DETROIT RIVER
Heritage celebrated
It was 20 years ago this week that the Detroit River became the first river to hold a dual heritage designation from the U.S. and Canada.
It remains the only river in North America to hold that distinction.
“I think we're so fortunate to live here and experience all the great things the river has to offer,” said Danielle Stuebing, director of communications for the Essex Region Conservation Authority, which led a comprehensive five-year process to have the Detroit River awarded Canadian heritage status on July 19, 2001.
The U.S. had tapped the river for heritage designation in that country three years earlier.
Stuebing noted hundreds of community members helped detail the river's cultural, historical, natural and recreational significance for the background report crucial to gaining Canadian designation.
When it all came together, there was a celebration at Dieppe Gardens that included deputy prime minister Herb Gray, heritage minister Sheila Copps, native drummers and a cannon blast to mark the occasion.
The past two decades have seen numerous restoration projects to improve the river and its watershed. Since 2000, thousands of trees have been planted and over 10,000 metres of shoreline has been softened with habitat restoration projects.
“There are many signs that these efforts are truly restoring the river,” an ERCA media release noted. “A variety of plants and animals call the river home, and we are seeing the return of bald eagles nesting, feeding and living in different locations along the channel and in the watersheds. Lake sturgeon, a fish species at risk, has had a population rebound in the river. In fact, just a few months ago, a 109 kilogram (240 lb.), 100-year-old Lake Sturgeon was caught in the river.”
The last 20 years have seen 277 habitat restoration projects, 207 tree plantings, 56 wetland restoration projects, 32 prairie restoration projects, 18 shoreline restoration projects, 15 fish habitat projects and 12 native garden projects.
The river's economic value is significant to both countries as the busiest international crossing.
As the southernmost river in the Canadian Heritage River system, the Detroit River features incredible biodiversity not seen anywhere else.
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of its dual designation, ERCA has partnered with Tourism Windsor-essex-pelee Island to create a number of adventure itineraries that people can independently access to explore the river's history, nature and activities.
Digital itineraries will focus on different features such as the river's connection to the Underground Railroad, fishing opportunities that are among the best in North America, waterfront parks and its historical association with rum running.
“We're putting all of these self-guided tours together now,” Stuebing said.
A tree-planting celebration within the watershed is planned for this fall.
“We've had to cancel our public tree planting events for the last couple of years,” Stuebing said in reference to COVID -19 restrictions. “People are itching to get back to that.”