In accordance with public health guidelines, the Detroit River Canadian Cleanup (DRCC) office remains closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Should you need to reach the DRCC, we can be reached via e-mail or telephone at (519) 982-3722.
You're invited to our 10th Annual Detroit River Evening! The event is planned for Thursday, June 24 from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm. The Detroit River Evening is a free event that highlights our coordinated efforts to improve the Detroit River and remove it from the list of Great Lakes' Areas of Concern.  

We will release our 2020/21 annual report and you can learn more about recent habitat projects on the river and in its watershed, as well as updates on colonial waterbird monitoring in the AOC. We are also looking forward to sharing an important announcement regarding two BUIs in the AOC!

Due to COVID-19, the event will be held virtually. The event is free, but registration is required. We look forward to you joining us.
ElderCollege offers Detroit River Course
ElderCollege is offering a free virtual course through Zoom on June 9 2021 from 10am to 11am titled, "Detroit River Environmental History and 30 Years of Restoration". This presentation will cover the environmental history and 30 years of cleanup in the Detroit River. Participants will learn about the extensive partners in both Canada and the US working together on the Remedial Action Plan for the river and learn about some of the major restoration projects that have taken place and how residents in Windsor-Essex can protect the Detroit River.

If you are interested in registering you can visit www.eldercollege.ca, create an account, and register yourself online or reach out to postmaster@detroitriver.ca and request to be registered.
Canada and Ontario Mark 50th Anniversary of Great Lakes Agreement by Signing Ninth Agreement
It’s official: The ninth Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health has been signed, marking 50 years of collaboration! This new agreement outlines specific actions to safeguard and protect our Great Lakes by improving wastewater and stormwater management, reducing plastic pollution and excess road salt, restoring native species and habitats, and increasing resilience to climate change.

Annex 5 of the Agreement contains plans to restore ecosystem health in Areas of Concern, like the Detroit River, and outlines future actions of the DRCC to restore the river. We're excited to continue improving the Detroit River through this agreement!
Lake Erie HAB (Harmful Algal Bloom) Forecast
NOAA has released their early season prediction for the harmful algal bloom in the Western Lake Erie Basin. They project that the bloom will be smaller than average. with an expected severity of below 6. They also do not expect to see a large bloom like 2017 or 2019. Discharge from the Maumee River was below average in March and April 2021 due to lower than average rainfall, which led to low phosphorous loads early spring. Further, weather systems in May brought rain to the region, which led to a wetter than normal month that will bump up the load.

There is still uncertainty in the weather models because of limitations in forecasting exact amounts, specific location and amount of rainfall in May. As they add data over the next two months, this uncertainty will decrease.
Environmental groups urge Detroit's council to act on river protection law
Environmental advocates are urging Detroit's City Council to take action on an ordinance that aims to safeguard the Detroit River by imposing stricter rules for companies operating along the waterway.
Environmental groups joined together with a representative from the city's building and safety department and Councilwoman Raquel Castañeda-López for a virtual news conference to make the case for advancing the "Detroit River Protection Ordinance."

Castañeda-López drafted the proposal more than a year ago in hopes of beefing up inspections and maintenance rules for businesses operating near the river's shoreline following a November 2019 dock collapse at an unlicensed site that sent potentially harmful contaminants into the water. The proposal also would require emergency notifications to protect and inform residents in the event of another incident.
"We all know it's time to put these protections in place so that we can make sure that the residents of Detroit and south of us have clean water to drink and swim in," said Raquel Garcia, executive director of Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision.
To read the full article by Sarah Rahal from The Detroit News click here.
Detroit River Coalition sets Strategic Plan
In 2019, eight organizations created the Detroit River Coalition (DRC). Six members are from Michigan, and two are from Ontario. All organizations work together to promote the appreciation and conservation of the Detroit River and its tributaries.

In late 2020, the DRC engaged EDSI consulting to create a strategic plan for the newly formed coalition. The work occurred from January to May 2021 where members met weekly to identify the direction and management of the Coalition. The first strategic plan was completed in May 2021, outlining a plan to guide the DRC through its infancy to a fully functioning binational environmental coalition!

Detroit River Coalition organizations consist of:
  • Belle Isle Conservancy
  • Milliken State Park (Michigan Department of Natural Resources)
  • Green Living Science
  • Friends of Detroit River
  • Friends of the Rouge
  • Detroit River Canadian Cleanup
  • Essex Region Conservation Authority
  • Detroit Riverfront Conservancy
Boat Safety on the Detroit River
As a steward of the Detroit River, the DRCC knows a healthy river system equals boating, kayaking, jet skiing, canoeing, standup paddle boarding and other forms of shoreline and in river recreation. Who can resist the call of the blue waters? If you are heading out on the water this summer, here are some safety tips to make your boating experience fun and safe this season.

Wear a life jacket - even if you don't plan on jumping in, most fatalities with boating are from drowning. Everyone on board including young children should have a life jacket.

Swimming and boating skills - make sure everyone has taken swimming lessons and is comfortable in the water. This knowledge can be life saving. Never leave children unsupervised on the boat or when in the water.

Safety equipment - aside from life jackets, pack a fire extinguisher, first-aid kit, flashlight, your cellphone, marine radio and an air horn or whistle for signaling other boats in the river. All of these tools will help in an emergency.

Plan your route - have your route planned in advance so you can navigate the water carefully and with ease. Better yet, tell someone who isn't going on your trip where you are going and how long you might be.

Know your environment - the water in the Detroit River moves fast! The Windsor Port Authority Harbourmaster Peter Berry says some areas of the river are travelling at 20 kilometres an hour. Also, Great Lakes are more likely to have larger waves and be cooler than shallow inland waterways like tributaries. Cold water can lead to hypothermia and unconsciousness in as little as fifteen minutes.

Watch the weather - wind can rough the water and can pose a hazard to smaller watercraft, especially in the Detroit River. Lightning is also a risk to an open boat exposed on the water. Check the forecast often for any day you plan to be out in the water and delay the trip if weather is hazardous.

Look before you leap - diving or jumping off a boat can lead to injury if there are underwater items like rocks below.
Days Worth Mentioning
Canadian Rivers Day - June 13
Canadian Rivers Day is held annually to promote public awareness of the importance of preserving the heritage and health of Canada's rivers. It is an opportunity for all Canadians to honour and commemorate the important sustaining role of rivers in Canada and globally. Participating in rivers day helps to spread the message that rivers are vital to maintain a healthy ocean and a healthy earth. 
Pollinator Week - June 21-27
Pollinator Week is an annual event celebrated internationally in support of pollinator health. It's a time to celebrate pollinators and spread the word about what we can do to protect them.
Extra! Extra! Read all about it!
The Detroit River and Great Lakes in the news. Here are some links to articles that may pique your interest. Click the link to read on.  
The Detroit River Canadian Cleanup 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 goal is to remove the Detroit River from the list of Great Lakes Areas of Concern.