You are Invited: Free Film Series at The Penn Theater in Plymouth! Mark your calendars! You are invited to join Plastics Oceans and Friends at the Rouge for a special film series in honor of World Water Day at Plymouth’s historic Penn Theater. Thursday, March 21, 7pm: The Erie Situation – followed by a post-screening discussion Friday, March 22, 7pm: Wall-E Saturday, March 23, 7pm: Wall-E Sunday, March 24, 5pm: Wall-E
Friends of the Rouge will be present for every screening of this special free series. See you at the movies! The Penn Theater 760 Penniman Avenue, Plymouth, MI 48170 734.453.0870 |
Public Hearing April 4 for Proposed Salem Township WWTP: Make Your Voice Count The Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), Water Resources Division (WRD) will hold a public hearing and information session regarding the proposed New Use NPDES Permit No. MI0060338 to Salem Township. April 4th 6 PM: Public Information Session
April 4th 7 PM: Public Hearing to seek additional public input Location: Northridge Church at 49555 North Territorial Road, Plymouth, MI 48170
The Salem Township Urban Service District Wastewater Treatment Plant is to be located at the southwest corner of Napier Road and M-14, Salem, MI 48175 in Washtenaw County. In building this plant, Salem Township proposes to dump 840,000 gallons/day of effluent into the headwaters of Fellows Creek, a healthy headwater stream that flows into the Lower Rouge.
Concerned residents are encouraged to attend the hearing, submit comments or contact Tom Braun at BraumT2@michigan.gov or 517-331-7377. |
It’s the End of Winter Paddle Trip!
Join your Friends for a self-return paddle trip from Ford Field Park celebrate the end of Winter! The event is Saturday March 23 from 9:30 AM to 12 PM. Paddlers have the option to rent a canoe or kayak or bring their own boat. Please note, fees are due in advance for all attendees. Register today! New to paddling? While this event is for experienced paddlers, future events will be a great opportunity for you to experience a rouge trip for the first time! Visit the link below for more information about upcoming Water Trail Events. |
You are Invited: Update on Wilcox Lake and Phoenix Lake
The awaited Wilcox Lake Area of Concern Project has begun to mobilize for dredging and habitat restoration to begin this spring. This project will be a continuation of a dedicated effort in cleaning up the Rouge River and revitalizing the health of Rouge flora and fauna for the benefit of all.
Join the Alliance of Rouge Communities and local municipalities on March 28th at 7:00 pm for an update on the Restoration Projects for Wilcox Lake and Phoenix Lake. The meeting will be held at Plymouth Township Hall, 9955 N. Haggerty Rd. Plymouth, MI. |
Celebrate Earth Day with Friends Do more in 2024 for our Earth! Even though Earth Day is one day (April 22), there are events all week for you to learn about, connect with, and celebrate nature all around you. Fri. April 19 Noon to 1pm: Level Up Your Yard webinar
Sat. April 20 9am to noon: Earth Day Cleanup at Fort St Bridge Park 10am to 2pm: Earth Day at PARC 10am to 3pm: Spring Bug Hunt
Mon. April 22 7 to 8pm: Southfield Rain Gardens 101 (in-person and virtual) |
Fall in Love With Your Yard This Spring
Do you have Spring fever? The Rouge Store is ready for you! Select and pre-order native plants, rain barrels, composters, and more for pick-up on Saturday May 18 at Canton DPW! SPRING into action now for garden products and services and do more for you, your yard, and your Rouge River in 2024! Order before March 25th and use WorldWaterDay2024 at checkout for 5% off all rouge store items Upcoming Order Deadlines:
Mail Order Plants: Fri. March 29 (shipped directly to you in June) Pick Up Plants: Mon. April 29 (pickup in Canton on May 18th) Pick Up Rain Barrels + Composters: Mon. May 6 (pickup in Canton on May 18th) FOTR members: don’t forget to use your discount code at checkout for 10% off! Not a member yet? Join today!
Not sure if you’re a member? Contact Lara – ledwards@therouge.org |
Rain Garden Education with FOTR at the Novi Home & Garden Show! April is Lawn and Garden Month – a great time to plan what you want your yard to look like this spring and how your yard can help your Rouge River! Looking for ideas? Friends of the Rouge will be at the at the Garden Stage on Friday, April 5th at 5pm at the Novi Home and Garden Show at the Suburban Collection Showplace to educate community members all about rain gardens! Come learn all you need to know about managing stormwater on your property with the power of native plants. |
Mistaken Identity? The Native Bowfin and the Invasive Snakehead Fish
Earlier this week your Friends’ Team received reports of dead fish in the Rouge River. Folks from EGLE and MDNR went to investigate and found a large number of fish that had been intentionally killed with a bow and arrow. The dead fish were a native species to the Rouge River, called bowfin. Bowfins play an essential role in maintaining balance in freshwater food webs by controlling overpopulation of smaller forage fish, which improves the overall health of aquatic ecosystems.
These fish can be easily confused for an invasive lookalike, snakehead, which has not been detected in the Great Lakes Region nor the Rouge River to date. The best way to tell a native bowfin apart from a snakehead is the following: bowfin have a much shorter anal fin than snakehead, and males and juveniles will have a characteristic black spot at the base of the tail. It is the hope that this incident was a case of mistaken identity. If a snakehead is found, please report it to Lucas Nathan (MDNR) at nathanl@michigan.gov.
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Happy World Frog Day to You!
Like canaries in the coalmine, amphibians are sensitive indicators of habitat quality. Their presence or absence can be used to assess wetland health. Wetlands are so important to your urban watershed! They absorb and filter stormwater, which helps protect and clean the river. Wetlands also provide critical wildlife habitat. The presence of many frog and toad species is an indication of good wetland habitat. In the Rouge River Watershed there are seven species of frogs and one toad species.
Early reports from the “Frog & Toad Patrol” – your amazing FOTR volunteer Frog and Toad surveyors – have shared the following calls: – chorus frogs near the fish hatchery in Northville
– leopard frogs, wood frogs, chorus frogs, & spring peepers in Maybury State Park in Northville – chorus frogs & spring peepers along Johnson Creek – spring peepers & chorus frogs in Plymouth Township |
Clean Rivers and Lakes for All
The Clinton River Watershed Council, Friends of the Rouge, and the Huron River Watershed Council are pleased to announce the Rain Catchers Collective, a joint effort to help residents and communities in southeast Michigan become part of the clean water solution through proven rain collection practices.
The Rain Catchers Collective emphasizes the advantages of clean water for business, recreation, and the environment. Partners envision resilient and prosperous towns in southeast Michigan that are equipped with tools to better implement green stormwater infrastructure. By working together, our partnership organizations are sharing resources to provide services and products for meeting the growing popularity of capturing stormwater in yards and public spaces. |
| From Your Friend, Sam Education & Monitoring Coordinator |
A better River is made possible thanks to these supporters & in thanks to caring Friends like you |
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