Partners from the Detroit River Canadian Cleanup and the Essex Region Conservation Authority joined management and retailers from Devonshire Mall on July 15 in creating a second native garden near the Bank of Montreal entrance. Following the announcement and sign unveiling which will help mall visitors identify the variety of beautiful native species used in this landscaping project, volunteers helped to plant approximately 700 plants. Butterfly Milkweed, Obedient Plant, and Golden Alexanders were just some of the species included in the 3,300 square foot project. “Devonshire Mall is committed to our community’s environment and is fortunate to work with the Essex Region Conservation Authority and the Detroit River Canadian Cleanup organizations in this important community project,” said Chris Savard, General Manager, Devonshire Mall. This initiative complements the many environmental initiatives already underway at Devonshire Mall.

The original outdoor native garden is located at the main entrance adjacent to TD Canada Trust, and the indoor atrium at the food court also feature all native plant species. “The Essex Region Conservation Authority salutes Devonshire Mall for their ongoing commitment to the environment. By working together as a community to create green spaces where appropriate, we can collectively improve our region’s water quality, provide important pollinator habitat, and showcase the relevance of these projects to urban residents,” added Ed Sleiman, ERCA Chairman.

Native plants provide the best habitat for pollinator species that naturally occur in our region. Presently, rapidly declining populations of pollinators is of worldwide concern, and this project helps to provide much needed habitat. As well, pesticides and fertilizers used in home and commercial gardens can end up in our rivers and lakes, which can harm fish and other wildlife. With Devonshire Mall’s location in the Detroit River watershed, greening this area with native plants reduces the need for watering and fertilizer, improving water conservation and the health of the watershed.

“Projects and partnerships like this are vital to the health of our Detroit River. We hope that mall visitors and local residents will appreciate the garden for its beauty, see the benefits, and will be encouraged to try native plants in their gardens too,” said Claire Sanders, Coordinator of the Remedial Action Plan for the Detroit River.

Ian Naisbitt, Detroit River Canadian Cleanup, Chris Savard, Devonshire Mall, Warden Tom Bain and ERCA Chair Ed Sleiman at Devonshire Mall. Photo Courtesy: ERCA.

The Governments of Canada and the United States have launched consultations on Recommended Binational Phosphorus targets to combat Lake Erie algae blooms. As you may be aware, to combat the growing threat of toxic and nuisance algae development in Lake Erie, Canada and the United States have committed, through the 2012 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, to develop revised binational phosphorus load reduction targets for Lake Erie by February, 2016. 

 Canada and the United States are consulting on the draft phosphorus load reduction targets for Lake Erie through respective engagement platforms. Canadian consultations, both on-line and through face-to-face meetings with stakeholders, will run until July 31st, 2015. For further information on the Canadian consultations, please visit http://www.nutrientsbinational.net/

The Ojibway Prairie Complex is an ecologically important area within the Detroit River watershed with incredible biodiversity! The inaugural Ojibway Prairie BioBlitz – an event aimed at cataloguing as many species as possible within a 24-hour period – was held last year and over 1100 species were identified. This year’s Ojibway Prairie BioBlitz will be held on July 18-19 and we could use your help to beat last year’s record. The BioBlitz team is looking for participants, as well as volunteers to help run the event. There are also fishing opportunities, as a portion of the Detroit River is included in the survey area. If you are interested in helping highlight the incredible biodiversity in our region, please consider participating in this year’s Blitz.

Location: Ojibway Nature Centre, 5200 Matchette Road, Windsor, ON
Date/time: Saturday, July 18, 11:00 a.m.-Sunday, July 19, 11:00 a.m.

The event is free and sure to be fun for the whole family, complete with guided hikes and live demos. For more information, or to register for the event, visit: www.essexcountynature.com. Hope to see you there!