Co-production of knowledge and co-innovation of solutions for contaminated sediments in the Detroit and Rouge Rivers

Contaminated sediments continue to limit ecological recovery of the Detroit and Rouge River Areas of Concern. Co-production of knowledge and co-innovation of solutions for contaminated sediments have been underway since the remedial action plan program began in 1985 and are accelerating with increased investment in remediation. In the Detroit River, up to 5.1 million m³ of contaminated sediments on the U.S. side require remediation. On the Canadian side, no further sediment remediation is required beyond one completed project in Turkey Creek. An estimated 350,000 m³ of contaminated sediment require remediation in the Rouge River (Michigan). Co-innovation of solutions, including collaborative funding, has estimated a $100 million shortfall in non-federal match funding necessary to secure Great Lakes Legacy Act funds. All stakeholders and rightsholders must have a sense of urgency to address this shortfall because, as of 2023, only three years remain of Legacy Act funding. If this window of opportunity is missed, there is no guarantee that comparable federal money will be available in the future. We recommend: ensuring environmental justice is a priority; completing all necessary sediment remediation in the U.S. portion of the Detroit River and lower Rouge River; recruiting partners, including the State of Michigan, to help meet necessary non-federal match requirements; exploring creative financing like environmental, social, and governance and sustainability-linked investment opportunities; and developing a compelling ecosystem vision that is carried in the hearts and minds of all watershed denizens, coupled with a complementary investment thesis to help make these watersheds more investable.