Protect your home against flooding AND help birds, bees, and butterflies with a RAIN GARDEN! Get oriented and get going through the FREElivestream lunch & learn on Thursday, July 28th at Noon. Door prizes include a free rain barrel and a free consultation!
Want to expand your knowledge of the environment and restoration by assisting with stormwater management? Want to help improve community green space that supports wildlife? We are hiring TWO restoration assistants, a part-time, hourly position. Deadline to apply: July 31, 2022.
Did you know? Fall is one of the best times to plant! Save the date for October 1st and join Friends of the Rouge at the Keep Growing Detroit farm near Eastern Market in Detroit for the final 2022 rain barrel and native plant pre-order sale. You'll also be able to shop for end-of-season bargains from several participating native plant nurseries.
Over two dozen paddlers met on July 16th for the Friends of the Rouge and Outdoor Afro Paddle Trip in Dearborn. Outdoor Afro hosts events that bring people of color together to experience and enjoy outdoor recreation activities. "We had a great turnout,'' said Candace Calloway, Event Organizer for Outdoor Afro Detroit. "The trip was awesome, so peaceful, and we had a great time."
The next paddle event will be on Saturday, September 17 along the Rouge Industrial Channel.
FOTR seeks to examine all parts of the Rouge River watershed. As you can guess, some spots are harder to access than others. DNR fish biologist John Buszkiewicz (above right) arranged a ride for your Friends Team on the DNR boomshocking boat to access some of the deeper parts of the river. John and fish technician Dennis Tar (above left) worked alongside Friends to sample fish from the concrete channel, the oxbow and just below the Fair Lane Estate Dam and soon-to-be-opened fishway. Fish species seldom seen upstream were found and important data was collected on how fish are faring in this part of the river as water quality improves. Thank you, John and thank you Friends for making this vital work possible!
Students from the Environmental Health Research-to-Action program—sponsored through University of Michigan - Dearborn—met at Ford Field to explore water quality testing with Friends' staff members, Erin and Sam. Twenty high schoolers and next gen leaders gathered River samples to measure pH, nitrate, and phosphate levels and measure the health of your Rouge River.
You are warmly invited to Friends of the Rouge's NEW fundraising event - in lieu of the Rouge Cruise - the Heart of the Rouge!
Enjoy delicious food, local brews and music by the Michigan Philharmonic Jazz Trio as you experience the newly restored, former all-woman's factory, the Phoenix Mill!
Looking for at-home river education this summer? Become a Rouge River Detective and explore local environmental issues in your community while working to solve them! The Friends of the Rouge Explore the Rouge activity has six self-paced learning campaigns that run off the WeSpire gaming platform. It’s perfect for young folks and lifelong learners- Join the fun for FREE!
YOUR VOICE MATTERS: Submit your perspective regarding water quality changes in the Rouge River to Alliance of Rouge Communities to help direct future activities. You are also entered for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card just by completing the survey!
