Photo: from left to right: Joe Faas, Councillor Municipality of Chatham-Kent; Denise Shephard, President Sydenham Field Naturalists; Darrell Randell, President Friends of the St. Clair River; Steve Arnold, Chair St. Clair Region Conservation Authority

Peers Wetland was officially opened during a ceremony held on June 27. Peers Wetland is located just northeast of Wallaceburg on the Kimball Sideroad. Peers Wetland, owned by the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority, is the only sizeable wetland – around 11 hectares – that remains along the lower reaches of Otter Creek.

“Like many of the projects in which we are involved, we were not in this alone,” Steve Arnold, Chair of the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority said. “The acquisition of Peers Wetland was accomplished through the hard work, ingenuity and perseverance of many partners.”

Since the property was acquired, a berm that holds in the water has been repaired and a pump installed to augment flows into the wetland in times of drought. Trees and tallgrass prairie have been planted to improve the habitat diversity of this site and there are plans for a trail and interpretive signs so the public can enjoy this beautiful property.

Peers Wetland falls within the St. Clair River Area of Concern, which prompted Environment Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources to support this project. The preservation and enhancement of this wetland directly addresses the habitat component identified as one of the beneficial use impairments for the St. Clair River watershed.

“This support, however, would not have been possible without demonstrated community interest and involvement. In short, the Peers Wetland Project would not have become a reality without the community joining in,” Arnold said. “We are very grateful for the efforts of the Sydenham Field Naturalists and the Friends of the St. Clair River who rallied the community to support this project, and to the Municipality of Chatham-Kent for their financial support.”