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 can not 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.
Venoy Dorsey Park is located along the Lower Rouge River with sections in both the City of Inkster and the City of Westland. Portions of the park area are routinely mowed and used for active recreation. However, the park is low and often floods. Some areas in the park are forested wetlands but many wetlands are not hydrologically connected. This project is creating and restoring wetlands in the park by establishing depression wetlands which hydrologically connect the existing wetlands. Additionally, a section of failing streambank is being stabilized using bioengineering methods. Lastly, invasive species is being treated and managed in a portion of the existing riparian and wetland habitat.
Funding and Parnters
This project was funded by the U. S. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office as part of an approximately $1,834,000 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) grant to the Alliance of Rouge Communities for design and implementation at Colonial Park and Venoy Park in 2020 (Grant # GL-00E02830-0). Partners in this project include the U.S. EPA, GLRI, ARC, and Wayne County Parks
Where and When
Venoy Park is located in the cities of Inkster and Westland, Michigan and is a tributary of the Lower Branch of the Rouge River. Project design began in 2020 with implementation beginning in 2022.
Anticipated Outcomes
More diverse and intact riparian habitat Improved stormwater management Improved water quality Increased plant diversity
Conditions Before Restoration
flooded areas to be converted to wetlands/wet meadows
maintained lawns to be converted to prairie/wet meadows
Photo Gallery of Restoration Activities
failing streambank before restoration
streambank after restoration
presribed burn
wetland grading and topsoil stripping
trees planted
placement of wetland edge logs