Senior Brunch and Learn: Rouge River Revived: How People Are Bringing Their River Back to Life

Name: Senior Brunch and Learn: Rouge River Revived: How People Are Bringing Their River Back to Life
Start: 2024-11-07T09:00:00-05:00
End: 2024-11-07T12:00:00-05:00
Location: DNR Outdoor Adventure Center

Schedule

Thu Nov 07 2024 at 09:00 am to 12:00 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

DNR Outdoor Adventure Center | Detroit, MI

Senior Brunch and Learn: Rouge River Revived: How People Are Bringing Their River Back to Life
Thursday, Nov. 7
9:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M.
During this monthly series for active aging adults, participants will have opportunities to meet our on-site educators, listen to guest presenters and take part in various natural resource-themed activities. All programs begin at 9 a.m. and include pastries, coffee and tea upon entry. At 9:30 a.m., presentations will begin, so sit back and enjoy your snack during an exciting and informative program, then wrap up with time to explore the OAC exhibits.
During the 1960s-early 1980s, the Rouge River was one of the most polluted streams in the Great Lakes Basin. Then in the mid-1980s a “tipping point” occurred that would change everything. First, an odor problem in Dearborn and Melvindale was discovered to be massive amounts of raw sewage decomposing in the Rouge River, resulting in depletion of dissolved oxygen in the river that produced hydrogen sulfide – the smell of rotten eggs. Second, a 23-year-old man fell into the river, swallowed water, and died of a waterborne disease called leptospirosis, or rat fever. The source again was raw sewage being discharged into the river. Health departments had no choice but to warn the public to avoid contact with the river. This book is the story of the response to that mid-1980s “tipping point” – how people overcame apathy and are working together to bring their river and its watershed back to life. It is a story that will inspire and give hope to all working to restore and protect watersheds in the place they call home.

Bio: Dr. John Hartig is a Visiting Scholar at the University of Windsor’s Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, serves on the Board of Directors of the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, and chairs the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan’s Great Lakes Way Advisory Committee. For 14 years, he served as Refuge Manager of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge. John has received numerous awards for his work, including being recognized as a 2022 Crain's Detroit Business Notable Leader in Sustainability, the 2015 Conservationist of the Year Award from the John Muir Association, and a 2010 Green Leader by the Detroit Free Press. He has authored or co-authored over 140 publications on the environment, including eight books. John’s recent book titled Waterfront Porch won a 2020 Next Generation Indie Book Award in the “nature/environment” category.
Cost is $8 per person; payment can be made for groups or individuals. Preregistration is required.

Click the "Tickets" link to register.