Welcome to 2026

Whew! We can safely say that 2025 was a year of challenges. Forces beyond our imagination challenged us to think differently about everything – about the way nonprofits are viewed by the general public, about the ways we show up for your Rouge River, even about the ways we show up for ourselves. Throughout these ups and downs, the thing that remained constant was you, Friends. You showed us that your Rouge is more than “just a river” – it is a beacon. A call to hope and a reminder of what can happen when everyday citizens like you care about your piece of the world. There is so much good mixed in with the challenges of 2025 and I’m reminded that we’ve been in these situations before, and we came out the other side stronger, more resilient, and more determined to speak up for your Rouge River.

In spite of the challenges, 2025 was an incredible season of generosity! Together, you helped raise $27,500 on Giving Tuesday, which brings us within reach of purchasing a new van to safely transport volunteers, students, and gear across the watershed. You also contributed an inspiring $51,800 through our year-end campaign, directly strengthening the programs you love—from river monitoring and restoration to community education and stewardship. We’re deeply grateful for your commitment to protecting and celebrating the Rouge. Your support truly moves this work forward.

2026 is a year to celebrate the amazing history of this organization. Friends of the Rouge will celebrate our 40th anniversary, our “ruby” anniversary, this year (our date of incorporation is April 17, 1986). There are so many celebrations planned for you this year and hope you’ll save the date and join us for as many as you can. First up is the “A River Of Knowledge” quarterly speaker series, co-hosted with our friends at Fair Lane, Home of Henry and Clara Ford and sponsored by our friends at Carmeuse. Mark your calendars for the following Sundays: January 18th, April 26th, July 26th, and October 25th. Tickets are $20 for each event and are available at the link below – hurry, seats are limited!

Additionally, please save the date for a Science on Screen collaboration with the Penn Theatre in Plymouth on March 24th where you will have the opportunity to screen the documentary River (2021) and enjoy a post-film discussion to celebrate World Water Day.

Finally, we’ll round out the year with your biennial Heart of the Rouge: Our Ruby Anniversary celebration on August 13th. The event will be a time for you to look back on the past 40 years, celebrate all that Friends of the Rouge has accomplished, and set the stage for the next 40+ years of working to restore, protect, and enhance your hometown Rouge River. We have some big surprises in store and more information will be forthcoming so mark your calendars – you will not want to miss this event!

Throughout the year, the events and programming that you’ve grown to know and love will continue. Your Restoration team has many rain gardens and native plantings in design and will be looking for volunteers to help plant, weed, and enhance these sites throughout the spring, summer, and fall. 

Monitoring is gearing up for your winter Stonefly Search, brought to you by Mercedes Benz Financial Services, on January 24th. You can also look forward to both the Spring and Fall bug hunts, fish monitoring during the summer, the return of your beloved Frog & Toad survey, as well as new opportunities to expand your water quality monitoring skills. 

Finally, your Trails program is eagerly anticipating the grand opening of the Fort Street Bridge Park Phase II, including Detroit’s first universally accessible kayak launch on your River as well as the groundbreaking of Phase II of your Rouge Gateway Greenway in Dearborn. Also, the dates for your 2026 Paddle Trips have been announced and we’re especially excited for the new “learn to paddle” event and expanded opportunities for paddling the industrial channel!

While 2025 brought challenges, together we rose up and faced them head on, working to create a future where clean water and natural resources are celebrated, protected, and constant. The author and activist Arundhati Roy wrote “Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.” As we begin 2026, will you join us in anticipating and welcoming another world for the Rouge?

Sincerely,

Ashley Flintoff

Executive Director

Friends of the Rouge