Residents press Wayne County after large‑scale clearing along Ecorse Creek
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Summary
Residents and council members raised alarm about extensive tree and vegetation removal along Ecorse Creek, questioning whether an environmental review was done and urging the city to press the county and drain commission for less destructive maintenance methods.
Dozens of residents and council members at the Dearborn Heights City Council meeting on Nov. 13 pressed officials about recent, large‑scale clearing along Ecorse Creek that neighbors say removed thousands of trees and left the banks bare.
At public comment, a longtime South End resident described the area as "like a war zone," saying crews "totally eliminated every piece of vegetation" and that she could not find evidence an environmental impact study had been performed. "I've lived on the creek my whole life, and I've never seen any devastation like this in my life," the resident said.
City officials and department directors said the work is part of a Wayne County maintenance project and urged residents to raise complaints with county officials and the drain commission. Dearborn Heights Director (DPW) told the council that county crews began maintenance downstream in Lincoln Park and have been working upriver, saying the work can appear stark when routine maintenance has been deferred for decades. "If they haven't done any of their preventative maintenance for…I don't even know how long, 30 years, then when they finally get to doing it, it does [look drastic]," the director said.
Council members acknowledged the visual impact and ecological concerns. One councilman said the county had told residents it would "clear a path" for access but that in many places both sides were stripped. Another asked the council to re‑examine the city's tree ordinance and to press the Drain Commission for alternatives to clear‑cut methods.
City officials stopped short of ordering a local halt, noting that the county holds an easement and is the project lead. Council members said they will continue to press county representatives at public meetings and encourage residents to submit complaints and attend county hearings. The council also asked the director to continue outreach to the Drain Commission to request less invasive clearing methods and documentation about environmental reviews.
The exchange concluded with officials urging residents to document damage and raise issues with Wayne County and the Drain Commission while the city advocates for a more measured approach.
The council did not take formal action on the creek during the meeting; officials said follow‑up will be pursued in coordination with county agencies.
