Fordson Island in an 8.4 acre island created in 1922 when federal engineers deepened and straightened the Rouge River provide better access to Ford's property for the production of Eagle boats. Up to six residents still lived on the island in the 1970s and enjoyed boat access to the river. Marathon Petroleum operated an asphalt transfer station on the island which has now been decommissioned but is still owned by the company. In 2011, 21 abandoned boats were removed from the channel around the island and long term plans are to make the island and nature park. It is a unique island of habitat within this industrialized area.
The channel around the island is shallow but can be paddled. The bridge at the east end is only passable under very low water.
