In accordance with public health guidelines, the Detroit River Canadian Cleanup (DRCC) office remains closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, we have cancelled all in person DRCC events until October 31, 2020. Should you need to reach out to the DRCC, we can be reached via e-mail or telephone (519) 982-3722.
Binational Habitat Efforts
The Detroit River is a binational Area of Concern. Initially, the Remedial Action Plan (RAP) for the Detroit River Area of Concern (AOC) included both Canada and the United States. However, in the 1990s a decision was made to have separate RAPs for each side of the river. Though the RAPs are separate, each side regularly communicates with each other and conducts some projects in partnership (e.g., the Sturgeon Reef at Fighting Island). To celebrate the habitat work that each side has done on the river, we've created a poster showcasing the habitat work that has been completed or is in progress. Check out the poster by clicking the link below!
Funding opportunity:
Great Lakes Local Action Fund
The Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks is investing $1.67 million in the first round of the Great Lakes Local Action Fund to help Ontario protect, restore and conserve the Great Lakes. The program provides funding up to $50,000 for local small-scale community projects that have a positive environmental impact on the Great Lakes, as well as social or economic benefits for their communities.

The ministry is looking for projects that:
  • deliver social and/or economic co-benefits to their communities
  • provide opportunities for community involvement in Great Lakes restoration and/or protection
  • provide increased opportunities for people to learn about the value of the Great Lakes

Deadline for application is November 6, 2020.
Checkup: Assessing Ecosystem Health of the Detroit River and Western Lake Erie
Canadian and U.S. partner organizations have released the 11th biennial State of the Strait report titled “Checkup: Assessing Ecosystem Health of the Detroit River and Western Lake Erie.” This report is based on the evaluation of long-term datasets on 61 indicators of ecosystem health and discussions at the State of the Strait conference held on November 19, 2020 at the University of Windsor, Ontario. More than 40 organizations contributed individual indicator reports and more than 200 people participated in this binational conference, including our RAP Coordinator. Check out the RAP coordinator reports on habitat projects and sediment remediation actions on the Canadian side of the river.
Fishing Derby and Survey
We spent the morning on September 19 at the Detroit River with the Windsor Sportsmen's Club for their 61st annual Kids and Cops derby with Windsor Police and Canadian Tire! Lots of "green bass" were caught at Dieppe Park and some freshwater drum and more were caught at Reaume Park in the City of Windsor. We were also able to get some responses to our fish consumption survey and teach the kids about the Detroit River.

If you haven't taken our fish consumption survey, it is available online! Tell us what you catch and eat from the river and how often and you will receive a $5 Tim Hortons gift card (some restrictions apply).
Indicator Species Highlight: Snapping Turtles
Indicator species are animals, plants, or microorganism used to monitor changes in our environment. The common snapping turtle has been frequently used as an indicator of contaminants and their effects on wildlife health in Great Lakes AOCs. The Detroit River AOC studies snapping turtle reproduction and development for the assessment of BUI #5, Bird or Animal Deformities or Reproductive problems.

Reproduction and development were examined in snapping turtles foraging within the Detroit River AOC in 2014–2016. The results of this three-year study suggest there was no evidence of impairment for the two reproduction and development endpoints measured in snapping turtles in the Detroit River AOC. Hatching success and percentage of deformed hatchlings did not differ significantly from the reference location at Long Point in the three study years. PCB and mercury burdens in snapping turtle eggs from AOC sites were also below proposed thresholds associated with adverse effects on reproduction.

Learn more about the snapping turtle in the Essex County Field Naturalists Creature Feature, below.
Dates worth mentioning
World Migratory Bird Day – October 10, 2020
World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) is an annual awareness-raising campaign highlighting the need for the conservation of migratory birds and their habitats. Celebrate the day by heading out to Holiday Beach to witness the fall migration of hawks! 
Waste Reduction Week - October 19 - 25, 2020
Waste Reduction Week in Canada is a year-round program, focused on the principles of circular economy, resource efficiency, and waste reduction. The program’s primary purpose is to celebrate our environmental efforts and achievements while encouraging new innovative ideas and solutions to reduce waste.
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 event organizers for more information and to learn more about COVID-19 precautions at the event.
Fall Migration at Holiday Beach
Sunday, September 20th until Saturday, October 31st, 2020, Holiday Beach Conservation Area, 6952 50 Cr, Amherstburg, Ontario 
Each year, ERCA welcomes guests to Holiday Beach Conservation Area to experience one of the best birding hotspots in Canada, and the spectacular hawk migration.

Due to continued restrictions on gatherings, ERCA regretfully has had to cancel the annual Festival of Hawks. The Hawk Tower will also remain closed to the public, as physical distancing in that space cannot be safely met.

Guests are still welcome to visit Holiday Beach Conservation Area to enjoy the thousands of hawks flying overhead, as well as to hike or cycle along the newly renovated boardwalks and trails.
Saturday, October 3, 2020, Point Pelee National Park Visitor's Centre, 1118 Point Pelee Drive, Leamington ON, 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Not only are birds and butterflies migrating in September, but it’s also a prime time for bats. Join a park interpreter for a short theatre presentation about bats before heading out on a hike. The interpreter will pull out a bat detector and you’ll listen for the distinct clicking patterns that each different species makes.

Stay after the hike and enjoy a late summer evening and starry night sky. Event is free with paid admission to the park.
Saturday, October 3, 2020, Point Pelee National Park Visitor's Centre, 1118 Point Pelee Drive, Leamington ON, 7:30 PM - 11:59 PM
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 pc.pelee.info.pc@canada.ca.
Greening Your Grounds: An introduction to building your own rain garden
Wednesday, October 7, 2020, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Learn how to build your own rain garden at this FREE webinar. The Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan, Lower Trent Conservation, and Quinte Conservation will walk you through the process of building your own rain garden. Starting with choosing the correct site, and size of garden for your property, to the final stage of selecting native plants that will thrive in your rain garden. For more information and to register, click here.
Saturday, October 31, 2020, Point Pelee National Park Visitor's Centre, 1118 Point Pelee Drive, Leamington ON, 7:30 PM - 11:59 PM
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 pc.pelee.info.pc@canada.ca.
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.