The Erie Situation is a film about the toxic mix of big agriculture, politics and water security rights. In addition to toxic algal blooms, The film also examines pertinent questions about water security, big agriculture, citizen advocacy, runoff of forever chemicals and sustainable farming.

The film is co-produced by Plastic Oceans International, a global NGO with extensive experience in developing strong impact programs for films, including the award-winning documentary A PLASTIC OCEAN (which the DRCC screened in 2019).

Join us on Thursday February 16th at 7pm for a free screening of THE ERIE SITUATION at the Imagine Lakeshore Cinemas, 164 Commercial Blvd, Tecumseh, ON.

DRCC staff will be in the lobby starting at 6pm with a registration table and some educational displays, come say hello! Doors to the theater open at 6:30pm, with some fun local content to view on the big screen. The concession will be available to purchase drinks and snacks from. Film starts at 7:00 pm, and is approximately 75 minutes in length. Following the film, the DRCC will lead a panel discussion with Dr. Katie Stammler, ERCA's Water Quality Scientist, David Ruck, film Director and Kyle Davis, Water Compliance Coordinator, Municipality of Lakeshore.

Watch the trailer on YouTube

Detroit River Area of Concern Video Series

In 2022, the DRCC was working behind the scenes with partners to create a series of videos highlighting a variety of topics relating to the Canadian Detroit River Area of Concern. The videos address the Detroit River's history, Remedial Action Plan, science and monitoring efforts and beneficial use status for a variety of environmental impairments in the river. Check out the videos by clicking the links in the video titles below that will take you to our YouTube page and video inventory. Please note, each video on our YouTube page has a detailed summary included.

Restoring Beneficial Uses with the Detroit River Canadian Cleanup

Degradation of Benthos Redesignation for the Canadian Detroit River Area of Concern

Fish Tumours and other Deformities Redesignation for the Canadian Detroit River Area of Concern

Phytoplankton and Zooplankton Populations Redesignation for the Canadian Detroit River Area of Concern

Restoring our River Together, Removing the Detroit River from the List of Areas of Concern

Happy World Wetlands Day!

World Wetlands Day (WWD) is on February 2, 2023 and is an annual opportunity to raise global awareness on the value of wetlands, celebrate wetlands’ diverse services to humanity and nature, and trigger action locally, nationally, internationally to save the world’s wetlands.

This day is a call to take action for wetlands is the focus of this years’ campaign. It's an appeal to invest financial, human and political capital to save the world’s wetlands from disappearing and to restore those we have degraded.

The theme for 2023 is Wetlands Restoration and highlights the urgent need to prioritize wetland restoration.

Detroit River Wetlands

Collaboration between many organizations help to protect existing coastal wetland habitat and restore the function in priority areas. For example, the Great Lakes Marsh Monitoring Program has monitored wetland bird and amphibian populations binationally since 1995 with the help of Bird Studies Canada, Essex Region Conservation Authority, the United States Environmental Protection Agency and dedicated volunteers.

In addition, through the Canadian Wildlife Services branch of Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Monitoring program is administered to monitor wetland wildlife communities (marsh birds, aquatic macroinvertebrates and submerged aquatic vegetation), habitat and water quality.

Read more about the DRCC's efforts to protect, enhance, monitor, and restore Detroit River wetlands and learn how to protect them by clicking the button below.                   

Essex Region Conservation Honors Conservation Award Winners

On January 19 2023, eight organizations and individuals were honored with Essex Region Conservation Awards for their commitment to the local environment.The DRCC would like to give special recognition to the following award winners for their work in protecting the Great Lakes and restoring the Detroit River.

In 2021, the Government of Canada announced interest in exploring the possibility of creating the Ojibway National Urban Park. In Canada and around the world, there is growing awareness of the importance of urban parks as essential places for conservation, recreation, learning, and mental and physical wellbeing. FOOP has been instrumental in voicing their support for this effort, and last year, they were selected to testify at the House of Commons’ Environment and Sustainable Development Standing Committee on this matter.    

For its dedication to the stewardship, protection and advocacy of this important prairie habitat, we are pleased to recognize the Friends of Ojibway Prairie with the Volunteer Conservation Award for an organization! 

Throughout his teaching career, Mike led many student activities focusing on stewardship including coordinating volunteers for the annual Point Pelee National Park beach cleanups and the Pelee Savanah restoration project. He collected native tree seeds for seedling propagation, developed a native tree arboretum and achieved SEEDS Foundation Green School and EcoSchool status. 

In 2010, Mike began his role as a Experiential Learning Consultant with the Board, providing students with a variety of academic experiences. He helped to implement programs such as the Ontario Technological Skills Competitions, St. Clair College's 'Get Skilled' competition, and the EcoSchools program which encourages schools to become more environmentally aware. Thanks largely to Mike’s efforts, 20 of the Board’s schools are now provincially recognized with this prestigious status. He also implemented Health and Physical Education programs, Robotics, Outdoor Education and the Specialist High Skills Major program.   

ERCA has had the pleasure in working on many of these programs with Mike, partnering with EcoSchools on greening and stewardship initiatives, and providing Sector Partner Experiences, and a variety of environmental Specialist Major programs. His expertise and willingness to share and collaborate with others has made a significant and lasting impact across the region and throughout the province’s educational system.

Enwin prioritizes sustainable practices through a number of initiatives. It’s currently in partnership with Automobility Enterprises and St. Clair College to convert a fleet pickup truck from its traditional V8 internal combustion engine into an electric vehicle.

In 2022, ENWIN launched the new Green Button standard to allow local families and businesses to track and make decisions regarding their energy use. Studies have found that access to energy data, which Green Button along with smart home devices, enables, can help consumers achieve energy savings of up to 18 percent.

ENWIN has also encouraged its customers to save paper and trees by switching to online e-billing to reduce its carbon footprint. This campaign has supported both the Windsor Essex Child/Youth Advocacy Centre and ERCA. In fact, during the summer of 2022, for every ENWIN customer that opted into the e-billing program, a tree will be planted – and this effort was extremely successful with over 1,000 customers signing up. 

As a result, ENWIN will be supporting the planting of 1,187 trees on Earth Day 2023! This marks the second time ENWIN has supported the Earth Day tree planting, and its first campaign in 2020 allowed more than 1000 trees to be planted in 2022. 

Congratulations to all of the award winners this year! Click the following links for Essex Region Conservation Authority's Annual Report video, and their 2022 annual report.

License free Family Fishing Weekend in Ontario (February 18 to 20 2023)

For hundreds of years, the Detroit River has been a focus for boating, fishing and hunting, as well as nature viewing and appreciation. New fishing docks and observation platforms have been constructed, and soft-shore engineering projects have enhanced the aesthetics of the river while also improving fish habitat values and access for fishing. Through the DRCC partnership, efforts to restore, enhance and protect fish populations and habitat have improved many fish species’ health and presence in the river overtime. The River is known internationally for its Muskellunge, Walleye, White Bass and Yellow Perch in addition to other sport fisheries.

Four times a year, Canadian residents can fish in Ontario without buying a fishing license, during:

• Family Fishing Weekend in February (February 18-20, 2023)
• Mother’s Day Weekend in May (May 13-14, 2023)
• Father’s Day Weekend in June (June 17-18, 2023)
• Family Fishing Week in July (July 1-9, 2023)

License-free periods remind us of the value of Ontario’s recreational fishery, and the importance of keeping it healthy for future generations. You must:

• follow conservation license catch limits
• obey size limits and sanctuaries
• follow the fishing regulations

Invasive Species Awareness Week

Invasive Species Awareness Week (ISAW) is taking place from February 20 to February 26 2023 on behalf of the Invasive Species Centre and their partners. Each year, this week is held to raise awareness about the threat that invasive species pose on our natural heritage.

For more information and resources about invasive species, click on the following links:

• Invasive fish and invertebrates
• Invasive aquatic plants
• Invasive plants
• Invasive insects
• Invasive pathogens

Spring Tree Orders through ERCA due March 3

The Spring 2023 Tree Program is open for orders. Please note that orders must be received by Friday, March 3rd, 2023.

Detroit River Coalition Newsletter

The first edition ever of the Detroit River Coalition's newsletter is available to read online! Click here to read it.

Shiver on the River Ecology Family Fair

February 4 2023, 10am to 3pm, Dossin Great Lakes Museum, Belle Isle, Michigan, USA

Bundle up and join us for another year of the Shiver on the River Eco Fair on Saturday, February 4, 2023! From 10 A.M. to 3 P.M. Friends of the Detroit River will host the event inside the beautiful Dossin Museum on Belle Isle. This year we are planning to have our usual environmental fair with FREE family fun, food, and entertainment. Thanks to our partners at the Detroit Historical Society, the typical $5 admission fee to visit the Dossin Museum will be waived! So grab your gloves and come share a wintery celebration of our natural resources. We hope to see you there!

Beginner Birding with Nicole, hosted by Pelee Wings Nature Store

Various dates, February 4,11,18,25, March 4,11,18,25, various locations, 10am to 1pm.

Are you new to birding and are looking for a great way to pick up some tips to being a better birder? Join Nicole from Pelee Wings for a guided birding hike geared toward the new birder! This hike will be at a local birding hotspots in the Essex county area, exact location to be disclosed closer to each date. Saturday hikes will alternate weekly between a county location and a city location. This is a fun, all ages event but children must be accompanied by an adult. Hikes are $10 per person, payable in cash at the event or by Calling Pelee Wings Nature Store with a credit card.

Hikes start at 10am. Please dress for the weather, and bring anything you need for easy walking for an hour and a half or so. Bring binoculars if you have them rental pairs are available but if you don't have binoculars that is okay! Bring bird guides if you have them, or download the free Merlin Bird ID app.

To reserve a spot, please call Pelee Wings Nature Store at 1-877-326-5193 or e-mail Nicole at nicole.shangi@outlook.com.

Essex County Field Naturalists' Club Member Meeting

February 8 2023, 7:30pm, Ojibway Nature Centre, 5200 Matchette Road, Windsor, ON

Join ECFNC members at their monthly meeting! Their special guest is Laura Foy, who will talk about creating natural habitat in your backyard.

Self-guided Dark Sky Night

February 11 2023, 7:30pm to 11:59pm, Point Pelee National Park, 1118 Point Pelee Drive, Leamington, ON

Explore the park on your own after dark and experience the dark skies of Point Pelee. You will have the opportunity to stay late and see what goes on after dark.

Note that there are no formal programs on these evenings. Visitors can pick up a seasonal star chart at the gate upon arrival. There will be a viewing of 'Cosmos: Possible Worlds' docu-series in the theatre of the visitor centre.The park is open until midnight, unless otherwise stated. For more information please contact us at pelee.info@pc.gc.ca.

Winter Owl Prowl

February 17 2023, 6pm to 9pm, Holiday Beach Conservation Area, 6952 County Road 50, Amherstburg, ON

Join Essex Region Conservation on an Owl Prowl on Friday, February 17th! Learn about the owls of southwestern Ontario, their adaptations, physiology and more. Guests will walk through Holiday Beach Conservation Area on a guided hike, looking and listening for owls. $15 per person. Prowls are at 6:30pm and 7:00pm. Learn more and register on Eventbrite!

Movie: Ferngully - The Last Rainforest

February 20 2023, 1pm to 3pm, Point Pelee National Park, 1118 Point Pelee Drive, Leamington, ON

Deep in the heart of the forest awaits a paradise filled with tiny sprites, winged fairies, tree spirits, and all kinds of animals who live together in joyful harmony. But when their home is threatened by humans, one courageous sprite must give her all to save it! The film will be screened at the Visitor Centre Theater, and is rated G. For more information please contact us at pelee.info@pc.gc.ca.

Movie: Jane Goodall - The Hope

February 23 2023, 6pm to 8pm, Point Pelee National Park, 1118 Point Pelee Drive, Leamington, ON

As the 60th anniversary of her arrival to the chimpanzee kingdom in Gombe approaches, Dr. Jane Goodall spends time with her family in Tanzania and returns to her wild Eden.The film will be screened at the Visitor Centre Theater. For more information please contact us at pelee.info@pc.gc.ca.

Backyard Stewardship and Habitat Creation

February 28 2023, 6pm to 8pm, Essex County Civic Centre, Committee Room C, 360 Fairview Avenue, Essex, ON

All are welcome to attend the upcoming Backyard Stewardship and Habitat Creation presentation hosted by ERCA and Darlene Bernyk from Native Trees and Plants. This event will take place on Tuesday February 28th from 6pm to 8pm in Committee Room C (second floor) at the Essex Civic Centre, 360 Fairview Avenue, Essex, ON. Currently, the public only has access to the north and west entrances.

Attendees will learn about the importance of gardening with native plants, discover how to source them for their spring projects and learn about best practices for starting, planning and stewarding a sustainable native garden and habitat at home.

Please register in advance via Eventbrite.