This was a pilot project restoring 280 lineal feet of Detroit River coastal wetlands in Gibraltar Bay. This effort took a scientific approach to restoration and involved all the stakeholders in the Lower Detroit River. The project was done by the Grosse Ile Nature and Land Conservancy funded by a grant from the Downriver Community Conference with the support of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service through the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, the Detroit River American Heritage River Initiative, Friends of the Detroit River, and other local groups.
Nativescape developed the engineering and landscape plans, applied for the necessary permits with MDEQ and USACE, coordinated construction, and developed establishment and long-term monitoring using local school groups and university students. Invasive species eradication involved researching and trying new techniques; we were successful in eliminating Phragmites from the site. Local seed from native Michigan plant community types were harvested and plants were grown specifically for this project. Volunteers were used along with contractors to provide educational opportunities and to off set costs.
