2018 was a productive one for the Essex Region Conservation Authority.
It's annual general report includes a long list of accomplishments, including 109,000 trees planted, 30 projects to improve water quality and 143 acres of natural space and wetlands restored.
During ERCA's Annual General Meeting, outgoing chair Rick Fryer reflected on his eight years on the board and some personal struggles.
Fryer told the crowd, with Bell's Let's Talk Day ready to shine a light on mental health on January 30th, he's reminded how important it was for him to unplug.
"A place for life, it's not a slogan, it's what people need to do ... get back into the environment and enjoy what we have around here," he says.
Fryer says the year wasn't just about reclaiming natural areas; it was also about connecting them.
"ERCA does many good things for so many people out there," he says. "We benefit as a region with the connectivity of the trail system. Cypher Systems [Trail] System was put in this year, same with the Rotary 1918 Hub."
Fryer doesn't want anyone to let up following the progress made during 2018.
"If we look forward to continue to plan trees, work on climate control issues that the amount of storms, erosion, the flooding," he says. "There's a lot of work collectively that needs to be done, this new board needs to continue that work."
The organization also completed the first Regional Storm Water Management Plan to battle flooding — it will assure new projects meet the same wastewater standards across Windsor-Essex.