New Tools Delight Rouge River Clean-up Volunteers

Since 1986, Friends of the Rouge has been bringing together volunteers from across the Rouge River watershed in southeast Michigan to improve the river for today’s and future generations. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, this year was no different. In fact, the Rouge Rescue 2021 volunteers went armed with new essential tools, thanks to a $1,500 donation from the Carmeuse River Rouge plant.

The gift provides direct support for action to create a more vibrant and healthier river, helping construct new rain gardens, remove invasive species, and build new river and walking trails.

“You can almost hear the laughter of volunteers and the sound of shovels digging up change for a better river!” said Marie McCormick, Executive Director of Friends of the Rouge. “You not only better the river and Friends of the Rouge; you empower caring people with the tools necessary to make a difference.”

Previous years have seen over a thousand volunteers participate in the annual clean up with 52.5 cubic yards of trash and 9113 cubic yards of invasive species removed in 2019. These are replaced by native flowers, grasses, shrubs and trees to enhance the native landscape, with Carmeuse employees also chipping in this year to plant a number of new trees.