Five Southeast Michigan watersheds, the Huron River, Clinton River, River Raisin, Detroit River, and Rouge River, received first time report cards in collaboration with the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Studies to provide a "socio-environmental" overview on the health of each watershed.
Your Rouge River Watershed received a D+, calculated from over 30 indicators using expert advice and science-driven standards for environmental and socioeconomic conditions. Your watershed faces challenges that you, Friend, know intimately: sewer overflows, flooding, impervious surfaces from development, loss of forested land, and aging infrastructure. Your Rouge River has come a long way since it caught fire in 1969. There is still work to be done. It is the dedication of caring Friends and partners like you that provide hope for future improvements to raise the grade - and bring the clean water future to your hometown River.
To Check Your Rouge River Report Card, Visit: therouge.org/report-card/
The Reports were made possible by the Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation.
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Yesterday marked the release of the watershed report cards for SE Michigan. FOTR, Friends of the Detroit River, Huron River Watershed Council, Clinton River Watershed Council, and River Raisin Watershed Council share about the importance of our watersheds and how we can "make the grade" by investing in our water resources for the ecosystems they support and for our communities. ... See MoreSee Less
Opinion: Investment a pressing need for urbanized water resources - BridgeDetroit
Directors of the region's river and watershed nonprofits cite a "pressing need” for accelerated investment in Southeast Michigan’s water ecosystems, including preserving greenspace, sustainable ag...0 CommentsComment on Facebook
The live event is about to begin! Join us at 10 am for the release of the first ever watershed health report cards.
To watch the livestream reveal visit the event link: fb.me/e/1qB2rSR1x
#mireportcards #southeastmichiganWatch this space for the release of the first-ever Southeast Michigan Report Card series TOMORROW April 16, 2024.
Join us at IAN's FB page tomorrow at 10am for a livestream reveal by visiting fb.me/e/1qB2rSR1x
#MIReportCards #SoutheastMichigan
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Are you a home owner, business owner, or property owner? Do you have flooding and drainage issues? Or maybe you want to help support pollinators with native plants? Here comes RAIN GARDENS TO THE RESCUE! Apply NOW for your very own rain garden - we are looking to award gardens in the city of River Rouge, South Detroit and Dearborn Southend to manage stormwater and improve the health of the Rouge River.
Apply NOW at therouge.org/rain-gardens-to-the-rescue/. Applications due by Friday, May 10 - available in English, Spanish and Arabic! Learn all you need to know in our 5-week course and get hands-on installing your garden in 2024. 🌧🌼🦋Questions? Please email RainSmart@therouge.org.
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Watch this space for the release of the first-ever Southeast Michigan Report Card series TOMORROW April 16, 2024.
Join us at IAN's FB page tomorrow at 10am for a livestream reveal by visiting fb.me/e/1qB2rSR1x
#mireportcards #southeastmichigan
... See MoreSee Less
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Since 1986, volunteers have removed large quantities of trash from the river. Public perception shifted from the river as an open sewer and a place to dump trash to its restoration including invasive plants removal, installation of native plantings, and stabilization of stream banks.
Learn more...We involve elementary, middle, and high schools from across southeastern Michigan. Students learn about the Rouge River in class, and then perform hands-on scientific exploration of the river on a field trip to its banks. They are encouraged to take action to restore and protect the river.
Learn more...How we care for the land impacts water quality in our local lakes and rivers. The River Restoration program teaches residents of the watershed how to manage their land to improve water quality and to provide wildlife habitat through hands-on projects and educational events.
Learn more...This program engages residents to become citizen scientists, collecting data about the health of the watershed through biological indicator species (bugs, frogs, fish, etc.) that reflect the long-term health of the watershed. As water quality improves, bugs frogs and fish are returning.
Learn more...FOTR is currently working with local partners to develop a water trail on 29.25 miles of the Lower Rouge from Canton to the Detroit River. Much of the river corridor is protected within Wayne County Parks, making it ideal for the development of launches and amenities.
Learn more...Friends of the Rouge began as a volunteer organization, so volunteerism sits at the core of mission to serve the Rouge River watershed.
Be part of the legacy. Support the vital work we do by helping us meet critical milestones for programs that make a lasting impact of the Rouge River watershed’s health.
Get involved! Support our diverse programs through sponsorships that have the power to make real and lasting change for the health of the Rouge River watershed!
Our community stakeholders, partners, and alliances make our watershed healthier! Thank you to all who make a difference by caring about the Rouge River.
We adhere to all federal and state regulations, produce annual financial audits, submit all reporting documents in a timely manner with clear accounting methods and record keeping.
Curious about something in the Rouge? We may already have an answer to commonly asked questions regarding our organization or the watershed. Check out our FAQs HERE.
Hear Our Voice
We acknowledge …the systemic injustices and pervasive racism that occurs for people of color.
READ MORE…
You care about the Rouge River. Watch how, together, we have been making your river cleaner and more vibrant for the plants and animals, and for the people of Southeast Michigan to enjoy.
Any chance that we have to expose our students to science in the world outside of our classrooms is an opportunity to expose them to new passions. We know that days like this have the potential to change the trajectory of a student’s life.
We’re all connected to our environment, whether we realize it or not. I am making a difference by educating myself, and educating others, that our actions and attitudes affect the habitats around us. I am always proud to tell them that the Rouge is much improved over the past decade, thanks to the collective efforts of sponsors and volunteers.
By working with the FOTR, it helps to improve my skills as a scientist and gives my graduate work new meaning. Knowing that what I am doing could potentially help save an ecosystem like the Rouge River is inspiring to me as a future scientist.
Your volunteer group has been amazing this year. All the work they have done with the native plantings and cleaning up around the water looks top notch. Spreading the sand and stone at the boat launch has really improved the area visually and, according to the users comments below, it functions much better to launch boats. Please let your volunteer group know that their work is extremely appreciated by parks staff as well as the visitors.
“I envision the new rain garden as a living demonstration for stormwater management in a neighborhood (Hamtramck) that continually suffers from flooding during heavy rains. A place where people can learn how a rain garden can help them naturally manage floods.”
“I really want to thank Friends of the Rouge. You have allowed me to have fun over the years and get involved in something rewarding. With a group like FOTR, you really get to “act locally” by getting directly involved and getting your hands dirty and getting wet. To experience first hand that volunteers can make a difference in protecting and advocating for a local natural feature.”
“You have a lot of kids who come in and say ‘I don’t like science.’ ‘I am not a scientist.’ ‘I have never been to the River.’ The Rouge Education Project changes them.”
“It gives me a rush! I love the thrill of grabbing the big tray of leaves and mud….All that potential of finding what’s alive and waiting to be discovered”
The FOTR office is open Monday-Thursday from 10am to 3pm. |
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