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Overview of the Public Involvement
and Education Programs
Shortly after the inception of the Rouge River National Wet Weather
Demonstration Project (Rouge Project) in 1992, it was clear that
a comprehensive public involvement and education program was necessary
to support Rouge River restoration activities. A survey
of watershed residents determined that while few people viewed
the Rouge River as a viable resource because of its pollution, the
majority broadly supported and were optimistic about efforts to
improve its quality.
This necessitated creating a strong consensus building public involvement
program to address the concerns of area residents, educate the community
about the effect of their current activities on the watershed and
include all stakeholders in the mission to restore the Rouge River.
A Rouge
River Public Involvement Action Plan was devised in the fall
of 1994 based upon the survey.
The goal of the Action Plan was to engage numerous stakeholders,
inform them, and hopefully gain their support and encourage them
to change their behavior to help achieve and maintain a healthy
watershed. The public involvement strategy used the philosophy that
communication with Rouge River watershed stakeholders must be continual,
consistent, truthful and always two-way. In addition, since many
of those surveyed thought the causes of pollution to the Rouge River
was from industrial sources, a public education campaign had to
explain the impact of storm water and non point source pollution
on the river. Finally, the campaign had to explain to everyone their
personal responsibility in Rouge River restoration efforts.
Initially, a series of fact sheets and brochures were prepared
for the general public and a more technical audience regarding different
elements of the Rouge Project. Topics included the Rouge
Project, the Watershed,
Geographic Information
Systems, the Rouge
Education Project, Combined
Sewer Overflows, etc. Printed materials were distributed with
a portable display, provided to local governments to distribute,
and incorporated into public information packets for local officials,
the general public, libraries, and schools. In addition, the public
involvement team was responsible for preparing presentations to
local officials, the technical audience and the general public.
The public involvement and education programs have evolved over
time to embrace a number of approaches. Strategies were developed,
materials were drafted and outreach activities were created to discover
what best engaged the general public. The public involvement and
education program for the Rouge Project has been very successful
in the efforts to engage the residents of the Rouge Watershed in
the restoration of the waterway. If additional information is desired,
please contact 1 888-223-2363.
Click on the below topics to learn more specific information about
our public education and involvement activities:
Events
The Rouge Project has sponsored numerous events to educate stakeholders
to implement our strategies and messages.
Following is a list of these events.
Water Festival
Co-sponsored by the Wayne County Department of Environment and
the University of Michigan-Dearborn, The Rouge River Water Festival
is a one day children's environmental education event designed to
teach students about the importance of water and the myriad of ways
water is used in our daily lives. Presenters and Exhibitors from
diverse professional and educational backgrounds provide students
with a broad spectrum view of water resources from municipal, agricultural,
and industrial uses, to the hydrologic cycle which includes weather,
wastewater treatment, soil erosion, wetlands, and wildlife.
Rouge River Connections: Public Education Workshop for Watershed
Communities
In October, 1999 the Public Involvement staff presented a workshop
for communities and interested non-profit organizations to offer
ideas, programs and materials to showcase successful Rouge River
Watershed community public education programs as well as initiatives
spearheaded by individuals as well as non-profit organizations.
In addition to Rouge Project Staff, presenters included: Friends
of the Rouge, the National Wildlife Federation, SEMCOG, the City
of Troy, the City of Westland, Canton Township, Wayne County, Southeast
Oakland County Resource Recovery Authority, the Rouge Education
Project, and the Rouge River Water Festival. A presentation was
given on the 1999 Rouge River Watershed Public Opinion Survey, as
well as demonstrations of the Rouge Products CD and the Images of
the Rouge CD.
Newburgh Lake
For two years, the Rouge Project conducted a restoration project
at Newburgh Lake, a 105-acre impoundment along the Middle Rouge
River in Western Wayne County. The Lake had been accumulating sediments
since it was created in the 1930s. These sediments, some containing
elevated levels of metals and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs),
had substantially diminished the recreational opportunities of the
lake and led to fish contamination and a potential human health
hazard. The Newburgh Lake Restoration Project removed contaminated
fish from the lake, removed approximately 558,000 tons of sediment
from the lake, deepened the lake to a minimum of eight feet in most
places, created fish habitat and restocked the lake with game fish.
During the project, the Public Involvement staff visited all the
Livonia public elementary schools in the vicinity of Newburgh Lake
to explain to the students what the restoration project was and
what the results would be. In addition, limited tours were given
to students of the construction activities. The Grand Re-Opening
of Newburgh Lake took place in October, 1998 and the elementary
school students were asked to participate in the event. A mini-water
festival was presented for nearly 200 Livonia elementary school
students. They visited displays, participated in hands-on activities,
took guided nature walks, rode in paddle boats on Newburgh Lake
and some helped restock the lake with game fish. After the festivities,
the children held their annual Pumpkin Fest fundraiser at the lake.
Newburgh Lake Triathalon
The PI Team created brochures, designed the logo and tee-shirts
and provided other support services for the Newburgh Lake Triathalon
which debuted in August, 2000. The Triathalon, which became a duathalon
because rain made swimming unsuitable, featured running and biking
events around Newburgh Lake. Some 100 athletes participated in the
event.
Rouge Rescue/River Day
Held on the first Saturday in June of every year, River Day/Rouge
Rescue is the centerpiece event for Friends of the Rouge. In June,
2000, 2,500 citizens joined in the activities at 25 cleanup sites.
Media coverage of the annual watershed-wide cleanup has been substantial.
In 1998, the cleanup was featured on MTV, potentially reaching millions
of young viewers. Click
here to learn more about River Day.
Mass Media
To reinforce our strategies and messages,
numerous projects were scheduled - many during the weeks around
Earth Day and Rouge Rescue.
Watershed Signage
More than 140 new signs are being added to county roadways to mark
the boundaries and river crossings of the Rouge River watershed.
These signs will help to build continued awareness of the watershed
within the counties and local communities. Oakland County has completed
putting up its Rouge River signs. This effort was led by the Oakland
County Drain Commissioner's Office.
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Civic Center Drive, east of Telegraph Road,
Southfield
Photo courtesy of Oakland County Drain Commission |
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Farmington Hills Renaming of Rivers
The City of Farmington Hills, in conjunction with the Rouge
River Project, initiated a project to name or rename the waterways
within the City of Farmington Hills. The Farmington Hills
Beautification Commission believed that there should be a
physical and symbolic relationship between the waterways that
traverse a community and the community they traverse. The
physical relationship allows visual and tangible access to
the waterways; the symbolic realtionship-its name-allows community
identification and a sense of ownership. The commission believes
that this symbolic relationship is so significant that referring
to waterways as drains instead of creeks, streams, and rivers,
as has been the practice, detracts from their importance,
diminishes the relationship between the waterways and the
community, and can encourage complacency and even abuse of
the resources.
Identification signs are being installed throughout Farmington
Hills and neighboring communities within the Rouge River watershed
where major roads and waterways intersect. The signs identify
both the Rouge River watershed and the name, or new name,
of the waterway itself. Not only will the waterways naming
project promote stewardship, it will fulfill a public education
component of the Federal Clean Water Act. "The nation behaves
well if it treats the natural resources as assets which it
must turn over to the next generation increased, and not impaired,
in value."
Theodore Roosevelt, U.S. President (1901-1909)
For further information call the Farmington Hills Planning
Office at (248) 473-9543.
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Theater Advertising
One of the first activities to be implemented was theater advertising.
The use of paid advertisements on movie theater screens prior to
showing the feature film has become quite common across the nation.
Three public service announcements were developed for the campaign.
The first promoted Rouge Rescue, which is the annual clean-up of
the Rouge River sponsored by Friends of the Rouge, a local grassroots
organization that promotes stewardship of the river. The second
featured a Great Blue Heron as an example of wildlife that lives
along the Rouge River. Advertisers get three exposures during every
ten-minute period, so the Rouge Rescue ad was shown twice and the
other was shown once. After Rouge Rescue was held on June 1, 1996,
another advertisement featuring "Rouge Friendly" household practices
replaced the Rouge Rescue advertisement. During summer, the advertisements
were shown in only one theater complex.
A Local Newspaper Insert and Guest Columns
The Observer & Eccentric Newspapers, a chain of 15 community newspapers
in Oakland and Wayne counties, published a 12-page
insert in 1986 when the Rouge River was raising public concern.
The insert told the story of the Rouge River's past, present, and
hoped-for future. The Rouge Project PI team approached the Observer
& Eccentric about publishing a "10
years later" insert highlighting the activities occurring in
the watershed. The insert, entitled "Changing Currents," was published
on May 19, 1996 and distributed to 160,000 subscribers of the 12
Observer & Eccentric newspapers in the watershed.
The publication date prior to Rouge Rescue worked very well at
capturing the public's attention during a time when the river was
once again in the news and on the public's mind. In addition, because
the insert was so successful, the Observer & Eccentric Newspapers
agreed to feature guest columnists writing about the Rouge River
on a monthly basis. Click on the following titles to see these articles:
EPA Watershed Progress: Rouge River
In 1996, the PI Team was asked to write a case study of the Rouge
River for publication by the EPA Office of Wetlands, Oceans and
Watersheds. The four-page brochure discussed the Rouge River system,
its stresses, sources of pollution, strategy to clean it up and
measures of success. The publication was distributed at the Watershed
'96 Conference in Baltimore, Md. by the EPA and was distributed
locally by the Rouge Program Office.
Restaurant Placemats
The PI Team also saw a need to reach watershed residents with methods
not previously utilized. One of these methods was to develop a placemat
that restaurants could use during the week prior to Earth Day. The
placemat would feature an attractive design and would contain "Rouge-Friendly"
information on the back of the placemat. Several restaurants in
a targeted area of the Rouge River watershed were approached with
the idea and sufficient interest was shown to warrant development
of the idea. The graphic that was used came from a poster submitted
by a fourth grade student for a contest sponsored by Friends of
the Rouge. Distribution of the placemats was accomplished by calling
restaurants to determine if they used placemats. A member of the
PI Team visited interested restaurants and presented the placemat
along with information about the Rouge Project. Fourteen restaurants
agreed to use the placemats for up to one month. A total of 41,000
placemats were distributed.
Media Tour
To spark media interest in the Rouge Project, a media tour was planned
for Spring, 1996. The tour would also include high-school journalists
from schools participating in the Rouge Education Project, a water
quality testing program sponsored by Friends of the Rouge. The tour
took place on May 9, 1996 - the same day as the Rouge Education
Project's annual sampling event. On that date, over 100 participating
schools were out sampling the Rouge River, which provided a good
backdrop for tour stops as well as the opportunity for reporters
to interview students and teachers about their activities. The Rouge
River media tour generated articles, stories, and interviews that
spanned the entire summer. Media members who were invited, but did
not attend, ran stories and articles throughout the summer.
Rouge Project Video
The Public Involvement staff wrote the script, picked out shooting
locations and edited the tape for "Reclaiming the Rouge: A Partnership
in Restoration and Preservation. This 10-minute video was produced
by the Rouge Project in Spring, 2000 to describe the Rouge River
National Wet Weather Demonstration Project and to highlight the
many successes throughout the Rouge River Watershed. Featured projects
included educational projects in Salem Township, downspout disconnection
in Livonia, stream bank restoration in Dearborn, the construction
of combined sewer overflow retention basins in Oakland and Wayne
Counties, Friends of the Rouge and many other projects and programs.
Presentations
and Displays
Watershed Awareness/Our Actions Affect the Rouge Display
This portable display titled "Our Actions Affect the Rouge," features
a map of the Rouge River watershed with community boundaries and
has been used a variety of community events throughout the watershed
to raise awareness of the general public.
The colorful display is set out with brochures, maps, magnets and
other materials selected with the community and audience in mind.
The display has been systematically placed in visible locations
throughout the watershed. Through the Speaker's Bureau, sections
of the display and brochures are presented to civic groups on a
request basis. In the 12 months from January-December 1997, the
display was set up at over 40 community events, ranging from the
Detroit Yard and Garden Fair to the Michigan Petroleum Association
conference and the Southfield Fishing Derby.
At almost all of these events, a staff person or volunteer was
available to greet the public and help them find their "watershed
home." Through the 1997 program outreach, an estimated 25,000 people
of all ages have learned about their watershed homes through some
interaction with the display and an additional 30,000 people have
made a connection with the Rouge River by briefly observing the
display.
Spinoffs from the display outreach have been numerous:
- Staff and volunteers have gained experience in communicating
with a wide range of citizens about citizen responsibility for
Rouge River water quality;
- Networking and communication with other citizen-based organizations
has been strengthened;
- Media One and MTV became aware of the Rouge Project - leading
to a substantial commitment to help promote Rouge Rescue in 1998;
- Teachers have seen the display and have incorporated additional
water quality materials into their lesson plans;
- Some municipalities have organized their own displays, using
Rouge Program Office materials, and,
- Redford Township, Livonia and other municipalities have used
the display and brochures for their own civic events.
Community Outreach
One important public involvement tool is attendance at community
events. PI Staff attended these events with a colorful Rouge display
and handouts including, magnets, activity books, brochures, and
posters. It was a good way to get the word out about Rouge River
restoration efforts and to distribute information about the Rouge
River. For instance, between the summer of 1997 and the end of 1998,
PI Staff attended community events including fairs, parades, childrens'
activities and senior citizen events and made an estimated 30,000
contacts with watershed residents.
Speakers Bureau
A standard presentation and script were developed by consensus with
Friends of the Rouge and the Rouge Remedial Action Plan Advisory
Council. All three groups used the same script and delivered a consistent
message.
Other Presentations
In addition, the public involvement team was responsible for preparing
presentations to local officials, the technical audience, and the
general public. Presentations include:
- Michigan Chapter, Water Environment Federation
- Engineering Society of Detroit
- Clinton River Watershed Council
- Friends of the Rouge Student Congress
- Westland Rotary Club
- Areawide Water Quality Board
- Waste Reduction Workshop
Strategies
and Messages
During the early stages of the Rouge Project, strategies were developed,
materials were drafted and outreach activities were created to discover
what best engaged the general public Rouge River restoration messages
included:
- Use your head , you live in a watershed;
- Storm drains aren't garbage cans;
- When it comes to pollution, every home is waterfront property;
- Everyone is part of the problem and needs to be part of the
solution, and,
- Simple changes can make big differences.
To learn more about how the Rouge Project worked on strategies
and messages for public outreach, read the following presentations,
Getting the Word Out:
How to Educate a Watershed, presented at 1996 EPA Nonpoint Source
Pollution Information/Education Programs Workshop and Taking
Root: Sowing and Harvesting the Seeds of Public Involvement and
Education, presented at the 1998 Urban Retrofit Conference.
Stewardship
Stewardship opportunities were also successfully implemented including,
the Rouge Friendly Neighborhood Program
and The Rouge Friendly Business Program
(Now, the River Friendly Partners Program). Also, Friends
of the Rouge programs, such as Storm Drain Stenciling, Rouge
Rescue/River Day, the Rouge Education Project, and the Frog and
Toad Survey, and other community pollution prevention initiatives
funded by the Rouge Program Office.
The Rouge Friendly Neighborhood Program
This pollution prevention program was piloted starting in 1995
over a two-year period in watershed neighborhoods in three distinctly
different areas of the watershed to promote education, river stewardship,
and storm drain stenciling activities. All neighborhoods were surveyed
to determine the level of knowledge existing about water quality
issues, lawn care maintenance and pollution prevention practices.
The results were used to fashion a neighborhood program for each
area. All three neighborhoods received Rouge Friendly brochures,
newsletter articles and other materials.
The Rouge Friendly Neighborhood Program was designed to be carried
out by responsible neighborhood organizations. Potential requirements
were:
- The group participating in the program must have a defined area
or neighborhood.
- The group would participate in the Friends of the Rouge RiverWatch
Program. The river system need not pass directly through the neighborhood
for participation. A segment could be identified for the group
by Friends of the Rouge.
- The group would also participate in the Friends of the Rouge
Storm Drain Stenciling Program. The stenciling of storm drains
should include, but is not limited to, all the storm drains within
their designated neighborhood area.
- The group should actively participate and/or encourage proper
household hazardous waste management. This could occur through
the following methods:
- Reduced purchasing of hazardous house chemicals;
- Proper use of household hazardous chemicals;
- Proper disposal of hazardous household chemicals, and,
- Use of less toxic alternatives to household hazardous chemicals
(The group can accomplish this requirement by distributing information
concerning proper household hazardous waste management to their
designated neighborhood.)
- The group would facilitate in the education of residents regarding
non-point source pollution. Information would be provided by the
Rouge Project Team for distribution to the designated neighborhoods.
- Submittal of semi-annual reports discussing the activities that
have been taking place could be a requirement to maintain Rouge
Friendly Neighborhood status.
Three neighborhoods representing different areas of the watershed
were chosen as pilots for the Rouge Friendly Neighborhood Program.
They were the Brightmoor area of Detroit, an older, developed area
of the watershed along the Main Branch of the Rouge River; Golfview
Manor subdivision in Dearborn Heights, a newer subdivision along
the Middle Branch of the Rouge River and West Bloomfield Place subdivision
in West Bloomfield Township, a developing area along the Upper Branch
of the Rouge River.
These three pilots represented communities with diverse demographics
and Rouge River concerns. The Brightmoor neighborhood was a deteriorating
area with strong community activism regarding neighborhood problems
and concerns. The neighborhood also showed strong stewardship for
the Rouge River, which served as a western boundary to the neighborhood
and flowed through a nearby park. Golfview Manor in Dearborn Heights
was a more upscale, manicured neighborhood that was also very active
through its subdivision association, but didn't feel a real connection
to the River. West Bloomfield Place in West Bloomfield Township
was an upper income, less urban area bounded by a wetland.
Meetings were held with a core group of representatives from each
neighborhood to discuss what the program was; what the expected
outcomes were, and to garner support from the neighborhoods leadership.
The residents of all three pilot areas were sent surveys, distributed
by mail or door-to-door to gauge their knowledge of Rouge River
water quality; storm water issues and household hazardous waste
disposal. In addition, respondents were asked for demographic information.
The survey information was used to determine what the Rouge Friendly
Neighborhood Program should focus on in each particular neighborhood.
Educational materials that had been developed about storm water
pollution, household hazardous waste and its disposal and watershed
awareness were reviewed by each group. Each core group helped develop
the particular program that would be implemented in their neighborhood,
because Rouge Project staff knew that no program would be a success
without the core groups support and endorsement. These core group
members were relied on to explain the program at neighborhood meetings.
For more information, click on Public
Involvement Programs that Support Water Quality Management.
The Rouge Friendly Business Program
The Rouge Friendly Business Program was developed as a partnership
between Wayne County, local government and the business community
to restore and protect the Rouge River. To accomplish this goal,
information and assistance is provided to small business owners
to teach them how they can positively affect the water quality of
the Rouge River by changing some of their everyday practices.
The education process is not about major contaminants, but about
those things that slip the mind, such as keeping the dumpster lid
closed and covering materials stored outdoors. These simple actions
can affect water quality because they stop pollutants from entering
the storm system.
As an incentive to participate, Wayne County embraced the concept
that businesses in the watershed that demonstrate stewardship and
a strong environmental ethic should be recognized by the community
at large for their voluntary participation. As such these businesses
should enjoy greater name recognition through the efforts of the
local and regional media as well as specific program materials that
identify the business as Rouge Friendly.
The Rouge River watershed has approximately 42,000 businesses in
its 48 communities and three counties. To design program materials
that would have the highest impact, three criteria were developed
to target business types. They are:
- The business has a high incidence of illicit connections to
storm drains,
- The business conducts a significant number of pollutant generating
activities outdoors, and
- The business is found in large numbers in the watershed.
Using this criteria, six types of businesses were selected and
specific activities identified. They are:
- Vehicle Service Industry
- Food producers, grocers and eating establishments
- Metal Machining
- Earth Disturbing Construction
- Remodeling and Repair Contractors
- General Business
Pollution control criteria were established for each activity.
These criteria were used to create a self-assessment form to be
used by a business owner to evaluate how Rouge Friendly their businesses
are. Best Management Practices (BMPs) were written that correspond
to each activity and this information was put into a booklet along
with a self-assessment form for distribution.
Representatives of various trade organizations were invited to
participate in a Vehicle Service Industry Roundtable. The roundtable
was asked to review and comment on the educational materials, the
self-assessment form, the BMPs and the best way to conduct program
outreach. Rouge Project staff sought to engage businesses in an
ongoing dialogue to determine what approach would work best with
a secondary goal of how to get businesses to participate.
Feedback from this group resulted in a name change from the Clean
Business Program to the Rouge Friendly Business Program. This was
not a quick process as it took approximately six months of meetings
to 1) form a Vehicle Service Industry roundtable, 2) explain the
purpose of the Rouge Friendly Business Program, and, 3) refine the
program and products. The Rouge Friendly Business Program elements
were finalized as follows:
- Self-assessment form and action plan
- Best Management Practices
- Site Visits by technical staff
- Recognition materials for participating businesses (stickers
and magnets)
- Business pledge and newspaper recognition
After these materials were finalized, Wayne County and Rouge Project
staff promoted the Rouge Friendly Business on a pilot basis and
recruited businesses through the following mechanisms:
- Business Roundtable contacts
- Letter and telephone contacts
- Door to door contact with businesses
- Contact through homeowner/neighborhood associations
- Integration of Business and Residential Programs
By the end of the pilot period, the Wayne County Department of
Environment had recognized 20 businesses as Rouge Friendly. For
more information on the River Friendly Partner's Program click here.
Friends of the Rouge
Friends of the Rouge, as an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization,
has steadily expanded and strengthened the Board of Directors, membership
base, and programs available to interested citizens. Although working
out of a small office, activities sponsored by Friends of the Rouge
reach thousands of citizens who want to participate directly in
river restoration and protection activities. Recognizing the importance
of an independent citizen organization, Friends of the Rouge programs
have been strategically supported by Wayne County and the Rouge
Program Office. Examples of particularly important activities include
the following:
- Rouge Education Project (REP): The school-based water
quality monitoring project allows schools to use the Rouge as
a living laboratory. Students learn chemical, biological and physical
assessment methods. Over 90 schools have participated in recent
years. Nearly 100 schools and over 135 classrooms participated
in the REP in 1998. Twenty of the schools joined the project in
1997-98, some additional schools are participating. Through the
REP, elementary, middle and high school classes, across disciplines,
take samples of Rouge River water and perform chemical, biological
and physical analyses. In 1997, a web site was created and participating
schools are able to share Rouge water quality data via the Internet.
Students create journals, posters, displays, skits and videos
about their experiences to exhibit during the annual Student Congress.
To learn more about the Rouge
Education Project click here. Also, a paper was written on
the project called, Watershed
Education & Watershed Management: Using the River as an Interdisciplinary
Tool.
- Rouge Rescue/River Day: Held on the first Saturday in
June of every year, River Day/Rouge Rescue is the centerpiece
event for Friends of the Rouge. In June, 2000, 2,500 citizens
joined in the activities at 25 cleanup sites. Media coverage of
the annual watershed-wide cleanup has been substantial. In 1998,
the cleanup was featured on MTV, potentially reaching millions
of young viewers. Click
here to learn more about River Day.
- Workshop on Planting for Streambank Stabilization: In
cooperation with the Wayne County Soil Conservation District and
the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, a participatory
workshop on stream stabilization techniques was conducted in Eliza
Howell Park in Detroit.
- Rouge RiverWatch,
Stream Monitoring,
and Storm Drain Stenciling:
Friends of the Rouge coordinates a network of citizens who keep
watch on the section of the Rouge River located "close to home."
Volunteers adopt" sections of their local stream, monitor the
stream for pollution, and report problems to Friends of the Rouge
and appropriate government offices. Most importantly, participants
help to identify opportunities for streambank restoration and
improvement. When scouts, volunteer clubs, businesses, and school
groups call with an offer to volunteer, Friends of the Rouge links
them with "on-the-ground" projects that need to be carried out.
Of particular note is the interest of Ford Motor Company employees
in hands-on community projects related to restoration of the Rouge
River.
- Frog and Toad Survey:
In 1998, Friends of the Rouge initiated a frog and toad survey
in the Middle 1 subwatershed. Over 100 citizens (twice the anticipated
number) responded to the publicity outreach and attended training
workshops. In 2000 and 2001, the Frog and Toad Survey was offered
watershed-wide. The strong positive response from the public is
viewed as a reflection of the growing recognition that the habitat
of the Rouge River is important for the future of watershed communities.
Newspaper publicity surrounding the survey has also helped raise
watershed awareness.
- Spring Bug Hunt: Twice a year, teams of volunteers visit
sites throughout the headwaters of the watershed and search for
mayflies, stoneflies and other aquatic invertebrates in the Rouge
River.û The presence or absence of these streambed creatures reflects
the quality of the water and habitat. Data are used to track changes
in the river quality over time. May
2002 Bug Hunt Results
- Rouge River Stewards: In March 1998, the first River
Stewards "class" was convened at Henry Ford Community College
in Dearborn Heights. A group of about 24 citizens volunteered
their time to earn their "River Stewards" name badges. Modeled
after master composter programs now operating in several areas
of the Watershed, River Stewards invites citizens with a high
level of commitment and knowledge to participate in self-initiated
community education projects. River Stewards participate in training
workshops, complete take home assignments and readings, and complete
a community action plan for Rouge River education. Through volunteer
initiatives, they put their commitment and knowledge to action
and then share the results. As the corps of trained River Stewards
expands, it is hoped that River Steward volunteers will be an
education resource for municipalities and civic associations.
It is also hoped that River Stewards volunteers, in cooperation
with Friends of the Rouge board members, will help keep government
officials at all levels informed about river protection issues
and opportunities.
The impact of Friends of the Rouge activities has always depended
on the involvement and support of citizens and municipal officials.
In an effort to assist municipalities in implementing their own
public education plans, Friends of the Rouge has conducted the Rouge
Education Project, workshops, adopt-a-stream training, volunteer
monitoring of streams and storm sewer outlets, storm drain stenciling
and other activities for a reasonable cost.
Rouge
River Partnerships
Partnerships were created to better spread the word about the Rouge
River restoration. Following is a short list of these efforts.
Between 1995-97, numerous partnerships were formed with many identified
stakeholder groups in order to add momentum to the messages and
products created by the Rouge PI Team Those partnerships included:
- Watershed townships and cities that have begun to use the Rouge
display at their events.
- A resource recovery authority that has coupled its backyard
composting/yard waste reduction message with Rouge River Watershed
water quality information and pollution prevention techniques.
- Neighborhood organizations who distribute Rouge materials and
spearhead stewardship activities for their section of the Rouge.
- The Rouge River Remedial Action Plan Advisory Council, which
is comprised of representatives from local government, business,
the general public and non-profit organizations, was a partner
in the creation and distribution of a Rouge River Recreational
Guide map.
- The League of Women Voters who awarded a wetlands education
fellowship to a member who is a resident of a Rouge Friendly Neighborhood.
She has spoken several times locally about the benefits of wetlands
and has also made presentations on behalf of the Rouge Project.
League of Women Voters have also helped distribute Rouge River
educational materials.
- The Greening of Detroit which co-sponsored an Arbor Day event
with the Rouge Project for 200 elementary school children that
incorporated a tree planting event with a demonstration of Rouge
Friendly tips.
- Oakland Community College, where an environmental studies teacher
made the Rouge River a regular part of her lesson plans. She also
gave here students extra credit if they performed volunteer activities
relating to Rouge River awareness.
A variety of Rouge River stakeholders who reviewed the Rouge Repair
Kit and gave input on topics and content.
Subwatershed
Activities
Three subwatersheds were selected for pilot project education and
planning efforts. The three pilot subwatersheds were:
- Upper 2 Subwatershed-Bell Branch and Tarabusi Creek Subwatershed
(Portions of Livonia, Farmington Hills, Farmington, Novi, Redford
Township, and, Northville Township).
- Middle 1 Subwatershed - headwaters of the Middle Rouge
River (Novi, Northville, Northville Township, Salem Township,
Plymouth Township, and, Novi Township)
- Middle 3 Subwatershed (Canton Township, Westland, Garden
City, Dearborn Heights)
The pilot subwatersheds were selected because they represented
varied land and water characteristics. The Middle 3 is older, urban,
with little or no room to grow; the Upper 2 represented developing
suburban communities, and the Middle 1 is a partly rural headwaters
area.
The following activities were focused on these three subwatersheds:
- Distribution of Rouge River Watershed placemats: Nearly 100,000
placemats were set out in over 20 restaurants in the three pilot
subwatersheds.
- The "Our Actions" display has been used extensively at community
events in these watersheds.
- Outreach to schools through posters and activity books. During
1997, 1400 copies of the Rouge wildlife poster and 6000 activity
books were distributed.
- Storm drain stenciling has been promoted and carried out in
cooperation with civic organizations.
The control of storm water emerged as a major component in the
restoration of the Rouge River. At the heart of the storm water
management approach being used in the Rouge Watershed is the Michigan
General Storm Water Permit. This voluntary permit establishes
the process for developing watershed management plans to address
the control of storm water and other sources of pollution. Under
the permit, communities were required to develop an illicit discharge
elimination program and a public education plan. The public education
plan had to include activities that addressed the following required
elements:
- Encouragement of public reporting of the presence of illicit
discharges or improper disposal of materials into the applicant's
separate storm water drainage;
- Education of the public on the availability, location, and requirements
of facilities for disposal or drop-off of household hazardous
wastes, travel trailer sanitary wastes, chemicals, grass clippings,
leaf litter, animal wastes and motor vehicle fluids;
- Education of the public regarding acceptable application and
disposal of pesticides and fertilizers;
- Education of the public concerning preferred cleaning materials
and procedures for residential car washing;
- Education of the public concerning the ultimate discharge point
and potential impacts from pollutants from the separate storm
water drainage system serving their place of residence;
- Education of the public about their responsibility and stewardship
in their watershed, and,
- Education of the public concerning management of riparian lands
to protect water quality.
From 1998 on, much of the Rouge Project public involvement activities
supported the communities as they applied for coverage under the
general permit and to support their public education activities.
Guidance for Preparing a Public Education Plan and Public Education
Program for Storm Water Management in the Rouge River Watershed
Both documents were developed for Rouge River communities interested
in applying for a general permit using recommendations from the
Rouge Project staff and municipalities with substantial public education
experience.
Guidance
for Preparing a Public Education Plan lists a step-by-step
program for developing a public education plan and discussed such
topics as: Planning a Successful Public Education Program; Setting
Objective for Public Education; Involvement of Stakeholders in Plan
Development, etc.
Public
Education Program for Storm Water Management summarizes
the education strategies and projects that were implemented by the
Rouge Project and its partners in 1997-98. The report was developed,
in part, to help inform local officials about the scope of public
education and involvement activities on a watershed and subwatershed
level which would help support local municipal efforts.
Public Information and Education Tool Kit for the Rouge River
Watershed
This bound document was developed for Rouge River Watershed
communities to illustrate what Rouge Project public education materials
and programs could be used to fulfill each required element of the
public education plan for a general storm water permit
Public Participation Meetings
As required by the general permit, the communities, through their
Subwatershed Advisory Group had to develop an 18-month (2000-2001)
public participation plan detailing how the public could participate
in the development of their subwatershed management plan. Each of
the seven subwatershed groups developed ways to allow the public
to participate. Some subwatersheds chose to have regular public
meetings to update the public on the planning process, the elements
of the plan, and then, the goals and objectives of the plan. Other
subwatersheds chose to allow the communities within that subwatershed
to carry out their own public participation. Still other subwatersheds
created commissions comprised of different stakeholders to review
and comment on that subwatershed's plan. The Public Involvement
staff provided support to many of these initiatives, including facilitating
public meetings and creating displays, flyers, informational brochures
and packets.
Surveys
Watershed-Wide 1994 Public Opinion Survey
Shortly after the inception of the Rouge River National Wet Weather
Demonstration Project (Rouge Project) in 1992, it was clear that
a comprehensive public involvement and education program was necessary
to support Rouge River restoration activities. A survey
of watershed residents determined that while few people viewed
the Rouge River as a viable resource because of its pollution, the
majority broadly supported and were optimistic about efforts to
improve its quality.
Watershed-Wide 1999 Public Opinion Survey
As a follow-up to the 1994 survey, in September, 1999, Public
Sector Consultants, (PSC), Inc. interviewed 400 residents of the
Rouge River Watershed, 100 in each of the four geographic regions
of the watershed.
- Region 1 Northern headwaters (central Oakland County)
- Region 2 Western headwaters (western Wayne County, west of Haggerty
Road and north of Van Born Road, and northern Washtenaw County
- Region 3 Middle river (Wayne County south of Eight Mile Road,
east of Haggerty Road, north of Van Born Road, and west of Detroit;
includes western half of Dearborn)
- Region 4 Downriver (City of Detroit, eastern half of Dearborn,
cities of Melvindale and River Rouge, and portions of Allen Park)
The survey participants were randomly selected. The intent of the
survey was to ascertain residents' current attitudes and knowledge
about the Rouge River and its watershed; explore changes in attitudes
and knowledge that have occurred since a similar survey was conducted
in 1993, and, help determine public priorities for planned river
restoration efforts. Click
here to view the survey.
SOCWA Rouge River Watershed Survey
In 1999 the Southeast Oakland County Water Authority sent out a
survey to 2,000 residents in the Main 1-2 subwatershed communities
of Troy, Birmingham, Beverly Hills, Lathrup Village and Southfield.
Select results revealed that 86.8% of respondents felt that the
water quality of local rivers, streams and lakes in their community
was important or extremely important and 50.2% of the respondents
felt that their communities should be doing more about water quality.
Written
Materials
Initially, a series of fact sheets and brochures were prepared
for the general public and a more technical audience regarding different
elements of the Rouge Project. Topics included the Rouge
Project, the
Watershed, Geographic
Information Systems, the Rouge
Education Project, Combined
Sewer Overflows, etc. Printed materials were distributed with
a portable display, provided to local governments to distribute,
and incorporated into public information packets for local officials,
the general public, libraries, and schools.
Rouge River Activity Book
The Rouge Project produced a 12-page activity
book for elementary students. The book contains puzzles, word
searches, crossword puzzles, connect the dot pictures and many other
activities that entertain while delivering a message about nonpoint
source pollution and the Rouge River. In the first six months after
publication, over 10,000 books were distributed. In addition, a
targeted mailing to watershed schools and teachers resulted in several
thousand more activity books being distributed throughout the watershed.
Doorhangers
To assist with the storm drain stenciling education process a bright
blue fish-shaped doorhanger was created as a leave-behind information
piece for neighborhood residents. The front of the fish says "I
think that I saw a fish on my street," while the back says "You
did see a fish(a painted one at least)." The back also contains
an explanation of the storm drain stenciling program and lists actions
citizens can take to help protect water quality. The bright color,
distinctive shape and catchy phrase were all included to grab residents'
attention and hopefully get them to read the doorhanger.
Combined Sewer Overflow Brochure
When the Rouge Project began, more than 50% of the Rouge River's
water quality problems were caused by combined sewer overflows (CSOs).
CSOs are products of a sewer system in which sanitary and storm
sewers are joined. During dry weather conditions, the sewers flow
to the wastewater treatment plant. However, during wet weather,
the influx of rainwater overloads the system and causes the sewer
to discharge to the river. This discharge carries rainwater and
its associated pollutants along with raw sewage into the river.
The early days of the Rouge Project were focused on alleviating
the current loads of sewage and storm water flowing to CSOs and
the construction of 11 demonstration CSO retention basins and separated
sewer projects in several watershed communities. In cooperation
with the CSO communities, the Rouge Project developed a brochure
to educate residents about CSOs and explain the construction of
retention treatment basins. The brochure explains what CSOs are
and how the Rouge Project and local communities are working to alleviate
the problem.
The brochure clearly explains the nature of the problem with CSOs
in an easy-to-understand manner. By developing it with CSO communities,
the PI team ensured that the information was applicable to all of
the CSO communities and that they were aware of the information.
Over 30,000 CSO brochures were distributed by CSO communities in
1996 by direct mail to their residents.
Rouge News and Views Newsletter
The Rouge Project published a quarterly newsletter to inform interested
persons about the activities of the Rouge Project. The newsletter
was a 4-page, 2-color publication with a circulation of more than
3,000.
Rouge Repair Kit
The Rouge Repair Kit,
published in 1998, is a citizen's guide to restoring and protecting
the Rouge River. The 42-page guide offers valuable tips on healthy
lawn and garden practices, landscaping design and maintenance, soil
erosion, pet care and animal waste, car care, household hazardous
waste, home improvement, septic system maintenance and downspout
disconnection. It also listed helpful references and phone numbers.
The booklet was reviewed by area watershed councils, county officials,
technical staff, community representatives and grassroot organizations.
To date, thousands of Repair Kits have been distributed to schools,
at community events and to the general public.
Rouge River Watershed Public Recreation Areas And Activities
Map And Index
In an effort to educate the public about the vast recreational resources
available in the Rouge River Watershed, a map was designed for communities
to distribute. The effort was spearheaded by the Rouge Project,
the Friends of the Rouge, SEMCOG, the Rouge River Remedial Action
Plan Advisory Committee, Oakland County, Wayne County, Washtenaw
County, local communities and educators. While the map was being
finalized, placemats were created using the map. Nearly 65,000 placemats
were distributed to restaurants around the watershed. The recreational
map was initially distributed by 13 communities and has been a popular
item for Rouge River Watershed communities ever since.
Rouge River Activity Book and Poster Distribution
One way the Public Involvement Staff felt it could help the watershed
communities to educate the public was to offer activity books and
posters to watershed schools.. During the 1997-98 school year, letters
and order forms were sent to hundreds of schools in the Rouge River
Watershed offering activity books and watershed posters. Between
October 1997- August 1998, 16,000 activity books and 5,000 posters
were distributed to 140 watershed schools.
Rouge Products CD and Images of the Rouge CD
The Rouge Product CD was developed to allow the Rouge River Watershed
communities to print Rouge educational materials, such as the Rouge
Activity Book, fact sheets and brochures. The Images of the Rouge
CD offers dozens of Rouge images such as wildlife, recreational
photos, combined sewer overflow retention basins, Rouge-Friendly
activities, Newburgh Lake and other images that can be used in presentations,
publications and other printed materials. These CDs were unveiled
at "Rouge River Connections: A Public Education Workshop for Watershed
Communities."
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