30th Anniversary: 16 February, 1991 to 16 February, 2021
Written by Ian Naisbitt
After a 20-month Covid delay, we managed to celebrate
our 30th Anniversary on Tuesday, 25 October, 2022 at Weston Park in
the Town of Tecumseh. Mother Nature served up the perfect day for planting
trees. The weather included: a mix of sun and cloud with a bright blue background.
There was a moderate zephyr wafting from the south at 20 km/ h and a high of 21
Celsius. The UV index was 4 or moderate.
First off, we need
to give a “Tip of the Cap” to Casey Colthurst, Parks Manager/ Town of Tecumseh
and Tania Jobin, Ward 5 Tecumseh Councillor for their support in making this
project move forward after such a long delay. As well, a big thank you to the Tecumseh
Parks Crew for auguring the holes, delivering the large stock trees to the
holes, shovelling and raking the soil/ clay mix back into the hole and around
the base of the 21 trees. When added to the 9 trees already planted by the Town,
it equals 30 trees for 30 years! Mulch will be applied at a later date and a
water scheduling program will be started. Watering is very important at this time
since the ground was dreadfully dry. The clay soil was crumbly and powdery,
which made for easier planting but presents a challenge for the tree roots to
establish themselves.
Our small group of
volunteers planted a Kentucky Coffee Tree beside the Weston Park fence along North
Talbot Road. That way whenever we visit the park we will know exactly which
tree we planted.
Kentucky Coffee
Trees are a Species at Risk in the Province of Ontario. Their status: “The Kentucky coffee-tree was already
assessed as threatened when the Endangered Species Act took effect in
2008.“Threatened” means the species
lives in the wild in Ontario, is not endangered, but is likely to become
endangered if steps are not taken to address factors threatening it.
Interesting Quick facts about Kentucky
Coffee Trees
Part of the Latin name for the Kentucky
Coffee-tree (Gymnocladus dioica) means “naked branch”, because this
tree spends up to nine months of the year without any leaves
The only other species in the genus of
Kentucky Coffee-tree is a tree that grows only in China
Because no native herbivores consume the
toxic Kentucky Coffee-tree seeds – and since elephants devour similar seed pods
in great quantities – it has been hypothesized that the now-extinct Mastodon
may have consumed Kentucky Coffee-tree pods – in fact, Kentucky Coffee-tree may
have evolved its unique seeds, which seem unpalatable to native animals,
specifically for Mastodon-assisted dispersal.”
~Source: Ministry of Environment,
Conservation and Parks (MECP) website
Photograph Credit: Casey Colthurst
Ken Henderson
(visiting from Australia), Tom Henderson, Ian Naisbitt, Tania Jobin and Carl
Maiolani. Tom, Ian and Carl are members of the ECFNClub
Weston Park has a
special place in the hearts of the Lil’ Reg members. In the past we participated
in Little River Watershed Tours once a year. Our group would visit the sites where
volunteers cleaned up the river or planted trees. We checked how much garbage
accumulated over the past year at the cleanup sites and estimated the success
rate of the trees we planted at other sites. We also looked for potential sites
that could use our help. While at Weston Park we hiked around the drain that
flowed through the park and we were pleasantly zoomed by a swarm of dragonflies.
It was quite a timely and impressive moment for us. Later when our members were
brainstorming names for our group and logos, this special moment came to mind.
This was our result.
“Never doubt
that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it is the
only thing that ever has.”
~Renowned
anthropologist Margaret Mead
Ecosystem Approach Project
The Healthy Headwaters Lab as part of the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research at the University of Windsor is inviting you to stay connected and provide additional input to their project!
An ecosystem approach accounts for the interrelationships among air, water, land, and all living things, including humans, and involves all user groups in management. An ecosystem approach:
recognizes that humans are in an ecosystem
acknowledges interconnectedness
pursues sustainability
works to understand places and integrate processes
involves all stakeholders
Please take some time to consider the following questions…
Why is an ecosystem approach important today and is it relevant to you on your work on the Detroit River?
In what ways is an ecosystem approach/ecosystem-based management valid, important, and actionable?
What is missing from our list of draft recommendations?
For more information, please visit https://www.healthyheadwaterslab.ca/projects/ecosystem-approach and share your ideas to ecosystemapproach@uwindsor.ca.
Collavino Family donates wetland habitat to ERCA to create Collavino Conservation Area
Amherstburg – Thanks to a generous donation by the Collavino family, 150 acres of ecologically sensitive wetland habitat will be protected in perpetuity by the Essex Region Conservation Authority. The donation was finalized in early October and is a mix of wetland and floodplain within the Detroit River Area of Concern near the mouth of the Canard River in Amherstburg.
The property was purchased in 2005 as a farmland investment. It was previously owned by General Chemical which used it for salt brine extraction. There is currently a 10MW solar operation adjacent to the donated property that is non-intrusive to the surrounding lands.
“The wetland portion of this property was always intended to stay as a wetland and used for fishing, hiking, hunting, camping and various other activities by our family and friends,” explains Loris Collavino, whose family made the donation. “We have lived in River Canard since 1983 and greatly appreciate all the wildlife that call this area home. The wetland has remained undisturbed over the years and as such, the wildlife seems to thrive. Being able to visit a property and see nature at its finest was something our family held near and dear to our hearts.”
This land is a Provincially Significant Wetland and Environmentally Significant Area. It also provides habitat for a number of Species at Risk, including the Blanding’s Turtle, Eastern Foxsnake, and Queensnake, to name just a few.
“The addition of this important habitat is incredibly beneficial for the Detroit River watershed,” said Tania Jobin, ERCA Chair. “Wetlands are critically important to mitigate flooding and the impacts of our changing climate, and we are honoured that the Collavino family put their trust in ERCA to ensure this new Conservation Area will be managed and protected for generations to come.” The wetland is also identified as a Priority Canadian Habitat Site in the Detroit River Area of Concern, and having it become a designated Conservation Area and restoring its biological function brings the AOC one step closer to remediation.
The Collavino family notes they have worked with ERCA many times before on various projects and appreciate the work it does for conservation and rehabilitation of natural areas throughout Windsor and Essex County. “We felt that the wetland, with ERCA’s expertise and handling, could become an even better site that would be greatly enjoyed by the public, similar to Hillman Marsh, Holiday Beach and other sites ERCA protects throughout this region,” Mr. Collavino added. “We are very proud of our community and felt that this site would be another destination that people would want to visit when coming to Amherstburg.”
A wetland restoration and management plan has been developed to ensure appropriate protective measures are in place for this sensitive area. Earlier this year, as discussions regarding this donation were underway, a prescribed burn to control invasive Phragmites was undertaken, and additional management initiatives were completed to restore this wetland to a healthy ecosystem.
“While the lands are currently being managed for habitat, future plans include adding a parking area to permit public enjoyment of this beautiful wetland,” said Tim Byrne, ERCA CAO. “A mowed pathway around the dyked area will provide a 2.2 kilometre walking path, and educational signage will be installed. We are so grateful to the Collavino family for this generous gift to the entire community.”
The Essex Region Conservation Authority is a public sector organization established by the Province in 1973, and governed by local municipalities to deliver programs and services that further the conservation, restoration, development and management of natural resources in watersheds in the Windsor-Essex-Pelee Island region.
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Digital Media Attached: Members of the Collavino family gather with representatives from the Essex Region Conservation Authority to celebrate the donation of 150 acres of ecologically sensitive land to create the Collavino Conservation Area.
Public Comment Period Open: Draft 2023-2025 Great Lakes Binational Priorities for Science and Action
In accordance to Article 5, Section 2(c) of the 2012 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, the Parties (U.S. and Canada):
“…shall establish, in consultation with the Great Lakes Executive Committee, binational priorities for science and action to address current and future threats to the quality of the Water of the Great Lakes, not later than six months after each Great Lakes Public Forum. The priorities shall be established based on an evaluation of the state of the Great Lakes and input received during the Great Lakes Public Forum and recommendations of the [International Joint] Commission.”
The following draft priorities for science and action were developed for the purposes of discussion at the 2022 Great Lakes Public Forum. They are intended to guide and focus the key activities implemented by Canada and the U.S. from 2023 to 2025. Accomplishments and results related to these priorities would be reported on in the 2025 Progress Report of the Parties.
Canada and the U.S. are interested in hearing your thoughts on these draft priorities during the Forum, as well as during the written comment period following the Forum. Input received will further inform the development of these priorities, which will be finalized and posted on binational.net within six months following the Forum.
Priorities represent the key science and action required to advance the achievement of the General and Specific Objectives of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement in the context of each Annex of the Agreement. Priorities for 2023-2025 are not intended to capture all science and action that will be undertaken over this period.
Kindly use the Contact Uspage to direct your comments on the draft priorities by October 31, 2022.
Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement: IJC Seeks Public Input on the Canadian and US Governments’ 2022 Progress Report of the Parties
As part of its responsibilities under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, the International Joint Commission (IJC) seeks public input on the Canadian and US governments’ 2022 Progress Report of the Parties (PROP). This opportunity is ongoing until December 23 2022.
A survey is available to provide your input on the governments’ 2022 PROP and the water quality in your Great Lake. You can provide general comments or comments on specific government programs. Completing the survey should take 15 minutes. The survey is available here: ijc.org/en/survey-2022-prop
Fall 2022 Webinars
In the fall of 2022, the IJC will host a series of public webinars to receive public comment. Links to register for these webinars are below:
Lake Superior: Tuesday, November 8, 2022, 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. ET (6:00 to 7:00 p.m. CT): bit.ly/IJC-Lake-Superior
Lake Michigan: Tuesday, November 15, 2022, 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. ET (6:00 to 7:00 p.m. CT): bit.ly/IJC-Lake-Michigan
Happy World Water Day! Did you know the Great Lakes are one of the world's largest surface freshwater ecosystems? We're extremely lucky to live in the great lakes basin which accounts for 21 percent of the world's freshwater. The lakes provide drinking water to millions of people in the United States and Canada. If you are located in Windsor, LaSalle, or Amherstburg, you likely get your drinking water from the Detroit River! Freshwater ecosystems our among our most vital resources on earth, and their protection and preservation are of paramount importance #WorldWaterDay#detroitriver#greatlakes#healthywatersheds#cleandrinkingwater#essexregion... See MoreSee Less
We are excited to roll up the sleeves and make a positive change along the Ganatchio Trail and Little River next month. Join us on April 13 between 10-12pm at Teedie Park, Windsor for our annual litter clean up. Registration is required as spots are limited due to high interest. Volunteer parking is available at Canadian Tire off of Tecumseh Road east. We ask volunteers to not park in the neighbourhood near Teedie Park. Funding for the Little River Cleanup has been provided by the Detroit River Canadian CleanupRegistration and more information: www.essexregionconservation.ca/event-details/little-river-litter-cleanup... See MoreSee Less
On Tuesday, February 20, 2024, the Detroit River Canadian Cleanup hosted their 14th Annual Film Screening Event at Imagine Cinemas in Lakeshore. This year, we featured two The Water Brothers documentaries – Paving over Paradise, a documentary on wetland loss, and The Forever Chemicals, a documentary on a group of chemicals called PFAS. Thank you to our expert panelists for sharing your expertise with our audience. Thank you to our audience for spending the evening with us and we hope you enjoyed the event. We were so impressed with the quality of questions, and were pleased to hear how much everyone cares about the health of our watersheds. Special thanks to Environment and Climate Change Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks for helping to make this event possible, and to all the Essex Region Conservation staff and Imagine Cinemas for their support with the event. Thank you! ... See MoreSee Less
Meet the expert panelists for the PFAS - “Forever Chemicals” episode to be featured at our upcoming free film screening event on February 20.Our three panelists include Dr. Cheryl Murphy, Director, MSU Center for PFAS Research, Mark Burrows, Physical Scientist & Senior Project Manager, IJC - International Joint Commission Great Lakes Regional Office, and Abby Hendershott, Executive Director of the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.Registration is required and spaces are limited. For more information and to register, please visit our website: www.detroitriver.ca/movie. ... See MoreSee Less
Join us on Tuesday February 20th, 2024 at 7pm for a free screening of two Water Brothers documentaries at the Imagine Lakeshore Cinemas, 164 Commercia […]
The DRCC wants to hear your questions and comments on the redesignation of BUI #3 (Fish) and #5. We are planning to redesignate the BUIs from impaired […]
Get Involved!
From tree plantings and clean ups, to advocacy and education programs, CLICK HERE to find out how you can be involved with protecting and enhancing the Detroit River.
