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07/06/2026

Resilience and Sustainability

Kickstarting the Detroit Zoo Stormwater Resiliency Strategy

Detroit Zoological Society, Spalding DeDecker


The Framework Plan builds on the 2006 Red Run Watershed Management Plan by serving as a pilot for large-scale urban runoff reduction projects. Traditional planning treats stormwater as waste; this framework identifies it as a valuable resource. It kickstarted multiple project, initiatives, and monitoring programs at the Zoo - creating an accurate digital database of water and sewer infrastructure to improve operations management and capital improvement project planning, establishing the Regional Coalition of Water, monitoring water quality of the watershed, and engaging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to advance the campus stormwater master plan. Jurors said, "Managing nearly six million gallons of run-off and creating a net zero framework to guide future development is no small task."

MAP congratulates the Detroit Zoological Society and Spalding DeDecker!

 

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