Planning for the future of the lower Huron River

• The Huron River is the cleanest urban river in Michigan, and the only one in southeast Michigan to qualify as a State Scenic River

• Altered hydrology, sediment, and excess nutrients are the priority pollutants in the Huron River Watershed, including the lower Huron

• Individuals' actions make a significant difference in water quality

Where is the lower Huron How can we plan for the November, 2005 fo llowing a two-year River? River's future? planni ng process. The lower Huron River begins at the The Lower Huron River Watershed French Landing Dam on Be ll eville Management Plan (the Plan) lays the The following entities comprise the Lake and flows for nearly 29 mi les groundwork for a comprehensive, core members of the Lower Huron before entering western Lake Erie long-term effort to restore and protect River In ter-Municipality Committee, and the Great Lakes Basin. The lower the lowcr Huron River system. The whi ch was responsible for the Plan 's Huron River and the land that drains Plan describes current conditions of development: to it is part of the 908-square-mi le natural resources and land use im­ • Charter Township of Berlin Huron River Watershed that spans pacts, explores existing and future • Charter Township of Brownstown portions of 7 counties in southeast threats to the river system, and • City of Flat Rock Michigan. Add up of the all the land prescribes actions for its protection • City of Gibraltar that drains into the same waterway and restoration. Bottom li ne: it is • Huron Township and you have a watershed. Seventy­ considerably more economical to • City of Rockwood four square miles encompassing 14 prevent pollution than to clean-up • City of Romulus communities in Wayne and Monroe pollution. • Village of South Rockwood counties drain to the lower Huron • Sumpter Township River and its tributary streams (map Who formed the Watershed • Charter Township of Van Buren • Charter County of Wayne on back). Plan? • City of Woodhaven A group of communities and agencies, See the Plan at • Woodhaven-Brownstown School under the guidance of the Huron District www.lowerhuronriver.net River Watershed Council (HRWC), Other agencies in the watershed, as developed the well as concerned residents, also Plan as part of an participated in the planning process effort to meet and their continued involvement is federal Clean critical to the Plan's success. Water Act regu lations to obtain permits for Lower sending polluted storm water to Huron River lakes, rivers, and Watershed other surface waters. The Plan was completed in Inf('J'~ l\1unjdflality Commillcc VAN BUREN Map of the lower Huron River Watershed (left); Eastern prairie­ ROMULUS fringed orchid, a globally imperiled species, occurs at Lake Erie Metropark (below) - photo: R. O'Connor Lower Huron Metropark

Several small actions can make a big difference for the river and its BROWNSTOWN i streams, It may come as a surprise c'--'j to learn that 75% of the poll utants SUMPTER in the Huron River are due to the I WOOD1'VEN activities on individual home sites, I 1 Visit www,hrwc,org to learn Willow M ~tropatk simple tips on proper car care, Wh at are I proper lawn care, on-site the Plan's key ,------water retention, and how findings? Oakwoods Mp'''n.;;',k to reduce home toxies,

lake Erie Metropark Three priority impairments for the lower Huron River Watershed ASH are identified in the Plan; • Altered hydrology/high stormwater peak flows What BERLIN • Sediment and soil erosion happens • Excess nutrients (Phosphorus) now with the Plan? These impairments are forms of Actions for meeting the watershed nonpoinl source pol/ution (nonpoint goals are provided as a menu of best source pollution is any form of management practices (BMPs), pollution that cannot be traced back These BMPs range from managerial to a specific point or location), practices (e,g" newlrevised According to the U.S Environmental ordinances, studies/data collection, or Protection Agency, non point source public education programs) to struc­ Interested in finding other river­ poll ution is the # 1 cause of water tural practices (e,g" detention ponds minded people who share your pollution in the United States today; and porous pavement) to vegetative interest in helping the Huron? home sites, parking lots, septic sys­ practices (e,g" vegetated riparian tems, schools, roads, farms, and buffers), The Plan shows which Know of areas along the River commercial areas all are nonpoint BMPs each community or agency has or streams needing restoration? sources of pollution, As the determined to implement either in the watershed's natural areas and open short-term « 5 years) or long-term Want to know who's your spaces are replaced by new develop­ (> 5 years) based on cost, acceptabil­ community contact for ment, nonpoint source pollution ity, and sustainability, implementing the Plan? becomes an increasingl y larger threat to our waterways, How can I help the lower For more information ... Huron River? Sources and causes of these priority Huron pollutants, as we ll as the rest of the The lower Huron River needs you! River pollutants in the watershed, are As a resident, you have many Watershed presented in the Plan, Goals and opportunities to act on behalf of your Council objectives are proposed to guide and community'S waterways, It takes assess the success of putting the Plan informed citizens to understand how protecting the river sillcc 1965 into action, Costs for implementing to preserve and enhance the li vi ng protective and restorative measures legacy of our waterways, It also takes I 100 N . Main Street Suite 210 are estimated in the Plan, too, informed citizens to support using Ann Arbor. MI 48104 (734) 769-S 123 local dollars to implement the plan, www.hrwc.org