For nearly thirty years, we have worked collaboratively with partners across the watershed to address stormwater runoff, reduce nonpoint source pollution, and implement best management practices to improve water quality. Our longest-standing stormwater collaboration, the Middle Huron Partners, brings together over 20 participating local governments, agencies, and watershed stakeholders working cooperatively to improve watershed and stormwater management in the Middle Huron River watershed spanning from Dexter to Belleville Lake.
Key areas of our work with the Middle Huron Partners include developing collaborative plans to manage stormwater, achieve Total Maximum Daily Load pollution limits, and satisfy permit requirements under the Clean Water Act’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. These stormwater permits, know as Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permits, regulate the discharge of runoff from urban roads, storm drains, pipes, and ditches that flow into local waterways. Click here to see if your community is a regulated MS4. As part of their permit, individual MS4s, such as cities, counties, universities, and school districts, are required to develop and implement a Storm Water Management Program (SWMP). HRWC supports permittees with the public education, outreach, monitoring, and public participation components of their SWMPs to satisfy their MS4 permit requirements.
Two participating partners, the Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner’s (WRC) Office and the City of Ann Arbor, currently have draft MS4 permits and SWMPs available for public comment. The draft plans are available for comment via the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s website through July 12, 2025. To view the draft plans and submit comments, click below:
With over half of the watershed’s pollutants originating from nonpoint sources, stormwater management is a key piece of improving water quality across the Huron River watershed. In partnership with local agencies, we have made significant strides towards reducing pollutant loading into the Middle Huron. However, there is more work to be done and SWMPs play an important role in watershed management to improve the quality of the Huron River.