In April, the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) released a set of report cards assessing the health of five major rivers in Southeast Michigan individually, as well as for the overall region. The effort integrated social, economic, and environmental data to provide a holistic view of the current state of the Clinton, Detroit, Huron, Raisin, and Rouge rivers. Overall, Southeast Michigan scored 49%, a C grade, showing the region in moderate health. Of the river-specific scores, the Huron River had the highest score overall, 58%, a C+. The Rouge River had the lowest overall score, 37%, a D+. The other rivers had Cs (Raisin and Clinton) and C- grades (Detroit).
These first-ever report cards for Southeast Michigan's rivers drew input from over 100 stakeholders including scientists, government officials, business owners, and local community members. Thirty-three indicators in six categories—Water, Economy, Ecosystem, Human Health, Infrastructure, and Recreation—determined the scores for river and watershed health. One of the more urgent regional issues highlighted by the report cards is heavy flooding, a threat that is amplified by climate change. Replacing forests and wetlands with buildings and pavement, channelizing and burying streams, and building in floodplains have made floods more common and extreme. Storm water increasingly overwhelms aging drains and infrastructure. Sewage spills impact water quality and can cause human health concerns, impede recreation opportunities, and harm fish populations. The Huron River Watershed Council and the other four watershed groups are urging decision-makers to use report card results to prioritize investments in river restoration and management. Conditions might be moderate overall, but the grades reflect known problems that need attention from stakeholders at all levels. Learn about the data and grades at MichiganReportCards.org.
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