MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL SPACES
The Essex Region supports a higher diversity of plant and animal species than any other region in Canada, and sustains one of the highest concentrations of globally rare species in an area with some of the lowest percentage of natural cover in Canada. Our Conservation Areas are managed to protect this natural heritage, preserve human and cultural heritage, and support active and healthy living, outdoor education, and increase awareness and appreciation of our natural and cultural heritage.
2019 Achievements
- • Completion of the Collavino Wetland controlled water wetland project
- • Finalized the Peche Island permitting processes with regulatory agencies
- • Initiated the Cedar Creek Management plan
- • Continued control of invasive species at Spring Garden Natural Area
2020 Actions
- • Complete management plans for Cedar Creek and John R. Park Homestead
- • Facilitate the donation of the Collavino wetland to ERCA and the initiation of a management plan to allow the public to enjoy this site
- • Initiate the construction of the Peche Island erosion protection and fish habitat project with partners (City of Windsor, SwimDrinkFish, Environment Canada)
- • Continue to explore opportunities for new or leveraged investment in natural resource management
- • Complete the Peche Island Habitat/Shoreline, and Canard River wetland projects
2020 Pressures
- • Invasive species continue to threaten our natural spaces and the work we do to restore our natural spaces. The cost to control invasive species such as Phragmites continues to grow
- • ERCA has limited resources to undertake compliance of our regulations in natural areas to deal with issues such as poaching
- • Erosion of our natural coastlines continues to deplete unique habitat and species
- • Detroit River AOC funding is uncertain aftfter 2020
CLEAN WATER~GREEN SPACES RESTORATION
Of all the Great Lakes, the western basin of Lake Erie is exposed to the greatest stress due to urbanization, industrialization, and rural land use and is exhibiting signs of degradation including nutrient and phosphorus enrichment, the emergence of harmful algal blooms, and other water quality issues that impact aquatic habitat, drinking water, and ultimately the health and economy of the Essex Region. These challenges are inter-related, and solutions must be as well.
ERCA's Clean Water ~ Green Spaces (CW~GS) program was designed to address two of ERCA's highest priorities; protecting and enhancing water quality, and protecting and restoring natural areas by providing local funding to leverage support from provincial, federal, landowner and other partners to collectively improve water quality and enhance protection and restoration of natural areas. We leverage local funding through this program to support land securement, restoration (stream/drain, natural channel design, shoreline and fish habitat improvement, prairie/forest/ wetland) soil and water actions such as providing infield and in-stream conservation planning and delivery of agricultural stewardship, demonstrating innovative water and soil conservation (e.g. demonstration farm/ projects) are included in Watershed Research Services.
