Saturday, 13 April, 2024

By Laura Neufeld, Jacqueline Serran and Ian Naisbitt

We acknowledge that the Little River Watershed is in the traditional and ancestral territory of the Caldwell First Nation, a member of the Three Fires Confederacy of First Nations, which includes the Ojibwa, the Odawa and the Potawatomi Peoples.
We recognise that Indigenous Peoples had an original connection with their ancestral land. We are dedicated to learning about and helping Caldwell First Nation to protect, preserve and restore their ancestral lands and waters. We value and respect the contributions and relationships of the Indigenous Peoples in their ancestral territory.
Mnaadendamowidaa Shkaakaamikwe
Respect Mother Earth

The Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA), Detroit River Canadian Cleanup (DRCC) and the City of Windsor partnered together to sponsor the River Cleanup at Teedie Park in east Windsor. Essex County Nature/ Lil’ Reg were welcomed to participate in the cleanup.

The public was invited to pick up “Winter Blown” litter along the area adjacent to the river. The cleanup began at 10 a.m. and continued until noon. We have had abundant amounts of rainfall currently so the level of water in the river was high and muddy water was streaming down river! At the end of the day, volunteers collected 193 kilograms of litter. Some of the items included: a basketball, flip-flops, calculator, construction wood,  lots of plastic items, spray cans and of course another shopping cart!

Mother Nature provided another wonderful day for working outdoors. Daybreak revealed a temperature of 6 C → feels like 2 C = Yikes! However, the forecast is a high of 14 C and sunny = Yahoo! Wind will be northwest at 30 km/ h gusting to 60 km/ h. Mister Beaufort’s translation: “Fresh Breeze” to “Near Gale” = Yikes again! UV index 5 or moderate. It turned out to be a sunny day with a wee zephyr. No rain whew! 

Today’s cleanup will address two of the Beneficial Use Impairments (BUI) of the Detroit River Area of Concern (AOC):

  • Degradation of fish and wildlife populations (BUI # 3).
  • The loss of fish and wildlife habitat (BUI # 14).

Nestling Bees

Obviously, we noticed the white flowering first. Upon closer observation though, we noticed tranquil bees resting in the curled up flowers. It was a chilly morning and apparently the bees found protection from the cold by nestling in the flowers.

Shopping Cart Nightmares

Today, one volunteer managed to retrieve 1 shopping cart from the river. However, we also found 2 old shopping carts in the river. We have noticed these 2 remnants before, they are firmly stuck in the river bed. They brought back nightmares for some of the older volunteers who have spent hours pulling carts from the river in the past.

The record for retrieving carts from the river in one day is 68! Nightmarish indeed!

Muddy Water = Erosion of soil upstream.
However, notice the soil that has been deposited in the bends of the river course.
Over the years, trees and shrubs have established themselves and grown to create wildlife habitat! It’s Mother Nature’s way.

Watching the water flow in a serene moment of the cleanup.