Wet weather control demonstration activities in southeast Michigan: some lessons learned

Abstract

Wayne County's Rouge River National Wet Weather Demonstration Project (Rouge Project) is a comprehensive program to restore the water quality of the Rouge River, a tributary to the Detroit River in southeast Michigan. The Rouge River Watershed is largely urbanized with over 1.5 million people in 48 communities and 3 countries. Sources of pollution to the river include industrial and municipal point sources, storm water runoff, combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and other minor sources. While the Rouge Project first focused on controlling the 150 CSO discharges the focus shifted to other sources of pollution, such as storm water in order to restore the river. This paper describes the lessons learned in building institutional and regulatory frameworks necessary to accommodate a watershed approach to wet weather pollution management. Also described are the consensus building strategies which were used to engage numerous stakeholders, provide them opportunities to influence decisions, and participate in the Rouge River restoration. The Rouge Project is demonstrating that a watershed-based pollution management program is achieving faster and more cost-effective restoration and protection of water resources.