MDEQ News Release: Four Michigan Communities Receive Funding for Watershed Planning

Four Michigan Communities Receive Funding for Watershed Planning

February 24, 2017                                                                                                                     

For More Information:   

Robert Sweet, Water Resources Division, 517-284-5520, sweetr@michigan.gov

Residents in Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and Washtenaw counties as well as the Upper Peninsula will soon benefit from $172,000 in grant funding from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) to develop and update watershed management plans to protect Michigan lakes and streams.

The watershed management plans help reduce sources of contaminations, including nonpoint sources of sediment and nutrients, as well as restore the quality of contaminated rivers, lakes and streams.

Grant recipients were identified from proposals submitted under the Federal Clean Water Act. The MDEQ received eight proposals and awarded grants based on available funds and community need.

Kalamazoo County

Western Michigan University received $41,374 to update the watershed management plan for Portage and Arcadia creeks near Kalamazoo. An update is needed to identify next steps following implementation of the 2006 approved watershed management plan.

St. Joseph County

The Southwest Michigan Planning Commission received $37,292 to update both the Paw Paw River and Black River watershed management plans. The updates will include new nonpoint source inventories and wetland assessments to reflect changing conditions due to implementation efforts.

Upper Peninsula

The Superior Watershed Partnership received $28,568 for a complete update of the Lower Dead River watershed management plan, as well as updates of specific elements of the Salmon Trout River and Two Hearted River watershed management plans.

Washtenaw County

The Huron River Watershed Council received $64,766 to update the Middle Huron River Watershed Management plan including areas in and around Ann Arbor. Significant implementation efforts have been completed since the plan was last updated in 2008. Additional monitoring and modeling data will set the priorities for future implementation work.

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