Over the past two months, Wolverine Worldwide has been performing restoration work at the site of its former Tannery in Rockford. This has included placing and grading clean topsoil, replanting the banks of the Rogue River with native grasses and flowers, repaving the White Pine Trail, and installing erosion controls. Several photographs of the recent work are included at the end of this post.
For complete details on the grasses and wildflowers we recently planted, and the shrubs and trees we plan to plant this fall, please click here for the approved restoration plans. In addition, we wanted to share some statistics and insights gathered by the experienced landscape architects and wetlands scientists who helped us develop and implement the plans:
Statistics
- Repaved approximately 1,800 linear feet of the White Pine Trail with new asphalt
- Imported and spread approximately 2,800 cubic yards of clean topsoil
- Planted over 750 pounds of grass and wildflower seed
- Planted 9,100 native grass and flower seedlings along the banks of the Rogue River
- Planning to plant over 50 trees this fall
Insights
- All the new plants along the riverbank are native to this area and will create significant wildlife pollinator habitats.
- All the new plants along the banks of the riverbank are pollinated by some type of insect, not by wind deposition. This helps reduce hay fever, asthma, and itchy eyes.
- 33 different species of native plants were planted along the riverbank, split into several planting zones based on proximity to the river.
- Native plants spend their lives growing roots, which can reach anywhere from 5 to 20 feet deep. Each plant has a different root architecture so that they do not compete for moisture and nutrients.
- In time, the plants along the riverbank will together create over one million miles worth of roots.
These restoration activities are part of the remediation agreed upon by Wolverine and the EPA, and follow the excavation work Wolverine completed this year. We are committed to keeping the community informed through regular updates on this blog, www.WeAreWolverine.com, and through information posted at kiosks and in other locations accessible to the public. As always, residents with questions are encouraged to contact Wolverine directly at HouseStreet@wwwinc.com or (616) 866-5627.
