ERCA approves management plan for Collavino Conservation Area
The board of directors with the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) has approved the new master plan for its newest conservation area.
The Collavino Conservation Area Master Plan was approved during ERCA’s Sept. 10 board meeting.
ERCA’s director of conservation services Kevin Money told the board during the Thursday evening meeting in Essex that ERCA sought and received public consultation on the new document.
“Some of the main things in the plan is to protect the environment, obviously, but balance protecting the environment and visitor engagement,” said Money. “I think the master plan does a good job with it.”
According to a written report from ERCA CAO Tim Byrne: “The Collavino Conservation Area Management Plan aims to restore, enhance, manage, and protect this significant natural heritage area while providing compatible visitor use opportunities. The Collavino Conservation Area will be managed primarily for the conservation and protection of important Detroit River marsh habitat to benefit staging and nesting waterfowl, species at risk, and other marsh dependent fish, wildlife and plant species.”
Byrne stated the main objectives of the Collavino Conservation Area Master Plan are to manage and conserve the natural resources of Collavino Conservation Area in a manner consistent with current, standard ecological principles; to create, maintain, or enhance a high-quality marsh and upland habitat complex for wildlife, including those that are listed as species at risk; to provide a network of trails and passive use recreational opportunities for public enjoyment and educational opportunities.
Byrne added an in-person open house was held Aug. 11 with 19 participants taking part in a guided walk with interactive posters.
“The walking tour was 1.75 hours in length and included a walkthrough of the conservation area, details of the site’s history, invasive species management, species at risk management, and plans for future infrastructure, management, and education programs. Feedback following the guided walk was overwhelmingly positive, with requests made for future walks stating they had many family members or friends that were interested in attending if registration wasn’t capped,” Byrne wrote in his report. “Attendees were very engaged and most questions asked were in relation to species at risk and invasive species. Future plans of the site were very well received, especially regarding the future installation of a wind phone.”
Byrne added: “Overall, 96.9% of respondents ranked the addition of the Collavino Conservation Area as valuable or very valuable to the community. Administration is continuing to make improvements to the site and seek additional funds to support public infrastructure upgrades in the park consistent with the draft management plan and feedback received from the public. It should be acknowledged that the Collavino Family not only had provided a donation of land but has pledged their continued support of the Collavino Conservation Area through the Foundation towards park development activities and improvements.”
The Collavino Conservation Area opened to the public May 21.
It is located on lands donated to ERCA by Loris Collavino and his family, which are on North Side Road in Amherstburg between County Road 20 (Front Road North) and Concession 2 North.
ERCA approves management plan for Collavino Conservation Area
By Ron Giofu
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