The Detroit River Canadian Cleanup wishes you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Our offices will be closed from December 24, 2021 until January 3, 2022.

We had a wonderful year with many achievements to be proud of! We hosted our annual film screening, a virtual Detroit River Evening, a virtual habitat restoration presentation in partnership with Friends of the Detroit River and virtual Detroit River Bingo! We launched the Detroit River Coalition in tandem with six Michigan based environmental organizations and two Canadian ones who focus on environmental programs for the Detroit River. Our research partners provided new study results to the DRCC indicating no impairment for several BUIs and we were able to redesignate 1 BUI (more information coming soon in the New Year!). We also continued construction on the Peche Island habitat project in the river - the largest habitat project on the Canadian side to date and completed habitat restoration in the River Canard watershed at the Collavino wetland site.

We wish you and your families a safe and happy Christmas, and we look forward to seeing you in 2022.
Federal Great Lakes Funding Available
Great Lakes Protection Initiative - Call for Proposals for the Areas of Concern Funding Stream
Environment and Climate Change Canada launched a call for applications under the Great Lakes Protection Initiative for the Areas of Concern funding priority. Applications are now being accepted until 11:59 p.m. eastern on January 31, 2022. Please reach out to the Detroit River Remedial Action Plan Coordinator, Jackie Serran with ideas and proposals relating to the Canadian side of the Detroit River at postmaster@detroitriver.ca.
 
To learn more about this funding opportunity and how to apply, please visit www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/great-lakes-protection/funding.
 
For general information on the Great Lakes Protection Initiative, please visit https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/great-lakes-protection.html.
EcoAction Community Funding Program
Environment and Climate Change Canada's (ECCC) EcoAction Community Funding Program is now accepting applications for funding until January 11, 2022 at 12:00 PST / 15:00 EST for projects beginning summer 2022. 
 
Funding is available for new projects that engage Canadians and clearly demonstrate measurable, positive results related to the key Environmental Priority: Fresh Water.
 
Your project must address the following Priority Result:
Canadians contribute to improving freshwater quality through actions that reduce harmful substances in freshwater and/or restore and protect freshwater ecosystem health.
Preference will be given to proposals that engage Indigenous Peoples, youth or small businesses. All proposals must fully meet program requirements.
 
For more information on this funding opportunity, please visit the EcoAction Community Funding Program. In addition, the EcoAction Applicant’s Guide for the Call for Proposals is available on our website.
Gordie Howe International Bridge Project recognized as Leader in Sustainable Infrastructure
The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) and Bridging North America (BNA) have earned a prestigious Envision™ Platinum Award for the Gordie Howe International Bridge project. This certification is the highest possible distinction from the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) which recognizes efforts to achieve sustainable development and environmental performance standards at every stage of an infrastructure project, from design to construction and implementation. 

This achievement is the result of three years of effort by the project team and was determined through an independent peer-review process that saw the project evaluated across 60 sustainability criteria. ISI verified the project evaluation. 

Key sustainability features of the Gordie Howe International Bridge project noted in the peer review include:
  • 100 per cent of the project is located on previously developed lands, with part of it being located on a former (remediated) brownfield site
  • a new prairie habitat and habitat for pollinators will be provided, a peregrine falcon box will be installed and thousands of trees will be planted
  • to address the risk of increased intensity and severity of precipitation over time, the project includes stormwater ponds, low-impact development, and bioswales that manage stormwater going into the public system or entering the waterway
  • transportation benefits that address climate change and regional development will be realized including relief of traffic congestion of freight trucks in nearby neighbourhoods on both sides of the bridge, improved border processing for freight and travellers with highway-to-highway connectivity, and connectivity of existing routes and creation of safer routes for pedestrians and cyclists
  • a comprehensive Community Benefits Plan is being delivered
  • thousands of direct and indirect jobs are being created both during the design-build phase and when the bridge is in operation.
Congratulations to the Stellantis Windsor Assembly Plant!
Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) has announced the winner of the 2021 Ibis Award — the Stellantis Windsor (Ont.) Assembly Plant. The Ibis Award recognizes a WHC-Certified program that has demonstrated resilience of spirit and advancement of conservation despite lockdowns, quarantines and additional government-mandated regulations.

Since 2009, the plant has hosted educational events, such as tree plantings, for Windsor residents. The work performed by community members at these events has been a critical part of the company’s efforts to address the lack of urban tree canopy in the Windsor area. Participants, most of whom have been students, have helped plant 1,500 trees across the property.
Christmas Bird Counts
The annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is an important opportunity to learn more about winter bird populations, and get outside and enjoy nature! The 122nd CBC takes place between December 14 and January 5 this year. Here are the dates and compiler for local counts:
 
  • December 18 2021 - Cedar Creek, Paul Pratt
  • December 19 2021 - Blenheim/Rondeau, Keith Burk
  • December 20 2021 - Point Pelee, Sarah Rupert
  • December 28 2021 - Holiday Beach Conservation Area - Jeremy Hatt and Kory Renaud
  • January 1 2022 - Detroit River, Ojibway Nature Centre
  • January TBD 2022 St. Clair National Wildlife Area, Allen Woodliffe
  • January 5 2022 - Lake Erie North Shore, Glenn Gervais

There will be no after count dinners or in person compilation gatherings this year.
If you would like more information, or to volunteer, please reach out to education@pibo.ca. 
Plant native trees on your property
Thinking about planting native trees on your property to help the environment, participate in climate action, improve your property value and land aesthetics? Tree orders for 2022 are due to the Essex Region Conservation Authority on January 28 2022.
Results from the 2021 Great Lakes Regional Poll are in
The International Joint Commission's Great Lakes Water Quality Board completed its third Great Lakes Regional Poll in 2021. The 2021 Great Lakes Regional Poll results provide a snapshot of Great Lakes residents' views on topics including: the importance to protect the Great Lakes environmental health and water quality, and perspectives on the need to protect Great Lakes water quality for leisure and recreation, fish and wildlife, and the economy. The board polled Canadian and US residents in the Great Lakes basin with a telephone poll and online poll, and provides a cover letter to assist readers in navigating the results of the two polls. The 2021 Great Lakes Regional Poll results build on previous regional polling efforts by the done in 2015 and 2018.
Days Worth Mentioning
National Bird Day - January 5
Nature lovers, bird lovers, and bird watchers across the country annually recognize National Bird Day on January 5th. The Detroit River is located in one of the most biologically diverse parts of Canada between two major waterfowl migration flyways, the Mississippi Flyway and the Atlantic Flyway. This means waterfowl, raptors and songbirds all use the region as important stopover habitat. Bald Eagles and Osprey have returned to nest here and it's not out of the ordinary to see hundreds of thousands of hawks and other birds cross it on migration each year!
Upcoming Local Events
Save the date for these great local events! Contact the organizers for more information. 
Essex County Field Naturalists' Club Member Meeting
Wednesday January 12 2021, 7:30pm, virtual

Invasive species threaten communities across Canada and Essex County is no exception. We all remember the Emerald Ash Borer, and we all see the extensive presence of Phragmites australis in our natural areas and wetlands. Other common observations in Essex include Garlic mustard, the impacts of Dutch Elm Disease, the lovely experience of trying to walk past Multiflora Rose on the trails, and shorelines covered in Quagga and Zebra Mussel shells. We see dead Ash trees, many of us lost trees on our property. Fact is, once established, invasive species cause significant impacts to our native ecosystems as well as our local economies, and they are incredibly difficult and expensive to control. In Ontario, invasive species are estimated to cost agriculture, forestry, tourism, and recreation around $3.6 billion per year! Meanwhile, across the globe reports of the number of invasive species are increasing, and the costs of damage are tripling every decade.
 
As naturalists, we are out and about in natural areas more often than most and we can make a huge contribution to the prevention and early detection of invasive species. Join this Zoom meeting to learn more about current and emerging invasive species in Essex County, pathways for introductions, and some of the new tools and programs for preventing the establishment and spread of invasive species in Canada. For more information contact: coastalkare@gmail.com.
Tree Planting and Care Virtual Workshop
Tuesday January 18 2022, 7 am to 8:30 pm, Virtual via Zoom

Join ERCA’s Forester virtually for the annual Tree Planting and Care Workshop taking place Tuesday January 18th 2022 from 7pm to 8:30 pm.
Attendees will learn about the many benefits of tree planting, available grants for landowners, different tree planting techniques, and much more. Register today!
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.  
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.