Friends of the Rouge

Friends of the Rouge Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Friends of the Rouge, Environmental conservation organisation, 650 Church Street Suite 209, Plymouth, MI.

Friends of the Rouge (FOTR) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that was founded in 1986 to raise awareness about the need to clean up the Rouge River in southeast Michigan.

Curious about what lives in the Rouge River 🐛?At the Fall Bug Hunt, volunteers will visit sites throughout the headwater...
08/29/2026

Curious about what lives in the Rouge River 🐛?

At the Fall Bug Hunt, volunteers will visit sites throughout the headwaters of the watershed and search for a variety of aquatic invertebrates. The presence or absence of these streambed creatures reflects the quality of the water and habitat. No experience is needed, but pre-registration is required.

Date: Saturday, October 10th, 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Location: Meet at the Plymouth Arts & Recreation Complex

Register today: https://volunteer.bloomerang.co:443/JE/5i0hde0o1dw869

Thank you to the Alliance of Rouge Communities

Happy Fish Friday, Friends!Meet Bob Muller, fish expert of the Rouge River. It is because of Bob’s lifelong interest in ...
08/28/2026

Happy Fish Friday, Friends!

Meet Bob Muller, fish expert of the Rouge River. It is because of Bob’s lifelong interest in fish that lead to FOTR’s annual surveying of fish communities in the Rouge, and it is under his guidance that our monitoring team is prepared to continue to check in on the Rouge’s fish for years to come.

But fret not, there is always more to learn, and we are thankful to have Bob out in the river with us for every season!

Here are a few of the species Bob and the fish team caught this week - Northern Logperch, Northern Pike, Northern Hogsucker, Largemouth Bass, and the Common Carp.

Check back in next week as we begin to wind down the fish survey season!

On August 22nd Friends of the Rouge hosted its first ever Industrial Paddle Trip to launch from Fort Street Bridge Park ...
08/28/2026

On August 22nd Friends of the Rouge hosted its first ever Industrial Paddle Trip to launch from Fort Street Bridge Park in Detroit. Over two dozen paddlers launched from Fort Street Bridge Park and paddled downstream to Belanger Park. During the trip paddlers ventured around Zug Island. encountered several freighters servicing factories on the shoreline, and saw many of the unique drawbridges that cross the river.

Fort Street Bridge Park is Detroit’s only access point on the 29-mile Lower Rouge River Water Trail that spans from Canton to the Detroit River.

“Today is amazing. This is the first group to use the new universally accessible boat launch here at Fort Street Bridge Park,” said Herman Jenkins, Friends of the Rouge Trails Manager. “Without this launch, it is extremely difficult to access the river here in the industrial channel, especially for persons with disabilities or less experienced paddlers. We can’t wait to open the park to the general public in the months ahead.”

Other features newly installed at Fort Street Bridge Park include a kayak storage rack, fishing pier, tables, benches and soon a fire pit. Phase II is continuing to progress and is expected to be finished by the end of 2026.

Did you know? Fall is the perfect time to plant native! 👻🎃🍂Pre-order NOW to get beautiful native plants before the seaso...
08/27/2026

Did you know? Fall is the perfect time to plant native! 👻🎃🍂

Pre-order NOW to get beautiful native plants before the season's over! 🌼Save the date for pre-order pick-ups and same day shopping at our Fall Native Plant Market! Local plant vendors will be selling a variety of beautiful, deep-rooted native plants. 🌱Find what's right for your yard today! 🩵

Fall Native Plant Market: Saturday October 3, 10 AM - 1 PM
Location: Keep Growing Detroit 3100 Orleans St, Detroit 48207

Pre-order Your Native Plants Here: https://therouge.org/store/

🎉The Stormwater Education Event is this weekend! 💧Join your Friends, Jim Nash, Oakland County Water Resources Commission...
08/26/2026

🎉The Stormwater Education Event is this weekend! 💧

Join your Friends, Jim Nash, Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner, and the City Government of Birmingham, MI for an afternoon of education and bug fun. 💙See how stormwater moves through this community and why it matters. 💧Your FOTR monitoring team will be leading a bug hunt! You will see some of these important Rouge Critters up close and learn why we look for them. 🪳

Date: Saturday, August 29
Time: 12 PM - 3 PM
Where: Linden Park, Birmingham

See you at the park for the free, family friendly event! 🌿

🐜 Join your Friends for the 2026 Fall Bug Hunt! 🐛Volunteers visit sites throughout the headwaters of the watershed and s...
08/22/2026

🐜 Join your Friends for the 2026 Fall Bug Hunt! 🐛

Volunteers visit sites throughout the headwaters of the watershed and search for mayflies, stoneflies, and other aquatic invertebrates. The presence or absence of these streambed creatures reflects the quality of the water and habitat. No experience is needed, but pre-registration is required.

Date: Saturday, October 10th, 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Location: Meet at the Plymouth Arts & Recreation Complex

Register today: https://volunteer.bloomerang.co:443/JE/5i0hde0o1dw869

Thank you to the Alliance of Rouge Communities

Join your Friends in Plymouth for Kinder-GARDEN to learn about all gardening! We’ll go on a w**d hunt, discover native f...
08/20/2026

Join your Friends in Plymouth for Kinder-GARDEN to learn about all gardening! We’ll go on a w**d hunt, discover native flowers, and learn about pollinators 🐝🐛! Volunteers will discover some great gardening tips, proper w**ding techniques, the importance of native plants! All ages and gardening experience are welcome.

Date: Saturday, August 29th, 2026
Time: 9 am - 12 pm
Location: Plymouth Arts & Recreation Complex, 650 Church St, Plymouth, MI 48170

Register here: https://volunteer.bloomerang.co/JE/g9hubfjoafvphh

Join your friends this Friday and next Friday to plant perennials at Fort Street Bridge Park🌼🌿! You will be helping to c...
08/19/2026

Join your friends this Friday and next Friday to plant perennials at Fort Street Bridge Park🌼🌿! You will be helping to create a lasting impact by beautifying this park in Detroit as construction for it continues.

DATES: Friday, August 21st and Friday, August 28th
TIME: 10 am - 2 pm
Location: Fort Street Bridge Park, 12700 Denmark St, Detroit, MI 48217

No garden experience necessary! Register here: therouge.org/fort-st-planting

Downriver Delta CDC

Check out the progress at Phase II of Fort Street Bridge Park in Detroit! 💙The new Universally Accessible Launch has bee...
08/19/2026

Check out the progress at Phase II of Fort Street Bridge Park in Detroit! 💙

The new Universally Accessible Launch has been installed and is Detroit's only access point to the Lower Rouge River Water Trail. 💧 This Trailhead will be open to the public soon. In the meantime, join Friends of the Rouge August 22nd and be part of the first group to use this launch! 🚣

Use this link to sign up today: https://motorcitycanoerental.com/events.php

Join us for a morning of environmental Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics activities led by local organiz...
08/17/2026

Join us for a morning of environmental Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics activities led by local organizaitons to inspire future love and careers in the outdoors! 🌿

Who: Open for girls aged 10-16.
What: Stream Girls Career Day 🔬
When: Tuesday, August 25 from 10 AM - 2 PM
Where: Fort Street Bridge Park in Detroit 💙

To learn more and register, visit: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfzcs4pABEQJDSoZF7aOdvt76KHnwn5gK-hCIp2R9xC8ss2Vg/viewform

Black Girls Do Science We Fixin To Fish Cranbrook Institute of Science Detroit Bird Alliance

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650 Church Street Suite 209
Plymouth, MI
48170

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