Can you eat fish from the Detroit River?


Can you eat fish from the Detroit River? Some fish in the Detroit River shouldn't be eaten because there are too many chemicals in them, but there are plenty of fish that are OK to eat. You just need to choose wisely. The Eat Safe Fish Guide can help you choose safer fish to eat from lakes and rivers in Michigan.


How deep is the Detroit River?

The Detroit River flows west and south for 24 nautical miles from Lake St. Clair to Lake Erie as a strait in the Great Lakes system.


Where is the deepest part of the Detroit River?

The deepest areas are found in the vicinity of the Ambassador Bridge, where the river slightly narrows to a width of about 1,900 feet for a distance of 1-1/2 miles. The southerly or lower reach of the Detroit River is broad, with several islands and shallow expanses.


Is the Detroit River clean?

For decades, the river received untreated waste discharges from industrial use, and inputs from urban development and stormwater runoff, which degraded the river. These pollution sources have contributed to high levels of bacteria, PCBs, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, metals, oils, and greases within the AOC.