Rouge Rundown – November 19, 2025: Strategic Plan | Mussels in the Rouge | Master Rain Gardener & More

Students from the University of Michigan-Dearborn’s Environmental Education class learned first-hand about fish and how we sample for them on a chilly Nov. 8. Almost all of the students put on waders and braved the cold fast moving water at the Fair Lane Estate Fishway to help Bob, Lauren and Sally collect and identify fish. While the fishway flows too fast and has too many logs and boulders for us to safely sample, we were able to sample some quieter water at the upstream and downstream end. We found quite a few fish below and quite a few above the channel, showing fish are likely using this bypass around the formerly impassable waterfall and into the Middle, Main and Upper branches of the Rouge.

Purple wartyback, wabash pigtoe, creek heelsplitter, deertoe, and snuffbox are some of the whimsical names given to what you might think of as a clam, but are properly known as freshwater or pearly mussels. North America is a hotspot for mussels and Michigan is home to 42 species. Sensitive to changes in our waterways, mussels are the most imperiled group of animals in North America. No, they are not happy as clams. 

Notoriously difficult to identify, FOTR staff and volunteers are studying to become certified experts at identifying these fragile indicators to better understand their presence and absence in the Rouge. 

Living in Southeast Michigan means winterizing anything with water that can freeze when temperatures dip below 32F.  Most people think to disconnect hoses and cover exposed faucets, however rain barrels are often overlooked.  Now is the time to make sure you’re properly winterizing your rain barrel by following the steps below: 

• Disconnect the rain barrel from the gutter downspout.
  • Connect a temporary downspout extension to the gutter that feeds that rain barrel. Position this so that it is directing rainwater away from the house.
  • Use up or drain the rain barrel so there is no water left inside. Water left in for the winter may freeze and crack the barrel itself.
  • Open the barrel’s spigot and leave open for the period of no use, this will avoid freeze damage to the hardware of the barrel.
  • Rinse the interior of the barrel. Now is a good time to clean the barrel of sediment build up that occurs in many rain barrels during the course of the rainy season.
  • If you have storage move the rain barrel to an indoor storage area to really extend the life of your rain barrel. If you have not storage or prefer to leave your rain barrel outside then be sure to turn the barrel upside down.
  • Cover your rain barrel with a tarp for additional protection.

Thanks to you—and a caring crew of Friends like you—your Rouge River is getting the love it needs. Your generosity fuels every restoration ripple, every habitat protected, and every joyful splash of progress.

As we close out the year, here are some non-cash ways to make your generosity go even further for your hometown river:

• Donor-Advised Fund: Make a grant from funds you’ve set aside to support vital action and education for your hometown River.
• Shop to Support a Better River: Power a more vibrant future as your shop for groceries and goodies! Sign up today through Kroger Community Rewards. Your kindness adds up!
• IRA Gifts: If you’re 70.5 or older, a direct transfer from your IRA can satisfy your Required Minimum Distribution if you need to take one and reduce your taxable income.