Rouge River News

Kingfisher Bluff Update
From a Voter article, December 2005, regarding the Rouge River: “There is a lovely natural area behind Henry Ford Community College called Kingfisher Bluff. HFCC plans to cut into the banks of the bluff to build a large wooden lookout along with repaving their parking lot this is the area the Kingfisher bird uses as its nesting site. There are very few available sites for thee birds to nest. In addition, the soft shell mat and painted turtles gather at the foot of this site.”

Since that time, negotiations have been ongoing with HFCC, ECT Engineering, environmentalists, and the Michigan Department of Environment. It seemed that the engineering plans made too great an impact on Kingfisher Bluff, so MDEQ wouldn’t grant a permit to proceed.

In an interview with Allen Gigliottee, HFCC’s Director of Building and Grounds, public comments were accepted and resulting meetings were set to discuss the bluff and viewing deck. No public hearings were requested. As a result, ECT, Inc. changed their original plans which included a cantilevered design, a foundation and a retaining wall and agreed to a more natural bio-engineered style. It will be built at the very top of the bluff where the grade of ground is already level. In case there would be a disturbance of the Kingfisher birds, ECT will insert nesting tubes that the birds have been found to use at other sites.

It was the wish of all environmentalists involved that the overlook / deck would be placed near but not on the bluff because of the impact on its resources. Yet, negotiations prevailed and the outcome must have been acceptable to MDEQ as the permit was granted. HFCC will start on the overlook first, followed by the repaving of the parking lot which includes a rain garden and plantings that will help slow the storm water.