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Phoenix Lake Restoration

As water quality in the Rouge River continues to improve, this project will build on past efforts to restore some of the damage done during the last century. Tributaries of the Rouge River have suffered from loss and impairment of aquatic habitat and increased frequency and magnitude of flood flows, primarily due to increasing urbanization within the watershed. The flat river slope and the meandering channel cannot pass the large flows associated with rain events. Upstream urbanization continues to exacerbate this problem as runoff from increased amounts of impervious surfaces culminates in flooding within the river system, bank erosion, and continued habitat degradation.

The goal of the Phoenix Lake project is to enhance the in-lake habitat value through: Installation of new substrates that include sandy gravels, cobbles, and boulder clusters providing spawning substrate, attachment points, and cover for fishes, insects, crustaceans, and fauna; submerged, emergent, and floating aquatic vegetation will be planted in shallow water to create lacustrine wetland habitat for waterfowl feeding, fish spawning and nursery habitat, and nutrient sequestration; and placement of woody debris along the shoreline and placed offshore to increase habitat diversity. Boulder clusters will be added offshore to add cover and feeding areas.


Funding and Parnters

This project was funded by the U. S. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office as part an approximately $785,100 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) grant to the Alliance of Rouge Communities for design at Wilcox Lake, Phoenix Lake and Inkster Park in 2021 (Grant # GL-00E02997-1) and approximately $5,008,595 in GLRI grant funding for implementation in 2022 at Wilcox Lake and Phoenix Lakes  (GL-00E03267). Partners in this project include the U.S. EPA, GLRI, ARC, and Wayne County Parks

Where and When

Phoenix Lake is located in the City of Plymouth, Michigan and is a tributary of the Middle Branch of the Rouge River. Project design began in 2021 with construction anticipated starting in 2024.

Anticipated Outcomes

Increased aquatic habitat Increased plant diversity More diverse riparian habitat

Photo History of Project:


Conditions Before Restoration







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Phone | 734-768-2180

46036 Michigan Ave., Suite 126 | Canton, Michigan 48188