ERCA News

Please note that the parking lot at Ruscom Shores Conservation Area will be closed for several days, beginning on Tuesday, July 28 as we work to upgrade accessibility at the site. The parking lot is expected to reopen on Friday, July 31. Thank you for your patience during these upgrades.

On Saturday, August 8, the John R. Park Homestead will host a Skills Saturday Workshop Series, in advance of the Lost Arts Festival. Participants are invited to join some of the many talented festival artists for a curated selection of workshops to learn new skills and leave with a finished work of art. “Lost arts often require specialized knowledge and an application of personal style that many modern activities don't demand,” said Homestead Curator Kris Ives. “This can

ERCA is inviting community members to review the draft Collavino Conservation Area Management Plan and share their feedback through an online survey open from July 20 to August 21, 2026. “Community input is an important part of planning for the long-term care of Collavino Conservation Area,” said Kevin Money, ERCA’s Director of Conservation Services. “We want to hear what people value about this special place, what questions or concerns they may have, and how we can balance c

The Essex Region Conservation Authority joined partners from the Ontario Conservation Accelerator, Parks Canada, regional First Nations, the City of Windsor, Friends of Ojibway Prairie and others to celebrate an important step forward in the creation of the proposed national urban park in the Windsor area, following the acquisition of 19 hectares of the former Windsor Raceway lands. These newly protected lands strengthen ecological connections to the Ojibway Prairie Complex,

Due to today's poor air quality, guided tours at the John R. Park Homestead will not be available on Thursday, July 16. The grounds will remain open for walk-through access, and the indoor Conservation Centre and washrooms will be open. Please exercise caution when engaging in any outdoor activities today.

Barrette Excavating will be closing the trail tomorrow to perform some maintenance to the drain.

Holiday Beach Conservation Area is currently without power and access to public facilities. Hydro crews have been contacted and are working to restore power to the conservation area. It is anticipated that power will be restored later this evening or early Sunday morning. Thank you for your patience as we work to remedy damage from yesterday's storms.

As a result of the storm and high winds yesterday, there are tree limbs and branches down on several trails and in various conservation areas. Please proceed with caution when accessing our properties. Our teams are working diligently to address these hazards. If you come across any damaged areas that need to be addressed, please contact at ParkWatch parkwatch@erca.org or 519-971-2813.

ERCA offices and the John R. Park Homestead Museum and Conservation Centre will be closed on Wednesday, July 1 to observe Canada Day. Regular hours will resume Thursday, July 2. Happy Canada Day!

Blanding’s Turtles are one of the species that can be found at Collavino Conservation Area. A temporary partial trail closure is in effect through July to provide turtle nests the best chance of survival. Essex Region – Approximately one kilometre of trail at the new Collavino Conservation Area in Amherstburg will be temporarily closed through June and July to allow for turtle protection during the nesting season. “Collavino Conservation Area has a high concentration of Spec

Dr. Katie Stammler with a female mayfly (forefront) and male (pictured right, and darker in colour). Essex Region – They’re back! Residents across Windsor, Essex County and Pelee Island are once again seeing mayflies, also known as fish flies, gather around shorelines, streetlights, windows and buildings. While their appearance can be messy and inconvenient, this annual emergence is an important natural event and a visible reminder that aquatic insects are part of a functioni

Essex Region – The Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) will hold its regularly scheduled Board of Directors’ meeting at the Essex County Civic and Education Centre on Thursday, June 18 at 6:00 pm. Agenda items include: 2025 Audited Financial Statements and Financial Condition Update Conservation Authority Transition Planning and Appointment of Transition Committee Members Designation of Leah Gibbs as a Provincial Offences Officer John R. Park Homestead Conservati

Leamington – Nature Fresh Farms® continued its support of the wetland restoration effort at Hillman Marsh on June 11 as dozens of team members gathered to plant native wetland species as part of the Hillman Marsh restoration effort. "Projects like the restoration of Hillman Marsh demonstrate what's possible when organizations come together around a shared commitment to environmental stewardship,” said Rob Peeters, VP, Strategy & Corporate Affairs, Nature Fresh Farms. “We're p

Please be advised that the parking lot, grounds, and museum at the John R. Park Homestead will be closed to the public on Friday, June 5 as hazard trees as a result of recent wind events are removed from the Fox Creek trail. The site will re-open as usual on Saturday, July 6 at 11am.

Mike and Debbie McMahon of Lakeland Homes are joined by Essex Region Conservation Foundation Chair, and Tim Byrne, ERCA CAO and Foundation Executive Director to receive the Clifford Hatch Conservation Foundation Award Essex Region – The Essex Region Conservation Foundation has recognized local organizations and individuals for their philanthropy at its Donor Appreciation and Awards, held on May 27. “Conservation Foundation Awards have been presented since 2012, honouring thos

Students from Holy Cross Elementary School joined the Collavino family and dignitaries from across the region to celebrate the grand opening of Collavino Conservation Area. Amherstburg – On May 21, nearly 150 guests joined the Collavino family, owners of Prestressed Systems Inc., the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) and Foundation and local dignitaries to celebrate the grand opening of the new Collavino Conservation Area in Amherstburg, Ontario. The conservation

Essex Region – Bird enthusiasts from around the world visit Leamington, Ontario as one of their bucket list destinations each May, and Hillman Marsh Conservation Area is ready to greet these guests from May 1 – 21 at the Shorebird Celebration. The shorebird habitat at Hillman Marsh is unique in North America. The managed wetland cell creates the perfect combination of mudflats to provide nutrition and a resting area for migrating shorebirds. The marsh is managed annual

Windsor – The Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) is inviting guests from across the region to the ENWIN Earth Day Tree Planting Celebration in the City of Windsor on Sunday, April 26 from 10am - 12noon. “ERCA has hosted an annual tree planting in the City of Windsor since 1999,” said Danielle Breault Stuebing, ERCA’s Director of Communications. “Over the past 27 years, nearly forty-thousand trees have been planted in the City of Windsor as a result of this event. W

Leamington– Nature Fresh Farms® announced its continued support of the wetland restoration effort at Hillman Marsh Conservation Area this week in celebration of Earth Month activities. Building on its 2024 investment in wetland rehabilitation, an additional 300 square metres of wetland habitat will be planted with a variety of native species in June as the next phase of this massive project. Some of the species will include Broadleaf Cattail, Blue Flag Iris, Fox Sedge,...

Essex Region – The Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) will hold its regularly scheduled Board of Directors’ meeting at the Essex County Civic and Education Centre on Thursday, April 9 at 6:00 pm. Agenda items include: Proposal for Construction Administration Services related to Hillman Marsh Wetland Restoration and Climate Adaptation Project Watershed Management Activities Report Presentations include the Amalgamation of Conservation Authorities and Changes to t