DEQ - Nonpoint Source Program

Michigan Department of Environmental Quality

Michigan.gov, Official Web Site for the State of Michigan


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About the DEQ

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Nonpoint Source Program

Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution is pollution caused when rain, snowmelt, or wind carry pollutants off the land and into lakes, streams, wetlands, and other waterbodies. Michigan's Nonpoint Source Program assists local units of government, non-profit entities, and numerous other state, federal, and local partners to reduce nonpoint source pollution statewide. The basis of our program is watershed management and our program works with stakeholders to develop and implement plans to protect the watersheds of the state. The Nonpoint Source Program consists of five parts, summarized below:

Technical assistance to help people develop and implement watershed management plans; includes best management practice (BMP) selection, land use planning activities, and engineering review of site plans
Information and education, including both statewide activities and tools and those created by our grantees, to educate people about nonpoint sources of pollution.
Grants, including those funded with federal Clean Water Act funds and the Clean Michigan Initiative to implement BMPs, land use planning tools and information/education activities.
Compliance and Enforcement, including response and investigation of complaints, follow up requiring corrective actions, and occasionally participating in escalated enforcement actions.
Monitoring and field investigations to determine the effectiveness of best management practices, determine whether watershed planning efforts are protecting or improving water quality, determine effectiveness of the overall NPS Program, and monitoring related to TMDLs.

Below are tools and web pages for each of the program elements. We look forward to working with you to protect and improve Michigan's water resources.

Nonpoint Source Staff