Great Lakes Lakewide Action and Management Plans 2017 Annual Reports Available Online
The 2017 Lakewide Action and Management Plan (LAMP) Annual Reports for lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario have just been published.
 
The 2017 LAMP annual reports highlight accomplishments and progress in achieving LAMP goals during the past year, and identify LAMP-related activities including outreach, monitoring, protection and restoration actions.  Lakewide Action and Management Plans are developed and implemented for each Great Lake.  Each Lake Partnership facilitates information sharing, sets priorities, and assists in coordinating binational environmental protection and restoration activities as prescribed in the Lakewide Management Annex of the 2012 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement . 
 
For more information, visit Binational.net.
The Great Lakes Guardian Community Fund, now in its sixth year, provides up to $25,000 per project to restore and protect the Great Lakes and the rivers and streams that flow into them.
 
This year's fund will award $1.5 million in total for eligible projects. The deadline to apply is November 10, 2017.
 
Since 2012, the Great Lakes Guardian Community Fund has awarded $7.5 million to 375 community-based projects, which supported more than 37,000 volunteers to plant over 285,000 trees and shrubs, release over 800,000 fish, create or enhance 760 kilometres of trail and collect over 2,800 bags of garbage.
 
People in the Great Lakes communities know what should be fixed on the shorelines of their hometowns. That's why they make for perfect Great Lakes Guardians and why we're proud to support 375 projects shored up by over 37,000 volunteers.
 
You too can become a Great Lakes Guardian by applying for a grant. Help us restore, protect, and conserve our Great Lakes to keep them drinkable, swimmable and fishable. Together we can make a real difference in Great Lakes communities across the province.
 
How to apply
Learn more
  • Email or call us at 416-325-4000,1-800-565-4923,TTY 416-326-9236 or toll-free 1-800-515-2759
  • For an accessible application guide, send us an email:GreatLakesFund@ontario.ca
Bush Park Planting in Little River Watershed
On Saturday, 14 October, the Windsor-Essex community celebrated the birthdays of Canada and Windsor by planting 150 trees. Essex County Nature was invited to participate by Paul Giroux, City of Windsor Forester and Gina Pannunzio, Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA)/ Detroit River Canadian Cleanup (DRCC). Our community partnership also included volunteers from the Little River Enhancement Group (Lil' Reg) and the Windsor Chapter of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at (AMJ Windsor). This project was funded by the AMJ Windsor, the City of Windsor and the Detroit River Canadian Cleanup.
The planting site is located in the Little River Watershed in East Windsor at Bush Park. There is an existing woodland that is well established in the south end of the park; fortunately, the Ganatchio Trail already runs through it and is enjoyed by local citizens. This tree planting event extended the woodland habitat north to Forest Glade Drive and will provide shade for trail users in the future. As well, planted trees along the Ganatchio Trail will connect the park to the riparian habitat of the Little River valley.

Environment Canada called for a cloudy day with 60 percent chance of showers. High 21. Humidex 25. UV index 3 or moderate. The group appreciated the weather conditions: overcast, with mild Autumn temperatures (15 to 17 degrees Celsius). The volunteers were not phased by the precipitation at the beginning of the event, which did not last. About 50 hardy community volunteers (children, parents and grandparents) participated by digging holes; planting and mulching the trees! Volunteers worked from 9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The species of trees that we planted included: (Burr Oak, American Elm, Swamp White Oak, Basswood, Pin Oak, Freeman's Maple and American Sycamore.)

The planting event was followed by a barbeque sponsored by the AMJ Windsor group, which was greatly appreciated by the volunteers.

Today's contribution brings the total number of trees planted in the Little River Watershed to 39,235!

Author: Ian Naisbitt, President of the Little River Enhancement Group.
TD Tree Day Celebration Along Little River
On Sunday, 22 October, TD Bank sponsored their TD Tree Day program by inviting our Windsor-Essex community to help TD employees plant trees. Groups that participated included: Essex County Nature, Code Green -  Caesars Windsor, Rotary Club of LaSalle Centennial, Essex County Geocachers, University of Windsor Students, the Detroit River Canadian Cleanup, Unifor Local 200 Retirees and the Little River Enhancement Group.

The planting site is located in the Detroit River Watershed in East Windsor's Little River Corridor Park. This is the same site that our community planted to celebrate Earth Day 2017.
We enjoyed a typical Autumn day: a mostly sunny sky with occasional Cirrus clouds, temperatures in the morning of 12 Celsius increasing to 21 C by noon. There was a slight breeze (23 km/ h), which made the planting pleasurable.

Over 60 eager volunteers participated by digging holes; planting and mulching 300 trees! Volunteers started planting at 9:30 a.m. and the job was completed at 11:15 a.m., before the scheduled end time, Well Done! The species of trees that we planted included Burr Oak, Swamp White Oak, Red Oak, Cottonwood, American Elm, Basswood, Pin Oak, Hackberry, and American Sycamore.

The Little River Enhancement Group would like to thank TD Bank and the Essex Region Conservation Authority/ Detroit River Canadian Cleanup for planning this community event. Our goal to improve the ecosystem health of the Detroit River Watershed has benefited from the TD Tree Day volunteer efforts.

Today's contribution brings the total number of trees planted in the Little River Watershed to 39,535!
 
Author: Ian Naisbitt, President of the Little River Enhancement Group.
Extra! Extra! Read all about it!   
The Detroit River 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 the organizer for more information. 
Fall Migration Field Courses
Saturday September 2 to December 2 2017 
A series of morning field trips to observe the incredible variety of birds that migrate through Southwestern Ontario each fall.Lead by Paul Pratt. Morning field trips (8:30 am - noon) to Point Pelee and Holiday Beach. $16/adult, $14.50/senior each trip (dates are tentative) 
  1. Oct 14, (Saturday) meet at the Tip parking lot, Point Pelee
  2. Oct 28, (Saturday) meet at the Tip parking lot, Point Pelee
  3. Nov 11, (Saturday) meet at the Hawk Tower, Holiday Beach C.A.
  4. Dec 02, (Saturday) meet at the Tip parking lot, Point Pelee
WECEC Screening of Before the Flood
Thursday November 2 2017, Imagine Lakeshore Cinemas, 64 Commercial Blvd., Tecumseh, ON, 7pm  
Join our friends at Windsor Essex County Environment Committee on November 2nd at 7pm at Imagine Cinemas Lakeshore for a free screening of Before the Flood! Following the film, a panel will be hosted by an audience driven discussion on climate change with a panel of experts. Free admission, but limited seating so call 311 to book your seat.
Essex County Nature Annual Dinner
Saturday November 4th 2017, 7:30pm, Fogolar Furlan Club 
Doors: 5:30pm, Dinner: 7pm. Tickets $40 available at Ojibway Nature Centre or Pelee Wings Nature Store.
 
Guest speaker: Jody Allair - Southern Ontario's Forest Birds at Risk. Like canaries in a coal mine, our at risk forest birds have important information to convey. Find out exactly who these remarkable birds are, what threats they face, and what we might do to help. Jody Allair is an avid birder and naturalist who enjoys sharing his enthusiasm for the natural world. Jody has been birding and banding since his teens, when he began volunteering at Long Point Bird Observatory (LPBO). He has worked at the LPBO, the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology and has held bird watching courses and field trips. He has been a Biologist and Science Educator for Bird Studies Canada (BSC) since 2006. Jody conducts various educational activities in addition to his research and fieldwork. He has been seen on TV teaching Rick Mercer how to band Saw-whet Owls. He leads birding trips with Eagle-Eye Tours to Alberta, Mexico, and New Zealand.
 
Urban Bird Summit sponsored by State of the Strait Conference and Metro Detroit Nature Network
Thursday, November 9th, 2017, 8:30am-5:00pm,Detroit Zoo - Ford Education Center, 8450 W. 10 Mile Rd., Royal Oak, MI
The State of the Strait is a Canada-U.S. one-day conference held every two years that brings together government managers, researchers, students, environmental and conservation organizations, and concerned citizens to assess ecosystem status and provide advice to improve
research, monitoring, and management.
 
In coordination with Detroit's 2017 designation as an Urban Bird Treaty City, the State of the Strait, the Detroit Zoo, and the Metro Detroit Nature Network have partnered to present a conference with the theme " Urban Bird Summit: Status, Trends, and Risks to Species that Call the Corridor Home".
 
Online registration deadline is October 31st 2017. Click here for registration details and a full event summary: http://web2.uwindsor.ca/softs. 
Dennis B. Chase Smile Walk for Optimism and Conservation
Saturday November 11 2017, 8am to 4pm. Hillman Marsh Conservation Area 
Join the Chase family for the first annual Dennis B. Chase Smile Walk for Optimism & Conservation.  Honouring ERCA longtime employee Dennis Chase, who planted more than one million trees during his career, always with a smile .  Funds raised will help support conservation efforts in the Place for Life.  Register or donate here: https://raceroster.com/events/2017/9550/the-dennis-b-chase-smile-walk-for-optimism-conservation. 
Belle Isle Park Advisory Council
Thursday November 16th 2017, 9am to 11am. Belle Isle Nature Zoo, Flynn Pavilion - Near Intersection of Picnic Way & Loiter Way, Belle Isle, Detroit, MI, 48207
Please see website link for past agendas, meeting minutes, and additional information here.  
Super Santa Run
Saturday November 18th 2017 4-6pm, General Amherst High School 130 Sandwich St S, Amherstburg, ON N9V 1Z8
Come out and walk or run 5km dressed as Santa! Limited early bird rates at $35/adult and $25/child. Get a free Santa suit! Stay for the Amherstburg Santa Riverlights Festival. Proceeds benefit the Essex Region Conservation Foundation. More info at erca.org/active. 
Deck the Holidays Workshop
Saturday November 25th 2017 2-4pm, John R. Park Homestead. Essex County Rd 50 & Iler Rd, Harrow, ON.
Ring in the holiday season with a hands-on wreath making workshop using natural materials from the forest and farm. Registration includes all materials and expert instruction, a tasty mug of warm cider or cocoa, and a holiday snack from the Homestead's hearth. Cost is $20/person. Pre-registration required. Register online at www.decktheholidaysworkshop2017.eventbrite.ca.   


The DRCC initiative 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 main goal is to remove the River from the list of Great Lakes Areas of Concern.