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Riparian Corridor Planning
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Note: If you are looking for the Rouge Green Corridor Identity Demonstration Project section of our website, please click here.
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Rouge Green Corridor
Landscape Overview
Threats & Opportunities
Planning Activities
Contact
Brochure:  Rouge Green Corridor Informational Brochure (2.8 mb)
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Landscape Overview
The Rouge Green Corridor is part of the headwaters of the Rouge River system in Oakland County and flows through the City of Birmingham, Village of Beverly Hills, and City of Southfield. The river valley is very steep and is influenced by episodic glacial lake level lowering and base level readjustment in the ancestral Rouge River, resulting in unique and beautiful river valley features such as bluffs, terraces, and ravines (Bay, 1938).
The steepness of the river valley combined with the very intense surrounding commercial and residential land uses result in the river being hidden from view in most locations. As such, it is truly a hidden jewel or oasis that flows through these developed communities. Public access is limited to a string of public parks and preserves, many of which have limited or no vehicular access.
Bay, James William. 1938. Glacial History of the streams of southeastern Michigan. Cranbrook Institute of Science Bulletin No. 12
Figure 1: Mike Penskar of the Michigan Natural Features Inventory and Sally Petrella of Friends of the Rouge explore the Rouge Green Corridor by kayak.
Threats & Opportunities
Threats along the Rouge Green Corridor are related to the extensive development that has occurred near the corridor and within the watershed. Issues include invasive species, erosion and sedimentation, water quality concerns, and stormwater runoff issues.
A unique opportunity exists along the Rouge Green Corridor to preserve and manage a significant natural amenity within an urban landscape. Because the land surrounding the Rouge Green Corridor is mostly developed, there is little threat of additional fragmentation of the existing natural vegetation. Opportunity exists to properly manage and expand the habitat while increasing public awareness of the resource and access in some areas.
Planning Activities
The Rouge Green Corridor planning group has come together to pursue various activities in support of the Rouge Green Corridor. Partners include the Southeastern Oakland County Water Authority, Friends of the Rouge, the Oakland Land Conservancy, and Oakland County Office of the Drain Commissioner, Oakland County Planning & Economic Development Services, the City of Southfield, the Village of Beverly Hills, and the City of Birmingham.
Activities have included public informational and visioning workshops, breakfast meetings targeted to raise the awareness of local public officials, and multiple stewardship activities targeting invasive species. In addition, a cursory floristic quality analysis was conducted on multiple public land sites within the corridor during 2004.
Future efforts include work on the Rouge Green Corridor Identity Demonstration Grant project, a new initiative funded by the Rouge River Wet Weather Demonstration Project through the United States Environmental Protection Agency. This initiative will develop an identity concept for the Rouge Green Corridor and will create educational materials for riparian homeowners, businesses, and the general public as well as a design for a sign appendage to the “Ours to protect” road sign system. In addition, a set of planning and communications guidelines for riparian greenway corridor planning will be developed. All of the information developed through this project will be shared with other watershed groups in the Rouge River Watershed and Oakland County. This work will begin in May 2005 and conclude in late 2006.
Contact
For more information please contact:
Friends of the Rouge
4901 Evergreen, 220 ASC
Dearborn, MI 48128
Phone (313) 792-9900
Fax (313) 593-0231
Oakland Land Conservancy
P.O. Box 80902
Rochester, Michigan
48308
Phone: 248-601-2816
Fax: 248-601-4582
Email: folland@wwnet.net
Oakland County Planning & Economic Development Services
County Service Center
1200 North Telegraph Road, Building 34 East
Pontiac, Michigan, USA, 48341
Phone: 248-858-0720
Oakland County Office of the Drain Commissioner
Public Works Building 95 West
One Public Works Drive
Waterford, Michigan, USA, 48328-1901
Phone: 248-858-0958
City of Birmingham
151 Martin St.
P.O. Box 3001
Birmingham, MI 48012
248-644-1800
City of Southfield
26000 Evergreen Rd.,
Southfield, MI 48076.
(248) 796-5000
Village of Beverly Hills
18500 W 13 Mile Road,
Beverly Hills, MI 48025
Southeastern Oakland County Water Authority
3910 W Webster Road,
Royal Oak, MI 48073
Phone (248) 288-5150
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