You’re Invited: 2026 Speaker Series
As we celebrate 40 years of restoring, protecting, and enhancing the Rouge River watershed, we invite you to join us for our first quarterly speaker series – A River of Knowledge – with four afternoons of learning, connection, and inspiration. Each gathering brings together passionate speakers and curious minds, offering a chance to deepen your shared commitment to the Rouge River.
Our friends at Fair Lane: home of Clara and Henry Ford, will be hosting all 4 presentations in their newly renovated Pool Room.
Tickets are $20 per presentation and include admission to that session along with light refreshments. — choose the sessions that inspire you most and join us for one, or enjoy them all!
Let’s gather by the river, learn together, and celebrate the journey ahead.
Only 100 tickets are available for each session. Reserve your seat today!
Join the Stonefly Search
You are invited to become a Rouge Community Scientist and 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.
Learn All About Rain Gardens!
Join your Friends at this one-hour introductory presentation to learn about rain gardens and how you can build one in your own yard. Rain gardens reduce neighborhood flooding, basement backups, and pollution flowing into the Rouge River. Held in the auditorium at the Henry Ford Centennial Library, this workshop is free and open to the public. No supplies are necessary, but feel free to bring note-taking materials if you are planning on taking notes.
The Frogs are Calling – YOU
Join your Friends in monitoring local amphibian populations by volunteering for the annual Frog & Toad Survey! Each volunteer will be assigned a quarter square mile survey block area that includes wetlands. On warm, damp evenings from March through July, volunteers will independently visit their assigned survey block after dark several times each month and listen for the callings of frogs and toads.
Volunteers will learn to identify the breeding calls of the seven frogs and one toad found in the watershed. All new surveyors must attend the training workshop on Saturday, February 21st, 2026, from 10 am – 12 pm at the Livonia Civic Center Library, 32777 Five Mile Rd, Livonia, MI 48154. Returning surveyor attendance is recommended, but not required.
Become a Master Rain Gardener – Live Online!
Design your own rain garden step-by-step during class. Become the neighborhood expert!
Protect your home against flooding & help birds, & butterflies with a RAIN garden! You will learn *everything* you need to know to create your own rain garden. That includes lessons learned from more than 2,000 rain gardens built by homeowners just like you! Learn what works and what doesn’t. Ask questions in our live class! Visit a rain garden in person! Neighborhood virtual breakout rooms and Facebook group for discussion/homework. Earn your certification – including a t-shirt and sign – by building your own rain garden or adopting a public rain garden.
LOCATION: LIVE VIRTUAL Classroom with In-Person Tours
DATES: Five Thursdays, Feb 26, March 5, 12, 19, 26, 2026.
TIME: 10am – Noon. Optional office hours 9-9:45am.
Your 2026 Paddle Trip Schedule
Friends of the Rouge is excited to get back on the water in 2026, with 12 scheduled paddle trips. We are adding two additional trips: a Learn to Paddle event at Ford Field Park, and another Industrial Paddle Trip that will launch from Fort Street Bridge Park. We look forward to seeing you out there on the Rouge River in the 2026 season!
March 21: End of Winter Paddle Trip, Ford Field Park
April 25: Learn to Paddle, Ford Field Park
May 9- Spring Birding Paddle
May 16: Pride Paddle, Ford Field Park
June 6: Canton River Days Paddle Trip
June 27: National Canoe Day Paddle Trip
July 18: Black Pack Paddle Trip, Ford Field Park
August 8: Inkster Summer Magic Paddle Trip and Health Fair
August 22: Industrial Paddle Trip at Fort Street Bridge Park, Detroit
September 26: Industrial Paddle Trip at Kessey Fieldhouse, Melvindale
October 3: Fall Birding Paddle
October 17: Haunted Paddle, Ford Field Park
Registration for paddle events will open in 2026!
De-Icers: Too Much of a Good Thing?
Winter is here once again and with that, a lot of ice and SALT. Salt and other de-icers are important products we use to keep our roadways and sidewalks safe, but they are also harming our Rouge River and the life in it. Just like everything else, that salty water makes its way – directly or indirectly through storm drains – to the river. Click the button below to learn how you can be can keep both your sidewalks and Rouge River safe this winter.
It’s Time to Vote!
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 2026 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? Please email Liz at elewandowski@therouge.org
Rouge River Supporters
A better River is made possible thanks to these
supporters and in thanks to caring Friends like you
Upcoming Events
Saturday, Jan 24 at 10 AM: Stonefly Search
Saturday, Feb 21 at 11 AM: February Dearborn Rain Garden 101 Workshop
Saturday, Feb 21 at 10 Am: 2026 Frog & Toad Survey Training Workshop
Thursdays from Feb 26 – March 26: Become a Master Rain Gardener
Partner Events
Thursday, December 18, 2025 at 11:00 AM ET
Planet Detroit: Live Data Center Discussion
December 20, 12:30 PM
Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge: “Zaagiing” Mural Unveiling Celebration
January 20 – March 11, 2026
MSU Extension Natural Resources: Introduction to Lakes Online
January 24, 1 PM
Detroit Bird Alliance: Eliza Howell Park – Identifying Trees in Winter
Michigan Lakes and Streams Association: What’s the big deal with data centers?, find out more HERE
Job Opportunities
Friends of the Rouge Development Director
Michigan Sea Grant: Environmental Internship Program
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.