August 2, 2005

Department of Environmental Quality Director Steven E. Chester today announced that a total of $496,891 in Water Quality Monitoring grants has been awarded to 15 applicants to assist local governments, universities, and nonprofit organizations to monitor the quality of Michigan’s waters.

“These grants represent a continued effort by the DEQ to partner with local communities to protect our vast water resources,” said Director Chester. “By working together, we can ensure that our lakes and streams are kept clean and safe for generations to come.”

The recipients of the funding announced today were:

• The Macomb County Public Works Office was awarded $57,810 in
  grant funds to identify the source of E. coli bacteria from fecal
  contamination using bacterial source tracking in the Crapeau Creek
  Drain and New Baltimore Beach.

• The Central Michigan District Health Department was awarded $62,000
  in grant funds to identify and monitor nonpoint sources of
  contamination in the headwaters of the Muskegon River. The Central
  Michigan District Health Department was also awarded $20,771 in
  grant funds to monitor inland beaches in Arenac, Clare, Gladwin,
  Isabella, Osceola, and Roscommon Counties.

• The Three Lakes Association was awarded $79,886 in grant funds to
  complete the calibration of the Torch Lake predictive nutrient model by
  including Clam Lake and Lake Bellaire in the model and to identify
  management options.

• Michigan State University was awarded $58,542 in grant funds to
  collect water samples from 120 Michigan lakes through volunteers
  participating in the Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program. Michigan
  State University was also awarded $69,301 in grant funds to monitor
  the occurrence of several antibiotics used as feed additives in drainage
  water from the Michigan State University Animal Science Research
  and Teaching Farm, as well as surrounding surface waters.

• Grand Valley State University was awarded $39,540 in grant funds to
  collect and analyze water samples from seven lakes in west Michigan.

• The Kalamazoo County Human Services Department was awarded
  $20,000 in grant funds to monitor inland beaches in Kalamazoo
  County. The Kalamazoo County Human Services Department was also
  awarded $29,812 in grant funds to refine a predictive model for beach
  closures.

• The Barry-Eaton District Health Department was awarded $10,000 in
  grant funds to monitor inland beaches in Barry County.

• The District Health Department No. 2 was awarded $6,500 in grant
  funds to monitor inland beaches in Iosco, Alcona, Oscoda, and
  Ogemaw Counties.

• The District Health Department No. 4 was awarded $8,000 in grant
  funds to monitor inland beaches in Alpena County.

• The Genesee County Health Department was awarded $10,000 in
  grant funds to monitor inland beaches in Genesee County.

• The Muskegon County Health Department was awarded $5,000 in grant
  funds to monitor inland beaches in Muskegon County.

• The Northwest Michigan Community Health Agency was awarded
  $5,000 in grant funds to monitor inland beaches in Antrim, Charlevoix,
  Emmet, and Otsego Counties.

• The Ottawa County Health Department was awarded $5,000 in grant
  funds to monitor inland beaches in Ottawa County.

• The Western Peninsula District Health Department was awarded
  $5,000 in grant funds to monitor inland beaches in Houghton,
  Ontonagon, and Gogebic Counties.

• The Wexford County Drain Commission was awarded $4,729 in grant
  funds to monitor inland beaches in Wexford County.

Funding for these grants was made available through the Clean Michigan Initiative – Clean Water Fund.

Editor’s note: DEQ news releases are available on the department’s Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

“Protecting Michigan’s Environment, Ensuring Michigan’s Future”

Revised August 2, 2005 by Pat Watson