The Rouge River Project
Friends of the Rouge is a grassroots organization with over 800 members who are dedicated to restoring the Rouge River. They participate in a variety of special community projects and an annual Rouge Rescue cleanup, which has removed tons of natural and man-made debris from the river. They also sponsor an education program to teach elementary through high school students about water quality sampling and the importance of the Rouge River.
Participate in Friends of the Rouge Activities:
Rouge Riverwatch is an opportunity for you and your group to take year-round responsibility for the health and appearance of a section of the Rouge River or one of the streams that flow into it. As a member of the Rouge Riverwatch Program, you and your group can:
Storm Drain Stenciling is one way concerned people can inform others about pollution from storm drains. Various types of pollutants, such as oil, grease and antifreeze are poured down storm drains, which directly dump into the river. Many times this pollution comes from individuals who do not know that storm drains lead directly to the river. Stenciling storm drains with the words "Dump No Waste — Drains to Rouge River" informs people about this pollution source.
Stream Monitoring Program - How healthy is your local stream? Would you like to know what problems exist there, which animals do or could live in or near the stream, what uses you can make of the stream right now, and what its potential is for the future? By participating in the stream monitoring program you can get the answers to these questions, and help with correcting those problems. These surveys are wonderful, fun, educational experiences for all ages!
Workshops - Topics may include how to create a successful volunteer project; making, putting up and monitoring nesting boxes for birds, ducks and bats; water quality testing; backyard and/or worm composting; and storm drain stenciling. These workshops are free and open to the public.
Wet Weather Demonstration Project
Source: http://www.rougeriver.com/getinvol/joinorg.htmle Web site of The Rouge River Project/ Rouge River National Wet Weather Demonstration Project. The Rouge River National Wet Weather Demonstration Project is funded, in part, by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Grants.