More than $4 million in grants awarded to protect Michigan lakes and streams

The quality of rivers, lakes, streams, and watersheds across the state is getting a boost thanks to $4.3 million in grants from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ). These grants will help restore and protect local waters by supporting projects to reduce sources of sediment, nutrients, and other contaminants.

Organizations and projects selected to receive funding include:

- Shiawassee Conservation District will receive $839,828 to repair or replace failing on-site septic systems and implement agricultural best management practices in the Upper Maple River Watershed, as well as develop a technical update to the Upper Maple River Watershed Management Plan.

- Lenawee Conservation District will receive $769,336 to reduce sediments and nutrients by addressing agricultural runoff and drain water management in the River Raisin watershed, a contributor to Western Lake Erie Basin.

- City of Royal Oak will receive $175,981 for installing rain gardens in the Red Run Drain watershed and developing a rain garden education program for the local community.

- Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council will receive $129,343 to work with local units of government in the Lake Charlevoix watershed to better control on-site septic systems and storm water runoff through local ordinances. The project will also include an assessment of past outreach efforts in the area.

- Ottawa County Water Resource Commissioner will receive $600,000 to reduce sediments by stabilizing streambanks and restoring wetlands in priority areas as well as promoting Farm Bill programs to agricultural landowners in the Upper Sand Creek watershed.

- Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy will receive $211,750 to permanently protect two properties covering 200 acres with conservation easements in the Battle Creek River watershed.

- Outdoor Discovery Center Macatawa Greenway will receive $251,782 to address eroding streambanks in Peters Creek, restore a 1-acre wetland, and implement residue management in agricultural areas to reduce nutrient and sediment runoff in the Macatawa River watershed.

- University of Michigan will receive $346,286 to reduce the amount of stormwater and the associated soil erosion in School Girls Glen, a direct tributary to the Huron River.

- Clinton River Watershed Council will receive $159,739 to retrofit an existing parking lot with porous pavers, bioretention cells, and native plantings in Bear Creek, a tributary to Red Run Drain. Educational brochures focusing on the benefits of green infrastructure will be provided to local developers as well.

- Leelanau Conservancy will receive $452,877 to permanently protect two properties covering 108 acres and over 2,500 feet of stream frontage in the West Grand Traverse Bay watershed with conservation easements.

- Bay County Drain Commissioner will receive $397,780 to implement agricultural best management practices to reduce E. coli, sediment, and nutrient runoff in the Kawkawlin River watershed.

These grants are funded under the federal Clean Water Act - Section 319 and the Clean Michigan Initiative Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Grants Program. Grants are offered via an annual request for proposals cycle posted at: www.michigan.gov/deqnps.

Published: Wed, Aug 09, 2017