Volunteer for Your River
You are invited to build a clean water future with Friends! Plant a beautiful new rain garden at the Southfield Civic Center on May 10 or Golfview Park in Plymouth on May 31 and June 7! Rain gardens soak up the rain before it reaches the drain. These working gardens lessen local flooding, reduce water pollution, and provide critical butterfly and bird habitat. All ages and gardening experience welcome! Gloves, tools, and water will be provided.
Your Rouge River Paddling Trip Awaits!
Do you hear that? It’s the sounds of spring. Enjoy the water in this season of renewal, your with Friends. Connect with your River. Enjoy the peace of nature. Join these upcoming paddle trip adventures!
May 10: Spring Birding Paddle Trip with Detroit Bird Alliance. Discover the birds of the Rouge on Nankin Lake, in Hines Park.
May 17: 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.
Native Garden Planting!
Looking for a way to decompress after a long day? Come on out to an evening of planting fun in Southfield with your Friends next Thursday, May 15th! Learn about native plants and enjoy the spring weather as you plant a beautiful native garden at Mary Thompson Farm. Native plants collect and soak up rain water while creating food and habitat for native wildlife! They also look beautiful! All ages and gardening experience welcome! Gloves, tools, and water will be provided. Join in on the planting fun on Thursday May 15th at 5 pm!
Spring Sale Spectacular!
Come one, come all to the FOTR 2025 Spring Sale Spectacular! Pick up your pre-ordered rain barrels and native plants. Missed the pre-sale? You can join the fun at the “same-day sale” for plant art, individual plants, trees, shrubs, and more on Saturday, May 17th at the Livonia Department of Public Works – 12973 Farmington Rd, Livonia, MI 48150.
Pick up plant plugs, quarts and 1-3 gallon pots of unique, native flowers, grasses and shrubs perfect for your yard. Plant experts will be on-hand to answer any of your questions!
Member & Volunteer LOVE-fest
Hey Friend, because your Rouge River love is amazing, this event is for you! You are warmly invited for a fun-filled free volunteer and member appreciation event, awards ceremony, and general meeting.
When: Wednesday, June 18, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Where: the beautiful Inkster Park Picnic Shelter in Inkster, MI 48141
What: 6:00 pm – light picnic dinner and interactive River tents with FOTR staff
6:30 pm – awards and appreciation-fest
Come as you are! This family-friendly event honors your amazing impact for a better hometown Rouge River. This event is free – kindly register so that we may grill enough for all.
Have you Seen a Knot of Toads?
The American toad (Bufo americanus) is the most common frog or toad in the watershed. Your local “Frog Patrol”, volunteer surveyors, are reporting them actively trilling all over, making them one of the easiest amphibians to observe. The gathering of many toads for breeding purposes can be quite a party and is properly called a “knot.”
Male toads are the only ones to call, attracting females and other males to the pond. Once in the pond, male toads clasp the back of any toad, hoping to fertilize some eggs. This can cause some consternation when a male mistakenly clasps another male, at which point you might hear a warning chirp.
Toad eggs hatch in 3-14 days followed by toads in 6-10 weeks. Get out in nature and attune yourselves to things like toads – for your mental and physical health.
Welcome New Friends
Q: What makes the Rouge River even better?
A: You!
Thank you, Friends. A warm WELCOME to the newest Members and “Friends” of Friends of the Rouge:
Anonymous (1), Rou Adon, Anurag Bangera, Joshua Brockwell, Melinda Byrd, Toni Cornell, Veronica & Joshua Crawford, Joanne Dalla Santa, The Eders, Darin Ellis, Ed Gies, Gabrielle Gordon, Chris Harden, Alexandria Huff, Ryan Keberly, Ms. Nina E. Kelly, Thomas & Michelle Kerns, Susan LaCroix, Samuel Mathes, Tina Miller, Ms. Denise Murray, Laura Myers, Edward Oz, Nicole Sherwood, Kris Szczesny, David VanDerworp, Dawn Vassel, Edward Wolyniec, and Elisabeth Wood
Rouge River Supporters
A better River is made possible thanks to these
supporters and in thanks to caring Friends like you
Upcoming Events
Sat, May 10 at 9:30 am: Spring Birding Paddle with the Detroit Bird Alliance
Sat, May 10 at 9 am: Southfield Civic Center Rian Garden Installation
Thu, May 15 at 5 pm: Native Garden Planting – Mary Thompson Farm
Sat, May 17 at 9:30 am: Pride Paddle presented by the Queer Outdoors
Sat, May 17 from 10 am – 2 pm: FOTR Spring Native Plant Sale
Sun, May18 from 9:30 am-12:30 pm: Logjam Workday, Canton
Wed, May 21 at 10 am: Redford Water Dept Rain Garden Spruce Up
Sat, May 24 at 9 am: Picnic in the PARC-Rain Garden Spruce Up
Partner Events
Thurs. May 8 11am- 12pm, at NOAA or virtual
NOAA Great Lakes Seminar: Corey Krabbenhoft, Spawning and sustenance: exploring two key aspects of Great Lakes fish ecology
Sat. May 17 at 9 am-1 pm
Friends of Rouge Park: Rouge Park Appreciation Day Cleanup
Sat. May 17 from 9 – 10 am
Huron-Clinton Metroparks: Rain Garden Tour: Lake Erie
Tue, May 20 at 6 pm
UM Dearborn: EIC: Children Gardening Program
Sat. May 24, 9 am-3 pm.
Huron-Clinton MetroParks: Native Plant Sale
Job Opportunities
Friends of the Rouge Volunteer Coordinator
FOTR Seeks Auditing Firm: Request for Proposal
Friends of Rouge Park: Friends of Rouge Park Engagement Intern
For other job opportunities please visit:
Great Lakes Email Groups – Great Lakes Commission
Conservation Job Board – Find Conservation & Environmental Jobs
Categories
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News & EventsLearn more about upcoming FOTR events and projects
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NewslettersThe Rouge Rundown is our biweekly newsletter. Click to read past editions.