Oakland County and Birmingham Host Stormwater Education Earth Day Event at Linden Park

Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash and City of Birmingham engineering and public services staff will host the Stormwater Education Earth Day Event at Linden Park on Saturday, April 18, from noon to 3 p.m.

This free, family-friendly event is in partnership with Friends of the Rouge, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the Rouge River watershed. During the event, residents and community leaders will learn about the Birmingham Retention Treatment Basin (RTB) and Tunnel and its role in protecting local waterways during heavy rain. Attendees will also learn how the sewer and stormwater systems operate, and what goes into effective stormwater management.

"Earth Day is a great opportunity to highlight how our stormwater systems protect the environment and community," said Commissioner Nash. "When it rains, a lot happens behind the scenes to prevent flooding and improve water quality. This event gives residents a chance to see how it all works and why it matters."

The RTB and Tunnel have served the 1,185-acre Rouge River watershed and a significant portion of the City of Birmingham since 1996. The system manages stormwater and wastewater during heavy rains and treats more than 100 million gallons of water annually. The multi-step treatment process includes skimming, screening, settling, and disinfection to make sure treated water meets the State of Michigan's water quality standards. After treatment, water is sent to the Great Lakes Water Authority for further processing.

"Many residents don't realize the enormity of the retention basins beneath some of our parks," said Mayor Baller. "Beneath Linden Park and Lincoln Hills Golf Course are holding tanks the size of a six-story building, capable of holding millions of gallons of runoff. This event is an opportunity to have some fun while we learn more about how this system works."

Visitors will see outlines on the ground showing the size of the RTB. A display will also show the underground tunnel. Other features include a Vactor truck, and a 3D model that shows how pollution from homes, businesses, and farms enters waterways through stormwater runoff. Commissioner Nash and Birmingham staff will grill hot dogs for the first 200 attendees. The event will also include a bounce house and a hands-on bug hunt demonstration to show how insects relate to water quality.

"Friends of the Rouge works in partnership with the Office of the Water Resources Commissioner and municipalities like the City of Birmingham to support watershed education, community engagement, and efforts that restore and enhance the Rouge River," said Friends of the Rouge Executive Director Ashley Flintoff. "Through collaboration, the organization helps raise awareness about stormwater impacts and encourages responsible water practices that benefit communities across the watershed."

This event is open to the public and residents of all ages are encouraged to attend.

View the press release as a PDF.