Huron River Report – Fall 2020

Huron River Report Published by the Huron River Watershed Council FALL 2020 feature story Oh, Dam! Was that a Beaver? A keystone species at work in the watershed The North American beaver (Castor white people to push west into canadensis) is enjoying a time of the Great Lakes Region and the relative prosperity in the United lands of the greater Anishinaabe States, a significant feat given that the peoples. Forts at Detroit, Mackinac, beaver was driven to near extinction and elsewhere across the territory by the start of the nineteenth allowed the French to establish century. An insatiable European control over the lucrative fur trade, demand for beaver pelts to make the primary economic driver at the fashionable clothes and hats fueled time. As fashions changed and the the North American Fur Trade in the demand for beaver pelts waned, seventeenth and eighteen centuries, the fur trade ended. The remaining when French, English, Canadian, and beaver populations faced a continued American fur trappers harvested battle with polluted waterways beavers in incredible numbers. Here and habitat decline. However, with Beavers provide many ecosystem in Michigan, demand for beaver pelts the help of conservation efforts benefits. credit: Bedardar played a crucial role in European colonization of the territory. French continued on page 4 fur trappers were among the first Healthy Forests Equal Healthy Rivers Why HRWC is focused on land use Among the Huron River’s many lands, numerous endangered and groundwater, filtered through natural blessings are the forests, wetlands, threatened species, rare ecosystems lands, supplies water to thousands and prairies that make up 44% of like bogs and prairies of state-wide more private and community the watershed’s 588,000 acres. significance, and a burgeoning trail drinking water wells throughout the These natural lands clean polluted system. Thanks to nature’s cleansing watershed. runoff, keep streams cool, and soak services, the Huron hosts a multi- up rain, which can then infiltrate into million-dollar recreational fishery, Natural lands are the groundwater to recharge the river and 125,000 paddlers every year, and workhorses for clean water drinking wells. Mature forests and dozens of swimming beaches. Even Protecting natural lands is the wetlands also operate as a carbon more importantly, it is clean enough most cost-effective strategy for sink, helping to offset greenhouse gas to provide drinking water to over maintaining clean water and healthy emissions. 150,000 residents of the city of Ann freshwater systems. For instance, a These remaining natural lands are Arbor as well as Scio and Ann Arbor study by the Trust for Public Land a major reason the Huron watershed townships. It feeds Lake Erie which and the American Waterworks is home to two-thirds of Southeast supplies drinking water for about Michigan’s public recreational 11 million people. The watershed’s continued on page 5 INSIDE: New smart citizen science initiative | PFAS update - new state standards for contaminant levels Rebecca’s Stream of Consciousness | Take a Suds tour of the ‘shed | Microplastics, redux | 2020 interns rock! HRWC status and updates Rebecca’s Stream of Consciousness ommunities need to be building current and future climatic conditions. smarter. Research released this summer found that nationwide, Across the country, experts C 14.8 million properties are understand that removing dams we vulnerable to flooding. (Explore no longer need is the best way to the data and find your home’s flood keep people safe, improve water K. Paine factor at floodfactor.com.) This finding quality, restore critical wildlife opposes the 8.7 million identified by habitat, and eliminate ongoing costs the Federal Emergency Management of dam maintenance and repair. In Agency—the agency responsible Michigan, a growing number of dams for drawing the country’s floodplain have been successfully removed any tributary, dramatically reducing maps. The analysis added changes including three on the Boardman river potential harm from flooding. The in rainfall, smaller streams and sea in Traverse City and one on the Mill City of Ann Arbor has proposed a level rise into the equation, and the Creek tributary of the Huron river flood damage prevention ordinance results nearly double the number of in Dexter. It concerns me that some to create a new zoning overlay that properties that should be considering media coverage of the Tittabawassee includes properties in or near the flood risk. Michigan has had several dam failures frames the argument floodplain. The ordinance calls for consecutive years of extremely high as wildlife versus people. This is no new development within the water resulting in surface flooding a dangerous and false narrative. floodplain and elevating buildings and high flow events on the river. Addressing dams can and should that are in the “flood fringe” where Conditions are changing in a way that improve the health of a river and flooding is possible. Land protection brings rivers in conflict with the built protect citizens from catastrophe. millages in the City of Ann Arbor, Ann environment. Now more than ever Arbor Township, Washtenaw County, we need to revisit where and how we On land, communities need to revisit and Scio and Webster Townships fund build. floodplain maps and understand the purchase of natural areas so they the implications of more water can continue to absorb rainfall and Addressing our stock of aging dams on buildings, homes, and other reduce flood risk. If you see a land and improving our approach to infrastructure. Expanding floodplains protection millage come up on your floodplain management are two mean more homeowners will need ballot, I encourage you to support it. key solutions. The breach of the flood insurance at a time when Edenville and Sanford dams on the insurance costs are increasing. People As I watch how more rainfall and Tittabawassee River in May illustrated of color are disproportionately larger, stronger storm events hit how a perfect storm can cause impacted by increased flood risk our landscapes, I am reminded of massive damage. as many historically segregated something I learned back in graduate neighborhoods are located in low school; the best way to avoid conflict Without action to remove obsolete lying areas. Residential flooding can with a river is to let it do its thing dams and investment to repair those result in mold and property damage, and stay out of its way. This includes that still serve a practical function, leaving residents with unique health flooding. While, in today’s society dam failures will become more and economic burdens. that is an impossibility in most places, common. Much of the state’s stock there is something to be said for of 2,600 dams have exceeded their At the local level, we need more aspiring to that goal. intended lifespan. Obsolete designs policies that reduce vulnerabilities meant to withstand past conditions to flooding. Green Oak Township — Rebecca Esselman are quickly becoming inadequate for limits development within 100 feet of HRWC Executive Director @natureiswater Make a Gift for Ages to Come Contact Wendy Palms about your planned gift to HRWC: [email protected], (734) 769-5123 x 605 Take a Suds Tour of the ‘Shed Support local businesses and HRWC! Suds on the River is HRWC’s iconic annual fundraising event, providing an opportunity to gather along the river, enjoy delicious bites “Explore a and brews, and celebrate the company of good friends! It is also a time to remember the new community along the Huron River and importance of this water resource in our backyard and the pick up dinner at one value of HRWC’s work to keep it clean and accessible for everyone. of the many long-standing Suds restaurants While we are all disappointed by the strange circumstances of 2020, we are throughout also excited to do something a little different. This year, Suds for the River the watershed.” gives all of us the opportunity to show support for HRWC plus the restaurants Rebecca Esselman and breweries that have made the party special for so many years. HRWC Executive Director Buy a ticket and embark on the tour You will receive a special Suds Passport, good for discounts at participating locations. Enter the raffle for a chance to win awesome prizes “It’s plain and simple. Visit at least four participating breweries between September 10th Great beer starts with clean and October 31st, get your passport stamped, return it to HRWC, and water, and as a brewery located next to the Huron River, the protection you could win! of this valuable resource is critical to our beer and our community. HRWC can’t wait to return to the banks of the Huron next year, but in Hope to see you at the the meantime, CHEERS to YOU for your continued support! Corner Brewery in Ypsi this fall!” For more information including prize packages and how to get your Kyle Riffel Sales Director, Arbor Brewing Co. tickets, please visit hrwc.org/suds or email [email protected]. —Wendy Palms New State Standards for PFAS Maximum contaminant levels established for drinking water The State of Michigan established pushback. Only parties with close ties drinking water standards for seven to PFAS users voiced opposition to PFAS chemicals. The standards, known the new rules. as maximum contaminant levels, Scientists and environmental or MCLs, are more protective to groups, including HRWC, argue that human health and the environment the standards are only a good first than the non-enforceable EPA step for protecting water supplies guidelines. These would be the first from these “forever chemicals.” There drinking water standards for PFAS are more than 5,000 PFAS compounds at either the federal or state level. out there and hundreds of variants Previously, Michigan only had limits have been used in Michigan.

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