A look into 'ghost streams' and how they worsen flooding in Detroit

Flooding has increasingly become a problem as the climate crisis worsens across the country. In Detroit, it doesn't affect all neighborhoods equally. The remnants of old waterways can intensify the issue in some areas. Jacob Napieralski, a professor of geology and GIS at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, joined CBS News Detroit to discuss "ghost streams."

[williammorrill]

Somebody once said "there's no such thing as a former riverbed", the implication being that if you get enough rainfall it'll be a river again.

[pacificostudios]

When i was a civil engineer in Minneapolis, the city let me look at a hand drawn plat map that showed all the old streams, lakes, and marshes. Fortunately, a number of marshes were turned into lakes instead of being drained. Now would a good time to restore Detroit's lakes and streams.

[drancealot]

What a great interview! Great questions, not just super informative but relevant. I learned something new.

[cub]

Look up the old maps there used to be a lot of streams and creeks in Detroit. Those were all covered up and moved under ground. There needs to be funding available to restore these areas back to how they were 200 or even 300 years ago before modern development. As climate change gets worse Detroit will have more flooding. The only to prevent it is to restore natural wet lands, creeks, and streams in the Detroit area. That means tearing down houses, removing soil, removing roads and installing bridges. A project like this would be beneficial to wild life, plants, reduce flooding, remove vacant homes, businesses and industrial buildings. Not to mention it will increase property values in areas by having open green spaces with natural small creeks and streams. Parks could be created as well which will benefit residents.

Paving over natural wetland or filling them in and building on top is bad for natural landscape of the land. It's time to return these areas to how they used to be in the city of Detroit. The benefits are huge. The problem is the cost it will take millions of millions of dollars but long term it will prevent flooding in the city. Water will able able to flow naturally back to the Detroit river.

Look at Fox creek it runs from the river to Jefferson and then just disappears. Where does it go? It goes underground. it needs to be restored past Jefferson ave.

[johnnelligan]

Great Job Professor ! U of M Dearborn is a Great School !

[brycescott]

Red lining out here still affecting people lifetimes later

[PaulUnknown-soyn]

It can't be poor maintenance, , no not that.. political realm pockets are too deep, no it couldn't be that.

[keeprightx]

This is very informative and interesting

[Chulitatr]

WHERE'S OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS BEEN GOING FOR THE PAST 50 YEARS.? FIX THE INFRASTRUCTURES!

[xenprovence]

Thank you, CBS Detroit, for an informative program and interview regarding climate change. When more Americans recognize the enormity of what we are facing, with climate change, maybe we can turn this thing around.

[JohnGotts]

It isn't just Detroit. All of southeast Michigan has this problem. Up until about 50 years ago, we filled in swamps and hoped for the best. Any city older than 50 years in the Metro area is going to have the same problem, regardless of income level. I live in Western Wayne, which has become a "nouveau riche" area. Floods all the time. The taxpayers here have money, so we're working on Rouge River restoration. Will it be enough? Downriver from us is Dearborn. We're fixing the Rouge here, but what about downriver where they have less money to deal with the problem? There is probably no good solution except to move people out of the worst areas, try to restore old wetlands, and hope fof the best. Mother Nature always wins.

[isaidadollar]

Sounds like there's going to be a bunch of sink holes in the future😞

[bobloblaw]

you can't fight gravity and where water wants to go.
all of the impermeable surfaces aren't helping, either.

[pinecone]

The water and flooding is now an equality thng.
This has nothing to do with climate change or equity. You actually brought up redlining.
Wake Up on the rhetoric.

[abelhernandez]

Build in flood plain.
Floods.


Shocking.