May 12, 2010
I would like to take this
opportunity to welcome our new readers. Despite the cold and the rain,
many people stopped by the DRCC's booth at the Essex-Windsor Earth Day
event in April to learn about the Detroit River and to sign up for this
newsletter. Thank you all for your continued interest!
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
Did you know??
...that a glass of tap water in Windsor costs approximately $0.00013? That's less than a penny! A bottle of water is approximately $1.00 (depending on where it is purchased).Our tap water continues to exceed the standards regulated by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment. Only bottled water labelled 'mineral' or 'spring' are subject to higher quality standards.
Want more information? Visit:
Pharmaceuticals in Detroit River and tap water extremely low
"There is no risk to public health," Tabe said during a break at the Ontario Water Works Association and Ontario Municipal Water Association conference at Caesars Windsor.
In research that goes back to 2008, water samples were taken for a year to look for 51 pharmaceutical compounds. Tabe said 14 of them -- painkillers such as ibuprofen and hormones from contraceptives such as birth control pills -- were found in low levels in the Detroit River. The highest levels were found near the sewage treatment plant.
Windsor's ozone water treatment process removed most of the pharmaceuticals from drinking water, but about six of them sometimes sporadically popped up in some samples. Tabe stressed the research never found a pharmaceutical chemical in all the samples taken.
Tabe said one pharmaceutical such as ibuprofen could appear in three of 32 samples but even when the chemicals were found, they were at low levels and sometimes almost undetectable.
"The levels are extremely small," Tabe said. "It's like the level of a gram of salt in an Olympic-size pool."
Source: The Windsor Star (May 5, 2010)
Author: Sharon Hill
Tree planting near the Detroit River to celebrate Earth Day
Windsor - On April 24, 2010 about
35 volunteer staff members and their family and friends gathered to
plant 125
young trees and shrubs around ponds at the Eastern boundary of the
Brighton Beach Power property (adjacent to the Detroit River). 
Caroline
Biribauer, of the Essex Region Conservation Authority, provided planting
expertise, equipment and native trees and shrubs (partially funded by
the Detroit River Canadian Cleanup
with support from Environment Canada). Mulch was kindly provided by the
City of
Windsor to protect the young plants from drought.
Native trees
and shrubs are expected to thrive despite the poor soil
conditions at the site---the new Brighton Beach Power Station was built
on the site of
the coal storage yard from the old J.C. Keith Station.
The new
trees and
shrubs will also help serve as a natural buffer between Brighton Beach
Power and the
soon to be built international bridge crossing and customs plaza.
The
hardy volunteers dodged a sprinkle of rain and enjoyed a barbecue, and
each received
a commemorative T-shirt and some Black Oak seedlings for their great
efforts. All in all it was a
great success and one the staff hope to repeat next year.
Text and photo courtesy of David McGregor, Facility Manager at
Brighton Beach Power
Follow the Yellow Fish Road
Despite the cold and high winds, volunteers from the CAW Local 200 Environment Committee gathered on May 8th to paint yellow fish with the message "rainwater only" next to storm drains in a parking lot near the Detroit River. Fish-shaped brochures were also handed out.
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The yellow fish are part of a national campaign by Trout Unlimited Canada to remind residents that anything (like soap, pet waste, fertilizer) that runs off lawns, driveways, sidewalks, and roads go directly to a local waterbody such as the Detroit River.
Want to get your community group involved?
Saturday, June 5th, 2010 marks Yellow Fish Road Day across Canada! This day is meant to promote nation-wide awareness of storm sewer pollution and to get as many people participating in the program is as many Canadian cities as possible. So, put on your painting clothes and get started!
The City of Windsor is a new official partner of the Yellow Fish RoadTM program. So, there is no need to wait until June 5th. You can participate any time! If you would like to participate in the Yellow Fish RoadTM program, the City of Windsor will supply all the materials needed. Call (519) 253-7111 ext. 226 or email krichters@city.windsor.on.ca for more information.
For more information:Thank you to Troy Brian for providing the photo.
Left to right: Megan Brian, Paige Gordon, Natalie Green, Brent Gordon
(absent from photo: Karina Richters and Troy Brian)
Save the Date...
for these upcoming events
Smogfest Art Exhibition
May 1 to May 30, 2010
Visit Milk Coffee Bar (68 University Avenue W, Windsor, Ontario) during the month of May to view and bid on local art representing our dismal air quality and other environmental issues. Please contact the Citizens Environment Alliance for more information (519-973-1116).
County Wide Active Transportation Study - Public Open House
Thursday, May 13, 2010 - 3 pm to 7 pm
Essex Civic Centre, 360 Fairview Avenue West, Essex Ontario
You are invited to attend a public open house to meet the Active Transportation Study Team and share your ideas about how to improve conditions for Active Transportation in the County of Essex. Enter a ballot to win a new bike!
If you cannot attend the open house, you can complete an online survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CWATS_Questionnaire
For more information, contact Jane Mustac (519-776-6441 x397) or Dave McLaughlin (905-882-4211 x6520).
Turkey Creek Community Tree Planting &
Cleanup (Re-scheduled due to rain)
Sunday, May 16, 2010 - 9 am to 1 pm
Missed Earth Day at Malden Park? Still want to
plant trees & help the environment this spring?
You're
invited to come out to the Friends of Turkey
Creek Community Tree Planting and Cleanup, taking place Sunday, May 16,
from 9 am to 1 pm. The planting and
cleaning is taking place along the Grand Marais Drain, just north of the
Fogolar Furlan Club
& west of Walker Road. You can access the area from the
recreational
trail or main access and parking is available at the north end of the
Fogolar
Furlan's parking lot.
A barbecue lunch will be available for all
volunteers. High school students can earn community service hours.
Shovels & gloves will be available for volunteers, but feel free to
bring
your own if you prefer.
Please click here for the flyer for map and more
details.
For more information, please contact Caroline Biribauer at 519-776-5209, ext. 245.
High school students can receive community service hours.
Friends of Pike Creek Community Cleanup
Saturday, May 29, 2010 - 8:30 am - 12:30 pm
Join the Friends of Pike Creek for a community cleanup on Saturday, May 29, 2010. Meet at 36 East Pike Road no later than 8:30 am. A bus will depart this location to Little Baseline Road and 12th Concession arriving at 9 am. The bus will return to 36 East Pike Creek Road by 12:30 pm for lunch.
Dress appropriately (in layers, old clothes). Please note that there are no bathrooms at the park on Baseline Road. Gloves, waders and garbage bags will be provided.
For more information, contact Pete Wenzler (519-567-5522) or Nil Gaudette. You can also find the Friends of Pike Creek on Facebook (click on the logo below)
Detroit River Watershed Cleanup at Black Oak Heritage Park
Saturday, May 29, 2010 - 9 am to 1 pm
Do you want to make a difference? Are you looking to accumulate volunteer hours? If so, grab some gloves, put on your boots, and come out to help cleanup a section of Black Oak Heritage Park in the Detroit River watershed on Saturday, May 29, 2010 from 9 am to 1 pm. Lunch will be provided. Please bring a reusable water bottle and dress appropriately (long pants, NO sandals).
Due to some safety concerns, individuals under the age of 13 are discouraged from participating.
Directions: Volunteers will meet at the intersection of Broadway Avenue and Sandwich Street West in Windsor. Parking is available alongside the road. From Windsor, take EC Row Expressway West. Turn right immediately past the Ojibway Parkway onto Broadway Avenue. Look for a blue tent and the ERCA Friends of Watersheds trailer.
For more information, please contact Natalie Green (519-982-3722).
NEW! Peche Island Adventures - Kids Summer Day Camp
Month of August (registration required; fee incurred)
Join the City of Windsor for this rare opportunity to explore its island park on the Detroit River. Boat trips, field studies, historical hikes are all part of this unique adventure. Very limited enrollment so register early. Open to kids aged 7-12 years.
Windsor Summer Activity Guide (Page 40)
Environmental Job Postings
These postings are for jobs at various locations in Ontario. Please click on the job title to view job details. Contact the listed agency in the job ad for more information. Note: the links will expire soon after the deadline has passed. Note: the links will expire after the deadline closes.
- Volunteer Interviewer of Detroit
River Shoreline Anglers
Deadline: May 14, 2010
- Species at Risk Intern - Bird Studies Canada (Port
Rowan, Ontario)
Deadline: May 17, 2010
- Conservation Officer - Ministry of Natural Resources
(Owen Sound, Ontario)
Deadline: May 25, 2010
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email: postmaster@detroitriver.ca |