The Water Resources Division (WRD) protects and monitors Michigan's waters by establishing water quality standards, assessing the health of aquatic communities, issuing permits to regulate wastewater dischargers, and overseeing aquatic invasive species concerns and water withdrawals. The division processes permit applications and provides technical assistance to local soil erosion and sedimentation control programs, as well as activities like dredging or filling, constructing or dismantling dams, constructing marinas, seawalls, or docks, building in a designated critical sand dune, wetland, or floodplain, and protecting underwater shipwreck resources. The Division oversees and issues construction permits for all public wastewater infrastructure, requires asset management in NPDES permits to ensure proper maintenance and oversees critical large-scale infrastructure improvements in the area of CSO/SSO control vital to health of Michigan's waterways.
WRD's mission: Make Michigan’s waters safe and clean for recreating, fishing, drinking, and healthy aquatic ecosystems.
An invasive species is one that is not native and whose introduction can harm Michigan's economy, environment, or human health.
Permits to control aquatic nuisance species without harming public health, recreation, or the environment.
Provides scientifically sound water quality data for surface waters to support decision-making.
Determines whether ballast water management practices are being complied with by all vessels operating on the Great Lakes.
Beach monitoring, closings, and E. coli test results for Michigan's beaches.
The permitting and use of biosolids, which are nutrient-rich organic material from treated domestic sewage.
Permitting to protect water quality at Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) and where manure is land applied.
Technical assistance and grants to mitigate hazards, create healthy habitats, and support resilient planning for a sustainable coastline.
Inspection and regulation of the operation of dams.
Permitting for dredging submerged areas of the Great Lakes, inland lakes, and streams.
Escherichia coli, or E. coli, is a type of bacteria that is used as a water quality indicator.
Identifying floodplains, permitting activities within floodplains, and assisting communities with the National Flood Insurance Program.
Michigan’s Areas of Concern (AOC) program works to restore sites affected by legacy contamination and development.
Works with partner agencies to protect and restore the world's premier freshwater ecosystem and support economically viable communities.
Regulating the discharge of treated wastewater to the ground or groundwaters of the state.
Collects, evaluates, and analyzes hydrologic data to provide technical hydrologic engineering support.
Regulating the discharge of industrial wastewater to protect treatment facilities, their staff, the public, and the environment.
Protection of the natural resources and the public trust waters of the inland lakes and streams of the state.
Monitoring of inland lakes to meet specified goals and reports on the quality of the state's surface water resources.
Permits for projects at the land/water interface - shorelines, wetlands, etc.
Permitting for all construction projects that meet the legal definition of a marina.
Technical assistance and grants to restore waters impaired by NPS pollution and protect high quality waters from NPS threats.
Permit process to control the discharge of pollutants into surface waters by effluent limitations.
Provides rules and regulations, technical assistance, and training and certification for wastewater system operators.
Permits for the construction and operation of wastewater facilities.
Management or spillage of oil and other polluting materials under Part 5 rules.
Applying material to waters of the state for resource management requires a Rule 97 Certification of Approval.
Protects certain sand dune areas from damage as a result of developmental, recreational, and forest management activities.
Eliminating Sanitary Sewer Overflows and regulating discharges from Combined Sewer Overflows and Retention Treatment Basins.
Great Lakes shoreland permits, including high risk erosion areas (HREA) and critical dunes (CDA).
Permitting and control of soil erosion to protect adjacent properties and surface waters from sedimentation.
Permitting industrial stormwater facilities, certifying facility operators, and reviewing Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans.
Permits for discharges from Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4).
Review of proposed subdivisions to ensure road access and sufficient buildable area above the floodplain for each lot.
Regulates construction activities along Great Lakes shoreline and public trust bottomlands to maintain and manage the resources for its citizens.
When a lake or stream does not meet water quality standards, a TMDL is completed to determine how much pollutant load can be assimilated.
Land/water interface permits for public road projects including bridges, culverts, and road widening, and public airport projects.
Assessment, monitoring, and regulation of wetland resources and promotion of wetland restoration.
Before becoming the WRD director, Jerrod has spent his entire 20-year public service career helping further the division’s mission of making Michigan’s waters safe and clean for recreating, fishing, drinking, and fostering healthy aquatic ecosystems. His diverse set of responsibilities in WRD has included implementing and managing oversight of confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) and soil erosion and sedimentation control program responsibilities in the Kalamazoo District prior to becoming the Kalamazoo Office’s District Supervisor. In 2017, he was promoted to Field Operations Section Manager, leading a number of Lansing-based functions and WRD district offices. Two years later he was promoted to his previous position, Assistant Division Director overseeing all aspects of the resource programs.
