Friends of the Detroit River

06/18/2026

Grab a friend and join us THIS Saturday, June 20, for our monthly kayak cleanup on Belle Isle! 🛶

Enjoy exploring the canals of Belle Isle while paddling against plastic pollution and helping . Some kayaks are available but you can also BYOB (bring your own BOAT)! 😎 All other cleanup supplies are provided.

Meet us behind the Belle Isle Aquarium for check-in. Kids are welcome with an adult chaperone.

06/16/2026

There is still time to support your Detroit River and enter our concert ticket giveaway!

Make a gift of $40 or more to our Mid-Year Appeal, you will be entered to win TWO tickets to see Jack Johnson at Pine K**b on July 10.

Your donation helps keep programs like community cleanups, kayaking events, and environmental education opportunities free and accessible for everyone in our community.

💙 Give today and your gift will be MATCHED dollar-for-dollar, up to $2,500, thanks to the Johnson Ohana Foundation. Double your impact while helping protect and improve the Detroit River for future generations!

Donate by heading to www.detroitriver.org/donate

06/12/2026

More on Sibley Prairie and its significance. To learn more about the efforts to Save Sibley Prairie, visit savesibleyprairie.org

Season 6, Episode 5. Host Karl Ziomek speaks with Jack Smiley- Mich...

06/12/2026

Keep up the good work, Save Sibley Prairie Coalition and friends!

06/11/2026

Come celebrate National Canoe and Kayak Day with us! Last year we had a blast and a huge turnout, so mark your calendar because it's only a few weeks away! 🛶

📅 Friday, June 26
🕑 2:00pm - 6:00pm
📍 Lake Okonoka on Belle Isle

Some kayaks will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis, but you can bring your own paddle device! This event is FREE. Registration is encouraged, but not required. To learn more and register, visit www.detroitriver.org/events

06/11/2026

New to kayaking? This one's for you!

Join us on July 25 for a beginner-friendly kayaking adventure exploring the scenic canals of Gibraltar. This relaxed paddle is a great opportunity to build confidence on the water while enjoying one of Downriver's unique waterways.

Participants must provide their own equipment, including:
• A kayak (sit-in kayaks must have bulkheads)
• A properly fitting life jacket (PFD)

Space is limited to just 20 participants, so register early to secure your spot.

Claim your spot today and discover Gibraltar from a whole new perspective!

Register here: https://www.detroitriver.org/events/rowing-downriver

06/10/2026

Unfortunately, we have made the decision to cancel this Saturday's Strolling Downriver event in Ecorse.

Thank you to everyone who planned to join us. We appreciate your support and hope to see you at one of our upcoming Downriver Linked Greenways events soon.

Stay tuned for more opportunities to explore Downriver with us!

06/10/2026

We're often asked "what is Canada doing for the river?", well the short answer is they're doing a lot! Yesterday we got to celebrate all the progress that's been made for this important binational waterway. We can't do this work alone and are grateful for our partners in Michigan and Ontario!

To learn more about Canada's efforts on the Detroit River visit detroitriver.ca

06/10/2026

Did you know? The Detroit River is home to over 65 species of fish!

Bass, catfish, muskellunge, sunfish and more (even lake sturgeon!) can be found in the Detroit River.

While much of the river is industrialized, recent efforts by local agencies, including Michigan Department of Natural Resources, have resulted in restored fish habitat along the 32-mile long waterway.

Ready to start fishing? Join OAC staff for FREE Hook, Line and Sinker fishing classes on select Saturday mornings from 9-11 a.m. This program is recommended for ages 3 or older.

Please add your name to our Interest Form (below) to receive notifications about the OAC’s drop-in schedule for Hook, Line and Sinker programs. Notifications will be emailed on Thursdays only for the weeks when the Saturday program is planned.

The DNR offers Hook, Line and Sinker classes at state parks throughout Michigan. To learn more about additional locations, visit the DNR Fishing classes webpage.

OAC Hook Line and Sinker Interest Form: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=h3D71Xc3rUKWaoku9HIl0T0Wqq22HHNHs2DkGhPltudUMlVXWjFaTE1SS1ozVUVNREFLSFVEUENPWS4u

Learn more about Detroit River fish: http://detroitriver.ca/learntofish/

Discover how the Detroit River habitat is being restored: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/revitalizing-detroit-river-ecosystem-great-lakes-fisheries

Outdoor Adventure Center Fishing Program overview: https://www.michigan.gov/oac/experience/fishing

06/09/2026

It's Great Lakes and Fresh Water Week and what better way to celebrate than with EPA's and EGLE's announcement of a $10 million Detroit River cleanup investment! 🌎

FDR staff attended Monday's press conference with partners at William G. Milliken State Park & Harbor, where EPA's Anne Vogel and EGLE's Phil Roos spoke on upcoming sediment projects, and our very own Riverkeeper, Bob Burns, talked about the immense value of sediment remediation and habitat restoration work to improve water quality in the river. We are so excited about this investment and look forward to collaborating with partners to keep momentum flowing into the future! 💧

To learn more about the EPA and EGLE announcement, visit https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-and-partners-announce-projects-clean-detroit-area-waterways