Collavino Family donates wetland habitat to ERCA to create Collavino Conservation Area

Members of the Collavino family gather with representatives from the Essex Region Conservation Authority to celebrate the donation of 150 acres of ecologically sensitive land to create the Collavino Conservation Area.

Various photos taken of the Collavino Conservation Area

Amherstburg – Thanks to a generous donation by the Collavino family, 150 acres of ecologically sensitive wetland habitat will be protected in perpetuity by the Essex Region Conservation Authority. The donation was finalized in early October and is a mix of wetland and floodplain within the Detroit River Area of Concern near the mouth of the Canard River in Amherstburg.

The property was purchased in 2005 as a farmland investment. It was previously owned by General Chemical which used it for salt brine extraction. There is currently a 10MW solar operation adjacent to the donated property that is non-intrusive to the surrounding lands. 

“The wetland portion of this property was always intended to stay as a wetland and used for fishing, hiking, hunting, camping and various other activities by our family and friends,” explains Loris Collavino, whose family made the donation. “We have lived in River Canard since 1983 and greatly appreciate all the wildlife that call this area home. The wetland has remained undisturbed over the years and as such, the wildlife seems to thrive. Being able to visit a property and see nature at its finest was something our family held near and dear to our hearts.” 

This land is a Provincially Significant Wetland and Environmentally Significant Area. It also provides habitat for a number of Species at Risk, including the Blanding’s Turtle, Eastern Foxsnake, and Queensnake, to name just a few.

“The addition of this important habitat is incredibly beneficial for the Detroit River watershed,” said Tania Jobin, ERCA Chair. “Wetlands are critically important to mitigate flooding and the impacts of our changing climate, and we are honoured that the Collavino family put their trust in ERCA to ensure this new Conservation Area will be managed and protected for generations to come.” The wetland is also identified as a Priority Canadian Habitat Site in the Detroit River Area of Concern, and having it become a designated Conservation Area and restoring its biological function brings the AOC one step closer to remediation.

The Collavino family notes they have worked with ERCA many times before on various projects and appreciate the work it does for conservation and rehabilitation of natural areas throughout Windsor and Essex County. “We felt that the wetland, with ERCA’s expertise and handling, could become an even better site that would be greatly enjoyed by the public, similar to Hillman Marsh, Holiday Beach and other sites ERCA protects throughout this region,” Mr. Collavino added. “We are very proud of our community and felt that this site would be another destination that people would want to visit when coming to Amherstburg.”

A wetland restoration and management plan has been developed to ensure appropriate protective measures are in place for this sensitive area. Earlier this year, as discussions regarding this donation were underway, a prescribed burn to control invasive Phragmites was undertaken, and additional management initiatives were completed to restore this wetland to a healthy ecosystem.

“While the lands are currently being managed for habitat, future plans include adding a parking area to permit public enjoyment of this beautiful wetland,” said Tim Byrne, ERCA CAO. “A mowed pathway around the dyked area will provide a 2.2 kilometre walking path, and educational signage will be installed. We are so grateful to the Collavino family for this generous gift to the entire community.”

Lil' Reg Celebrates 30th Anniversary

Members of the Little River Enhancement Group celebrated the 30th anniversary by planting tees at Weston Park in the Town of Tecumseh in Late October. 

"Weston Park has a special place in the hearts of the Lil’ Reg members. In the past we participated in Little River Watershed Tours once a year. Our group would visit the sites where volunteers cleaned up the river or planted trees. We checked how much garbage accumulated over the past year at the cleanup sites and estimated the success rate of the trees we planted at other sites. We also looked for potential sites that could use our help. While at Weston Park we hiked around the drain that flowed through the park and we were pleasantly zoomed by a swarm of dragonflies. It was quite a timely and impressive moment for us. Later when our members were brainstorming names for our group and logos, this special moment came to mind. (The logo) This was our result."

Ecosystem Approach in the 21st Century: Guiding Science and Management Workshop

On October 25 2022, the DRCC hosted a hybrid fall Public Advisory Council (PAC) and Education and Public Involvement (EPI) meeting at the Riverside Public Library (thanks Rob!) with a virtual call in as well. As part of the meeting, Dr. John Hartig and students from the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research (GLIER) and the Healthy Headwaters Lab led a workshop to share ideas and collect feedback titled, The Ecosystem Approach in the 21st Century: Guiding Science and Management.

An ecosystem approach accounts for the interrelationships among air, water, land, and all living things, including humans, and involves all user groups in management. An ecosystem approach:

• recognizes that humans are in an ecosystem
• acknowledges interconnectedness
• pursues sustainability
• works to understand places and integrate processes
• involves all stakeholders

Please take some time to consider the following questions...

• Why is an ecosystem approach important today and is it relevant to you on your work on the Detroit River?
• In what ways is an ecosystem approach/ecosystem-based management valid, important, and actionable?
• What is missing from our list of draft recommendations?

For more information, please visit their website and share your ideas to ecosystemapproach@uwindsor.ca.

Great Lakes Champions: Grassroots Efforts to Clean Up Polluted Watersheds - Book Release

Check this out! Dr. John Hartig's Great Lakes Champions: Grassroots Efforts to Clean Up Polluted Watersheds was published by Michigan State University Press in October 2022. 

The book highlights fourteen champions to inspire necessary action to care for the place they call home, so it may be a home to many living creatures for ages yet to come. For more information about the book or John Hartig, contact: Nicole Utter, Marketing and Sales, Michigan State University Press at (517) 884-6920 or email loughann@msu.edu.

Urban Biodiversity and Community Stewardship Projects in the Detroit River Watershed

Volunteers are welcome to register for two upcoming fall community tree planting events taking place in the Detroit River watershed. Funding for these events has been provided by the Gordie Howe International Bridge Community Benefits Plan.

Queen's Dock Park Community Tree and Native Garden Planting

Queen's Dock Park,90 Mill Street, Windsor, 9am to 11am

Join Essex Region Conservation and the Windsor Port Authority at this fall stewardship event and gain experience planting native trees and wildflowers to increase urban biodiversity! More information and registration. 

College Avenue Bikeway Community Tree Planting

College Avenue Bikeway, 3690 College Avenue Windsor,12pm to 2pm

Get involved with the Essex Region Conservation Authority in increasing urban biodiversity and the City of Windsor’s tree canopy cover! More information and registration.

Great Lakes Public Forum 2022

The Great Lakes Public Forum is an important partner event hosted by the Government of Canada and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement calls for the United States and Canada to convene the Great Lakes Public Forum once every three years to discuss the state of the lakes, progress made under the Agreement and proposed priorities to guide science and actions over the next three years. The Forum also provides an opportunity for the public to provide input to the International Joint Commission, who are tasked with advising the United States and Canada with respect to the implementation of the Agreement.

This year’s Forum fell on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement between Canada and the United States, in 1972.

Topics of discussion included the state of the Great Lakes, progress towards implementation of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, binational priorities for the next three years, the cleanup of Great Lakes Areas of Concern, tackling the complex issue of toxic and nuisance algae, actions to address Chemicals of Mutual Concern, understanding and addressing climate change impacts, Indigenous contributions to the restoration and protection of the Great Lakes, addressing the threats posed by aquatic invasive species, the protection of habitat and species, and the role of commissions and other binational intergovernmental organizations in Great Lakes protection.

Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement: IJC Seeks Public Input on the Canadian and US Governments' 2022 Progress Report of the Parties

As part of its responsibilities under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, the International Joint Commission (IJC) seeks public input on the Canadian and US governments' 2022 Progress Report of the Parties (PROP). This opportunity is ongoing until December 23 2022. 

For an overview of the PROP, explore these presentations: Lake Superior; Lake Michigan; Lake Huron; Lake Erie; Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River; Great Lakes basinwide

Online survey

A survey is available to provide your input on the governments' 2022 PROP and the water quality in your Great Lake. You can provide general comments or comments on specific government programs. Completing the survey should take 15 minutes. The survey is available here: ijc.org/en/survey-2022-prop

Fall 2022 Webinars

In the fall of 2022, the IJC will host a series of public webinars to receive public comment. Links to register for these webinars are below:

• Lake Superior: Tuesday, November 8, 2022, 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. ET (6:00 to 7:00 p.m. CT): bit.ly/IJC-Lake-Superior
• Lake Michigan: Tuesday, November 15, 2022, 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. ET (6:00 to 7:00 p.m. CT): bit.ly/IJC-Lake-Michigan
• Lake Huron: Tuesday, November 22, 2022, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. ET: bit.ly/IJC-Lake-Huron
• Lake Erie: Tuesday, November 29, 2022, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. ET: bit.ly/IJC-Lake-Erie
• Lake Ontario: Tuesday, December 6, 2022. 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. ET: bit.ly/IJC-Lake-Ontario
• St. Lawrence River: Tuesday, December 13, 2022, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. ET: bit.ly/IJC-St-Lawrence-River

Submit written comment

• Provide written comment using this form: surveymonkey.com/r/IJC-PROP-comment
• Submit your written comment by email to commission@ijc.org
• Provide comment by mail, sending to:

Canadian Section 

Attn: International Joint Commission - 2022 PROP Input

Canadian Section Office

234 Laurier Avenue West, 22nd Floor 

Ottawa ON K1P 6K6

Canada

US Section

Attn: International Joint Commission - 2022 PROP Input

US Section Office

1717 H Street NW, Suite 835

Washington DC 20006

United States

Outreach and Engagement Opportunities for Lake Erie

Under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA)

Webinar

Mark your calendars! Join us on Monday, November 21, 2022 at 10 a.m. CT (11 a.m. ET) for a one-hour public webinar as we talk habitat and species protection in Lake Erie.

Learn about what steps are being taken to protect coastal habitat in the Lake Erie basin. We’ll hear from Peter Zuzek of Zuzek Inc. and Scudder Mackey of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources on current challenges and nature-based solutions to promote healthy natural resources, biodiversity and resiliency within the Lake Erie basin. Participants will also have an opportunity to ask questions to our experts.

This is a virtual webinar hosted on Zoom and part of our webinar series, Let’s Talk Lake Erie!

LAMP Annual Report

The 2021 Lake Erie LAMP Annual Report has been released and published on Binational.net. The report provides a summary of the accomplishments of the Lake Erie Partnership agencies and an update on the status of selected Lake Erie priority projects. Annual reports are issued every year for all five Great Lakes. The 2022 Lake Erie LAMP Annual Report will be available later this year.

State of the Great Lakes 2022 Reports

The State of the Great Lakes 2022 reports have been released. These reports provide an overview of the status and trends of the Great Lakes ecosystem. Nine main indicators and 40 sub-indicators of ecosystem health were used to assess the state of the Great Lakes. You can also explore the reports by visiting our new State of the Great Lakes microsite.

Binational Priorities for Science and Action

The written comment period for the Draft 2023-2025 Great Lakes Binational Priorities for Science and Action is currently open. These priorities are intended to guide and focus the key activities implemented by Canada and the U.S. from 2023 to 2025. Input received will further inform the development of these priorities, which will be finalized and posted on Binational.net. The draft priorities for science and action were developed for discussion at the Great Lakes Public Forum, which takes place every three years. Visit our Contact Us page to submit your comments by October 31, 2022.

Outreach and Engagement Opportunities

Visit the Engagement Opportunities section of Binational.net to keep up-to-date on ways you can get involved! Information on many of our partner organizations’ upcoming outreach and engagement opportunities can also be found on the Great Lakes Commission’s Great Lakes Calendar.



Thank you,

The Lake Erie Partnership Working Group Co-Chairs

Detroit River Coalition Media Highlight

Genevieve Rattray is the Director of Environment Initiatives & Affairs with the Belle Isle Conservancy. She shared in a recent article titled, The Detroit River Coalition - Bringing ocean Conservation to Detroit, by Detroitisit.com her thoughts on how connected Detroit is to the planet's oceans. Together, in 2021, the coalition removed 25,000 lbs of plastic pollution and other littered items from the Detroit River and its binational coastline! 

Follow the Adventures of Fatberg - fighting to keeping our sewers clean keeps our lakes & rivers clean

This is the 5th and fina episode in the series The Adventures of Fatburg, Hopefully you have enjoyed this lighthearted look at a serious problem facing municipal infrastructure and our water quality.

Click here to visit Barry Orr's web site for up to date information on the status of flushable products. Barry is a City of London ON Sewer Outreach and Control Inspector dedicated to the worldwide improvement of water quality and municipal infrastructure.

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Windsor International Film Festival 

Here are three Detroit River and environmentally themed films that are being screened as part of the 2022 Windsor International Film Festival! 

For over 85 years, steamship Ste. Claire transported generations to Boblo Island, an amusement park nestled in the waters between the US and Canada. When the vessel comes under threat of ruin, a doctor, psychic and amusement park fanatic unite to save their beloved steamship from the scrapyard. Interweaving local lore and mythology, Boblo Boats explores the whitewashed history of amusement parks and one crew's crusade to bring back the memories. 

This film is being screened on Sundy October 30th at 3:40pm, Tuesday November 1st at 5:30pm and Sunday November 6th at 11:05am. More information and book your tickets.

Is the lake supposed to be…green? The Erie Situation wades through the troubled waters of Lake Erie, whose highly toxic algae blooms are keeping boaters, fishermen, and water lovers at bay. In 2014 these toxins meandered their way into Toledo’s drinking water, forcing the city to go without for three days. Since then citizens have invested heavily in new water treatment technology to ensure it never happens again. But the mayor is calling for action at the root of the problem: a surplus of agricultural runoff. While some farmers are voluntarily changing to more sustainable practices, the increasing number of CAFOs (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations) are finding ways to duck regulations with no accountability for what happens downstream. Shoreline communities including Point Place, Ohio struggle to stay afloat—physically and economically—as the sticky, pungent waters leave locals with persistent coughs, itchy eyes, and respiratory issues. Up against a strong farming lobby, scientists and citizens are desperately fighting for their own safety and the rights to protect their beloved water.

This film is being screened on Wednesday November 12 2022 at 6:15pm. More info and to book your tickets.

To Mike Evans, A Year in the Forest was a gift—a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore and discover the wildlife that surrounds us. He made discoveries that, under normal circumstances, he may never have had a chance to uncover without the pandemic.

He headed into a small patch of Old Growth Forest near his South Windsor home called Oakwood Bush, intending to photograph the Spring bird migration.

The global pandemic and the shutdown that accompanied it, allowed Evans more time. Time he would use wisely, not only to photograph the bird migration, but also to film it over four seasons. Over the course of the year, he was able to chronicle critically endangered and rare species such as Fox Snakes, Coyotes, Tree Frogs, Giant Moths, Screech Owls and dozens more. He spent hours in the field filming and photographing nature in one of the most bio-diverse regions in all of Canada.

This film is being screened on Wednesday November 2nd at 6:15pm. More information and book your tickets. 

New video series highlights five revitalized Great Lakes Areas of Concern

Many Great Lakes communities that have carried the burden of legacy pollution for decades have an opportunity for a new lease on life when local waterways are finally cleaned up. A new video series features five cities along waterways deemed Areas of Concern that are in various stages of the cleanup process and are experiencing revitalization.

The U.S. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office has provided leadership throughout the cleanup process, which involves dredging or capping contaminated sediment. Even before the cleanup and subsequent restoration, local agencies and organizations have a seat at the table to discuss processes and priorities. Funding is often a partnership between the federal government, in the form of the Great Lakes Legacy Act (now through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative), and state, regional and local stakeholders.

The videos feature five cities—Duluth, Minnesota; Muskegon, Michigan; Sheboygan, Wisconsin; Ashtabula, Ohio; and Buffalo, New York—that have had some or all of their contaminated sites cleaned up and ecosystems restored. Local government representatives, business owners and residents share the impact of this work on recreation, tourism, economic development, housing and quality of life in the area.

The Great Lakes Area of Concern Revitalization Video Series was produced by Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant and Great Lakes Outreach Media.

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Healing our Connection to Water and Place through Habitat Creation

November 9 2022, 10am to 12pm, virtual as part of the Latornell Webinar series

The webinar will highlight two Indigenous-led projects to recreate natural spaces along major waterways (the St. Lawrence River and the St. Clair River) that have been impacted by historical and ongoing colonial development. We will hear from experts and leaders from the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (Tekakwitha Island and Bay Restoration Project) and Walpole Island First Nation (Swan Lake Marsh rehabilitation). Our speakers will discuss the details of the restoration projects, the historic intrusions on the territory that necessitated intervention, the challenges experienced in the design and implementation process, and the spiritual, cultural and practical significance of these spaces for the respective communities. The benefits and limitations of these projects will be discussed and calls to action to further support Community led efforts will be shared. Click here for registration information. 

Self-guided Dark Sky Night

November 26 2022, 7:30pm to 11:59pm, Point Pelee National Park, 1118 Point Pelee Dr, Leamington, ON N8H 3V4

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 us at pelee.info@pc.gc.ca.

Deck the Holidays: Wreath Making Workshop

November 26 2022, 2:30pm, John R. Park Homestead, 1915 Essex County Road 50, Harrow, ON

Ring in the holiday season with a hands-on wreath making workshop using natural materials from the forest and farm. Registration fee includes all materials, expert instruction, and a hot beverage. Please bring work clothes, gloves and hand pruners.

Makers Market

December 4  2022, 11am to 14pm, John R. Park Homestead, 1915 Essex County Road 50, Harrow, ON

The John R. Park Homestead is a historic 1842 living farm museum and a unique destination location in our region. It has been voted as the ‘Best of Windsor-Essex’ for museum/heritage space for the last three years. The museum by the lake is located at 915 County Rd. 50, Harrow, along Essex County’s beautiful wine route. During the Holiday Makers’ Market event, the historic Park Family home will be decorated for the festive season with all natural materials gathered from forest and farm, and costumed interpreters will provide guests with an authentic 1850’s holiday experience, including delicious mulled cider and roasted chestnuts.

• Shoring up the shoreline: work underway to address erosion along the Detroit River in Windsor 
• Reader letter: Restoration of Detroit River seeing progress
• Great Lakes Moment: Rouge River Revived
• Global Water Futures Observatories a critical step towards water security for Canadians 
• Book details how a watershed community rescued one of the nation's most polluted rivers 
• Rare tropical bird sighting has birders flocking to Windsor this week 
• Great Lakes Hydrographic Survey Cruise Missions
• Digital Exhibit: The Detroit River and the University of MichiganDigital Exhibit: The Detroit River and the University of Michigan
• 'Boblo Boats' is a documentary narrated by a ship