The Egret Article

Submitted by Gina Pannunzio on behalf of the Essex Region Conservation Authority

Over the past few weeks, ERCA has been planting and distributing more than 125,000 trees across the watersheds of the Windsor Essex region. This work is extremely important locally as trees play a critical role in mitigating climate change by absorbing carbon from the atmosphere. They also play an important role in helping us to adapt to a changing climate by protecting us from flooding and severe storms, and by providing shade during increasingly hot weather. They will also continue to provide critical habitat for many plants and animals that will also find adapting to a changing climate challenging. There is no doubt that we need more trees and better-connected forests to address climate change and create a healthy region for future generations.

Essex County faces many ecological challenges, as it is part of one of the most populated corridors in Canada. As well, it is part of the unique ecoregion, the Carolinian Life Zone. This region comprises of only 1% of Canada’s total land mass, but is home to more flora and fauna species than any other area in Canada. Prior to European settlement, Essex County was dominated by natural areas, including Carolinian woodlands, wetlands and tall grass prairies.

Since then, much of the landscape has changed or is extremely degraded to accommodate a growing population. This degradation is a direct or indirect result of clearing and increasing drainage for timber, agriculture and urban development. The represents a loss of 95% original forest cover and 97% loss of wetlands. Essex County’s natural heritage loss has resulted in a decline in species populations native to the region; many recognized as species at risk.

While the Essex Region Conservation Authority has planted more than 6 million trees and achieved an 8.5%, natural areas coverage, more action is needed to reach our 12% target. This target was established by ERCA to reflect the United Nations goal of 12% natural areas for a sustainable balance between nature and development across a landscape.

For those interested in ERCA’s various tree planting programs, visit https://essexregionconservation.ca/stewardships-grants/tree-planting/. Mark your calendars, ERCA opens up tree planting orders for landowners in January/February and pick up is around Earth Day in April.

Submitted by Gina Pannunzio on behalf of the Detroit River Canadian Cleanup

When contaminant levels, such as mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), are high in fish, consumption advisories (found in the Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks Guide to Eating Fish), may recommend that people and sensitive populations (e.g., children, pregnant women) limit or avoid eating certain sizes and species of fish caught in specific areas of the Detroit River. Researchers from the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research at the University of Windsor have been conducting several studies to identify whether consumption advisories for the Remedial Action Plan (RAP) indicator species (walleye, brown bullhead, and smallmouth bass for sensitive populations) are similar to other non-Area of Concern Great Lakes sites.

To provide another line of evidence for the assessment of this beneficial use, the Detroit River Canadian Cleanup (DRCC) continued with their fish consumption survey (launched in 2019) to collect data on what people catch and eat from the Detroit River. So far, majority of anglers (67%) captured in the survey eat the fish they catch from the river (4 to 8 oz of fish per meal about 1 to 4 times per month, on average). The majority of anglers (69%) prefer to pan fry the fish they catch and the most common fish consumed from the Detroit River according to the survey are walleye, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, and white perch.

Do you consume fish from the Detroit River or know someone who does? Take the survey! This information is being gathered by the Detroit River Remedial Action Plan. The RAP is a partnership between government, industry, scientists, environmental organizations, and dedicated citizens that work together to protect and restore the Detroit River ecosystem. The goal of the DRCC is to remove the Detroit River from the list of Canada-U.S. Great Lakes Areas of Concern.

Take the survey: http://detroitriver.ca/fishsurvey/

Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks Eat Safe Fish guide: https://www.ontario.ca/page/eating-ontario-fish-2017-18

Below is an notice from Lisa Kolody, Executive Director of the WindsorEssex Community Foundation. The letter describes the details of an endowment fund that will be used to continually support our Club and our programs, including the Junior Egrets.