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Home , Detroit River, Joe Louis Arena

id you know that This photo, taken in 1993, of 1,500-acre in people from all over the , shows the result of 50 years of disposal of North America alkaline byproducts, primarily from the manufacture of soda come to the Detroit Dmetropolitan area to fish, hunt, ash and other lime-based products. BASF Corporation Photo sail, and go birding? Some examples: •The hosts national tournaments offering $350,000 in prize money. The largest walleye (13.2 pounds) ever caught in a Professional Walleye Trail tour- nament came from the river. •The annual Pointe Mouillee Waterfowl Festival attracts thousands of people each fall to pursue their pas- sion of hunting and wildlife art. •More than 1,000 sailboat races and rowing regattas are held in the area each year. •The lower Detroit River hosts an annual Hawk Fest because it is one of the three best spots to watch hawks in North America and the pre- Heritage mier site east of the . The Detroit River is North Preserved America's only International Heritage River system and is now home to the continent's Along Detroit River only international wildlife refuge. The area offers world- class water, wildlife, heritage, This photo shows Fighting Island in 2003 after rehabilita- and recreational opportuni- tion efforts that earned BASF Corporation the 2004 ties, and is a major source of Environmental Achievement Award of the community pride. Environmental Management Association. BASF Corporation The area is becoming an Photo international model for pre- serving and enhancing the quality of life, which helps businesses achieve competi- tive advantage because they can offer employees opportu- nities available in few other places. "The Detroit River is a beau- tiful ecological mosaic, made up of hundreds of species of plants and animals and many unique habitats," said David Howell, chairman of the Friends of the Detroit River. "Today, the Detroit River mosa- ic shines a little brighter because we have preserved Humbug Island and Marsh, the last mile of natural shoreline

26 AUGUST 2004 MICHIGAN OUT-OF-DOORS on the U.S. mainland of the Detroit River, for future generations." International wildlife The Detroit River/ area is the intersection of two major North American flyways. Waterfowl and refuge at heart of historic other birds come to rest, nest, and feed along the shoreline of the many islands and marshes. Indeed, 27 waterway's rebirth. species of waterfowl, 17 species of raptors (hawks, owls, and eagles), 48 By JOHN H. HARTIG Refuge Manager, Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge species of other non-raptors (loons, warblers, and neotropical shorebirds), acquired for the refuge. Forty-four by the federal Migratory Bird and 117 species of fish are found in or acres of waterfront property on the Conservation Commission to con- migrate through the Detroit River. lower Detroit River in Trenton was serve important lands as part of the The Detroit River has been recog- acquired by Wayne County from National Wildlife Refuge System. nized for its biodiversity in the North DaimlerChrysler Corporation to serve In addition, BASF Corporation has American Waterfowl Management as the gateway to the refuge, including made significant ecological improve- Plan, the United Nations Convention trails, a visitors center, administrative ments to the 1,500-acre Fighting on Biological Diversity, the Western offices for the refuge, outdoor class- Island, another mid-river landmark, in Hemispheric Shorebird Reserve room, wildlife viewings stations, and an award-winning program certified Network, and the Biodiversity more. by the Wildlife Habitat Council. BASF Investment Area Program of Humbug Island and Marsh have also helped to convert a former Environment and the U.S. been preserved for recreational and brownfield in Wyandotte into a park Environmental Protection Agency. conservation purposes as a result of with a nationally recognized rowing These unique attributes of the efforts by a citizens coalition that facility, trails, and a golf course. Detroit River led U.S. Rep. John included the Friends of the Detroit DTE Energy has signed a coopera- Dingell, D-Michigan, to write legisla- River and Michigan United tive management agreement for 600 tion that created the Detroit River Conservation Clubs. In May, Governor acres of land at its Fermi Power Plant, International Wildlife Refuge in Jennifer M. Granholm formally agreed helped develop greenway trails, December 2001. In barely three to have the federal government pur- enhanced habitat at its facilities, and years, so much has happened. chase the 409½-acre marsh as part of helped plant more than a million Mud Island was donated by the wildlife refuge. trees. Solutia, Inc., a chemical compa- National Steel Corporation (now U.S. Funds that hunters contribute by ny, has rehabilitated 25 acres of water- Steel) to the refuge. was buying federal duck stamps are used front property for wildlife habitat and Find Out More http://www.mac-web.org/GreaterDetroitAHR/DiscoverOurWildSide.htm http://www.tellusnews.com/ahr/

HONORING OUR DETROIT RIVER: CARING FOR OUR HOME edited by John H. Hartig, published by Cranbrook Institute of Science, Distributed by Press (1-800/WSU-READ or http://wsupress.wayne.edu). ISBN 0- 87737-044-3, $29.95. Paperback, 234 pages, black and white photographs. Honoring Our Detroit River gives a comprehensive look at the Detroit River like none ever given before. It tells the story of the relationship between the river and the people of Michigan from the days of Native American trade, to commercial exploitation and pollution, to current projects to bring it back to life. The collection contains essays by a group of 19 scientists, administrators, and academics and provides a wealth of pictures, charts, and tables to reference. The editor, Hartig writes, "Dramatic improvements have occurred in the Detroit River, and it is now an invaluable, multi-faceted resource that serves as the foundation of local economies, provides numerous recreational and historical opportunities and ecological values, and enhances 'quality of life...' To fully comprehend and appreciate the significance of a place and our relationship to it, we must learn about it, understand it, respect it, honor it, and eventually care for it as our home." For anyone who calls home or for anyone who is just interested in keeping

Book Review our waters healthy, this book is well worth the read.—MW

MICHIGAN OUT-OF-DOORS AUGUST 2004 27 enhanced aquatic habitat along its shoreline. Ford Motor Company has rebuilt its Rouge Plant in Dearborn, including installing the world's largest living roof that will save millions of dollars in maintenance, replacement, and water-quality compliance costs. This world-class example of sustainable manufacturing is now open for public tours. And the list goes on. Southeast Michigan is now being recognized internationally for its pub- lic-private partnerships for conserva- tion. Businesses are making major This 13.2-pound walleye from investments in their home in an effort the Detroit River was the largest to enhance the quality of life, remain ever caught in a Professional competitive, and help attract and Walleye Trail fishing tournament. retain the next generation of employ- Photo by Mike Barkley, ees. Walleye Federation U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Gail Norton, in a September the Detroit RiverWalk with seed 27 speech along the Detroit River, money of over $500 million. It is to be noted that "this refuge is an outstand- completed in time for the 2006 ing model for promoting partner- SuperBowl. ships" for the entire national wildlife The gateway to the Detroit River refuge system. "It's a great example of International Wildlife Refuge is being everyone working together," she said. built on the waterfront in Trenton Coupled with these efforts to reha- adjacent to Humbug Island and bilitate and enhance habitats has been Marsh. Visitors and residents will be the effort to build a regional greenway able to or kayak through the trail system to improve access to the refuge or around Belle Isle. river and refuge and to provide more Southeast Michigan was labeled as recreational opportunities. The vision part of the Rust Belt in the 1970s is to have an interconnected green- when the country's industrial heart- way trail system from Lake St. Clair to land became noted for abandoned Lake Erie, up tributaries such as the factories, high unemployment, and Rouge, Ecorse, and Huron , and overall decline. Most rivers and lakes across to Canada. in the Rust Belt were polluted, and In the last four years, 20 greenway southeast Michigan's were no excep- projects have either been completed tion. During the 1960s, the Rouge or are under construction, including River became infamous as one of the once-in-300-year opportunity to three tributaries to catch build the 3.5-mile Detroit RiverWalk on fire. The others also were "working between Arena in Detroit rivers"—the Cuyahoga at Cleveland in and the Belle Isle Bridge. Ohio and the Buffalo in New York. The Community Foundation for Also during the 1960s, pollution of Southeastern Michigan has estab- Lake Erie was on the front cover of lished a five-year, $25 million several national magazines. GreenWays Initiative, the only one of As a result of dramatic improve- its kind in the country, to help com- ments on the Detroit River, its tribu- munities realize this regional green- taries, and Lake Erie, bald eagles have ways vision. returned to the Detroit River and stur- So have you seen it? Major things geon successfully spawn there after are happening in Detroit and down- decades of absence. I river to reconnect people to water *** resources, promote outdoor recre- The author was recently appointed by the ational opportunities, and enhance U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as manager of the the quality of life. The Detroit Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge. He Riverfront Conservancy is building previously was the American Heritage River navigator assigned to the Detroit River. 28 AUGUST 2004 MICHIGAN OUT-OF-DOORS