December 28, 2006

The Department of Environmental Quality, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), and Tetra Tech, Inc. are sponsoring the "Watershed-Based Planning Workshop," which will be held on February 12, 2007, at the Comfort Inn & Suites in Mt. Pleasant. The workshop is designed to assist efforts for addressing the challenges posed to Michigan's waters by nonpoint source pollution, urban stormwater, and impacts from wastewater treatment plants.

The importance of basin-wide management has been underlined by recent guidance from the USEPA and the DEQ, which calls for watershed-based plans for all projects supported by competitive funding from the Clean Water Act. This workshop will examine the watershed planning process and the product, focusing on how the USEPA's Nine Minimum Elements fit into the overall watershed planning process.

This workshop is open to the public and is intended for watershed group members and managers, public agency staff, planners, consultants, and others active in the water resources planning field.

The registration fee of $25 includes lunch, refreshments, and workshop materials. Register online at www.michigan.gov/deqworkshops (click on "Upcoming DEQ Workshops"). For registration information, contact the Environmental Assistance Center at 1-800-662-9278, or e-mail at deq-ead-env-assist@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"