Happy Birthday Mr Darwin
"It may be doubted whether there are many other animals which have played so important a part in the history of the world, as have these lowly organized creatures."
Charles Darwin on earthworms, 1881
2009 is the 200 year anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin, one of the world's most creative and influential thinkers. You may be interested in CBC's archived program and links at www.cbc.ca |
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Join us on Facebook
For more frequent updates about ERCA's events and activities, you can now find us on Facebook. We hope that you can join us there as we would value your participation and comments. |
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Upcoming Events
Cedar Creek Canoe Excursion
Date: Saturday, June 13, 2009, 9 am to noon Location: Camp Cedarwin
Come out & explore Cedar Creek by canoe, then enjoy a delicious potluck lunch afterward! For more information, contact Caroline, Friends of Watersheds Organizer at 519-776-5209, ext. 245, or cbiribauer@erca.org.
7th Annual Turkey Creek Canoe Race & Cleanup
Date: Saturday, June 27, 2009, 12 - 4pm
Location: Marcotte Park, LaSalle
Registration begins at noon, and the race starts at 1:00 pm sharp! All are welcome, including corporate teams! Cost to enter the race is $10 per person, or $20 per team, a barbecue lunch is included.
All proceeds will go towards future stewardship efforts of the Friends of Turkey Creek.
Each team will be judged for the most garbage, the most unusual piece of garbage removed from the creek, and the best-decorated canoe. Prizes will be awarded accordingly. The winning team will also have their picture taken with our Turkey Creek Canoe Race trophy!
For more information, contact Caroline Biribauer, Friends of Watersheds Organizer, at 519-776-5209, ext. 245, or cbiribauer@erca.org
Lakeside Locavore Lunch
Date: Sunday, July 12, 2009, noon - 2:30pm
Location: John R. Park Homestead, Harrow
Tickets: $20
Pre-registration is required, spaces are limited. The 2008 event was Sold Out!
This event highlights 'Locavore' opportunities in Essex County. Savour an afternoon by the Lake tasting locally grown foods and fine wines. Enjoy live music and more. Also featuring 'Food for Thought' sessions - where local farmers and food producers share their specific knowledge about the delicious bounty that our region offers.
To Register: jrph@erca.org or
(519) 738-2029
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Change One Thing!
By making some simple changes in your routine, you can help make a difference in the health of our environment.
At Home
Have leaky air conditioning and refrigeration systems repaired. These are among the most expensive appliances to run and bringing them up to peak efficiency will not only help the environment, but will save money too.
Drive Wise
Drive less, especially during peak traffic periods or on hot days. Use public transportation, walk or ride a bike.
In the Garden
Use manual tools in your yard such as lightweight, quiet, easy
-to-use reel push mowers that generate no emissions.
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ERCA Participates in Fundraiser Events
The Essex Region Conservation Authority recently sent teams to the Big Bike Ride and Stroke and Relay for Life events.
On May 29th a combined Big Bike team from ERCA and the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit raised over $1900 for the Heart & Stroke Foundation.
One week later, ERCA's team participated for the fourth year in Relay for Life at Heritage Village in Kingsville, an all-night walk for the Canadian Cancer Society. Through year-round fundraising and pledges, ERCA's team raised over $1800 in the fight to prevent further suffering. |
Essex Region Conservation Foundation AGM
You are invited to the Essex Region Conservation Foundation Annual General Meeting, which will include the unveiling of its new brand and presentation of some unprecedented new initiatives. The AGM will be at Willistead Manor on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. Please RSVP to Sharon Uttaro at suttaro@erca.org | |
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June is a great time to enjoy outdoor recreation and every visit to a conservation area is an opportunity for fun, relaxation and new adventure - visit www.erca.org for details of our Conservation Areas, trails and camping facilities. While you are at the conservation areas, why not take some photos and participate in our contest for your chance to win some great prizes.
Read on for additional Essex Region Conservation Authority news, events and activities. |
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Flight of the Falcons!
As you may have heard in the news fairly recently, a pair of peregrine falcons have decided to make the Canadian side of the Ambassador Bridge their home this past spring.
The Essex Region Conservation Authority is pleased to partner with the Canadian Peregrine Foundation to assist in coordinating volunteers to monitor this special family. Are you interested and available to help with the Peregrine Watch either this month or in 2010? If so please contact cbiribauer@erca.org |
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ERCA Greens the Region
The Essex region became a little greener this spring as the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) plants or distributes more than 155,000 trees and restores more than 250 acres of habitat.
"Planting trees and restoring habitat is critically important in the Essex region, where currently, only 7.5% of our landbase remains in its natural state," explains Matthew Child, Director of Watershed Restoration. "Working in partnership with private landowners is and will continue to be the way to achieve the region's goal of reaching 12% natural coverage."
ERCA plants a variety of primarily native tree and shrub species on properties over one acre in size. In addition to improving air and water quality and providing shaded recreational areas and wildlife habitat, trees increase property values and contribute to the overall quality of life for the participating landowner and residents throughout the region. Furthermore, increasing tree cover helps mitigate climate change by contributing to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions.
"Working with private landowners is critical to achieving a cleaner and healthier regional environment, and Clean Water~Green Spaces grants were introduced as a way to help share in this responsibility," Child explains.
It's not too early to start planning for next year. Details and qualification guidelines are available online at www.erca.org | |
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The Lake Sturgeon Have Arrived!
Lake sturgeon have spawned four times on the reef constructed last year at the head of Fighting Island in the Detroit River! This is the first time in 30 years that spawning by lake sturgeon, a threatened species in both Michigan and Ontario, has been confirmed in the Canadian waters of the Detroit River. The new spawning reef, constructed at Fighting Island in October, 2008, was celebrated as the first Canada-U.S. funded fish habitat restoration project in the Great Lakes. The strong partnership between our nations and the dedication of everyone involved in protecting our shared natural resources made this project a reality. The fact that lake sturgeon, an indicator of ecosystem health, are utilizing the reef, provides scientific evidence that this restoration project was a success and further validates the binational pollution prevention and control efforts implemented through the water quality agreements crafted in the early 1970s (e.g., the U.S.-Canada Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement).
"We are indeed so proud to be part of this international success story of recovery of lake sturgeon in our shared Great Lakes waters," notes Canadian Member of Parliament Jeff Watson. "These results provide concrete evidence of the benefits of using sound science and unique public-private partnerships to improve our Detroit River ecosystem."
"It is so heartening to see the amazing success of this sturgeon habitat restoration for the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge," notes Congressman John D. Dingell. "No one thought this degree of success was possible only 30 years ago. It truly validates the decades of international cooperation on pollution control and conservation efforts in the River and throughout the Refuge. I want to give my special thanks to all the Canadian partners who made this possible and I look forward to continuing this important work with them in the future."
The lake sturgeon population in the Detroit River is estimated to be about 1% of its former abundance. The finding of fertilized lake sturgeon eggs at Fighting Island indicates that the restoration strategy is yielding very positive ecosystem results, and that this small, remnant population of native lake sturgeon may one day be restored to a higher level of abundance in the Detroit River. Walleye and lake whitefish have also spawned on the reef, demonstrating that the constructed spawning habitat is enhancing populations of these high-value fish as well!
Other exciting news at the Fighting Island reef was the discovery of several Northern madtom, a fish that is endangered in Michigan and Ontario and never before confirmed in the mid-reaches of the Detroit River.
"Rehabilitating habitat for fish species that are native to Ontario is important to us," said Donna Cansfield, Ontario's Minister of Natural Resources. "We are delighted the work by partners on both sides of the border is already showing signs of success."
Partners in this project include: BASF Corporation, DTE Energy, Detroit River Canadian Cleanup, Environment Canada, Essex Region Conservation Authority, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, International Wildlife Refuge Alliance, Landmark Engineers Inc., Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Michigan Sea Grant, Michigan Wildlife Conservancy, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Ontario Great Lakes Renewal Foundation, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, and Wildlife Habitat Council.
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Grand Marais Drain/Turkey Creek Improved Through Successful Partnership
 Representatives from all three levels of government, as well as local stakeholders, gathered at the Grand Marais Drain near Walker Road on May 21 to celebrate the successful completion of an Environmental Sediment Clean-up and Channel Improvements Project at Turkey Creek. The total cost for the project was $2.65 million. Work on the project began in August, and was completed in November, 2008. Project partners include the City of Windsor, Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA), the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment Canada, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, the Detroit River Canadian Cleanup, and local industry representatives.
The project removed approximately 975 cubic meters of contaminated sediment from the creek area. An additional 10,425 cubic meters of sediment and soils were removed, reducing flooding risks for many residential, industrial and commercial areas. These improvements to the creek will help to protect it from becoming re-contaminated and ensure it is capable of safely conveying a one-in-one-hundred-year storm event.
"The Essex Region Conservation Authority understands the critical importance of achieving a sustainable environment for this region, and is pleased to collaborate on this project", said David Brister, ERCA Chair. "Through successful partnerships such as this, we have unique opportunities to protect our residents and their property from flooding, as well as create a lasting natural legacy for future generations."
"We are so pleased with the collaborative effort that went into this project," said Sandra Pupatello, Ontario's Minister of International Trade and Investment and MPP for Windsor West. "Because all the partners worked together, we were able to complete both the sediment clean-up and the channel improvements as one project, where it could very easily have been two, and as a result saved time, taxpayer money and caused less disruption to the natural environment."
"Our government is proud to be a partner in this important initiative. Thanks to the actions taken here at Turkey Creek, we have improved the state of the Detroit River and produced a cleaner local environment," said Jeff Watson, Member of Parliament for Essex. "We are also ensuring a healthy and sustainable future for the nearly three million citizens in Canada and the United States who rely on the watersheds of Lake St. Clair, Lake Erie and the connecting Detroit River."
Turkey Creek is a tributary of the Detroit River, which is a listed Area of Concern (AOC). Areas of Concern are severely degraded geographic areas whose environmental restoration is a priority because of their impact on local and Great Lakes basin-wide ecosystem health.
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Cedar Creek Canoe Excursion
 The Friends of Mill, Wigle, and Cedar Creeks invite the public to come out to Camp Cedarwin to take part in this year's Cedar Creek Canoe Excursion on Saturday, June 13, from 9:00 am to noon. Located adjacent to Cedar Creek, Camp Cedarwin is at 1495 Arner Town Line, just south of County Road 20 in Essex.
While the goal of the Canoe Excursion is to explore one of the most beautiful waterways in our area, the Cedar Creek Canoe Excursion also provides an opportunity to remove garbage from the creek. A nature walk through the camp will also be offered, and a potluck lunch will begin at noon. This event is free, and will take place rain or shine.
In partnership with the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA), the Friends of Cedar Creek regularly host educational events, cleanups and tree plantings. The environmental health of our watersheds impacts the health of the Great Lakes and is closely linked to our quality of life and the attractiveness of this region to residents, tourists and investors.
To learn more contact Caroline Biribauer, Friends of Watershed Organizer, (519) 776-5209, ext. 245, or cbiribauer@erca.org, or visit www.erca.org |
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Private Landowner Stewardship Funding Awarded to ERCA
The Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) has been awarded $96,000 to administer cost sharing grants under the Ontario Drinking Water Stewardship Program (ODWSP).
As part of its commitment to safe drinking water and as established in the Clean Water Act, the Ministry of the Environment has launched the ODWSP, a monetary assistance program, to help landowners take early action to reduce threats to local municipal drinking water sources.
If you have a farm, business, or property within a one kilometre radius of a municipal water treatment plant intake, you may qualify for assistance on projects such as septic systems improvements, runoff and erosion control, a consultant's evaluation or recommendation review, or water well decommissioning.
For a complete project details and to see if you qualify for this funding, please contact the ERCA at
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John R. Park Homestead Receives Trillium Funding
On April 3rd, M.P.P. Bruce Crozier, and Brian Gray of the local Trillium grant review team, announced that the Lions Club of Kingsville, in collaboration with the Friends of the John R. Park Homestead and the Essex Region Conservation Authority, have received a $74,600 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. This is the first time Trillium has supported a project at the John R. Park Homestead Conservation Area. The money will be used to preserve the site's two largest nineteenth century barns by replacing the leaking cedar shingle roofs and repairing and staining the exterior siding. Interior work will make the barns more accessible and energy efficient for both visitors and volunteers. The renovations will be completed over the summer with no interruption to the Homestead's busy schedule of school visits and special events. The John R. Park Homestead Conservation Area is the only living historical farm museum of its kind west of London. Hundreds of school children visit it every year to see life as it was in pioneer times and experience curriculum-focussed education about our heritage. For more information about events and programs at this unique Conservation Area, go to www.erca.org or take a look around at 915 County Road 50, east of Colchester on the shores of Lake Erie. |
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Essex Region Conservation Authority
360 Fairview Avenue West, Suite 311, Essex, Ontario, N8M 1Y6
Phone: (519) 776-5209 Fax: (519) 776-8688
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