November 15, 2006

The Department of Environmental Quality today announced the release of several reports summarizing the most recently available results obtained from statewide fish contaminant and water chemistry monitoring efforts. Reports include the Michigan Fish Contaminant Monitoring Program 2005 Annual Report; the Michigan Water Chemistry Monitoring Project 2004 Great Lakes Tributaries Report; the Michigan Water Chemistry Monitoring Project 1993-2004 Saginaw and Grand Traverse Bay Report; and the Michigan Water Chemistry Monitoring Project 1992-2004 Great Lakes Connecting Channels Report.

The Michigan Fish Contaminant Monitoring Program has been monitoring contaminant levels in fish from state waters on a regular basis since the mid-1980s. The data from these samples has been used by the Department of Community Health to generate fish consumption advisories where needed, and by the DEQ and other state agencies to assess water quality, evaluate the effectiveness of remediation programs, and to measure changes in important fish contaminants at selected sites over time.

The Michigan Water Chemistry Monitoring Project was initiated in 1998, and currently monitors selected indicators of water quality at stations on Saginaw Bay and Grand Traverse Bay; the Detroit River, St. Clair River, and St. Marys River; and over 30 Great Lakes tributaries. The data from these samples is used by the DEQ to assess water quality, evaluate the effectiveness of DEQ water quality programs, detect new and emerging water quality problems, and measure changes in important water quality contaminants at selected sites over time.

Online access to Michigan's Fish Contaminant database, as well as links to the 2005 and other recent annual reports, and a brief overview of the fish contaminant monitoring program, is available at www.deq.state.mi.us/fcmp, or by contacting Joe Bohr of the DEQ at 517-373-4704, or by e-mail at bohrj@michigan.gov.

Links to Michigan Water Chemistry Monitoring Project reports and a brief overview of DEQ water chemistry monitoring efforts are available at www.michigan.gov/deqwater. You can also contact Christine Aiello of the DEQ at 517 241-7504, or aielloc@michigan.gov.

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 November 15, 2006 by Pat Watson