Nonpoint Source (NPS) pollution is caused when rain, snowmelt, or wind carry pollutants off the land and into lakes, streams or wetlands. Also, large quantities of runoff can impact water quality and aquatic life when “flashy flows” cause excessive stream bank erosion.  Michigan’s NPS Program helps local stakeholders reduce NPS pollution and excessive runoff by supporting efforts to develop and implement watershed management plans.  The purpose of watershed management plans is to protect high quality waters from NPS threats and restore waters impaired by NPS pollution or causes.  Program staff use the following tools to help stakeholders restore and protect water quality:

• Technical assistance to help people develop and implement watershed management plans.  This includes best management practice selection, land use planning activities, and engineering review of site plans.
• Information and education to inform people about NPS pollution and solutions.
• Grants, including federal Clean Water Act and state Clean Michigan Initiative funds to implement best management practices, develop and implement land use planning tools and conduct education and outreach activities.
• Compliance and enforcement, including response and investigation of complaints, follow up requiring corrective actions, and participating in escalated enforcement actions.
• Monitoring to identify water quality problems, determine the effectiveness of best management practices, and measure the effectiveness of watershed management plans and Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs).