Detroit River Management Strategy - Essex Region Conservation ...

##5
Human Heritage
The Detroit River as a Canadian Heritage River
The Detroit River watershed possesses outstanding human heritage values reflecting over 6,000 years of human
settlement, key political conflicts, and urban and industrial development. Significant values and facts include:
• over 6,000 years of First Nations settlement and stewardship;
• a multitude of heritage buildings and sites, museums, documents, artwork and songs chronicling over 300
years of European settlement;
• the five Canadian islands in the Detroit River (Peche Island, Grassy Island, Fighting Island, Turkey Island
and Bois Blanc Island) possess significant human heritage values common to First Nations peoples and
settlers;
• site of the first permanent agricultural community in Ontario, whose French origins and culture remain
today;
• site of major battles during the War of 1812 and the Rebellion of 1837;
• a terminus of the Underground Railway, which offered freedom in Canada for slaves from the United States;
• vivid historical accounts of smuggling operations during the Prohibition era;
• site of internationally known twentieth century engineering achievements including the Ambassador Bridge,
the Windsor-Detroit tunnel, the Railroad Tunnel and the Livingston Channel; and
• the River's role as a major transportation route influenced the development of vibrant communities,
extensive port infrastructure, and globally significant industries on both sides of the River, including
DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Company and General Motors.
Recreation
The Detroit River watershed offers an excellent diversity of river-related recreational opportunities accessible to
a metropolitan region of over 5 million people. Significant opportunities and facts include:
• the premier boating area in North America, with over 12,000 marina slips;
• extensive park systems along the Detroit River and throughout the watershed;
• outstanding recreational opportunities such as historical sites, bird watching, sight-seeing, canoeing,
kayaking and river-based heritage events and festivals;
• excellent hunting opportunities, including deer, waterfowl and pheasant;
• one of the finest urban fisheries in North America, due to an excellent diversity of species, quantity of fish
and a long season.
Management Strategy Management - Final Strategy Draft - November 2000