ERCA News

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

ERCA offices and the John R. Park Homestead Museum & Conservation Centre will be closed from Friday, April 3 through Monday, April 6. Regular hours will resume Tuesday, April 7. Conservation Areas remain open for walk-through access. Happy Easter to those who are celebrating.

Lakeshore – Contractors for the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) and Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) conducted a prescribed burn of approximately 20 hectares of Phragmites within Tremblay Beach Conservation Area on Sunday, March 29. This work is part of a coordinated effort to manage and restore this ecologically significant wetland. Weather conditions opened a window to conduct the burn over the weekend, and contractors mobilized quickly on Sunday to ensure

Essex Region – As the weather warms, the Essex Region Conservation Authority is reminding users of the Greenway trail system that horses are prohibited from the trail during the spring thaw. “With a spring rains and saturated soils, the greenway trail surface is very susceptible to surface damage from horse hooves. Even a few horses during this critical period can cause significant trail damage that is very expensive to repair,” explains Kevin Money, ERCA’s Director of Cons

Essex Region - On March 10, 2026, the Province of Ontario announced its revised framework for the consolidation of Conservation Authorities. Under this proposed update, Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities will be merged into nine. The Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) will merge with the Upper Thames River, Lower Thames Valley, and St. Clair Region Conservation Authorities to form the new Western Lake Erie Regional Conservation Authority . The Province has identif

Lakeshore - The Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA), in collaboration with the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) and other restoration partners, is preparing to conduct a prescribed burn of approximately 20 hectares of Phragmites within Tremblay Beach Conservation Area. This work is part of a coordinated effort to manage and restore this ecologically significant wetland. “Ensuring public and property safety remains the highest priority,” says Kevin Money, ERCA’s

Essex – As the chill of winter gives way to the warmth of spring, the First Taste of Spring Maple Syrup Festival is back, and it’s sweeter than ever. Join this iconic celebration of Canadian culture at the John R. Park Homestead Conservation Area on March 14 & 15 and 21 & 22. “With two distinctly themed weekends, this year’s Maple Fest again offers outdoor fun and unique experiences at this sweet-tasting tradition and celebration of natural and cultural heritage ,” said

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, February 12 at 6:00 pm. Agenda items include: Continued Local Advocacy Regarding Proposed Regional Consolidation of Ontario’s Conservation Authorities ERCA 2026 Budget Approval and Municipal Cost Apportionment Financial Entities’ Verification Requirements & Legal Compliance Watershed Management

Essex Region – The Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) is reminding the public that the use of snowmobiles, all‑terrain vehicles (ATVs), and any other motorized vehicles is strictly prohibited in ERCA Conservation Areas and along the Greenway Trail System. ERCA has received increasing reports of unauthorized motorized vehicle use, particularly during evenings and weekends during these winter conditions. This activity poses safety risks, damages natural areas, and und

Essex Region – The aquatic invasive plant, hydrilla, was detected for the first time in Ontario and Canada in the West Cell at Hillman Marsh Conservation Area located in Leamington, Ontario in 2024. Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) can grow up to 2.5 centimeters per day and to lengths of 7.5 meters. This rapid growing invasive species can choke out native species and clog water intake pipes, boat motors and impede other recreational activities like swimming and paddling. Hyd

Award Winners: Brad & Sherri Nelson, Amherstburg Mayor Michael Prue, Allison Kozolanka, Madison Kemp and Julius Langpeter join ERCA Vice Chair Jim Morrison, Chair Molly Allaire and CAO Tim Byrne. Essex Region – Six organizations and individuals were honoured with Essex Region Conservation Awards for their contributions to creating a sustainable future for the Windsor-Essex-Pelee Island region. “It’s very inspiring to have the opportunity to celebrate so many organizations and

Essex Region – At its Annual General Meeting on January 22, Councillor Molly Allaire of Amherstburg and Councillor Jim Morrison of Windsor were acclaimed to serve as Chair and Vice Chair of the Essex Region Conservation Authority for a second term. Allaire expressed her heartfelt appreciation for this honour, and shared her experience in delegating to Minister Todd McCarthy this past week regarding the Province’s proposal to amalgamate Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities in

Windsor – Habitat restoration work to remove invasive multiflora rose, glossy buckthorn, autumn olive shrubs and other woody, successional species to preserve and enhance the rare prairie habitat is taking place within 106 acres of conservation lands transferred to the Essex Region Conservation Authority from the Ministry of Transportation in 2025. “As part of the ongoing restoration to this area, we will continue our work to remove the invading shrubs and other invasive sp

Essex Region – The Essex Region Conservation Authority Board of Directors has approved its draft 2026 Budget for circulation to member municipalities. “Total municipal funding for 2026 remains consistent with the 2025 level, thanks to the previous year’s surplus,” announced Tim Byrne, ERCA CAO. Some highlighted projects for the year ahead include updating flood hazard mapping, GIS updates to the Limit of Regulated Area and continuing to promote a planning-first approach t

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, December 11 at 6:00 pm. Agenda items include: 2026 Draft Budget and Municipal Cost Apportionment Holiday Beach Conservation Area Financial Performance Update ERCA Policy Review John R. Park Homestead Conservation Area Policy Updates PERCA Flood Forecasting & Warning (FFW) Program Watershed Management

The section of the Cypher System Greenway stretching from Texas Road to Concession 5 North in Amherstburg will be closed from Monday December 8, 2025 until Tuesday December 16 th . This closure is for the restoration of a pedestrian bridge over the Long Marsh drain. Due to construction equipment and temporary structural changes to the bridge, it will not be safe to pedestrians to travel this section while it is being repaired.

Essex – The Essex Region Conservation Authority is offering grants ranging from 75% to 100% for projects that help protect our environment. Interested landowners should contact ERCA soon to learn about these grant programs and plan for spring projects. "Landowners interested in planting trees or creating prairie habitat on their property this spring should contact us as soon as possible,” said Paul Giroux, ERCA’s Forester. “Planting trees on your property not only helps t