Trillium at Douglas Evans Nature Preserve in Beverly Hills

Each spring, for the past 30 years, Friends of the Rouge works with citizens, communities, and supporters across the Rouge River watershed to restore, clean, protect, and appreciate the river that sustains them...the Rouge. As the successor to many clean up events that preceded it, Rouge Rescue honors and recognizes those whose early efforts to protect and restore the Rouge River were met with opposition and ignorance, yet who persisted determinedly. We proudly carry that torch through each decade, embracing every opportunity to Trillium at Douglas Evans Nature Preserve in Beverly Hills educate new generations about their impact on the river and teach them that they have the power to protect and care for this splendid resource for the benefit of generations to come. Workers at Cass Benton were given photos to identify invasive plant species to be removed at their site. The event would not be successful without you, the volunteers. We appreciate the hard work and dedication you have shown us over the past 30 years. As we celebrate our anniversary, we are thankful for you and the site coordinators who work so hard to make each site a successful event. It s not easy coordinating a site and we appreciate your continued efforts. We also could not do this good work without the support of our corporate sponsors, many of whom also coordinated projects for their employees or sent a team to an existing work site. We are grateful for their support and contributions. Board member, Alice Bailey, brought her children out to plant a native garden in Northville. Promoting restoration and stewardship of the Rouge River since 1986

In the spirit of our 30th Anniversary, Rouge Rescue brought loyal volunteers from across the watershed communities (over 1,100) who participated in river cleanup and stewardship activities at 27 work sites in 14 municipalities. Activities were scheduled on multiple dates. The main event was held on Saturday, May 21 with 18 sites. Four sites worked on May 7, 2 sites on May 14, 1 site on May 30 and 3 sites on June 4. Table 1: Site Participation by Activity What were volunteers working on? This year, volunteers proved once again how valuable they are and their efforts show. Trash, which accounted for most of the efforts of past Rouge Rescue events, has been less of a focus over the past number of years. Much of the event is now focused on river restoration activities such as: invasive plant removal, woody debris management, native planting installation, and stream bank stabilization to improve the health of the river. Familyfriendly sites featured, in addition to clean up activities, educational activities and nature appreciation walks. One site featured a Birds of Prey demonstration for their volunteers. See Table 1. Activity # Sites Invasive plant removal 17 Trash removal 13 Educational activities 8 Trail maintenance 7 Native plantings 6 Woody debris management 4 Volunteers working at Dynamite Park use the Woody Debris Management 101 - Clean and Open Method to manage log jams. Table 2: Quantity and Type of Items Removed/Planted Item Qty Trash removed (cubic yards) 45 Tires 7 Shopping carts 2 What work was accomplished? A summary of the work completed during Rouge Rescue 2016 is provided in Table 2. Trash removal: Volunteers removed over 45 cubic yards of trash during Rouge Rescue 2016. The bulk of the trash reported was plastic and glass. Large debris cleaned up by volunteers included: a small plastic pool, a wagon, TV, a dresser, vacuum cleaners, traffic cones, buckets, furniture, clothing and homeless encampments. Furniture & appliances 1 Vehicles 0 Invasive plants removed (cubic yards) Native Plants 148 Flowers/grasses 1,715 Trees/shrubs 29 *based on sites that submitted results

After 30 years of involving citizens with trash removal, we now see less dumping along the river. The river looks more attractive and has become a wonderful place to recreate close to home. Invasive removal: Seventeen sites removed invasive plants. Garlic mustard, dame s rocket, honeysuckle and buckthorn were the most common species volunteers worked to control. Volunteers removed 148 cubic yards of invasive plant material from a combined area of 15 acres. Removing garlic mustard at Cass Benton s Rouge Rescue site. These volunteers at Rouge Park were so proud of what they accomplished at Rouge Rescue. Everyone can make an impact. HONEYSUCKLE Friends of the Rouge is grateful for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding that has helped support Rouge Rescue invasive control efforts. In addition to Rouge Rescue, FOTR worked with the Student Conservation Association to control invasive shrubs in Rouge Park in Detroit and Bell Creek Park in Redford as well as other projects in the Rouge watershed. The work is part of a larger project titled Collaborative Invasive Species Control in the Rouge and Detroit River AOC s awarded to Wayne County Deptartment of Public Services. To date, FOTR has removed8,176 cubic yards of invasive material from a combined area of 17 acres. We are making progress. Rouge Rescue work sites that have been working to control invasive plant species for several years are reporting isolated occurrences and less dense populations of the species they have worked to control. BUCKTHORN DAME S ROCKET GARLIC MUSTARD

Why we plant native Michigan plants Polluted storm water and flashy flows are huge problems in the Rouge River watershed. Native plants help to reduce storm water runoff and enable infiltration deep in the ground due to the depth of their root systems (sometimes as deep as 15 ). There, water is cleaned and cooled as it slowly seeps to the river. Surges in flow during rainy weather cause stream bank erosion and clogs the water with silt and sediment, degrading the system and harming fish and other life in the river. Plantings: Volunteers planted 1,715 native flowers and grasses and 29 trees and shrubs; creating over 18,000+ ft² of deep-roots to soak up and infiltrate rain water. The types of plantings installed or enhanced were: bioswales, native plant demonstration gardens, rain gardens, riparian buffers, pollinator meadows, and tree plantings. Other: Volunteers maintained 2,500 lineal feet of trail. Eight log jams were cleaned and opened using the WDM 101 Clean and Open Method. Additional activities organized by work sites were: birdhouse building, storm drain stenciling, mercury thermometer exchange, benthic macroinvertebrate education, nature walks, and land-use education. Woody debris management: Work to manage wood in the river has evolved over the past 30 years. Today we use a softer approach advocating for managing large wood in the river rather than completely removing it. Wood is excellent habitat in the stream and helps to slow the river s flow. Work involves removing man-made trash ensnared in log jams and then strategically moving floatable brush and branches. Larger logs embedded in the bank are left in place. This allows for fish passage, while maintaining calm pools. Wood provides important habitat and structure in the stream. Volunteers clean out a log jam of man-made debris at Hix Park.

Beverly Hills 1. Douglas Evans Nature Preserve Birmingham 2. Linden Park Canton Township 3. Flodin Park 4. Meadows of Canton Dearborn 5. Ford Field Gateway Trail 6. Henry Ford Estate 7. Henry Ford College 8. University of Michigan-Dearborn Detroit 9. Eliza Howell Park Detroit 10. Rouge Park Farmington Hills 11. Heritage Park Livonia 13. Moelke Park Northville/Northville Twp 14. Bennett Arboretum 15. Allen Drive Park 16. Mill Race Village 17. Northville Community Park Novi 18. Rotary Park Plymouth 19. Woods Drive Area, Hines Park Southfield 20. Beech Woods Recreation Center 21. Berberian Woods 22. Lawrence Tech 23. DENSO Superior Township 24. Kosch-Headwaters Preserve Wayne 25. Dynamite Park Westland 12. Merriman Hollow 26. Hix Park

BEVERLY HILLS Douglas Evans Nature Preserve Location: 31835 Evergreen Road Coordinated by: Erin Wilks, Planning & Zoning Administrator Sponsored by: The Village of Beverly Hills Project Summary: Removed garlic mustard and trash followed by a nature walk through the park with plant identifications. Number of Volunteers: 12 Trash removal: 1 bag (lots of plastic) Invasive removal: 17 bags (garlic mustard) Douglas Evans volunteer BIRMINGHAM Linden Park Location: The park at CSO Substation off of Shirley Road Coordinated by: Connie Folk, Recreation Coordinator Sponsored by: City of Birmingham Project Date: 6/4/2016 Project Summary: Removed invasive plants and trash from Linden Park down the Rouge River Corridor Trail. Number of Volunteers: 10 Trash removal: 1 bag (lots of plastic) Invasive removal: garlic mustard, motherwort, dames rocket CANTON Flodin Park Location: 1150 S. Canton Center Road Coordinated by: Christie Jones, Administrative Coordinator Sponsored by: Wade Trim, Mannik and Smith, WOTA, Absopure, Salvation Army Project Summary: The Eagle Scouts built a walking path around a retention pond. We had bird house building along with birds of prey demonstrations. Number of Volunteers: 150 Eagle Scouts Trash removal: 30 bags Invasive removal: teasel and thistle Meadows Of Canton Location: 44955 Cherry Hill Road Coordinated by: Kesh Raizada, Environmentalist Sponsored by: Meadows of Canton, Wayne County, Canton Temple Project Summary: Bug hunt, bird house building, storm drain stenciling, indoor presentation, river clean up, mercury thermometer exchange, educational displays Number of Volunteers: 119 Cub Scouts Troops 1535 & 1830, Canton Temple, Canton Senior Group Trash removal: 5 bags (mostly plastic) DEARBORN Ford Field Gateway Trail Location: Ford Field-Dearborn Coordinated by: Thomas Trimble Sponsored by: Christ Episcopal Church - Dearborn Lending a hand at Henry Ford College Site

Project Summary: Picked up trash around the Ford Field pond and along the Waterfall Loop Trail. Also opened a log jam near the Military Street overpass. Garlic mustard was also pulled around the Ford Field pond. Number of Volunteers: 12 Dearborn High School National Honor Society, Servpro Dearborn/ Dearborn Heights Trash removal: 15 bags (mostly plastic) Invasive removal: 6 bags (garlic mustard) Areas around the Henry Ford Estate in Dearborn were cleared of garlic mustard, a particularly difficult invasive to control. Henry Ford Estate Location: 1 Fair Lane Drive Coordinated by: Karen Marzonie, Director of Landscapes Sponsored by: Henry Ford Estate Fair Lane Project Date: 5/14/2016 Project Summary: Volunteers pulled garlic mustard from Trail Gardens Woods and entry areas to the Henry Ford Estate. Afterwards, Karen Marzonie took the group on a tour to Northville Community Park native planting view the river from the back lawn of the estate. Number of Volunteers: 26 "Jo Brighton" students Invasive removal: 78 bags (garlic mustard) Henry Ford College Location: 5101 Evergreen Road Coordinated by: Sam Greco, Physical Plant Engineer Sponsored by: Henry Ford College Project Summary: Removed garlic mustard, buckthorn, honeysuckle and trash from pathway in areas below bridge. Maintained trail up to the Kingfisher overlook deck area. Number of Volunteers: 22 Henry Ford College Trash removal: (plastics bags, plastic bottles and paper) Invasive removal: garlic mustard, buckthorn, and honeysuckle University of Michigan - Dearborn Location: 4901 Evergreen Road Coordinated by: Michael Basner (FOTR), and Rick Simek (UMD-EIC) Sponsored by: Friends of the Rouge, Environmental Interpretive Center - University of Michigan Dearborn Project Summary: Re-mulched trail near the stone bridge, nature walk with plant identification Number of Volunteers: 10 DETROIT Eliza Howell Park Location: Eliza Howell Park Coordinated by: Larry Quarles, President Sponsored by: Friends of Eliza Howell Park Project Date: 5/14/2016 Number of Volunteers: 5 Workers at Eliza Howell Park in Detroit removing trash from a trail.

Rouge Park Location: 22000 Joy Road Coordinated by: Sally Petrella, President Sponsored by: Friends of Rouge Park, Friends of the Rouge, City of Detroit Invasive Species Removal at Rouge Park Project Summary: Focused on trash removal as well as garlic mustard, honeysuckle, and buckthorn removal. Number of Volunteers: 200 Detroit Aeromodelers, Buffalo Soldiers Heritage Association, Quicken Loans, Well-Able Wellness Walkers, Parkside Church of Christ Trash removal: 102 bags (plastics, tv, dresser, vacuum cleaners, traffic cones, buckets, furniture and clothing) Invasive removal: 70 bags (garlic mustard, buckthorn, and honeysuckle) FARMINGTON HILLS Heritage Park Location: 24915 Farmington Road Coordinated by: Ashlie Smith, Nature Center Supervisor Sponsored by: City of Farmington Hills Project Summary: Volunteers participated in a variety of activities, including a native planting area, invasive species removal and an educational program about our watershed using the Enviroscape. Number of Volunteers: 83 Junior Optimists Club, Master Gardeners, National Honors Society Invasive removal: 50 bags (buckthorn and garlic mustard) Other activities: Bioswale and Native Plant Demonstration Garden Aisin Northville Native Planting LIVONIA Moelke Park Location: 19444 Lathers Coordinated by: Diane Manderaglia Sponsored by: City of Livonia Project Summary: Planted 15 different varieties of native plant species, 38 plants of each variety for a total of 570 native plants. We removed approximately 1 acre of invasive garlic mustard. We cleaned up garbage and did woody debris management along the Rouge River. Henry Ford College volunteers getting Instructions before they head out. Number of Volunteers: 50 Community Emergency Response Team, Tegrit Technology, Boy Scouts Pack 1731 Trash removal: 45 (3 tires, 2 shopping carts, 1 wagon) Invasive removal: garlic mustard NORTHVILLE Bennett Arboretum Location: Near 17943 Northville Road Coordinated by: Grace Modes, Legislative Aide Sponsored by: Wayne County Commissioner Terry Marecki Project Date: 5/7/2016 Project Summary: Event focused on ridding the Cass Benton area of invasive plant species (primarily garlic mustard, common periwinkle and common buckthorn). Trash clean up also occurred throughout the park.

Number of Volunteers: 41 National Honor Society of Stevenson and Northville High Schools, Boy Scouts, church groups, Master Gardeners Trash removal: 2 bags Invasive removal: 60 bags (common buckthorn, garlic mustard and common periwinkle) Allen Drive Park Location: 1056 Allen Drive Coordinated by: Callista Milroy Sponsored by: Friends of the Rouge Project Summary: 56 bags of garlic mustard pulled, 14 native tree species planted, 3 bags of garbage removed, woody debris removed by city. Educated participants about poison ivy and invasive plant species. Invasive removal: 22 bags (garlic mustard) Other activities: Rain Garden planting Cleaning and Opening Log Jams in Dynamite Park Mill Race Historical Village Location: 215 N. Griswold Ave. Coordinated by: Edward Gabrys, Luci Klinkhamer, and Juliana Cerra Sponsored by: Northville Historical Society Project Date: 5/30/2016 Project Summary: Volunteers pulled agricultural weeds, installed (10) 10' coir logs on channel, filled low areas with compost/field stones, planted bank with native species and mulched. Number of Volunteers: 12 Boy Scout Troops 755 and 45, Friends of the Rouge, National Honor Society Other activities: Native Buffer Zone planting Number of Volunteers: 47 Girl Scout Troup 40533 and neighbors Trash removal: 3 bags Invasive removal: 56 bags (garlic mustard) 14 trees planted Northville Community Park Location: 5 Mile Road between Sheldon and Beck Coordinated by: Jill Rickard and Cyndi Ross Sponsored by: AISIN Associates, Friends of the Rouge, Northville Township Project Date: 6/4/2016 Project Summary: Volunteers planted a rain garden in a highly visible area in the park. Volunteers also removed garlic mustard from Coldwater Springs Linear Park. Number of Volunteers: 30 AISIN associates, Northville Township residents, Friends of the Rouge Dynamite Park volunteer examining a toad. NOVI Rotary Park Location: 22220 Roethel Drive Coordinated by: Wendy DuVall, Recreation Coordinator Sponsored by: City of Novi, Corrigan, Home Depot, Rotary Club Project Summary: Removed weeds, invasive bush, and garlic mustard. Trash pick up, trail clearing/ maintenance and playground mulching. Number of Volunteers: 47 Home Depot, Alpha Kappa Alpha,

Sustainable Novi, Huron River Watershed Council Trash removal: 6 bags (plastic bottles, cans and bags) Invasive removal: garlic mustard Other activities: Bioswale Beech Woods Recreation Center Location: 22200 Beech Road Coordinated by: Brandy Siedlaczek, Storm Water Manager Sponsored by: City of Southfield Michigan Land Conservancy, Novi Junior Girl Scout Troop 41201 Invasive removal: buckthorn and garlic mustard Other activities: Pollinator Meadow maintenance SOUTHFIELD Berberian Woods Location: Berberian Woods at the end of Streamwood Lane Coordinated by: Gail Barber, Volunteer Sponsored by: City of Southfield Project Summary: Pulled 21 bags of invasive species including garlic mustard and dame's rocket. Number of Volunteers: 11 Invasive removal: 28 bags (dame's rocket and garlic mustard) DENSO Location: 24777 Denso Drive Coordinated by: Melissa Smith, DENSO and Brandy Siedlaczek, City of Southfield Sponsored by: DENSO International America, Inc., City of Southfield Project Date: 6/4/2016 Project Summary: Planted native gardens, removed invasive plant species. Number of Volunteers: 60 DENSO International employees Invasive removal: 40 bags (garlic mustard) Project Summary: Woody Debris Management Number of Volunteers: 24 Korean Presbyterian Church Other activities: 2 logjams opened Pollinator Meadow planting at Kosch Headwaters Preserve SUPERIOR TOWNSHIP Kosch-Headwaters Preserve Location: 3268 N. Prospect Road Coordinated by: Carla Bisaro Sponsored by: Superior Township Charter, SMLC, Washtenaw County Parks Project Summary: garlic mustard and buckthorn removal and maintenance of pollinator meadow planting. Number of Volunteers: 24 Superior Township, Southeast WAYNE Dynamite Park Location: Josephine Street Coordinated by: Kurt Kuban and Matt Mulholland, River Restorations, Inc. Sponsored by: City of Wayne, Wayne Rotary, River Restorations, Inc. Project Summary: Opened up 6 log jams, trail maintenance in order to open all trails in Dynamite Park, remulched/weeded native plant beds, cleaned up homeless camps in the park. Number of Volunteers: 35 Wayne DPW staff, Wayne Rotary Trash removal: 25 bags (mostly bottles and plastic, cans and a few tires) Other activities: 2,500 lineal feet of trail maintenance Honeysuckle Removal in Hix Park

WESTLAND Hix Park Location: Hix Park-City of Westland Coordinated by: Bill Craig, President Sponsored by: Holliday Nature Preserve Association, City of Westland Project Date: 5/7/2016 Project Summary: Cleaned and opened one logjam, creek trash collection, floodplain trash collection, invasive plant removal. SAVE THE DATE Number of Volunteers: 31 Friends of the Rouge, Holliday Nature Preserve Association Trash removal: 20 bags (plastic and glass bottles, paper products, Styrofoam and misc. metal products) Invasive removal: buckthorn and honeysuckle Merriman Hollow Location: Hines Drive at Merriman Road Coordinated by: Jenny Petoskey, Citizen Sponsored by: Friends of the Rouge, supported by Wayne County Parks Project Summary: Installed a native garden with a path. Removed trash and invasive species. Number of Volunteers: 40 Cub Scout Pack 270, Boy Scout Troop 782, Michaels Green Club Trash removal: 7 bags (plastics and debris) Invasive removal: garlic mustard Friends of the Rouge Friends of the Rouge is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that began in 1986 to raise awareness about the need to clean up one of the nation s most polluted rivers. The organization provides opportunities for residents to participate in cleanups, stream and wetland monitoring, restoration projects, and recreational activities like canoeing and kayaking. Through these experiences, participants get to know and love their local river, work to directly improve it, and develop an understanding of the complex issues inherent in cleaning up an urban river. Mission: To promote restoration and stewardship of the Rouge River ecosystem through education, citizen involvement, and other collaborative efforts, for the purpose of improving the quality of life for the people, plants and animals of the watershed. Rouge River Watershed Facts Drains 467 square miles of land in the counties of Oakland, Wayne and Washtenaw in southeast Michigan. Contains over 400 lakes, impoundments, and ponds and 126 miles of major stream. Inhabited by 1.35 million people. More than 50% of the land is urbanized.

Promoting restoration and stewardship of the Rouge River since 1986 4901 Evergreen Road - KM Dearborn, MI 48128 www.therouge.org