Since its inception in 1985, the CEA has challenged governments and private land owners to maintain the few green spaces left in our region. Our mandate to restore, maintain and enhance our local environment is a never-ending struggle to balance the needs of our local environment with the needs of the citizenry. Success stories which include Humbug Marsh and the Spring Garden Complex are balanced by on-going challenges with Marshfield Woods and the Ojibway Shoreline, the last remaining natural shoreline in the City of Windsor. The CEA is steadfast in its determination to conserve what few natural areas we have left and enhance existing natural areas.
Humbug Marsh
Threatened with development in 1999, the CEA along with many other concerned groups rallied to maintain the marsh as a wetland. Humbug Marsh was the last remaining wetland along the U.S. side of the Detroit River. Not only was the marsh eventually saved from development, but it became a U.S. government protected wildlife refuge in 2004.
Marshfield Woods
Being 300 acres in size, Marshfield Woods is one of the few remaining places that offer interior forest habitat. This unique habitat creates conditions suitable for wildflowers and songbirds; some of which are endangered. Marshfield Woods contains 41 different species of
trees and shrubs. It is home to many animals, and has 14 different species of plants classified as provincially rare. It has also been threatend by commercial development.
The biggest threat to Marshfield Woods was a planned golf course development proposed by the Hearn Group starting in 1998. The CEA formed a coalition with other groups such as The Friends of Marshfield Woods, Little River Enhancement Group and the Essex County Field Naturalists' Club to fight to maintain Marshfield Woods as an Environmentally Significant Area and Provincially Significant Wetland.
The CEA Requests Marshfield File from ERCA
Environmental Groups unite to save Marshfield Woods
Ojibway Shoreline
A “real green link” for Windsor
Citizens Environment Alliance will Demand Protection for Ojibway Shores at Windsor Port Authority Annual Meeting - Thursday, June 6, 2002
The Future of Ojibway Shores
Ojibway Shores - Black Oak Woods - Brighton Beach: Exploring Options For Community Action
CEA demands cleanup at Ojibway Shores
Harbour Commission Project Will Destroy Ojibway Shoreline Habitat
Activists Fight to Save Shoreline
Spring Garden Complex
The area of discussion is a mixture of residences, commercial, institutional sites, and utilities. This sizeable, varied area is south of E.C.'Row Expressway, east of Malden Road, and west of Huron Church Road. The site borders the town of LaSalle, and the Grand Marais Drain flows through a significant portion of this area. Somewhat surprisingly, within the centre of this varied, growing 700 acre area, lies a
natural area of approximately 300 acres. This area is a mix of wetlands, woodlands, and prairie habitat. Despite the intense development that has occurred around it in he past 20 years, this natural gem has retained its biodiversity and functions as a relatively vibrant natural community. This has come to be known as the Spring Garden Complex.
Protecting Essex County
Former Dump Site an Island of Green in Detroit River
City of Windsor Must Improve its Effort to Protect Natural Areas
City of Windsor Must Improve its Effort to Protect Natural Areas
CEA Joins Ontario Smart Growth Network
St. Clair College Environmentally Significant Area threatened by development
Community Garden
The CEA has been cultivating a community garden since 2006. We not only grow edible plants and fruits, we also grow plants that help generate biodiversity within our local ecosystem. Growing a garden for yourself and your family is not only good for you, it's good for the community.
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