Detroit River contamination clean-up efforts part of $89M funding commitment
Lawmakers gathered with business leaders and environmental groups to announce multi-million-dollar funding
GRCC English and Science Students Attended the Detroit River Story Lab
On Saturday, Sept. 26, The Collegiate was invited to join the Grand Rapids Community College English Department on a trip
Detroit’s riverfront safety law increased inspections. Now comes a push for transparency.
Aliana Ritter, BridgeDetroit, August 17, 2026
Unique Detroit River boat tours give officials chance to see restoration projects up close
On a sunny summer day earlier this month, dozens gathered at the Detroit Wayne County Port Authority on Atwater Street
City denies land-use approval for east side oil recycling facility
Aliana Ritter, BridgeDetroit, July 18, 2026
Detroit neighbors push back on east side oil facility reopening proposal
Aliana Ritter, BridgeDetroit, July 8, 2026
From ferries to Gordie Howe bridge, how Detroit and Windsor crossings evolved
An elevated view of the Detroit River near the foot of Griswold Street in Detroit, dated 1928. The view shows three
How a 105-foot schooner is teaching teens the Detroit River’s story
On an unusually hot day in late June, a group of about 20 Detroit high schoolers boarded a 105-foot, three-masted
Detroit River tour highlights restoration successes
A person standing on the Detroit River shoreline 50 years ago would hesitate to touch the water, according to the
Detroit River restoration receives $10 million boost from EPA, state
The EPA is providing $6.5 million and Michigan is adding $3.5 million to clean up contaminated sediment and restore habitat
Michigan loves a ‘river story.’ But happy ending isn’t guaranteed
Kelly House, Bridge Michigan, May 26, 2026 – Michigan may be known as the Great Lakes state, but most of its residents have a river to thank for their hometown’s existence.
University of Michigan team launches guide to connect 4,800 miles of biking trails along the Great Lakes
Christine Sit, U-M SEAS, May 19, 2026 – A U-M SEAS graduate research team released a Great Lakes Waterfront Trail Starter Guide to help connect communities through regional trails and economic opportunities.
Why does the Detroit River matter? This environmental justice advocate has answers
Skyler Leslie, a Detroit River advocate and environmental justice graduate, is working to preserve the waterway’s layered history — from
After Zug Island pollution lawsuit, attorney urges community engagement
The Sierra Club holds a community meeting in River Rouge on the outcome of the EPA’s Clean Air Act lawsuit
Historic wild rice restoration underway in the Detroit River: ‘Living tribute to the First Nations’
The Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi is working with conservation partners to restore wild rice in Detroit River wetlands,
Century of contamination: How Zug Island became Detroit’s industrial epicenter
Early ideas for the island included a city garbage dump with a promise of the operations being “smokeless and odorless,”
U-M researchers lead 10-year Michigan Maritime Strategy
Derek Smith, The University Record, January 28, 2026 – A U-M team found broad support across Michigan’s maritime sector for expanding the state’s role as a national leader in the maritime industry.
New Southeast Michigan coalition supports federal efforts to revitalize US shipbuilding
Southeast Michigan is one of the nation’s most promising regions for catalyzing growth in the United States’ maritime sector, according
Five years of telling stories along the Detroit River awakens belonging
Every great river carries great stories in its flow. Stories of exploration and commerce, yes, but also of connection and
One year after a historic dam removal, teens inspire river restoration worldwide: ‘It turns out you can win’
Gabrielle Canon, The Guardian, October 25, 2025 – The Klamath River began rebounding after dam removal, with Indigenous youth leading its recovery and inspiring tribes from Brazil to China.
Sail Cargo Ship Neoliner Completes Difficult First Atlantic Crossing
The Maritime Executive, October 24, 2025 – The Neoliner Origin, the world’s first large commercial wind-propelled cargo ship, completed its first Atlantic crossing despite delays, sail damage, and storms.
Detroit River-based programs foster stewardship through community connection
(Great Lakes Echo | October 22, 2025) The Detroit River serves as an important geographic feature, connecting Lake St. Clair
Detroit’s Port Authority sustainability manager works to cut emissions, build trust with neighbors
Margaret Fornes, U-M Detroit, August 5, 2025
Detroit’s Belle Isle Swim Club is worth waking up early for
With a cityscape shrouded in mist behind it, the Belle Isle bridge looks golden in the morning sunlight, its reflection
Falling in love with Belle Isle is a Detroit tradition
Nestled in the middle of the Detroit River, Belle Isle represents the best of what parks can provide. And don’t
Training Michigan’s next shipbuilding leaders
Derek Smith, Michigan Engineering, September 15, 2025 – Michigan partners with Fincantieri to provide hands-on, cross-cultural training for future naval architects through internships, with interns sharing their experiences.
Chicagoans Avoided Their ‘Filthy’ River for Years. On Sunday, They Swam in It.
Julie Bosman, The New York Times, September 21, 2025 – Spectators gathered along the Chicago River to witness something unseen there in nearly a century: people swimming in the river.
Detroiters preview Belle Isle Commons concept: ‘The vibes are just immaculate’
The Belle Isle Commons concept would create a centralized hub near the island’s most popular destinations, the side-by-side aquarium and
A Living Landscape: Inside the Garden Design at Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park
When Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park opens this October, the centerpiece won’t be a monument or a sculpture—it will
Detroit River nonprofit targets wetlands loss with island habitat restoration
Celeron and Sugar Islands, uninhabited islands on the Detroit River publicly owned and managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Detroiters weigh in on Belle Isle’s future following $144M investment
More than a decade after the state took over management of Belle Isle, residents are being asked to help shape
A City Reconnects with the River: Sail Detroit 2025
Margaret Fornes, The Detroit River Beat, August 25, 2025
Human connection to nature has declined 60% in 200 years, study finds
Patrick Barkham, The Guardian, August 9, 2025 – A study finds people’s connection to nature has declined sharply since 1800 and warns it may continue without greater exposure to nature and greener cities.
Tall Ships Arrive on the Riverwalk
History is docked along the Detroit RiverWalk as captains and crews of four tall ships built for sailing show off
Forging Detroit River connections in a boat shed with community storykeepers
Margaret Fornes, U-M Detroit, August 5, 2025
Tall Ships Coming to the Detroit Riverfront
Numerous Tall Ships are coming to the Detroit riverfront for multiple days this summer. The Alliance, Empire Sandy, Pride of
Detroit’s ghost streams: Maps of hidden waterways combat city’s flooding problem
Rachel Wilson, Planet Detroit, July 15, 2025
Does a River have Rights?
The New York Times, May 30, 2025 – The Klamath River is recovering after four dams were removed, restoring hundreds of miles of habitat and supporting the return of native plants, forests, and healthier water.
Detroit Boat Tours & Waterfront Experiences
One of the beauties of living in Michigan is being surrounded by so. much. water. No matter where you live,
