We must heal our relationship with water. We cannot live without freshwater and although we expect high water quality, we are often ignorant of the natural processes responsible for maintaining one of our greatest Michigan resources. Use the links below to learn how our interaction with water impacts the entire globe.
What is a Watershed?
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): Watershed definition
Michigan Sea Grant: Great Lakes fast facts and Michigan watersheds and How watersheds work graphic
Do you know your watershed address? Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Hydrologic Unit Codes (HUCs) explained
Find ways to connect to your local watershed with the Michigan Water Environment Association's list of watershed groups in Michigan.
Water Quality
EPA: How's My Waterway? is an interactive mapping tool "designed to provide the general public with information about the condition of their local waters based on data that states, federal, tribal, local agencies and others have provided to EPA."
USGS: Science in Your Waterway "The purpose of this site is to help you find scientific information organized on a watershed basis. This information, coupled with observations and measurements made by the watershed groups, provides a powerful foundation for characterizing, assessing, analyzing, and maintaining the status and health of a watershed."
Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE): Water Resources Division
Have you heard about harmful algal blooms? Learn the basics about the eutrophication that causes harmful algal blooms (NOAA) and the reasons eutrophication is important in the Great Lakes Basin (GLISA).
Wetlands Need Your Help!
Did you know that development in the United States between 1780 and 1980 resulted in over 60 acres of wetlands lost every hour (Dahl 1990) ?
Michigan has lost 4.2 million acres of wetlands (about 50%) since European settlement (EGLE).
EGLE: Why are wetlands important?
EGLE: Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands
EGLE: Wetlands Map Viewer
Did you know some wetland activities require permits and public comment? See a list of current projects requiring permits in Michigan through EGLE's MiEnviro Portal and the US Army Corps of Engineers Public Notice website
Aquatic Invasive Species
Michigan Sea Grant: What are aquatic invasive species... and why are they a problem?
Michigan Lakes and Streams Association: Aquatic invasive species description and links
Find your local Michigan Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA)
Resources
"Take your nature knowledge up a notch with Seek! Use the power of image recognition technology to identify the plants and animals all around you. Earn badges for seeing different types of birds, amphibians, plants, and fungi and participate in monthly observation challenges." Created by iNaturalist.
Free app
"iNaturalist is a social network for sharing biodiversity information to help each other learn about nature. The primary goal is to connect people to nature, and the secondary goal is to generate scientifically valuable biodiversity data from these personal encounters."
Free app and website
Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council
Free PDF
Thomas E. Dahl
USFWS
Free PDF
Suzan Campbell, Phyllis Higman, Brad Slaughter, and Ed Schools
Kim Borland, Suzan Campbell, Rebecca Schillo, and Phyllis Higman
A website with free resources devoted to "protecting Michigan lakes through conservation and restoration of natural shorelines."
The Natural Shoreline Landscapes on Michigan's Inland Lakes Guidebook for Property Owners is a MSU Extension and MNSP publication with details on lake ecosystems, landscaping ideas, etc.
Free PDF
Print editions are available here
This free survey provides shoreline land owners with personalized insight into how they can improve their property's impact on their lake's water quality.
Mid-Michigan Environmental Council
Free PDF
Funded by the National Science Foundation, WOW provides in-depth lessons on lake ecology and water quality.
From the Michigan Environmental Council: "Use this resource to help you learn the basics about your drinking water system, how to troubleshoot problems with your water, and the questions to ask about water safety and affordability in your home and hometown."
Field Guides
Susan Borman, Robert Korth, and Jo Tente
Steve W. Chadde
Books
Constance Elizabeth Hunt
Organizations
"The Michigan Wetlands Association is dedicated to the protection and restoration of wetlands and associated ecosystems through science-based programs, education and stewardship."
"The mission of the Michigan Vernal Pools Partnership is to increase awareness, understanding and protection of vernal pools through conservation, research & mapping, education & outreach, and collaboration."
"The Michigan Clean Water Corps (MiCorps) is a network of volunteer water quality monitoring programs in Michigan. It was created through Michigan Executive Order #2003-15 to assist the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) in collecting and sharing water quality data for use in water resources management and protection programs."
"Michigan Lakes and Streams Association, Inc. is a state-wide, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and protection of Michigan’s vast treasure of inland lakes and streams. We achieve our mission by supporting riparian associations as well as the collective and individual education and conservation initiatives of our members which include lake associations, concerned citizens, commercial, and non-profit businesses as well as our public and private collaborative partners."
"FLOW’s mission is to ensure the waters of the Great Lakes Basin are healthy, public, and protected for all."
"The Alliance for the Great Lakes is a nonpartisan nonprofit working across the region to protect our most precious resource: the fresh, clean, and natural waters of the Great Lakes."
"MWEA, established in 1925, is one of Michigan's oldest organizations. MWEA represents more than 2,000 water quality professionals statewide who are dedicated to preserving, restoring and enhancing Michigan's water resources."
The MWEA website also contains a list of watershed groups in MI.
"Clean Water Action works in Michigan to protect the Great Lakes and all the waters in-between, from groundwater to the water tap. We empower people to take action to protect the health of Michigan's waters, our communities, our environment, and our democracy."
"Our mission is to protect Michigan's surface and ground waters from pollution, plunder, and privatization through education, advocacy, and action."
"MWSP is a partnership of organizations that provide educational assistance to Michigan’s residents to identify and reduce contamination risks to water and other natural resources."
"Ducks Unlimited conserves, restores, and manages wetlands and associated habitats for North America's waterfowl."
"Michigan Trout Unlimited is the coordination and representation for 19 local chapters of TU and over 8,000 individuals, devoted to the conservation, protection and restoration of Michigan's coldwater fish and their watersheds."
"The Superior Watersheds Partnership provides technical, educational, and monitoring assistance on a variety of Great Lakes protection initiatives with emphasis on Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, and Lake Huron."
"The Saginaw Bay Watershed Initiative Network (WIN) is a community-based, voluntary initiative that connects people, resources, organizations, and programs. We’re working to improve the quality of life in the area by developing projects, supporting related organizations, and developing the region’s identity as a sustainable community."
"Since 2010 the multi-agency GLRI has provided funding to 16 federal organizations to strategically target the biggest threats to the Great Lakes ecosystem and to accelerate progress toward achieving long term goals: (1) Fish safe to eat, (2) Water safe for recreation, (3) Safe source of drinking water, (4) All Areas of Concern delisted, (5) Harmful/nuisance algal blooms eliminated, (6) No new self-sustaining invasive species, (7) Existing invasive species controlled, and (8) Native habitat protected and restored to sustain native species."
"Michigan Sea Grant is a cooperative program of the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. We fund research, education, and outreach projects designed to foster science-based decisions about the use and conservation of Great Lakes resources.."
"Huron Pines inspires community-driven change through our grass-roots efforts. We can see the organizational vision of conservation driven by engaged, empowered communities come to life in our work to protect Northern Michigan and the Great Lakes each day."