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Forest to Mi Faucet
Forest to Mi Faucet
Vibrant forests, healthy waters
The DNR Forest Stewardship Program is leading a team of conservation partners on a new initiative called “Forest to Mi Faucet” to share information about the connections between healthy forests and clean drinking water.
The project builds on the national Forests to Faucets 2.0 analysis identifying priority watersheds for protecting surface drinking water in the United States.
Great Lake | U.S. EPA condition | Forest Cover | Agricultural Use | Urban Area |
Lake Superior | Good | 91% | 1% | 2% |
Lake Huron | Good | 67% | 22% | 6% |
Lake Michigan | Fair | 49% | 32% | 10% |
Lake Erie | Poor | 19% | 61% | 18% |
Program priorities
The Forest to Mi Faucet initiative has five main components:
- Help municipal water utilities implement their source water protection plans.
- Inspire and empower landowners to manage and conserve their woodlands to protect drinking water.
- Plant 60,000 trees in riparian zones of urban and rural forests for water quality and reduced runoff.
- Educate people about connections between forests and their drinking water.
- The DNR will plant 750,000 trees on state forests to match USDA Forest Service investments.
Partners
Project partners are working toward water quality goals in cohorts based on funding source.
Partner | Project Focus | Contact |
Superior Watershed Partnership |
Marquette, Dead River watershed, Lake Superior | Kathleen Henry |
Conservation Resource Alliance | Traverse City, Boardman River watershed, Lake Michigan | DJ Shook |
Huron Pines | Alpena, Thunder Bay River watershed, Lake Huron | Samantha Nellis |
Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds | Grand Rapids, Grand River watershed, Lake Michigan | Robert Cloy |
Huron River Watershed Council | Ann Arbor, Huron River watershed, Lake Erie | Kris Olsson |
Flint River Watershed Coalition |
Flint, Flint River watershed, Lake Huron | Jennifer Raymond |
Kalamazoo River Watershed Council |
Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo River watershed, groundwater and Lake Michigan | Doug McLaughlin |
Legacy Land Conservancy |
Conservation easements in Washtenaw, Jackson and Lenawee counties; Lake Michigan and Lake Erie | Clint McGill |
Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy |
Conservation easements in Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw and Wayne counties; Lake Huron and Lake Erie |
Jill Lewis |
Mid-Michigan Land Conservancy | Conservation easements in Hillsdale, Jackson, Ingham, Eaton, Shiawassee, Clinton, Ionia and Montcalm counties; Lake Michigan | Jared Harmon |
Michigan Association of Timbermen | 25 new Michigan Master Loggers in the southern Lower Peninsula; Lake Michigan and Lake Erie | Kari Divine |
Michigan Forest Association | 250 new members in the southern Lower Peninsula and 6 events for woodland owners; Lake Michigan and Lake Erie | Amanda Curton |
More information
Questions? Contact project coordinator Mike Smalligan, 517-449-5666 or project coordinator Meagan Hoffman.
Forest to Mi Faucet is a Michigan Department of Natural Resources program supported by the USDA Forest Service and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. All partners are equal opportunity providers.