January 29, 2010
Another new year is upon us which means new opportunites and new projects! We hope to see you at our 2010 events.
.
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??
......untreated sewage in combined sewer overflows may have the potential for impacts to the Detroit River's beneficial uses such as having clean swimming beaches, healthy benthos, good aesthetics, and high quality fish and wildlife habitat. The construction of the Retention Treatment Basin along Windsor's Riverfront and upgrades to infrastructure is a high priority action item required to make progress toward delisting the Detroit River Area of Concern.
Construction of CSO Retention Treatment Basin underway
On
Thursday, January 7, 2010, the City of Windsor announced that the
construction of the $60 million Retention Treatment Basin along its
Riverfront had begun.
The Retention Treatment
Basin (RTB) Project involves the installation of a new interceptor
sewer and the construction of a large underground tank designed to
reduce the amount of untreated water entering the Detroit River from
combined sewer overflows.
As is typical in many
older cities, some areas of the City of Windsor are serviced by a combined
sewer system. A combined sewer system is
a wastewater collection system that conveys a mixture of wastewater and storm
water through a single pipe to a treatment plant. During some big storms, it is impossible to
carry all of the water to the wastewater treatment plant within a short period of
time. As a result, excess untreated water
is discharged directly to the Detroit River---called a combined sewer overflow.
The
RTB includes a holding tank and
treatment facility for combined sewer overflows during heavy storms.
The water will be collected and enter the tank to be treated before
being released to
the Detroit River. After the storm event, the basin will be flushed to
the existing sewer which leads to the Lou Romano
Water Reclamation Plant.
The basin will be located (underground)
between Glengarry and Aylmer Avenue (view map).
The cost of the RTB is being shared by the Government
of Canada, the Province of Ontario and the City of Windsor. The project is due to be completed by the Spring 2011.
For
more information, please contact Greg St. Louis, City of Windsor
Project Administrator, at 519-255-6100 ext. 6472 (office hours: 8:30
a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).
Related articles:
- Construction of $60 million sewer project begins along Windsor's riverfront
- Windsor cleans up act as Detroit spews sewage into river
- Aging sewage systems breed record bacteria in our waters
Must see! A rap for the St. Clair River RAP
The St. Clair Region Conservation Authority (SCRCA) Education Program
staff can now add music videos to their repertoire. They spent the summer of
2009 working with a production team to produce a RAP music video highlighting
what kids can do to protect the St. Clair River.
The
video is part of a new educational
program developed in conjunction with the Friends of the St. Clair
River that teaches youth about the St. Clair River Remedial Action
Plan.
"The goal of Remedial Action
Plan is to restore and protect beneficial uses in the in the St. Clair River
Area of Concern and the new video shares that message in a unique way geared
for youth," said Jan Dawes who directed the production.
The production included
children from Sarnia to Florence. The main sites used along the river were
Centennial Park, Guthrie Park, Willow Park, and Branton Cundick Park.
Background shots highlighted some of the impairments to the water and some of
the positive projects underway.
Wreckless Crew Productions of
London produced the video under Jan's direction with support from Kim Gledhill,
education officer with the SCRCA.
The video is now available on DVD for
use in schools and at public events. Even better, you can check it out on
YouTube by clicking the link below.
View Video
Binational Cooperations produces Detroit River and western Lake Erie "Ecological Benefits of Habitat Modification"
Report
Windsor/Detroit - Over the last 30 years, significant
progress has been made to restore lost and degraded habitats, especially in the
Detroit River
and western Lake Erie basin. However,
scientists have recently identified knowledge and communication gaps relating
to habitat modification projects in this region. Prior to the binational,
biennial State of the Strait
Conference on April 28, 2009, limited efforts had been undertaken to measure ecological
improvements and cumulative effects of habitat restoration initiatives, and to
quantify progress relative to goals and targets of existing plans or programs. As
a result of the conference, the binational partnership has produced a report
summarizing the recommendations from twelve habitat modification case studies
discussed at the April 28th conference.
"The State of the Strait Conference is an important
tool of the United States
and Canada to achieve
cooperative learning about the health of our Detroit
River and western Lake
Erie. By maintaining the highest standards of scientific
research, this Conference is yet another example of the quality of wildlife
management that is made possible by the truly international character of the
Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge." noted Congressman John D.
Dingell. "We must continue to place a high priority on measuring the
effectiveness of our conservation and restoration activities so that future
generations benefit from the lessons learned from our current efforts."
"This type of binational cooperation and
information sharing is imperative to the restoration of our shared Great Lakes,"
said Canadian Member of Parliament Jeff Watson. "Where we have ongoing
monitoring and active research programs, river restoration is often accelerated
and more effective."
The Report recommends that habitat
modification initiatives become more strongly coupled with scientific method
through quantitative assessments and long-term monitoring. Moreover, the Report
proposes having regular information sessions to share ideas and knowledge
relating to the science and technology of habitat restoration. It is also
recommended that greater effort be expended on citizen and student involvement
in habitat modification and monitoring ecological effectiveness.
Examples of habitat modification/restoration
projects discussed in the report include soft shoreline engineering (i.e.,
using ecological principles to reduce erosion and improve fish and wildlife
habitat), wetland mitigation, Phragmites (an
invasive plant species) control, and fish and wildlife habitat enhancements.
The State of the Strait is a
bi-national collaboration that hosts a conference every two years to bring
together government managers, researchers, students, environmental and
conservation organizations, and concerned citizens. Conference participants
work to understand historical ecosystem conditions and assess current ecosystem
status in order to achieve a better future for the Detroit River and western
Lake Erie. Previous State of the Strait
Conferences have explored the status of key environmental indicators for the
Detroit River and western Lake Erie, monitoring for sound management, and
strengthening science-management linkages.
A complete copy of the State of the Strait: Ecological Benefits of Habitat Modification is available online at www.stateofthestrait.org
Amending the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement
In
June 2009, the governments of Canada and the United States annouced
their intent to re-negotiate the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement
(GLWQA). The GLWQA, first signed in 1972, demonstrates the commitment
of both countries to addressing pollution in their shared Great Lakes.
The Agreement's last revision took place in 1987.
On January 14, 2010, Environment Canada and the United States
Environmental Protection Agency held a binational 'webinar' for Great Lakes
partners, stakeholders and the public. The purpose of the 'webinar' was to inform everyone of the
process for negotiations between the governments of the United States and
Canada to amend the GLWQA. The webinar also provided an
opportunity for questions and answers.
If you missed the 'webinar', you can download related information at www.binational.net.
Comments relating to Governance issues to inform
the negotiations between the governments of the United States and
Canada are being accepted online until February 14, 2010.
Save the Date...
for these upcoming events
Essex County Field Naturalists' Club Winter Excursion
Sunday, January 31, 2010 - 2 pm
Join ECFNC
member Betty Learmouth for a walk on the Ojibway prairie to observe
winter plants. Meet at 2:00 pm in the Ojibway parking lot.
Contact ECFNC for more information.
Shiver of the River Eco-Fair
Saturday, February 6, 2010 - 10 am to 3 pm
An annual event hosted by the U.S. Friends of the Detroit River at the Belle Isle Casino (Detroit, MI). For more information, contact the Friends of the Detroit River.
Ojibway Winter Festival
Sunday, February 14, 2009 12 noon - 4 pm
Don't miss this exciting event on Family Day weekend! Outdoor scavenger hunt, snow sculptures, creature features, Cabin Fever hike (1:00 pm), environmental exhibits and activities the whole family will enjoy. Free Admission Click here to view other upcoming events at the Ojibway Nature Centre.
Essex County Field Naturalists' Club Winter Waterfowl Excursion
Sunday, February 21, 2010 - 1:30 pm (TENTATIVE)
Join ECFNC member Paul Desjardins for their annual Winter Waterfowl Excursion along the shores of the Detroit River. Meet at the Ojibway parking lot at 1:30 pm. Please call to confirm your attendance for this event: JoAnn Grondin (519-734-0056) or Margaret Jennings (519-250-0705).
Friends of Cedar Creek Winter Owl Prowl
Thursday, February 25, 2010 - 7:00 pm
Camp Cedarwin, in the Peach Lodge. Camp Cedarwin is located at 1495 Arner Townline, just south of County Road 20. Contact Caroline Biribauer, Friends of Watersheds Organizer, 519-776-5209 x245 for more information.
Environmental Job Postings
(note: the links will expire after the deadline closes.)- Outdoor Education - Long Point Conservation Authority
Deadline: January 29, 2010 (4 pm) - Environmental Planner - Long Point Conservation Authority
Deadline: January 29, 2010 (4 pm) - Marshbird Research Technician - Bird Studies Canada
Deadline: January 31, 2010 - Public Affairs Specialist - International Joint Commission
Deadline: February 5, 2010 (Must be U.S. Citizen) - Fisheries Research Technician - Carlton University
Deadline: February 5, 2010 - Environmental Education Program Coordinator - Ohio Division of Wildlife
Deadline: until filled
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email: postmaster@detroitriver.ca |