Entries, including winners, in the Friends of the St. Clair River photo contest can be viewed on the group’s website, friendsofstclair.ca.
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It was the fourth edition of the amateur photo contest organized by the volunteer-run charity.
“We were just shy of 150 photos entered into the contest this year,” said Ken Hall, with Friends of the St. Clair River.
Past versions of the contest attracted about 300 entries but were held earlier in the year. This year’s entry deadline was Nov. 1.
“We wanted to capture the fall colors,” Hall said about the timing change. “And we got some good ones.”
As well as being featured online, images summited for the contest can be used by the charity in materials promoting the health of the river.
There were a few entries from Michigan this year, with the rest coming from the community on the Canadian side of the river, Hall said.
“I think when we do it again — and I’m sure we will do it again, probably in a year or two — we may go back to doing it in the middle of the summer,” he said.
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Judges selected winners in each of three categories with prizes of $500 for first, $300 for second and $200 for third.
In the Nature and Wildlife category, Lindsay Lawson was first, Michele Hutton second and Sarah Parmann-Jenks third.
Kris Lawrence was first in the Digital Perspectives category with Jeffrey Thornton second and Diane Lambert third.
In the category for photographers under 18, Cora Hunter placed both first and third, and Lilly Inkpen was second.
The aim of the contest is “to get people to appreciate the river,” Hall said.
Friends of the St. Clair River Canada was formed after creation of a Remedial Action Plan for the waterway, identified in 1987 by Canada and the US as an area of environmental concern on the Great Lakes.
The river linking lakes Huron and St. Clair had beneficial uses designated as impaired at one time.
“We’re certainly excited about the state” of progress on removing beneficial use impairments in the river, Hall said. “Things are definitely improving.
Impairment designations have been lifted and “there’s going to be some announcements coming up in the near future about a few more.
“The day when we can see the St. Clair River de-listed as an area of concern is coming. It’s on the horizon now.”
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