City reaffirms to residents its commitment to continuing to preserve trees whenever possible during federally-ordered CSO construction project

Dearborn Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr., has reaffirmed the City of Dearborn’s commitment to minimizing the impact on residents and the environment of the ongoing federally-mandated CSO construction project.

CSO stands for combined sewer overflow. The U.S. Department of Environmental Protection (EPA) has ordered Dearborn and 45 other communities in the Rouge River watershed to upgrade their sewer systems, in order to prevent untreated sewage from being released into the waterway.
Construction work on the project has required removing numerous trees at CSO work sites across Dearborn. However, one in particular – located in the area bordered by Michigan Avenue, Cherry Hill, Military and Outer Drive – has drawn special attention because of the large number of mature trees there and because of their proximity to homes.

Some residents in that area have recently voiced concerns regarding the removal of a large number of trees as part of the CSO construction there.
“We know that the project is causing a dramatic change to the wooded area in that neighborhood,” the Mayor said. “It’s frustrating that so many trees have to be removed because of the EPA’s order to build the CSO. But we want our residents to know that the City has been doing – and will keep on doing – everything we possibly can to minimize the impact there and at every CSO site.”

The CSO design and construction processes have sought to minimize the impact of the project on neighborhoods and surrounding trees and wildlife.
Mayor O’Reilly also noted that City officials have held three public meetings about the CSO project with residents of the recently-affected area. One example of a change made as a result of the meetings was the increase of the size of the buffer zone between the construction area and surrounding homes.
Another important point is that after construction is complete – expected in about two to two and a half years – that area will be restored to a wooded state, with new trees planted, the Mayor noted.

“We also hope that people in Dearborn can take some solace from the fact that the impacts of the CSO project we all have to put up with are ultimately going to mean a cleaner Rouge River,” Mayor O’Reilly said. “That’s something that will benefit the environment and the people of our city.”