You're invited to our 11th Annual Detroit River Evening! The virtual event is planned for Wednesday, September 14 from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm. The Detroit River Evening is a free event that highlights our coordinated efforts to improve the Detroit River and remove it from the list of Great Lakes' Areas of Concern.The event is free, but registration is required. We look forward to you joining us.
2022 Pathway to Delisting: take a look at the DRCC AOC Workplan

The DRCC updated the Pathway to Delisting document. This living work plan outlines the remaining actions necessary to delist the Canadian side of the Detroit River as an Area of Concern.

Download your copy here! and look for the 2021/22 DRCC Annual Report release at the Detroit River Evening!
City of Windsor Pollution Control

The City of Windsor's Pollution Control Department is responsible for the maintenance and operation of 2 wastewater treatment plants a combined sewer overflow retention treatment basin, as well sanitary, combined and storm water pumping stations. These facilities convey and treat wastewater and stormwater from our homes, businesses and factories.
In addition, Pollution Control operates an Environmental Quality (Laboratory) Division and enforces various sewer usage By-Laws.

The Lou Romano Water Reclamation Plant is pictured above.
To learn more, click here.

Sandwich Environmental Tour was a success!
The Detroit River Canadian Cleanup, Essex Region Conservation Authority and the Windsor Port Authority held an environmental walking tour Tuesday August 23 to highlight some of the efforts being made under along the riverfront. Funding for the Sandwich Environmental Tour has been provided by the Gordie Howe International Bridge Community Benefits Plan.

Guests visited McKee Park, Queen's Dock Park, Brock Park, Prosperity Place and Patterson Place while learning about environmental progress from Peter Berry, the Harbourmaster with the Windsor Port Authority, Paul Drca, Remedial Action Plan Coordinator and Tom Henderson, Public Advisory Council Chair from the DRCC and Gina Pannunzio and Ryan Graham from Essex Region Conservation. Thank you to everyone who came! We look forward to hosting this event again in the future.
Queen's Dock Community Space Temporary Closure Announcement
The DRCC looks forward to the shoreline restoration work being completed! Check out the image below taken August 18 2022 highlighting the restoration efforts underway.
A message from the Windsor Port Authority:

Windsor Port Authority would like to announce the temporary closure of our Queens Dock Community space.

The space is undergoing restoration to protect the shoreline.

The public is advised that the timeline for this closure commences Tuesday, August 2, 2022 and is expected to continue until October 31, 2022.

There will be no access to the Detroit River shoreline or park amenities during this time period.

Thank you for your understanding. We will continue to update our website, Facebook and Twitter pages with any additional information.
Follow the Adventures of Fatberg, fighting to keeping our sewers clean

The City of Windsor's Environmental Services and Operations Departments have responsibilities for maintenance and upkeep of the City's sewage system: 1,697 kilometres of sanitary and storm sewers, 2 wastewater treatment plants and 45 pumping stations located throughout the City.

Sewer blockages can cause problems right in your home and also lead to sewage overflows directly to the Detroit River. To read more, click here.
Gordie Howe International Bridge Community Benefits Year-In-Review

The Gordie Howe International Bridge has released it's 2021-2022 Community Benefits Year-In-Review.

This report provides highlights many ways in which local people, businesses and organizations in Sandwich/Windsor and Delray/Detroit and beyond have benefitted from the Gordie Howe International Bridge Community Benefits Plan over the past year.

Thank you to the project team for including a story on the community litter cleanups the DRCC undertook in 2021 with Essex Region Conservation Authority and volunteers. We encourage you to read the report to see all of the partnerships and accomplishments of the Community Benefits Plan thus far!
Speak out for your Great Lakes!
Great Lakes Ecoregion Network (GLEN) invites you to help protect your Great Lake! GLEN is a binational group of dedicated advocates (see: ) working to strengthen the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) and increase public/community engagement in government policies focusing on Great Lakes water quality.

Please add your voice to help protect the Great Lakes and the communities that rely on them.

The landmark GLWQA turns 50 this year. On September 27-29, the Canadian and US Federal Governments will host their largest listening session in years in Niagara Falls to help frame the next decades of international collaboration to protect and restore the Great Lakes, and their basins & connecting waterways.

Not everyone can make it to Niagara Falls for the Governments’ meeting. And they shouldn’t have to. GLEN is hosting a virtual community session for each of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River to gather public comments and concerns. Each webinar will have a review of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement followed by a regional expert providing facts and water quality information on each lake and the St. Lawrence. Then it’s your turn to provide your perspectives. Your comments will be recorded and compiled for presentation to the governments and the International Joint Commission at the fall meeting in Niagara Falls, Ontario and will help guide GLEN’s actions.

Registration link for each webinar below. All Webinars will be at: 2-3:30 EDT / 1-2:30 CDT


Further details will be sent to registrants soon. Questions can be directed to Sandy Bihn at: sandylakeerie@aol.com or 1-419-367-1691 and/or
John Jackson at jjackson@web.ca or 519-744-7503
2021 Great Lakes Lakewide Action and Management Plans Available
The 2021 Lakewide Action and Management Plan (LAMP) Annual Reports for Lakes Erie, Huron, Michigan, Ontario and Superior are now available.
 
LAMPs are binational ecosystem-based strategies for protecting and restoring the water quality of the Great Lakes. These five-year strategic plans identify key priorities for each Great Lake and guide the coordination of binational environmental protection and restoration activities. The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement also commits the United States and Canada to provide annual updates on implementing each LAMP.
 
These 2021 LAMP Annual Reports highlight accomplishments and progress during the past year for each Great Lake, including protection and restoration actions, science and monitoring, and outreach activities. LAMPs are developed and implemented by Lake Partnerships, which are led by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Environment and Climate Change Canada, and consist of representatives from Federal agencies, State and Provincial Governments, Tribal Governments, First Nations, Métis, Municipal Governments, and watershed management agencies. These Partnerships coordinate binational LAMP actions, facilitate information sharing, and identify priorities for science and management actions, as described in the 2012 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.
 
For more information, visit Binational.net.
Great Lakes Public Forum
Registration is now open for the 2022 Great Lakes Public Forum taking place on September 27-29, 2022 in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada! The United States and Canada invite members of the public, organizations, and agencies with an interest or involvement in restoration and protection of the Great Lakes to attend.
The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement calls for Canada and the United States 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 Canada and the United States with respect to the implementation of the Agreement.

This year’s Forum holds special significance as it falls on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement between Canada and the United States.

The Great Lakes Public Forum will be a hybrid event, with opportunities to join in person or virtually. Registration for this event is free! Registration for the in-person event closes Monday, September 5, 2022. Space is limited, so if you wish to participate in person register early.

For more information and to register, visit the event page on binational.net.

A preliminary agenda is available with a detailed agenda to follow. For any questions, please contact the Registration Coordinator at greatlakes-grandlacs@ec.gc.ca.
Days Worth Mentioning
National Forest Week - September 18 - 24

Each year National Forest Week is celebrated across Canada by many individuals and diverse governmental and non governmental organizations. Canadians are invited to learn more about Canada’s forest heritage and to raise awareness about this valuable and renewable resource. Forests are fundamental to our economy, culture, traditions and history – and to our future. Communities, families and individuals depend on forests for their livelihood and way of life.
World Rivers Day - September 25

World Rivers Day is a celebration of the world’s waterways. It highlights the many values of our rivers, strives to increase public awareness, and encourages the improved stewardship of all rivers around the world. Rivers in virtually every country face an array of threats, and only through our active involvement can we ensure their health in the years ahead.
Upcoming Local Events
Save the date for these great local events! Contact the organizers for more information.
History and Heritage of the Detroit River
September 7 2022, 6:30pm, River Bookshop, 67 Richmond Street, Amherstburg, ON

The Detroit River is unique in Canada, the United States, and indeed the World. In 2001 it became the first and only river to receive both Canadian and American Heritage River Designations. As the busiest international waterway in North America, the Detroit River, in fact, is more a road than a boundary. At 6:30 Danielle Stuebing from ERCA will host a presentation that will educate and engage. Prior to that at 5:30 Mayor Aldo DiCarlo will unveil a plaque on a mural in the Navy Yard Park that celebrates the river.
The Monarch Express
September 10 2022, 10am to 3pm, CP Rail Yard, 1039 Janette Avenue, Windsor, ON

Join Monarch enthusiasts in welcoming the Monarch Express. Windsor is the first stop on its journey as it follows the Monarch's migration path from Canada to Mexico. There will be opportunities to learn about the butterfly and how to support the species by planting pollinator gardens and protecting the Monarchs winter home. This is a family friendly event being presented by Rotary Clubs: Windsor-Roseland, LaSalle Centennial, Windsor-St. Clair, Windsor-Walkerville and Windosr 1918. For more information contact debra.henshaw@gmail.com.
Festival of Hawks
September 17 2022, 9am to 3pm, plus evening activities, Holiday Beach Conservation Area, 6952 50 Cr, Amherstburg, ON

The Festival of Hawks will take place on Saturday September 17 2022 at Holiday Beach Conservation Area. For more information and the festival activities, click here.
Self-guided Dark Sky Night
September 24 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.
Essex Region Conservation Bike Tour
September 24 2022, 8am to 5pm, Windsor-Essex Region

The Essex Region Conservation Bike Tour returns to raise funds for conservation initiatives across the Essex Region! For the past two years, people have flocked to conservation areas and trails in unprecedented numbers. Show your love for for these special places by joining us on Saturday, September 24, 2022, to ride in support of conservation efforts in the region! For more information and to register, click here.
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.