A summit will be held from 8 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Friday, October 18, 2013 at The Henry Ford Village Pavilion to celebrate the remarkable restoration accomplishments that have occurred in the river systems of Southeast Michigan over the past few years and renewing our commitment to continue our efforts into the future. The Henry Ford (THF) is one of the country’s leading historical museums and a project partner in the Rouge River’s restoration.
The purpose of the summit is to emphasize some of the larger-scale Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) projects funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The GLRI has provided more than $60 million for nearly 90 on‐the‐ground restoration projects in Southeast Michigan in just its first three years, FY 2010‐2012.
Southeast Michigan is home to a diverse group of entities that have proactively restored the ecosystems around which they live and work. Five areas – the Rouge River, the Detroit River, the Clinton River, the River Raisin, and the St. Clair River are designated as Areas of Concern (AOC) because of their history of contamination. The restoration of these “historically contaminated areas,“ as well as the region in general, have been led by numerous watershed groups, such as the Huron River Watershed Council, the Clinton River Watershed Council, Friends of the Rouge, the Alliance of Rouge Communities and stakeholders such as the Great Lakes Commission, Macomb County, Wayne County, the City of Detroit and SEMCOG. This celebration will recognize the successes of these dedicated groups and look to the future to continue their works.
These watershed groups and other stakeholders will share information on the variety of ecological restoration efforts they completed. Participants will be given an opportunity to meet and interact with regional leaders and gain a better appreciation of the magnitude of water restoration activities conducted in SE Michigan. In addition, participants will have a chance to talk to those individuals who are working closely on the projects.
The keynote speech will be given by Cameron Davis, Senior Advisor to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator and Jon Allan, Director of the Michigan Office of the Great Lakes will conduct a walking interview by Jon Allan of each restoration group. The two main funding arms, EPA and NOAA, will provide an overview of where Southeast Michigan fits globally and locally in the national restoration efforts and what they see coming in the future. The audience for this event will be local and state elected officials, NGOs, and citizens who have led the efforts for restoration in the region.
Click here to be introduced to the WRC
source: Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash
