What is the Project?
The Long Point Causeway Improvement Project is a community-based effort to reduce the negative ecological impacts of the 3.5 kilometre-long causeway that links the Long Point Peninsula on Lake Erie with mainland southern Ontario. These include high levels of wildlife road mortality, particularly of Species At Risk turtles and snakes, and disruption of the natural hydrological functions of the Big Creek Marsh, one of the largest remaining coastal wetlands on the Canadian side of the Great Lakes.
Since it began in 2006, the Project has raised nearly $2.5 million to install 4.5 kilometres of exclusion fencing to keep wildlife off the road and seven special culverts to allow them to pass safely under the road. This has helped to reduce the road mortality of reptiles by more than 50 per cent. As well, two large aquatic culverts have been installed to restore historic hydrological connections between the Big Creek Marsh and Long Point Bay. An on-going public awareness and education effort has also helped to reduce wildlife road mortality on the Causeway.
Causeway Culvert Construction Completed
January 12, 2016 -- Construction of the first of two large aquatic culverts on Long Point Causeway near the former mouth of Big Creek was completed in December. A second culvert will be installed at the north end of the Causeway in 2016.
Dredging to connect the new culvert of open water areas of the Big Creek Marsh has been delayed until August due to environmental concerns. When completed, dredging will restore water flow and fish spawning habitat in the Marsh.
"Never Give Up" book for sale
The Long Point World Biosphere Reserve Foundation has teamed up with local children's author Jan Everett to offer a revised edition of her popular "Never Give Up" book about little Johnny helping turtles cross a dangerous road. The book is based on the true story of her husband John's efforts to rescue turtles crossing the Long Point Causeway, once rated the fourth deadliest road for turtles in North America.
Johnny’s story also reflects the work of local citizens since 2006 to reduce road mortality of turtles, snakes and frogs on the Causeway that is located in the Biosphere Reserve. The group has faced many challenges to their efforts to install signage, barrier fencing and ecopassages along the road but like little Johnny, their motto is "never give up"!
Read more...Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to questions that are often asked about the project.
Read more...History of the Causeway
A history of the Long Point and Port Rowan area from 1799 to 1999. The present Long Point community was preserved for public use thanks to the foresight and actions of several Port Rowan residents who persuaded the Ontario government of the day to pass legislation that made its Crown Land on Long Point a public park. These same thoughtful citizens then lobbied the Province for funding and permission to construct a causeway from the mainland to Long Point to provide access to the beaches of Long Point.
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