Reconnaissance Study: Rouge River Watershed, Michigan Flood Hazard Reduction, Riverine Ecosystem Restoration, and Recreational Development.

摘要

The Rouge River is located in southeast Michigan, primarily within the metropolitan Detroit area. Its watershed encompasses 48 communities and portions of 3 counties: Oakland, Washtenaw, and Wayne. The river extends 127 miles and drains approximately 467 square miles of the most densely populated urbanized land in the State of Michigan. Congress (Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill, 2002) has directed that a basin wide watershed management study be undertaken to address flood hazard reduction, riverine ecosystem, and recreation needs. Local, county and state agencies have made significant accomplishments in restoration of the watershed. The watershed has been divided into seven (7) subwatersheds. The communities within each subwatershed formed an advisory group, which completed subwatershed management plans in 2001. The plans identified current river conditions, proposed goals, developed management actions, and identified ways to measure progress to protect and restore the beneficial uses of the river. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the existing watershed conditions, identify problems and opportunities, formulate restoration alternatives, and determine if there is a Federal interest to participate in a cost shared project. This study will also identify any willing and able local sponsors to share in feasibility, design and construction costs for any project determined to have a Federal interest. This study has concluded that there are projects within an area of the Rouge River Watershed known as the Gateway Area, which have Federal interest. The Gateway Area has been determined to have unique problems separate from the rest of the watershed, which are related to a Corps of Engineers flood control project completed during the mid-1970 s. This report recommends more detailed evaluation in a feasibility phase for six (6) projects in the Gateway Area.