Michigan Map Rouge River National Wet Weather Demonstration Project
The Rouge River Project
Bringing the river back to life!
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Water Quality Sampling and Monitoring

Water Quality Sampling and Monitoring Approach

Water quality and ecosystem monitoring has involved an extensive effort in the collection, management, and analysis of data on rainfall, streamflow, instream water quality, combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and storm water quality, biological communities and habitat, instream bottom sediment, air deposition, and aesthetic conditions. In addition, the monitoring program includes measurement of the performance of various storm water best management practices (BMPs) including structural controls, wetlands, and nonstructural controls.

Since 1993, approximately 17,000 water quality samples were analyzed for conventional and priority pollutants and bacteria. Samples were taken of stream water quality, sediments, CSO effluent and storm water. The 1996 biological sampling involved a comprehensive assessment of 83 sites along 200 miles of waterway. Bottom sediment samples at over 180 locations were also analyzed for a variety of parameters. The RPO worked in close cooperation with the United States Geological Survey, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, University of Michigan, Wayne State University, and Wayne County Department of Environmental Health in the development and execution of the monitoring.

Ongoing Work

Current work on monitoring is targeted at developing a long-term monitoring plan for assessing the "health" of the Rouge River. This program will be designed to assess long-term trends, document compliance with the water quality standards, and will be consistent with upcoming policy from United States Environmental Protection Agency regarding wet weather monitoring for watershed planning. In addition, the Project is developing policies that are based upon resource monitoring as a trade off to end-pipe monitoring. The concepts have been accepted by the Urban Wet Weather Federal Advisory Committee and are in the process of being accepted by the local decision makers in the watershed.

Click on the following links to learn more about the different monitoring programs.

 
Last Updated: 11/28/2005

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.