The Rouge River Environment

By Erin Saur

The wall built between Michigan Avenue and the Ford Rouge Plant has been the topic of conversation among environmentalists for many years, and the recent discussion surrounding the possible removal of four miles worth of concrete walls has sparked debate among many Dearborn, MI residents.

The walls, which were put in place in 1972 between Michigan Avenue and the Ford Rouge Plant, was the United State Army Corp of Engineers? solution to the flooding and subsequent pollution of people?s homes in the area. The walls stopped flooding, which allowed buildings like Fairlane Mall to be built on a flood plain. However, the walls also stopped natural habit from surviving, and therefore, the goal of the removal project is to encourage the re-naturalization of the river and to promote wildlife in the area.

Residents of Dearborn are surprised and excited by the news of the possible removal of these walls. Kathleen Yeager, a resident of over 25 years, feels the walls are an eyesore for many residents, and Mary Gollbach, a former resident of Dearborn, feels the same.
?There is so much trash,? Gollbach stated. ?I?m happy to hear it is being cleaned up enough to remove the cement walls.?

168 combined sewage overflows were identified, with an affected area of approximately 59, 300 acres of the waterbed, resulting in residents from Dearborn and from local communities to begun a lengthy clean up of the Rouge River.

Massive cleaning efforts have shown impressive results. Combined sewer overflow pollutants in the river have been cut by 90 to 100 percent during most wet weather events. According to the Michigan Department of Community Health, in 2004, protection of human health, elimination of the discharge of raw sewage, and meeting water quality standards was achieved. This was in contrast to pollution in 1995, when Oakland County completed a second survey of Onsite Sewage Disposal Systems in selected areas of Southfield and Farmington Hills, of which the results showed an overall failure rate of 39% in the 61 sites tested.

The quality of the Rouge River is important to communities outside of Dearborn. The oldest and most heavily populated and industrialized area in southeast Michigan is located within the Rouge River Watershed. The river winds its way through 48 communities and provides recreational opportunities for more than 1.5 million people. More than 50 miles of the Rouge River flows through public parklands, making it one of the most publicly accessible rivers in the State. The Rouge River also affects the water quality of the lower 20 miles of the Detroit River and Lake Erie.

The people of Canton Township, Van Buren Township, Southfield, Dearborn, Detroit, Novi, and Oakland and Wayne Counties were also involved in fund raising, developing videos, placing information spots on local cable stations, and hosting educational events to heighten public awareness of the Rouge River. Education and public awareness has consistently helped environmental projects throughout history, and as these communities continue to support the quality of the Rouge River, it will provide water, wildlife, and recreational opportunities for years to come.