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By Gina Pannunzio

The State of the Strait is a binational collaboration between Canada and the US that hosts a meeting every two years. The purpose is to bring together government agencies, managers, researchers, students, advocates, conservation organizations and the public together to learn about historical, current and future ecosystem conditions of the Detroit River.

This year, the State of the Strait conference was held at the University of Windsor on November 19, 2019. The conference this year focused on the status and trends of ecosystem health indicators. More than 200 people attended the conference and the day consisted of expert panels focused on eutrophication and algal blooms, climate change, biological health, and habitat. As a result of the meeting, an indicator report is expected to be released for the Detroit River and western Lake Erie in July 2020.

By Gina Pannunzio, Kelly Laforest and Ian Naisbitt

Woke up today and checked the foreboding weather forecast: “Frost advisory in effect for: Windsor – Leamington – Essex County and Special weather statement in effect for: Windsor – Leamington – Essex County.” More details included: increasing cloudiness. Rain beginning this afternoon. Amount 5 mm. Wind becoming southeast 20 km/h gusting to 40 near noon. High 13. UV index 2 or low. Regardless of the advisory and special weather statement, it looked like there was a window of opportunity to plant the trees and shrubs in the morning. We always have a positive attitude that volunteers will be able to get the job done.

In the past, volunteers have persevered and cleaned up or planted trees in all kinds of wicked weather: pelting rain or snow with blustery winds. It builds character and adds to our stories we tell friends and family, right?

The planting site is located in the Detroit River Watershed in East Windsor’s Little River Corridor Park, east of the Ganatchio Trail and south of Wyandotte Street. This natural area is the same site that our community has planted numerous times to celebrate Earth Day.

Over 125 volunteers, including children, their parents and other community groups participated by digging holes; planting, wrapping and mulching 350 trees! We started planting at 9:00 a.m. and the job was completed just after 12 noon.

On Saturday, 26 October, TD Bank sponsored their TD Tree Day Windsor program by inviting our Windsor-Essex community to help TD employees plant trees. Groups that participated included: City of Windsor, Detroit River Canadian Cleanup, Essex Region Conservation Authority, Essex County Nature – Little River Enhancement Group, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, Caesars Windsor – CodeGreen, students from the University of Windsor and local secondary schools, the How To Crew and members of the Windsor Junior Spitfires Hockey Minor Hockey Association.

The heavy afternoon and evening rain were a great help to settle the soil around the newly planted trees.

Trees Provided Fall Colours for us to Enjoy

The species of trees that we planted included: Basswood, Elderberry, Buttonbush, Swamp White Oak, Nannyberry, American Sycamore, Freeman Maple and Red Cedar.

Essex County Nature – Little River Enhancement Group would like to thank TD Bank, Essex Region Conservation Authority and the Detroit River Canadian Cleanup for planning this community event in the Little River Watershed. This volunteer effort addressed the Beneficial Use Impairment, “Loss of Fish and Wildlife Habitat” of the Remedial Action Plan by improving the ecosystem health of the Detroit River Watershed.

Today’s TD Tree Day Windsor planting event brings the total number of trees and shrubs planted by community volunteers in the Little River Watershed to 44669.

We Appreciate the Efforts of Local Volunteers