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Humbug Marsh Earns International Acclaim

Recently, World Wetlands Day was celebrated at Carlson High School in Gibraltar, across the bay from Grosse Ile, with a tribute and dedication of Humbug Marsh, Michigan’s first wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands held in 1971.

Mark McPherson, GI resident, noted author and raconteur, transformed into President Teddy Roosevelt for the afternoon and performed a 10-minute skit with students about the benefits of preserving wildlife areas. Steve Gronda of the Wyandot Anderdon Native Nation represented the Native Americans who have occupied the area for hundreds of years; Gerry Wykes, curator of the Marshlands Nature Museum at Lake Erie Metropark, and Dorothy McCleer, a professor at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, gave a 25-minute talk on wetlands.

John H. Hartig, manager of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, and Charlie Wooley from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, along with Carlson High School Principal Bill Stevenson signed a certificate designating the marsh as part of the treaty. Hartig related that in only ten years Humbug Marsh has gone from a threatened ecosystem to become part of an International Wildlife Refuge and receive international tribute and honor as a wetland of international importance.
Following the ceremony, visitors toured a wetlands expo featuring displays from 15 local environmental groups.

The United States is one of 158 nations which signed the Ramsar Convention in Ramsar, Iran. Signatories demonstrate their commitment to conservation and wise use of wetlands as a means toward sustainable development throughout the world. Parties recognize the importance of wetlands for biodiversity and human health and promote local, regional and national stewardship.

Because of its ecological importance to the Detroit River corridor and the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem, Humbug Marsh is considered an internationally important wetland. It is the 27th Ramsar site to be listed in the United States and joins approximately 1,880 sites listed worldwide.

The Humbug Complex is made up of Humbug Island, Humbug Marsh, and adjacent undeveloped upland habitats. It includes 410 acres of unique fish and wildlife habitats in Gibraltar and Trenton, Michigan. Humbug Marsh represents the last mile of natural shoreline on the U.S. mainland of the Detroit River. Over 97% of the coastal wetlands in the river have been destroyed by shoreline development and nearly all of the coastal wetlands in western Lake Erie have disappeared during the past 50 years. Because they are home to such a high diversity of fish and wildlife, the marshes have been identified as globally unique and significant in biological diversity - nothing like this marsh exists anywhere outside the Great Lakes.

Ford Motor Co. & Automotive Components Holdings LLC Make Wetlands Donation

Ford Motor Company and Automotive Components Holdings LLC have donated 242 acres of unique costal wetlands in Monroe County to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to be included in the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge. The donation of the land follows nearly five years of joint management under a cooperativeagreement between ACH, a Ford affiliate, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Ford Marsh is located adjacent to Lake Erie in Monroe County and bordered by Sterling State Park and the River Raisin. Go here for more >>>

March is Women's History Month

Nationally, March is Women’s History month. This year, the Women’s History committee has decided to celebrate Amelia Earhart, the famous aviatrix who once broke air speed records over Grosse Ile.

A video biography of Earhart will be shown in the township boardroom at 1 p.m. March 6. A creative writing contest, featuring letters addressed to Earhart, will be conducted on March 12 at 7:30pm. Submission deadline is Feb 26. A one-act play centering on Earhart will be given at St. James Chapel on March 15, 7:30pm.

And, on March 27 at 1pm at Grosse Ile Municipal Airport, pilot Patty Smart will discuss her flight experiences and a member of the Yankee Air Museum, will present an overview of the four World War II planes housed at Hangar No. 1 at the airport. There is no charge for the programs. Contact Pam Frucci for more information jpfrucci@yahoo.com.

Strange Sanctuary, Old Factories Offer New Hope fo Wildlife

Christopher Weber, emagazine.com E/The Environmental Magazine
9 Nov 09

It Takes a Village to Open a Bistro
Toby Barlow, New York Times 24 Oct 09

Rowing the Detroit River in kayaks

Eric Sharp, Detroit Free Press 22 Oct 09 (Be sure to see the video!)

Call of the wild comes to suburban porch
Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press 16 Aug 09