Rouge Rescue 2009 was, once again, successful at engaging thousands of volunteers across the watershed in activities to rescue the Rouge River.  The event attracted over 2,200 volunteers who worked at one of 37 worksites in 25 communities across the Rouge River watershed.  

Event Highlights:

• 710 bags and 76 cubic yards of trash were removed from the river and adjacent floodplain, including construction debris, furniture, appliances and bicycles
• 4 cars were removed from the river and floodplain, bringing the total cars removed to 20 1/2 since 2006!
• 19 sites worked to removed invasive plants.  Volunteers filled 492 bags of garlic mustard and dame's rocket on this day.
• 10 sites planted native plants and trees
• 9 sites managed wood in the river - removing all manmade trash, opening the flow and using the wood to stabilize eroding streambanks.  
• 8 sites conducted public education activities

Individual Site Accomplishments: