Pfas in the Huron River • an Emerging Threat Hellgrammites
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Huron River Report Published by the Huron River Watershed Council SPRING 2019 feature story Hellgrammites The insect of your nightmares When volunteers look for aquatic cornutus from the family Corydalidae. insects during the River Roundup, Hellgrammite is certainly an eye few species generate more catching word, and it begs the excitement than the hellgrammite. question of how something could get This long and wide aquatic insect a name like that, but the etymology of boasts impressively large mandibles that name has been lost in time. It is that give a blood-drawing pinch to possible the second half of the world those brave or dumb enough to pick is based from “gammarus” meaning them up with their bare hands! But lobster in Latin. In any case, it is not fear not, swimmers and paddlers, hard to imagine why fishermen or for it is highly unlikely to accidently scientists started calling this insect run across a hellgramite; these shy such, because if there was ever a bug predators hide under rocks and from Hell, this would be it. in packs of leaves and decaying It can commonly grow between vegetation. two and three inches long, and larger “Hellgrammite” is the common specimens are found occasionally name given to this megalopteran during the River Roundup. The larvae, and the adult stage of the mandibles are about the same length insect is known as a dobsonfly or as the insect’s head and fringed with The Hellgrammite: if ever an insect came fishfly. In Michigan, there are five four sharp teeth. The thorax holds from Hell, this would be it. species from four genera, but the three pairs of legs, and the abdomen credit: H. Safford biggest and most common in the Huron River watershed is Corydalus continued on page 4 PFAS in the Huron River • An emerging threat PFAS, a family of toxic, persistent HRWC is working with org and continually pressing state chemicals, have been found in communities, county health agencies for updates. In October drinking water across Michigan. In departments, and state agencies and December, HRWC facilitated August, PFAS were found at high to understand PFAS chemicals and two public information meetings levels in the Huron River. They have determine how to clean them up. that gave watershed residents a also been found in a few wells in the There are currently no federal rules chance to hear from experts, ask watershed. So far, no drinking water regarding PFAS, so regulatory options questions about the potential health source in the watershed has PFAS will have to come from state or local impacts, and understand what can levels that exceed Environmental authorities. be done to address the issue. County Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines, HRWC has been tracking health departments, watershed but there is concern the EPA the crisis since it emerged in communities, and state agencies guidelines don’t provide sufficient Michigan—compiling relevant protection. information for the public at hrwc. continued on page 5 INSIDE: UPCOMING EVENTS AND WORKSHOPS Climate Change Vulnerability and Strategies Safe Paddling Tips | Ford and Belleville Lakes TMDL Update | Sharon and David Brooks Volunteer Profile HRWC status Laura’s Stream of Consciousness and updates Making Michigan a Leader in Clean Water and Environmental Protection ith a new Michigan Throughout these discussions and • Utilize and administration, HRWC has recommendations, I identified a few fully fund Widentified policy priorities for clear top priorities directly related integrative asset 2019 and for the next four years. As to HRWC’s mission to protect and management Governor Whitmer assembled her restore the river for healthy and and watershed team and agency leadership, the vibrant communities. planning at environmental community was busy the state and synthesizing and strategizing policy A few of our top priorities: local level so H. Buffman efforts to protect the environment all Michigan and for HRWC, specifically water. We • Utilize and fund MiCorps (the communities can modernize their seized a few opportunities. Michigan Clean Water Corps), a water infrastructure in an efficient, network of volunteer water quality sustainable, resilient and cost- HRWC participated inLaura the Rubin, Executive Directormonitoring programs for lakes effective manner. Include planning development of an Environmental and streams that collects and and actions that anticipate the Policy Priorities document to shares water quality data for use in impacts of extreme weather and present to the new governor, state water resource management and climate change. administration, and state agencies. protection programs. The policy document lays out clear • Provide the authority and financial and consistent environmental • Prohibit the use of coal tar sealcoats and technical resources to local policy priorities from the Michigan containing PAHs (Polycyclic units of government and water environmental community for the aromatic hydrocarbons). hisutilities fall, HRWC to help secured them designfederal andgrant next four years. The effort was led by fundsimplement allocated water from affordability the Clean W aterplans the Michigan Environmental Council • Bring Michigan’s wetlands Actwith to sliding-scaleprotect our highest (flexible) rates (MEC) and the Michigan League of protection program (under Section Enjoythat the consider spring anda customer’s getting outdoors! income Conservation Voters (MLCV). 404 of the Clean Water Act) in line and ability to pay, with the goal of with federal minimum standards. ending water shutoffs. – Laura Rubin Governor Whitmer’s transition team sought HRWC’s guidance • Establish a state drinking water •ForHelp Portage local governmentsCreek Fact Sheets address and and direction on energy, water, standard for PFAS using a health- thecombined Management sewer P lanoverflows go to www. hrwc.org/portage. and environmental protection. We based standard (maximum and stormwater management provided strategies and policies on contaminant level) with by increasing the adoption of climate adaptation, water monitoring, consideration of low-dose toxicity nature-based infrastructure, land- infrastructure, environmental justice, and ensuring adequate protection use planning, and low-impact emerging contaminants such as PFAS, for populations most vulnerable to development; adopt enabling and 1,4 dioxane clean-ups. PFAS effects. legislation for local stormwater utilities and other innovative local Finally, I took part in a Michigan • Provide funding for cleaning funding mechanisms. Drinking Water Workshop. The up contaminated sites, monitoring goal was to convene experts and water quality and recycling by While Michigan’s government has impacted communities to develop replacing the Clean Michigan been marred by the Flint crisis and a policy agenda for the state on Initiative bond funding through the more recently, PFAS, it can take this the variety of challenges and increase of state fees, including opportunity to be a leader on clean opportunities surrounding drinking tipping fees on landfill and other water and environmental protection water. The concept was modeled on waste materials, or by reissuing the by partnering with the environmental the President’s Council of Advisors 1998 bond. community, legislators, and affected on Science and Technology (PCAST) communities to pass legislation that 2016 drinking water workshop. The • Prevent pollution from failing septic protects the environment, builds outcome will be a concise, common systems by adopting a statewide strong communities and economies, action agenda that is a roadmap for septic code requiring regular septic and is based on sound science. HRWC the new governor, Michigan, and local system inspections, coupled with looks forward to working with our communities to ensure access to a the creation of new funding that NGO partners, state legislators, state 21st century drinking water system helps local government and low- staff, and the Governor’s office to that provides clean, safe, affordable, income families fix failing septic realize this vision. and sustainable water. systems. — Laura Rubin HRWC Executive Director @LauraRubin4 Climate Change Vulnerability What is it and what are we doing about it Climate change is no longer an critical shade and uncertainty of the future. It is an cool groundwater uncertainty of the present. Each year to the river when it weather patterns look less and less needs it most. familiar. Extreme events of all types HRWC is also (rainstorms, heat waves, droughts, involved in the wildfires, etc.) are occurring at record development of a breaking frequencies, intensities, set of vulnerability timing, size, and damage caused. assessment As a result, people, wildlife, and resources that landscapes are becoming more allows cities to vulnerable to impacts from climate assess climate change. vulnerabilities, All kinds of people and ecosystems determine which are feeling the effects of and are people are most vulnerable to all kinds of climate likely to be change impacts. This includes negatively affected, farmers losing crops to drought or and develop new pests, urban families evacuated strategies to Forests along the river reduce from flooded homes, towns losing reduce vulnerabilities. This regional the impacts of flooding and keep roads and water services due to effort has HRWC supporting cities stream temperatures cool when air extreme storms, or an asthmatic child throughout the Great Lakes as they temperatures are high. credit: HRWC struggling through hot, humid air conduct these