Restoration Project 

Nankin Lake Habitat Restoration

The Nankin Lake Habitat Restoration project restore ecosystem function to Nankin Lake, increasing aquatic diversity throughout the Rouge River for fish species and other native aquatic life. The project improves stormwater management and water quality along the Rouge River.

Over the years, Nankin Lake, an impoundment located in Livonia, Michigan, along the Middle Branch of the Rouge River, has slowly filled in with sediment. Due to this buildup, the lake has become shallow in many areas and has visible depositional areas and islands as a result, decreasing the total acreage of water and habitat present by approximately 1.5 acres. Sedimentation also degraded shallow water habitat. Invasion of phragmites and narrow-leaf cattail in shallow water habitat further degraded the aquatic habitat. Flow during storm events effects the impoundment and downstream habitats significantly. The ability to reduce damaging storm flows will significantly aid in creating and maintaining habitat in the Middle Rouge River. The project restores the ecosystem functions the lake provides; including valuable spawning, nursery, and forage habitat for fishes and other aquatic species of all life stages.