Citizen's Gas

About the Program
DTE Energy's Citizen's Gas site is located in southeast Michigan along the River Raisin. The site features a 0.024-acre native landscaped habitat for pollinator and wildlife species, a riverfront grassland and wetlands. The team created their wildlife program in order to enhance habitat for native pollinator species onsite, helping to combat habitat loss and population decreases. In addition to providing habitat, the cultivated habitats expand connectivity throughout the site and the River Raisin watershed. 

Practices and Impacts

• The team continues to monitor the 1,050-square-foot native garden landscaped habitat, which features species that benefit native pollinator species in the region. This native garden replaced an area of less ecological benefit. 
• The team has observed a steady annual growth of the plants they installed in the native garden habitat; however, invasive species have recently begun to outcompete the native species. The team plans to focus on some invasive species management. 
• The team regularly observes the three wood duck boxes near the bank of River Raisin, and the three eastern bluebird boxes in their site's native landscaped pollinator garden. The boxes help to foster nesting needs of native bird species onsite.
• The team has so far only observed eastern bluebirds nesting in 2020, with house sparrows taking over the boxes in other years. And wood ducks have not yet found the nest boxes so the team will be re-evaluating next box positioning.