What Happened to the Trees at Lake St. Clair Metropark?

If you’ve walked the nature trails at Lake St. Clair Metropark recently, you may have noticed that the tree canopy looks a little thinner than usual—or seen a few cut tree trunks scattered across the marsh floor. You might be wondering: what happened to the trees?

The trees that were removed were dead or dying cottonwoods that had become safety hazards for both visitors and park staff. Record-high water levels in 2019 and 2020 caused extensive flooding throughout the park, which ultimately killed a large portion of the park’s towering cottonwoods. Many of these trees were also nearing the end of their natural lifespan—cottonwoods typically live 75 to 100 years, and many of these began growing around the time the park opened in the 1950s.  

Taking Precautions for Wildlife and Habitat 

Before any tree removal began, the Metroparks Natural Resources Department took careful steps to protect the surrounding habitat and wildlife. Staff from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) visited the site and helped determine that heavy machinery use should be limited to the trails to minimize disruption to the wetland. 

The Metroparks also coordinated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to schedule the project outside of sensitive nesting periods for the resident eagles. Every decision was made with the goal of balancing safety and ecological integrity. 

How Did We Determine Which Trees to Remove? 

The project to assess hazardous trees began in 2024. The Metroparks Natural Resources Tree Crew—highly trained in identifying dead and dying trees—carefully evaluated each one. Only trees that posed a risk to visitors or staff were felled.

Some cut trees can be seen deeper within the marsh, as staff and volunteers often perform maintenance work off trail. Dead and dying trees can be unpredictable, especially during strong winds, heavy snow, or ice. Earlier this year, for example, a dying tree at Kensington Metropark fell onto the Farm Center Office and will require costly repairs and has displaced staff from their offices. Thankfully no one was in the building when the tree collapsed. This incident underscored just how important proactive tree management is for safety across all Metroparks. 

What’s Next for the Marsh at Lake St. Clair Metropark?  

Some of the trees were left standing to serve as important habitat for wildlife, like the Red-headed Woodpecker. These and other species nest in the tree cavities.  

You may also notice many of the downed trees and debris are still in the marsh. These are being left to break down naturally. Dead trees left on the ground after being cut or falling are an important part of the marsh ecosystem. These trees eventually break down into organic components of the soil, feeding the next generation of trees and forest plants. But as they decay, they provide food, shelter, and habitat for invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Branches and trees that fall into the canals or water provide critical structure for fish and other aquatic animals. Even in death, the park’s trees provide value. 

To make up for the loss of cottonwood trees, our Natural Resources department along with the help of our amazing volunteers, planted 360 saplings this fall and will plant another 140 in the spring. These saplings will be a variety of native species that can provide shade and wildlife value while simultaneously being more resilient to changing water levels and threats from diseases and pests.  This effort will help ensure that Lake St. Clair Metropark’s marsh remains vibrant and diverse for generations to come. 

How Can You Get Involved?  

You can help the Metroparks’ Natural Resources Department keep our natural areas healthy but volunteering for one of our monthly Volunteer Workdays. Held each month at a different park each time, you can volunteer to help fight invasive species, plant trees or gather native seeds. Learn more and register for upcoming workdays here.