Protecting the Lands That Protect Johnson Creek

Friends of the Rouge (FOTR) is launching an exciting new effort to safeguard one of the most ecologically important places in the Rouge River watershed: the lands surrounding Johnson Creek.

Johnson Creek is the only coldwater stream in the entire watershed — a rare, living ribbon of cool, clean water that supports some of the highest‑quality aquatic life in the region. Yet it flows through one of the most urbanized watersheds in the country, where more than 50% of the land is developed and less than 25% remains natural. Every remaining wetland, forest, prairie, and open parcel plays a vital role in filtering stormwater, reducing flooding, keeping water temperatures cool, and providing habitat for wildlife.

FOTR has received funding to develop a technical update to the Rouge River Watershed Management Plan. This update focuses specifically on identifying the most important parcels of land around Johnson Creek for future conservation — a chance to protect what’s left before it’s gone.

What This Project Will Do

Working with partners — Six Rivers Land Conservancy, Hubbell, Roth & Clark, Inc., and the Alliance of Rouge Communities — we are developing a Geographic Information Systems (GIS)–based land prioritization model. This tool will help us:

• Identify parcels that are especially important for long‑term land protection
• Understand how much pollutant loading is prevented when land remains undeveloped
• Compare current land conditions with the impacts that would occur if development continues unchecked

Partners will use a GIS tool that measures how much pollution is prevented when land stays undeveloped rather than being built on.

Community Voices at the Center

Conservation succeeds when communities lead. That’s why we are convening an Advisory Committee made up of community members, municipal partners, and other local voices who understand both the geography and the people who live around Johnson Creek.

Over the next year, this group will review model results, share insights about landowners and community priorities, and help guide the identification of 20 high‑priority parcels for conservation.

This collaborative approach ensures that the final conservation strategy reflects both ecological science and the lived experience of the people who call this place home.

Meetings will take place in early 2026, Summer/Fall 2026, and Winter 2027.

Why This Matters

Development pressure in the headwaters of the Rouge is intense, and Johnson Creek is especially vulnerable. With the loss of every wetland, forest, prairie, and parcel of undeveloped land, less stormwater is filtered, flooding risks rise, water temperatures warm, and wildlife habitat disappears.

This project gives us a powerful, science‑based way to protect what remains — and act before these irreplaceable natural areas are lost.

What Comes Next

Over the next year, we’ll refine the land prioritization model, gather community input, and begin shaping a conservation roadmap that will guide protection efforts for years to come. By the end of 2027, this project will provide a clear, community‑informed plan for conserving the lands that keep Johnson Creek healthy.

This is a rare opportunity to protect the lands that protect Johnson Creek — and we are working hard to do so.