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Detroit River
The Detroit River, designated an American Heritage River in 1998, is part
of the connecting channels linking Lake Huron to Lake Erie. It is an international
border with our neighboring country of Canada. It serves as a source of drinking
water for approximately five million people, is a key link for commerce in the Great
Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway system, and
provides countless benefits for recreation.
Entering the next millennium,
the Greater Detroit area is poised for significant and sustainable renewal
after decades of disinvestment and population loss; sustainability is now
a large part of the context of this rebirth as noted by the fact that
Detroit recently hosted the National Town Meeting for a Sustainable America (May 1999).
Our Tie to History
In the year 2001, Detroit will celebrate its
tricentennial - a 300-year history rich in culture, ethnic diversity,
politics, industry, and commerce. The celebration is called Detroit 300.
Spectacular and exciting events, festivals, and educational programs
will take place in the city and around the region throughout the entire
year of 2001. The Detroit River and Riverfront will be center stage in this
endeavor. The AHR Initiative will be focusing much energy on the restoration,
redevelopment, and reopening to the public of Historic Fort Wayne,
Detroit's largest historic site, which could include public access to
almost one mile of Detroit Riverfront.
Our Tie to Prosperity
The Detroit River corridor is rich in its industrial
heritage and ties us to our most important trading partner, Canada, through
the Ambassador Bridge (North America's number one international crossing) and the
Detroit/Windsor Tunnel. General Motors Corporation recently moved its
world headquarters to the Detroit Riverfront Renaissance Center and is
making plans for investing almost $2 billion in renovations and improvements,
including a riverfront promenade. At the same time, however, our industrial
legacy has left abandoned brownfield areas and
contaminated sediments in parts of the river bottom. The AHR Initiative will help
focus energies on corridor brownfield areas including the large DSC brownfield
as a possible mixed-use project. Our efforts will also tie in with the Detroit
Empowerment Zone endeavors, which include a riverfront area near Historic Fort Wayne.
Our Tie to Each Other
On the U.S. side, the Detroit River ties a municipality
of one million population (Detroit) to many smaller cities. All of these
communities are interested in increasing the limited public access to the
riverfront for recreation and aesthetic enjoyment. A major regional AHR
initiative will be focusing resources on linked riverfront greenways. Close
coordination with Canada is also an ongoing commitment in environmental,
economic, and historic/cultural efforts, particularly as the Detroit River has
also been nominated and is expected to be named as a Canadian Heritage River
under the Canadian Heritage Rivers System.
Navigator and Community Partners
Dr. John Hartig, a Detroit area native and
outstanding federal employee, was named River Navigator and began his duties
September 13, 1999. He is funded by the Department of Transportation through the
cooperation of three DOT agencies, helping achieve Secretary Slater's
"One DOT" vision. He is housed in the DOT's Coast Guard Station in
downtown Detroit. The AHR Initiative is strongly rooted in both the
private and municipal sectors. The executive committee is composed of
Chair Peter W. Stroh (private sector), Detroit Mayor Archer's Chief of
Staff Nettie Seabrooks, Wayne County Assistant Executive Dewey Henry,
and the Downriver Community Conference Chair Curt Boller. The
Metropolitan Affairs Coalition (MAC), a leading private sector-based
501(c)3 organization, is facilitating the initiative through
a broad-based steering committee. Mark Breederland, Michigan Sea
Grant, chairs the committee.
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