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Each June, Friends of the Rouge, in partnership with Rouge communities and other organizations, brings volunteers together from across the watershed to work toward the common goal of improving the Rouge River for generations to come. This annual event, known as Rouge Rescue, began in 1986 with volunteers removing large quantities of trash from the river. As river sites improved, public perception of the river shifted away from the thought that the river was just an open sewer and a place to dump trash. Today, much of the event is focused on river restoration and volunteers work to remove invasive plants from the river corridor, install native plantings and stabilize stream banks to improve the health of the river.
Rouge Rescue celebrated it’s 25th anniversary this year. I can’t imagine the few dedicated individuals who organized that first cleanup thought that in 25 years we would still be working to “Rescue the Rouge” today. There are many challenges to restoring an urban river and restoration does not come quick. Progress has been made over the past 25 years and the Rouge River is better because of it. Table 1 lists a few highlights from the past 25 years of Rouge Rescue.
The caption from this photo printed in the Observer & Eccentric in 1986 sums up what Rouge Rescue was all about for the first decade and a half or so—log jam removal. Gone are the days of ripping out jog jams and hauling the woody debris away. Today we recognize the value of wood in the river and manage large woody debris to reduce localized erosion and provide habitat for fish and other organisms (aka fish food).
Promoting restoration and stewardship of the Rouge River since 1986
Table 1: Highlights from the past 25 years of Rouge Rescue
Volunteer participation 49,601
Worksites 696
Cubic yards of trash/debris removed 46,300
Vehicles removed 61
Cubic yards of Invasive plants removed (since 2002) 492
Photos from FOTR archives: Left: A group of volunteers show off the work that had
been done. Right: A crowd of volunteers fill a dumpster with large woody debris.
Note the caption of this photo printed in the Observer and Eccentric Newspaper in 1986.
In 2011, Rouge Rescue attracted 1,550+ volunteers who participated in clean up and stewardship projects at 39 worksites in 25 communities across the Rouge River watershed. Table 2 lists site participation by activity for 2011. Twenty‐four sites worked to clean up trash from the river and surrounding natural areas. Invasive plant removal continues to be a popular Rouge Rescue activity with twenty‐two sites working to remove garlic mustard, dame’s rocket, phragmites, buckthorn and honeysuckle. Sixteen sites helped restore the watershed by planting native vegetation. The demise of the Ash trees in Southeast Michigan from the emerald ash borer resulted in 11 worksites managing log jams this year. This is up from 7 sites last year. Thirteen sites conducted educational activities.
A summary of the progress made during Rouge Rescue 2011 is described below and is listed in Table 3. The summary is a compilation of the data reported by the individual sites. Four sites did not provide detailed reports. As a result, the numbers listed below may underestimate the actual numbers. The numbers do represent the success of the event. Trash Removal: 146 cubic yards of trash and debris was removed, including a minimum of 21 tires, 11
shopping carts, 3 bicycles, 1 large appliance and furniture. Aristeo Construction removed an old truck from the floodplain in Eliza Howell Park and strategically placed large tree trunks to prevent future dumping. Invasive Plant Removal: 339 cubic yards of invasive plants were removed to restore the river corridor in parks and preserves across the watershed. The quantity of invasive plants removed was over two times that of trash. This is quite a change from Rouge Rescue events of the past! Native Plants Installed: 700 native wildflowers and grasses and 211 trees were planted to help reduce pollution caused by rain water. These plantings also improve wildlife habitat.
Sites removing trash 24
Sites removing invasive plants 22
Sites installing plantings 16
Number of sites planting:
Rain gardens 1
Riparian buffers 1
Native gardens/ prairies 7
Bio-swales 1
Trees 8
Sites managing wood in the river 11
Sites maintaining trails 6
Sites coordinating educational activities 13
Table 2: Site Participation by Activity
Table 3: Summary of the Progress Made by Task
Trash Removal Cubic yard of trash/debris 146 Tires 21 Shopping carts 11 Bicycles 3 Furniture & appliances 2 Vehicles 1
Invasive Plant Removal Cubic yard of invasive plants 339
Native Plants Installed Flowers/grasses 700 Trees/shrubs 211
Many sites have expanded the types of activities
they coordinate for Rouge Rescue.
Dame’s rocket is one example of a non‐native
invasive plant volunteers pull during Rouge Rescue.
Hooray for our site coordinators! We appreciate the
time you invest in planning and arranging projects for
Rouge Rescue work sites.
“Some of my favorite volunteer experiences were during Rouge Rescue. Every year, my dad, my brother, and I were always the muddiest and craziest volunteers in the river. The organizers always enjoyed seeing us working hard to remove garbage from the river. One year, we pulled out two or three cars. Another year, we found a bicycle, a lawn mower, and about seven shopping carts! The work was very rewarding!” ~Mekie Kukan, volunteer
Rouge Rescue site coordinators are an integral part of Rouge Rescue. Without them the event would not be possible.
These dedicated individuals spend time planning for and arranging activities, gathering supplies, recruiting volunteers
and, generally, doing everything necessary to run the event. Friends of the Rouge thanks these special individuals!
Sponsor support is also essential for the success of Rouge Rescue. Friends of the Rouge would like to thank our
returning sponsors for their continued support. These are: ITC Holdings, Denso International America, Aristeo
Construction, Waste Management, Marathon Petroleum Company and Atlas Specialty Bags. New sponsors this year
include the Alliance of Rouge Communities, Environmental Consulting and Technology, Quicken Loans, and Marine
Pollution Control. Friends of the Rouge is grateful to have the support from the Erb Family Foundation and funding
from the Rouge River National Wet Weather Demonstration Project.
Coordinator Helena Thornton uses a wagon to carry supplies
to the work site in Hines Park.
Site Coordinator, Larry Quarles and Rick Lewandowski from
Aristeo Construction discuss the logistics of removing a truck
from the woods in Detroit’s Eliza Howell Park.
Volunteers from Denso International America participated at 3 work sites
this year—the DENSO corporate campus, Beech Woods Recreation Center
and the Berberian Woods work sites in Southfield. Denso volunteers also
participated in a garlic mustard cook‐off the week before Rouge Rescue in
anticipation of the removal of the invasive plant.
Kesh Raizada (in yellow) coordinates the Meadows of
Canton site along with family, neighbors and co‐workers
from the Wayne County Public Service Department.
Our community partners provide many contributions—large and small. Friends of the Rouge is grateful for
all they do to help improve the Rouge River for Rouge Rescue and throughout the year.
Beverly Hills
Douglas Evans Nature Preserve
Coordinator: Erin Wilks, Village of Beverly Hills
# Volunteers: 22
Accomplishments:
Trash removal: 5 bags
Invasive plant removal: 20 bags of Garlic Mustard,
Dame's Rocket and Honeysuckle spp.
Other activities: Public Education Activities
Birmingham
Linden Park
Coordinator: Connie Folk, City of Birmingham
# Volunteers: 22
Accomplishments:
Invasive plant removal: 120 bags of Garlic Mustard,
Dame's Rocket and Buckthorn spp. in 1/4 acre area
Bloomfield Hills
Cranbrook Insitute of Science
Coordinator: Lisa Appel, Cranbrook Institute of Science
# Volunteers: 55
Accomplishments:
Invasive plant removal: 41 bags of Garlic Mustard
and Dame's Rocket in 1/4 acre area
New plantings: 100 flowers and grasses in an
existing Rain garden
Other activities: Rain Garden Maintenance and
Expansion
Local groups: CIS, Cranbrook LITE Club and Boy
Scouts
E.L. Johnson Nature Center
Coordinators: Dan Badgely, E.L. Johnson Nature
Center
Noah Mehalski, Bloomfield Township
# Volunteers: 44
Accomplishments:
Trash removal: 20 bags of trash removed from ¼
acre area
Invasive plant removal: 2 bags of Garlic Mustard
and Dame's Rocket removed from 100 sq. ft. area
New plantings: 10 trees/shrubs were planted
Other activities: Trail maintenance and woodchip
installation
Local groups: Ducks Unlimited
Canton
Lower Rouge Recreational Trail
Coordinator: Greg Pyle, Canton Township
# Volunteers: 202
Accomplishments:
Trash removal: 5 cubic yards plus shopping carts
New plantings: 40 trees and 6 flats flowers and
grasses to create a 2,000 sq. ft native plant demon‐
stration garden
Other activities: Public Education Activities and
Nature Walks
Meadows of Canton
Coordinator: Kesh Raizada, Wayne County Public Services
Department
# Volunteers: 107
Accomplishments:
Trash removal: 7 bags of trash removed from a
mile of river
Other activities: Public Education Activities and
Nature Walks, including mercury thermometer
exchange, bird house building, bug hunt and storm
drain stenciling Local groups: Meadows of Canton residents,
Wayne County Dept Public Services
Dearborn
Gateway Trail
Coordinator: Thomas Trimble, Christ Church Volunteer
# Volunteers: 16
Accomplishments:
Trash removal: 6 bags
Other activities: Trail Maintenance
Local groups: Christ Church‐Dearborn, University of
Michigan‐ Dearborn Field Biology Students and
Sacred Heart Parish
Garlic Mustard Pull Together
Coordinators: Rick Simek, University of Michigan‐Dearborn,
Environmental Interpretive Center
Karen Marzonie, Henry Ford Estate
Martha Gruelle, Lakeplain Cluster of the
Stewardship Network
Cyndi Ross, Friends of the Rouge
# Volunteers: 55
Accomplishments:
Invasive plant removal: ~ 100 bags
The Henry Ford Estate
Coordinator: Karen Marzonie, Henry Ford Estate
# Volunteers: 16
Accomplishments:
Invasive plant removal: 10 bags of Garlic Mustard
from ¼ acre area
New plantings: 190 native plugs were planted in a
1,200 sq. ft. native plant demonstration garden
Other activities: Nature walks, Public Education
Activities including woodchip spread on 200’ of
trails
Local groups: Henry Ford Estate volunteers
Dearborn Heights
Parkland Park
Coordinator: Steven Roberts, Dearborn Heights Watershed
Stewards Commission
# Volunteers: 48
Accomplishments:
Trash removal: 10 bags
Invasive plant removal: 16 bags of Garlic Mustard
New plantings: Tree planting and 1,000 sq. ft.
native plant demonstration garden
Other activities: Public Education Activities
Volunteers weed the native plant grow zone in Parkland
Park in Dearborn Heights
Volunteers stop to learn about the local wildlife at the
Canton Lower Recreation Trail site.
Hines Drive at Outer Drive
Coordinator: Helena Thornton, Dearborn Heights Resident
# Volunteers: 12
Accomplishments:
Trash removal: 9 bags
Invasive plant removal: 5 bags of Garlic Mustard
New plantings: Tree planting
Other activities: Woody Debris Management
Local groups: Wastenotbiz,LLC
Detroit
Eliza Howell Park
Coordinator: Larry Quarles, Friends of Eliza Howell Park
# Volunteers: 23
Accomplishments:
Trash removal: 15 bags plus 1 truck and 4 tires
were removed from a 2,640 sq. ft. area
Other activities: Weeded 4 large planting boxes,
spread new wood chips on nature trail, cut grass
around walking trail and large tree trunks were put
in place to stop the dumping of vehicles and debris
into the Rouge River
Local groups: Aristeo Construction, Friends of Eliza
Howell Park, Brightmoor Alliance and Friends of
Rouge Park
Fordson Island
Coordinator: Marina Chavez‐Camarena, Southwest Detroit
Environmental Vision
# Volunteers: 20
Accomplishments:
Trash removal: 30 cubic yards including tires,
mattresses, pieces of old furniture, old toys, glass
windows, random bags of trash and some brush
Invasive plant removal: 20 cubic yards of phragmi‐
ties and tree‐of‐heaven from a 70 sq. ft. area
Local groups: Marathon Petroleum Company,
Marine Pollution Control, WSU Students
Rouge Park
Coordinator: Sally Petrella, Friends of Rouge Park
# Volunteers: 109
Accomplishments:
Trash removal: 33 bags removed from a 30,000 sq.
ft. area, including 1 tire, front car bumper and
plastic bottles and cans
Invasive plant removal: 34 bags of garlic mustard
removed from a 28,000 sq. ft. area
New plantings: 24 wildflowers and grasses were
installed to create a native plant demonstration
garden
Other activities: 3,000 ft. of walking trail cleaned of
overhanging vegetation. Discovered and cleaned up
meth lab along bike trail in woods.
Local groups: Friends of Rouge Park, Detroit Aero‐
Modelers, City of Detroit, Dtown Farm and Buffalo
Soldiers
Farmington
Shiawassee Park
Coordinator: Martha Ross, Friends of the Rouge Volunteer
# Volunteers: 21
Accomplishments:
Trash removal: 4 bags
Invasive plant removal: 9 cubic yards of Garlic
Mustard, Dame's Rocket, Buckthorn spp and Honey‐
suckle spp in a 8,000 sq. ft. area
New plantings: Expanded an existing riparian buffer
by 50 sq. ft. with 40 native wildflowers
Other activities: Public Education Activities
Local groups: Boy Scouts and Church groups
Farmington Hills
Heritage Park
Coordinator: Randy Lovett, City of Farmington Hills
# Volunteers: 36
Accomplishments:
Invasive plant removal: 80 cubic yards of Garlic
Mustard, Buckthorn spp., and Honeysuckle spp.
from a 43,560 sq. ft. area
New plantings: 6 trees
Other activities: Nature Walks, Public Education
Activities and Woody Debris Management
Local groups: Planning Commission and Local
Political Leaders
Oakland Community College
Coordinator: Mike Kadrofske, Oakland Community College
# Volunteers: 28
Accomplishments:
Trash removal: 32 bags plus 2 tires, a mailbox,
tennis balls, a basketball and styrofoam removed
from 1/4 mile section at Minnow Drain Pond
Livonia
Coventry Gardens
Coordinator: Chuck Eastman, Coventry Gardens Improve‐
ment Association
# Volunteers: 12
Accomplishments:
Trash removal: 8 bags plus 1 bike and clothing
Invasive plant removal: 17 bags of Garlic Mustard
New plantings: Planted a 25 sq. ft. native plant
demonstration garden
Other activities: Woody Debris Management
Trinity Church
Coordinator: David Weigel, Trinity Church
# Volunteers: 27
Accomplishments:
Trash removal: 32 bags plus 2 tires, car parts, 2
bicycles and a guard rail removed
Invasive plant removal: 2 bags of Garlic Mustard
removed
Local groups: Trinity Church and Redford Union
High School
Volunteers spread woodchips to maintain the trail in Eliza
Howell Park in Detroit.
Volunteers from Marathon, Marine Pollution Control and the
surrounding neighborhood work near Fordson Island
It wouldn’t be Rouge Rescue without Aristeo Construction
removing a vehicle from the river or floodplain! Thanks to
Aristeo, 24 1/2 vehicles have been removed, since 2006.
Young volunteers help clean up trash at the Fordson
Island worksite.
Golf/Foch Nature Preserve
Coordinator: Douglas Moore, City of Livonia
# Volunteers: 26
Accomplishments:
Trash removal: 25 bags plus 2 tires, 3 shopping
carts, 1 stove, plywood, cinder blocks, landscape
debris and a baby seat
New plantings: 100 trees over 1,000 sq. ft.
Other activities: Woody Debris Management, 1 log
jam cleaned of trash
Local groups: City of Livonia, area residents
Northville
Allen Drive Park
Coordinator: Janine Bauchat, Northville Resident
No data provided
Northville Twp.
Bennett Arboretum
Coordinator: Jordyn Salmon, The Office of Commissioner
Laura Cox
No data provided
Linear Park
Coordinator: Jill Rickard, Northville Township
# Volunteers: 30
Accomplishments:
Other activities: Children’s Educational Activities
Stonewater Community
Coordinator: Lora Wright, Stonewater Community Resident
# Volunteers: 13
Accomplishments:
Trash removal: 5 bags plus a “Lumber for Sale” sign
Invasive plant removal: Phragmites control
New plantings: 6 trees were planted
Other activities: Woody Debris Management, 1 log
jam cleaned and opened
Local groups: Boy Scouts
Northville Recreation Area
Coordinator: Brady Tyburski, Boy Scout
# Volunteers: 31
Accomplishments:
Trash removal: 12 bags plus boards, pallet, base‐
balls, beer bottles
Other activities: Woody Debris Management
Local groups: Boy Scout Troop 777
Novi
Rotary Park
Coordinator: Wendy DuVall, City of Novi
# Volunteers: 57
Accomplishments:
Trash removal: 16 bags & 30 cubic yards of debris
including bottles, cans, shoes, plastic grocery bags,
foam, rope and a chair cushion
Invasive plant removal: 6 bags and 10 cubic yards
of Garlic Mustard from a 1 mile area
New plantings: Planted 5 Flats flowers in a bio‐
swale
Local groups: Toyota and Rotary
Plymouth
Liberty Trash Grab
Coordinators: Mary Jo Cothery and Joe Walters, Liberty
Street Brewing Company
Sue Thompson, Friends of the Rouge Board of
Directors
# Volunteers: 10
Accomplishments:
Trash removal: 8 bags (42 1/2 pounds!)
Lion’s Club Park
Coordinator: Adam Gerlach, City of Plymouth
# Volunteers: 80
Accomplishments:
Trash removal: 12 bags and 37 cubic yards of trash
removed from 65,000 sq. ft. area, including bricks,
concrete, stumps, dead trees and root balls
Other activities: Woody Debris Management and
Storm Drain Stenciling
Local groups: Ward Church, Plymouth First United
Methodist Church, Cub Scout Pack 773, Girl Scout
Brownies 40392, Plymouth Lion’s Club, Bets of
Plymouth and National Miss America
Plymouth Twp.
Lake Pointe Soccer Park
Coordinator: Susan Vignoe, Plymouth Township
# Volunteers: 53
Accomplishments:
New plantings: 27 trees/shrubs and 19 wildflowers
were planted in a 1,000 sq. ft. area
Other activities: Public Education Activities, includ‐
ing 60 Storm drain markings
Local groups: AISIN, Boy Scouts, Spalding Decker
Assoc. Co.
Redford
Jane Addams Elementary
Coordinator: Jennifer Lawson, Redford Twp. Resident
No data provided
Southfield
Berberian Woods
Coordinators: Gail Barber, Southfield Resident
Heather Huffstutler, Six Rivers Regional Land
Conservancy
# Volunteers: 20
Accomplishments:
Trash removal: 1 tire
Invasive plant removal: 60 bags of Garlic Mustard
and Dame's Rocket from 16 acre area
Local groups: DENSO and Six Rivers Regional Land
Conservancy
DENSO
Coordinator: Melissa Smith, DENSO International America
# Volunteers: 111
Accomplishments:
Trash removal: 6 bags plus 2 tires, 2 shopping carts,
2 sheets of metal, grating and a metal table
Invasive plant removal: 139 bags of Garlic Mustard
and Dame's Rocket
Other activities: Woody Debris Management 1 log
jam cleaned and opened
Volunteers at the Allen Drive Park site plant a native
wildflower planting and weed an existing prairie planting
along the Middle Rouge in Northville
Pulling garlic mustard is a family affair at the Berberian
Woods Nature Preserve
Stonewater Community volunteers gettin’ ready to work
Beech Woods Recreation Center
Coordinator: Brandy Siedlaczek, City of Southfield
# Volunteers: 53
Accomplishments:
Other activities: Woody Debris Management
Local groups: DENSO, Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints, Southfield Korean Presbyterian
Church, Madonna Ecological Volunteer Organization
Superior Twp
Kosch Headwaters Preserve
Coordinator: Scott Tyrrell, Southeast Michigan Land Conser‐
vancy
# Volunteers: 9
Accomplishments:
Invasive plant removal: 8 bags of Garlic Mustard
Walled Lake
Mercer Beach Party
Coordinator: Lisa McGill, City of Walled Lake
# Volunteers: not a volunteer event
Accomplishments:
Other activities: Public Education Event
Wayne
Dynamite Park
Coordinator: Kurt Kuban, Wayne Resident
# Volunteers: 55
Accomplishments:
Trash removal: 10 bags plus 6 tires, a go‐cart, lots
of bottles and cans, a cooler, waste basket and
various containers
Invasive plant removal: Japanese Knapweed
New plantings: 259 native wildflowers to create a
native plant demonstration garden
Other activities: Woody Debris Management and
Nature Walks. Cleaned and opened dozens of log
jams to open canoe route. Also built 7 benches
along walking trail and did some trail maintenance.
Local groups: City of Wayne, Kiwanis Club, Rotary
Club
Goudy Park
Coordinator: Amy Morse, Hoover Elementary School
# Volunteers: 56
Accomplishments:
New plantings: 258 native wildflowers were
planted to create a native plant demonstration
garden along the Lower Rouge
Local groups: Hoover Elementary Students, Friends
of the Rouge
Westland
Holliday Nature Preserve
Coordinators: Kevin Buford, City of Westland
Bill Craig, Holliday Nature Preserve Association
# Volunteers: 31
Accomplishments:
Trash removal: 30 bags and 6 shopping carts
Invasive plant removal: 3 truckloads of chipped
honeysuckle (approximately 36 cubic yards)
Other activities: Woody Debris Management
West Bloomfield
West Bloomfield Nature Preserve
Coordinator: Laurel Zoet, West Bloomfield Township
# Volunteers: 39
Accomplishments:
Invasive plant removal: 9 bags of Dame's Rocket
Other activities: Public Education and Nature Walks
Local groups: West Bloomfield Residents
Hauling a shopping cart out of the Holliday Nature
Preserve at the end of the day.
Hoover Elementary students plant a native garden near
the banks of the Lower Rouge at Goudy Park in Wayne Volunteers work to remove honeysuckle, a non‐native
invasive shrub, from the Holliday Nature Preserve.
Students plant native wildflowers at Goudy Park
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed,
it is the only thing that ever has.”
~ Margaret Mead Twenty‐five years ago a few dedicated individuals teamed up to organize Friends of the Rouge and held the first Rouge Rescue to raise public awareness of the troubled river flowing through the most populated communities in Michigan. This led to a quarter century of watershed education and stewardship of the Rouge River!
A few familiar faces line up in sequence to show
off their t‐shirts from 1987 to 1990.
The Rouge River has come a long way—what
was once thought of as a dumping ground and
an open sewer, today provides recreation
opportunities close to home.
To learn about sponsorship and volunteer opportunities contact
Cyndi Ross at 313.792.9621 or visit us online at www.therouge.org.
Promoting restoration and stewardship of the Rouge River since 1986