Green Stormwater Infrastructure News

Work continues on the Rouge Park stormwater retention project in Detroit. The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department is constructing a $40 million project to redirect rainwater and snowmelt from a far-westside neighborhood. Two new detention basins will be implemented to filter stormwater and discharge it into the Rouge River. The project will divert millions of gallons of stormwater runoff and snowmelt annually, redirecting will allow Detroit to be a more climate-resilient city. The project, including water mains and lead service-line replacements, is expected to be completed in 2027.

The Green Task Force advises Detroit City Council on sustainable principles and practices to better serve the City of Detroit. Community and committee meetings are held on 4th Mondays, 2nd and 3rd Tuesdays, 4th Wednesdays, 1st, 2nd and 3rd Thursdays.

The 2022 Forum features a conversation on biodiversity, environmental justice, and design. Michigan Mellon Design Fellow Torri Smith presents Equitable Landscapes which explores ways to address systemic and structural racism through natural design.

The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) is transforming a portion of Oakman Boulevard with Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) to manage 37 million gallons of stormwater annually, reduce street flooding and basement backups.

DWSD will be making a significant investment in the Far West Detroit neighborhood to remove rain and snow melt from the combined system and reduce CSO discharge. This will entail a multi-year construction project, which will be implemented in phases for minimal disruption to the neighborhood. Construction began in May 2022.