THE DETROIT RIVER INTERNATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Transformation of an Industrial Brownfield for Michigan’s only Ramsar Wetland of International Importance JOHN HARTIG, US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

ALLISON KRUEGER, US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

THE REFUGE GATEWAY

HUMBUG MARSH

DETROIT RIVER INTERNATIONAL WILDIFE REFUGE

ORGANIZATION

1990S? :: Humbug Marsh and the Refuge Gateway

HUMBUG MARSH

HUMBUG ISLAND

TRENTON CHANNEL

DETROIT RIVER GROSSE ILE

CANADA

REFUGE GATEWAY

HUMBUG MARSH:

A RAMSAR WETLAND OF INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE

51 SPECIES OF FISH 15 SPECIES OF BIRDS 17 SPECIES OF RAPTORS 25 SPECIES OF AMPHIBIAN & REPTILE 37 SPECIES OF DRAGONFLIES & DAMSELFLIES

HUMBUG MARSH: HIGH BIODIVERSITY & RARE HABITATS

REFUGE GATEWAY: 1980’s

Trenton Chemical Facility was utilized for industrial operations involving manufactured

brake pad adhesives and asbestos brake pads for automobiles; and blended oils, paints,

sealers, powdered metal materials, and phenolic brake pistons.

REFUGE GATEWAY & HUMBUG MARSH MASTER PLAN: HAMILTON ANDERSON & ASSOCIATES

REFUGE GATEWAY MASTER PLAN: HAMILTON ANDERSON & ASSOCIATES

REFUGE GATEWAY MASTER PLAN: NATIVE PLANT COMMUNITIES

OAK BARRENS/OPENING SHRUB/SCRUB HILLSIDE PRAIRIE/ DRY MESIC PRAIRIE

EMERGENT WETLANDS

REFUGE GATEWAY MASTER PLAN: HAMILTON ANDERSON & ASSOCIATES

Monguagon Daylighting Project

Monguagon Daylighting Project

BEFORE SUMMER 2009 DURING

AFTER CONSTRUCTION SUMMER 2011

MONGUAGON DAYLIGHTING: HAMILTON ANDERSON

ACCEPTING WATER: 2010

EMERGENT VEGETATION: 2012

REFUGE GATEWAY MASTER PLAN: HAMILTON ANDERSON & ASSOCIATES

SHORELINE RESTORATION PROJECT

SHORELINE RESTORATION PROJECT 2009: Pre-construction

SHORELINE RESTORATION PROJECT February-March 2011: Construction begins

Excavating fill for riparian habitat restoration

Restoring emergent wetlands

SHORELINE RESTORATION PROJECT Design - Emergent Wetland Basin → Floodplain Forest

Summer 2011

Summer 2012

SHORELINE RESTORATION PROJECT

One of the best views of the Detroit River!

REFUGE GATEWAY MASTER PLAN: HAMILTON ANDERSON & ASSOCIATES

What’s next? – Cap Completion and Revegetation

EARTHWORKS: TO COMPLETE CAPS AND BUILD HABITAT

EARTHWORKS LEAD TO PLANTING!!!! THE STRAIT LINES ARE WHERE A NO-TILL DRILL SEEDER HAS PLANTED NATIVE SEED (6.2012)

EARTHWORKS LEAD TO PLANTING!!!! ITS TAKEN A BIT- BUT THE SEED HAS SPROUTED AND THE SITE IS GREENING (7.2012)

BIG TREE PLANTING. OVER 300 TREES PLANTED IN 2012 THROUGH THE HELP OF VOLUNTEERS

REFUGE GATEWAY MASTER PLAN: HAMILTON ANDERSON & ASSOCIATES

What’s next?

BOAT DOCK AND FISHING PIER Hoping to start in the next two years…..

DETROIT RIVER INTERNATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE