The Essex Region Conservation Authority has taken over ownership of over 100 acres of environmentally significant land from the Ministry of Transportation.
The purpose-built environmental habitat was created as part of the Rt. Hon. Herb Gray Parkway project. It is located within the proposed Ojibway National Urban Park.
"We have a responsibility to ensure this watershed is sustainable, and part of the health of the watershed is that you have those features being maintained through time," said Byrne.
These lands include a created wetland and allowed endangered species to be transplanted during the parkway construction. ERCA will maintain the land to protect species-at-risk found at the site including Butlers Gartersnake, Eastern Foxsnake, and Kentucky Coffeetree.
At this time, ERCA will fund all of the restoration and maintenance efforts for the land. However, the board has reached out for additional funding from the provincial government.
They are also working with Parks Canada on the creation of the National Urban Park, which could result in some financial support.
"Parks Canada has reached out and had some very preliminary discussions with us that they would work through partnerships with us to assist them with maintaining," said Byrne
ERCA's first step is to remove invasive species from the land and conduct biological surveys.
