United States Steel Site
Funded by: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Project Budget: $700,000
Start Date: September 2010
End Date: December 2013
The U. S. Steel (USS) project site is in the City of River Rouge, a highly industrialized part of the Detroit River, where much of the shoreline was hardened with steel and concrete seawalls. Because this site still retained some natural shoreline features, which would lend well to habitat restoration, it was selected for a habitat restoration project by the Detroit River Public Advisory Council. The project goal was to restore over 1,100 feet of emergent shoreline and 4.6 acres of upland habitat in partnership with USS.
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding was received by Friends of the Detroit River in the spring of 2010 to implement habitat enhancements along the Detroit River shoreline below USS's 80" rolling mill complex. Prior to this proposed project, USS representatives were already developing plans for restoration work on areas of their facility that were not being used for steel production. Partnering with FDR helped tremendously in getting funding approval for a joint restoration plan.
Starting in the fall of 2013, after project plans were developed and approved by stakeholders and permitting agencies, several habitat restoration design features were implemented to benefit reptiles, mammals, amphibians and waterfowl, along with local and migratory birds. Along the 1,100-foot shoreline, bank stabilization was completed by installing a series of 2 to 3-foot limestone boulders supplemented with over 200, native, live stake plantings. In several locations along the shoreline, sand ramps were created to allow for an area where turtles could exit the river and have a place to lay their eggs.
Another aspect of the project included the installation of several large snake hibernacula, which were dubbed "snake condos". These rock mounds, partially covered with soil, provide places that snake species, such as eastern fox snake and common garter snake, can use for cover and hibernation over the winter.
Along with removing several species of invasive plant material, new indigenous trees and shrubs were planted throughout the upland area. Wildflower seed and other forbs were sown to provide soil stabilization and to improve the upland habitat. In addition to the planting, bird nesting boxes were installed to provide additional nesting sites for local bird populations.
This project was completed by Friends of the Detroit River in partnership with the United States Steel Corporation and support from the Detroit River Public Advisory Council. Consulting services were provided by Environmental Consulting & Technology, Inc. Construction was conducted by Inland Lakes Landscaping Corporation with a significant in-kind match by USS. Since completion of this project in the fall of 2013, personnel from USS continues to monitor and maintain the site. In 2014, additional work was done to control the spread of invasive species.
