The Clinton River Trail (and the actual river)
View from the Clinton River Trail
The Clinton River Trail is a 16 mile long recreational trail in Oakland County. MI built over what once was a part of the Michigan Airline railroad line. For approximately five miles near the town of Rochester, the trail traces the Clinton River. The Clinton River is the centerpiece of the Clinton River Watershed and of what was once a self-sustaining and healthy ecosystem.
Prior to the 1800s, the Clinton River watershed was a diverse and balanced ecosystem consisting almost entirely of forest, woodlands, wetlands and some savannas supporting a wide variety of wildlife. Indigenous Native Americans and early European visitors to the area primarily used the Clinton River as a water transportation route and for fishing and trapping. As the area was settled it transformed into an area of agriculture and logging and then rapidly into a densely populated urban area with intense industrial, commercial and residential development. Today, the Clinton River watershed is the most populated watershed in Michigan with 1.5 million people. The southern portion of the watershed is almost entirely developed urban land use.
Unfortunately, development has occurred without an understanding of, or respect for, the need and desirability of a healthy ecosystem. While industrial, agricultural and other human related pollutants were introduced into the river and storm water runoff substantially increased due to pavement, buildings, and sewers; vast areas of natural vegetation and wetlands, which could have helped cleanse and mitigate runoff, were destroyed. Wildlife, waterfowl and aquatic diversity is greatly reduced. In 1985, the river was designated as one of 43 “Areas of Concern” regarding the health of the Great Lakes by the U.S. and Canada.
Much has been done, is currently being done and is planned to be done to bring the Clinton River fully back to supporting a vibrant ecosystem. The Clinton River Trail plays a role in that. The trail is like a well used linear park along the river which encourages public awareness of the ecological and aesthetic importance of the river and the natural environment it supports. For the five miles it runs along the river, the area around it also serves as a natural buffer from urban development and serves as part of a wildlife corridor that could eventually extend to Lake St. Clair.
Take some time this year to walk or bike the Clinton River trail. When you get to the river portion you may want to pause and reflect on how much this waterway has contributed since long before we arrived here and what we can do to make it fully healthy again.
For more information:
Friends of the Clinton River Trail – www.clintonrivertrail.org
Clinton River Watershed Council – www.crwc.org/
