Dedicated
to
Michigan's
Huron River

Huron River Environment

 

The Huron River Watershed Council
This page has a wealth of information regarding the Huron River

A recent article by Laura Rubin, Director of the Huron River Watershed Council

I was dismayed by the suggestion - in May 3 Ann Arbor News story "Don't go in the river?" - that the Huron River is dangerously polluted. That suggestion is wrong. In fact, the article does something no newspaper wants to do: It misses the real story.
The real story is that despite serious challenges, nearly every indicator of the river's health is good - and getting better.

As director of the Huron River Watershed Council (HRWC), I've spent 10 years studying and protecting the Huron. HRWC's research data goes back more than 40 years, making the Huron one of the Midwest's most-studied rivers. We understand the Huron's problems and challenges as well as anyone. We know there's a lot to fix.

But since this article came out, I've been greeted again and again by grim-faced acquaintances saying things like, "I didn't know how terrible the river had gotten," and, "I wanted to go canoeing, but I'm afraid I'll fall in."

In fact, the Huron River is cleaner than it's been in decades - it's the cleanest urban river in Michigan. It provides safe drinking water to Ann Arbor and other communities. It is home to thriving populations of fish and wildlife. It bolsters our economy and home values. It's beautiful, and it's safe to enjoy.

What's the truth about the Huron?

Its primary threat is excess phosphorous, the active ingredient in many farm and lawn fertilizers, a result of soil erosion, and a product of sewage. Phosphorous runs off of fields and yards during rain storms, then flows into creeks and the river. There, under the right conditions, it causes rampant plant growth and algae blooms that deplete the water's oxygen, killing the creatures that live there and creating an ugly muck.
The Huron's high number of dams make things worse, slowing the current and letting phosphorus accumulate in weed-ravaged ponds.

But local governments - and you - can help. One easy step is to reduce phosphorous at the source by replacing phosphorous-based fertilizers with other kinds, and support regulations that restrict its use.

To contribute essays to Other Voices, contact Mary Morgan, opinion editor, at 734-994-6605 or mmorgan@annarbornews.com.

Another problem - stuff we eat and drink. The river literally flows through many of us: we drink it from our taps, and as it passes through our bodies, that water soaks up compounds like ibuprofen, caffeine, cholesterol and birth-control hormones. Then, after we flush, it makes its way to the river. This is troubling, to say the least, but one bit of good news is that the Ann Arbor water treatment plant has only found trace amounts of these chemicals and does a good job of removing these chemicals from our drinking water. Now that we know about it we are able to monitor it.

The next important step is to make sure that our waste-water plants keep these compounds from getting into the river in the first place. You can help by safely and properly disposing of excess prescription drug and over-the-counter personal care products instead of flushing them.

A third problem - E. coli - is the most immediate threat to anyone swimming in the river. No one should drink untreated water from the Huron - or any natural body of water. And there are some smaller streams where E. coli concentrations are dangerous. But the Huron River is certainly safe for contact and for boating.

With common-sense precautions, it's even safe to swim in. Last year, Liz Elling inspired the state by swimming 100 miles down the Huron to raise awareness and funds for clean water. I personally have swum in upstream stretches of the Huron, and I've waded down many of its tributaries.
Alan Warren | The Ann Arbor NewsA swan glides on the Huron River next to the Furstenberg Nature Area in Ann Arbor.

If you do plan to swim in the river, or any natural body of water, take some basic precautions.

• Don't swim within 48 hours after a rain. Storms wash fecal matter into the water (most of it from wildlife), and you don't want to be swimming among - ahem - fresh deposits. But after a couple of days, the river flushes the contaminants away.

• Be aware of hazards. Dams can kill you. So can fast-moving currents and rocks, logs and other objects that are in the water.

The Huron's problems aren't unique. Virtually every body of water in the country faces something similar. The challenges are serious, but they're no cause to fear the water.

Meanwhile, good news abounds.

This summer, Dexter Dam is being removed, freeing Mill Creek. That's a huge boost for water quality, fishing and ecological diversity, plus it will create new park land near downtown Dexter.

Phosphorous levels in the middle Huron dropped over the past five years, thanks to ambitious, innovative new programs.

In many stretches, critical fish and insect populations are up or holding steady, signaling an improvement in water quality.

An astounding number of people care enough about Huron to make protecting it part of their lives. Just last month, more than 200 volunteers with HRWC's Adopt-a-Stream program came out on a rainy Saturday to get their hands wet collecting data about the river.

The Huron continues to nourish our economy and quality of life. More than 100,000 people will paddle the Huron this year, not to mention the thousands of anglers, walkers, runners, bikers and birders who come down to the Huron because they know what a treasure it is.

That's why the real news about the Huron River is good news. Cleaning up the river doesn't happen quickly or easily, but together, we're doing it. We invite everyone to join us in celebrating the Huron and restoring its natural splendor.

The Watershed Council's reports are available here .

Dirk Fischbach has submitted a very thoughtful article regarding the impact of the many dams on the Huron titled "A River Tries to Run Through It".

Washtenaw County Conservation District - the WCCD's Mission statement is "To assist landowners with, and provide leadership in, the conservation, management and wise use of natural resources of Washtenaw County. " The web page has information on a HUGE number of conservation related topics (check out the "conservation a to z" link). They also have a comprehensive section on the Michigan Groundwater Stewardship Program (this should be of interest to anyone, especially those that live on/near the rivers and lakes). The WCCD offers FREE presentations on water quality protection around the home to individuals and groups, adults and children.

The most recent annual report can be found here .

PROTECTING RESIDENTS’ DRINKING WATER FROM CONTAMINATION

More than 20,000 households in Washtenaw County obtain their drinking water from private wells on their property, and 20% of water supplied to residents in Ann Arbor comes from city wells. This means that groundwater is a vital resource for the people of Washtenaw County. Protecting this resource requires responsible groundwater stewardship activities from all residents in the County.

To become educated about groundwater protection, you can obtain free information and advice from the Michigan Groundwater Stewardship Program (MGSP). This organization provides literature on activities that impact groundwater quality, including well and septic system maintenance, yard and garden care, and hazardous household product storage and disposal. In order to determine the risks to groundwater contamination on your own property, the MGSP is offering a free Home*A*Syst manual, and assistance with completing the assessment, to anyone interested. This program is completely confidential.

Protecting groundwater resources is everyone’s responsibility. It is important to take action, not only for the sake of our community and natural resources, but also for safeguarding your family from serious illnesses that can be caused by drinking water contamination.

To inquire about programs, or to obtain your free Home*A*Syst manual, please contact Mary Beth Lake, the MGSP representative in Washtenaw County, at 734-761-6721 ext. 5. Mary Beth can schedule a meeting with you to go over the information in the booklet. She is also available for group presentations that cover groundwater protection and other environmental health issues

The Livingston County Conservation District has a web page here!

We are past the day of being able to do what we want without being worried about the impact on our environment. Those of us living near the Huron need to be very aware of the choices we make!

A good, basic site regarding the responsibility of living near a body of water can be found on the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council.

Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Network and Fund

Hamburg Township has enacted a restriction on fertilizer, the following is a quote from the Brighton Argus:

In the world of neighborhoods, it's the greenest lawn that can cause the most green envy among yard slaves everywhere.
Unfortunately, the chemical fertilizers many use on their lawns are turning area lakes green, as well.

A new ordinance enacted in Hamburg Township limits the amount of fertilizers residents may apply to their lawns. It's specifically aimed at regulating the use of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, due to its infiltration into area waterways, resulting in increased algae and aquatic plant growth.

The ordinance targets fertilizer use on turf - mainly lawns, school grounds and parks - and does not apply to its use in gardens, farms or landscapes.

Fertilizers may not be applied after Nov. 15 or before April 1 of any given year, and may not be applied more than once every eight weeks and not more than four times a year. Golf courses may be allowed a greater number of applications.

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