August 12, 2009
I'm pleased to announce that the Public Advisory Council has just released a Report on Beach Closings in the AOC. Read the article below to find out more. Also, the popular Peche Island Day has been re-scheduled for September 19th, 2009! The summer may be winding down but there are still many great events in August and September. Scroll down to find out more!
Remember, we love to hear from you! Please email
your environmental events/news or newsletter suggestions. Depending on
timing, we can include your event in our newsletter or on our events calendar.
Natalie Green, RAP Coordinator
postmaster@detroitriver.ca
The DRCC is a community-based partnership between government, industry, academics, as well as environmental and community organizations that work collectively in helping to improve the health of the Detroit River. Our key goal is to implement the Canadian Remedial Action Plan (RAP) in order to restore the beneficial uses and remove the River from the list of Great Lakes Areas of Concern.
Did you know??
...that when you feed birds at the beach, you're not just feeding the birds?
You may be contributing to water contamination. E. coli
bacteria grow in the intestines of warm-blooded animals (humans, birds,
dogs, cats, etc.). The bacteria are released in feces and can be
detected in the water and (more recently) in beach sand. A recent study
found that gulls at local beaches can contribute over 27,000 colonies
of E. coli/100 ml. That's 270 times more that the safe swimming limit in Ontario!
Also,
overflowing garbage cans or litter can attract wildlife that defecate
in the area. So, bring minimal amounts of food to the beach, always
take any garbage with you, and make sure that your children or pets do
not defecate in the water.
For more details, check out the Public Advisory Council's Report on Beach Closings in the AOC.
Report Card on the Status of Beach Closings in the AOC
The Public Advisory Council of the Detroit River Canadian Cleanup has recently released its report card on the status of Beach Closings in the Detroit River Area of Concern (AOC).
The report utilizes current and historical data on water quality indicators (i.e., levels of E. coli bacteria) to describe the status of beach closings in the Detroit River AOC, list possible reasons for contamination, and provide recommendations to achieve delisting the beneficial use impairment.
In Ontario, public beaches can receive a "no
swimming" advisory or they can be closed altogether.
Advisories or closings are due to high levels of
bacterial contamination in the water that can cause
adverse health effects (e.g., diarrhea, vomiting, ear/
nose/eye infections). An advisory is posted if E. coli bacteria is >100 colonies/100 mL and a beach is closed if E. coli is >1,000 colonies/100 mL.
There is currently only one monitored swimming beach in the boundaries of the Detroit River Canadian AOC: Sandpoint Beach, Windsor. Overall, the beaches in the Windsor-Essex area are in fair condition. They are rarely closed but are often affected by swimming advisories.
The recommendations in the report include:
- Monitor locations that reflect the condition of the AOC even if they are not designated swimming areas (e.g., McKee Park or White Sands Beach on Bois Blanc (Boblo) Island);
- Continue monitoring the beaches surrounding the Detroit River AOC;
- Clearly define the Detroit River AOC to more accurately determine which beaches fall within the AOC boundaries;
- Test water more frequently to provide a better representation of current beach conditions;
- The cities of Detroit and Windsor and the town of Amherstburg should continue to invest in upgrading their infrastructure;
- Clarify the wording of the delisting criteria to make them more understandable, specific, scientifically-defensible, and achievable.
Download the entire report OR Download the 4-page Summary
Hard copies are also available upon request (postmaster@detroitriver.ca or 519-982-3722)
For more DRCC Publications, visit the 'Publications' page of our website.
Students exchange classroom for a boat on the Detroit River
Windsor, ON - In July, sixteen
University of Windsor students joined Dr. Ken Drouillard, Biology
Professor, on a boat in the Detroit River for a week of collecting
yellow perch and walleye. The students then brought the fish to the lab
for contaminant analyses.The students are examining the Detroit River
aquatic food web and the levels of contaminants in fish such as PCBs
and mercury.
Dr. Drouillard said that university students have
been collecting this data since about 1990. He explained that there
hasn't been strong evidence for a decrease in contaminant levels since
the 1990s. The pollution levels in the river dropped in the 1970s after
a "crackdown" on PCB use but they've since stabilized.
The
Ontario Ministry of the Environmental monitors the levels of mercury,
PCBs, DDT and dioxins in various fish species throughout the province,
including the Detroit River. The results are published in the Guide to
Eating Ontario Sport Fish. Emily Awad, a scientist with the Ministry,
said that the students' findings mirror those published in the Guide to
Eating Ontario Sport Fish. Although the level of contamination has
leveled off, there is still advice given for eating Detroit River fish
because the contaminants can build up in the environment and your body.
Fish that have more body fat (like carp and channel catfish) tend to
accumulate more contaminants compared to leaner fish such as walleye,
bass and yellow perch.
*This article was modified from a recent Windsor Star article by Frances Willick.*
Click here to read the original article published in the Windsor Star.
Click here to download the Guide to Eating Ontario Sport Fish.
Photo by Jason Kyrk, Windsor Star.
Save the Date...
for these upcoming events
Peche Island Day
RE-SCHEDULED: Saturday, September 19, 2009
Our popular Peche Island Day has been re-scheduled for Saturday, September 19, 2009. More details will be available soon.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Citizens Environment Alliance Open House
Saturday, August 15, 2009 - 2 pm to 4 pm
Click here to download the informative poster (PDF). Call 519-973-1116 for more details.
Friends of Turkey Creek: Wild about Wildflowers (Re-scheduled)
Saturday, August 15, 2009 - 10 am to 2 pm
Visit the Demonstration Garden sponsored by the the Detroit River Canadian Cleanup, the Essex Region Conservation Authority, the Town of LaSalle, and the Friends of Turkey Creek (FOTC). On Saturday, August 15, from 10 am to 2 pm, members of the FOTC will be on hand at the garden to share their knowledge and answer questions regarding species identification, establishment, weed control, and attracting wildlife. This event is free and open to everyone.
The garden is located adjacent to LaSalle's recreational trail nearby Turkey Creek and Matchette Road in LaSalle. Parking is available along Pope Street and at the parking lot located near the Marcotte Park footbridge, with a short walk to the garden along the trail.
For more information, please contact Caroline, Friends of Watersheds Organizer, at 519-776-5209, ext. 245, or cbiribauer@erca.org.
Ojibway Nature Reserve Family, Youth and Adult Programs
Various Dates
A cost may be associated with certain programs. Visit www.ojibway.ca/events.htm or call 519-966-5852 for more information.
- Bugs, Bats and Beyond - August 20, 2009 (6:30 pm to 8 pm)
- Last Blast of Summer - August 28 and September 4, 2009 (10 am to noon OR 1 pm to 3 pm)
- Nectar Festival - August 29, 2009 (9 am to noon)
Holiday Beach Hawk Festival
September 12-26, 2009
Experts on the Hawk Tower at this globally significant Important Bird Area assist with hawk identification daily. On weekends, attend for banding demonstrations, wild hawk releases and talks. Many special features during the September 19/20 weekend also include workshops and seminars for experts and novices alike, dragonfly hikes, hands-on kid's activities, bird banding and monarch butterfly tagging demonstrations. Visit www.erca.org for more information.
Essex County Field Naturalists Club Excursion
Sunday, September 13, 2009 - 2 pm
Visit http://www.ojibway.ca/activity.htm for more information and directions.
Grand River Watershed Water Forum
Friday, September 18, 2009 - Cambridge Ontario
The theme at this 9th Annual event is: Great Lakes ~ Great Links: A Grand Connection. Everyone is welcome to join for a most informative day. Registration for the Water Forum can be done online atwww.grandriver.ca- just scroll down and click on Grand River Water Forum or download the registration form and return it by fax or mail. Limited exhibit space is still available, please contact Sonia Morgan at 519-621-2763, ext. 2315 for more information.
Detroit River Seminar
Monday, September 28, 2009 - 7 pm to 9 pm
Join the DRCC and the Local Council of Women for informative presentations relating to the Detroit River. More information to follow.
Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement - Biennial Meeting
October 7-8, 2009 - Windsor, Ontario
Free registration is open now! For more details and information, visit: http://meeting.ijc.org
Environmental Job Postings
(note: the links will expire soon after the deadline closes.)- Scientist Inland Lakes Monitoring- Ontario Ministry of the Environment
Deadline: August 21, 2009 - Forest Industry Liaison Officer (Northwest) - Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
Deadline: August 21, 2009 - Fish Culture Technician - Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
Deadline: August 24, 2009 - Division Manager, Great Lakes Lab for Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences - DFO
Deadline: August 31, 2009
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email: postmaster@detroitriver.ca |