Health of Lake Erie and Detroit River to be improved via federal funding
Money from the federal government will assist the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) in improving the health of Lake Erie and the Detroit River.
The funding was announced by Member of Parliament Terry Duguid, who is the parliamentary secretary to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and special advisor for water, and Member of Parliament for Windsor-Tecumseh, Irek Kusmierczyk.
“This generous funding from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Changes’ Great Lakes Fresh Water Ecosystem Initiative will have a profound impact on the well-being of our local watershed region,” said Jim Morrison, ERCA chair.
Two habitat projects will be carried out in the Detroit River area of concern. A former wetland south of Fighting Island will be restored with the construction of offshore rock berms, according to a news release. This will improve nesting wetland for birds and fish, while slowing erosion of the land.
The dyke that protects the River Canard wetlands will be rehabilitated to protect habitats for fish and wildlife.
“These two important projects will enable the habitat Beneficial Use Impairment of the Detroit River to be removed, bringing it one step closer to being delisted as an area of concern,” Morrison said.
Over in Leamington, the degraded protective barrier beach at the Hillman Marsh will be restored. The barrier will be built to withstand future prolonged lake level extremes and storm events. This will help get rid of excess waves and protect the marsh, allowing for vegetation planting.
$15 million will be going into the projects over the next four years.
“Without this significant investment from the Government of Canada, these major projects would not be able to proceed,” Morrison added.
“With increasingly violent storm events, erosion and other issues related to our rapidly changing climate, the importance of expediently implementing these protective and restorative measures cannot be overstated.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
LIVE @ 10:30 a.m. EST Bank of Canada drops key interest rate
The Bank of Canada has dropped its key interest rate by 50 basis points to 3.25 per cent.
Poilievre's Conservatives still in majority territory: Nanos seat projections
The Liberals' promise of a temporary GST break and $250 rebate cheques haven't benefited Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his minority government when it comes to public support, according to Nanos Research data.
WATCH Video captures lookalike contest for suspected CEO assassin in New York
Several people attended a lookalike contest for a suspect in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City on Dec. 7.
Tensions rising between Canada Post, union as strike nears four-week mark
Canada Post and the union representing postal workers are in a war of words as a countrywide strike enters its 27th day.
New Vancouver mom temporarily discharged from hospital to see Taylor Swift concert
A Vancouver woman didn’t let an emergency C-section keep her from Saturday’s Taylor Swift concert.
'He lost his spirit': Family wants answers after Indigenous man's braids cut at Edmonton hospital
The Saskatchewan family of an Indigenous man whose braids were cut off during a stay at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, without permission, is searching for answers.
Ex-defence chief in South Korea tried to kill himself after being arrested over martial law
South Korea's previous defence minister was stopped from attempting suicide while in detention over last week's martial law declaration, officials said Wednesday, as President Yoon Suk Yeol's office resisted a police attempt to search the compound.
Investigators search for motive in killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO as suspect's attorney denies client's involvement
Investigators are searching for a motive in the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson as murder suspect Luigi Mangione fights his extradition to New York from Pennsylvania, where police detained him at a McDonald's on Monday.
'Baseball-sized hail': Toronto man owes car rental company $18K after hailstorm
A Toronto man is on the hook for about $18,000 after a car he rented over the summer was pelted by baseball-sized hail.