May 4, 2007

The Department of Environmental Quality and the Partnership for the Saginaw Bay Watershed will be hosting a presentation on regulation of Combined Sewer Overflows to the Saginaw River on May 9, at 7 pm at the Bay City State Park Visitors Center.

Jon Bloemker, Saginaw Bay District Supervisor for the DEQ's Water Bureau, will discuss the operation and design of the area's combined sewer outfalls and the regulatory efforts being taken to address these discharges. The presentation will also provide an overview of other local activities regarding concentrated animal feeding operations, illicit discharges, sanitary surveys, and nonpoint source issues that contribute to water quality problems in the Saginaw Bay.

Bloemker's presentation initiates a series of discussions that will occur over the coming months on Combined Sewer Overflows and their impacts on Saginaw Bay, a priority issue identified through the Saginaw Bay Coastal Initiative.

Details of the Saginaw Bay Coastal Initiative and additional information are available online at http://www.michigan.gov/deq under "Issues to Watch."

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 May 4, 2007 by Pat Watson