Water Week 2009
  

SEMCOG, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, and the Southeast Michigan Partners for Clean Water held the fifth annual Water Week from June 6–14 to celebrate, learn about, and enhance our abundant water resources in Southeast Michigan through recreation, education, and stewardship activities.

A gubernatorial proclamation extended this year's Water Week to a statewide event to "support the tremendous outreach efforts of so many organizations working together to protect our water resources for the citizens of Michigan and to practice sustainable use of our valuable nature reserves." The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality highlighted Water Week 2009 in an Environmental Spotlight fact sheet.

The Spring 2009 issue of the Michigan Water Environment Association's MWEA Matters contains an article titled Southeast Michigan Prepares for Water Week and National Drinking Water Week. The article includes information on what several Southeast Michigan communities do each spring to improve their water quality. Approximately 100 Water Week activities were held throughout Southeast Michigan this year.  Information and images from some of these events is below.

Rouge Rescue 2009 – Friends of the Rouge
June 6, 2009 

Friends of the Rouge's Rouge Rescue is an annual river clean-up event that provides an opportunity for hands-on involvement in the restoration and protection of the Rouge River. Since 1986, thousands of volunteers have come to the river on the first Saturday in June. They come from area businesses, local governments, school groups, service organizations, churches, homeowner groups and concerned citizens. Work sites may be along small streams or main branches of the Rouge, and volunteers spend their time removing debris from the river and its flood plain. A major effort involves managing the wood in the river using the woody debris 101 method to help reduce streambank erosion and slow down the flow of the river after storms, and create instream habitat.

Canton River Day 2009 – Canton Department of Public Works
June 6, 2009 

The Canton Department of Public Works hosted its River Day 2009 events at ten different sites along the Rouge River.  Activities included river cleaning, invasive plant removal, guided tours, bird house building, and wildlife exhibits. Below are photos from Canton River Day 2009.

River Day 2009 – Macomb County Public Works
June 13, 2009

More than 30 volunteers, ranging in ages from 5 to the 60s, participated in the Macomb County Public Works Office annual River Day cleanup on Saturday, June 13, 2009 as part of Water Week 2009. Public Works Office crew chiefs estimated that about 3,000 pounds, of trees, logs and man-made debris, such as tires, cans and bottles, was removed from the North Branch near the Public Works property.

River Day 2009 – Clinton River Watershed Council
June 13, 2009

CRCW's River Day is designed to encourage appreciation and recreational use of the waterways of the Clinton River and Lake St. Clair, and to celebrate the leadership of local citizens, organizations, and communities whose efforts are critical to protecting and enhancing the overall quality of the Clinton River watershed. This year, more than 2,200 citizens were engaged in river clean ups, storm drain stenciling, fishing derbies, native plant shopping, a duck regatta, nature hikes, tree plantings, and garden maintenance projects. A total of 43 events were held in Lapeer, Oakland, and Macomb counties.

In coordination with the State of Michigan’s Free Fishing Weekend, the St. Clair County Health Department sponsored its 5th annual River Day with 14 events taking place simultaneously across the rivers, lakes and bays of St. Clair County. There was something for everyone on River Day - events ranged from fishing clinics, canoe rides, kayak races, stream cleanups, a native plant sale and guided nature hikes. River Day is all about showing some love to the water! Visit St. Clair County's River Day Web Site for more information.

Beach Party Celebration 2009 – St. Clair Shores Waterfront Advisory Council
June 13, 2009 

The St. Clair Shores Waterfront Advisory Committee hosted the Second Annual Beach Party Celebration at Blossom Heath Beach. This year's celebration was a family event that featured environmental speakers discussing ways that citizens can improve the water qaulity of Lake St. Clair.

Auburn Hills Fishing Derby
June 13, 2009 

In celebration of River Day 2009, the City of Auburn Hills held its 6th Annual Fishing Derby at Riverside Park. More than 60 children participated, with a total attendance of more than 120. The young fishing enthusiasts had to test their patience in trying to catch one of the 750 rainbow trout the city released into the river for the day's event. This year, a record number of participants caught fish.