Picnic in the PARC
Spend a fun morning in the gardens with your Friends, followed by a potluck picnic and fun games! You’ll clean the gardens together with Friends to the tune of great music and conversation. Then, end your morning with a picnic next to the garden. All ages and gardening experiences are welcome!
When: Saturday, August 16th, 9 am – 12 pm
Where: Plymouth Arts & Recreation Complex
Learn about all the native plants in the PARC gardens and seek out the pollinators that visit them! Look forward to fresh air, good company, games, music, and more! It will be a wonderful way to start your weekend!
Inkster Summer Magic Paddle Trip & Health Fair
Thank you to all who attended the Friends of the Rouge Inkster Summer Magic Paddle Trip & Health Fair, presented by the Inkster Task Force and MetroParks. It was a beautiful day with all of you! Over 30 paddlers joined FOTR for a shortened paddle trip from the new boat launch at Venoy Rd to the new Merriman boat launch. While it was a short route, it proved to be a challenging paddle. Special thanks to your FOTR Trip Crew for keeping everyone safe on the water! BIG Thank you to the vendors who participated in the health fair to make this a spectacular event for the City of Inkster.
Looking to get on the water this season? There are a few more opportunities to Paddle with your friends this year. Your next paddle trip awaits!
Fall Native Plant Market: Pre-Sales Now Open!
Pre-order beautiful native plants, rain barrels, 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 4 at Keep Growing Detroit Farm. Find what’s right for your yard today!
ORDER DEADLINES:
Order your pick-up native plant flats, rain barrels, & accessories by Monday, September 22.
Garden Spruce Up Events
Join your Friends at Claude Allison Park in Redford to spruce up the rain gardens! There are multiple opportunities to participate. Please sign up for any day that you are available to make a difference in your community and your Rouge River.
Dates: August 27th, September 3rd, September 17th, October 1st, October 15th
Time: 10 AM – 1 PM
Where: Claude Allison Park, 18250 Beech Daly, Redford Charter Twp
All ages and gardening experience welcome! Work may include removing weeds and planting more native plants. No need to bring anything with you except a water bottle.
Habitat Restoration Being Planned for Concrete Channel
Approximately four miles of the Rouge River were encased in concrete in the 1970s as a flood control project. The project eliminated wildlife habitat and poses a barrier for fish migrating up the river. Fifty year later, the US Army Corps and the EPA are working together to address this by designing wetlands and oxbows to provide places for fish to rest and feed. Learn more about this project from the Rouge River Advisory Council.
Save the Sibley Prairie
Wayne County is home to some of the last remnant lakeplain prairie, a habitat found nowhere else in the world but the upper Midwest. Sibley Prairie in Brownstown Township contains many rare and threatened species but only a small portion of the prairie is protected. 440 acres in the heart of Sibley Prairie are up for auction and could be lost forever to development.
A group of concerned residents are working to get this land protected but they have a very short timeline and need help. Please help save this rare habitat.
New Limited Edition Garden tile
Add a pop of year-round color to your native garden with this beautiful limited edition garden tile! All created locally by Pewabic pottery studio to celebrate the Southeast Michigan watershed collaboration: the Rain Catchers Collective. This 4×6 tile is the perfect way to bring a little joy to your outdoor space, while showing your support for our clean water mission!
Hurry! Only a small batch is available. Buy yours today while supplies last.
Rouge River Supporters
A better River is made possible thanks to these
supporters and in thanks to caring Friends like you
Upcoming Events
Sat, Aug 16 at 9 am: Picnic in the PARC
Tues, Aug 19 at 5:30 pm: Redford Water Dept Rain Garden Maintenance Event – with Redford Twp District Library
Wed, Aug 27 at 10 am: Claude Allison Rain Garden Maintenance Event – Redford
Wed, Sep 3 at 10 am: Claude Allison Rain Garden Maintenance Event – Redford
Weekly Volunteer Opportunity on Thursday Evenings: Grow Hamtramck Outreach – Email jkristofik@therouge.org to learn more.
Partner Events
Wednesdays from 4 – 7 pm
Inkster Task Force: Farmers Market
Aug 16, 10 am
Detroit Bird Alliance: Palmer Park Summer Nature Walk
Aug 18, 6 pm
Novi Community Town Hall
Aug 19, 6 pm
Northville Community Town Hall
Aug 19, 4 pm
Plymouth Pollinators: Native Plants 101 for Kids
Aug 21, 6:30 pm
Plymouth District Library: Lake Life! Wilcox & Phoenix Lake Habitat Improvements
Aug 23, 2 pm
Friends of Rouge Park: Pollinator Walk
Sep 15, 9 am
EGLE: SepticSmart 2025: Septic Systems and the Environment
Job Opportunities
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.