Governor Jennifer M. Granholm, with the support of Director of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Steven E. Chester, announced today she is nominating two Michigan watersheds for federal funding under the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Watershed Initiative now before Congress.

The watersheds being nominated for consideration are the Dead River Watershed Project and the Clinton River Watershed Initiative.

"The Dead River and Clinton River watersheds are unique local resources and restoring them is essential," Granholm said today. "We are committed to protecting Michigan's critical water resources and that is why we are advocating that these two nominations be funded as part of the Initiative pending before Congress," Granholm added.

The Initiative is part of the federal 2004 budget that will direct $21 million nationwide to encourage successful community-based approaches to restore, preserve, and protect watersheds. Each State has the opportunity to recommend two state-wide proposals for funding. Michigan has submitted two proposals for consideration and those will now compete nationally with other submitted proposals. Only 20 projects will be selected nationwide to receive the Initiative funds. The DEQ received 6 proposals requesting over $4.2 million in funding.

"The two proposals nominated by Michigan are representative of our vision of watershed management that encourages partnerships across local governmental units, and is not limited to political boundaries," said Director Chester.

Projects selected for funding under the Initiative are subject to Congressional appropriation.

The projects nominated for funding are:

• The Dead River Watershed Project, submitted by the Central Lake Superior Watershed Partnership. The proposed project would encourage the adoption of a riparian buffer ordinance throughout the watershed, promote conservation easements in priority areas of the watershed, and implement two demonstration projects of best management practices (one urban, one rural) in the watershed. This proposal addresses a number of water quality and quantity issues with anticipated short-term results and measurable milestones. The proposal requests $376,000 in grant funds and includes a 26 percent match.

• The Clinton River Watershed Initiative submitted by the Oakland County Drain Commissioner and supported by Macomb County. The proposal requests $1,124,702 in grant funds and includes a 25 percent match. The proposed project has three major components: (1) the development and implementation of a cost-share program for homeowners to upgrade or repair failing on-site septic systems, (2) development and implementation of a pilot cost-share footing drain disconnection program, and (3) use of bacterial source tracking to identify the source of e. coli which is restricting use of the river and beaches. Failing on-site septic systems and sanitary sewer overflows are major problems in this watershed, and the project proposes an innovative approach as a solution.

Last year, the EPA selected 20 watershed organizations nationally to receive grants averaging $700,000 each. The selected organizations were chosen to receive the awards because their work plans were the most likely to achieve environmental results in a relatively short-time period. For example, over 70 percent of the selected projects address agricultural pollution; 50 percent address urban and industrial runoff; 50 percent address the relationship between water quality and habitat restoration for wildlife and endangered or threatened species; and 30 percent have projects aimed at the homeowner.

For specific questions related to the Initiative, refer to the EPA Web site: http://www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/initiative/, or contact Ms. Susan Erickson at 517-241-8707, or ericksos@Michigan.gov.

Editor’s Note: DEQ news releases are available on the department’s Internet home page at http://www.deq.state.mi.us)

Revised January 13, 2004 by Scott Olin