Rouge Rundown - January 11, 2023 - Frog & Toad Survey | Board Meetings | Winter Moss and More!
Rouge Rundown – January 11, 2023 – Frog & Toad Survey | Board Meetings | Winter Moss and More!
January 11, 2023 ROUGE RUNDOWN
Curious Who’s Calling? Your Frog & Toad Survey Training is Here!
You are invited to sign up for the 2023 Frog & Toad Survey! Experience the amazing calls of the wild near your home and help protect your local wetland.
Part 1: Intro to Rouge Wetlands, Frogs & Toads and their Calls—Saturday February 11, 10:00-11:30 am
This fun and informative workshop is open to all Friends curious about local Frogs and Toads. This workshop is required for all those considering survey participation for the first time.
Part 2: Survey Instructions—Saturday February 25, 10:00-11:30 am
This workshop is recommended for survey participants and required for all first-time Frog & Toad surveyors!
A river full of thanks to you, amazing Friends! You raised a record-breaking $73,000 for a better Rouge River. Your kindness makes vital, local, River action and impact in 2023 possible! Thank you for being amazing. And thank you on behalf of your River, and your fish, frog, plant, butterfly, songbird, tree, and bug friends!
Cheers to your Friend, longtime Frog & Toad surveyor and 2023 Rouge Cruise Ticket Winner: Cheryl Hiatt! Extra thanks to anonymous donors and Bosch for your giving matches and Rouge Cruise ticket offer!
New Year’s Resolutions in Your Yard
Have you ever thought about making resolutions for your yard? Here are New Year’s Resolutions you can make to keep your Rouge River healthy in 2023: pledge to choose healthier lawn and landscape products, commit to plant at least 3 (more) native plants, sign-up for an upcoming class.
Take action on one or more resolution, then feel great knowing that the changes you make will benefit your Rouge River and all its inhabitants – including you!
Friends Salute Rouge River Advocate, Senator Stabenow
Friends of the Rouge owes a debt of gratitude to United States Senator Debbie Stabenow for being a wonderful friend to the Rouge. The announcement last week by Senator Stabenow that she will not seek re-election in 2024 means the retirement of a great Rouge River champion who brought in much needed river cleanup dollars. Senator Stabenow has been a steadfast advocate for Great Lakes Restoration. She authored the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) in 2010 that has brought over $2.9 billion to the Great Lakes, $700 million to Michigan.
You are invited to join FOTR’s 2023 Board Meetings to learn more about the work you make possible. Meetings are held on Wednesday evenings from 5:00-6:30pm. View the calendar below and register to attend!
Are You a Rain Garden Maven? You Can Be! Become a Master Rain Gardener
Protect your home against flooding & help birds, & butterflies with a RAIN garden! Interact with experts who will share *everything* about rain gardens. Learn what works and what doesn’t. Ask questions! Visit a real rain garden! Earn your certification. Low and no cost pricing are available. Register by Feb. 9 for early bird pricing.
On a winter day, a patch of green moss brightens my path by the river. Although recent storms have left a sad trail of fallen trees along the crumbling bank, a soft carpet of moss promises rebirth and new growth. Mosses are some of the most adaptable of all plants.
Capable of surviving extreme conditions, mosses often serve as early colonizers for the rebuilding of damaged ecosystems. Like Mother Nature’s gentle band aide, mosses cover and protect.
During storms, urban rivers suffer from the vast amounts of stormwater that rush off surrounding hardscapes. Such rapid run-off greatly increases erosion and often carries a multitude of harmful contaminants. In this new year, as we work to mitigate harmful run-off, let us be like the moss and offer a gentle, healing hand to our Rouge River.
