Ecological Benefits of Habitat Modification

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Alice Lamb
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1 Ecological Benefits of Habitat Modification Detroit River and Western Lake Erie 2010

2 Cover photos: DTE s River Rouge Power Plant in Michigan by Chris Lehr/Nativescape LLC; Lower left: Legacy Park in Windsor, Ontario by Essex Region Conservation Authority; Lower middle: Elizabeth Park in Trenton, Michigan by Emily Wilke/Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge; Lower right: Fort Malden in Amherstburg, Ontario by Essex Region Conservation Authority.

3 STATE OF THE STRAIT ECOLOGICAL BENEFITS OF HABITAT MODIFICATION Edited by: John H. Hartig, Michael A. Zarull, Lynda D. Corkum, Natalie Green, Rose Ellison, Anna Cook, Greg Norwood, and Ellen Green 2010

4 STATE OF THE STRAIT ECOLOGICAL BENEFITS OF HABITAT MODIFICATION 2010 Edited by: John H. Hartig, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Michael A. Zarull, Environment Canada Lynda D. Corkum, University of Windsor Natalie Green, Detroit River Canadian Cleanup Rose Ellison, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Anna Cook, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Greg Norwood, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Ellen Green, University of Windsor Based on the 2009 State of the Strait Conference held at University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario Suggested citation: Hartig, J.H., M.A. Zarull, L.D. Corkum, N. Green, R. Ellison, A. Cook, G. Norwood, and E. Green, eds State of the Strait: Ecological Benefits of Habitat Modification. Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, Occasional Publication No. 6, University of Windsor, Ontario, Canada. ISSN Report also available at:

5 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Acknowledgements This report is a summary of the presentations, discussions, key findings, and recommendations from the 2009 State of the Strait Conference held at the University of Windsor on April 28, The conference and this report were made possible by the generous financial contributions of many organizations and agencies. We gratefully acknowledge the following sponsors: Canadian Consulate CDM City of Windsor Detroit River Canadian Cleanup DTE Energy Environment Canada Essex Region Conservation Authority Friends of the Detroit River International Joint Commission International Wildlife Refuge Alliance Metropolitan Affairs Coalition Michigan Sea Grant Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources University of Michigan-Dearborn University of Windsor U.S. Environmental Protection Agency U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. Geological Survey Windsor Port Authority The management and direction of this project was handled by the State of the Strait Steering Committee made up of the following members: Mary Bohling, Michigan Sea Grant Matthew Child, Essex Region Conservation Authority iii

6 Jan Ciborowski, University of Windsor Anna Cook, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Lynda Corkum, University of Windsor, Conference Co-Chair Richard Drouin, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Rose Ellison, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency John Gannon, International Joint Commission Orin Gelderloos, University of Michigan-Dearborn Natalie Green, Detroit River Canadian Cleanup John Hartig, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Conference Co-Chair Sandra Morrison, U.S. Geological Survey Greg Norwood, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Beth Olson, International Wildlife Refuge Alliance Roberta Urbani, DTE Energy Michael Zarull, Environment Canada, Conference Co-Chair We would especially like to thank those who contributed their data and knowledge through presentations, posters and displays. The highly relevant information they provided was essential to the overall success of the conference and is invaluable to current and future conservation projects. Furthermore, we wish to thank everyone who attended the conference local citizens, environmental and conservation organizations, researchers, government and industry representatives, and students from both Canada and the United States for their significant role in making this conference a success. Their questions, comments and suggestions enhanced the topics presented and showed a strong commitment towards improving local habitats. In addition, we would like to thank the faculty, staff and students from the University of Windsor, specifically staff from the Department of Biological Sciences, for conference organizational support, Dean Kissner for conference catering, Shiladitya Chakrabarti for information technology support, and Ellen Green for website maintenance. A special thanks is extended to Giovanna Stasiuk of the International Joint Commission for assistance with conference registration and to Karen Koch for copy editing. Finally, we would like to thank CDM and Elizabeth Nicol for the design and layout of this report. iv

How does the Program Work?

How does the Program Work? Is your school interested in participating in a dynamic program that supports the development of a Schoolyard Habitat program at your school in association with a local National Wildlife Refuge? If so,