Using this Site
The Rouge River National Wet Weather Demonstration Project (Rouge
Project), which began in 1992, is a comprehensive program to manage
wet weather pollution to restore the water quality of the Rouge
River. This cooperative watershed management effort between federal,
state and local agencies is supported by multi-year federal grants
from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and additional funding
from local communities.
One primary purpose of this site is to provide the demonstration
aspects of this project to stakeholders around the world.
General Information
The Rouge Project began in 1992 and is a comprehensive program to
manage wet weather pollution to restore the water quality and beneficial
uses of the Rouge River.
An Overview of the Rouge River
This section provides information on the history, topography, and
geology of the watershed.
The Rouge Project This section
provides a more detailed description of the project.
The Rouge River Remedial Action
Plan This section describes the Rouge RAP being developed and
implemented under the auspices of the US-Canada International Joint
Commission.
The Mission This section provides
the mission statement of the project.
Progress Reports These
are quarterly reports on the progress of the Rouge Project.
Rouge River Watershed Report
Card (PDF) This is an indicators report that gives a snapshot
look at various indicators relating to the health of the Rouge River.
Review of Year 2000 This PDF
describes the major progress in restoration of the Rouge River in
the year 2000.
In the News This section links to
the Wayne County Department of Environment's recent news stories
and latest developments in Wayne County's environment.
Overview of Rouge Progress
This section provides a description of the Rouge River Watershed
where the watershed approach is making a difference.
Combined Sewer Overflow Control
The Rouge CSO control program is, through a series of CSO demonstration
projects adding to the knowledge base for CSO characteristics and
control options and, as part of using a watershed approach, determining
the need for additional CSO controls within the Rouge watershed
to meet water restoration goals.
Brief Summary This section
provides a summary of the CSO Control Program.
Overview Description of the CSO Control
Program This section provides a more detailed description of
the CSO program.
What are CSOs? This is a beginner's
guide to understanding CSOs.
CSO Demonstration Projects This
section provides summary and detailed information on the both the
Rouge sewer separation projects and retention treatment basins.
MDEQ "Criteria for Success
in CSO Treatment" Information in this section explains how the
State Department of Environmental Quality is gauging success of
the CSO program.
Technical Papers and Professional
Presentations on CSO Control Program This links to a summary
of papers, speeches, and presentations given at various national
conferences.
CSO Technical Reports-Monitoring
and Other This section provides the CSO papers and reports written
as part of the Rouge Project.
Emerging Information on CSO Facility
Performance This section explains the detailed evaluation study
of the CSO control basins that is underway to examine the performance
of the facilities and the water quality impacts of their discharges.
Environmental Results This section
summarizes the environmental benefits occurring from the CSO control
program.
Local Community Information
Many communities in the Rouge River Watershed are actively working
to protect and preserve this resource. The seven subwatersheds in
the Rouge Watershed have each developed a web page to describe their
subwatershed activities. You can find out more about your community's
efforts by selecting your community
or subwatershed.
Other Technical Information
The Rouge Project takes a holistic approach to restoration of the
Rouge River. Below is a list of some of the technical topics in
which the Rouge Project is involved:
Contaminated Sediments
Sediment throughout the Rouge River has been sampled for environmental
contamination. One highlight of the Rouge Project has been the removal
of contaminated sediment from Newburgh Lake, an impoundment of the
Rouge River. Not only did this restoration project result in the
removal of the PCB fish advisory in Newburgh Lake, but it also increased
the habitat and fish diversity of the impoundment and the opportunities
for greater recreational use.
Contaminated Sites
This section shows sites that are called ACT 307 sites from the
Michigan Environmental Response Act (MERA), 1982 PA 307, as amended.
This act provides for the identification, risk assessment, evaluation
and the clean up of contaminated sites in the state.
Geographic Information Systems
The Rouge Project has a GIS system that is utilized to answer questions
concerning: (1) characteristics, (2) spatial conditions, (3) trends,
and (4) cause and effect.
Illicit Connections
Illicit discharges include both on-site (septic) sewage disposal
systems and illicit connections. An Illicit Discharge Elimination
Plan is a component of the Michigan General Storm Water Permit.
Leachate from Abandoned
Dumps The Rouge Project is working to identify abandoned dumps
in the watershed. This is important because these dumps can contain
pollutants such as heavy metals and toxins.
Modeling Computer models
are used to develop mathematical representations of real life situations.
Newburgh Lake Restoration
Project One highlight of the Rouge Project has been the removal
of contaminated sediment from Newburgh Lake, an impoundment of the
Rouge River. Not only did this restoration project result in the
removal of the PCB fish advisory in Newburgh Lake, but it also increased
the habitat and fish diversity of the impoundment and the opportunities
for greater recreational use.
Onsite Sewage Disposal Systems
The Rouge Project performed a nationwide survey of OSDS evaluation
and maintenance programs to learn how OSDS were being managed. This
section describes and explains the Onsite Sewage Disposal Systems
program.
Other Nonpoint Source
Pollutants This section provides information on nonpoint source
pollutants such as leachate from dumpsites.
Sampling and Monitoring
The Rouge Project has performed a comprehensive monitoring program.
This section explains each type of monitoring performed on the resource.
Stream Flow This section
briefly describes the stream flow monitoring program.
Wetlands. Wetlands are a critical
part of the Rouge Project. This includes protecting existing wetlands,
enhancing wetlands, constructing new wetlands and a wetland mitigation
program. One highlight of the project has been the Inkster Valley
Constructed Wetland Project.
Products & Data
The Rouge Project has developed numerous reports and publications
documenting the demonstration aspect of the Project. You can either
search the publications or view by the following categories:
Project Overview
Combined Sewer Overflow
Storm Water Management
Illicit Discharges/Onsite
Sewage Disposal Systems
Nonpoint Source
Pollution
Wetlands
Public Information
and Education
Institutional
Arrangements
Sampling and Monitoring
Computer Modeling
Geographic Information
Systems
Data
Maps
Public Involvement and Education Programs
Brief Summary
This section summarizes the Public Involvement and Education Program.
Overview Description of the
Public Involvement and Education Programs This section provides
a more detailed description of the Public Involvement and Education
Programs.
Public Involvement
and Education Program Reports This section provides the reports
written as part of the Rouge Project relating to Public Involvement
and Education Programs in the Rouge.
Papers and Presentations
on the Public Involvement and Education Programs This links
to a summary of papers, speeches, and presentations given at various
national conferences.
Rouge River Gateway Project
The purpose of the Rouge Gateway Project is to restore the 7-mile
section of the Rouge River from Michigan Avenue in Dearborn to the
Detroit River. Topics include:
Rouge Gateway Overview
This section provides a summary of the Rouge Gateway Project.
Rouge Gateway Partnership
Brochure This section provides information excerpted from the
Rouge River Partnership for the Future brochure.
Detailed Plans This section provides
a power point presentation on the detailed plans of the Rouge Gateway
Project.
Rouge Oxbow Restoration Project
This section provides information on the Rouge Oxbow Restoration
Project and the different phases of the project.
Storm Water Management
Storm water runoff is a primary pollutant of concern in this highly
urbanized watershed. Topics include:
Brief Summary This section
provides a brief summary of the Storm Water Management Program.
Overview Description of Storm
Water Management in the Rouge Watershed This section provides
a more detailed description of storm water runoff.
Michigan General Storm Water Permit
The Michigan General Storm Water Permit is one way for communities
to comply with the federal Phase II requirements. This link explains
the permit, links to the permit and provides guidance.
Phase II Federal Storm Water Rule
This section describes the federal Phase II requirements for storm
water and the Rouge Watershed Communities included in this designation.
Subwatershed Management Planning
This section provides information on subwatershed management planning
for storm water management.
Storm Water Management Pilot
Projects This links to the community projects dealing with storm
water.
Storm Water Management
Reports This link lists the reports developed on storm water.
Rouge Project Presentations
on Storm Water Management This links to a summary of papers,
speeches, and presentations given at various national conferences.
Watershed Management
The Rouge Project demonstrates watershed management techniques
illustrating that many water quality and ecosystem problems are
best solved at the watershed level rather than at the individual
community or discharger level.
Brief Summary This
section summarizes the Watershed Management program.
Overview Description of Watershed
Management in the Rouge Watershed This section provides a more
detailed description of the Watershed Management Program.
Subwatershed Management Planning
This section describes the subwatershed planning activities going
on in the Rouge Watershed.
Completed Subwatershed Plans This
section provides the completed subwatershed plans for each Rouge
River community.
Common Appendix for Subwatershed
Management Plans This section provides technical information
regarding the seven subwatershed plans for the Rouge Watershed.
Watershed Restoration Projects
This section provides descriptions on the watershed restoration
projects in the Rouge River.
Watershed Restoration Reports
This links to reports dealing with watershed management.
Rouge Project Presentations
on the Watershed Management Approach This links to a summary
of papers, speeches, and presentations given at various national
conferences.
Institutional and Financial
Arrangements This section provides information on institutional
arrangements and financing options necessary to restore the Rouge.
Other Watershed Management InformationThis
section provides information the Rouge Project, the State of Michigan
Definition of Watershed Management, the USEPA Watershed Information,
and other sources of information.
Watershed Restoration Projects
The Rouge is involved in numerous projects that demonstrate various
watershed management and restoration techniques.
Brief Summary
This section provides a summary of the Watershed Restoration Projects.
Combined Sewer Overflow Demonstration
Projects This section provides summary and detailed information
on the both the Rouge sewer separation projects and retention treatment
basins.
Nonpoint Source Best Management
Practices This section provides information on eight best management
practices for nonpoint source control.
Newburgh Lake Restoration
(contaminated sediment restoration) This section provides information
on the restoration of Newburgh Lake.
Inkster Constructed Wetlands
Project This section provides an overview and detailed analysis
of the Inkster Wetlands Project.
Community based projects focused on the following topics:
Geographic
Information Systems
Illicit
Discharge Elimination
Inkster Constructed Wetlands
Project
Newburgh Lake Restoration
Public Involvement
& Education
Pollution Prevention
Recreation
and Habitat
Septage/Waste
Management
Streambank Stabilization
Storm Water Management
Construction,
Retrofit, & Restoration of Detention/Sedimentation Basins
Control of Street
Runoff & Pollutants
Erosion Control
Projects
Innovative Land
Development
Ordinances,
Management Plans, & Institutional Projects
Wetlands Projects
Wetlands
Brief Summary This
section provides a brief statement of the Wetlands Program.
Overview Description on the Wetland
Program This section provides a more detailed description of
the Wetlands Program
Wayne County Wetland Mitigation and
Wetland Preservation Fund This section provides a description
of two programs established by Wayne County to provide for the restoration
of wetlands in the watershed.
National Association of Counties Award
to Wayne County for Wetland Preservation Fund This section provides
a write-up for the Achievement Award for 2000.
Locating and Assessing Wetlands
This section provides information that community planners can use
to make informed decisions that will best protect their wetland
resources.
Why Wetlands Are Important
This section provides information on the importance of wetlands.
Rouge Project Presentation
on the Wetland Program This links to a summary of papers, speeches,
and presentations given at various national conferences.
Wetland Program Technical Reports
This links to reports dealing with wetlands.
MDEQ Wetlands Assessment Program
This section provides a brief overview of the MDEQ Wetland Assessment
Program used to assist the public in identifying wetland and upland
areas on their property.
Wayne
County Preliminary Wetland Inventory Map This links to the MDEQ's
"New" section, which provides a wetland inventory map.
Calendar of Events
View current events happening around
the watershed.
Getting Involved
Learn how to get personally involved in Rouge River restoration
efforts.
Brief Overview This
section provides a brief summary on how to become involved in improving
the Rouge River.
Join an Organization This section
lists the various organizations citizens can join to help restore
and protect the Rouge River.
Volunteer Opportunities
This section provides information on the various volunteer activities
that are available for citizens.
Individual Actions
Individual actions are an essential component in the restoration
and protection of the River. This provides specific actions citizens
can take on a broad array of topics, including: fertilizer management,
car washing, landscaping and household hazardous wastes.
Phone Numbers This provides phone
numbers if you have questions on getting involved in your community.
In Your Community This section
contains suggestions on how your community can become involved in
the restoration and protection of the Rouge River.
Become a River Friendly Partner
This section explains the River Friendly Programs that are available
to local communities.
Fact Sheets, Flyers, Newsletter Articles
This contains information materials to assist in reducing individual
impacts to the river.
In the News
This section links to the Wayne County Department of Environment's
recent news stories and latest developments
in Wayne County's environment.
Ordinance Information
Brief Overview This
section provides a brief description on the importance of having
comprehensive local ordinances.
Sample Ordinances
This section contains sample ordinances that provide language and
ideas that communities can incorporate when developing their own
ordinances.
Summary Guide of Ordinances for
Rouge River Communities This links to the PDF of this summary.
Putting
the Southeast Michigan Water Quality Plan into Action: Tools for
Local Governments This links to SEMCOG's Tools for Local Governments
publication.
Center for Watershed Protection
This links to the CWP website, which also has sample ordinances
as a resource.
Related Sites
This contains related sites of interest,
including local communities and organizations.
Students & Teachers
Learn about education tools and opportunities that are vital elements
in the restoration of the Rouge River.
Free Stuff for Teachers Free
copies of the Rouge Activity Book and Watershed Poster are available
for teachers in the Rouge Watershed.
Rouge River Activity Book A
digital version of the activity book for kids can be printed and
used by teachers and students.
Rouge Education Project This program,
sponsored by Friends of the Rouge, is a student monitoring program
for elementary, middle and high school students.
Wildlife This link lists all the
wildlife known to call the Rouge Watershed their home!
Field Trips and Educational Programs
This is a list of educational programs or field trips that your
school may want to enjoy. Many of these opportunities are free or
have little charge!
Other Links This links to other teaching
sites that may be of assistance.
Sample Lesson Plans This section
provides links to sample lesson plans on different environmental
topics.
Games This section provides links
to educational games with an environmental emphasis.
Experiments This section provides
links to experiments with a focus on environmental topics.
Wildlife & Recreation
Improvements in the Rouge River has increased the recreational
opportunities and wildlife
present in the watershed. The recreational link provides areas of
interest such as parks. The wildlife link lists all the wildlife
known to call the Rouge Watershed their home!
What's New
This section provides information on new or
updated items added to the Rouge River Project website every
month.
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