Comment Period NOW OPEN for BUI #3 (Fish Populations) and BUI #5 Public Consultation | |
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The DRCC is looking to redesignate two BUI's and we want your input!
We are still accepting comments on the proposed changes to beneficial use impairments (BUIs) #3 and #5. If you want your say in these important river issues, we encourage you to comment using the links below.
We are proposing to change BUI #3, degraded fish and wildlife, to not ‘impaired for fish’ and BUI #5, bird or animal deformities or reproductive problems, to ‘not impaired’. You can find more information on these changes by checking out our website. Comments can be submitted by clicking here. The submission will remain open until December 4, 2023.
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Sharing River Successes: BUI Consultation Open House | |
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On October 5th, 2023, the DRCC hosted a public open house to teach people more about the proposed beneficial use impairments.
The event was held in a hybrid format and drew a lot of attendance both in person and online. It was a great time for people to connect with other individuals who also have an interest in the river and learn more about the beneficial use impairments.
The event prompted an article on CBC that discusses what BUIs are and talks about the outcomes of the event. Articles like these are an important part to getting people involved and invested in the health of the Detroit River. To learn more check out the CBC article below!
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Get Out and Volunteer at Tree Plantings in Windsor-Essex | |
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Are you looking for a fun fall activity that benefits local ecology that the whole family can do?
Look no further than the tree planting events within Essex County! There are still two tree planting events taking place this fall that are looking for volunteers.
There will be a community planting at Pykes Park in the heart of Ford City on October 25th at 3:30 pm. The event is held by the Essex Region Conservation Authority in partnership with TD Bank Group, Arbor Day Foundation, and the City of Winsor. Each tree will be planted in a hole pre-augured by ERCA staff in advance. Volunteers will then place an adequate amount of mulch at the base of each tree once the tree has been planted. Volunteers are required to register in advance, so don’t hesitate to sign up here.
Come out and plant the Chrysler Canada Greenway in Harrow with Essex Region Conservation Authority and ADM Agri-Industries. This planting will take place November 4th at 10:00 am. Thanks to ADM Agri-Industries, 300 new trees will be planted to improve tree canopy cover and biodiversity along this section of the greenway system. All equipment provided, volunteers are required to preregister so be sure to sign up here.
Holes for the larger trees will be augured in advance to help with both plantings.
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Annual Survey Protecting Great Lakes Beachgoers | |
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Each year beach owners, operators, and custodians take care to ensure that our beaches are safe to swim in. Part of their duties include completing a survey on beach health and water quality each year. In Canada this survey is called an Environmental Health and Safety Survey and in the USA this survey is called a Beach Sanitary Survey.
This year the International Joint Commission, in collaboration with the Great Lakes Beach Association, published a report to understand the usage of these surveys. They got responses representing over 1100 beaches in Canada and the USA. The results in the report showcased the top 10 potential health threats and mitigation measures put in place from the surveys use. You can learn more about the findings from this report by reading the full article linked below.
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Attention Rural Landowners: Now is a Great Time to Setup Spring Tree Planting and Restoration Projects | |
The Essex Region Conservation Authority offers a spring planting program for landowners with at least 1 acre of land who are looking to plant 500 trees. Grants are available for this program, making it a great way to reforest parts of your land for a low cost. If 500 trees are too many for you, there are other planting programs available as well. Site visits for these programs and for other restorations are going on now. If you are interested in this or think you may qualify, please email pgiroux@erca.org. | |
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Lake Erie Holds a New Record Amongst the Great Lakes | |
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Adapted from: Lake Erie Now Holds the World Waterspout Record, Fox8 News; and What is a Waterspout?, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
If you’ve ever looked out over Lake Erie and seen a waterspout, you aren’t alone. The Lake now holds the record for having the most waterspouts in one day, with 181 waterspouts on October 7th, 2023.
According to the International Centre for Waterspout Research, one observer was able to see 72 of these waterspouts himself. The waterspouts over Lake Erie were part of a bigger event over the Great Lakes lasting from October 6-12, 2023. During this event there were 294 waterspouts seen over the Great Lakes, breaking the record for most waterspouts in the world in a single event.
The NOAA says that waterspouts, which are whirling columns of air and water mist, fall into two categories: tornadic waterspouts and fair-weather waterspouts. Tornadic waterspouts are ones that form over water or move from land to water and have the same characteristics as land tornadoes. These types of waterspouts are typically associated with severe thunderstorms. Fair-weather waterspouts, which were the type that gave the record to Lake Erie last week, are formed upward. Meaning that they start on the water and reach towards the clouds. These types of waterspouts are not associated with storms and are often formed by differences in temperature from the lake to the atmosphere.
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Explore Nature and See Fall Colours: Hiking Guides for Ontario and Michigan | | |
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With the weather cooling down, there’s no better time to go for a walk. Whether you ride a bicycle on Pelee Island or you take a walk in Point Pelee National Park, or Wheatley Provincial Park, or in many of the conservation areas around Essex County, there are plenty of places to take in the reds, oranges, and yellows of fall. If you’re interested in a day trip there are many places in Michigan or outside of Essex County to go for a hike. Check out the Michigan and Ontario hiking guides linked below to get outside before the leaves fall! | |
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World Migratory Bird Day: October 8
World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) is an annual campaign highlighting the need for the conservation of migratory birds and their habitats.
Did you know that during this time of year the lower Detroit River becomes a corridor for migrating birds? Hundreds of thousands of migrating hawks, eagles, falcons, and vultures concentrate over the river and surrounding Canadian and American lands as they make their way south, making the Detroit River and Important Bird Area (IBA).
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Waste Reduction Week: October 16-22
Waste Reduction Week in Canada focuses 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.
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Fall Migration Festival
October 19 to 22, 2023, Kingsville (various locations), ON
This year marks the 54th annual Migration Fall Festival weekend. Kingsville welcomes the community to a celebration of migration, heritage, nature conservation and Jack Miner. Jack Miner Bird Sanctuary is also hosting various activities, such as a maze, a car show slow roll, and much more. You can find out more by checking out the website here.
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Park House Museum Ghost Tours
October 20 & 21, 2023, Park House Museum, 214 Dalhousie St., Amherstburg, ON
Tour the oldest building in Amherstburg and visit the many rooms filled with over 225 years of history – oh, we should mention that it’s had its fair share of ghost encounters. Tours run every 30 minutes and last 45 minutes to one hour. For tickets, call the Park House. The ghosts await your visit to the Park House Museum. Check out the event website here.
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Candlelight Tours at Fort Malden
October 20, 21, 27, 28, 2023, Fort Malden National Historic Site, 100 Laird Ave., Amherstburg, ON
Visit Fort Malden in the evening during one of the most frightening times of year. Tour through candlelit buildings and listen to stories of the soldiers that lived here over 200 years ago. This evening is an opportunity for visitors to experience the fort at night. Please visit the event page for hours and more details. Please email fortmalden@pc.gc.ca to register for the event! More information for this event can be found here.
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Thiessen Halloween Extravaganza
October 21 2023, 10am to 5:30pm, Thiessen Apple Orchard, 400 Talbot rd., Leamington, ON
Don't miss Thiessen's family friendly Halloween event. Be sure to dress up and enjoy a day of trick or treating on the farm. You can find more information on this event here.
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Haunted Park and Outdoor Movie
October 21, 2023, 6pm to 8pm, Lakewood Park, 13451 Riverside Dr., Tecumseh, ON
Get dressed up and come trick or treat throughout Lakewood Park featuring local businesses! From pumpkin painting to face painting to games and music, there will be no shortage of Halloween fun! Outdoor movie will begin at 8PM, be sure to follow us on social media to vote on your favourite Halloween movie to watch. Check out the event website here for more info.
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Pykes Park Community Tree Planting in Ford City
October 25 2023, 3:30pm to 4:30pm, Pykes Park, Windsor, ON
There will be a community tree planting at Pykes Park in Ford City on October 25th. Preregistration is required and spaces are limited. More information can be found here. Holes for the larger trees will be augured in advance to help with the planting.
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Windsor International Film Festival
October 26 to November 5, 2023, various theatres in Windsor, ON
WIFF is back and bigger than ever with an impressive slate of 186 feature films from 46 countries and over 300 screenings. New this year includes the WIFF Centrepiece Film, Detroit and Housing film slates, industry programming and more. For more information check out their website here.
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Bats and Brews at Museum Windsor
October 26 2023, 7pm to 10pm, Chimczuk Museum, 401 Riverside Dr., Windsor, ON
Museum Windsor has partnered with Craft Heads Brewery for a fun-filled night of frightening fun.Tickets are $30 each and include admission to the Chimczuk Museum and the new travelling exhibition Worlds of the Night, a four4-beer sampler from Craft Heads (additional beverages will be available for purchase), two personal-size bags of popcorn from What’s Poppin’, and frightening tales told by Windsor’s Poet Laureate Emeritus Marty Gervais. There will also be an optional scavenger hunt, and visitors who arrive in their Halloween costumes will be entered into a raffle for a museum prize package. Check out the event website here for tickets.
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ADM Agri-Industries Community Tree Planting Event
November 4, 2023, 10am to 12 pm, Chrysler Canada Greenway, Harrow, ON
The Essex Region Conservation Authority in partnership with ADM-Agri Industries are gearing up to plant a 300 tree and shrub mixture along our Chrysler Canada Greenway Saturday November 4. We are looking for volunteers to help us plant and registration is now open for participation. Please register to Volunteer Now! or visit our website for more information. Holes for the larger trees will be augured in advance to help with the planting.
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Pelee Island Winery Harvest Festival
November 4, 2023, 12pm to 6 pm, Kingsville Winery, 455 Seacliff Dr, Kingsville, ON
Get ready for a celebration like no other as we bid farewell to the harvest season in style at the first ever “EPIC Wineries – Harvest Festival”! Hosted out front of Pelee Island Winery in charming Kingsville, this event is your ticket to a day of wine-filled fun. For more information check out the event page here.
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Essex County Field Naturalists' Club Annual Dinner
November 4 2023, 6:30pm, Royal Canadian Legion, Metropolitan Branch 594, 5030 Howard Avenue, Tecumseh, ON
he ECFNC 36th Annual Dinner is on Saturday, Nov. 4th at the Royal Canadian Legion, Metropolitan Branch 594, 5030 Howard Avenue, Tecumseh, ON. (South of Hwy 3; across from the Heavenly Rest Cemetery). Doors open at 5:00 pm; Dinner at 6:30 pm, tickets are $40.00 each. This event includes a silent auction, cash bar, door prizes and a county style sit down dinner.
Enjoy an interesting talk by Dr. Dennis Higgs, a Professor of Integrative Biology at the University of Windsor; his topic is Fish Communications. Dr. Higgs has been described as very engaging and interesting; previous audiences have really enjoyed his talk. Take part in honouring a special member for his/her outstanding work for the club.
Purchase tickets in person or online: Ojibway Nature Centre, open Wed. to Fri. 12:00 noon to 5:00 pm, and Sat. 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Or reach out to Aileen Petrozzi - petrozzi2@gmail.com or JoAnn Grondin - 519-734-0056 or online.
The last day to buy tickets is midnight on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.
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Dark Sky Nights at Point Pelee National Park
November 18, Point Pelee National Park Visitor Centre, 1118 Point Pelee Dr, Leamington, ON
Explore the park after dark and get a chance to view stars in a way you haven't seen before. The park will be open until midnight on November 18 for you to get a chance to view the skies at Windsor-Essex's only dark sky preserve. Visitors can pick up a seasonal star chart upon arrival. For more information please contact us at pelee.info@pc.gc.ca or check out the event website here.
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Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island Halloween Guide
For more information on Halloween related events around Windsor Essex be sure to check out the event guide linked here.
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If you have an upcoming local event that you want The Current readers to know about please send us an email at postmaster@detroitriver.ca | |
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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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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