Last updated: November 2024
In 2018, the City of Detroit implemented a drainage charge to help cover the costs of capturing, conveying, pumping, treating, and safely returning combined sewage to the Detroit and Rouge Rivers (1). The charge is calculated based on each parcel’s impact on the sewer system, particularly by measuring impervious acreage (1). Since then, this fee has posed significant challenges for one group in particular: Detroit’s houses of worship (2). Churches, with their large roofs and parking lots, face higher monthly drainage charges, creating financial strain for many faith leaders (2). To support these institutions, Sacred Grounds has been providing grants, labor, and design assistance to install projects that reduce water bills and drainage fees (2). Sacred Grounds collaborates with the National Wildlife Federation, Friends of the Rouge, and Sierra Club of Michigan to implement these projects through the city’s green credit program (2). A recent initiative involved installing four rain gardens located on the perimeter of St. Suzanne Our Lady Gate of Heaven Church (3). These bioretention gardens, funded by several private and public actors and led by Detroit Future City, diverts water from 20 large downspouts, redirecting an estimated 500,000 gallons of runoff annually away from the municipal sewer system (3, 4). In addition to managing water, the gardens foster a thriving habitat for pollinators and adds beauty to the area (3). St. Suzanne’s commitment to environmental education includes engaging over 130 youth and adults in training programs that build pathways to STEAM careers and opportunities where local residents are often underrepresented (4). The church also features an innovative, eco-friendly outdoor classroom developed by students, further supporting their sustainability mission (4).
St. Suzanne Cody-Rouge Community Ctr. Rain Garden
https://detroitstormwater.org/projects/st-suzanne-cody-rouge-community-ctr-rain-garden
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Green areas for water management
- Rain gardens
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
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
- Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
- Inclusive governance
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Environmental education
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Climate-Related Hazards
- Urban flooding (stormwater)
- Environmental Degradation
- Physical water retention and availability
Key priorities
Climate action (adaptation and/or mitigation), Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration), Social Justice and community
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Creation of any other green urban spaces, Creation of semi-natural blue areas, Implementation of green areas for water management (e.g. rain gardens), Knowledge creation and awareness raising, Educational and awareness raising programs
Project objectives
To provide financial relief to places of worship impacted by Detroit's drainage charge through grants and rainwater diversion projects.
To support climate change adaptation by creating gardens that reduce stormwater runoff into Detroit's sewer system.
To partner with the church’s summer youth program, fostering environmental education and hands-on experience in implementing the rain garden.
To raise awareness of environmental impacts through extended community dialogue.
To integrate environmental education into the core programs at St. Suzanne Church.
To install gardens that enhance the campus’s beauty and attract a diverse range of pollinators. (2,3)
Implementation activities
To address the existing challenges of higher drainage fees, stormwater management and environmental awareness the project engaged in a variety of activities such as:
1. Establishing a Scared Grounds project at St. Suzanne with the support of Friends of the Rouge, National Wildlife Federation (NWF), Sierra Club Michigan Chapter, Detroit Future City and the Erb Family Foundation (2-3).
2. Installed four rain gardens on the St. Suzanne to divert 20 large building downspouts and an estimated 500,000 gallons of water annually from municipal combined sewer overflow systems (4).
3. Incorporated the summer youth program at the church to install the gardens (2).
4. Included more than 130 youth and adults in education and training programs to develop both educational pipelines into STEAM careers and employment/opportunities in these growing fields where our residents are underrepresented (4).
5. provided an innovative and environmentally friendly outdoor classroom developed by students (4).
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Implement sustainable urban drainage schemes to manage stormwater
Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts
Yes
Specification of climate or environmentally vulnerable communities
Communities near industrial areas
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity restoration:
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
- Public engagement
Main beneficiaries
- Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)
- Citizens or community groups
- Young people and children
- Marginalized groups: Children, young people or youth groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Led by non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Non-government organisation/civil society
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Dissemination of information and education
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The St. Suzanne Campus provided the land for the rain garden installations and plays a key role in managing the related environmental and educational programs (3). The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) established the Sacred Grounds program and partnered with Friends of the Rouge and the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter to create these rain gardens, which help manage stormwater on large properties and provide financial support through green credits (2). Funding for the project came from the Erb Family Foundation (3).
Detroit Future City, a local think tank, led the Land + Water Works initiative, which supported the garden installations (3). Community involvement also played a vital role, with local youth participating through the church’s summer camp program to help implement the project (2).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(The project is part of the Land + Water WORKS Coalition which was formed in 2017 to provide Detroit residents with the resources needed to become better stewards of our environment, as well as operate as a liaison that engages residents around green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) opportunities and stewardship (7). )
Type of enablers
NGOs/Community groups driving the implementation
Financing
Total cost
Less than €10,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public national budget
- Corporate investment
- Funds provided by non-governmental organization (NGO)
- Private Foundation/Trust
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of land
- Provision of labour
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Public authorities (e.g. land, utility services)
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved stormwater management
- Achieved improved stormwater management
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Achieved increased green space area
- Enhanced support of pollination
- Expected enhanced support of pollination
Economic impacts
- Increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions)
- Expected increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions)
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Increased visibility and opportunity for marginalised groups or indigenous peoples
- Expected increased visibility and opportunity for marginalised groups or indigenous peoples
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
- Achieved increased support for education and scientific research
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.
City of Detroit (2018). DRAINAGE CHARGE myth vs fact . [Source link];
2.
Friends of the Rouge Sacred Grounds. [Source link];
3.
Detroit Stormwater Hub (2023). St. Suzanne Cody-Rouge Community Ctr. Rain Garden. [Source link];
4.
Poirier, K. (2023). Sacred Spaces: St. Suzanne Our Lady Gate of Heaven, Detroit. [Source link];
5.
Friends of the Rouge (n.d.). Detroit Stormwater Specialist Training® (SWST). [Source link];
6.
State of the Detroit Child (n.d.). State of the Detroit Child . [Source link];
7.
Detroit Future City (n.d.). Land + Water WORKS Coalition. [Source link];
Rain Gardens
https://therouge.org/detroit-swst/
Rain Gardens
https://therouge.org/detroit-swst/
Rain Gardens
https://therouge.org/detroit-swst/
Rain Gardens
https://therouge.org/detroit-swst/
Rain Gardens
https://therouge.org/detroit-swst/
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.