Good News for the Rouge: Removal of Concrete Channel being Considered

Your feedback is needed!

The Detroit District of the Army Corps of Engineers is currently considering undergoing a restoration of the channelized section of the Rouge River, and the public will have an opportunity to submit comments before November 7th. The removal of the concrete and replacement with a "soft-engineered" shoreline could lead to more riparian and aquatic habitat in that area of the river, may provide opportunities to increase the public's use of the river (imagine kayaking and, rowing off of Michigan Avenue), and would just plain look nicer than concrete!

You can find out more about good practices for governments and the connection between infrastructure, watersheds, and rivers here: http://nemo.udel.edu/manual/Chap2Web.pdf

If you are interested in submitting a comment to the Army Corps of Engineers regarding the restoration of the concrete channel, please see below for more details.

Excerpt:

The Corps of Engineers (COE), Detroit District, has completed the "Detailed Project Report and Environmental Assessment" report for the first phase of restoration of the Rouge concrete channel from Michigan Avenue downstream about 1.4 miles to the vicnity of Rotunda Drive. The COE is in the process of gathering public comments on the proposed Rouge River restoration project. I have attached the public notice. The full report including appendices is available from the COE website at:

http://www.lre.usace.army.mil/projectsandstudies/planningstudies/upper_rouge_river_section_1135/index.cfm?


You can also contact Ashley Binion of the COE at 313-226-2657 if you would like a CD of the document mailed to you.

Any comments on the report are due no later than November 7.

This project will restore the riparian and aquatic habitat within a large part of the concrete channel section of the Rouge River, will provide opportunities to increase public use of the river in that area, and is key to our vision for restoring all beneficial uses of the Rouge River. I hope you will join Wayne County in supporting this project. Please send any comments you may have to the address listed in the public notice letter.
Regards, Kelly

Kelly A. Cave, P.E.

Director, Water Quality Management Division
Wayne County Department of Public Services
400 Monroe, Suite 400
Detroit, MI 48226

We hope you consider submitting a letter of support for this restoration project!

Link to the Public Notice Letter: http://scr.bi/t87OXL

Great Lakes [policy]! H2O Now! The International Joint Commission Biennial Meeting

Friends,

The International Joint Commission (IJC) has a meeting for everyone in the Great Lakes region-U.S., Canadian, First Nations--every two years in October. They coordinate with the EPA, Environment Canada, countries, various watershed groups, businesses, academics, and take comments from the public to inform better water policies. It also hosts free workshops for all who wish to attend and is open to comments from the public.

That meeting is happening now! (Oct. 11-14, Tuesday-Friday) You can register here http://meeting.ijc.org/, registration is free! Be aware that parking is $5 though!

Your voice and insight is important! This year the meeting takes place in Detroit at Wayne State University and (again) is free to attend. Please spread the word and attend if you're available to do so.

David Dempsey, a Policy Advisor with the IJC, spoke at the UM-Dearborn Social Science building urged the audience likewise today reiterating the importance of education and vigilant community engagement at events like the IJC Biennial Meeting--"possibly one of the few times the public can deliver remarks in person to major decision makers of the Great Lakes." Having attended the 2009 IJC meeting, I was surprised to find myself as one of the only people in the 30 years and under age bracket attending the comment session.

Dempsey also urged audience members that even though Asian Carp and the condition of Lake Erie will likely be well vocalized issues, don't forget to represent what's going on near you too!

Not ready to submit comments but want to learn?

In addition to public comment sessions, there will be workshops and educational sessions to bring the community up to date on timely developments in science, policy, and perhaps even the economics surrounding the Great Lakes, other inland water bodies and the communities they're integral to.

For those who are looking for things to ponder prior to attending a session, here are some questions for you to consider: Is surface and ground water where you live drinkable, swimmable, fishable (a goal in the EPA Clean Water act on behalf of the citizens who sought a healthy place to live)? Do legal questions about commerce and water access keep you up at night? Does your community's storm water system and sewer drains still discharge into local rivers and tributaries? What are things that citizens can do to make a difference in their community to help improve the condition of the Great Lakes? This is a great time to find out.

We hope to see you there! The SEA is arranging for a few carpools, but to our friends at Wayne State University and those among the greater Detroit community, please be sure to check it out!

September SEA Events

September is going to be a busy month for the SEA! See the "Resources" page on SEA's blog for a map of the campus. Come when you can, go when you must.

Tues. 13th 12:00-3:00pm: Student Organization Fair

Thurs. 15th 4:30-6:30pm: SEA Meeting/potluck meet and greet

Fri. 16th 11:30am-1:00pm: Sustainability Fest planning meeting and pot luck with EverGreenTeam

Sun. Sept. 18th 9:00am to 2:00pm: SEA Working Day

Thurs. Sept. 22nd:
10:00 am: City of Dearborn’s Adopt-A-Watt program launch at (RSVP required by Sep. 19)
4:30-6:00PM: SEA Meeting and Officer Elections

Welcome to the new semester! The autumn winds bring a rush of events for The Student Environmental Association here at UM-Dearborn, and you're invited to join us!

Tues. 13th 12:00-3:00pm Student Organization Fair--Can you help us greet incoming students and spread the word about SEA at our table behind the University Center? Please let us know, 15 minutes of your time can make a big difference in recruiting and finding out what's happening on campus!

Thurs. Sept. 15th 4:30-6:00pm Our semester kick-off meeting takes place -- let's make this one a meet-and-greet potluck for sustainability. We'll pick up on the summer's events and talk about the new semester, too.

Fri. 16th 11:30am-1:00pm: Sustainability Fest planning meeting with EverGreenTeam room 1070 Administrative Building (at UM-Dearborn's campus)

Theme for this year: Fresh Water. Join us as we plan and coordinate the events with various campus and community allies for this year's week long October festival on sustainability! (We'll make a better image for this year's festival theme)...

Sun. Sept. 18th 9:00AM to 2:00pm* SEA working day at the Environmental Interpretive Center! Help us out with various projects, make/distribute fliers, learn about native/invasive species, meet and greet friends new and old! We're hoping to finish up around 2:00 or 3:00 pm, but this depends on who will be available, what gets finished, and whether we decide to eat on campus or off.

Thurs. Sept. 22nd: TWO MONUMENTAL EVENTS IN ONE DAY!! (two exclamation points to denote two significant things!!)

City of Dearborn Adopt-A-Watt program launch at 10:00 am on the West Parking Structure on West Village Drive in Dearborn’s west downtown

Launch of the City of Dearborn’s Adopt-A-Watt program at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011. This public ribbon-cutting ceremony will recognize Adopt-A-Watt charter sponsors for their efforts to save energy and reduce City expenses through their adoption of new energy-efficient lights in one of our parking structures. The SEA helped the Dearborn Sustainability Coalition promote this program this summer at the Dearborn CARES Festival. Attached is a press release issued earlier this month by the Adopt-A-Watt organization.

Media will be invited, as will suppliers of energy efficient products and the Adopt-A-Watt founder, Thomas A. Wither.

Additional details about the program and organization are available at: http://adopt-a-watt.com/

Kindly confirm your attendance before September 19 by email (bcampbell@ci.dearborn.mi.us) or by calling the City of Dearborn Department of Public Information at 313-943-2285. Parking is free. Please show your invitation at the entrance.

SEA Meeting and Officer Elections at 4:30-6:00PM
The SEA has a meeting once again, elections for officership take place at this time, but you can also vote online (more on that this Thursday). We're looking for individuals interested in any of the officer positions. If you are interested in running for a position please let us know either via facebook or by e-mailing us confidentially at greenwolverines (at) ymail (dot) com .

We have many exciting projects and opportunities in the works for this term and we need some people to step up to the plate for leadership opportunities. If you have any questions please reach us!

Saturday Sept. 24th We will be selling our native plant seeds at the Master Gardeners Association of Wayne County conference here at UM-Dearborn and meeting many of the regions greatest greenthumbs.

As always, we welcome your interest and inquiries--feel free to reach us via facebook or e-mail!

Cheers to a fine new semester!

The Student Environmental Association at The University of Michigan-Dearborn

http://bit.ly/SEAbloghttp://on.fb.me/ SEAFacebookFanpage

Detroit Frack Ban Resolution status: unanimously passed!

The resolution didn't get on Tuesday's agenda, but it has been well represented and
voted on today (Friday the 22nd) during the noon session.

I called Chris Corrigan of the Detroit Food and Water Watch office at about 1:30 today and learned that the Detroit City Council passed the ban by unanimous vote.  This is literally a watershed event.  Most of the communities upstream in the Rouge River watershed (Westward from Dearborn out to Superior/Salem Townships, and North out to Rochester Hills, Bloomfield/West Bloomfield Townships, and Novi) get their municipal tap (drinking) water from the Detroit river--which the Rouge drains into.

As far as I could reckon, Food and Water Watch, Dearborn/Dearborn Heights League of Women Voters, the SEA, and Akinpelu twins were in attendance on Tuesday.  Details forthcoming as we find out what happens next. Those who spoke got their concerns for safety and its regional relevance to Southeast Michigan across--it piqued councilman Brown's interest and he expressed his thanks to all of the youth who came to represent their solidarity in the issue.  

Congratulations for your leadership Detroit, it's a major step forward in citizen and environmental protections.  Also, please be vigilant in following through--you can propose similar resolutions in your hometown too!

That said, I believe the city of Detroit and groups like Food and Water watch will also need to look in earnest toward something creative and solutions oriented for responsibly meeting energy and employment needs.  They've got very bright talents in the area, and it's time to make it known that Detroit's leadership is happening from all directions at all levels of Southeast Michigan.

What the Frack!?! Fracking Party: Gasland Screening Wed. April 20th 6:00pm-9:00

What  the  [is] frack!?!

Wed. April 20th 6:00pm-9:00 the SEA will be screening Gasland in the Environmental Interpretive Center at the University of Michigan-Dearborn:

Gasland is a documentary concerning Hydraulic fracturing (fracking)--a means of natural gas extraction within deep natural gas well drilling.  Once a well is drilled, millions of gallons of potable (drinking) water, along with sand and proprietary chemicals are injected under high pressure into a well. The pressure fractures shale rock and props open fissures that enable natural gas to flow more freely out of the well.

Awareness of this process and issue is especially relevant to us because Michigan and the Great Lakes basin are prime locations for natural gas extraction, and several communities have reported affliction  (see USGS/EIA maps below for existing natural gas locations).

 Furthermore, it's ongoing at present within our state. 

Gasland has been subject to several criticisms.  See some from:

1.  Energy In Depth--a blog assembled by a collection of U.S. Natural Gas and Oil producers 
2.  Blogger Kirian Stacey of the Financial Times
3.  Ongoing discussion by insightful folks at the Oil Drum (see comments near the end for people who actually worked in the industry and/or watched the film)--some of whom claim that the criticisms from Energy In Depth can be rebuked

We'll try to make sense of them and weigh out its merits with some geology, environmental science, sensibility, and civility.

Join us to examine the topic at hand, as well as the documentary itself--how are the issues communicated?  What does it mean to all of us as citizens and consumers of media and energy?  Also important to consider: what alternatives can we pursue to minimize our dependence on fossil fuel extraction and consumption altogether?

Trailer:

Please join us at this fracking party, popcorn and beverages will be served at the event, so it's a fine opportunity to stop by and take a break from your studies!!  Please RSVP to greenwolverines (at) ymail (dot) com

Public meeting for offshore wind energy development--in Dearborn!

I just found out that the Michigan Great Lakes Offshore Wind Council has a public meeting for offshore wind energy development at UM-Dearborn next week!


July 21: Fairlane Development Center, UM Dearborn Campus, Dearborn.  (www.umd.umich.edu/maps_directions/)

There's also one at GVSU the day before:
July 20: Eberhard Center, GVSU, Grand Rapids  (www.gvsu.edu/meetatgvsu/)


(Source: http://www.michiganglowcouncil.org/coastal_community_meetings_spring2010.html Kudos to whoever updates the UM-Dearborn facebook page for posting this announcement yesterday--but why so late?)


I recommend doing some research on offshore wind and zoning before attending if you have the time. I'm also wondering if the Nearshore Framework has anything to implications on offshore wind development.  Unfortunately, I couldn't find a ready document from the International Joint Commission that speaks directly to offshore wind.  If you're wondering what the nearshore framework is about you read about it here:

http://www.ijc.org/en/priorities/2009/reports/2009-nearshore-framework.pdf
The document is about 1/2 as long as it looks--they alternate pages with note space.

Does anyone know of research on offshore zoning?  I thought the International Joint Commission did a piece on it but it seems like I was mistaken.

The Suburban Expedition

With the conclusion of UM-Dearborn's 2010 winter semester drawing near, members of the SEA decided it would be an appropriate time for a suburban expedition to a wetland in Livonia.

I'll reiterate:  SUBURBAN EXPEDITION!  Livonia wetland!

Tentatively this will happen on the weekend of the 8th/9th of May (hopefully the 9th as I'll be in Chicago or Detroit the day before).

The idea is to go into the field, get in touch with the great outdoors, do an on-site study where we all take some samples/do some scientific monitoring, explore, meet new people and have fun.

It's a good opportunity for everyone to learn new/swap field research techniques too.

Public Hearing at EIC Feb. 10th: Our Say for the Rouge River

This Wednesday the 10th of Feb. at 7:00 pm, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment is holding a public meeting at the UM-Dearborn's Environmental Interpretive Center concerning modifications to our water treatment system. Public comments will be accepted through February 12, 2010.

This is a fine opportunity for all students to engage our greater community and consider our impacts on the social, economic, and ecological environment of Southeastern Michigan. Even if you're not yet ready to join the discussion concerning the science and policy, it is a great opportunity to observe and learn how what we do is affected by past actions and influences our future conduct as a region through a local civic event. Also, students in the Environmental Science and Studies program can receive ESCI 395 credit for attending this meeting (be sure to take notes and ask good questions!).

As I understand it from the attached document, a proposed Rouge River water treatment facility will treat stormwater runoff and primary effluent (physically strained waste water/sewage with basic treatment) with provisions to disinfect and dechlorinate any storm water runoff (water collected from storm drains off streets, etc.) that combines with the treated sewage and overflows and goes into the river. Discussion for alternatives to how we currently approach the waste water infrastructure is another focus of the meeting.

Among the alternative recommendations, investment in "green infrastructure", which I'd explain as preventative storm water treatment that creates natural spaces and other natural rain retention features, and let them do their job in trapping storm water. The Great Lakes Report blog has detailed financial coverage and some more history behind the Rouge River Outflow project, and there's also this link that explains the project.


As you may be aware, our Campus and much of Southeast Michigan is part of and is influenced by the status of the Rouge River--tap water for many people in the area is collected downstream of the Rouge River in Detroit and will be downstream of the proposed treatment site.

Author and historian Ginger Strand notes the following about infrastructure:
"Most of us take infrastructure for granted but we shouldn't; it tells us a lot about ourselves. The massive investment in designing, building and maintaining infrastructure is one of a society's most utopian actions: through it we seek to remake the world. Hydroinfrastructure, for example, shows our conviction that the perfect world has easy access to cold drinks and hot showers. It also links country and city through the flow of one of earth's most elemental substances, demonstrating that the worlds of 'nature' and 'culture' are not as separate as we often believe."

Similarly, the responsibility inherent to our belief in access to a healthy place for all to live is vested in events like these.

Here's to the River!

10 Feb. 2010 Update:
There's a snow day at the campus. The following information may be useful to all interested persons:

All interested parties are invited to present comments on the proposed NPDES permit. Persons unable to attend the public meeting and hearing may submit comments through February 12, 2010. This information will be considered prior to taking action on the permit. For additional information contact Thomas Knueve, Permits Section, Water Bureau, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, P.O. Box 30273, Lansing, Michigan 48909, telephone: 517-241-9535; e-mail: knuevet@michigan.gov.