The most densely developed in the state, the rouge river watershed houses many underserved communities and holds a high number of stream crossings ( 1,950)

Each crossing is a potential source of pollution and bank degradation, holding inherent risk of negative impact. Most stream crossings in the great lakes region have not been assessed for effects on stream health, stability, or aquatic organism passage. Both fish and freshwater mussel communities depend on free passage along the river, yet many road crossings impede fish movements and fragment habitat. Inventorying road crossings in the lower tributaries is the first step in identifying perched and improperly-sized culverts for repairs. Many species of fish, native mussels, and benthic macroinvertebrates that are essential to the river ecosystem are negatively impacted by loss of habitat, fragmentation of populations, and the decreased stream health that these faulty stream crossings cause. Some such species that stand to benefit from this project are smallmouth bass, logperch, gizzard shad, white sucker, white bass, emerald shiner, and lilliput and rainbow mussels. This project will complete road stream crossing assessments at sites where the lower rouge river and tributaries cross roadways to evaluate culvert condition relating to crossing type, size, position, and river usability in all seasons. Road crossing surveys will be conducted based on the great lakes stream inventory protocol, and all data collected will help address a regional GAP in road stream crossing inventory data for southeast michigan. Once data is gathered for all sites within the project area, each crossing will be assigned priority levels for repairs using GIS data queries established by the michigan department of natural resources evaluating aquatic passability, condition, and erosion assessment. These data will be used to identify priority stream crossing sites for repair to increase continuity of riverine habitat and public safety and shared with municipalities and road commissions to ensure current and future project funding include sites the most in need. These methodologies are the most effective and robust assessment for stream crossings within the great lakes region, and are currently being used by mdnr, huron pines, and other organizations to identify crossings that are detrimental to stream habitat continuity, fish passage, and public safety. The surveys included in this project will assess the connectivity of habitat in the upstream lower branch of the rouge river and associated tributaries. This includes 81 miles of stream in fowler creek, mott and perrin drains and the lower branch. The waterways in the project area drain 22,847 acres of urban and residential lands, providing flood relief and supporting all habitat and recreation of the lower rouge river, including the lower rouge water trail and other recreation.friends of the rouge (fotr) staff have attended training on data collection using the great lakes stream inventory protocol given by patrick ertel from the michigan department of natural resources, and have been working closely with michigan DNR fisheries division fisheries biologist john buszkiewicz to develop this project. Fotr staff have also attended multiple great lakes stream crossing inventory working group meetings whose goal is to improve coordination between agencies performing road stream crossing assessments throughout the region. Fotr staff attendance and participation in the training given by the michigan DNR, combined with our participation in the working group meetings leaves US well prepared to begin road stream crossing assessments.