Blue Heron Lagoon

Once a stagnant pool, the Blue Heron Lagoon now thrives with life. Here at the eastern edge of Detroit’s Belle Isle, this 41-acre lagoon tells a story of remarkable transformation. For years, the Blue Heron Lagoon was cut off from the Detroit River. Barriers like sheet pile walls and grates, meant to regulate water flow, choked the lagoon and prevented fish and wildlife from moving freely between the river and the lagoon’s sheltered waters. This isolation, coupled with widespread development, contributed to the decline of wetland areas in the Detroit River, a devastating loss of nearly 97% of the original coastal wetlands. But in 2011, a spark of hope ignited. The Friends of the Detroit River secured a grant from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. This grant, totaling nearly $1.5 million, allowed them to reconnect the Blue Heron Lagoon to the Detroit River. This reconnection wasn’t just about water flow; it was about reviving a vital ecosystem. The project deepened parts of the lagoon and created a small peninsula, diversifying the habitat and offering nesting spaces for turtles. This revitalized environment now provides shelter and breeding grounds for a variety of species. The lagoon now teems with life: turtles, small fish, snakes, and frogs, all finding refuge in the revitalized waters. Even state-listed species, like the endangered Eastern Fox Snake and Blanding’s Turtle, call this lagoon home. Now, a footbridge arches over the channel connecting the Blue Heron Lagoon to the Detroit River, allowing visitors to witness this remarkable transformation. Look around. Observe the vibrant plant life and imagine the diverse creatures thriving beneath the surface. The Blue Heron Lagoon stands as a testament to the power of restoration, a small victory in the larger effort to heal the Detroit River and remove it from the Great Lakes Area of Concern list. It’s a place where human intervention has helped nature reclaim its beauty and vitality, a place where the blue heron, for which it’s named, might once again gracefully wade and fish.