For the past 10 years, under a contract with the Wayne County Department of Environment, CDM has managed the 438-square-mile, federally funded Rouge River Wet Weather Demonstration Program. From complex modeling issues to essential grass roots public support, this program provides a comprehensive approach to managing a watershed that encompasses habitats for heron and trout in the headwaters, while being the historic home of the automobile industry at the river's downstream end.
The program's goal is to restore and protect water quality in the Rouge River using a watershed-based approach to control combined sewer overflows (CSOs), stormwater, and other non-point sources of pollution in urban areas coupled while implementing watershed management practices to preserve the headwater's quality. Ten major CSO detention basins—totaling 60 million gallons—have been completed. Six communities have completed or substantially completed sewer separation projects, and more than 130 community stormwater control projects have been completed or are underway. The watershed management efforts are supported by an extensive public information and outreach campaign.
This project won the 2002 Superior Achievement Award from the American Academy of Environmental Engineers.
CLIENT: Wayne County Department of Environment
LOCATION: Wayne County, Michigan