Invitation to Attend Public Lecture “From Burning Rivers to Blueways”

Public Leture “From Burning Rivers to Blueways: Environmental Restoration and Community Collaboration on the Rouge River (Detroit, Michigan, USA)” will take place on March 9th, 5 pm at The Valdas Adamkus Presidential Library-Museum (S. Daukanto g. 25, Kaunas).

“This presentation will describe the evolution of the Rouge River in Detroit, Michigan from the period of European colonization through the industrial era, with a focus on efforts to protect and restore the river following the foundation of the US Environmental Protection Agency in 1970 and the passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972. We will discuss the process of building and maintaining diverse partnerships and present a future vision for this vital urban watershed that balances the needs of the community, the environment and the economy.”

Paul Draus is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Michigan-Dearborn who facilitates the Fort-Rouge Gateway Partnership, a coalition of academic, community, government, industry, and nonprofit partners dedicated to the green redevelopment of the lower Rouge River.

David Norwood is the former Sustainability Coordinator for the City of Dearborn, Michigan and currently serves as Deputy Director of Canton Township’s Municipal Services Division in Canton, Michigan.

Paul Draus and David Norwood both sit on the Board of Directors for Friends of the Rouge, a nonprofit 501 organization that was founded in 1986 to raise awareness about the need to clean up the Rouge River in southeast Michigan.