Town and ERCA receive grant funding to help map phragmites problem areas

The Town of Amherstburg is one of five municipalities and agencies getting funding to help map problem areas impacted by phragmites.

The Essex Phragmites Management Area Working Group, of which Amherstburg has representation on from manager of roads and fleet Eric Chamberlain, put forth a grant proposal to the Nature Conservancy of Canada and the region was approved for $100,000 to help map where the exact problem areas in the region are.

Amherstburg will receive $13,100 of that $100,000 funding in order to map the Big Creek wetland complex. 

The Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) will receive $64,900 for GIS Tech work, mapping and the development of a management plan. The Town of Kingsville will receive $12,000, the City of Windsor and Town of Essex will each receive $5,000.

“Recipients are responsible for identifying and obtaining any authorizations and/or permits required for their project; projects cannot proceed without obtaining the necessary authorizations,” Kyle Borrowman, habitat restoration manager with the Nature Conservancy of Canada, said in a letter that appeared on the town’s Environmental Advisory Committee agenda last Thursday night. “Recipients must also adhere to the Phragmites Best Management Practices and the Ontario Phragmites Management Regional Plan Guidebook throughout the duration of the project.”

The Town of Amherstburg has already done mapping in the River Canard area and has had a phragmites program for several years. 

“I was excited to see this,” said Councillor Peter Courtney, during last Thursday night’s committee meeting. 

Courtney said delegations have approached town council to ask for results on the phragmites issue, giving Amherstburg resident Greg Nemeth credit for his passion and keeping the matter in the forefront.

An attempt was made for a regional approach on the issue that didn’t get enough support at the county level, something Courtney said he found “disappointing.”  He added that he hoped it was the first phase of funding, as eradicating phragmites would be the next goal.

Committee chair John McDonald wanted to see some reporting on the matter, adding he looked forward to more information at the committee’s August meeting.

That meeting is currently scheduled for August 7 at 5 p.m.

“I think we do need some on the ground update on what is going on,” said McDonald.

Courtney added he hopes the working group will be able to obtain additional grant funding going forward. 

Committee vice chair Bille Gardner noted there was a provincial document created in 2011 and wanted to know if that was the “driving document” behind local phragmites efforts, with McDonald hoping for further regional efforts to rectify the problem.

Town and ERCA receive grant funding to help map phragmites problem areas

By Ron Giofu