D I A N E N E L S O N , F O R M E R P R O J E C T M A N A G E R T H E G R E E N I N G O F D E T R O I T J U N E 1 S T , 2 0 1 7

Dendroremediation of Brownfield Sites in Detroit, MI

Project History

• Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding-2010 ¡ Pilot project- 6,000 trees over 10 acres

• 8 current sites within Detroit with treatments on them

• Project duration- 10 years per treatment ¡ Currently year 5 for 2 treatments¡ Currently year 4 for 6 treatments¡ Currently year 3 for 6 treatments

Site Selection for project

• Requirements ¡ Within Detroit, Rouge River watershed¡ ≥ 2 acre parcel size¡ Part 201 brownfield÷ scored by MDEQ÷ documented contamination exceeding the “residential criteria”

¡ Background documents available¡ Void of structures¡ Access to water¡ Need permission/assess to work on site¡ Soil contains contaminants of interest (MI 10 heavy metals.

PAH’s)

Scope of Project- Sites

ó 8 Active Dendro Sites ó Maintenance

¡ Bi-weekly mowing¡ Weed control on active

plots¡ No tree maintenance on

active plots¡ No maintenance on

control plots

ó Data collection ¡ Tree Growth- 3

times/year¡ Soil sampling- year 1,5,10¡ Tissue sampling- year 5,10

ó Have 2 types of plot designs

Why Dendroremediation?

ó Remediation Benefits ¡ Little competition ¡ Large biomass, large root

network (Shallow and deep) ¡ Poplar and Willow species ÷ High uptake of organic

and inorganic molecules

ó Environmental benefits ¡ Reduce storm-water runoff ¡ Reduces blight ¡ Increases curbside appeal.

Image: www.intechopen.com

Scope of Project- Trees

Poplar Species

ó Cottonwood: Populus deltoides ó Dn34: P. deltoides x P.nigra ó Nm6: P. nigra x P. maximowiczii

Willow Species

ó White Willow: Salix alba ó Sx64: S. miyabeana ó Sx61- S. sachalinensis

Questions to be answered by Project

ó Question 1: Which of the three dendroremediation treatments (poplar genotype, willow genotype, or no treatment (control)), have the greatest impact on contaminants of interest (MI 10 Metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)) on City of Detroit Brownfield properties at 2, 5 and 10 years?

ó Question 2: What is the survivability of poplar genotypes and willow genotypes on City of Detroit Brownfield properties?

ó Question 3: How cost effective is this Phytoremediation method for the City of Detroit?

Scope of Project- Plot Design 1

ó Created to answer Question 1 “What type of tree will be more effective at removing contaminants”

Scope of Project- Plot Design 2

ó Created to answer Question 2, “which type of tree will have the highest survivability”

Scope of Project-Site Design

ó Originally planned for each site ¡ Due to differences in

sites, this had to be amended

ó Each site has the following ¡ Q1 plots ¡ Q2 plots ¡ Control plots

Installation

ó Preliminary Drilling

ó Map out Design ó Clear active plots ó Preliminary Soil

sample ó Drilling depth- 3 ft ó Plant tree saplings ó Record any

changes to design

Sampling

ó Exploratory Soil Sampling ÷ Year 1

ó Comprehensive Soil Sampling ÷ Year 1 ÷ Year 5 ÷ Year 10

ó Survivability /Tree Growth ÷ 3 times a year

ó Plant Tissue Sampling ÷ Year 5 ÷ Year 10

Complications

ó Community engagement ¡ Approaching topic in non-

threatening way ó Blight on site ¡ Continued blight on sites,

constant cleanup ó Funding for sampling ¡ 1000’s of trees to be tested

What has the Data shown So Far??

Conclusions Thus Far

Conclusions Thus Far

Case Study: Ferry Park vs. Leonard

Ferry Park óSoil: rocky, sandy, compact/clay óPrevious occupants: fencing company, Steel testing laboratory, restaurant óLocation: within city

Leonard óSoil: Dark, loamy, moist, easy to dig óPrevious occupants: Various schools, neighborhood park óLocation: within a neighborhood

Ferry Park vs. Leonard

Ferry Park vs. Leonard

Ferry Park vs. Leonard

Ferry Park Leonard

Ferry Park vs. Leonard

Ferry Park- 2014

Ferry Park- Late 2015

Ferry Park vs. Leonard

Leonard B- 2014

Leonard B- late 2015

Ferry Park vs. Leonard

Ferry Park Leonard

Ferry Park vs. Leonard

Ferry Park Leonard

Conclusions

ó Almost mid way through project ó Soil/ vegetative sampling results are promising ó Tree health is not directly related to toxicant

concentrations within soil ó The next few years will be very exciting!