September 23, 2024 — As a shoreline restoration project leader, Watersheds Canada was proud to participate in the Government of Canada’s first official media conference for the Great Lakes Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative. The kick-off was held last Friday at the Freshwater Restoration Ecology Centre, along the banks of the Detroit River in the town of LaSalle, Ontario.
As part of the federal announcement, the government stressed that this GLFEI funding represents the single largest freshwater restoration investment in Canadian history which Watersheds Canada applauds and is ready to support with hands-on restoration efforts and partnership enthusiasm.
Terry Duguid, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and Special Advisor for Water, and Irek Kusmierczyk, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, congratulated 50 GLFEI partner-led projects, including Watersheds Canada’s shoreline restoration in the St. Lawrence River (Cornwall) Area of Concern.
L to R: Member of Parliament for Windsor-Tecumseh Irek Kusmierczyk, St. Clair College Program Manager Masoud Akhshik, Watersheds Canada Executive Director Robert Pye, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and Special Advisor for Water Terry Duguid.
“This new Environment Canada and Climate Change funding is great news for Watersheds Canada and our project delivery partners including Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, Raisin Region Conservation Authority, River Institute, Great River Network, and City of Cornwall,” said Robert Pye, Executive Director of Watersheds Canada.
“We are eager to get started on a 2-year commitment to restore the degraded shoreline of St. Lawrence River (Cornwall) Area of Concern,” Pye said.
Chloe Lajoie, Watersheds Canada’s National Conservation Director added, “our project will reduce shoreline erosion and phosphorus runoff as we restore over 12,000 square metres of habitat. Working with project partners, we will engage with waterfront property owners of residential, public, and agricultural lands to plant 8,000 native species along 4km of degraded shoreline within the St. Lawrence River (Cornwall) Area of Concern.”
Eligible waterfront property landowners will receive a free site visit which provides advice and recommendations to improve shoreline health. If planting is recommended, a Shoreline Re-Naturalization Starter Kit can be purchased which includes the creation of a shoreline restoration plan for the property, native plants and materials, as well as education guides on how to maintain shoreline health. Each customized restoration plan will provide detailed descriptions of native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers suitable for planting based on site conditions and landowner preferences. If you are interested in learning more about the project or connecting with project staff for a confidential free site visit, please contact ne.stlawrenceriver.aoc@watersheds.ca. A rough map of the St. Lawrence River (Cornwall) AOC can be found here.
The river front group shot, including Watersheds Canada, Ducks Unlimited, ALUS Canada, and many other organizations, represents the action teams behind the Environment and Climate Change Canada’s new conservation funding.
About Watersheds Canada
Watersheds Canada is a registered Canadian charity committed to providing programs to communities across the country to engage and help individuals enhance and protect the health of their lakes and rivers. Since 2002, they have delivered freshwater stewardship programming, shoreline naturalizations and assessments, and in-water habitat restorations.
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Media Contact:
Chloe Lajoie
National Conservation Director
Watersheds Canada
lajoie (at) watersheds.ca