The Rouge Project
The Rouge River National Wet Weather Demonstration Project (Rouge
Project) is a working example of how a systematic watershed approach
to pollution management can result in cost-effective and ultimately
greater and faster achievement of designated uses in a water body.
The Project is providing solutions to other urban watersheds throughout
the country on how to restore a polluted urban waterway. The Rouge
Project was initiated in 1992 by the Department of the Environment,
Wayne County, Michigan. This cooperative effort between federal,
state and local agencies is supported by multi-year federal grants
from the United States Environmental Protection Agency and additional
funding from local communities.
The early focus of the Rouge Project was on the control of combined
sewer overflows (CSOs) in the watershed. Although control of
pollution from CSOs was identified as a major priority, it was determined
that CSO control alone would not provide sufficient improvements
to meet water quality standards in the watershed. This is because
nonpoint source pollutants, such as stormwater
runoff, discharges from illicit
connections, discharges from failed on-site septic systems,
and other sources would continue to degrade the river. In addition,
it was determined that wetlands,
habitat restoration, lake
restoration, erosion control and flow variability all needed
to be controlled before full restoration of the river would be achieved
throughout the watershed. Major progress has been made in the control
of pollution being discharged to the Rouge River from the above
named sources. By clicking on the underlined items detailed information
can be viewed.
Based upon what was learned, the focus of the Rouge Project became
more holistic to consider the impacts from all sources of pollution
and use impairments in a receiving water. This watershed
management method is based on the use of a cooperative, locally
based approach to pollution control. The use of the watershed approach
is working in the Rouge River.
Using the watershed approach requires such tools as a comprehensive
sampling and monitoring program,
various water quality and water quantity modeling
tools, data management and a geographic
information system. The Rouge Project has aggressively invested
in these tools in order to develop the necessary holistic watershed
management strategy. These innovative, readily transferable tools
are being shared with other cities and state agencies. Use of the
watershed approach has proven to be very efficient and cost effective
in dealing with wet weather issues. These tools are working very
well in the Rouge Watershed. Click on any of the underlined words
to obtain more information.
The Rouge Project has developed a very effective public
information and education program based on the concept that
each citizen has the right to expect clean water from their upstream
neighbor and are also expected to assure that their downstream neighbor
is given the same courtesy. Click on that item to obtain details.
The Rouge River Project has learned a great deal about what it
takes to restore an urban waterway to its beneficial uses. Using
the various tools of the watershed approach, the Rouge River Project
stands as a model in pollution management based upon the results
to date. A watershed-wide strategy to restore the Rouge River has
been implemented through a unique partnership of local agencies
and communities, state agencies, non-profit organizations, businesses
and citizens. The seven subwatershed plans nearing completion have
identified alternative steps needed to address remaining problems
associated with storm water, combined and sanitary sewers overflows,
failing septics, and non-point sources. Communities and agencies
have already taken actions to address concerns from excessive runoff
caused by new development and are planning projects to correct existing
flow problems in already developed areas impacting habitat and riparian
properties in the watershed. Specific measures have been identified
that will help determine whether or not the actions underway and
planned will achieve the short term goals. It is fully expected
that achieving the long-term goals for full restoration of the Rouge
River will require a series of iterative steps over several years.
However, the goals, action steps, and measures tailored to individual
subwatersheds have established a strong foundation to guide existing
and future cooperative efforts to fully restore the impaired uses
of the river.
The most important story is that the water quality in the Rouge
River continued to show significant improvement during the year
2000 as a result of the multitude of programs underway, including
the control of storm water. The long-term monitoring network has
shown steady improvements with Year 2000 being the best year of
record throughout the watershed. The water quality has not been
at these levels for decades.
FFor example, in the Lower Rouge in Dearborn the mean dissolved
oxygen (DO) concentration has increased from 3.7 mg/L in 1994 to
7.3 mg/L in 2006. The percent of DO readings that complied with
the State water quality standard of 5 mg/L increased from 29 percent
in 1994 to 99.7 percent in 2006. Improvements have been observed
at stations throughout the watershed. It is important to note that
these figures are for May through October during wet and dry periods.
This clearly reflects the benefits of the watershed management strategies
that have been aimed at controlling both dry and wet weather pollution
sources in the watershed.
This web site contains a great amount of this information. We urge
you to explore the site!
The Rouge Project
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