Learn more about FOTR's citizen science efforts through the upcoming Great Lakes Now episode premiering tonight at 7:30pm! Your are also invited to take part in citizen science at the upcoming Spring Bug Hunt on April 15, from 10am-3pm!
Bug Hunt registration: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScuvSH-JUSxWpepNG526XEewlKmV3vanFQR2lsDiC0CX9o0AA/viewform
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I remember many more sticks in the way.
Great job Sally!
Check out the important findings published by Ecology Center regarding PFAS and the community led webinar on the study results.
In 2022, six anglers who eat fish from the river joined FOTRâs ranks of community scientists when they agreed to collect fish for PFAS testing. These anglers used a hook and line at 15 locations in the Rouge, Huron, and Detroit Rivers to collect one hundred fish as part of a partnership with the Ecology Center and Huron River Watershed Council to test the whole fish for these forever chemicals. Late last month, the Ecology Center released the results of the PFAS testing, and they were sobering, with 100% of the fish tested containing PFAS.
View the full report here: www.ecocenter.org/sites/default/files/2023-02/Fish%20Report%202023%20V2.pdf
Watch the March 16, community led, webinar: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfgRU6QSb
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thank you for sharing this!
Man-kind will kill the earth đ So step in where you can and help save it !
Hi Friends! The 2022 FOTR Annual Report is hot off the press! Check out the impact you made possible in 2022!đđđ
Link to Report: therouge.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/RougeAnnualReport_22_Final-for-web.pdf?blm_aid=1167965193
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Today is #WorldPlantingDay and it's officially SPRING! đ§đŒđŠ Now is the time to plan your spring backyard haven with beautiful native flowers and grasses. Keep your plants looking fresh while saving you money with compost from food scraps and captured rainwater from your roof. Pre-Order your native plants, rain barrels, composters and more at therouge.org/store TODAY for mail-to-you or pickup on May 13th!
Did you know you can get a 10% discount by being a Friends of the Rouge member? Shop different membership levels while at the store too!
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Rouge Store: Native Plants, Rain Barrels, Consultations & More!
therouge.org
Bring your lawn to life with native plants, and capture the rain to make them thrive!If Karen or anyone is coming by 15& Ryan, I have seeds for FotR - Big Bluestem, Swamp Milkweed, Beebalm, and maybe Cardinal Flowers. (avail. most any time)
Brianna Daniels
Rene Warren
Thank you for kicking off the 2023 paddling season with Friends of the Rouge at our annual End of Winter Paddle Trip. The year's trip lived up to its name with temperatures in the 20's! đŻ It was still great to see some familiar faces and connect with new friends around the fire! đ¶đšđ„
If you were not able to join the trip, your next chance to paddle the Rouge will be Saturday, May 13 for the Open Water Spring Birding Paddle Trip, hosted in partnership with Detroit Audubon. You may register here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScqa5SAk1bOUYmcJSWqmsKr2IiED7Wd8v_3hhj3mngbJYO-0g/viewform.
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Will there be more information such as start time and duration? I registered but want to make sure I get the rest of the info in time.
I just registered for the May 13 trip. Hopefully I can paddle by then. I will be a safety boater.
Rick Sowinski... I would have loved to do this!!
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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 watershedâs 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.”
âI 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 âact locallyâ 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.â
âYou have a lot of kids who come in and say âI donât like science.â âI am not a scientist.â âI have never been to the River.â The Rouge Education Project changes them.â
âIt gives me a rush! I love the thrill of grabbing the big tray of leaves and mudâŠ.All that potential of finding whatâs alive and waiting to be discoveredâ
Come visit us at PARC. Our regular business hours are M-Th 10-4. |