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A monthly newsletter to keep you informed about the Detroit River.
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Message from the RAP Coordinator
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June is always a busy and exciting month at the DRCC and in the Windsor-Essex area! Please join us for our Detroit River Evening on Wednesday, June 18th to learn more about what we do throughout the year. Also, there are still tree plantings and clean-up events taking place all over the county so keep your eye on our Facebook page for regular updates!
As always, we love to hear from you. If you have any upcoming events, questions, or feedback, please email postmaster@detroitriver.ca. Thank you, Claire Sanders Remedial Action Plan Coordinator Detroit River Canadian Cleanup |
Join Us for Our Annual Detroit River Evening!
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Please join us on June 18th for our 4th annual Detroit River Evening! This year, the DRCC is pleased to welcome Mr. Gord Miller, Environmental Commissioner of Ontario, who will talk about The Challenge of Climate Change for Ontario. In addition, we will highlight some of our exciting Detroit River habitat and outreach projects from 2013/14.
This is a FREE event and everyone is welcome. Registration is required.
For more information, please see the attached 2014 Detroit River Evening poster. Please distribute this email and/or hang a poster in your office if you can!
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Seeking Comments on Proposed Change in Status for BUI!
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The DRCC is looking for your feedback on its recommendation to remove the 'Degradation of Aesthetics' from the Detroit River's list of impaired beneficial uses. The partnership uses a list of 14 potential beneficial use impairments or BUIs to determine the condition of the Detroit River. As of June 2014, the Detroit River has 7 impaired, 4 not impaired, and 3 under review (including Aesthetics). The proposed re-designation in status brings us all one step closer to removing the Detroit River from the list of Great Lakes' Areas of Concern.
What is Aesthetics?
Aesthetics, for the purpose of the Remedial Action Plan, refers to the visible condition of the water that may indicate anthropogenic pollution problems leading to poor water quality.
A study conducted by the partnership examined Detroit River water colour, clarity (turbidity), and odour; presence/absence of debris (trash, sewage, oil, scum), foam, and vegetation. These indicators helped us determine the aesthetic condition of the river. The results of this assessment suggest that there are no significant, persistent degradation of aesthetics on the Canadian side of the Detroit River AOC. Please see our website for more information.
What can you do?
We need your input! Please click here to download the report, read it, then submit your written comments by email (postmaster@detroitriver.ca) by Monday, July 7, 2014. Thank you, in advance, for your feedback. |
Detroit River Exhibit Launch a Success!
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We are pleased to report that the recent opening of our new exhibit at Windsor's Community Museum - "SOS: Saving Our Strait - Restoring Our River Together" - was a success! Many people attended the opening, and the event drew a lot of excellent media coverage. The exhibit examines the environmental condition of the Detroit River over the years and the work that the DRCC and our partners have undertaken to improve it.
The exhibit launched with an open-house on Sunday, June 1st from 2-4pm at the Museum. The exhibit remains open until the end of the year. We encourage everyone to stop by the Museum, which offers free admission, to learn more about the Detroit River and the DRCC. The exhibit even offers children's activities in the Hands-On-History room.
Windsor's Community Museum is located at 254 Pitt Street West, Windsor. Their hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday 9am - 5pm. For more information on the museum, contact: 519-253-1812.
Check out some of the great coverage that our exhibit received!
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An Opportunity to Explore Cedar Creek
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 The Friends of Cedar, Mill, and Wigle Creeks (FOCMWC) invite the public to come out to Camp Cedarwin in Essex to take part in this year's Cedar Creek Canoe Excursion on Saturday, June 7, from 9:00 am to noon. Located adjacent to Cedar Creek and within the beautiful Cedar Creek watershed, Camp Cedarwin is located at 1495 Arner Town Line, just south of County Road 20 in Essex. This event is a great opportunity to explore the watershed from a completely different vantage point. The Cedar Creek Canoe Excursion also provides an opportunity to remove garbage from the creek, for those that are willing and able. A limited number of canoes and life jackets will be available to the public on a first come, first serve basis. If you plan to bring your own canoe, please remember to bring your own life jacket, bailer, line, and whistle. For those staying on dry land, a nature walk through the camp will be offered. A potluck lunch will begin at noon. Participants are asked to bring their own plates, cups, and silverware along with their chosen dish to share with the group. This event is free, and will take place rain or shine. The mission of the FOCMWC is to preserve and restore the natural habitats in the Cedar, Mill, and Wigle Creek watersheds, while encouraging community involvement, partnerships, recreational use, and environmental education. For more information, please contact Caroline Biribauer, Outreach Coordinator, at the Essex Region Conservation Authority, (519) 776-5209, ext. 245, or cbiribauer@erca.org, or visit www.erca.org |
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Extra! Extra! Read all about it!
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The Detroit River in the news....here are some relevant, external links to news articles that may pique your interest. Click on the link to read on.
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Save the date for these great local events! Please ensure you contact the organizer for more information.
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DETROIT RIVER EVENING
June 18, 2014 4:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Windsor's Community Museum and the Waterfront Hotel
Join the Detroit River Canadian Cleanup for our 4th annual Detroit River Evening! The Detroit River Evening is an annual celebration of the important projects that were completed over the past year to restore, enhance, and protect the Detroit River and its watershed.
This year, we invite you to tour our museum exhibit, "SOS: Saving Our Strait - Restoring our River Together" at a special reception from 4-6pm at Windsor's Community Museum before the meeting at the Waterfront Hotel. We welcome Mr. Gord Miller, Environmental Commissioner of Ontario, as our guest speaker. You can also meet and chat with local representatives that work on issues concerning the Detroit River.
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CEDAR CREEK CANOE EXCURSION AND CLEANUP
June 7, 2014: 9:00 am - Noon
Camp Cedarwin, 1495 Arner Townline (County Road 23), Essex
The Friends of Cedar, Mill, and Wigle Creeks (FOCMWC) invite the public to come out to Camp Cedarwin in Essex to take part in this year's Cedar Creek Canoe Excursion on Saturday, June 7, from 9:00 am to noon. Located adjacent to Cedar Creek and within the beautiful Cedar Creek watershed, Camp Cedarwin is located at 1495 Arner Town Line, just south of County Road 20 in Essex. This event is a great opportunity to explore the watershed from a completely different vantage point. The Cedar Creek Canoe Excursion also provides an opportunity to remove garbage from the creek, for those that are willing and able. See full event details in the article above. For additional information, please contact: Caroline Biribauer at cbiribauer@erca.org or 519-776-5209 x245.
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KENILWORTH PARK CLEANUP - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
June 7, 2014: 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Kenilworth Park, Windsor
Looking for an opportunity to help clean up a park in the City? The Essex Region Conservation Authority is looking for some volunteers to come out and help cleanup Kenilworth Park in the City of Windsor on Saturday, June 7 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm (weather permitting). Everyone is invited to take part. Volunteers are encouraged to wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts, and boots are recommended (no open-toed shoes). Children under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult.
This cleanup is being coordinated by David Robins, Board Member, Essex Region Conservation Foundation. "Many families who live in the neighbourhood use this park on a regular basis and we wanted to bring together some volunteers to help clean up the litter and debris in time for the summer," he said. "Cleaning up a neighbourhood park is a rewarding project. In just a few short hours we can see the results of our hard work and dedication." The park and surrounding wooded area is located on Whiteside Drive at Gundy Crescent in Southlawn Gardens.
A rain date will be selected and announced on ERCA's website and Facebook page if needed.
This is a great opportunity for students to earn high school volunteer hours.
For more information, please contact Caroline at cbiribauer@erca.org or 519-776-5209 x245
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ESSEX COUNTY FIELD NATURALISTS' MONTHLY MEETING with special guest Charles Wilkins
June 11, 2014: 7:30pm
Ojibway Nature Centre
The Field Nats are pleased to announce that Charles Wilkins will be the guest speaker at their regular monthly meeting on June 11. Charles Wilkins is the author of fifteen books, including two international bestsellers. In 2011, Wilkins undertook the most exhilarating and daring of his numerous adventures as a writer. At the age of 63, he joined a crew of 16 and rowed across the Atlantic Ocean in a fragile experimental rowboat. He was motivated "by a lifelong fascination with exotic travel, by a deep curiosity about the planet, and by a question: What would happen if rather than merely enduring risk and uncertainty as we add years, we decided to embrace risk, to juice up on it... reclaim our bodies... re-establish ground." The result of that Atlantic crossing is Wilkins' most recent book, Little Ship of Fools.
Everyone is invited! For more information on Charles Wilkins, visit his website.
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ESSEX COUNTY FIELD NATURALISTS' OJIBWAY BIOBLITZ
June 28, 2014: 10:00 am
Ojibway Prairie, City of Windsor/LaSalle
A 24hr event starting on Saturday, June 28th at 10am and ending on Sunday June 29th. This event will take survey the Ojibway Prairie Remnants in the City of Windsor and LaSalle. A Bioblitz is an event where expert and amateur volunteers survey natural area and catalogue as many species as possible within the 24hr period. We will be leading hikes and teaching others to identify species in addition to the surveys taking place throughout the day. Everyone is invited to attend this event! Although Essex County has relatively little natural area compared with the rest of Ontario, the county is extremely biologically diverse and is home to numerous provincially rare and at-risk species. This event will promote conservation, increase public awareness, provide records of important species and generate interest in our natural areas. We hope to eventually cover all the natural areas in the county with future Bioblitz events. We are in the middle of the most diverse ecosystems in the province and we're hoping to prove it!
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CITIZENS ENVIRONMENT ALLIANCE STATE OF THE DETROIT RIVER BOAT TOUR 2014
July 12, 2014: Noon-4:00pm
Tickets include lunch & narrated tour: $30 CAN/US
Board the Macassa Bay cruise ship for a four hour tour of the Detroit River. Listen to expert narration about the Detroit River's environmental hot spots and unique fish and wildlife habitats. An excellent opportunity to see why we must continue to value this special river and do what we can to protect it. Guest speakers TBA. Visit the CEA homepage to purchase tickets ONLINE Purchase tickets at our office:1950 Ottawa St., or email us at ceaadmin@cogeco.net or call 519-973-1116
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 These postings are for jobs at various locations with varying deadlines. Please click on the job title to view job details. Contact the listed agency in the job ad for more information. Note: the links will expire after the deadline has passed. - President- Bird Studies Canada, Port Rowan (Closing date: June 30, 2014)
- Ecologist - Grand River Conservation Authority, Cambridge (Closing Date: June 17, 2014)
- Environmental Compliance Officer - Lake Simcoe Conservation Authority- Newmarket (Closing Date: June 11, 2014)
- Bee Inspector - OMAFRA,Various Locations, Ontario (Closing Date: June 11, 2014)
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311-360 Fairview Avenue West, Essex, ON· 519-92-3722 postmaster@detroitriver.ca www.detroitriver.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.
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