Last updated: October 2024
The Far West Detroit neighborhood faces significant challenges with its aging infrastructure. The neighborhood’s stormwater and sewer systems are combined into a single system that is only capable of handling a limited volume. During heavy rain events, the system's capacity is exceeded, causing excess stormwater and untreated sewage to overflow into the Rouge River, which negatively impacts the environment (Ref. 1). Detroit is investing $40 million in a transformative stormwater management system in the Far West neighborhood near Rouge Park. Described by the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department as the largest project of its kind, it will redirect 98 million gallons of rainwater and snowmelt into two new detention basins and a renovated sewer system. The new wastewater system is expected to significantly reduce water volumes in Detroit’s combined sewer system during heavy rainfall and to provide flood relief for approximately 1,200 homes that have experienced flooding in recent years. This expansion, informed by community feedback, marks one of the city's most notable investments in green infrastructure to improve its overextended wastewater management system. The project has been planned through extensive studies and community coordination since 2016, with construction set to occur in three phases, extending through 2026. Crews broke ground on the South Basin, North Basin, and sewer overhaul in July 2022, and progress is reportedly on track. In addition to the basins, the stormwater management initiative includes neighborhood improvements to enhance recreational opportunities for residents and visitors alike. Planned enhancements in Rouge Park will introduce wetland spaces with native flora, creating greener, more inviting areas in the community for residents to enjoy (Ref. 2).
Design rendering of the west warren section of the stormwater improvement project
OHM Advisors
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- In-land wetlands, peatlands, swamps, and moors
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change adaptation
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Flood protection
- Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
- Improvements to water quality
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
- Inclusive governance
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Climate-Related Hazards
- Urban flooding (stormwater)
- Environmental Degradation
- Poor water quality
Key priorities
Climate action (adaptation and/or mitigation), Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration)
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Creation of any other green urban spaces, Maintenance and management of urban nature, Maintenance or upgrade of exisiting green spaces (e.g. parks), Creation of semi-natural blue areas, Implementation of green areas for water management (e.g. rain gardens), Creation of artificial wetlands, Protection of natural ecosystems, Habitat restoration, Improved governance of green or blue areas, Establishment of inclusive governance mechanisms involving local communities
Project objectives
To create wetland park spaces in planted with native flora that enhance natural habitats and environmental resilience in Rouge Park
To reduce sewage overflows into the Rouge River, protecting water resources and reducing pollution.
To improve the water quality of the Rouge River by effectively managing stormwater and reducing pollutants entering the system.
To reduce excess water in the sewer system during heavy rain events, thereby minimizing flood risk in the surrounding community.
To increase recreational opportunities for neighborhood residents and Detroiters by enhancing Rouge Park with features that improve the overall park experience
To involve the local community throughout the implementation process
(Ref.1,2)
Implementation activities
A meeting with community leaders was held in October 2019 to introduce the project. The first community-wide introduction was during a neighborhood meeting in February 2020. A virtual meeting to present the project's design progress and get community input was held virtually in May 2020. And, DWSD has hosted several smaller meetings with neighborhood leaders during Summer 2020 as well as other virtual meetings. Since 2022 the project progressed continuously and landscaping in the park area is now completed. For drainage improvements, storm sewer installation along Parkland and Belton has been completed, along with the combined sewer and storm sewer upgrades on Majestic and Sawyer. Water main upgrades across the neighborhood have also been successfully completed, including new installations and water service replacements.
In the South Basin, contractors have spread topsoil in preparation for tree, shrub, and seed planting. The area east of Outer Drive has also been topsoiled, with most planned trees, shrubs, and flowers already planted, signaling significant progress in the project’s landscape transformation. Planted with native Flora, the new basins plan to welcome residents and visitors to enjoy greener, inviting spaces in their community. As construction progresses, further community meetings are planned to continue collaboration regarding elements such as detailed planting selections for the basin areas.
(Ref.3,4)
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Implement sustainable urban drainage schemes to manage stormwater
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
- Restore native species
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
- Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) serves as the primary initiator, project overseer, and partial funder for the Far West Stormwater Project. Supporting the project financially is the Oakland County Water Resources Commission.
Major Contracting, a Detroit-based firm, has been awarded the contract to implement the project, working alongside other consulting and subcontracting firms, including Anglin Civil, Badger Daylighting, Bore Brothers, Bowens Excavating, Decima LLC, Monument Engineering, Natural Community Services, LLC, OHM Advisors, Preconstruction Media, Somerset Paving, and Survey Solutions, Inc.
Local residents, the Far West Civic Association, and Friends of Rouge Park have participated actively in community meetings, sharing their input on design aspects such as plant selections and other neighborhood enhancements, ensuring the project reflects community priorities and goals. (Ref.1, 2)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Yes
(DWSD has a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit obligation to significantly reduce combined sewer overflows by 2037 (Ref.1).)
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Type of enablers
Governance innovations (such as public private partnerships), Funds, subsidies or investment for GI/NBS in the city (available for the city or provided by the city)
Financing
Total cost
More than €4,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
- Public regional budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
No
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Storm / wave induced erosion and flooding
- Expected storm / wave induced erosion and flooding
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved water quality
- Expected improved water quality
- Increased protection against flooding
- Expected increased protection against flooding
- Improved stormwater management
- Expected improved stormwater management
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Expected increased green space area
Economic impacts
- Attraction of business and investment
- Achieved attraction of business and investment
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved liveability
- Expected improved liveability
- Improved access to urban green space
- Expected improved access to urban green space
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Expected gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs
Unknown
References
1.
Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (n.d.). Far West Detroit Stormwater Improvement Project. Accessed on September 26, 2024, [Source link];
2.
Civil and Environmental Engineering - University of Michigan (2024). Detroit’s Far West Neighborhood Stormwater Infrastructure Upgrade. Accessed on September 26, 2024, [Source link];
3.
Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (2024). Spring 2024 Update Far West Detroit Stormwater Improvement Project. [Source link];
4.
Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (2024). Construction update - September 2024. [Source link];
5.
Niche (n.d.). Far West Detroit. Accessed on September 26, 2024, [Source link];
6.
Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (2022). FAR WEST DETROIT STORMWATER IMPROVEMENT PROJECT Fact Sheet. [Source link];
7.
Tuser, C. (2022). $40 Million Detroit Water & Sewerage Department Project Underway. Stormwater Solutions, Accessed on September 27, 2024, [Source link];
8.
Rahal, S. (2022). Detroit breaks ground on $40 million Rouge Park stormwater project. Accessed on September 27, 2024, [Source link];
Far West Detroit
https://detroitmi.gov/news/40m-detroit-water-and-sewerage-department-project-increase-capacity-local-and-regional-sewer-system
Rouge Park Stormwater Basin
Ref.3
Far West Detroit
https://detroitmi.gov/news/40m-detroit-water-and-sewerage-department-project-increase-capacity-local-and-regional-sewer-system
Far West Detroit
https://detroitmi.gov/news/40m-detroit-water-and-sewerage-department-project-increase-capacity-local-and-regional-sewer-system
Far West Detroit
https://detroitmi.gov/news/40m-detroit-water-and-sewerage-department-project-increase-capacity-local-and-regional-sewer-system
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.