The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) announced a grant award totaling $201,200 for a project that will develop a watershed management plan to control polluted runoff in the Northeast portion of the Lower Peninsula.
The plan will set local priorities and select best management practices for restoring and protecting water quality by reducing or preventing sources of sediment, nutrients, and bacteria.
The funding went to the Huron Pines Research Conservation and Development Council to develop a new watershed plan for the Thunder Bay watershed and associated Lake Huron coastal areas. This area includes a high proportion of forest and wetlands but is still impacted by pollutants such as sediment, nutrients, and bacteria.
The project will build off previous planning efforts and will include natural resource inventories, social and environmental monitoring, and outreach to stakeholders to gather information about current conditions and select the best strategies for addressing local water-related issues.
EGLE also noted that A Request for Proposals (RFP) offering $600,000 for projects that will support watershed organizations with conservation and educational efforts was recently released. A maximum of $40,000 is available per organization, and proposals are due May 17. The RFP, all forms and instructions, and additional details are available at Michigan.gov/NPS.
EGLE's Nonpoint Source Program also issues annual RFPs for projects implementing approved watershed management plans. The next RFP will be available in mid-July and posted at Michigan.gov/NPS.
Watershed management planning projects are funded through the federal Clean Water Act. EGLE says that it will not be requesting proposals for watershed management planning projects for the 2023 fiscal year.
