Go here for Volunteer Resources

This web page provides resources for monitoring volunteers and current monitoring results. The Water Quality Monitoring Program is conducted for the partners in the Middle Huron Initiative (MHI) and Livingston Watershed Advisory Group (WAG) to better understand nutrient and contaminant loading dynamics in the Livingston and Washtenaw county sections of the Huron River Watershed. The program also aims to identify pollutant loading hot spots and evaluate collective progress of best management practices designed to minimize stormwater-related impairments.  Overall, the program’s long-term goal is to evaluate progress toward improving overall water quality within the Huron River Watershed.

Value of the Program

The Water Quality Monitoring Program was developed in response to community interest in increasing the data available on nutrient contributions to the Huron River and its lakes and tributaries.  The data are intended to lead to a better understanding of pollution contributions from non-point and stormwater sources  in subdrainages of the watershed. An improved understanding of sources will help the MHI Partners and the Livingston WAG to focus and track pollution reduction efforts as they strive to meet the phosphorus TMDLs for Ford, Belleville, Strawberry, Brighton, and Ore lakes, as well as bacteria TMDLs for the river and Honey Creek. The Monitoring Program is designed to complement  monitoring conducted by municipalities, universities, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Environmental (MDNRE) and others. The sites are sampled for nutrients, bacteria and background chemistry twice monthly from April to September. Data are collected from stream locations that facilitate the establishment of relationships between land cover and ecological stream health.

Monitoring Sites

We are currently monitoring 25 sites in the Huron River watershed.

View Huron River Water Quality Monitoring Sites in a larger map

The Middle Huron Program began with the 2002 field season pilot during which only six sites and four months were studied. In 2003, four additional sites were added to the program and all ten sites were studied for five months. This schedule continued through 2006, with the exception of the Millers Creek site, which was dropped due to access issues. In 2007, storm events were targeted at four sites (Allens, Traver, Malletts and Swift Run) where fixed water level sensors were established. This was done to provide additional data on nutrient conditions during high-flow events. At the end of 2008, two additional sites were added in Livingston County to provide an upstream comparison with another nutrient-enriched watershed. With the addition grants from MDNRE, more frequent site visits and storm monitoring were added, as well as sampling of “investigative” sites to identify potential pollutant hot spots. Storm monitoring is being conducted thanks to the donation of an autosampler by the City of Ann Arbor.

The Huron Chain of Lakes Program began in August 2010 during which 8 sites and 2 months were studied. Current plans are to continue monitoring for another year under current grant funding, with additonal sites added next season. Storm monitoring is being conducted thanks to the donation of an autosampler by the Livingston County Drain Commissioner’s Office.  The program will then continue with funding from the Livingston WAG.

Monitoring Program Partners

Realization of the Monitoring Program requires ample resources, from providing volunteer training and coordination to analyzing water samples and entering and interpreting the results. Many friends of the Huron River dedicated their time, expertise and equipment to the project. The MHI Partners and the Livingston WAG are grateful for the generous contributions from the following partners who enabled the continuation and growth of this important research and stewardship program.

• City of Ann Arbor Water Treatment Plant provided analysis of all water samples for the Middle Huron.
• City of Brighton Wastewater Treatment Plant provided analysis of all water samples for the Huron Chain of Lakes.
• Livingston County Drain Commissioner’s Office provided field equipment.
• University of Michigan, Occupational Safety and Environmental Health Department provided sample containers through 2005.
• The Huron River Watershed Council, Adopt-A-Stream program loaned the Marsh McBirney Flo-Mate Portable Flowmeter Model 2000 and other field equipment.

Data and Reports

The most recent monitoring reports were compiled for data through the 2011 season. Reports were developed separately for the Middle Huron and Chain of Lakes subwatersheds. The reports include comprehensive analysis of all monitoring results through the 2011 season.

Current Reports & Presentations

2011 Middle Huron Monitoring Report

2011 Huron Chain of Lakes Monitoring Report

2011 Middle Huron Monitoring Presentation

Past Reports

2002-2007 Stream Monitoring Report, pdf file is 1.4 megabytes

Current Year Raw Data

As 2011 raw lab results are received monthly, they will be posted below.

Middle Huron	Huron Chain of Lakes
April 2011	April 2011
May 2011	May 2011
June 2011	June 2011
July 2011	July 2011
August 2011	August 2011
	September 2011

Funding

The Water Quality Monitoring Program is currently being managed as part of a TMDL Implementation Planning projects that were funded in part through the Michigan Storm Water Program by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement C600E848-01 to Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner and Livingston County Drain Commissioner. The contents of this program website do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the EPA, nor does the mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.  Match funding is provided by the Middle Huron SAG and Livingston WAG.



Who is the HRWC contact person for the Water Quality Monitoring Program?

Direct inquiries about the monitoring programs to Ric Lawson at (734) 769-5123 x609 or email: rlawson@hrwc.org.