$1.6 million in grant funding will support five projects that will benefit communities and wildlife habitats in southeast Michigan. The grants, awarded through the Southeast Michigan Resilience Fund, will leverage more than $1.6 million in matching contributions to generate a total conservation impact of more than $3.2 million.
The Southeast Michigan Resilience Fund is a partnership between the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, the Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation, the Kresge Foundation, the Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation and the U.S. Forest Service. The fund supports projects across the region by investing in nature-based infrastructure solutions that reduce flooding and storm impacts while also creating healthier, more accessible natural spaces for people and wildlife.
“These projects demonstrate how nature-based solutions can help communities better manage stormwater, reduce flood risk and create places where people can connect with nature,” said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF. “By restoring habitat for migratory birds, pollinators and other wildlife while investing in natural infrastructure, these projects also deliver real economic value by reducing long term flood damage costs, supporting local jobs, and helping build healthier, more resilient communities.”
The 2026 grant projects will restore and reconnect streams and floodplains, expand tree canopy and improve access to natural areas. Together, the selected projects will:
- Add 1.6 million gallons of stormwater storage
- Plant 1,220 trees for increased stormwater storage and habitat
- Restore 301 acres of habitat
- Develop five public access points
- Improve the quality and connectivity of the region’s unique habitats
- Improve quality of life by increasing public access to natural areas and parks through multiple new access points and 4 miles of trails
Southeast Michigan Resilience Fund 2026 grant recipients include:
- Oakland Township Parks & Recreation will remove a culvert, restore stream habitat, and increase public access through a new pedestrian bridge at Fox Nature Preserve in Oakland County.
- The Greening of Detroit will plant 1,000 native trees across Detroit to improve stormwater storage, enhance natural areas and sustain four local jobs.
- Ducks Unlimited will restore 825 acres of floodplain and improve fish passage and public access at the St. Clair Flats State Wildlife Area in Clay Township.
- Downriver Community Conference will construct a wetland basin system to intercept and treat stormwater, adding more than 1 million gallons of annual stormwater storage and improving water quality in the North Branch Ecorse Creek watershed.
- Detroit Future City will transform vacant lots into accessible natural areas, planting trees, controlling invasive species and improving public access in the McDougall-Hunt neighborhood, sustaining 11 jobs.
Since its launch in 2018, the Southeast Michigan Resilience Fund has awarded 44 grants totaling more than $10.8 million, leveraging an additional $13.5 million in matching contributions to generate a total conservation investment of more than $24.3 million.
To learn more about the Southeast Michigan Resilience Fund and the projects announced, visit nfwf.org/semichigan.