Ann Arbor - February 28, 2008
The Bioreserve Project at HRWC has been awarded a $65,000 grant from the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan (CFSEM) for support to assess and preserve high quality natural areas in Southeast Michigan’s Huron River Watershed. The Bioreserve’s total project expense is $250,000, and money for the project was originally raised through last summer’s Liz Swims event, when long distance swimmer Liz Elling swam the Huron River to raise awareness for the project, and from the support of Visteon Foundation. A total now of $135,000 has been raised thanks to the recent $65,000 grant award from CFSEM. For more information about the Bioreserve Project, see www.hrwc.org/text/bioreserve.htm.

The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, founded in 1984, is a permanent community endowment built by gifts from thousands of individuals and organizations committed to the future of southeast Michigan. The Foundation works to improve the quality of life in southeast Michigan by supporting a wide variety of activities benefiting education, arts and culture, health, human services, community development and civic affairs.

Governed by a board of 50 community leaders, the Foundation makes grants to outstanding charitable projects in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, St. Clair, Livingston and Washtenaw counties. The Foundation has assets of $670 million and, since its inception has distributed more than $295 million in more than 29,000 grants to non-profit organizations. www.cfsem.org

Ann Arbor - November 11, 2007
Winners of the Millers Creek Film Festival will receive larger prizes, thanks to a surprise donor from California. The Huron River Watershed Council (HRWC) received a nice check to be used as prize money for the short film contest about human connections to any creek or lake in the Huron River basin. The judges are looking for films that are entertaining. This gift brings the cash award for winning films in the adult and PSA categories to $1,000 each and $500 for the best school‐age film.

The owner of Serendipity Books thought that the local contest was a terrific idea and needed larger prizes to attract entries. He liked the idea that families, students and other people from Washtenaw, Wayne, Livingston and Oakland Counties are making films and helping people think about their precious water.

Watershed residents of all ages are invited to submit films under 5 minutes or 30‐second public service announcements (PSA’s) engaging people’s attention about the Huron River or any of its tributary creeks or lakes. Winning films will receive cash prizes and will appear in a gala screening event at the Michigan Theatre in Ann Arbor on March 14, 2008. Film makers may enter as an individual or a group.

Entries are due February 2, 2008. The entry fee is $15. The watershed is more than the main branch of the Huron; it is all of the lakes and creeks and the land between them as well. Even though most people are not aware of their local creek, they are connected to it, and the creek is connected to them.

Details on the prize categories, resources for novice filmmakers and background about the river system are available on the HRWC web site www.hrwc.org/filmfestival.

Ann Arbor - May 3, 2007
Are you concerned about northeast Ann Arbor?
What is happening to the environment around Millers Creek?

Learn what is new in the neighborhood at an Open House from 7-9pm on Tuesday May 22nd at Logan School, 2685 Traver Road organized by the Millers Creek Action Team (MCAT).

Did you know that Michigan Tech has located a branch here? How will the creek be affected by Pfizer leaving? Ask the City, the University and developers, about their plans.

MCAT and other experts will be on hand with exhibits and slide presentations for brainstorming and discussions about what has been accomplished and what the future holds.

Join us for an evening with your neighbors and talk about what we can do to beautify our own landscapes and promote the health of Millers Creek.

Take home native plants, which will be given as door prizes. Enjoy light refreshments.

Ann Arbor — April 12, 2006
The Huron River Watershed Council (HRWC) has been awarded a $141,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to coordinate a watershed-wide stream buffer education and policy initiative. The first goal of the two-year program will be to work with local communities in the Huron River Watershed to adopt and implement buffer ordinances that establish criteria for the preservation and protection of lands adjacent to the Huron River and its tributaries. The second goal of the project will be to educate riparian and lakeshore landowners on the importance of vegetated buffers in reducing pollution to local waterways and engage them in stewardship activities, including development of multiple demonstration sites that illustrate good riparian buffer management practices.

Riparian buffers consist of plants, shrubs, or trees that provide a natural and gradual transition from terrestrial to aquatic environments. These areas critical for wildlife habitat, storing water during periods of high water flow, and protecting lakes and rivers from physical and chemical pollutants.

"The Huron is the cleanest urban river in Michigan," according to Chris Riggs, a watershed planner with HRWC. "However, as natural areas in the watershed are increasingly developed, we have to work harder to maintain that title." Protecting remaining priority natural areas such as land adjacent to rivers, streams, and lakes is essential. "Much of the watershed’s streams and river corridors have been stripped of natural vegetation. Natural shorelines and stream banks are being replaced with turfgrass, seawalls, concrete, boulders or other artificial barriers that sever the ecological connection between land and water, cause bank erosion, and allow pollutants to flow directly into the river. Establishing buffers that protect the remaining riparian corridors, especially floodplains, wetlands, and steep slopes, is critical to protecting the aquatic system against increasing development pressures throughout the watershed and maintaining the Huron River’s physical, biological, and chemical integrity."

With the help of a technical review committee, HRWC will first develop a model riparian buffer ordinance, which will be used in partnering with local governments that express an interest in pursuing passage of a buffer ordinance. Ordinance criteria stipulate the buffer width, depending on the existing natural features in a corridor, regulate the allowable type and location of development within or near a floodplain when applicable, and designate allowable uses of the buffer zones, such as recreational activities or tree removal.

Within the partner communities, HRWC will also launch a stewardship program on the importance of vegetative buffers for local water quality and watershed protection. In addition to mailing educational materials on the importance of buffers to community residents, HRWC is seeking landowners who have recently installed riparian buffers, or may be interested in enhancing or installing a model riparian buffer demonstration site on their property.

For more information on the grant, or to learn how you or your community can become a partner, call Chris Riggs at HRWC at 734/769-5123 x13 or check the web site at www.hrwc.org.

About the Huron River Watershed Council: HRWC is a public nonprofit coalition of local communities, businesses, and residents established under Michigan’s Local River Management Act in 1965 to protect the Huron River and its tributary streams, lakes, wetlands, and groundwater. HRWC works to inspire attitudes, behaviors, and economies that protect, rehabilitate, and sustain the Huron River system. Services include hands-on citizen education, technical assistance in policy development, and river protection and monitoring projects.

Join Wonderful Volunteers in a Study of the River
Help to evaluate the quality of the Huron River and learn about the vibrant life teeming underwater and ice at the January 21st workshop with the Huron River Watershed Council’s Adopt-A-Stream Program. (Did you know that stoneflies grow rapidly in the middle of winter while most of the fish are dormant and won’t eat them?) No experience is needed; each team will be led by an experienced collector and you won’t have to go into the water. However, you must pre-register by January 11th in order to be placed on a team: email jmartin@hrwc.org or call 734/769-5123 x11.

The stoneflies that you will see are remarkable. They complete all of their growth in two months of winter and later they can be seen walking on the snow next to the stream when they are ready to mate. The study sites include nearby creeks and locations on the Huron River in Livingston, Oakland, and Washtenaw Counties. Interested children are welcome if each is accompanied by an adult. Meet regardless of the weather and dress very warmly in order to be comfortable.

There are two meeting times to choose from. Meet either at 11:30 AM or 1:00 PM in Ann Arbor and carpool to two stream sites. We will be finished in four hours. Join us! FREE

WHAT: Annual Search for Stoneflies in the Huron River Streams
WHEN: Saturday, January 21, meet at 11:30 AM or 1:00 PM for 4 hours.
WHERE: Meet in Ann Arbor, and then carpool to two sites ACT NOW OR BY JAN. 11th: jmartin@hrwc.org or 734/769-5123 x11 to be put on a team

Dear Ann Arbor News Editor:

The recent Ann Arbor News article "Sewer plans may address sprawl threat" (front page- April 2, 2001) discussing local government's response to phosphorus problems in the Huron River described only the role of permitted point source dischargers in contributing excessive amounts of phosphorus. Only half of the phosphorus story has been told.

Watershed modeling and field monitoring estimate that non-point sources contribute approximately 50% of the excess phosphorus to the middle portion of the Huron system. Non-point source pollution is the pollution that we create every day from our individual actions and behaviors, and it is the No. 1 source of water pollution in the country.

Non-point source means a diffuse source of contaminants or pollution with no specific outfall or origin. Non-point source pollution comes from urban and residential areas as well as rural areas. In urban and residential areas, non-point sources include:

• application of pesticides and fertilizers
• oil and grease from parking lots
• paint, oil and other substances dumped down storm drains
• soil from alleys, road ditches and construction sites
• improper disposal of leaves and grass.

• improperly maintained septic tanks
• soil erosion from farm fields and livestock trampling stream banks
• livestock manure from cropland, barnyards or directly in the stream.

Each of us needs to take responsibility for our role in this problem. Our daily behaviors contribute significantly to the excess phosphorus problem. Regulating these contributions is difficult and therefore requires changes in our personal and household behaviors.

For the past 4 years, the Huron River Watershed Council has been educating and informing watershed residents about the simple steps they can take to "get the phosphorus out" through individual actions. These steps are easy to follow, and can save time and money.

Over-application of fertilizers wastes money, ruins plants and pollutes our waterways. Residents can help reduce phosphorus in the Huron by doing the following:

1. Put your lawn to work for you. Grass clippings are the ideal food source for your lawn. Grass clippings, mulched leaves and compost also provide organic matter, which keeps soils from compacting.
2. Check yard and garden product labels. If you decide to use commercial fertilizers, always choose a low-phosphorus fertilizer (indicated by the middle number of the three number series on the bag), because most soils in this area are already high in phosphorus.
3. Spread lightly. Most manufacturers’ guidelines are excessive for this area. One application of low phosphorus fertilizer in the fall is adequate for most lawns.
4. Make a clean sweep. Keep fertilizer out of storm drains and ditches by using a broom to clean up spills on sidewalks and driveways.
5. Get your soil tested. Learn what your lawn and garden need for optimum health and growth. Testing services are provided at a low cost through your county MSU Extension Agent, and agents provide individual recommendations based on your soil tests results.

1. Mow high. The roots of your lawn grow as deep as the grass grows tall, so taller grass has deeper, healthier roots. Keep your lawn three inches or higher, and never cut off more than 1/3 of the blade each time you mow. Leave the clippings right on your lawn for a natural fertilizer.
2. Water sparingly. Over-watering can damage plants, stimulate fungus, and leach nutrients out of the soil.
3. Create a smaller lawn area. Use trees, shrubs and flowers to landscape the rest of your yard.
4. Landscape with deep-rooted native plants. They are naturally suited to our weather and soil conditions.
5. Put rain water to work for you. Border your lawn with deep-rooted flowers and shrubs to prevent water runoff. Direct down sprouts into the garden area, or install rain barrels to collect water for use during dry weather.

Thank you to the Ann Arbor News for its coverage of issues that impact the health of the Huron River Watershed.

Sincerely,

Laura Rubin, Executive Director
Elizabeth Worzalla, Middle Huron Initiative Coordinator

Last Updated: November 2007