Big Rapids Service Station

About the Program
The DTE Energy Big Rapids Service Station is located in Big Rapids, Michigan. The Muskegon River flows through Big Rapids on its way to Muskegon Lake, which connects to Lake Michigan. The river is an important recreational fishery and is home to an abundance of wildlife. DTE Energy site projects in this area help to improve water quality and provide wildlife habitat within this valuable watershed.

Practices and Impacts

• In June 2009, the Big Rapids Service Station team created two pollinator gardens, with a cumulative area of 500 square feet, to provide habitat for a wide variety of pollinators and seed-eating birds. This project also serves to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and CO2 emissions by eliminating mowing of turf grass areas. Additional benefits of the project include the reduction of stormwater runoff and increased filtration of pollutants, which helps to improve water quality within the watershed.
• The team strictly uses plant species that are native to Michigan and utilizes the professional assistance of the Cardno Native Plant Nursery in selecting these species.
• The team also monitors the gardens for invasive species, plant success and wildlife use several times throughout the growing season.
• The pollinator gardens are managed through weeding and mulching several times per year.