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Riparian Corridor Planning
Clinton River Greenway
Landscape Overview
Threats & Opportunities
Planning Activities
Contact
Plan:  Clinton River Greenway Opportunities Plan (3.3 mb)
Presentation: Clinton River Greenway (2.9 mb)
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Landscape Overview
The Clinton River Greenway flows through the cities of Rochester and Rochester Hills, connecting upstream with Auburn Hills and downstream into Shelby Township. The river valley is very steep here and is influenced by episodic glacial lake level lowering and base level readjustment in the ancestral Clinton River, resulting in unique and beautiful river valley features such as bluffs, terraces, and ravines (Bay, 1938).
The river corridor has been heavily developed, however the Michigan Natural Features Inventory has identified a persisting intact band of vegetation as a significant natural area. This area contains some prairie and southern floodplain forest remnants but also contains significant invasive species. The predominant surrounding land use is suburban residential.
Bay, James William. 1938. Glacial History of the streams of southeastern Michigan. Cranbrook Institute of Science Bulletin No. 12
Figure 1: A father and son prepare to snag the big one at the Clinton River near Yates dam.
Threats & Opportunities
Threats within the Clinton River Greenway are associated with development encroaching on the corridor and include erosion and sedimentation, habitat fragmentation, invasive species, and stormwater runoff issues. A unique concern in this stretch of the river concerns low flows during the summer, which results in part from water being withheld in the upper watershed to comply with legal lake level limits. This problem has serious impacts on the local fishery and may limit the natural reproduction of trout.
Opportunities include working within the corridor to assist landowner stewardship, promote restoration opportunities, improve fish habitat, preserve land, and clean up trash in some areas. Many people have come together to support these efforts including members of the Clinton River Watershed Council, the Oakland Land Conservancy, and several local chapters of Trout Unlimited.
Planning Activities
In the past several years, many planning efforts have focused on the Clinton River Greenway area. In 2002, a coalition of interests came together to create a vision and goals for the Clinton River Greenway:
Our vision for the Clinton River Corridor in Rochester and Rochester Hills is an accessible Greenway system incorporating natural areas and open space, recreational opportunities, protection of water resources, and historic and cultural preservation and interpretation.
1. Protect and restore natural areas and open space along the corridor
2. Enhance recreational opportunities along the corridor
3. Protect and restore water resources along the corridor
4. Preserve, restore, and interpret historic and cultural resources along the corridor
The planning activities and goals were captured in the Clinton River Greenway Opportunities Plan (315 kb). To date, a great deal of activity has occurred in support of these goals:
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Cities of Rochester and Rochester Hills have passed resolutions supporting the Greenway Plan
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Clinton River Trail property acquisition has been completed; trail development in progress
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Oakland Land Conservancy pursuing conservation easements and stewardship activities with property owners along the corridor
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Clinton River Watershed Council is working in partnership with Trout Unlimited and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to assess the trout fishery and identify opportunities for enhancement as part of Clinton River Coldwater Conservation Project
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Partnership between Clinton River Watershed Council, Oakland Land Conservancy, Trout Unlimited, and residents of the Rookery Woods subdivision in Rochester hills to improve homeowner riparian landscaping practices and in stream fish habitat, funded by the National Wildlife Federation
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City of Rochester Hills has identified natural features within the city and is considering new natural features protection measures in their upcoming master plan amendment and zoning ordinance revision
Contact
Executive Director
Clinton River Watershed Council
101 Main Street, Suite 100
Rochester, MI 48307
contact@crwc.org
Phone: 248-601-0606
Fax: 248-601-1280
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