It’s Earth Month: Your River is Calling!
Ready to take action? You are invited to make a difference with Friends. Nurture, learn about, connect with, and celebrate the nature all around you. Let’s build the future that you want to see, together! Fri. April 19 Noon to 1pm: Level Up Your Yard webinar Sat. April 20
9am to noon: Earth Day Cleanup at Fort St Bridge Park 10am to 2pm: Earth Day at PARC
10am to 3pm: Spring Bug Hunt Mon. April 22 7 to 8pm: Southfield Rain Gardens 101 (in-person and virtual) |
Calling all tree lovers!
Thanks to you, over 13,000 native trees were planted in the Lower Rouge Watershed. Each baby tree was installed lovingly by caring Friends with a protective tube to ensure its success. It’s time to remove the tubes and let your trees flourish! On May 4th and May 12th, you are invited to join your Friends on a tree tube quest! Let’s roll up our sleeves and make a difference for a greener future together! |
The Rouge River Earns a “D+” in First-Ever Report Card
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 “socioenvironmental” 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 that your loved ones deserve.
Reports were made possible by the Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation. |
Earth Day Celebration in the PARC
Kick off the Spring with Friends on Earth Day weekend at a family-friendly event at PARC.
Discover your community’s shared commitment to sustainability! Enjoy: Volunteer opportunities, LIVE music, refreshments, kids’ activities (including children’s book readings), crafts, local art, booths from PARC tenets, opportunities to win fun prizes, and more! You won’t want to miss this wonderful day celebrating your environment! Save the date to celebrate: Saturday, April 20 – 10am to 2pm |
Apply for the StormWater Specialist Training
This workforce development program is designed to provide you with pathways towards living wage employment while maintaining important landscaping features design to protect the Rouge River, Detroit River, and Lake Eerie. This 6 week, 12 class course will teach you how to weed native plant gardens, to identify native plants vs. weeds, conduct photo monitoring, identify soil types, understand and correct erosion and sediment issues, how to transplant and thin garden plants, and more! NO prior experience needed! Applications accepted on a rolling basis through May 7th, 2024. Class Times:
May 14th to June 20th
Tuesdays and Thursdays
10 am – 12 pm |
Your Rouge River Paddling Trip Awaits! Ready to enjoy this lovely spring weather on the water? Join your Friends for an upcoming paddle trip!
May 11: Spring Birding Paddle Trip with Detroit Bird Alliance
May 18: Pride Paddle with the Queer Outdoors
Paddlers have the option to rent a canoe or kayak or bring their own boat. Please note, fees are due in advance for all attendees. Register today! |
You Showed up for Your River: Thank you!
On Thursday April 4, 700 people crowded into a Plymouth church to share their opposition to a new Salem Wastewater Treatment Plant, which will discharge into Fellows Creek, with Michigan’s Environment, Great Lakes & Energy permitting department. Friends of the Rouge biology staff Lauren Eaton and Sally Petrella and former Board Member Al Vankerckhove discussed the negative impacts that the proposed 840,000 gallons per day will have on the tiny headwaters stream Fellows Creek. Residents shared concerns about flooding, lowered water quality, sewage spills and more. Fellows Creek is a special branch of the Rouge River system; home to many sensitive fish and bugs. Thank you to all who attended, submitted comments, and raised awareness on the impacts this development will have on your river.
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Rain Gardens to the Rescue
Are you a home owner, business owner, or property owner? Do you have flooding and drainage issues? Ready to support pollinators with native plants? Here comes RAIN GARDENS TO THE RESCUE! Apply NOW for your very own rain garden! Gardens will be awarded to residents in River Rouge, South Detroit and Dearborn’s Southend. Applications due by Friday, May 10 – available in English, Spanish and Arabic! Participate in a 5-week course and install your new garden with Friends in 2024. Questions? Please email RainSmart@therouge.org.
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Attention all seasoned gardeners!
The expansive and beautiful PARC gardens are calling you! Share your expertise and love; join a small and committed group of green thumbs on a weekly basis to nurture the rain gardens at PARC. Connect with fellow gardening enthusiasts and enjoy the gardens as you build a greener, cleaner River and community! |
It is Native Plant Time: Order Yours Today!
Select and pre-order native plants, rain barrels, composters, and more for pick-up on Saturday May 18 at Canton DPW! SPRING into action now for unique garden for you, your butterfly and birds, and your Rouge River! Upcoming Order Deadlines: Pick Up Plants: Mon. April 29
Pick Up Rain Barrels + Composters: Mon. May 6 |
Early Spring Invasive Species Lookout: Lesser Celandine
If you notice a plant in early spring with yellow flowers, kidney shaped leaves, 4-12 inches tall, and growing from tuberous roots in a wet area, take a closer look to determine if it is the invasive plant Lesser Celandine. The native Marsh Marigold is similar but has fewer flower petals, no tubers and blooms about a month later. If you are unsure, snap a photo and use the app INaturalist to identify and report. This plant is spreading in Michigan and chokes out native plants with its dense coverage. Hand-pulling it or digging it up is recommended by the Michigan Invasive Species Information Network.
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Job Opportunities: Friends is Growing Are you looking for a new position in 2024 and a way to make a real difference for a better world? Friends of the Rouge is hiring for two Fish Passage Technicians. Click the button below – your new role awaits! |
| From Your Friend, Jaclyn Restoration Coordinator |
A better River is made possible thanks to these supporters & in thanks to caring Friends like you
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