Watershed Management Plans 

Our Watershed Management Plans (WMP) outline ways for communities to address problems in our watershed while growing their economies and infrastructure to meet the needs of residents and the river. Producing WMPs involves physical, biological and chemical studies of the water and land, social surveys to assess knowledge of and attitudes toward water among residents, assessing results, and making recommendations based on the analysis. The finalized plans describe current conditions of natural resources and land use impacts, explore existing and future threats to the river systems, and prescribe actions for protection and restoration. Upon completion, HRWC works with stakeholders often through its stormwater groups (below) to implement recommendations from the WMPs.

The following are the current Watershed Management Plans written by HRWC:

Currently, HRWC is working on:

  • The Middle Huron River, Section 1 (anticipated 2022). Includes: The Huron River from Flook Dam (Portage Lake) to Barton Pond, Associated Tributaries,  Mill Creekshed, Boyden Creekshed, Honey Creekshed (South).
  • The Middle Huron River, Section 3 (anticipated 2023). Includes: The Huron River from the Confluence of Fleming Creek to French Landing Dam (Belleville Lake), Associated Tributaries, Ford Lake, and Belleville Lake.

Also available are the TMDL Implementation Plans for impaired sections of the Huron:

Stormwater Groups

Following the development of a watershed management plan, HRWC brings together groups of public and municipal stakeholders to develop collaborative approaches to stormwater compliance and watershed management to meet the objectives of the WMP.

Upper Huron: Chain of Lakes, Livingston Watershed Advisory Group

The Livingston Watershed Advisory Group (WAG) is a collaborative membership group. HRWC developed watershed management plans for the Huron Chain of Lakes and Upper Shiawassee River watersheds in Livingston County with this group. The WAG is moving forward with activities recommended by those plans.

Upper Huron: Kent Lake Subwatershed Advisory Group

Watershed Management Plans were done for two areas in this region. HRWC is currently implementing a few projects that support these plans.

Middle Huron

The Middle Huron Program sets actions to reduce pollution in the middle section of the Huron River Watershed. Go here to access the Middle Huron Initiative and the Middle Huron Stormwater Advisory Group pages.

Lower Huron: Alliance for Downriver Watersheds

HRWC has worked with communities in the lower Huron for many years: first we facilitated and produced a stormwater management plan. Today, we work with several committees, which have formally merged to create the Alliance for Downriver Watersheds (ADW), to carry out the plan. HRWC monitors the river and tributaries for the ADW and provides outreach materials for the area's communities to distribute.

Resources and Results

Middle Huron Monitoring Results

To review summaries of our Chem and Flow Monitoring results in the Middle Huron, go here.

Resources: Green Infrastructure

We’ve created and collected helpful resources for public agencies, contractors, and educators.

 

Thanks to the commitments from dozens of municipalities and agencies, the Huron River Watershed Council has worked with stakeholders to develop strategic action plans to reduce nutrient runoff, spearhead comprehensive water monitoring programs, and produce public outreach tools. For additional information contact Ric Lawson.