Restoration Project Bell Creek Park is routinely mowed and used for active recreation but it is low lying and routinely floods. The project plan created wet meadow habitat and enhanced existing forested riparian habitat by controlling invasive species and planting native seed, shrub, and tree species, increasing plant diversity and creating or restoring 10.4 acres of habitat area.
Funding and Parnters
This project was funded by the U. S. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office through an approximately $4M Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) grant received by the Alliance of Rouge Communities for five projects (Lola Valley, Bell Creek, Riverview Park, Sherwood Park and Lower Rouge) Grant #GL-00E02896. The design was completed under an approximately $770,000 GLRI grant to Wayne County in 2019 (Grant # GL-00E02432) Partners in this project include the U.S. EPA, GLRI, ARC, and Wayne County Parks
Where and When
Bell Creek is located in Redford Township, Michigan and is a tributary of the Upper Branch of the Rouge River. Project design began in 2019 and construction started in the summer of 2022 and the project was completed in 2023. Maintenance of the vegetation that was planted as part of the restoration was done in 2023-2024.
Project Outcomes
Create wet meadow habitat Enhance existing forested riparian habitat by controlling invasive species and planting native seed, shrub, and tree species, increasing plant diversity Create or restore 10.4 acres of habitat area
Invasive species removal
Project sign
Begin grading in wetland creation area
Placement of logs for protection of native areas
Habitat area holding water
After vegetation establishment