Rouge Rundown – November 27, 2024: Stonefly Search | New Trees | Master Rain Gardener & More

The Super Bowl of Bug Hunts: You are Invited to Join the Stonefly Search!

Stoneflies are a primitive group of insects named for their habit of crawling on stones in a river. Most stoneflies have high oxygen needs, restricting them to clean well-oxygenated streams. Because of this, they are good indicators of stream quality. Where they are found, the stream is in relatively good health. Some stoneflies hatch in winter which is why Friends of the Rouge volunteers search for them in January. Your eyes, hands, and boots on the ground are needed as part of this important search! No prior experience is necessary, but pre-registrations is required. 

You are Invited to Become a Master Rain Gardener!

Are you ready to transform your lawn into a living habitat and stormwater solution? This is the class for you! Design your own rain garden step-by-step as you learn the A, B, C’s of rain gardening. This includes lessons learned from more than 1,400 rain gardens built by homeowners just like you! Learn what works and what doesn’t.

This virtual class is presented live. Ask questions and enjoy discussions with participants in your community. The course includes a visit to a rain garden in your area, discussions through the Master Rain Gardener Facebook group (or an alternate forum), and a chance to earn your certification as a Master Rain Gardener–including a t-shirt and sign.

Full scholarships are available for residents in the following zip codes:
Detroit (48209, 48217), Ecorse (48229), Inkster (48141), Lincoln Park (48146), Melvindale (48122), River Rouge (48218), Riverview (48193), Romulus (48174), Taylor (48180).

Class Times: Thursdays, 10 am – 12 pm, January 30–February 27

Class Location: virtual classroom with in-person tours throughout SE Michigan

Tree Planting for a Clean Water – and Air – Future!

This past September 189 trees and 220 shrubs were planted by ~600 students, staff, and caring Friends like you, at two South Redford Schools: Thurston High School and Jane Addams Elementary Schol. The plantings were strategically placed between the schools and the I-96 freeway to reduce the amount of pollution reaching the students. Newly planted, these trees are already working for a cleaner hometown Rouge River. The trees will absorb an estimated 9,072 pounds of carbon dioxide and 756,000 gallons of stormwater annually! Thank you, Friends!

Leave the Leaves: For the Bugs, the Pollinators, and the Artists!

You can cut the work and do something good for your hometown river! “Leave the leaves” is a movement to support pollinator-friendly actions in your own yard. Leaf cover helps endangered pollinators and other beneficial insects over the winter. It’s so easy! You can help the good guys MORE this year by doing LESS work! Just leave the leaves right where they fall – or move them into shrub and flower beds. A lot of beautiful and important living things spend their winter in and under the leaves. By letting them be, you can save the bees! 

It is great for local pollinators, great fertilizer for your yard, and great material for your next art project. Check out the beautiful leaves created by Japanese leaf artist, Lito.

FOTR Welcomes Gelderloos Intern

Friends of the Rouge welcomes Katie Arnold to the team as the new Orin and Char Gelderloos Environmental Leadership Intern. Katie is currently a junior studying environmental science at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. This internship, made possible through the generous support of Orin and Char Gelderloos, aims to expand Katie’s knowledge, exposure, and leadership experience in science, the environmental field, and the nonprofit sector.  Katie will have an opportunity to work across the organization with all staff, and be mentored by Dr. Gelderloos. Congratulations Katie!

Members of Friends of the Rouge: It’s Time to Vote!

It’s your time to vote and shape the future of your Friends of the Rouge. Members in good standing are invited to cast your vote for the 2024 Board of Directors. Please look for your ballot in your inbox now, or in your mailbox soon. For more information about the candidates and how to cast your vote, click the link below. 

Questions about your membership? You are welcome to email Lara at ledwards@therouge.org.

Job Opportunities

Others Hiring:

Clinton River Watershed Council: Communications & Development Manager

Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments: Water Quality Program Manager

Michigan State University Extension: Conservation Associate Ecologist,  Extension Educator – Integrated Water Resource, 

Upcoming Events

Sat. January 25 at 10 am: 2025 Stonefly Search

Partner Events

Sat. Nov 30 at 9 am
Detroit Bird Alliance: Belle Isle Winter Birding

Sat. Dec 7 at 9 am
Detroit Bird Alliance: Welcome to Birding Field Trip

Sun. Dec 15 at 1 pm
Grosse Ile Nature & Land Conservancy: Cold-Blooded Creatures

Tue. Jan 21 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Rouge River Advisory Council: RRAC Meeting (virtual)

Michigan Clean Water Corps: 2025 Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program

Izaak Walton League of America: Rivers and Roads: Impacts of Freshwater Salinization 

From your Operations Assistant, Allison

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