Change Makers Coffee and Conversation
Being new to HRWC and the Change Makers program, I thought I would get out and about in the watershed and meet you at a local coffee shop. My goal is to plan for a monthly Coffee and Conversations around the watershed. We’ll send out an email to Change Makers a few days before the event with an invitation to join me if you can.
Our first one will be Wednesday, October 16, 2024, 2pm, at:
Gloria Jean Café and Bakery
519 Main Street
Belleville, MI 48111
734-325-2265
Stay tuned for future Coffee and Conversations over the next several months.
HRWC Legislative Update
We have a legislative win in 2024! Senate Bill 662, sponsored by State Senator Rosemary Bayer (D-Keego Harbor) whose district represents a portion of the HRWC watershed, was formally signed into law as Public Act 112 of 2024 by Governor Whitmer in July. HRWC Board member, Richard Norton, and I worked with Sen. Bayer’s staff on the legislative workgroup earlier this year to improve the language in the bill. The new law counters a 2023 Michigan Court of Appeals decision that stated inland lakes must be maintained at a static level. For those that live on an inland lake, you know this to be impossible due to rainfall, drought conditions, etc. This new law will allow water resources managers the flexibility to maintain lake levels based on current conditions.
The other legislative issues that we are tracking this year include Polluter Pay, Septic Field statewide code, Stormwater Utilities, while important, have not yet moved in either the Michigan House or the Michigan Senate. I expect that the election results in November will determine which party controls the Michigan House and how busy the lame duck session will be. We may need your help in contacting our watershed legislators to help support our key legislative items. Stay tuned!
VOTE FOR CLIMATE ACTION AND CLEAN WATER!
The general election is Tuesday, November 5, 2024. You can vote in person, by mail or by participating in nine days of early voting at your local clerk’s office. In person polls are open 7am to 8pm. All registered voters in Michigan can also now vote using what’s called an absentee ballot that you send to your election office by mail. You don’t need an excuse or a reason to request an absentee ballot. Learn more at Michigan’s Voter Information Center and Vote411.org, the League of Women Voters site for nonpartisan information by voter address.
Choose the policies and people that support robust climate action.
- City of Ann Arbor charter amendment to create a Sustainable Energy Utility
- Land preservation initiative in Ann Arbor Township.
- If you live in Oakland County, please consider supporting their Parks and Recreation millage request which will invest in open space land preservation.
While HRWC does not endorse political candidates, the Michigan League of Conservation Voters is a non-partisan organization with a robust candidate endorsement process with information about specific candidates.
Upcoming HRWC community events
2024 Fall River Roundup
Saturday, October 12, 2024
9am or 10:30am
HRWC, 117 N. 1st Street, Suite 100, Ann Arbor, MI
Knowing the types of bugs that live in our streams helps us understand how healthy the river system is, which areas are healthiest, and where we need to focus our restoration efforts to improve water quality.
Meet your team at HRWC’s office in Ann Arbor for instructions and equipment pickup, then carpool to two sampling sites. At each site, you search through stones, leaves and sediment to find bugs in their natural habitat. All teams include experienced volunteers who have been trained in sample collection, and only trained volunteers go in the water. All team members should dress to be comfortable outside for a few hours. Children are welcome to attend with an adult.
Please choose a start time (9 or 10:30am) and sign up (required) here.
Represent your community on HRWC’s board
Calling all Change Makers from Wayne County, Belleville, Rockwood, Walled Lake, Wixom, Wolverine Lake, or Genoa, Lyndon, Putnam, Van Buren, or White Lake townships. You can represent your community on HRWC’s Board of Directors and help advance our mission!
The “Council” part of HRWC is made up of local governments that have land within the watershed and are dues-paying members of HRWC. Each local government gets a representative who is appointed by their local government. These representatives attend quarterly board meetings, and act as a liaison between their municipality and HRWC.
HRWC provides water resource information and research services to member governments. We can help with water quality issues, land use, groundwater, hydrology, lake management, wetland protection, stormwater management and other related topics. HRWC staff also review and comment on activities likely to affect water resources and advise member governments on lake and river management.
Contact our Executive Director, Rebecca Esselman, at (734) 769-5123 or email her about becoming a board member.
Thank you!