ARC logo    Restoration Project 

Nankin Lake Habitat Restoration

The Nankin Lake Habitat Restoration project restored ecosystem function to Nankin Lake, increasing aquatic diversity throughout the Rouge River for fish species and other native aquatic life. The project created or restored 6.3 total acres of in-lake habitat and improved 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, slowly filled in with sediment. Due to this buildup, the lake had become shallow in many areas and had 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.

The Nankin Lake Restoration project restored the ecosystem functions the lake provides; including valuable spawning, nursery, and cover habitat for fishes and other aquatic species of all life stages. As part of the restoration efforts, sediment was removed and the reservoir basin reshaped to create more open water habitat, restore shallow water habitat, and provide over-wintering deep water habitat. The completed habitat restoration provides habitat for pike, yellow perch, salamanders, sunfish, black crappies, frogs, aquatic insect and more. In terms of vegetation, invasive species management was conducted within the current vegetation corridor, targeting invasive species such as garlic mustard, buckthorn and Siberian elm. Additionally, native vegetation was planted in shallow water areas and around the lake for habitat and to improve the overall water quality of Nankin Lake.


Funding and Parnters

This project is funded by the U. S. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office through a portion of an almost $8.7M Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) grant received by Wayne County for 3 projects (Nankin Lake, the Oxbow at The Henry Ford and the Fishway at the Henry Ford Estate) Grant #GL-00E02040-0. Partners in this project include the U.S. EPA, GLRI, Wayne County, Wayne County Parks and the Rouge River Advisory Council (RRAC)

Where and When

Nankin Lake is located in Livonia, Michigan along the Middle Branch of the Rouge River. Project design began in 2016 with construction starting in the spring of 2022 and was completed in the summer of 2023. 

Project Outcomes


6.3 total acres of in-lake habitat created/restored 0.6 acres of fish spawning habitat created 1.7 acres of fish nursery habitat created 3.9 acres of open water habitat created 0.1 acres of deep water habitat created 20 fish habitat strutures installed including felled trees and boulder clusters 7 acres of of invasive species controlled

Photo History of Project:


Conditions Before Restoration

Nankin conditions before

Conceptual Design

Nankin conceptual design

Photo Gallery of Restoration Activities

restoration sign

Construction sign announcing project




sediment bags

Sediment collection bags being laid out




lake dredging

Dredge equipment used to remove sediment




dredging and sediment area

Dredging and sediment area




sediment in bags

Sediment is stored in bags where it is dewatered before being desposed of in a landfill




restoration of dewatering area

Restoration of sediment dewatering area




restoration of dewatering area

Restoration of sediment dewatering area




native aquatic plants

Planting of native aquatic plants




aquatic plants

Native aquatic plants




aerial view of Nankin Lake

Aerial view of restored Nankin Lake


Copyright © 2020 Alliance of Rouge Communities | All rights reserved


Phone | 734-768-2180

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