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Founded in 2001, the Detroit River International Refuge remains the only land conservation project of its kind in North America. Thanks to a donation from the Port of Monroe, the refuge will grow by an additional 35 acres.

The refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The land being added to the existing 5,834 acres in the U.S. is part of the Port of Monroe Marsh Tract. It is located just west of the refuge’s existing 240-acre Ford Marsh Unit, near the River Raisin National Battlefield Park, near Sterling State Park owned and managed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and along the River Raisin Heritage Trail.

“This land donation by the Port of Monroe to the ... U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is another excellent example where public private partnerships can enhance the quality of life in a community,” Monroe Mayor Robert Clark said.

This marsh is made up of permanent and seasonal wetlands, as well as some forested uplands, and is hydraulically connected to marshes along Lake Erie.
“The Monroe Port Commission is very pleased that its efforts to provide a conduit for the transfer of property to … the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have been successful,” Monroe Port Commission Chairman Dale Brose said. “Though this type of project falls outside of the Port's transportation mission, The Port Commission believes that any time the Port can be a good steward of community interests while supporting the initiatives of the city of Monroe and our partner agencies, it is a win for all concerned.”

The refuge covers 48 miles of shoreline along the lower Detroit River and western basin of Lake Erie. It stretches from southwest Detroit to the Ohio-Michigan state lines. The offices are located on Grosse Ile.

The refuge focuses on conserving, protecting and restoring habitat for 300 species of birds, including 30 species of waterfowl, 23 species of raptors, 31 species of shorebirds, and for 117 species of fish.

“The refuge serves as a vital mission,” U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-12th District) said earlier this year. “We must continue to expand the refuge to provide world-class conservation efforts that improve the quality of life in this region, enhance community pride, help attract and retain employees for our businesses, and inspire a sense of wonder in our children.

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