
For questions about the event, call Gina at 519-776-5209 ext. 245. Please register
here
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Forest Bathing Walk
August 18 2019, 11am to 1:30pm, Pelee Island, ON
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A sensory-based mindful walk in nature, with Ben Porchuk, a certified forest therapy guide and recovering scientist. This event features a slow-paced walk with five or six sitting breaks stretched over only 2.5 km., recommended age between 12 and 112. For details:
www.giftoftheforest.com
. Meet at the Fish Point parking lot.
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Magical Moths
August 22 2019, 6pm to 7:30pm, Ojibway Nature Centre, 5200 Matchette Road, Windsor, ON
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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.
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Nectar Festival
August 24 2019, 9am to 12pm, Ojibway Nature Centre, 5200 Matchette Road, Windsor, ON
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Learn about the sweet lives of hummingbirds, butterflies and other nectar lovers. Witness hummingbird banding and learn tips on how to attract these jewels to your yard. Visitors will have the opportunity to adopt a hummingbird which helps fund the banding process. Free admission.
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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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