![]() When it opens in 2025, it will surely be a place where memories are made. ![]() This new park has been described as transformational for Detroit’s west riverfront and Southwest Detroit. Centennial Park – which promises to be the best yet from a habitat perspective.Īs I approached Wilson Park, I slowed the speed of my boat to get a better look at the work underway. Thus far, eight soft shoreline projects have been incorporated into the RiverWalk, including the newest section under construction called the Ralph C. Today, natural limestone rip rap of varying sizes with interspersed plants is a type of soft shoreline that is better for habitat and much more aesthetically pleasing.įor the last 20 years, the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy has championed soft shorelines in creating the city’s new waterfront porch called the Detroit RiverWalk. Historically, re-purposed broken concrete with protruding rebar was also a standard shoreline practice that was not ideal for habitat nor aesthetically pleasing. Experience showed that if habitat champions were not at the table when key waterfront decisions were made, the standard practice would be to harden shorelines with seawalls or steel sheet piling. Where do they feed and rest? What happened to the wetlands and spawning and nursery grounds of fishes? Where along these hardened shorelines can invertebrates live? What have humans done to the place they call home?Ībout 25 years ago, natural resource managers and scientists started recognizing the critical importance of getting habitat champions involved up-front in waterfront redevelopment projects to incorporate principles of soft shorelines into future designs. I could not help but think about the shoreline from a fish and wildlife perspective. Mile after mile I passed hardened shorelines made of concrete seawalls, steel sheet piling, or repurposed broken concrete with rebar protruding in many directions. But as I continued my journey downstream, it was obvious that I was in a major urban area with a long history of waterfront commerce and industry. It was so incredibly peaceful and truly captured the beauty of the Detroit River. Because it was early morning it was relatively quiet, with only the “kree, kree” sounds of a few ringed-billed gulls, the clanging of some sailboat halyards, and the low-pitched hum of the boat motor. Upon entering the Detroit River, I headed west and downstream toward downtown Detroit. The water’s surface was like a mirror reflecting distant images of the islands and waters, reminiscent of Vincent Van Gogh or Claude Monet’s water-themed paintings. It was a beautiful summer morning, and the weather was ideal – fair and calm. ![]() Clair, Windsor’s uninhabited Peche Isle, and Detroit’s 980-acre island park called Belle Isle. But soon I arrived at the confluence with the Detroit River and was greeted with the stark contrast of the natural beauty of Lake St. The first thing I noticed was the steel-hardened shoreline of Conner’s Creek. The starting point for this riverine tour was Bayview Yacht Club on Conner’s Creek which flows into the upper Detroit River. Shoreline hardening, especially seawalls and steel sheet piling, provided no habitat for the fish, wildlife, plants, and invertebrate species who call the river home.įast forward to today: the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy is now a leader in softening the shoreline by using ecological principles and practices to achieve stabilization and safety while enhancing habitat and improving aesthetics.Ĭurious to know more, I spent a recent late summer morning navigating a boat down the river to see the shoreline firsthand. This stabilized the shoreline, helped protect against erosion, and allowed for safe industrial and commercial development.īut it came at a steep price. As such, its shoreline was progressively hardened with concrete seawalls, steel sheet piling, or re-purposed broken concrete. Publishing the author’s views and assertions does not represent endorsement by Great Lakes Now or Detroit Public Television.įor over 100 years the Detroit River was perceived as a working waterway that supported industry and commerce. Great Lakes Moment is a monthly column written by Great Lakes Now Contributor John Hartig. ![]() Collection 4 – Lesson Plans from Our Monthly PBS Program.Collection 3 – Virtual Field Trips in the Great Lakes.Collection 2 – Threats to the Great Lakes.Collection 1 – An Exploration of the Great Lakes.Beneath the Surface: The Line 5 Pipeline in the Great Lakes.Politics, Policy, Environmental Justice.The Catch: News about the Lakes You Love.Ask the Great Lakes Now Team Your PFAS Question.Ask Your Question About the Great Lakes.
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