Rouge Rundown – January 28, 2026: Winter Salt Week | Got Invasive Plants? | Froggy Time & More

Every winter, tons of salt are spread on roads, parking lots, and sidewalks to keep us safe. But once the snow melts, that salt doesn’t disappear—it washes into our lakes, streams, and groundwater.  For your Rouge River, too much salt can affect water quality, and in turn, harm aquatic plants, fish, and other wildlife. 

This year, FOTR is joining partners across the country to spotlight this growing challenge during Winter Salt Week, taking place January 26–30, 2026. The week is dedicated to helping communities understand the impacts of salt pollution and explore practical steps we can all take to protect freshwater.

Your FOTR Monitoring Manager, Lauren Eaton will be presenting about Salt Monitoring 101 on Friday, January 30 at 12 PM. Click Below to learn more!

Together, we can keep winter roads safe and our waters healthy.

Join your Friends at this one-hour introductory presentation to learn about rain gardens and how you can build one in your own yard. Rain gardens reduce neighborhood flooding, basement backups, and pollution flowing into the Rouge River. Held in the auditorium at the Henry Ford Centennial Library, this workshop is free and open to the public.

When: Saturday, February 21st at 11 AM

Where: Henry Ford Centennial Library Auditorium in Dearborn

No supplies are necessary, but feel free to bring note-taking materials if you are planning on taking notes. 

Join your Friends in monitoring local amphibian populations by volunteering for the annual Frog & Toad Survey! Each volunteer will be assigned a quarter square mile survey block area that includes wetlands. On warm, damp evenings from March through July, volunteers will independently visit their assigned survey block after dark several times each month and listen for the callings of frogs and toads.

Volunteers will learn to identify the breeding calls of the seven frogs and one toad found in the watershed. All new surveyors must attend the training workshop on Saturday, February 21st, 2026, from 10 am – 12 pm at the Livonia Civic Center Library, 32777 Five Mile Rd, Livonia, MI 48154. Returning surveyor attendance is recommended, but not required. 

Certain invasive plants are regulated in Michigan to help prevent their spread by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD).  Surprisingly, some of the common invasive plants that have invaded our natural areas are not listed.  This includes common buckthorn (pictured) and Japanese barberry.

MDARD is proposing the addition of of six species to the list. If the proposed species are added then it will be illegal to introduce, import, transplant, sell, or intentionally possess them in Michigan.  They are seeking public comment. If you would like to see these six species regulated, please fill out MDARD’s online survey by Feb. 9, 2026. Since cultivars of these plants that are intended to be infertile often become fertile over time, exempting cultivars can lead to more spread.

Friends of the Rouge seeks proposals for  the design and installation of Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) at Bethany Lutheran Church and Redford Theatre.