Save the Date: August 7 for Your Heart of the Rouge Event
Tickets on sale in July! Celebrate your Rouge River as you support its better future. Your evening includes: interactive river experience with naturalists and FOTR staff, great food, drink tickets, live music, a nature-themed art display from local artists with online auction, and a live fish passage & salt demonstration. Experience your Rouge River. Enjoy a wonderful evening with Friends. Let your Heart create a better world. |
Congratulations to the 2024 Spring StormWater Specialist Graduates!
The 2024 Spring Class of StormWater Specialist received certificates to commemorate their completion of the StormWater Specialist Training (SWST) this past Thursday, June 20th. These 19 SWST graduates have been curious, engaged, and a joy to work with. After completing the SWST Program, they now have the opportunity to begin taking on contracts through St Suzanne and Friends of the Rouge to maintain rain gardens across the city of Detroit.
The 2024 Summer Class of the SWST program begins on July 9th and will be held at St Suzanne on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 am – 12 pm. Applications accepted on a rolling basis through July 2 , 2024. |
Ladies’ Night- Rescheduled to July 3
Come spend an evening in the garden with the ladies! We’ll share light refreshments together while taking care of our blooming native gardens! Enjoy evening fresh air, great conversation, and a plant-powered social evening! All experience levels are welcome. All tools and gear provided! Come kick off your July 4th celebration in the gardens! |
Your Rouge River Paddling Trip Awaits! You are invited to experience nature from the seat of a kayak! Join your Friends on upcoming paddle trips: July 27: Black Paddle Trip
August 3: Summer Magic Paddle Trip presented by The Inkster Task Force
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! |
Fall Native Plant Market: Pre-Sales Now Open!
Pre-order beautiful native plants, rain barrels, composters, and more NOW for Fall! Save the date for the pick-up and same day Fall Native Plant Market with local vendors selling a variety of native plants on Saturday October 5 at Keep Growing Detroit Farm. Find what’s right for your yard today!
ORDER DEADLINES:
Mail Order Plants: Wed. July 31
Pick-Up Plants: Fri. September 20
Pick-Up Rain Barrels + Composters: Fri. September 27 |
Attention South End Neighbors!
Are you a resident of South Dearborn or River Rouge? You are invited to join FOTR for Rain Gardens to the Rescue! This program is a series of 5 workshops all about rain gardens and hands-on garden installations. It is FREE and open to the public! Hands-on garden installations with your community provide an opportunity to control storm water in your neighborhood with beautiful native plants that everyone can enjoy! Learn how to create and maintain a native garden, and plant your own for free!
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Rouge River Significant Source of PFAS into Lake Erie
A recently published paper documented that the Rouge River contributes the highest levels of harmful “forever chemicals” PFAS into the Lake Huron to Lake Erie Corridor of all the tributaries. The research was conducted by Wayne State University and the University of Florida with FOTR providing assistance in choosing and accessing sites.
Researchers collected water and sediment samples at 13 sites from Lake Huron to Lake Erie and 15 sites on the Rouge Middle & Lower branches and Main stem and analyzed them for 92 PFAS chemicals. PFAS was detected in all samples with sediments higher than waters and 16 different types found in sediments. In comparison to the other corridor sites, the mouth of the Rouge had the highest levels, underlining the need to stop the production of these harmful chemicals and develop adequate treatment methods to keep the Rouge and its sister watersheds clean.
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FOTR Welcomes Two Monitoring Interns
Friends of the Rouge welcomes Kelsey Campana and Adrianna Vega to the team as the new Monitoring Interns. Kelsey will begin her graduate studies at the University of Michigan’s SEAS program this Fall, and Adrianna is an upperclassman at Eastern Michigan University majoring in environmental science. They will be out surveying for Red Swamp Crayfish this summer. This is the second year of this project and we are so excited to have them as part of the team this summer! |
