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
Overview Description of the CSO Control Program
CSO Demonstration Projects
MDEQ Criteria for Success in CSO Treatment
Technical Papers and Professional Presentations on CSO Control Program
Technical Reports - Monitoring and Other
Emerging Information on CSO Facility Performance
Environmental Results

Local Community Information
Many communities in the Rouge River Watershed are actively working to protect and preserve this resource. 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
Contaminated Sites
Geographic Information Systems
Illicit Connections
Leachate from Abandoned Dumps
Modeling
Newburgh Lake Restoration Project
On-Site Disposal Systems
Other Nonpoint Source Pollutants
Sampling and Monitoring
Stream Flow
Wetlands

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
The Rouge's public outreach strategy is based on the philosophy that communication with Rouge River watershed stakeholders must be continual, consistent, truthful and always two-way. The outreach includes:

Brief Summary
Overview Description of the Public Involvement and Education Programs
Public Involvement and Education Program Reports
Papers and Presentations on the Public Involvement and Education Programs

Wildlife & Recreation Improvements in the Rouge River has increased the recreational opportunities and wildlife present in the watershed.

Recreational opportunities
Wildlife

Institutional

Year in Review Reports
Example 1
Example 2

Community Links

Calender of Events
Getting Involved
Ordinance Information
Related Sites
Students and Teachers

Rouge River Gateway Project

Rouge Gateway Overview
Rouge Gateway Partnership Brochure
Detailed Plans
Rouge Oxbow Restoration Project

Storm Water Management
Storm water runoff is a primary pollutant of concern in this highly urbanized watershed. Topics include:

Brief Summary
Overview Description of Storm Water Management in the Rouge Watershed
Michigan General Storm Water Permit
Applying for a Michigan General Storm Water Permit
Guidance Materials for Applying for a General Storm Water Permit
Phase II Federal Storm Water Rule
Subwatershed Management Planning
Storm Water Management Pilot Projects
Storm Water Management Reports
Rouge Project Presentations on Storm Water Management

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
Overview Description of Watershed Management in the Rouge Watershed
Subwatershed Management Planning
Watershed Restoration Projects
Watershed Restoration Reports
Rouge Project Presentations on the Watershed Management Approach
Institutional and Financial Arrangements
Other Watershed Management Information

Watershed Restoration Projects
The Rouge is involved in numerous projects that demonstrate various watershed management and restoration techniques.

Brief Summary
Combined Sewer Overflow Demonstration Projects
Nonpoint Source Best Management Practices
Newburgh Lake Restoration (contaminated sediment restoration)
Inkster Constructed Wetlands Project
Community-based projects focused on the following topics:
   Geographic Information Systems
   Illicit Discharge Elimination
   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
An important component of the Rouge Project is identification, protection and restoration of wetland habitat in the Rouge River watershed. Topics include:

Brief Summary
Overview Description of the Wetland Program
Wayne County Wetland Mitigation Bank and Wetland Preservation Fund
National Association of Counties Award for Wetland Preservation Fund
Locating and Assessing Wetlands
Why Wetlands Are Important
Rouge Project Presentations on the Wetland Program
Wetland Program Technical Reports

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
Join an Organization
Volunteer Opportunities
Individual Actions
Phone Numbers
In Your Community
Become a River Friendly Partner
Fact Sheets, Flyers, Newsletter Articles

Ordinances
As part of a comprehensive program that includes education and regulation, ordinances can be an effective tool in the protection of area resources.

Brief Overview
Sample Ordinances
Summary Guide of Ordinances for Rouge River Communities
Putting the Southeast Michigan Water Quality Plan into Action: Tools for Local Governments
Center for Watershed Protection

Wildlife & Recreation
Improvements in the Rouge River has increased the recreational opportunities and wildlife present in the watershed.
Recreational opportunities
Wildlife

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Contaminated Sediments

Contaminated Sediments

Sediment throughout the Rouge River has been sampled for environmental contamination. These sediments could be contaminated with such pollutants as metals and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

The 2003 Rouge River Remedial Action Revision (RAP) provides information on contaminated sediments in the Rouge River. The RAP states, "Sediment becomes contaminated when certain persistent pollutants, such as metals or PCBs, and other organic chemicals are released into the environment. These pollutants adhere to suspended sediment particles and eventually settle to the bottom of the river. Contaminated sediments can degrade water quality and cause direct toxic effects to organisms. While previous editions of the RAP overestimated the extent and magnitude of contaminated sediments, they are still a problem in the lower few miles of the river." RAP, page 56.

"The remaining known major deposits of contaminated sediments are in the lower few miles of the river, adjacent to the navigation channel downstream of the channelized concrete-lined portion of the Main Branch. These sediments contain high concentrations of PCBs, PAHs, polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs), dioxins and furans, and the endocrine disruption chemical nonylphenol. They are suspected to be contaminated by metals. Sediments in the concrete channel also exert a significant SOD (sediment oxygen demand), often resulting in low dissolved oxygen concentrations in the summer. SOD in this part of the river is primarily due to microbrial (microbial) decomposition of human wastes originating from CSO and SSO discharges." RAP, p. 57

"Subsequent sampling of game fish in 2003 by MDEQ has lifted the PCB fish consumption ban for the general public on carp, channel catfish and largemouth bass cought (caught) in Newburgh Lake." RAP, p. 57

A presentation titled Restoration of an Urban Lake: The Newburgh Lake Project was given discussing the successful restoration of Newburgh Lake in the Rouge River Watershed. related to contaminated sediments in the Rouge River include:

There are several technical reports and memos with information on the Rouge River website related to sediments.

In addition, MDEQ has information on their website on sediments at; www.michigan.gov/deq

See how the United States Environmental Protection Agency ranks the concern of contaminated sediment throughout the United States at:

Contaminated Sediments

Last Updated: 6/21/2004

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, -07 and C-264000-01.