Huron River Watershed Council

This summer, the Huron River Watershed Council has been conducting a biological survey for freshwater mussels on the Huron River below the Peninsular Paper Dam in Ypsilanti. Learn about our progress so far in the latest blog by HRWC Watershed Ecologist Paul Steen. https://lnkd.in/gr9rGtkN

Since Spring 2023, HRWC staff has been reaching out to residents in three Huron River watershed communities as part of our Listen>Learn>Connect project to explore new ways to address issues that meet local priorities for clean water. Check out what we learned in Ypsilanti, one of the three communities. Findings from each of the other two communities, Flat Rock and Belleville, will be posted in blogs later this month. https://lnkd.in/g6v89NBj

If you live in Lodi, please join us to gather, check out some cool maps of Lodi Township, and share thoughts on what you want the Lodi of tomorrow to look like! HRWC staff will bring maps and information about Lodi’s natural and developed areas, how local water is impacted, and then gather thoughts from participants on priorities for development and land management. The goal of this interactive workshop is to find common ground by setting priorities for areas to protect and areas that might be developed in the future. No prep needed and all are invited! July 18, 6-8pm, Lodi Township Hall, 3755 Pleasant Lake Rd.

Friendly reminder to avoid foam on waterbodies! As temperatures get hotter and summer water recreation takes off, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) reminds people and pets to avoid contact with foam on Michigan lakes, streams and rivers. Foam can sometimes contain harmful chemicals or bacteria. PFAS is known to concentrate at high levels in foam. PFAS are toxic, synthetic chemicals associated with many health problems. According to current science the risk of PFAS entering the body through skin contact is low. The concern is repeatedly ingesting PFAS following skin contact. If you do make contact with foam, rinse off with non-foamy water and wash up when you can. In the Huron River swimming, paddling and boating are okay. Get more information at HRWC.org/PFAS. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/g9xxeJjj Read more news we've been following in our June News to Us blog: https://lnkd.in/ePvt_UX3

Summer Intern Update: The past two weeks the interns have been busy with our Mussel Monitoring project in Ypsilanti, working with mussel experts to search for threatened and endangered mussel species to prepare for the removal of Peninsular Paper Dam. They've also been measuring and mapping streambeds and taking chemistry and flow samples throughought the watershed. And much more! Photo 1: Interns, volunteers, HRWC staff, and mussel experts survey the Huron River for mussels along transects. (Jason Frenzel) Photo 2: Mussel Monitoring training. (Kate Laramie) Photo 3: A great group of summer interns! (Jason Frenzel) Photo 4: Interns collect water samples to measure water chemistry parameters. (Wanda Bush) Photo 5: Raccoon prints spotted! (Wanda Bush)

HRWC’s Ric Lawson recently chatted with Michigan Public about a new initiative in Southeast Michigan called the Rain Catchers Collective to support residential and municipal green stormwater infrastructure development. The effort is a collaboration between HRWC, Friends of the Rouge, and Clinton River Watershed Council to improve water quality and mitigate flooding. Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/e6RecX4T Learn how you can become a Rain Catcher and protect water quality with rain gardens and rain barrels: https://lnkd.in/d6fV7kTJ See more news we've been following on our June News to Us blog at https://lnkd.in/ePvt_UX3

Read our recommended June news articles to learn about and improve water quality. News to Us shares articles on a new Michigan loan program for replacing failing septic systems, a SE Michigan initiative to make more rain gardens, HRWC's mussel survey in Ypsilanti, summer weather predictions from NOAA, and a reminder to avoid touching foam on Michigan lakes, rivers and streams. https://lnkd.in/ePvt_UX3

New legislation provides an important road map for Michigan communities to fund much-needed maintenance and improvements to aging stormwater infrastructure. Stormwater utilities support local investments that reduce flooding and its costs and prevent pollution to our waterways. They can help raise the grades earned by Southeast Michigan's rivers in a recent series of watershed report cards. https://lnkd.in/eADzvZxv

ICYMI. A new program through Michigan Saves is offering financing for homeowners looking to replace failing septic systems. More than a third of homes in Michigan rely on these systems to manage, treat and dispose of wastewater. https://lnkd.in/e7hpHhsS Learn more about protecting water quality through septic system care and maintenance including tips for how to tell if your system is in trouble at https://lnkd.in/e7re8u45

We're looking for mussels! Over the next couple of weeks you will find HRWC staff and volunteers surveying the Huron River in Ypsilanti below Peninsular Dam for endangered mussels. Read about our project in this MLive article: https://lnkd.in/eBdzvcRP