The Rouge River Area of Concern - A multi-year, multi-level successful approach to restoration of Impaired Beneficial Uses

Abstract

Citizen outcry in the 1960s led to passage of the 1972 U.S. Clean Water Act. Expansion of industrial permitting and availability of federal grants to municipalities controlled industrial waste and untreated municipal sewage entering the Rouge River. However, many sources persisted – notably wet weather discharges, stormwater runoff, and contaminated sediments. This remaining pollution led state officials to cooperatively craft the Rouge River Remedial Action Plan in 1985. This plan addressed all pollution sources, but was not substantially implemented until 1993 when the federal government, encouraged by Congressmen Dingell and Knollenberg, committed to the Rouge River National Wet Weather Demonstration Project. The federal government ultimately delivered $350 million that was matched by $700 million in local funds. Efforts have been sustained through multi-year state and federal grants, with additional funding from local communities and other stakeholders. Early focus of the Rouge Project was on untreated sewage from combined sewer overflows, but quickly expanded to address other impairments from sanitary sewer overflows, stormwater runoff, illicit connections and failing septic systems. With major sewage discharges under control, efforts shifted to remediating contaminated sediments and improving in-stream water quality and habitat. In total, over 380 projects were completed by 75 communities and agencies at a cost of over $1 billion since 1988, resulting in improved water, sediment, and biological quality. Prior to the U.S. Clean Water Act, the Rouge River nearly continuously failed to meet water quality standards. After decades of effort and investment, it now rarely violates standards. This miraculous recovery was initiated by a small handful of citizens, facilitated by local municipal leaders, and supported by the federal government. The Rouge River is a model for how a holistic, ecosystem approach to water pollution can result in cost-effective and greater and faster achievement of restoration, while meeting local needs.

Evolving Institutional Arrangements for Use of an Ecosystem Approach in Restoring Great Lakes Areas of Concern

“…For instance, early in the Rouge River RAP, stakeholders learned that to solve their problems of the release of raw sewage from 168 combined sewer overflows and urban stormwater runoff it would take collaboration among all 48 watershed communities and three counties [ 37 ]. The incorporation of the Alliance of Rouge Communities, whose purpose is to “provide an institutional mechanism to encourage watershed-wide cooperation and mutual support to meet water quality permit requirements and to restore beneficial uses of the Rouge River to the area residents”[ 37 ] exemplifies how a watershed focus can be reflected in institutional arrangements. Thus, elevating the watershed perspective is another example of how local organizations have supported and facilitated an ecosystem approach in RAPs.…”

Achievements and lessons learned from the 32-year old Canada-U.S. effort to restore Impaired Beneficial Uses in Great Lakes Areas of Concern

“…Indeed, Tuchman et al, (2018) have shown the importance of public-private partnerships in achieving sediment remediation in AOCs and Hartig et al, (this issue) have demonstrated the importance of partnerships in achieving habitat rehabilitation and restoration in AOCs. French et al, (2018) and Ridgway et al, (2018) both demonstrated the necessity of partnerships to raise necessary funds, achieve local ownership and pride in projects, and build a record of success to help sustain momentum for this restoration work over several decades.…”