Rouge Rundown – October 2, 2024: Search for Mussels | Native Plant Market | Fall Friends Fest & More

You are Invited: It’s Your Fall Friends Fest!

You are invited to celebrate Fall on your Rouge River. Mark your calendar and join Friends for a beautiful day at Ford Field Park in Dearborn. Enjoy decorations from the Haunted Paddle! Toast s’mores. Connect with Friends at interactive Rouge River tents. Enjoy of the excitement of the Lower Rouge River Water Trail. Treats and tricks abound! This family-friendly event is FREE. Costumes are optional. See you on the River!

Saturday, October 19, 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM

Ford Field Park, South Parking Lot, Dearborn, MI 48124

Fall Native Plant Market for All

Fall is a fantastic time to plant Michigan Native Plants. Shop the Fall Native Plant Market at Keep Growing Detroit – right next to Eastern Market – on Saturday, October 5. Select from a variety of native plants sold on-site by multiple local vendors. Enjoy a beautiful Fall day at Eastern Market!

Shop the Fall Native Plant Market 

Saturday, October 5, 11AM – 2PM at Keep Growing Detroit Farm at 3100 Orleans, Detroit MI 48207

Rouge River to get Cleaner Thanks to MI Clean Water grants

Several Rouge communities and counties will benefit from Michigan Clean Water grant funding to upgrade sewers and pumps that will increase water quality in the Rouge River. This includes $20 million to the City of Inkster to eliminate combined sewer outfalls, $2.9 million to Wayne County for sewer lining and relocation, $20 million to the Great Lakes Water Authority for a relief sewer, $933,750 to Oakland County for sewer rehabilitation and more! Addressing our sewer infrastructure is critical to cleaning up the Rouge River. 

FOTR Team Searches Low for Mussels

On September 18,  mussel expert & author Joe Rathbun  led a DNR fish biologist and a team of FOTR staff and volunteers in Fellows Creek search for freshwater mussels. These sensitive creatures, often called clams, are the most endangered organisms in the United States and play a critical role in filtering water (check out the demo below). The Rouge is currently home to 14 of the 42 mussel species found in Michigan.

Surveys are conducted by wading in the stream and visually examining the bottom, often with a cone shaped viewer, or feeling the bottom for them with the fingers. The team worked hard and local volunteer Dale Anderson found one live mussel – a cylindrical papershell (Anodontoides ferussacianus). He and his daughter have often seen shells in this creek.

These rare species face a big challenge in Fellows Creek – a tributary of your Rouge River – if the plan to build a wastewater treatment plant upstream moves forward. This plant will discharge an estimated 650,000 gallons a day of effluent into this small headwater stream. The permit is currently under review by EGLE.

Industrial Paddle – A Note from Your ED

Growing up in Michigan, I was fortunate enough to be able to travel with my family to the Great Lakes for vacations, taking for granted the level of access I had to freshwater for recreation and for reflection. As an architecture and urban planning student, I studied the industrialization of urban environments and came to understand the devastating impact this has had on this same level of access to water. Even with this background, I was not prepared for the level of understanding gained after participating in FOTR’s Industrial Paddle trip a few weeks ago. 

The dichotomy between heavily industrialized land and areas where nature is clawing its way back along the Rouge was eye-opening. To witness the majesty of a great blue heron silhouetted against smokestacks belching clouds of contaminants into the air. To experience the joy of watching fish arcing out of the river for a bug snack while floating by massive freighters unloading tons of fuel along the concrete channel. Still new to this organization, I was humbled and honored to be able to gain this level of perspective of the Rouge River and all that your Friends are fighting to restore and protect within the watershed. Join FOTR for one of these amazing experiences in the future and reinforce your reasons for stewarding your Rouge River.

Did you know: Your Grant from a DAF Can Change the World?

Starting with your Rouge River! Friends of the Rouge accepts grants from Donor Advised Funds to do the wonderful work of creating a clean water future – right here for your hometown River.

You are invited to designate a grant to Friends of the Rouge. Then, let us know where and how you want to make an impact! Connect with Lara by clicking the link below and meet your River transformation goals today!  FOTR TAX ID: 38-2672879

Job Opportunities

FOTR – Orin and Char Gelderloos Environmental Leadership Internship

FOTR Trails Construction Project Owner’s Representative

Others Hiring:

Friends of Rouge Park: Executive Director

NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory: Research Physical Scientist

Trout Unlimited: Great Lakes Project Coordinator

University of Michigan, CIGLR: Research Engagement Specialist

Upcoming Events

Sat. Oct 5 from 11 am – 2 pm: Fall Plant Sale at Keep Growing Detroit

Sat. Oct 5 at 9:30 am: Fall Birding Paddle

Sat. Oct 12 at 9 am: Fall Bug Hunt

Sat. Oct 19 at 11:30 am: Fall Friends Fest

Sat. Oct 24 at 5 pm: Ghoulish Garden Gala

Ongoing: Become a PARC Champion: Email Your Interest to Enjoy the Gardens as You Build a Greener, Cleaner River and Community!

Partner Events

Fri. Oct 3 at 8:30 am (Registration required) 
Oakland County Water Resources: Regional Stormwater Summit

Sat. Oct 5 from 1 – 5 pm
Friends of Rouge Park: Buffalo Soldiers and Blues Freedom Festival

Sun. Oct 6 at 4 pm
Grosse Ile Nature Land Conservancy: Pheasants of Detroit 

Sun. Oct 6 at 2 pm
Friends of Rouge Park: Fish and Tree Walk led by Bob Muller and Don Drife

Thu. Oct 10 from 6 – 9 pm
Friends of Detroit River: FDR’s Annual Meeting

Fri. Oct 11 from 3 – 5 pm
Greening of Detroit: Eastside Detroit Free Tree Giveaway

Tue. Oct 15 from 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Rouge River Advisory Council: RRAC Meeting  

Sat. Oct 19 from 8 am – 4 pm
Detroit Bird Alliance and Michigan State University: Birdsong in the City 

Sat. Oct 19 from 8 am – 1 pm
Wayne County: Household Hazardous Waste Collection

Tue. Oct 22 from 9 am – 4 pm
University of Windsor: State of the Straight- 2 Locations

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From Your Friend, Matt
Restoration Field Coordinator

A better River is made possible thanks to these supporters & in thanks to caring Friends like you