Restoration Project
Firefighters Park Sprague Drain Habitat Improvement
During the last century, tributaries of the Rouge River have suffered from declining water quality, loss and impairment of aquatic habitat, and increased frequency and magnitude of peak flood flows. The flat river slope could not pass the large flows associated with major precipitation events. Increasing urbanization within the watershed as well as urbanization upstream exacerbated this problem by increasing impervious surface, leading to frequent flooding within downstream local communities.
Fortunately, water quality has improved since 1992 thanks to the federally-funded Rouge project. For example, 89 of the 127 miles of the larger streams and tributaries in the watershed are now free from public health threats associated with uncontrolled combined sewer overflow discharges. Water quality improvement is exhibited by increased dissolved oxygen levels needed to sustain fish and aquatic life. Increased populations and diversity of benthos, fish, and wildlife have been measured along the river since 1999. The USEPA office of inspector General declared the Rouge Project “ a blueprint for success” (EPA OIG report number 2002-P-00012).
City of Troy, using $100,000 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) grant from United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), completed the design of habitat improvement at Sprague Drain in Firefighters Park, in City of Troy, Michigan. The purpose of this project is to provide habitat features that will address three of the Beneficial Use Impairments (BUIs) associated with fish and wildlife habitat in the Rouge River, namely Degraded Fish and Wildlife Populations, Degradation of Benthos, and Loss of Fish and Wildlife Habitat. As a result, work towards delisting the Rouge River watershed as an Area of Concern (AOC) as designated by the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA). The City of Troy contracted with Hubbell, Roth, and Clark Inc. (HRC) as the firm that would complete the design, permitting, and construction documents. The design grant was issued on 10/01/2022 and ended on 12/31/2023.
The Sprague Drain project includes creating bankfull channel on either side of the stream to provide floodplain connectivity. The streambank will be stabilized using bioengineering techniques to provide additional habitat and reduce streambank erosion. Additional riffle structures and pools will be constructed to enhance bed form diversity. Invasive species will be removed both within the lake and in the riparian corridor. This project also converts a grass detention basin to a new wetland/floodplain habitat.