Rouge Rundown10.30.2024

Croak! Your 2025 Frog and Toad Survey Registration is Open!

Are you ready to help your hometown Rouge River and the frogs and toads who call it home? You can join the “Frog Patrol” and be part of the collective of do-gooders who track frogs and toads throughout your watershed! Frogs and toads are indicators of habitat quality. Their presence or absence can be used to assess wetland health. The wetlands they call home are critical for them and for the entire Rouge River community – as these wetlands absorb and filter stormwater, which protects and cleans the Rouge River. As a volunteer, you will learn the frog calls and more! Your first step: Sign up today for training workshop scheduled for Saturday, February 22nd from 10am-12pm. This training is open to all who would like to learn more about wetlands and frogs.

Learn More about the Survey

Winter Tree Tube Pick Up- Join in the Fun!

You are invited to join the Weekly Tree Tube Pick-Up! Over the past few years, Friends of the Rouge has planted over 13,000 native trees along the Lower Rouge River Watershed, each protected by a sturdy, recycled plastic tube. These tubes have done an amazing job shielding these young trees from predators, but now the trees are ready to thrive on their own!

If you are looking for a chance to soak up the daily 3 minutes of sun that Michigan sees in the winter, this is for you! This is the perfect chance to get outdoors, meet fellow tree enthusiasts, and make a positive impact in your Rouge community. Everyone is welcome, but please note that minors must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Fill out the form below and you will receive weekly location details (all sites are in the Inkster area) by email. Pick-ups will happen every Tuesday, with updates if extra dates are added! For more information or to schedule a private group clean-up, please contact Jacqueline Kristofik (jkristofik@therouge.org). See you out on the Rouge!

Join in the Tree Tube Fun!

Rouge River oxbow enhances education at The Henry Ford by John Hartig for Great Lakes Now

“In the 1960s, an oxbow was eliminated in the lower Rouge River when a concrete channel was built to move stormwater out of the watershed. Today, this former oxbow has been restored and is being used to enhance education at The Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan.”

The Story Continues

Mark Your Calendar: for the 2025 Lower Rouge River Paddle Trips

While it is chilly outside, Spring is just around the corner. That means it is almost time to paddle! Mark your calendars for the upcoming paddle events with FOTR! Registration information will be released in February.

March 22: End of Winter Paddle Trip (Dearborn)
May 10: Spring Open Water Birding Paddle Trip (Nankin Lake)*
May 17: Pride Paddle Trip (Dearborn)
June 7: Canton River Days (Canton)
June 21: National Canoe Day (Venoy Dorsey Park)*
July 17: The Black Pack Paddle Trip (Dearborn)
August 2: Inkster Summer Magic Paddle Trip & Health Fair (Venoy Dorsey Park/Colonial Park)
September 13: Industrial Paddle Trip (Melvindale)
October 4: Fall Open Water Birding Paddle Trip (Newburgh Lake)*
October 18: Haunted Paddle Trip (Dearborn)

*Please note that paddle trips marked with an asterisk are subject to change.

Your Stonefly Search Report

Thank you to all the wonderful volunteers that made the Stonefly Search a success! 34 sites were sampled by 80 caring volunteers who braved the winter weather and sampled for bugs. Stoneflies were found at 32% of the sites. All of which were found on the Lower and Middle branches. The vast majority of the stoneflies were Capniidae (slender winter stonefly), with only one other family (Perlodidae) found at the John2 site. Your next bug hunt will be on Saturday, April 12th. Mark your calendars – we’d love for you to join the adventure!

Read the Report

In the News: Single Use Plastic and Your Rouge River

Watch your Friends of the Rouge Executive Director, Ashley Flintoff, on Fox2 Detroit discuss why single-use plastic is bad for your Rouge River and you.

Check out the New look!

New Year, New Look!

Your FOTR website has had a makeover! The FOTR team has been working hard to optimize your web viewing experience. The website will be continuously updated with resources for stewardship of your Rouge River and information about upcoming events. You are encouraged to visit the website periodically to learn how you can get involved with FOTR and protect your hometown River.

Stevie the Stonefly is hidden on one of our website pages! Can you find Stevie before Valentine’s Day? If you find Stevie, click the image for the chance to win a prize!

Can you find Stevie the Stonefly?