Green Infrastructure Design, Implementation & Monitoring

Restoring Wetland and Terrestrial Habitat to Improve Green Spaces and Water Quality in Pierce Park (MI)

Funding Agency: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

Award Amount (including matching): $1,139,736

Project Period: 2023-2026

Pierce Park, located in Flint, MI, features several streams, historic channels, ditches, drain tiles, and depressions. A former golf course, now grown wild, lies in a 100-year floodplain with expansive hydric and partially hydric soils and an undulating terrain, making it ideal for restoration. The project involves the development of 12 acres of wet meadow and oxbow wetlands, 7 culvert improvements, 6 acres of reforestation buffer, and 9 acres of spoil and prairie restoration, along a mile of Gilkey Creek. By conducting thorough water and soil monitoring during the establishment of wetlands, the project reveals crucial insights into nutrient dynamics within wetland ecosystems, as well as how these ecosystems vary in their capacity to regulate water quantity and quality across different seasons and in response to extreme storm events. This data is essential for understanding and optimizing the wetlands' role in ecological balance and sustainability.

Media Coverage: ABC 12 / WNEM / Flint Beat News

Sustainable Park Design and Planning Project

Funding Agency: Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR)

Award Amount: $30,000 (2024-2025); $30,000 (2023-2024); $30,000 (2022-2023); $30,000 (2021-2022)

Building on the longstanding partnership between MSU and MDNR, this collaborative project aims to transform state-owned public parks in the Detroit metropolitan area into environmentally and socially sustainable landmarks. The project focuses on incorporating green infrastructure and creating dynamic landscapes that evolve over time, enhancing the sense of place for both Detroit communities and visitors.

Student Award: MiASLA Honor Award - “Revive the Isle”