Archive: Detroit/St. Clair River Focus Area
Last updated: October 26, 2001
Background
For centuries the Detroit River was an industrial river serving an industrial
town. Today, it is an invaluable, multifaceted resource with significant
ecological importance.
The Detroit River/St. Clair River Focus Area of the Midwest Natural Resources Group (MNRQ) supports the reclamation of the natural environment of the area. This brochure highlights a few of the projects that will move that agenda forward.
Habitat Restoration
Ninety-five percent of the historical coastal wetlands along the Detroit River have been lost to development. The need to protect what remains and restore what has been lost is great. So, federal, state and local officials in the United States and Canada are working with businesses, conservationists and citizens to restore the health and vitality of this precious resource. Examples of recent actions to save and restore Detroit River habitats include:
- Identification and mapping of over 100 candidate sites along the Detroit River for habitat restoration.
- The Nature Conservancy purchased Calf Island, an 8 acre island located in the Conservation Crescent, and will protect it forever. The area, the last undisturbed greenspace left on the U.S. side of the river, Is known for its high concentration and diversity of birds comprising 29 species of bald eagles, raptors, songbirds and other waterfowl.
- Rep. John Dingell introduced a bill in Congress that would establish an international wildlife refuge on an 18-mile stretch of the Detroit River and a number of islands. Similar legislation is being considered in Canada. Land and waterways would be put in a reserve by willing owners and be managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and its Canadian counterpart. The reserve, which will be gradually returned to its natural state, would stretch from Mud Island to Pt. Mouillee.
- In 1998, the Detroit River was one of 14 rivers in the United States to receive American Heritage River status recognition of its ecological importance. It also will be designated a Canadian Heritage River.
- Restoration on Belle Isle includes enhancement of fishery habitat around two fishing piers by creat coastal marshes and constructing spawning habitat for state-threatened sturgeon.
- Funding is being secured through the Water Resources Development Act for cleanup of contamination on Grassy Island as part of the Wyandotte National Wildlife Refuge.
- Soft engineering of shorelines at Trenton street ends, the Solutia site on the Trenton Channel and the BASF Corp. land serve as demonstration projects.
- Coastal wetlands in Gibralter Bay are protected by Grosse Ile Nature and Land Conservancy.
Belle Isle/American Heritage River
Improving and maintaining the 980-acre island park called Belle Isle is a top priority of the Greater Detroit American Heritage River Initiative. In partnership with the Detroit Recreation Department, federal agencies and local organizations, the Initiative has spearheaded projects to rehabilitate the island park and develop a sense of stewardship in the people who use it. Some recent projects include:
- Working with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS), Nickolodeon and Comcast on "The Big Help" event where more than 200 Detroit children planted native plants, built bird nest boxes and refurbished park equipment;
- Partnering with FWS, the U.S. Forest Service and local organizations on the "Belle Isle Volunteer Stevardship Kickoff" where over 100 children and adults planted upland and aquatic plants along the Blue Heron Lagoon shoreline as part of a habitat rehabilitation plan;
- Participating with the Natural Resource Conservation Service on a soft engineering demonstration project along an eroded section of shoreline on Lake Muscoday;
Introducing, with the U.S. Coast Guard, an event call "HUG Belle Isle" where over 2000 volunteers helped clean up Belle Isle.
The GreenWays Initiative
Update (12/2005): The GreenWays Initiative is a five-year, $25 million initiative of the Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan to expand and enhance the region's natural landscape by protecting and building greenways throughout the seven counties of southeast Michigan. GreenWays is linking parks, open spaces, schools and cultural and economic hubs through a network of bike and pedestrian trails. Through the GreenWays Initiative, the Community Foundation is leveraging more than $25 million in private donations to attract an additional $75 million in additional investment in greenway projects from government and other sources. More information is available at greenways.cfsem.org.
Original text: The GreenWays Initiative is a five-year, $75 million private/public partnership to expand and enhance the region's natural landscape by protecting and building greenways throughout Southeast Michigan. GreenWays will link parks, open spaces, schools and cultural and economic hubs through a network of bike and pedestrian trails. The GreenWays Initiative is a project of the National Park Service River Trails program and Rails to Trails Conservancy in cooperation with the Michigan Department of Transportation and the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. More than 200 individuals from 21 communities and seven counties are working together on the GreenWay vision for Southeast Michigan.
Emergency Response
Spill prevention on the waters of the St. Croix River and Detroit River corridors is the best option to protect the environment. State and local agencies, in the United States and Canada work with industry to reduce the risk of spills and other undesirable incidents. However, when prevention fails, joint response plans are instituted for spills that threaten shared waterways. Spill responses can involve a large number of organizations because of the potential for widespread and diverse impacts. So, contingency plans, pre-defined roles and notification and communication protocols are activated when spills occur to ensure a rapid, well-coordinated multiagency response and follow-up damage control.
Detroit Remedial Action Plan
The Detroit Remedial Action Plan (RAP), spelled out in the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, declares the Detroit River region as an Area of Concern. A major concern for the Detroit River is loss of habitat. Cooperating federal agencies are currently locating, mapping and evaluating the small remnants of habitat that remain along the river corridor for use in planning future restoration and protection projects. A biodiversity atlas that will describe presettlement vegetation, survey existing plant communities and establish a path for ongoing collaborative projects among agencies of the Midwest Natural Resources Group is being developed. In addition to habitat, agency and citizen groups are working on contaminated sediments, point and non-point source discharges and community education and outreach.