Note: This is not for reporting environmental emergencies or questions regarding water quality that require immediate attention. For information on how to report spills, releases, or other environmental emergencies, please visit the Pollution Emergency Alerting System (PEAS) web page.

Goals and Objectives:

EGLE's Water Resources Division solicits surface water quality monitoring recommendations every year (when funding is available) to support our Strategic Environmental Quality Monitoring Program for Michigan's Surface Waters (Strategy).

The primary goals of the Strategy are to:

• Assess the current status and condition of individual waters of the state and determine whether water quality standards are being met.
• Measure spatial and temporal water quality trends.
• Provide data to support EGLE water quality protection programs (e.g., National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, Nonpoint Source, and Site Remediation) and evaluate their effectiveness.
• Detect new and emerging water quality problems.

The objective of this targeted monitoring request process is to identify where Michigan stakeholders may have a specific water quality concern related to the monitoring strategy goals. This is not an opportunity for grant funding but instead an opportunity for stakeholders to provide input on potential water quality monitoring locations for EGLE-WRD staff in the upcoming field season.

Targeted Monitoring Request Submission:

While monitoring will be focused in the watersheds highlighted in the relevant basin year maps, surface water quality monitoring requests in other watersheds will be considered. If you would like to receive announcements about this monitoring request process, consider signing up for EGLE’s GovDelivery email updates and selecting the topic “Great Lakes and Water News Information” under the Subscription Topic “Water Resources.”

Our goal is to connect requestors with appropriate resources for addressing their water quality concerns. We have developed a request screening form that asks a few questions to determine whether your concern should be submitted through the Targeted Monitoring process or directed to alternative resources. As a result, some outcomes do not result in a request submission. Requestors will always be directed to the most appropriate resource for addressing their concern.

To begin, access the Targeted Monitoring Request Screening Form! As in years past, submission of a request does not guarantee EGLE’s Water Resources Division will be able to conduct the requested monitoring. Many factors, including budget, staff availability, and the scope of the request, are taken into consideration during the decision-making process.

Timeline:

• October 1, 2025: Announcement by EGLE for 2026 monitoring requests
• October 31, 2025: Deadline for submitting requests for the 2026 field season
• June 2026: Requestors informed of final decision for 2026 field season
• Year Round: Submit requests for future monitoring; however, for consideration during the 2026 field season, the above dates for submittal must be met

Waterbody Contact Information:

If you have specific questions about a waterbody, contact information can be found in our interactive story map, “Biological Monitoring of Michigan’s Rivers and Streams.” (The story map link can also be found under “Online Services” on our “Assessment of Michigan Waters" Web page.) In the story map, scroll to page two or three and click on the watershed in which your waterbody of interest is located to get the name and email address of the biologist who covers that area. Alternatively, consider contacting the nearest EGLE District Office Location with your concern. Maps for local Nonpoint Source staff and Permitted Discharge staff are available online.