Huron River Watershed

  • a map showing the huron river and the outline of the huron river watershedUpdated: May 21, 2020
     
    The Huron River drains portions of seven counties in Southeast Michigan. The Huron River Watershed is more than 900 square miles and consists of hundreds of tributary creeks, lakes, and the Huron River proper. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) began sampling intensively on the Huron River due to the city of Ann Arbor detecting per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the Huron River, which is the main source of the city of Ann Arbor’s drinking water, and the discovery of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) in the river at levels over the Rule 57 Water Quality Standard (WQS) of 11 ppt PFOS. The following is a timeline of PFAS investigation activities in the Huron River Watershed.
     
    These investigations have also led to fish consumption advisories to protect the public, which are available on the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services' (MDHHS) Michigan Eat Safe Fish website and the Michigan PFAS Action Response website. PFAS is the family of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. One of the most commonly detected substances in fish tissue is perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), in part because it bioaccumulates, or builds up, in the food web.

    Reports

Next Steps

    • A webinar to local units of government is planned for June 11, 2020 to update them on EGLE and MDHHS activities within the watershed. 
    • In response to foam complaints on Portage Lake, EGLE is investigating possible sources. There are no known PFAS sources at this time. 
    • Continue to work with the city of Wixom and Tribar to control/reduce discharges to the WWTP with the goal of meeting the Rule 57 water quality standards in Norton Creek under the IPP PFAS Initiative.
    • Evaluate known sources of environmental contamination, closed landfills, hazardous waste facilities, and facilities that discharge wastewater to the Huron River.
    • EGLE will continue to sample fish from selected waterbodies in the Huron River watershed and provide results to the MDHHS as available.
    • EGLE WRD will analyze September-October 2019 Polar Integrated Organic Sampler (POCIS) results and prepare staff report.

Investigation Timelines