Residents from Amherstburg and nearby communities can help shape how the Lake Erie shoreline will be protected from flooding and erosion over the coming years. The Pelee Coastal Resilience Committee is holding four public open houses on June 24 and 25 in Colchester and Leamington to gather input on climate adaptation ideas for the area.
The committee is working on a Coastal Resilience Action Plan covering the north shore from Amherstburg east to Port Alma in Chatham-Kent. Environment Canada provided startup funding in 2023, and the project received an additional $1 million from Natural Resources Canada in January 2025.
Six adaptation concepts have been developed, focusing on physical changes to reduce exposure to high water and storms. These ideas will be presented at each session, with time set aside for questions and one-on-one conversations with committee members and consultants.
The open houses will take place at the Colchester Community Centre on June 24 and the Leamington Municipal Office on June 25. Both locations will host afternoon sessions from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and evening sessions from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Lake Erie saw its highest water level in at least 2,000 years back in 2020, leading to serious erosion along the Essex County shore. The committee was formed as a direct response to those growing risks and is encouraging anyone interested to drop in, no registration required.
