The Great Lakes are known for their beauty and the wealth of resources within and around them. The combined lakes contain one-fifth of the world's surface fresh water, with more than 3,000 miles of shoreline, the Great Lakes not only form Michigan's geography, but also shape our economy, society, and environment. EGLE protects, preserves, and restores the Great Lakes through regulatory oversight with programs that range from the permitting of shore protection structures and dredging projects to the issuance of Great Lakes Bottomland Conveyances.

Michigan's Office of the Great Lakes works to protect, restore and sustain our state's water resources. The OGL has moved its website to www.michigan.gov/OGL.

Michigan has over 36,000 miles of streams, and more than 11,000 lakes and ponds. These precious water resources and the benefits they provide are protected by several state laws from impairment due to pollution, physical alterations and nuisance aquatic species. The State's water resources are monitored by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and partnering organizations to determine the water quality, the quantity and quality of aquatic habitat, the health of aquatic communities, and compliance with state laws.

This page can be accessed as www.mi.gov/egleinlandlakes

EGLE has the responsibility to protect the public health and the environment by ensuring wastewater is properly handled and treated safely. This is achieved through a series of programs that provide:

1. engineering reviews of public wastewater infrastructure projects (Wastewater Construction Permits);
2. licensing of treatment plant operators (Operator Training and Certification);
3. licensing of septage haulers and approval of receiving stations and land application (Septage regulation);
4. the control of industrial pollutants into publicly owned treatment works (Industrial Pretreatment Program); and,
5. the encouragement of the beneficial reuse of wastewater treatment plant residuals (Biosolids Program).