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.

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!

Deadline for application is November 6, 2020.

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.

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.

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.