ON MAY 29, the DEQ announced grants totaling more than $3.1 million to improve water quality in Michigan lakes and streams. These grants will help reduce non-point sources of sediment, nutrients and other contaminants. Non-point source (NPS) pollution is caused when rain, snow melt, or wind carry pollutants off the land and into lakes, streams, wetlands, and other water bodies. Michigan’s Non-point Source Program assists local units of government, non-profit entities, and numerous other state, federal, and local partners. Among the seven entities and projects selected to receive funding this year include two from Washtenaw County:

• Calvin College: $849,236 to reduce storm water runoff and address non-point source sediment loads to Plaster Creek in the Lower Grand River watershed.
• Huron River Watershed Council: $707,178 to reduce storm water runoff in the Swift Run watershed by installing low-impact development and green infrastructure practices.
• The Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay: $634,321 to install low-impact development, green infrastructure practices and sediment controls to restore Kids Creek and protect Grand Traverse Bay.
• Grand Valley State University – Groundswell: $492,387 to teach students and stakeholders about non-point source pollution and encourage action to address non-point source pollution in the Grand River watershed.
• Kalamazoo Valley Community College: $207,000 to install best management practices to address storm water discharges to the West Fork Portage Creek in the Kalamazoo River watershed.
• Michigan Technological University: $144,710 to demonstrate the use of a permeable reactive barrier to treat groundwater contamination in the Huron Creek and reduce copper loads to Lake Superior.
• Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner: $99,410 to teach residents in the Huron River watershed to install rain gardens to address impacts caused by urban storm water runoff.

These grants are funded under the federal Clean Water Act – Section 319 and the Clean Michigan Initiative – Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Grants Program. Applicants