Jefferson-Chalmers WATER Project

Detroit, Michigan

In the last weekend of June 2021, massive and disastrous flooding occurred throughout metro-Detroit, the low-lying eastside, Jefferson-Chalmers was the most impacted. The storm and inundation from the flooding of the Great Lakes that began 2019 into Fox Creek and the community’s other canals punctuated a larger list of INTERCONNECTED water resource challenges.

The White Paper authored by Jay, Toward Better Water Resource Management in the Jefferson-Chalmers Community. The White Paper proposes the Jefferson-Chalmers Water Access, Technology, Education and Recreation (WATER) Project (Project), while providing a broad framework for organizing and three primary goals:

  1. keep sewage out of basements and canals;

  2. keep stormwater out of the system; and

  3. keep the Great Lakes out of the neighborhood.

The Paper offers technical details and historical background that provides a baseline of information and a common language for residents, NGOs, elected officials and public agencies, and draws on Jay’s expertise in disaster recovery, flood protection projects, water utility infrastructure and real estate. Included are six recommendations:

  • Use Fox Creek Gates and Other Assets to Mitigate Flooding and End Sewage Discharges

  • Review Flood Insurance Rate Maps and Take Actions to Reduce Insurance Costs;

  • Extensively Examine the Hydrology of Conner Creek and Fox Creek Watersheds;

  • Modify and Increase Floodplain and Stormwater Capacity with Innovation;

  • Research Alter Road Flood Prevention Project, Revisit New Floodplains Standards and Acquire Fox Creek's Western Edge; and

  • Leverage Every Possible Federal Resource Available to Implement Eligible Projects and Pursue Philanthropy

COMPREHENSIVE solutions developed in Jefferson-Chalmers will not only have ripple effects through Detroit Water and Sewerage Department’s and Great Lakes Water Authority’s systems, but can also serve as an international demonstration project for what a 21st century, sustainable community can look like.

Located on the City’s eastside boundary with Grosse Pointe Park, the community is one mile square, abuts the Detroit River and sits south of the East Jefferson Avenue commercial corridor.

Documents noted below are available at Jefferson-Chalmers Water Access, Technology, Education and Recreation (WATER) Project.