Upper Subwatershed Getting Involved

Preparation of the Upper Subwatershed Management Plan

Over the next twelve months the Upper Subwatershed Advisory Group will be preparing a management plan for the Upper Rouge River. The information collected over the last seven years will be assembled into a report. This report will document current conditions of the river, identify problems and opportunities, establish specific goals and objectives, evaluate alternative actions to protect and improve the river, and recommend actions that are intended to help achieve water quality standards and restore impaired uses.

During the preparation of the plan the public will be invited to review and comment on the report before it is presented to the city councils, township boards, and agencies that are members of the Upper Subwatershed Advisory Group. Once the plan is approved by the respective public agencies involved, it will be formally submitted to the Surface Water Quality Division of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality as part of the requirements under the general storm water permit. Following adoption of the plan, each public agency involved must prepare a Pollution Prevention Initiative to maintain coverage under the general storm water permit. The Pollution Prevention Initiative will identify specific agency commitments and schedules for implementing actions consistent with the recommendations of the plan.

How You Can Be Involved and Participate

The public is encouraged to participate in the planning process. A series of public meetings will be held throughout the subwatershed area at various times over the next year to solicit input from stakeholders that live, work, or recreate in the subwatershed. In addition to the public meetings that you can attend, the Upper SWAG has also formed a "Stakeholders Advisory Committee or SAC" to be more intimately involved in the process. The SAC is a group of residents who meet informally to provide feed back on materials and proposed plans. If you would like to receive notices of the public meetings or would like to join the SAC, please send an e-mail with your contact information to hmadill@pscinc.com.

This is your opportunity to assist your community in meeting its regulatory guidelines! By offering your input in this process, you will be able to voice your concerns, get to know the decision-makers in your community, meet other interested people, and become a more informed resident in your community.

Check out our Upper Subwatershed Public Participation Plan (in PDF version) to see what we have planned.

Other Ways You Can Get Involved

You can obtain additional information about the Rouge River at the Rouge Information Line at 1-888-223-2363 for information on available publications. If you would like to participate in the various activities supported by the Friends of the Rouge you can contact this non-profit citizen organization at  friends@therouge.org or call (313) 792-9627. Copies of the Rouge Report Card are available by calling the Surface Water Quality Division, MDEQ Southeast Michigan District Office at 313-953-1431.

Improving the water quality in the Upper Subwatershed is a task that not only includes your community's maintenance and protection of the watershed, but also includes these things that you as an individual or group can do...

• Increase your Environmental Awareness.
• Become more informed.
• Voice your concerns.
• Join with others who are already involved.
• Use the Rouge Repair Kit Checklist for things you do at home!

What is Environmental Awareness and how can I increase mine?
Awareness can be defined as having perception or knowledge of something, or being conscious or informed about something. The Upper Subwatershed, and the larger Rouge River Watershed, is an ecological community that exists in southeast Michigan. If you live, work, or play in any of the 48 communities that make up the Rouge River Watershed, your daily actions affect the health of the River. Increasing your awareness of the issues that affect the health of the River will help you to better understand how we are all part of the watershed, how our decisions impact the watershed, and how you can communicate these messages to others. You can:

• Monitor this Web site for more information and updates
• Visit the River in your community to enjoy and observe any changes
• Participate in activities created by your community
• Participate in activities created by Friends of the Rouge
• Change a few behaviors at home

How do I become more informed?
Communities in the Upper Subwatershed have applied for and will be receiving their Voluntary General Storm Water Permit, and will be organizing:

• Public meeting and workshops
• Stakeholders Advisory Committee (SAC) meetings
• Publishing articles in your local paper, and
• Organizing other interactive activities

These activities are designed to increase public awareness and provide information about water quality issues, but also provide you, the general public, an opportunity to physically participate in these events and contribute on a personal level to help improve the water quality in the Upper Subwatershed. Contact the designated Storm Water General Permit Coordinator in your community to see how you can help.

Voice your concerns... Involvement is not a spectator sport!!
The activities surrounding the General Storm Water Permit, although designed to inform the public about the issues, are strictly NOT a one-way street. Your community needs to hear from you because you may have ideas about the River and what you think is most important about our natural resources. Come to the activities and communicate your ideas to community staff. It's important! Watch your local newspaper and newsletters for event announcements.

Join others already involved!
Why wait for your community to organize events and activities that might be of interest to you and your involvement in water quality improvement in the Upper Subwatershed? Here's a list of volunteers or organizations in the Upper Subwatershed that you can contact via e-mail and arrange to get involved on your own.

Your Actions Make a Difference!
If we all make a few changes with how we manage our household, our car and our actions, we can make a big difference in the health of the Rouge River, even if we don't live right next to the river...

• Select pest-resistant plants; minimize pesticide use
• Consider native species of plants which "match" our ecology
• Use slow-release fertilizers only if needed (soil nutrient testing is the first step)
• Cut grass high (leaving 3" on the blade)
• Use compost to grow healthy plants and retain water
• Use natural mulches to reduce weeds and hold soil in place
• Cover exposed soils with mulch or grasses
• Clean up pet waste and carefully discard
• Do not feed ducks or waterfowl
• Separate hazardous waste from household trash
• Never discard hazardous household, yard, or automotive products down storm drains or sinks
• Take leftover hazardous materials to any of the regional household hazardous waste collection days
• Keep auto engines in good repair; recycle used oil and antifreeze
• Disconnect downspouts from sanitary sewers
• Use automated car wash -- don't wash cars on the pavement

Click here to view an informational mailing from the City of Farmington Hills (pdf version)

Click here to view the entire Rouge Repair Kit (pdf version)!

Return to Local Community Information Main Page

Please address all comments and suggestions about the contents of this Web page to rougeweb@co.wayne.mi.us.

The Rouge River National Wet Weather Demonstration Project is funded, in part, by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Grants #XP995743-01, -02, -03, -04, -05, -06, -08 and C-264000-01.