Restoration Project
Wayne Rd. Dam Removal and River Restoration
The Wayne Road Dam, which was owned by Wayne County, was located in the City of Wayne on the Lower Branch of the Rouge River. The river hosts a variety of fish in the vicinity of the dam, including trout in upstream areas and a variety of warm water species. (e.g., smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, and sunfish) downstream of the dam. The dam removal provided fish passage which enhanced fish communities in the Lower Rouge River by reconnecting the Lower Rouge River to the Detroit River and Lake Erie ecosystem.
Prior to implementation of the project, the dam acted as a barrier to fish passage as well as promoted the accumulation of sediment and debris behind the dam, which contributed to the degradation of the reach of river. Removal of the Wayne Road Dam was a priority project for the Rouge River Advisory Council in order to implement the Delisting Targets for Fish and Wildlife Habitat and Population Beneficial Use Impairments for the Rouge River Area of Concern. The ARC proposed the project to aid in the advancement of the AOC delisting efforts.
The implementation of the project has improved the riparian corridor and hydrologically reconnected approximately 121 miles of river and tributaries to the Great Lakes system for the first time in over a century. The river hosts a variety of fish species in the vicinity of the former dam, including a variety of warm water species (e.g., smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, suckers, darters, minnow, and sunfishes). All of these species have benefitted as a result of the implementation of this project. Rock structures and bank stabilization improved fish and wildlife habitat, benefiting key aquatic species and natural communities.
Under a Wayne County Rouge Program Office grant, the Design was completed. Construction and monitoring of the project was completed under Great Lakes Restoration Inititive Funding (GLRI) throuugh through a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) grant. The NOAA-funded project removed the dam and restored fish passage. In addition to the removal of the dam the project removed an in-stream island downstream of the dam and reconstructed a more stable single flow channel with bankfull benches, installed an engineered riffle/ boulder cascade to protect existing infrastructure and facilitate fish passage, and provided for bank stabilization.
Amentities have been added to enhance the public's access to the area including trails and a canoe/kayak launch site.
