Watershed management: where watershed science meets watershed policy. HRWC engages in a number of projects to utilize data on the health of the watershed and its component parts to focus on key stressors and develop and then implement management plans to address problems.

Programs

Brighton Lake Planning: HRWC facilitated the development of a watershed management plan for this Livingston County watershed from 2000 to 2002, and worked with partners to implement some of the priority activities.

Failing Septics Identification: HRWC and a team of researchers and public health managers are pursuing an innovative approach to detect failed septic systems that may reduce pollutants entering the Huron River and yield a cost-effective approach for county health departments to monitor and rectify problem septic systems.

Kent Lake Planning: HRWC facilitated the development of a watershed management plan for this Oakland County watershed from 2000 to 2002, and worked with partners to implement priority activities such as two stormwater best management practice retrofits.

Livingston Watershed Advisory Group (WAG): A collaborative membership group that was originally formed to develop watershed management plans for the Huron Chain of Lakes and Upper Shiawassee River watersheds in Livingston County. The WAG now works to implement activities in those plans to reduce pollutants and preserve the high quality waterbodies in the area. Activities include monitoring and improving plans for Brighton Lake and the Chain of Lakes.

Lower Huron Initiative: HRWC works with partners in the lower section of the watershed (below Belleville Lake) to develop and implement management plans and activities to reduce pollutants and improve the quality of waterbodies in the area. HRWC is collaborating with neighboring watersheds through the Alliance of Downriver Watersheds.

Middle Huron Initiative: A voluntary partnership of local governments and agencies that plans and implements activities to reduce phosphorus sources in the middle section of the watershed. Activities include monitoring and a variety of pollution reduction activities.

Middle Huron Stormwater Advisory Group: A collaborative group of municipal agencies that work to reduce the impacts from stormwater runoff in the middle section of the watershed. Current activities include monitoring and work to improve plans to address state-listed impairments.

Mill Creek: HRWC works with local partners on this creek, the largest tributary to the Huron River, to implement practices that protect and restore the creek such as stream bank stabilization.

Millers Creek Rainwater Project: HRWC worked with neighborhood residents in northeast Ann Arbor in implementing low-impact development techniques, such as rain gardens and rain barrels, in order to stabilize a flashy urban stream.

Portage Creek Planning: HRWC facilitated the development of a watershed management plan for this high-quality watershed from 2008 to 2010, and is seeking funding with watershed partners to implement priority restoration and protection projects.

Restoring River Flows: HRWC works on several projects and topic areas that share the common goal of working to mitigate the regulation of river flows that results from human changes to the land and waters such as impervious surfaces, stormwater, drains and tiles, and dams and impoundments.

Upper Huron Initiative: HRWC works with partners in the upper section of the watershed (above Washtenaw County) to develop and implement management plans and activities to reduce pollutants and improve the quality of waterbodies in the area.