Water quality monitoring grants awarded

Aug. 19, 2013                                                                                                                  13-0819

For More Information:
Brad Wurfel, 517-373-7917, wurfelb@michigan.gov
Dawn Roush, 517-335-3307, roushd@michigan.gov

The DEQ awarded five water quality monitoring grants today, totaling $197,115.89, to assist universities, local governments, and nonprofit organizations to monitor the quality of Michigan’s waters.

The recipients of the grant funding announced today are:

Eaton Conservation District has been awarded $40,982.60 to monitor and track sources of E. coli in the middle Grand River. Sampling will be performed in the western tributaries where limited monitoring has taken place, and canine tracking will be performed in the current total maximum daily load reach.

Grand Valley State University, Annis Water Resources Institute, has been awarded $32,707.40 to assess the presence of the cyanobacterium, Gloeotrichia, in Silver Lake, Michigan. Silver Lake has suffered the past two years from outbreaks of Gloeotrichia, which can overwinter in sediment. This project will complement other studies to determine stressors to the lake and put into place best management practices to improve and protect the lake. 

The Kalamazoo River Watershed Council has been awarded $70,335.60 to monitor water quality improvements in Lake Allegan. The role of phosphorus release from the sediments is not known for this system and was not considered as a source in the TMDL. A better understanding of the nutrient contribution from the sediment will allow TMDL partners to better address the issue of excessive phosphorus in the lake, as well as better determine the time it will take to meet the goals of the TMDL.

Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council has been awarded $35,828.50 to perform aquatic invasive species surveys on 14 lakes and connecting tributaries in the Elk River Chain of Lakes watershed. The results will be used to control the spread of AIS. Project findings will be provided to stakeholders to increase awareness of AIS in the watershed and to implement management and control strategies for AIS.

Timberland Resource Conservation and Development has been awarded $17,261.79 to monitor and track sources of E. coli in Tyler Creek, a tributary in the Lower Grand River watershed. This project will direct efforts towards influences of stream discharge and total suspended sediments on E. coli concentrations, with an ultimate goal of targeting riparian restoration efforts to areas where contaminated runoff and sediment input are greatest.

Funding for these grants was made available through the Clean Michigan Initiative-Clean Water Fund.