Current Issues – Rouge River Watershed

Decades of urban development have resulted in harmful changes that exceed the carrying capacity of natural systems in the Rouge River watershed. These changes include increased surface runoff, more water pollution, greater annual flow volumes in rivers and streams, increased erosion and sedimentation, channel instability, and loss of biodiversity. They are signs that the ability of the land and water to absorb the negative impacts of human activities is strained and cannot be sustained over the long-term unless fundamental changes are made. Rehabilitation of infrastructure and restoration of natural habitats to address these issues are underway, but these measures are expensive and time consuming.