June/July 1995
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June/July 1995 |
Improving fish and wildlife habitat is an important part of restoring Great Lake Areas of Concern. To assist in this effort, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources has developed a draft Survey of Sites in the St. Clair and Detroit Rivers for Potential Habitat Rehabilitation and Enhancement. One of the identified projects, the Ruwe Marsh Restoration Project, is already underway.
The Ruwe marsh is privately owned and forms part of the Canard River wetland complex adjoining the Detroit River on the Ontario side. Part of the marsh (80 hectares or 200 acres) is enclosed by a dyke and part (280 hectares or 690 acres) is protected by a clay finger dyke. Without the finger dyke, which was considerably eroded, downstream wetlands would be negatively impacted by river sediments and current. The first phase of the project has recently been completed and the finger dyke has been repaired and reinforced with large armorstone.
Wetland and submersed vegetation provide the most critical habitat within the Detroit River. Surveys conducted by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources documented 46 species of fish along wetland areas on the Ontario shoreline of the Detroit River. Several species, including young-of-the-year smallmouth and largemouth bass and bluegills, were found to be using the wetland area as a nursery. Other species including brook silverside, spotfin shiner, mimic shiner and alewife reveal the importance of the marsh for forage fish production. Colonial water birds use islands in the river for nesting colonies and also rely in part on the wetlands for feeding areas.
The success of the Ruwe Marsh Rehabilitation Project is due to many factors, but chiefly to the willingness and cooperation of landowners and the commitment by government and the local community. These factors led to an exceptional implementation time of just seven months. Strong support came from the Great Lakes 2000 Cleanup Fund, the Essex Region Conservation Authority and Ducks Unlimited.
This year the Essex County Field Naturalist Club has received funding to assist in creating nesting areas, placing basking logs and monitoring eastern spiny softshell turtles. A program to combat purple loosestrife through biological control was initiated in summer 1994 by Jim Corrigan of the University of Guelph. The release of beetles that feed on leaves and flowers of purple loosestrife is expected to begin the onset of control of this destructive invader. Monitoring this summer will reveal if the beetles survived through winter.
For more information contact Lisa Tulen, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, PO Box 1168, Chatham, ON N7M 5L8. (519)354-7340; fax (519)354-0313.
The Great Lakes Research Consortium sponsored a workshop on Incorporating Human Health Considerations in Remedial Action Plans in the Great Lakes Basin in Detroit, Michigan from February 23-24, 1995. More than 40 representatives from Areas of Concern, citizen groups, universities, government agencies and state and local health departments presented information and participated in the discussions. To obtain a copy of a draft paper that summarizes information presented at the workshop contact Jack Manno or Sheila Myers at the Great Lakes Research Consortium, 24 Bray Hall, State University of New York, Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY 13210; email smmyers@mailbox.syr.edu ; telephone (315)470-6816; fax (315)470-6970.
A meeting to review the Niagara River (New York) Stage 1 Remedial Action Plan was held March 23, 1995 on Grand Island, New York. The meeting brought technical reviewers of the Remedial Action Plan together with the team that prepared the plan and members from agencies on both sides of the river. Areas were pointed out where the pollution problems need to be better indentified, however, the extremely complex nature of problems in the Niagara River Area of Concern was also noted.
Revised: March 20, 1997
Maintained by Kevin McGunagle,
mcgunaglek@ijc.wincom.net