Water Protection Activities in Washtenaw County

Water Protection Activities in 

Washtenaw County 

Washtenaw County Department of Planning and Environment 

Washtenaw County Office of the Drain Commissioner 

January 2008

Cover Photos 

Left: Huron River at Hudson Mills Metropark, Dexter Township 

Center: Atchinson Drain, Salem Township 

Right: Mill Pond on River Raisin, City of Saline 


Department of Planning & Environment 

Environmental Services Division 

705 N. Zeeb Rd., P.O. Box 8645 

Ann Arbor, MI 48107-8645 

(734) 222-3800 

www.eWashtenaw.org

Acknowledgements 

Water Protection Activities 

in 


January 2008 

Washtenaw County would like to acknowledge the contributions of the following people who aided in the completion of the Water 

Protection Activities in Washtenaw County Report. 

Michael Gebhard Angela Parsons Anthony VanDerworp Marshall Labadie 

M. Paul Lippens Thomas Winebrenner Harry Sheehan David Simon 

In addition, Washtenaw County extends appreciation to those who participated in providing input during development of the report. 

Marcia Van Fossen, Trustee 

Salem Township 

Mike Gaber 

Lois Elliot Graham 

Susan A. Lackey, Executive Director 

Washtenaw Land Trust 

Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Water Bureau Staff: 

Anita Ladouceur 

Rich Overmyer 

Thank you for your continued interest in the welfare of Washtenaw County. 

Dick Fleece 

Environmental Health Division Director 

Washtenaw County – Planning and Environment 

705 N. Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48107-8645 

(734) 222-3800 

fleecer@ewashtenaw.org 

iii 

Molly Wade, Water Quality Manager 

City of Ann Arbor 

David DeYoung 

James McEwan 

Janis Bobrin 

Drain Commissioner 

Washtenaw County – Office of the Drain Commissioner 

705 N. Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48107-8645 

(734) 222-6860 

bobrinj@ewashtenaw.org

Forward 

This report represents a first step in developing a periodic report on water and water quality in Washtenaw County. 

The intent of this document is to provide information of general interest to the public. While not intended to be a comprehensive 

technical report, much of the information and many links to the information contained here will aid readers in determining where their 

drinking water comes from, what steps are being taken to assure it’s safe, what major bodies of water are in their area, what threats to 

water quality exist, how they are being addressed and recommended next steps. 

This report does not include all of the activities, organizations and programs that play a vital role in the protection and enjoyment of 

water resources of Washtenaw County. It is a foundation that will be improved upon, both in content and format in future iterations. 

We encourage you to contact us with your comments, suggestions, additions or deletions so that future reports will be more 

comprehensive. 

iv

Executive Summary 

Introduction 

The intent of the Washtenaw County Water Protection 

Activities in Washtenaw County Report (WPA) is to provide a 

single source of information for individuals interested in 

potential sources of contamination to groundwater and surface 

water in the County, and to highlight the protection activities 

designed to address those concerns. The report further 

identifies sources of drinking water and the underlying geology 

that affects those sources. The report is the product of 

collaboration between the Washtenaw County Drain 

Commissioner’s Office and the Planning and Environment 

Department. The protective actions identified in the report 

feature programs administered or most frequently referenced 

by the two offices. It is recognized this is not an exhaustive 

listing of all of the actions being taken to protect, preserve or 

restore water quality in the County. 

Groundwater 

Historic information regarding the quantity and quality of 

groundwater was gathered primarily from databases maintained 

by Washtenaw County Planning and Environment (WCPE), 

and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality 

(MDEQ). Those records were utilized to determine that 

generally the groundwater in the area is plentiful, of a high 

quality, and serves as the source of drinking water for over 

50% of the residents and businesses in the County. The 

programs in place to address groundwater protection have been 

highly successful. However, there are still challenges to the 

County’s groundwater, including: 

v 

Arsenic 

Naturally occurring arsenic exceeding drinking water standards 

has been detected in approximately 10% of the individual 

drinking water wells tested in the County. To address this 

issue, WCPE now requires testing of all new wells, 

replacement wells, and residential wells at time of property 

transfer. Treatment or replacement of the wells are options to 

address this issue. 

Quantity 

Individuals in some parts of southeast Washtenaw County have 

had difficulty in obtaining a reliable, high-quality drinking 

water well. The combination of hydrogen sulfide and lowyielding 

upper aquifer formations have been particularly 

challenging in Augusta Township. To address this need, 

municipal water was extended to approximately 30 miles of the 

Township in the mid 1990’s. Well testing occurs in the 

southeast portion of the County and in ten other isolated 

locations throughout the County to assure adequate water can 

be obtained before issuing a construction permit for new 

homes. Additional storage is often installed in homes to 

compensate for low producing wells. 

1,4-dioxane 

The groundwater in areas of Scio Township and the City of 

Ann Arbor is contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, a suspected 

carcinogen. The contamination plume, which is currently 

estimated as three miles long and one mile wide, is the result of 

manufacturing practices by Gelman Sciences (now Pall Life 

Sciences) from 1968 - 1986. The risks, methods and degree of 

remediation of the contamination have sparked scientific 

debate, public activism, government resolutions, and lawsuits. 

Due to the nature of the contaminant and the complex geology 

in the area, the problem will likely continue for years to come.

Other sites of 1,4-dioxane groundwater contamination in 

Washtenaw County include the North Staebler Road Site and 

the City of Ann Arbor landfill. 

Surface Water 

Surface water is subject to contamination from a variety of 

sources such as humans, wildlife, permitted and non-permitted 

discharges, soil erosion, and pesticide and fertilizer runoff. 

Making an assessment of the quality of the surface water in 

Washtenaw County is limited due to the lack of monitoring 

data for most of the waters of the County, the variability of 

water quality at any given time, and the vast area surface water 

covers in the County. 

Twenty segments of waterways or entire waterways have been 

identified as failing to meet water quality standards established 

by MDEQ and the U.S Environmental Protection Agency 

(EPA). These range from bacterial counts in stretches of the 

Huron and Saline Rivers to high phosphorus in Ford Lake. In 

addition, PCB, Mercury, low dissolved oxygen, and low levels 

of fish and macroinvetebrates have all been identified in waters 

of the County. 

For the most part, surface water contamination in the County is 

not the result of point source discharges, but rather from runoff. 

The largest contributor to runoff is land development and land 

change activities. As more impervious surfaces are built, 

uncontrolled water runs off at an increased rate and results 

bacterial, chemical and physical contaminants entering rivers, 

lakes and streams. This increased rate of runoff also contributes 

to soil and bank erosion. These findings are not surprising and 

are typical of urban watersheds. 

vi 

Programs, organizations, and volunteers have worked together 

to develop watershed plans to prevent water pollution and 

remediate water quality problems. A summary of Best 

Management Practices (BMPs) identified in Washtenaw 

County watershed plans is included in this report. These BMPs 

have been incorporated in many of the land use regulations 

adopted locally. Other regulatory efforts designed to address 

surface water quality include: 

● The Michigan Drain Code and Washtenaw County 

Drain Commissioner’s Stormwater System Design 

Standards 

● Clean Water Act 

● Inland Lake Level Act 

● National Pollution Discharge Elimination Permits 

● Beach Monitoring 

Additionally, public information and stewardship programs 

have been utilized as a means to involve the public in projects 

focused on prevention, preservation and restoration of surface 

waters in the county. Programs aimed at protecting and 

improving the surface waters of Washtenaw County include: 

● Community Partners for Clean Streams 

● Watershed Management Planning 

● Water Quality Stewardship Program 

● Watershed Council Programs (including Adopt-a- 

Stream) 

● Riversafe Homes

Local Water Quality Information 

The report contains a section that provides general water 

quality information within political boundaries. This 

information includes: 

● Geological groundwater formations 

● Drinking water information, including sources of 

drinking water and water testing results 

● Major surface water features 

● Potential sources of water contamination within local 

government boundaries, such as: 

○ National Pollution Discharge Elimination 

System (NPDES) Permits 

○ Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Sites 

○ Aboveground Storage Tank (AST) Sites 

○ Leaking underground Storage Tank (LUST) 

Sites 

○ Oil and Gas Sites (Public Act 451 – Part 615) 

○ Sites of Known Environmental Contamination 

(Public Act 451 – Part 201) 

○ Solid and Hazardous Waste Sites 

Residents can use this section of the report to review the 

characteristics that comprise their local groundwater and 

surface water, and to determine the location of potential 

contamination sources in their area. 

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Page Intentionally Left Blank 

viii

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Section Page # Section Page # 

1.0 Introduction 1 • Activity #14 Lake Management 39 

2.0 Groundwater 3 • Activity #15 Watershed Management Planning 39 

2.1 Conditions and Trends 5 • Activity #16 Natural River Designation 42 

2.2 Protection Activities 7 • Activity #17 Fish Advisories 42 

• Activity #1 Time of Sale Regulation 7 • Activity #18 Beach Monitoring 42 

• Activity #2 Pollution Prevention Regulation 7 • Activity #19 Natural Resource Environmental Protection Act 43 

• Activity #3 Well Regulation 7 • Activity #20 Illicit Discharge Elimination 43 

• Activity #4 Well Restricted Areas 7 • Activity #21 Home Toxics Reduction Program 43 

• Activity #5 Wellhead Protection 9 • Activity #22 Waste Knot Program 43 

• Activity #6 Privately Owned Community Sewer Systems 9 • Activity #23 Water Quality Stewardship Program 43 

• Activity #7 Onsite Sewage Regulation 9 • Activity #24 Water Monitoring 44 

• Activity #8 Groundwater Withdrawal Disputes 11 3.3 Challenges and Responses 45 

• Activity #9 Brownfield Redevelopment 11 • Challenge # 9 Excess Nutrients 46 

• Activity #10 Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act (Act 399) 12 • Challenge # 10 Sediments 48 

2.3 Challenges and Responses 13 • Challenge # 11 Toxic Compounds 50 

• Challenge # 1: Arsenic 14 • Challenge # 12 Pathogens and Bacteria 52 

• Challenge # 2: Nitrates 16 • Challenge # 13 Temperature, Volume, and Rate 54 

• Challenge # 3: Volatile Organic Compounds 18 • Challenge # 14 Pharmaceuticals 56 

• Challenge # 4: Part 201 Sites 19 • Challenge # 15 Point Sources Discharges 57 

• Challenge # 5: Landfills 21 • Challenge # 16 Community Wastewater Systems 59 

• Challenge # 6: Leaking Underground Storage Tanks 23 3.4 Organizations 60 

• Challenge # 7: Gelman Sciences Inc. 1,4-Dioxane 24 3.5 Local Tools 63 

• Challenge # 8: Ground Water Quantity 26 

2.4 Organizations 27 

2.5 Local Tools 28 APPENDICES Page # 

3.0 Surface Water 29 A – Local Unit of Government Water Quality Indicators 65 

3.1 Conditions and Trends 31 B – Watershed Plans and Best Management Practices 129 

3.2 Protection Activities 34 C – Acronyms and Abbreviations 163 

• Activity #11 Clean Water Act 34 D – References 164 

• Activity #12 Michigan Drain Code 37 

• Activity #13 Inland Lake Level Act 39 

ix


x

MAPS, FIGURES, AND TABLES 

Map # Title Page # Figure # Title Page # 

Map 1 

Drift Aquifer Characteristics and 

Groundwater Recharge Areas 

4 Figure 1 Commercial Groundwater Use in Michigan 11 

Map 2 

Municipal Water Services and Wells First 

Areas 

6 Figure 2 Heavy Metal Contaminants - Chromium 19 

Map 3 Wellhead Protection Areas 8 Figure 3 Armen Cleaners Response - Soil Sampling 20 

Map 4 

Municipal Sewer Services and Septic 

Suitability Areas 

10 Figure 4 City of Ann Arbor Landfill 21 

Map 5 Groundwater Arsenic Distribution 15 Figure 5 LUST Removal 23 

Map 6 Groundwater Nitrate Distribution 17 Figure 6 Overlay District 28 

Map 7 Gelman Sciences Inc. 1,4-Dioxane Plumes 25 Figure 7 CWA Flowchart 34 

Map 8 Watersheds and Water Features 30 Figure 8 CWA Timeline 36 

Map 9 County Drains and Watersheds 38 Figure 9 Storm Water Runoff 46 

Figure 10 Phosphorus Loading 47 

Table # Title Page # Figure 11 Sedimentation at Swift Run 49 

Table 1 Watershed Area 29 Figure 12 Home Toxic Program Drop-off Station 50 

Table 2 Michigan Designated Uses (DU) 31 Figure 13 E. coli 53 

Table 3 TMDL Schedule 33 Figure 14 Pharmaceutical Waste 56 

Table 4 BMP Examples 40 Figure 15 Surface Water Organizations 60 

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xii

1.0 Introduction 

Background 

In September of 2004, Washtenaw County adopted a 

comprehensive plan entitled the “A Comprehensive Plan for 

Washtenaw County: A Sense of Place, a Sustainable Future.” 

The Plan, developed by Washtenaw County staff and informed 

by an intensive public engagement process, includes 

recommendations for preserving Washtenaw County’s 

character and natural resources. One of the recommendations 

of the Plan calls for an annual Water Quality Report to gauge 

the progress in meeting water quality enhancement goals. This 

Report represents the first step in meeting that 

recommendation. This Report addresses: 

● Drinking water sources 

● Drinking water quality 

● Groundwater facts 

● Surface Water facts 

● Conditions and challenges that threaten water quality 

● Programs and activities designed to protect and 

preserve water resources 

● Next steps to address current challenges 

This Report is designed to promote the following objectives 

contained in the Comprehensive Plan: 

● WCCP Objective 1: Protect and improve the quality of 

our water resources through a comprehensive approach 

to planning, maintenance, retrofit, and new 

development best management practices 

● WCCP Objective 2: Preserve wetlands, woodlands, 

floodplains and other natural features through resource 

assessments, model regulations and leveraging open 

space and trail programs 

1 

● WCCP Objective 3: Increase awareness and use of best 

management techniques through an aggressive public 

education program 

The goal of this Report is to provide accurate and accessible 

water quality information for the county. Its objectives are: 

● To assess the existing conditions and uses of 

Washtenaw County water resources 

● To catalogue activities being taken to preserve, protect 

or remediate Washtenaw County water resources 

● To define the potential challenges to Washtenaw 

County water resources and assess the steps being taken 

to respond to these challenges 

● To develop recommendations for additional programs 

and activities that will address the results of the 

assessment and improve the health of Washtenaw 

County water resources 

Organization: 

The information contained in this report has been divided into 

two sections; groundwater quality and surface water quality. 

● Groundwater Quality – examines the quality of water 

located beneath the ground surface in the soil pore 

spaces. 

○ Residents interact with groundwater resources 

when they need drinking water wells or install a 

septic system. 

○ Local units of government may use groundwater 

as a drinking water source for processing at a 

water treatment plant.

● Surface Water Quality – examines the quality of water 

that flows above ground. 

○ Residents interact with surface water resources 

recreationally by swimming, fishing, boating and 

canoeing. 

○ Local units of government may also draw drinking 

water from rivers and reservoirs to be processed at a 

water treatment plant. 

Each of the above sections presents information within a 

format of Conditions and Trends, Protection Activities, and 

Challenges and Responses. 

● Conditions and Trends – describes the known 

conditions of the County’s water resources: uses of 

water, water quality standards, water quality criteria, 

monitoring, and future projections. 

● Protection Activities – describes the regulation process 

for water resources: wells first, Clean Water Act, Phase 

II Storm Water Permit, etc. 

● Challenges and Responses – describes the known 

challenges to the County’s water resources: point 

source pollution, non-point source pollution, common 

pollutants. Also includes an assessment of how the 

protection activities address the challenge. 

Also included is information about organizations that 

contribute to water resource management, and tools that 

municipal units can implement to protect water quality. 

2 

This report contains four appendices, A though D. Of particular 

interest is Appendix A, Local Units of Government Water 

Quality Indicators, and Appendix B, Watershed Plans and Best 

Management Practices, a summary of existing plans and 

recommendations. 

This report can be accessed via the Washtenaw County website: 

http://www.ewashtenaw.org

2.0 Groundwater 

Groundwater is a vital natural resource in Washtenaw County. 

It is used in industry and agriculture, and provides virtually 

100% of the drinking water supply in the rural parts of the 

County. 

What is Groundwater? 

In the simplest terms 

groundwater is water 

that comes from the 

ground. More 

specifically, 

groundwater is water 

that fills cracks and 

spaces between 

particles of soil and 

rocks. When water fills 

all the pores and open 

spaces, it’s called the 

Groundwater Facts… 

Over 50% of Washtenaw County 

residents rely on groundwater as 

their primary source of drinking 

water. 

Approximately one-fifth of the 

earth’s fresh water is contained 

in the Great Lakes basin. 

Most of Washtenaw County’s 

drinking water comes from drift 

aquifers. 

saturated zone. The dividing line between the saturated zone 

and overlying unsaturated rock or sediment is called the water 

table. Contrary to what many believe, groundwater doesn’t 

generally consist of underground lakes or streams, but rather 

fills the irregular space within the rock fractures or between 

particles of sand, gravel or clay. Then as the water moves 

through the ground, it dissolves some of the naturally occurring 

minerals it contacts. These dissolved minerals give the 

groundwater its chemical characteristics, affecting such things 

as taste and hardness. The most common dissolved mineral 

substances are sodium, calcium, magnesium, potassium, 

chloride, bicarbonate and sulfate. 

When surface water percolates from land areas or streams 

through permeable soils into water-holding rocks that provide 

underground storage, it is called groundwater recharge 

3 

(Map 1). Groundwater can be recharged from rain water that 

infiltrates from woodlands and surface water features like 

wetlands, lakes, and streams. Woodlands, wetlands and 

floodplains provide a filtering system for groundwater recharge 

areas. When water bearing soil or rock yield significant 

amounts of water to wells or springs, it is called an aquifer. An 

aquifer may be a layer of gravel or sand, a layer of sandstone or 

limestone, or even a large body of massive rock such as 

fractured granite. Aquifers can be confined or unconfined. 

Confined aquifers have water-bearing layers bound by 

impermeable soil barriers above and below. Water in these 

aquifers is under pressure; therefore, when a well is installed in 

a confined aquifer, the water level in the well casing rises 

above the top of the aquifer. Unconfined aquifers or water table 

aquifers are the saturated portions of soil profile open to the 

atmosphere through permeable material located above an 

impermeable soil barrier. 

The primary source for groundwater in Washtenaw County 

comes from drift aquifers (Map 1). Drift aquifers exist in sand 

and gravel formations that were deposited during periods of 

continental glaciation known as the Ice Ages. The drift aquifers 

exist above the bedrock aquifers. Bedrock aquifers in 

Washtenaw County are contained in the consolidated sandstone 

and limestone sedimentary bedrocks that were deposited 

millions of years ago. The quality of groundwater in the 

bedrock can vary dramatically from potable drinking water to 

unusable water that contains high levels of salt, methane gas, 

hydrogen sulfide, and other dissolved minerals. Bedrock 

aquifers are typically only explored in Washtenaw County 

when there is no acceptable drift aquifer present. The most 

dependable bedrock aquifer in Washtenaw County exists in the 

western part of the County in the Marshall Sandstone bedrock 

formations.

Map 1: Drift Aquifer Characteristics and Groundwater Recharge Areas 

4

2.1 Conditions and Trends 

The primary use of groundwater in Washtenaw County is to 

supply drinking water. Well water is the only water source 

available to County residents that do not fall into a community 

water system. With the exception of the service are of Ann 

Arbor, which draws approximately 15% of its water from the 

ground and the portions of the County served by the City of 

Detroit Water and Sewer Department, all of Washtenaw 

County’s community water systems are sourced by 

groundwater. See Section 4.0 for information on the individual 

water systems (Figures 2 and 3). 

Groundwater in Washtenaw County has many components 

other than H2O. Some are naturally occurring, like iron and 

calcium (“Hardness”), and some are the result of 

contamination, like Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) 

which are typically components of petroleum products. In 

addition, there are some substances that can be found in the 

water supply that may be both naturally occurring or the result 

of contamination, such as nitrates and heavy metals. 

Some of the substances found in the water pose no health risk, 

but are a nuisance because of their taste, sight, or smell. Iron, 

for instance, will stain plumbing fixtures. Hardness, tannins, 

and manganese do not cause health effects but may have other 

effects that are undesirable; hardness causes scaling of water 

fixtures and soap scum, tannins cause a yellow discoloration, 

and manganese causes a bad taste and can stain clothing. 

5 

Some substances that may pose a health risk are virtually 

undetectable by taste, sight and smell. Nitrates, arsenic, and 

lead are all examples of dangerous substances that may be in 

Washtenaw County well water that are physically undetectable. 

There are other substances that may pose a health risk that are 

more likely to be detected because of an adverse smell or taste. 

Methane and hydrogen sulfide gas, heavy metals, and VOCs 

may all be physically detectable and could pose a health risk. 

Bacteria can also possess an odor; however, it is not likely to 

be detectable in small amounts. 

Well owners with questions regarding their drinking water are 

encouraged to contact the Washtenaw County Department of 

Planning and Environment Development Services Division at 

(734) 222-3800. A sanitarian can provide specific information 

on well testing services available and make suggestions for 

tests that address issues unique to each home owner’s well.

Map 2: Municipal Water Services and Wells First Areas 

6

2.2 Groundwater Protection Activities 

The following activities are undertaken in Washtenaw County 

to protect groundwater resources. Washtenaw County 

Government manages several of the regulations, policies, and 

programs that contribute to groundwater protection. 

Activity #1 Time of Sale Regulation 

The Washtenaw County Time of Sale Program aids in the 

protection of surface and ground water through an inspection 

program that identifies deficiencies in wells and septic systems 

and requires those deficiencies to be corrected prior to transfer 

of property. 

This program mandates homes that have wells and or septic 

systems must have inspections to determine whether the water 

is safe, the septic system is functioning properly, and any wells 

that are not in use are properly sealed to make sure they cannot 

serve as a conduit for contamination. Testing is conducted for 

bacteria, arsenic, nitrates, and other contaminants. Corrections 

to these systems are required if significant problems are found. 

The program initiated in 2000 and has resulted in over 5,000 

wells and septic systems being inspected, with corrections to 

nearly 1,000 potentially hazardous conditions. Some of the 

conditions observed include: direct sewage discharge to creeks 

or fields, failing septic systems, improperly abandoned out-ofuse 

drinking water wells, and unsafe drinking water wells. 

Activity #2 Pollution Prevention Regulation 

This program requires companies that use or store hazardous 

materials to report their inventory annually. The County 

inspects approximately 1,500 facilities. County representatives 

inspect these facilities and assure chemicals are properly 

stored, secondary containment is in place, and spill response 

plans have been developed to keep unwanted chemicals from 

contaminating groundwater and surface water. 

7 

Activity #3 Well Regulation 

The County Well Regulation mandates a permit be obtained 

prior to drilling a groundwater well. The permit stipulates 

isolation requirements from contamination, construction 

techniques, sampling requirements, logging of geological strata 

encountered, sealing the area around the well casing to prevent 

contamination of the groundwater, and proper abandonment of 

wells when taken out of service. 

Activity #4 Well Restricted Areas 

Washtenaw County well restricted areas are areas where a 

building permit is prohibited without first proving there is a 

sustainable supply of high quality groundwater to feed the well 

for the duration of its use. Commonly called “Well First” areas, 

there are 11 such areas spread throughout the County (Map 2). 

Well First areas essentially limit new construction based on the 

availability of a viable water supply. There can be a number of 

reasons to implement a Well First area. 

● Water Quantity: There may be areas that yield low 

volumes of groundwater. New wells in such areas may 

have insufficient groundwater available to service a 

modest residential home. 

● Water Quality – Natural: There may be areas where 

there are naturally occurring high levels of metals or 

gases that pose a health risk, including arsenic, barium, 

hydrogen sulfide, or methane. 

● Water Quality – Contaminants: There may be areas of 

known environmental contamination where 

groundwater may be unsuitable for drinking water 

purposes.

Map 3: Wellhead Protection Areas 

8

Activity #5 Wellhead Protection 

Clean and safe water can be protected for public water systems 

by implementing a wellhead protection or source water 

protection program. Wellhead and source water protection 

planning is a process designed to protect public water systems 

from groundwater contaminants. Much like watershed 

planning, wellhead protection is geared toward designing 

responsible land use practices for all of the land and 

groundwater recharge areas that contribute to the groundwater 

that supplies the public water system. All of the municipalities 

in the County that provide water have a designated wellhead 

protection or source water protection program (Map 3). 

Activity #6 Privately Owned Community Sewer Systems 

Privately owned community sewer systems, sometimes 

referred to as small community systems, are sewage systems 

serving more than two properties that are owned and operated 

by a private individual or organization as opposed to a 

municipal sewage system. These systems are typically 

proposed for a residential development to allow greater density 

than would otherwise be available through onsite sewage 

systems serving individual homes. These systems have the 

potential to treat sewage to a higher quality effluent, resulting 

in a lower risk to surface and ground water with the added 

feature of assuring monitoring and maintenance take place. 

Due to a legal decision that removes the requirement for local 

units of government to assume the responsibility for the system 

should it fail, these systems are likely to become more 

prevalent in the future and represent a potential change to 

common development practices in the County. Challenges to 

these proposals include concern over the perpetual financing of 

the required monitoring and maintenance, legal challenges to 

local zoning, proper siting and construction, and the greater 

volume of sewage that would be released should the system 

fail. Various efforts are underway at the state and local level to 

address these concerns. 

9 

Activity #7 Onsite Sewage Regulation 

Washtenaw County’s Onsite Sewage Program seeks to ensure 

septic systems are located, constructed, and maintained in a 

manner that minimizes contamination of surface and ground 

water. Inadequate treatment of sewage from septic systems can 

lead to groundwater and surface water pollution. Prior to 

issuing a permit to install a septic system, the proposed site is 

evaluated to determine the distance to surface and ground 

water, the soil’s structure, and its ability to treat and transport 

effluent safely. Septic tanks are required to be leak proof and 

construction materials are required to be able to withstand 

decades of use. Inspections are conducted to assure the system 

is constructed in accordance with an approved plan and 

specifications. Educational materials on how to maintain the 

septic system is also provided. The county has historically 

issued approximately 800 residential sewage permits each year.

Map 4: Municipal Sewer Services and Septic Suitability Areas 

10

Activity #8 Groundwater Withdrawal Disputes 

Groundwater withdrawal has been a public concern in 

Michigan (Figure 1), highlighted in recent years by 

construction of a large water bottling plant in Mecosta County, 

large agricultural irrigation in Saginaw County, and the impact 

of mining operations in Monroe County and parts of 

Washtenaw County. 

These concerns have led to legislation aimed at protecting 

property owners from disruption in their drinking water supply. 

Part 317, the Aquifer Protection and Dispute Resolution Act, 

2003 PA 177 (Act 177), was added to the Natural Resources 

and Environmental Protection Act, 1994 PA 451. Part 317 

became effective statewide on July 1, 2004. For more 

information visit: http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135- 

3313_3675_3694-103304--,00.html 

Activity #9 Brownfield Redevelopment 

The Washtenaw County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority 

is a designated agency that is authorized by the State to 

administer Brownfield Redevelopment funds, including 

issuance of bonds, grant management, sub granting, and 

planning activities. Brownfield redevelopment is characterized 

by two primary interests; environmental remediation or 

containment, and economic development. This tool can be used 

to clean up, or limit the exposure pathways, of sites that pose a 

risk to groundwater by the migration of contaminants like 

petroleum or perchloroethylene into the aquifers. 

11 

2.65 

Figure 1: Commercial Groundwater use in Michigan 

(Million Gallons per Day) 

1.18 

1.16 

0.819 

0.578 

2.34 

0.2 

3.39 

5.56 

Chemical Processes (5.56 MGD) 

Pharmaceutical Production 

Paper Production 

Beverage Bottlers 

Concrete Construction 

Fruit & Vegetable Canners 

Sugar Production 

Dairy Processing 

Baby Food Production (0.2 MGD)

Activity #10 Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act (Act 399) 

The Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act sets safe drinking 

water standards and requires all community water suppliers to 

generate an annual water quality summary or Consumer 

Confidence Report (CCR) for their customers. The report 

follows guidelines set by the United States Environmental 

Protection Agency (USEPA) and the Michigan Department of 

Environmental Quality (MDEQ). The purpose of the Consumer 

Confidence report is to provide residents with current and 

accurate information, allowing them to make informed 

decisions about their drinking water. The report lists the 

parameters tested and indicate how well the water supplier is 

doing in meeting those standards. 

The water is tested for many different contaminants such as 

lead, sodium and arsenic. The water must meet the standards 

established for the particular samples being analyzed or notice 

to the users must be given. In some cases a “Boil Water 

Advisory” is issued until the water supply returns to 

compliance. The level and frequency of exceeding a standard 

dictates what action is necessary. The presence of these 

contaminants does not necessarily pose a health risk. 

Contaminants can enter water from a variety of sources. As 

water travels over the land or through the ground, it dissolves 

naturally-occurring minerals, and in some cases, radioactive 

materials. Water can also pick up substances resulting from 

animal or human activity. Contaminants that may be present in 

source water include: 

● Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, 

which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic 

systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife. 

● Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, 

which can be naturally occurring, or result from urban 

storm water runoff and residential uses. 

12 

● Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic 

and volatile organic chemicals, which are byproducts of 

industrial processes and petroleum production and can 

also come from gas stations, septic systems, and urban 

or agricultural runoff (i.e., pesticides and herbicides). 

● Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally 

occurring or the result of oil and gas production and 

mining activities. 

The Safe Drinking Water Act classifies different kinds of 

drinking water service providers as well as sets the reporting 

standards for service providers based on their water usage. 

● Type I Community Water Systems – Large municipal 

service providers must annually produce a Consumer 

Confidence report. 

● Type II Community Systems – Systems servicing more 

than 25 units must also meet requirement to produce an 

annual Consumer Confidence report. 

● Type III Onsite Water Supplies – Individual Wells – 

sites serving less than 25 units or individual residential 

wells are not required to produce annual reports that 

outline the water quality.

2.3 Groundwater Challenges and Response 

Groundwater can become contaminated from a variety of 

sources including point source pollution, nonpoint source 

pollution, and naturally occurring sources. Point source 

pollution is pollution where the source can be determined. 

Wastewater treatment plants, landfills, and gas stations are 

common examples of point source pollution. Point sources are 

often legally permitted to discharge a certain amount of a 

substance; however, there are also illicit pollutant discharges 

from non-permitted sources. In contrast, nonpoint source 

pollution is pollution where the source cannot be easily 

identified or located. Like nonpoint source contaminants, 

naturally occurring substances, including arsenic, heavy 

metals, tannins, hardness, and odor, often do not have an easily 

identifiable source. 

Naturally Occurring and Nonpoint Source Pollution 

Nonpoint source pollution is a little more difficult to regulate 

than point source pollution. In the case of point source 

pollution, the disposal of substances can be regulated by 

permitting procedures. However, when the polluter cannot be 

identified, or when the problem results from the behaviors and 

activities of residents, control becomes difficult to administer. 

Arsenic, nitrates, and VOCs are commonly occurring 

groundwater issues. 

● Challenge # 1 – Arsenic 

● Challenge # 2 – Volatile Organic Compounds 

● Challenge # 3 – Nitrates 

13 

Point Source Pollution 

Point source pollution poses a relatively serious threat to 

Washtenaw County’s groundwater resources. Many of the 

significant point source problems in Washtenaw County are 

historical and require environmental cleanup and remediation. 

Environmental contamination sites - like Armen Cleaners, 

Landfills, Part 201 Listed sites, LUST sites, and Gelman 

Sciences Inc. (Pall Life Sciences), are examples of point source 

problems that present a threat to Washtenaw County’s 

Groundwater. 

● Challenge # 4 – Part 201 Listed Sites 

● Challenge # 5 – Landfills 

● Challenge # 6 – Leaking Underground Storage Tanks 

● Challenge # 7 – Gelman Sciences 1,4-dioxane (Pall 

Life Science) 

● Challenge # 8 – Ground Water Quantity

Challenge # 1: Arsenic 

Arsenic is a naturally occurring element found in Washtenaw 

County and throughout the earth’s crust. For residents, it may 

pose a threat in groundwater. High concentrations of inorganic 

arsenic in groundwater can 

cause health problems when 

the water is consumed, 

especially over long periods 

of time. A significant number 

of wells in Washtenaw 

County have arsenic levels 

exceeding the Michigan Safe 

Drinking Water Act standard 

of 10 parts per billion (ppb) 

What protection 

activities address the 

challenge of arsenic? 

Time of Sale 

Well Regulation 

Michigan Safe Drinking 

Water Act (Act 399) 

(See Map 5). As a result individuals have drilled new wells or 

installed treatment devises to lower the arsenic concentration to 

a safe level. 

Based on studies in other countries, long term exposure to high 

arsenic levels (generally greater than 30 ppb) in drinking water 

cause serious health problems including skin disorders, various 

cancers, numbness in limbs, stomach pain, nausea and diarrhea. 

The Safe Drinking Water Act was amended in 2001 to require 

all public water systems to comply with a maximum 

contaminant level (MCL) of 10 ppb for arsenic by January 23, 

2006. The State of Michigan adopted the new 10 ppb standard, 

which Washtenaw County adheres to by local code. The 

previous standard for arsenic was 50 ppb. 

Arsenic Response Objective: 

Minimize the exposure and consumption of water with elevated 

levels of arsenic in Washtenaw County. 

14 

Arsenic Response Results: 

Arsenic has been found in well samples in every township in 

Washtenaw County; however, samples exceeding 50 ppb have 

only been recorded in 5 townships; Saline, Dexter, Webster, 

Sylvan, and Pittsfield. Of the 2,502 well sample records to 

date, only 252 or 10.2% exceed the current level of 10 ppb. 

Over 5,000 wells have been tested through the time of sale 

program since 2000. Through 2005, 141 well owners have 

taken corrective actions due to high levels of arsenic. 

100% of new wells are tested for arsenic through well 

regulation. If arsenic is found exceeding the drinking water 

standard new wells are drilled or a treatment system is 

implemented. 

Type I systems must test for arsenic and include the detectable 

results in a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). Type II 

systems that serve at least 25 persons must sample once every 

six years or annually if in an area of known contamination. 

Three Type I systems (Harbor Cove Apartments, Northfield 

Place Nursing home, and St. Louis Center) are under an 

Administrative Consent Order (ACO) to address arsenic 

concentrations exceeding the drinking water standard. 

Corrective actions including installation of either treatment or 

replacement wells are in progress for all three systems, with 

compliance required by July 2008. 

Next Steps: 

Encourage individual well owners that have not previously 

tested for arsenic to have their water tested. Treatment options 

exist that can lower the level of arsenic in individual wells for a 

relatively small cost. Consider developing an educational 

program on the risks associated with arsenic, testing, and the 

relative ease of installing arsenic treatment options. Notify 

neighbors when unusually high concentrations are found.

Map 5: Groundwater Arsenic Distribution 

15

Challenge # 2: Nitrates 

Nitrates are nitrogen-oxygen chemical units. Routes nitrate can 

enter groundwater is through failing or improperly installed 

septic systems and improper application of fertilizers and 

agricultural run-off. County investigations of nitrate 

contaminated wells have pointed to manure run-off and long 

term agricultural land-use as primary sources of nitrates. Rain 

causes the nitrates from the fertilizer to absorb into the 

groundwater supply. Nitrates deplete oxygen supply in the 

bloodstream and can cause methemogobinemia, or “blue baby” 

syndrome. There are only two sections in Washtenaw County 

with exceedances of the current State maximum contaminant 

level for nitrates in drinking water of 10 parts per million 

(ppm) (Map 6). 

Nitrate Response Objective 

Minimize the exposure and consumption of water with elevated 

levels of Nitrates in Washtenaw County. 

Nitrate Response Results 

Nitrates have been found in a very small percentage of wells in 

Washtenaw County. Of 12,107 samples collected from wells 

and analyzed for nitrates between 1984 and 2005, 135 of 

samples (1.12%) exceeded 5 ppm and 44 samples (0.36%) 

exceeded the maximum contaminant level of 10 ppm. 

Over 5,000 wells have been tested through the time of sale 

program since 2000. Less than 10 recommendations have been 

made to implement corrective actions for nitrate. 

16 

Onsite sewage regulation requires that new and repaired septic 

systems be properly located, constructed, and maintained, to 

protect drinking water supplies. The onsite sewage regulation 

program has been successful in preventing septic installation in 

unsuitable areas. 

100% of new wells are tested for nitrates through well 

regulation. If nitrate is found exceeding the drinking water 

standard new wells are drilled or a treatment system is 

implemented. 

Type I systems must test for nitrate and include the detectable 

results in a Consumer Confidence Report. Type II systems that 

serve at least 25 persons must sample once every six years or 

annually if in an area of known contamination. There were no 

health-based nitrate violations in the 2004, 2005 and 2006 

CCRs. 

Next Steps: 

Continue nitrate testing for new wells and at time of sale to 

determine the extent of the nitrate problem in wells. If data 

indicates a problem, determine the source and take action to 

correct. 



challenge of nitrate? 

Time of Sale 


Onsite Sewage 

Regulation 


Water Act (Act 399)

Map 6: Groundwater Nitrate Distribution 

17

Challenge # 3: Volatile Organic Compounds 

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are compounds found in 

items such as fuels, solvents, cleaners and degreasers that are 

known to evaporate easily from liquids to air at warm 

temperatures. They are often associated with point sources like 

leaking underground storage tanks (LUST). However, nonpoint 

sources such as the improper disposal of petroleum 

products and the run off of storm water from impervious 

surfaces can also cause these substances to enter into the 

groundwater. Exposure to VOCs may harm the central nervous 

system, liver, kidneys, or cause skin irritation. Prolonged 

exposure to VOCs that are known carcinogens may cause 

cancer. 

Small or localized spills may find pathways though a deep rain 

or snowmelt to groundwater and well water. The number of 

these instances is difficult to quantify. However, the taste or 

odor of gas or solvents in drinking water should indicate an 

immediate need for testing. 

Through the identification of contamination sites, exposure can 

be minimized by taking local groundwater conditions into 

consideration before drinking water wells are constructed. The 

well permit process, or more specifically, the regulatory 

process, is a tool that helps to minimize the exposure to VOC 

contaminants that may be harmful to health. 

VOC Response Objective: 

Minimize the exposure to and consumption of water with 

elevated levels of VOCs in Washtenaw County. 

VOC Response Results: 

Pollution Prevention requires reporting and inspection of 

facilities that use or store hazardous materials on an annual 

basis. Of the approximately 1,500 facilities that use or store 

hazardous materials, only 17 of those store more than 1,500 

gallons of hazardous substances. 

18 

The County Well Regulation 

establishes buffer distances between 

new wells and known areas of 

contamination. Buffer distances 

range from 300 to 800 feet, or can 

be expressed relatively, like “the 

maximum possible distance”. 

Community wells must test for 

VOCs and include the detectable 

results in a Consumer Confidence 

Report (CCR). Non-community 

wells (that serve at least 25 persons) 

must sample once every six years or 



challenge of VOCs? 

Pollution Prevention 


Wellhead Protection 


Water Act (Act 399) 

Brownfield 

Redevelopment 

LUST Program 

annually if in an area of known contamination. There were no 

health based violations for VOCs in the 2004, 2005, and 2006 

CCRs. 


has received a grant of $200,000 to assess sites for petroleum 

contamination. Five (5) sites have been assessed. Grant funding 

will allow 25-30 additional sites to be assessed. 

Since the inception of the LUST program in 1985 (creation of 

the Office of Underground Storage Tanks in the EPA), 381 

sites in Washtenaw County have been closed, or have been 

remediated to the applicable cleanup standard. 

Next Steps: 

While progress has been made to identify, remediate and 

prevent VOC contamination, particularly through the federally 

mandated, State of Michigan administered Part 213 LUST and 

Part 201 programs, monitoring needs to continue and diligent 

enforcement actions are needed to ensure the protection of 

groundwater.

Challenge # 4: Part 201 Sites 

Part 201 of the Natural Resources and Environmental 

Protection Act, 1994 PA 451 as amended (NREPA), regulates 

sites of environmental contamination in Michigan. Part 201 (as 

we refer to the law in this report) replaced the Michigan 

Environmental Response Act, known as Act 307, enacted in 

1982. 

The Part 201 cleanup program is administered by the Michigan 

Department of Environmental Quality. Part 201 Sites are sites 

that have been identified as having environmental 

contamination above applicable cleanup criteria, excluding 

Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) sites. Cleanup of 

LUST sites is controlled by Part 213 of NREPA. 

An example contaminant from a Part 201 site is heavy metals 

like cadmium and chromium. Cadmium and chromium are 

metals that are used in certain industrial processes, and can be 

found near contaminant sites. Washtenaw County has 63 listed 

Part 201 sites as of November 2007. 

What protection activities 

address the challenge of 

Part 201 Sites? 



Well Restricted Areas 


Brownfield Redevelopment 

19 

Figure 2: Heavy Metal Contaminants - Chromium 

Source: http://jchemed.chem.wisc.edu/JCESoft/CCA/CCA4/MAINPT/CmCz_elt/Cr.HTM; May 2005 

Part 201 Response Objective: 


contamination caused by Part 201 sites in Washtenaw County. 

Part 201 Response Results: 

Pollution Prevention requires reporting and inspection of 

facilities that use or store hazardous materials on an annual 

basis. Of the approximately 1,500 facilities that use or store 

hazardous materials, only 17 of those store more than 1,500 

gallons of hazardous substances. 

The County Well Regulation requires that permits be acquired 

for the installation of new groundwater wells and that the wells 

must be located the maximum possible distance from Part 201 

sites.

Well restricted areas or well first areas can be implemented to 

assure that new wells are not affected by contamination plumes 

associated with some Part 201 sites. Creating these prohibition 

zones is one way to limit the exposure pathways. The well 

prohibition areas in Washtenaw County are shown on Map 2. 

By the end of 2008, the Michigan Department of 

Environmental Quality is projected to deplete the $1.3 billion 

raised in two bond issues approved by voters in the last 20 

years, which fund the Part 201 contaminated site cleanup and 

response activities. Unless a new source of funding is made 

available, the cleanup and response efforts at existing Part 201 

contamination sites are in jeopardy of being phased out. 

Next Steps: 

Depleted funding jeopardizes the groundwater in Washtenaw 

County and elsewhere. Steps should be taken to secure the 

future funding for Part 201 response activities. 

Figure 3: Armen Cleaners Response - Soil Sampling 

20 

Part 201 Response Example: Armen Cleaners 

Armen Cleaners is an Ann Arbor based dry-cleaning 

company that has been providing services in Ann Arbor 

since the 1950’s. Historic on-site disposal of 

perchloroethylene (PERC) lead to it becoming a Part 201 

site. Their main location in downtown Ann Arbor has a 

plume of PERC that results from the prior releases of the 

contaminant onsite. While research conducted by the EPA 

in conjunction with State and local government suggests 

that indoor air quality is the primary challenge faced by 

the Armen PERC plume, this site is a noteworthy example 

of the level of attention and site evaluation that has been 

conducted with areas of known or perceived 

contamination. 

Washtenaw County partnered with the City of Ann Arbor, 

the State of Michigan, and the EPA to collect data and 

conduct research regarding the possible exposure 

pathways associated with Armen Cleaner’s PERC plume. 

The results of this evaluation determined that there is 

minimal immediate risk posed by the groundwater 

contamination. In September 2005, the MDEQ authorized 

$525,000 to address contamination from the dry cleaning 

operation at Armen Cleaners. This money is part of a $3 

million appropriation for work at this site.

Challenge # 5: Landfills 

The rules and regulations that control solid waste management 

in the State of Michigan are outlined in Part 115 of NREPA, 

which creates a permitting system for the operation of landfills. 

In 2004, Part 115 was amended to prohibit the disposal of 

certain kinds of waste in landfills. Items currently prohibited 

from disposal include: medical waste, beverage containers, 

used oil, lead-acid batteries, yard clippings, low level 

radioactive waste, hazardous waste, liquid waste, sewage, 

asbestos, and PCBs. 

There is only one operational Part 115 landfill in Washtenaw 

County, the Veolia ES (formerly ONYX) Arbor Hills solid 

waste landfill in Salem Township. The City of Ann Arbor 

operated a landfill that has since been closed (see Landfill 

Response Example). Other 

noteworthy closed 

municipal landfills in 

Washtenaw County include 

the City of Chelsea landfill 

in Lyndon Township, the 

Arkona Road landfill in 

Augusta Township, and the 

City of Plymouth landfill in 

Salem Township. 



challenge of landfills? 



Solid Waste Plan 

Home Toxics Program 

Landfill Response Objective: 

Minimize the potential for the contamination of groundwater 

resulting from landfill seepage and disposal of waste. 

21 

Figure 4: City of Ann Arbor Landfill 

Source:http://www.a2gov.org/PublicServices/FieldOperations/SolidWaste/education/rrc/rrc.html; May 2005 

Landfill Response Assessment: 



must not be located within a distance of 800 feet from landfills. 

Wellhead protection allows municipal jurisdiction to control 

land uses within the land area that contributes to a public water 

supply. Land uses like waste disposal facilities and other 

industrial uses can be restricted in such areas. All eight (8) 

municipal water supplies in Washtenaw County have 

designated wellhead protection or source water protection 

areas.

The Washtenaw County Solid Waste Plan addresses concerns 

associated with storage of waste in landfills. 

The Home Toxics Reduction Program is designed to keep 

hazardous materials out of the landfills, thereby reducing 

potential for future contaminant seepage. The Home Toxics 

Reduction Program has collected approximately 365 tons or 

730,000 pounds of toxic waste between 1994 and 2004, which 

may otherwise have been diverted to landfills. 

In addition, any new landfill would be required to be 

constructed with a double liner system to minimize the 

potential of landfill leakage. 

Next Steps: 

Continue facilitating successful programs like the Home 

Toxics Reduction Program. Work to implement the 

recommendations of the Solid Waste Plan. 

22 

Landfill Response Example: Ann Arbor Landfill 

The City of Ann Arbor Landfill is located in the 

southwest corner of Ellsworth and Platt Roads. Phase I of 

the landfill has been leaking, creating a groundwater 

contamination plume migrating northeast. The main 

contaminants of concern are 1,4-dioxane and vinyl 

chloride. Other contaminants detected in the leachate are 

benzene, chloroform, methyl chloride, zinc and 1,2dichlorethane. 

Phase I operated between 1940 and 1984, 

collecting waste mainly from municipal sources, but it 

may have also accepted industrial wastes. The landfill is 

divided into segments, some of which are unlined. 

There is concern that the landfill’s contaminants will find 

their way into the groundwater, or the Huron River via 

Swift Run Drain. To prevent further contamination, a 

slurry wall was installed to halt the flow of groundwater 

into the landfill, and three purge wells were installed to 

collect the leachate. The leachate is collected and 

discharged to the wastewater treatment plant, where it is 

combined with other wastewater. The effluent that is 

discharged from the plant has a 1,4-dioxane content 

between 1 and 2 parts per billion (ppb), although the 

influent receives no specific treatment for 1,4-dioxane. 

The effluent is discharged to the Huron River, 

downstream of the city’s drinking water intake. 

The contamination collection system and discharge to the 

wastewater system is permitted by MDEQ and meets 

State requirements. The City of Ann Arbor is currently 

evaluating treatment technologies to further reduce the 

concentration of 1,4-dioxane and vinyl chloride in the 

leachate before discharging it to the wastewater or 

groundwater.

Challenge # 6: Leaking Underground Storage Tanks 

Underground storage tanks (UST) hold various chemicals, 

from gasoline at service stations to waste oil at automotive oil 

change facilities. Leaking underground storage tanks (LUST) 

are tanks that are damaged and have leaked VOCs into the 

groundwater surrounding 

the site. Washtenaw 

County currently has 153 

LUST sites and a total of 

232 active facilities or 

locations were regulated 

underground storage tanks 

are operational. An 

additional 514 facilities 

exist were regulated 

underground storage tanks 

have been properly closed 

to the applicable standard. 



LUSTs? 




Substandard Underground 

Storage Tank 

Brownfield Redevelopment 

LUST Program 

LUST Response Objective: 


elevated levels of petroleum in Washtenaw County. 

LUST Response Assessment: 



must not be located within a distance of 300 feet from known 

UST sites. LUST sites may be evaluated under a case by case 

basis, consideration may be given to the directional flow of the 

contaminant plume; however, as with part 201 sites, a 

maximum possible distance from the contaminant source will 

apply. 

23 

A total of 381 LUST sites have been closed or corrective 

actions have been completed to meet the appropriate standard 

through State programs (Part 213). The State of Michigan 

Substandard Underground Storage Tank program aids in 

updating underground storage tanks, including removal, 

replacement or installation of cathodic protection in older 

tanks. Approximately 90% of tanks have been updated 

statewide. 


has received a grant of $200,000 to assess sites for petroleum 

contamination. Five (5) sites have been assessed. Grant funding 

will allow 25-30 additional sites to be assessed. 

Next Steps: 

Continue to support the mandatory updating of substandard 

underground storage tanks and work with State to assure 

implementation in Washtenaw County. Continue to support site 

assessment through the Washtenaw County Brownfield 

Redevelopment Authority and other programs. 

Figure 5: LUST Removal 

Source: http://www.epa.gov/reg/reg5rcra/wptdiv/r5lust.html; May 2005

Challenge # 7: Gelman Sciences Inc. 1,4-dioxane 

Between 1968 and 1986, Gelman Sciences, Inc., (sold to New 

York-based Pall Corp. in 1997, now known locally as Pall Life 

Sciences) discharged hundreds of thousands of pounds of 1,4dioxane 

into the local environment at their facility near Liberty 

and Wagner Roads in Scio Township. 1,4-dioxane is suspected 

of causing health problems and is classified by the U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a probable human 

carcinogen. The persistent pollutant was discharged into 

lagoons, wetlands and unlined pits. It was also dispersed 

through spray irrigation and deep-well injection. 1,4-dioxane 

was released in combination with other compounds used in the 

manufacturing of medical filters. 

In 1987, although the company had halted its use and discharge 

of 1,4-dioxane, it was discovered that a large underground 

storage tank had been leaking. The contamination percolated 

down into the aquifer northwest of Ann Arbor (Map 7). The 

plume of 1,4-dioxane headed east in the general direction of 

the Huron River and directly underneath the City of Ann 

Arbor. 

Approximately 124 private water supply wells have been 

connected to the City of Ann Arbor water supply as a result of 

the contamination. State funding provided since 1995 has 

allowed for the monitoring of 

drinking water wells affected 

or threatened by groundwater 

contamination from this site 

and others. Washtenaw 

County was the first county 

in the State to participate in 

this program. 



challenge of 

Pall Life Sciences? 



24 

The plume of contamination has lead to the court-ordered 

creation of a groundwater use restriction area, or “Prohibition 

Zone” (PZ), in which drinking water wells are prohibited from 

being drilled and existing wells are required to be properly 

abandoned (Map 7). Additionally, one municipal water supply 

well, the City of Ann Arbor’s Northwest Supply Well, has been 

taken out of service after a 2001 positive test result for 1,4dioxane. 

As part of the remediation effort, Pall Life Sciences has treated 

and discharged nearly 3 billion gallons of groundwater since 

1997. The groundwater is collected at extraction wells and 

pumped to a treatment center. The treatment uses ozone and 

hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to reduce the levels of 1,4-dioxane 

to below the limits of acceptable criteria. Treatment removes at 

least 99% of the contaminant and discharges water with a 1,4dioxane 

concentration of less than 10 parts per billion. The 

treated water is released into a tributary of Honey Creek, which 

discharges into the Huron River. This discharge is upstream of 

the City of Ann Arbor’s main water intake at Barton Pond. 

Currently, the health risk to residents is minimized due to 

ongoing remediation and monitoring stations. However, the 

1,4-dioxane plume of impacted groundwater has spread to an 

area nearly three miles long by one mile wide and continues to 

threaten drinking water supplies. 

Gelman Science Inc. 1,4-dioxane Response Objective: 


elevated levels of 1,4-dioxane in Washtenaw County.

Gelman Sciences Inc. 1,4-dioxane Response Assessment: 

A court-ordered Prohibition Zone has been established in a 

portion of the identified plume area and areas where the plume 

is expected to travel toward the Huron River in the future. 

Residents within the Prohibition Zone must disclose the 

presence of 1,4-dioxane beneath their properties, as well as the 

groundwater use restrictions, to perspective home buyers. 

Washtenaw County, the City of Ann Arbor, the Townships of 

Scio and Ann Arbor, and the State of Michigan have worked 

diligently with residents and Pall Life Sciences to assure that 

the contamination issue is addressed. The PZ is a tool intended 

to reduce potential exposure to the plume, as it prevents the 

drilling of new wells. In addition, 124 homes previously served 

by well water have been connected to the City of Ann Arbor 

water supply. Despite these efforts, due to disputes over 

responsibilities and methods, cleanup has taken over 20 years 

and will likely require decades of continued oversight. 

Next Steps: 

Continue to actively treat 1,4-dioxane. Carry on monitoring the 

remediation efforts and provide input to MDEQ. Advocate for 

additional, properly designed and located monitoring wells, 

which are needed to more accurately identify plumes and track 

plume migration. In cooperation with MDEQ, continue to 

monitor drinking water wells affected or threatened by 1,4dioxane. 

If State funding is not replaced for this program, 

monitoring of affected or threatened drinking water wells will 

likely end after 2008. Work with stakeholders to assure best 

management practices and technologies are employed in the 

effort, and that action is taken in the most expeditious manner. 

25 

Map 7: Gelman Sciences Inc. 1, 4-dioxane Plumes

Challenge # 8: Ground Water Quantity 

For the most part, Washtenaw County has an abundance of 

high quality groundwater available for drinking. However, in 

the southeast portion of the County, primarily Augusta and 

York Townships, the ability to obtain reliable, aesthetically 

acceptable water has been a challenge. 

Ground Water Quantity Response Objective: 

Protect and promote the sustainable use of groundwater in 


Ground Water Quantity Response Assessment: 

Municipal water supplies have, and can continue to be, 

extended to meet growing residential demand. 

The Time of Sale program requires that all residences served 

by well water be evaluated to ensure a safe and adequate 

supply of clean drinking water exists prior to property 

transfers. 

The County’s Well Regulation requires that permits be 

acquired for the installation of new groundwater wells and the 

groundwater quantity is sustainable to service the new well. A 

Michigan criterion for subsurface disposal addresses wells in 

subdivisions. Pump tests are conducted to assure adequate 

water supply in subdivisions and test wells must provide water 

at a rate of 10 gallons per 

minute (gpm). 

Additionally, municipal 

water supplies have, and 

can continue to be, 

extended to meet growing 

residential demand. 



ground water quantity? 

Time of Sale 




26 

Water Quantity Case Study: 

In 1996, after years of living with low volume wells and 

wells going dry, Augusta Township was successful in 

obtaining federal funding to aid in providing municipal 

water to over 200 homes. This project, which included over 

33 miles of water line, was the result of residents and the 

Township working together for a common cause. In addition 

to the main water extension, the group was able to secure 

over $3.5 million in FHA grants and low interest loans to aid 

homeowners in connecting to the system. 

Well restricted areas or well first areas can be implemented to 

assure that new wells are not drilled in areas with limited 

ground water quantity. 

Wellhead protection planning is a tool that allows municipal 

jurisdictions to plan for the wise management of land use 

within the recharge area of a public water supply. This tool can 

be used to protect groundwater sources from potential threats 

that would cause diminished quantity. 

The State of Michigan has passed legislation to protect ground 

water aquifers that provide drinking water from large threats 

like mining and industrial uses in an effort to resolve 

withdrawal disputes. The law is limited in scope to high 

volume withdrawals of greater than 100,000 gallons per day. 

Next Steps: 

Continue to support, create and implement programs that 

protect groundwater resources in Washtenaw County. Support 

efforts to extend municipal water in areas where the reliability 

of supply is in question. Perform analysis on the feasibility of 

regulatory changes to permit use of hauled water for residential 

supply.

2.4 Groundwater Organizations 

Leadership & Education 

Washtenaw County provides several services to County 

residents relating to groundwater, including: water sample 

bottles, onsite sewage and well services, information on 

groundwater contamination areas, and information on what 

homeowners can do to protect groundwater resources. Please 

contact the Department of Planning and Environment with 

questions. 


Department of Planning and Environment 

705 North Zeeb Rd, P.O. Box 8645 


Phone: (734) 222-3800 

http://www.ewashtenaw.org 

Leadership & Education 

The Ecology Center in Ann Arbor also provides educational 

materials about groundwater issues. The center has a course 

available for middle school age children entitled “Groundwater 

and You.” In the class, students can learn about groundwater 

by working with models. For more information visit: 

http://www.ecocenter.org 

27 

Advocacy 

There are also some local organizations that organize around 

groundwater issues. Scio Residents for Safe Water (SRSW) is 

an organization of residents concerned with groundwater 

issues, specifically the 1,4-dioxane plume associated with 

Gelman Sciences Inc.(facility now owned by Pall Life 

Science). Information and updates from SRSW can be found 

at: http://www.hvcn.org/info/srsw/home.html 

Advocacy 

The Michigan Groundwater Stewardship Program is a State 

sponsored program dedicated to providing information and 

assessment tools regarding responsible use of pesticides and 

fertilizers. For more information visit: 

http://www.michigan.gov/mda/0,1607,7-125- 

1567_1599_1608---,00.html

2.5 Local Tools 

Groundwater resources can be protected locally though the 

adoption of ordinances like a groundwater protection overlay 

district (Figure 7). A groundwater overlay district can be used 

to restrict or even prohibit any of the following types of land 

uses that may pose a threat to groundwater quality. 

● Automobile body/repair shop 

● Gas station 

● Fleet/trucking/bus terminal 

● Dry cleaner 

● Electrical/electronic manufacturing facility 

● Machine shop 

● Metal plating/finishing/fabricating facility 

● Chemical processing/storage facility 

● Wood preserving/treating facility 

● Junk/scrap/salvage yard 

● Mines/gravel pit 

● Irrigated nursery/greenhouse stock 

● Confined animal feeding operations 

● Land divisions resulting in high density (>1 unit/acre) 

septic systems 

● Equipment maintenance/fueling areas 

● Injection wells/dry wells/sumps, except for singlefamily 

residences directing gutter downspouts to a 

drywell 

● Underground storage tanks, (except those with spill, 

overfill, and corrosion protection requirements in place) 

● All other facilities involving the collection, handling, 

manufacture, use, storage, transfer or disposal of any 

solid or liquid material or waste having potentially 

harmful impact on groundwater quality. 1 

1 Source: http://www.storm watercenter.net/; Nov 2005. 

28 

Figure 6: Overlay District 

Source: http://www.planning.org/thecommissioner/19952003/winter01.htm; June, 2005

3.0 Surface Water 

Surface water is another of the major components of the water cycle. 

Surface water is the water that most affects residents’ lives because of 

recreational uses like boating, fishing and swimming. Residents can 

also be negatively impacted by flooding during extreme weather. Like 

groundwater, surface water is also a drinking water source. Surface 

water flows down gradients via creeks, streams, and rivers into larger 

bodies of water, like the Great Lakes or the Detroit River. Systems of 

tributaries and the land that contributes water to them are called 

watersheds (Table 1 & Map 8). 

Watersheds can be examined on various scales; for instance, one could 

look at all the area that drains to Lake Erie, or a subcomponent of that 

system, like the Huron River. On a local scale, some communities in 

Washtenaw County have also looked at watersheds at the creek level, 

such as the two square mile Miller Creek watershed. 

Washtenaw County is located in the watersheds of two Great Lakes: 

Erie and Michigan. Five of the six watersheds in the County drain 

toward Lake Erie. Only the Grand River Basin, 1% of the County’s 

land area, drains west to Lake Michigan. Ranked by drainage area, the 

six major basins are: the Huron River, the Raisin River, Stony Creek, 

the Rouge River, the Grand River, and Swan Creek (Table 1). 

There are 1,743 lakes within, or partially within, Washtenaw County 

that are 5 acres or larger. In addition, there are over 51,000 acres of 

wetlands remaining in the County, about the size of two townships. 

29 

Table 1: Watershed Area 

River 

Watershed 

Acreage 

% of 

County 

Huron 255,998 55 

Raisin/Saline 132,194 28 

Stony Creek 45,109 10 

Rouge 21,076 5 

Grand 6,518 1 

Swan Creek 3,631 1 

Total 464,526 

Receiving 

Water/ 

Location 

Lake Erie @ 

Brownstown 

Lake Erie @ 

Monroe 

Lake Erie @ 

Frenchtown 

Twp. 

Detroit River 

@ Detroit 

Lake Michigan 

@ Grand 

Haven 

Lake Erie @ 

Monroe

Map 8: Watersheds and Water Features 

30

Table 2: Michigan’s Designated Uses (DU) 

What Does Designated Use Really Mean? 

DU Activities Protected 

Agriculture 

Navigation 

Industrial 

Water 

Supply 

Public 

Water 

Supply 

Fisheries 

Other 

Indigenous 

Aquatic 

Life and 

Wildlife 

Recreation 

Water Quality Standards for 

water used by farmers for 

irrigation of crops 


water used for traveling 


water used by industry in 

manufacturing 


water used by public for drinking 

water, both for treated and 

untreated 


water used by residents and 

businesses for fishing as a food 

source 


water that is the habitat for 

aquatic life, both for cold water 

and warm water species 


water used by residents for 

recreational purposes, standards 

can be for non contact, partial 

contact, or short term and longterm 

contact 

31 

3.1 Conditions and Trends 

Eighty-three percent of Washtenaw County drains to either the 

Huron River or the Raisin/Saline Rivers. These two waterways 

reflect the changing character of the landscape in Washtenaw 

County. Historically, the landscape was dominated by 

agriculture. The Huron and Raisin maintained a largely rural 

character with stable banks and an intact floodplain. Mill ponds 

are scattered across the county. From Barton Pond to the 

eastern county line, the Huron River was dammed for 

hydroelectric power. 

The County’s agricultural land is being transformed into lowdensity 

residential landscape often referred to as ‘exurban.’ 

The exurban development pattern is auto oriented, consuming 

more acreage for parking, roads, driveways, and rooftops per 

capita than urban and sub-urban landscapes. 

The impervious surfaces associated with exurban development 

disrupt the water cycle by preventing rainfall from entering the 

ground. Water is instead channeled to the nearest lake, stream 

or river. The result is an increase in the rate and amount of 

runoff and decrease in the amount of water retained in the 

wetlands, vegetation, and soils, or recharged to the 

underground aquifer. Runoff is increased by the removal of 

natural vegetation and soil compaction that accompanies land 

development. Consequently, rivers, lakes and streams are 

chemically, physically and biologically altered. 

In Michigan all waters have seven designated uses (Table 2): 

1. Agriculture 

2. Navigation 

3. Industrial Water Supply 

4. Public Water Supply 

5. Fisheries 

6. Other Indigenous Aquatic Life and Wildlife 

7. Recreation

When there are problems identified with water quality that 

could pose a public health threat, measures are taken to 

properly inform the public. For instance, when fish are found to 

have levels of contaminants higher than levels deemed safe by 

the Michigan Department of Community Health, a fish 

advisory is issued. Similarly, if contaminant levels in water are 

higher than the designated level for recreational use beach 

monitoring may result in beach closing or prohibition of full 

body contact sports like swimming. 

Currently, there are 20 Washtenaw County 

waterways and segments of waterways that 

have been specifically identified as not 

meeting the minimum state Water Quality 

Standards (WQS) associated with 

designated uses (Table 3). Many of the 

problems result from storm water runoff, 

including high Escherichia coli (E. coli) 

levels from illicit connections of sanitary 

waste to storm waste, and from pets waste 

and urban wildlife; phosphorus from 

erosion and lawn fertilizer; heavy metals, 

oil and grease, and mercury deposition 

from airborne particles. All of these 

contaminants are washed into waterways 

from our increasingly paved environment. 

Of equal concern are increasing flood 

frequencies and flashy stream flows that 

threaten downstream property and degrade 

habitat, leading to reduced aquatic and 

wildlife diversity. 

More detail regarding 

water quality measurements 

can be found at: 

HRWC Adopt-a-Stream 

http://www.hrwc.org 

HRWC Sampling 

http://www.hrwc.org 

Stony Creek 

http://www.emich.edu/wrc/stonycreek 

Raisin River 

http://www.riverraisin.org 

Rouge River 

http://www.therouge.org 

Ann Arbor Drinking Water Plant 

http://www.a2gov.org 

DEQ NPDES 

http://www.michigan.gov/deqnpdes 

USGS Real-Time Gauges 

http://water.usgs.gov 

32 

There are two kinds of monitoring criteria evaluated to 

determine if a water body is meeting the Water Quality 

Standards: Biological and Numeric. 

● Biological Criteria – the biological health of a water 

body in comparison to a reference site. Looking at the 

species diversity and the presence of sensitive species 

like mayflies, stoneflies, and dobson flies or 

hellgrammites, indicates the overall 

biological health. These criteria can be 

used to rate streams qualitatively into 

categories like excellent, good, 

acceptable, or poor. 

● Numeric Criteria – the level of 

pollutants in comparison to set 

standards. Chemical pollutants, like 

arsenic, mercury, phosphorus, or 

pathogens (E. coli) all have maximum 

contaminant levels that are associated 

with each designated use. The EPA 

recommends standards for designated 

uses and publishes this information for 

each state. 2 

Since it is not feasible to collect 

numeric data for every body of water, 

biological sampling can be used to 

indicate areas that need further study. 

2 See: http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/criteria/wqcriteria.html

Table 3: Total Maximum Daily Load Schedule 

WATER BODY 

TMDL 

SCHEDULE 

TMDL 

APPROVED 

LOCATION SIZE PROBLEM 

Allen Creek 2004 

Included in 

Huron River 

Geddes Pond Dam upstream to 

Geddes Avenue 

2 Miles 

WQS exceedances of E. coli., 

pathogens (Rule100) 

Barton Pond 

(Huron River) 

2010 no 

Impoundment of Huron River in 

vicinity of Barton 

210 Acre FCA-PCBs 

Ford Lake 2003 Nov 2004 Ypsilanti, upstream of Belleville Lake 

975 Acre 2 

Miles 

Nuisance algal growths, phosphorus 

Ford/Belleville Lake 2010 no 

Impoundments of the Huron River 

located in the vicinity of Ypsilanti 

2245 Acre FCA-PCBs, Mercury 

Four Mile Lake 2011 no West of Dexter and NE of Chelsea 256 Acre Fish Tissue-Mercury 

Honey Creek 2009 no 

Confluence of Huron River at Wagner 

Rd 

0.5 Miles Pathogens (Rule 100) 

Horseshoe Lake Drain 2009 no 

Barker Road at the Horseshoe Lake 

outlet. 

1.4 Miles 

Macroinvertebrate community rated 

poor 

Huron River 

(Geddes Pond) 

2000 Sept 2001 

Geddes Pond Dam upstream to 

Geddes Avenue 

From the confluence with the Walled 

2 Miles Pathogens (Rule 100) 

Johnson Creek 2007 Aug 2007 lake branch upstream to 5 Mile rd. 

West of Currie Rd. 

7 Miles WQS exceedances for D.O. 

Letts Creek 2004 REMOVED 

Fish and macroinvertebrate communities 

rated poor 

Malletts Creek 2004 Sept 2004 

Huron River confluence at Packard 

Road 

2 Miles 

Fish and macroinvertebrate 

communities rated poor 

Paint Creek 2005 no R6E, T3S, Sec. 12 at Ypsilanti 4.6 Miles 

D.O.; Fish kills; Pathogens (Rule 

100) 

Portage Lake 2011 no SE of Pinckney 644 Acre Mercury Lake 

Saline River 2000 Nov 2002 

Near Mooreville, Section 28, York 

Township 

1 Miles 

Untreated sewage discharge, 

pathogens (Rule 100) 

Second Sister Lake 2011 no W. of Ann Arbor 8 Acre Fish Tissue-Mercury 

South Lake 2011 no N. of Lyndon Center 197 Acre Fish Tissue-Mercury 

Swift Run Creek 2004 Jan 2005 

Huron River confluence at Ellsworth 

Road. 

3.7 Miles 

Macroinvertebrate community rated 

poor 

Unnamed Lake 2011 no 

S. of Ford Lake in the NE corner of 

Sec. 26, T3S, 

2 Acre FCA-PCBs; Fish Tissue-Mercury 

Whitmore Lake 2010 no Vicinity of Whitmore Lake 677 Acre FCA-PCBs 

Willow Run Creek 2000 REMOVED WQS exceedances for PCBs 

33

3.2 Protection Activities 

Washtenaw County is implementing programs under Federal 

law and has adopted several regulations that contribute to 

surface water protection. 

Activity #11 Clean Water Act 

Section 303(d) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 

1972, commonly called the Clean Water Act (CWA) requires 

each state to identify surface waters within its boundaries that 

are not meeting, or expected to meet, water quality standards 

(WQS) (Figure 8). The law further requires the states to 

prioritize their listed waters for development of Total 

Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) to protect the seven 

designated uses described in Table 2. 

Each one of the uses has associated water quality standards. 

Water bodies that meet or exceed the associated water quality 

standards are in attainment of the standard set by the CWA. A 

policy of antidegredation is applied to these water bodies. All 

water bodies that are not meeting WQS for a designated use are 

in non-attainment and scheduled for TMDL development. 

A TMDL can be best described as a budget for pollutant influx 

to a watercourse (TMDL locations on Map 8). This “budget” 

must account for all of the potential factors for the water body 

not meeting the WQS. A TMDL requires development of a 

system-wide strategy that will lead to attainment. 

Twenty Washtenaw County waterways have been identified as 

being in non-attainment of the WQS (Table 3). Eight have 

plans and are in the process of implementation to achieve the 

TMDL. Two have reached attainment and have been removed 

from the list. The Allen Creek TMDL is combined with the 

Huron River TMDL. The remaining nine that do not meet the 

WQS are scheduled to develop plans by 2011. 

34 

FIGURE 7: Clean Water Act Flowchart 

Source: http://www.epa.gov/watertrain/cwa/bigpic.htm, Dec, 2005. 

There are several policy tools and programs that the CWA 

establishes to help to implement TMDL strategies outlined for 

a water body in non attainment. 

● National Pollution Discharge Elimination System 

(NPDES) – A permitting system designed to regulate 

all point source discharges into waterways. An NPDES 

permit generally sets effluent limits for specific 

pollutants to be released over a specific time period. In 

the mid 1980’s, this program was extended to include 

storm water. The NPDES prescribes programs and 

strategies to reduce these nonpoint sources of pollution 

in an attempt to regulate the threats they pose to water 

quality.

● CWA Section 319 Grants – Section 319 is designed to 

address nonpoint source pollution. Approximately 40% 

of all water bodies on the 303d list are affected solely 

by nonpoint source pollution 3 . Section 319 funds 

programs aimed at reducing the negative effect of 

nonpoint source pollution on water quality. The 319 

program grew from its initial funding in 1987 of $38 

million to $238 million in 2004. 

● Section 401 – Section 401 gives the state authority to 

certify that all federal permits granted within its borders 

are consistent with the goals outlined in the Clean 

Water Act. The 401 permit program is implemented by 

MDEQ with EPA oversight. This right of certification 

is also granted to all states that are downstream of any 

federal permit, and whose water quality may also be 

affected by the federal permit application. 

● Section 404 – Section 404 prohibits the placement of 

fill, sediment, and dredged materials into any waters of 

the United States. This section is most commonly 

applied to wetlands. The federal government defines 

wetlands as: "Those areas that are inundated or 

saturated by surface or ground water at a frequency and 

duration sufficient to support, and that under normal 

circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation 

typically adapted for life in saturated soil.” 

[33CFR328.3(b)]. Michigan is one of only two States in 

the Country that is authorized to implement a permit 

program under section 404 at the state level. 

3 Source: http://www.epa.gov/watertrain/cwa/cwa52.htm, December, 2005. 

35 

● State Revolving Loan Fund – The Clean Water State 

Revolving Loan Fund (CWSRF) is another grant 

program that supports localized water quality projects. 

The program provides low interest loans and requires 

state matching funds. Projects implemented under this 

program include waste water treatment plant 

construction and improvements, wetland protection, 

clean up activities, and storm water treatment facilities.

FIGURE 8: CWA Timeline 

1974 Safe Drinking 

Water Act (SDWA) 

enacted 

36 

1990’s 

Late 1980’s and Early 

1990’s Phase I 

Late 1990’s Phase II

Activity #12 Michigan Drain Code 

Most waterways in Washtenaw County are “Waters of the 

State” meaning they are under State jurisdiction. However, 

there are over 600 creek segments and constructed storm water 

management systems or drains that are within the County 

Drain Commissioner’s jurisdiction (Map 9). 

A county drain may be an open ditch, stream, underground 

pipe, retention pond or swale that conveys storm water. These 

drains become designated as “county drains” through a petition 

process where either property owners or a local municipality 

petitions the Drain Commissioner to establish a county drain. 

Drains are systems that are designed to provide storm water 

management, drainage, flood prevention and stream protection 

for urban and agricultural lands. The Drain Commissioner also 

develops standards and design criteria for management of 

storm water runoff in new developments, with a goal of 

protecting private property and natural resources. 

County drains were originally established to create arable land, 

prevent local flooding, and to protect the public from mosquito 

borne diseases. Once a drain is established, the Drain 

Commissioner is required to maintain it and remove 

obstructions that may impede flow. Maintenance work is then 

charged to the landowners of the drainage district, and the 

governmental jurisdictions in which the drainage district is 

located, as a special assessment. Most of the drains and 

drainage districts established over the last 15-20 years were 

designed for flood prevention and storm water conveyance and 

are more often associated with suburban development than 

agricultural uses. 

37 

The State Drain Code limits minor drain maintenance projects 

to a maximum expenditure of $2,500 per mile of drain. Minor 

maintenance is often initiated by request from landowners or 

municipalities. These ‘service requests’ are followed up by 

county staff. In an average year, 200+ service requests are 

handled by Washtenaw County. Pro-active maintenance, such 

as mowing and brush cutting, is conducted on an annual 

schedule. 

Major drain projects (generally defined as those with costs in 

excess of $2,500 per mile) are initiated by residents or 

municipalities through a petition process. Costs are recovered 

through special assessments levied on private properties, local 

governments, county roads, railroads, and state highways. 

Not all storm drains are county drains. Many drainage ways, 

including roadside ditches, pipes, bridges and culverts located 

adjacent to state and county roads may not be designated as 

county drains. These types of drains are maintained by the 

Washtenaw County Road Commission. Still other private 

drains exist that are not under the jurisdiction of any 

governmental body. 

Although the Drain Code was not originally designed as a 

water quality protection measure, it has been used as such in 

Washtenaw County. The Code provides a legal basis to 

conduct programs ranging from illicit discharge elimination to 

the construction of storm water facilities designed to reduce 

pollutant loadings.

MAP 9: County Drains and Watersheds 

38

Activity #13 Inland Lake Level Act 

Originally enabled by the Inland Lake Level Act, PA 146 of 

1961, and now part of NREPA (Part 307 of Act 451), the Drain 

Commissioner may be required to maintain lake levels 

established by order of a circuit court. In Washtenaw County, 

there are six bodies of water with established lake levels: 

● Four Mile Lake 

● Horseshoe Lake 

● Iron Lake 

● Hiland Chain of Lakes 

● Whitmore Lake 

● Portage-Baseline Lakes 

Hiland Chain of Lakes, Whitmore Lake and Portage-Baseline 

Lakes are intercounty lake level projects, jointly administered 

by the Washtenaw and Livingston County Drain 

Commissioner. 

Activity #14 Lake Management 

Washtenaw County conducts a lake management program 

designed to assess and promote the health of lakes that have 

specific threats and management concerns. Currently, this 

program has focused on Whitmore Lake; however, a 

management plan is in the development process for Sugarloaf 

Lake. 

The Whitmore Lake Improvement Project is a three year lake 

management project coordinated by the Washtenaw County 

Board of Public Works on behalf of Northfield and Green Oak 

Townships. The project involves yearly fishery, vegetation and 

water quality studies. The data obtained from the studies is 

utilized to determine the types of control measures needed to 

stop the proliferation of invasive species and to improve the 

overall health of the lake. 

39 

The 2006 Lake Management Report for Whitmore Lake 

provides details to the findings of the fisheries, vegetation and 

water quality studies as well as the results of the 2005 control 

measures. The report is available online at: 

http://www.ewashtenaw.org/government/departments/planning 

_environment/dpw 

Activity #15 Watershed Management Planning 

Watershed management planning aims to develop 

comprehensive strategies to protect and restore a waterway and 

its supporting watershed. Watershed planning and 

implementation of these plans is one important way for 

residents to become involved in local water quality issues. The 

following watershed plans are reviewed on the coming pages 

and cover the major basins in Washtenaw County 

● Plan 1: Upper Grand River Watershed 

● Plan 2 : Huron Chain of Lakes 

● Plan 3: Mill Creek Subwatershed Management Plan 

● Plan 4: Watershed Plan for the Huron River in the Ann 

Arbor – Ypsilanti Metropolitan Area 

● Plan 5: Middle One Rouge River Subwatershed 

Management Plan 

● Plan 6: Lower One Rouge River Subwatershed 


● Plan 7: River Raisin Watershed Management Plan, 

Phase 1 

● Plan 8 : Stony Creek Watershed Management Plan 

The Watershed Plan for the Huron River in the Ann Arbor 

Ypsilanti Area includes as appendices creek or sub basin plans 

for Malletts, Fleming, and Allen’s Creek, and Ford Lake and 

Buhr Park. A plan for Millers Creek has also been developed 

and will be included in the revision scheduled for completion 

by the end of 2007.

Most of the watershed management plans recommend using 

best management practices (BMPs) to address threats to the 

watershed health. Table 4 shows 29 commonly recommended 

BMPs (Plans that recommend a particular strategy are 

marked “”). More detailed watershed plan summaries and a 

comprehensive list of BMP recommendations can be found in 

Appendix B. 

Table 4: BMP Examples 

BMP Recommended For 

County Wide Implementation 

Phosphorus reduction ordinance 

Native plant landscaping ordinance 

Private roads ordinance 

40 

Plan # 

BMP Description BMP Outcome 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 

Regulate selection, use, storage and disposal 

of fertilizers 

Encourage use of plants adapted to this 

geographic area 

Allows for roads to be narrower than county 

standards 

Storm water management ordinance Regulations to guide property development 

Local wetlands ordinance 

Enhance site plan requirements 

Reduce directly connected 

impervious surface area 

High powered street and paved area 

sweeping 

Improve protection of stream and 

riparian habitats through alternative 

drain practices 

Initiate hydrologic study and 

hydraulic study 

Investigate opportunities for 

recreation areas 

Ordinance for wetlands not currently 

regulated by state or federal authorities 

Review floodplain, soil types, landmark 

trees, groundwater recharge areas, etc. 

Directing flows from roof drains and paved 

areas to stabilized vegetated areas 

A management measure that involves 

pavement cleaning on a regular basis 

Look for opportunities to correct old 

drainage practices like tiled agricultural land 

Comprehensive hydrology and hydraulic 

study in the watershed 

Increase opportunities for people to access 

water resources 

Reduction of nutrients entering watershed reducing 

algal blooms and fish kills 

Improved storm water infiltration , soil stabilization 

and habitat 

Reduction of impervious surface area minimizing 

runoff to watershed 

Protects watershed regarding water quality, quantity 

and biological integrity 

 

 

 

 

Protection of small and isolated wetlands 

Assures environmental responsible development 

Reduction in storm water peak discharges, runoff 

volume and erosion 

Reduction of sediment debris and pollutant export to 

receiving waters 

Restores hydrologic function 

Understanding precipitation, infiltration, surface 

runoff, flow rates and storage & better understanding 

of velocity, flow depth, flood elevation, channel 

erosion 

Increase in number of persons interested in protection 

of water resources

Table 4: BMP Examples (Continued) Plan # 

BMP Recommended For 

County Wide Implementation 

Create and maintain grassed 

waterways 

Install and maintain vegetated filter 

strips 

Install and maintain riparian buffers 

Install and maintain bioretention 

systems 

Install grassed swales 

Practice crop rotation w/ cover and 

mulch 

Restore wetlands 

Install rain gardens 

Install and maintain vegetated roofs 

Install grade stabilization culverts 

Install and maintain catch basin 

inserts 

Install and maintain sediment 

trapping devices 

Repair misaligned/obstructed 

culverts 

Stabilize road/bridge surfaces 

BMP Description BMP Outcome 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 

Natural or constructed channels on farm 

lands established with suitable vegetation 

Strips of grass or other permanent vegetation 

designed to treat sheet flow 

Streamside ecosystems managed for the 

enhancement of water quality 

Landscaping features in developed areas 

adapted to provide onsite treatment 

Open channel management practices 

designed to treat and attenuate storm water 

runoff 

Employ agricultural techniques that limit 

impacts on water quality 

Rehabilitation of drained or degraded 

wetlands 

Vegetated depression typically near an 

impervious surface to intercept storm water 

runoff 

Structural addition of plants/soil over a 

traditional roof system 

Install structures to control the grade and 

head cutting in channels (mostly 

agricultural) 

Installation of additional sump chambers to 

enhance collection of solids 

Barriers, basins and other devise designed to 

remove sediment from runoff 

Coordinate townships and County efforts to 

address drainage problems 

Alter grading practices and examine surface 

options on unpaved roads and bridges 

41 

Treatment of sheet flow, improved infiltration, 

reduced erosion 

Slower runoff velocities, better infiltration, sediment 

and nutrient filtration 

Slower runoff velocities, infiltration, sediment and 

nutrient filtration 

Sediment and nutrient filtration, slower runoff 

velocities 

Slower runoff, sediment and nutrient filtration, 

improved infiltration 

 

 

 

 

 

Reduced sedimentation, and nutrient loadings 

Treatment, settling and storage of storm water. 

Aesthetic value/habitat 

Slower runoff velocities, infiltration, nutrient filtration 

Improved energy efficiency, reduction of storm water 

runoff 

 

 

Reduces erosion and sedimentation 

Reduction of sediment in storm water 

Reduction of sediment in storm water 

Addresses changes in hydrology and maintenance 

Reduce sediment pollution

Activity #16 Natural River Designation 

Since 1970, the Country-Scenic Natural Rivers Designation has 

been enabled by the Natural Rivers Act, now known as Part 

305 of PA 451 of 1994. The designation was established for the 

Huron River from Portage Lake to the Ann Arbor city limits in 

1977. Natural River Designation is intended to preserve the 

natural quality of a stream corridor via overlay zoning. It is the 

only such designation of this type in southeast Michigan. The 

townships involved in this area of the river are Dexter, 

Webster, Scio, and Ann Arbor. 

Along this portion of the Huron River homes cannot be built 

within 100 feet of the banks, and brush cannot be cut within 25 

feet from the banks. Stream crossings are highly restricted. 

More information regarding Natural River designation can be 

found on the Michigan Department of Natural Resources web 

site. For more information visit: www.michigan.gov/dnr 

Activity #17 Fish Advisories 

The issues surrounding fish consumption advisories are 

important to understand if you plan on eating fish from local 

water bodies. Low levels of toxins in the ambient environment 

accumulate in fat and muscle tissue of fish. These same toxins 

also accumulate in people. Some toxins are potentially 

hazardous in repeated doses, especially in young children and 

women who may become pregnant. 

Certain types of fish found in Washtenaw County, like black 

crappie, walleye, channel catfish, large and smallmouth bass, 

bullhead, northern pike, white sucker, and carp, may contain 

elevated levels of toxins, including polychlorinated biphenyls 

(PCBs) and mercury. These toxins are suspected of causing 

neurological and developmental disorders, cancers, endocrine 

disruption, reproductive disorders and other serious health 

problems. 

42 

The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) has 

issued a statewide mercury advisory for all inland lakes, 

reservoirs and impoundments. All of Washtenaw County’s 

lakes are included. The general population is advised to limit 

consumption of the species included in the advisory to one 

meal per week. Children under age 15 and women of 

childbearing age should eat no more than one fish meal per 

month. Barton Pond and Ford Lake are the only water bodies in 

the county with advisories for PCBs. 

Older and larger fish tend to contain the highest percentages of 

toxins and are given an elevated warning level. By limiting 

consumption of high toxin fish such as large carp, pike and 

catfish, it is safe to include local fish in a diet. People can 

protect themselves and their children by: 

● Eating smaller and younger fish. 

● Limiting consumption of fish that eat other fish. 

● Trimming and cooking fish in ways that reduce the 

amount of fat ingested. 

● Following the recommended consumption of fish found 

in the Michigan Department of Community Health’s 

(MDCH) 2004 Fish Consumption Guide. 4 

Activity #18 Beach Monitoring 

Washtenaw County Environmental Services Division staff 

collects water samples from public beaches throughout the 

county from Memorial Day through September. To protect 

public health and to prevent the spread of disease, the samples 

are analyzed for various water quality parameters, including 

bacteria levels. Beaches are closed if samples are deemed 

unsafe to public health. 

4 http://www.michigan.gov/documents/FishAdvisory03_67354_7.pdf

Public Beaches Tested in Washtenaw County: 

● Bruin Lake Beach, Lyndon Township 

● Half Moon Lake Beach, Dexter Township 

● Independence Lake Beach, Webster Township 

● Silver Lake Beach, Dexter Township 

● Sugarloaf Lake Beach, Lyndon Township 

In addition to public beaches, many other rivers and streams 

running through the County are sampled by local 

environmental organizations in order to determine current 

water quality and to recognize trends over time. Environmental 

surveys are conducted to evaluate possible pollution sources, 

safety hazards, depth drop-offs, currents, and hazardous 

objects. 

Activity #19 Natural Resource Environmental Protection Act 

(NREPA) 

The State of Michigan’s primary rules for protecting and 

preserving water quality are outlined in the NREPA. The 

NREPA contains guidelines for inland lake and stream 

preservation, wetland protection, construction erosion and 

sedimentation control, natural area preservation, etc. 

Activity #20 Illicit Discharge Elimination 

The Washtenaw County Drain Commissioner, as part of the 

Phase II Storm Water Permit, conducts inspections of all 

County Drains and identifies possible discharges from sources 

that should be connected to sanitary sewer, as well as other 

illegal sources. In 2005, over 150 drains were inspected and 17 

illicit connections were identified and corrected. 

43 

Activity #21 Home Toxics Reduction Program 

The Washtenaw County Home Toxics Reduction Program 

provides residents with a disposal option for flammable, 

poisonous, toxic and corrosive materials. The program 

addresses the environmental and public health effects resulting 

from improper handling and disposal of home toxics, and is 

committed to reducing the use of home toxics and keeping 

citizens informed about the choices and responsibilities 

associated with purchasing, handling and disposing of toxic 

substances. 

Activity #22 Waste Knot Program 

The Washtenaw County Waste Knot program aims to develop 

relationships within the Washtenaw County business 

community to support waste reduction and recycling activities. 

The program provides community-wide recognition and 

organization-based technical assistance along with value-added 

education to organizations that exhibit leadership in waste 

reduction and recycling. 

Activity #23 Water Quality Stewardship Program 

Water Quality Stewardship Programs including Community 

Partners for Clean Streams, Homeowners Programs, and the 

new Riversafe Home Program (implemented in March/April 

2007), are all designed to help business, residential and other 

land owners to evaluate how their activities affect surface 

water quality, and to develop strategic action plans designed to 

reduce nonpoint source pollution. These programs provide both 

technical assistance and community recognition.

Activity #24 Water Monitoring 

There is no comprehensive surface water monitoring program 

in Washtenaw County due to a lack of financial resources. 

Governments do not have the money, and grant programs 

rarely pay for systematic data gathering. Water monitoring has 

been conducted sporadically by different organizations for 

various projects and planning efforts. There has also been some 

monitoring conducted as a part of Storm Water Permit 

Programs. The lack of a comprehensive and strategic program 

greatly inhibits the overall assessment of water quality in 


44

3.3 Challenges and Responses 

Surface water of Washtenaw County is threatened by both 

point source and nonpoint source pollution. Point source 

pollution is pollution and/or waste that is discharged directly 

into a water body from a single point such as municipal waste 

water treatment plants or industrial discharge. Nonpoint source 

pollution, unlike pollution from industrial discharges and 

sewage treatment plants, comes from many sources. It occurs 

when rainfall or snowmelt flows over the ground and carries 

away natural and manmade pollutants that eventually find their 

way into surface water and groundwater. Substances like 

fertilizers from farms and residences; oils, grease, and toxic 

chemicals from cars and trucks; salt from roads; and bacteria 

and nutrients from pet and urban wildlife waste are examples 

of nonpoint source pollution. Both point source pollution and 

nonpoint source pollution contribute to the degradation of 

surface water quality in Washtenaw County. 

Nonpoint Source Pollution 

One way to think about nonpoint source pollution is the 

collective environmental impact of people on the ecosystem. 

As Washtenaw County becomes increasingly urbanized the 

effects of nonpoint source pollution on the County’s water 

quality have become more and more evident. A watershed that 

has less than 8-10% impervious surfaces such as roads, 

rooftops, and driveways, will most likely have good water 

quality. Once a threshold of 8-10% impervious surfaces is 

reached studies show that nonpoint source runoff is likely to 

have a negative effect on stream water quality and habitat. This 

is primarily due to increased volumes and velocities of runoff, 

as well as the array of pollutants associated with urban land 

use. 

45 

The major categories of nonpoint source pollutants, their 

general sources, and their specific impacts are discussed in this 

section: 

● Challenge # 9 – Excess Nutrients 

● Challenge # 10 – Sediments 

● Challenge # 11 – Toxic Compounds 

● Challenge # 12 – Pathogens and Bacteria 

● Challenge # 13 – Temperature, Volume, and Rate 

There is also an emerging issue that is being discovered as 

water quality testing and monitoring technologies advance: 

● Challenge # 14 – Pharmaceuticals 

Many of these challenges are addressed by the Clean Water 

Acts National Pollution Elimination Discharge System 

(NPDES) program that was extended to regulate the discharge 

of storm water pollution. It is only one of many response 

activities that address the challenges presented by nonpoint 

source pollution. 

Point Source Pollution 

Point source pollutants come from readily identifiable inputs 

where waste is discharged to the receiving waters from a pipe 

or drain. After treatment, industrial facilities and wastewater 

treatments plants discharge to rivers and streams. This section 

addresses the general challenge of point source discharges and 

provides information on the emerging issues associated with 

community wastewater systems: 

● Challenge # 15 – Point Sources Discharges 

● Challenge # 16 – Community Wastewater Systems

Challenge #9 Excess Nutrients 

It is natural for nutrients to be present in the water column or in 

bottom sediments of our rivers, lakes and streams. Michigan’s 

limestone rich soils are a natural source of calcium and 

phosphorus, and decaying plants and animals provide other 

nutrients such as nitrogen and potassium. Nutrients are the 

building blocks for all plant and animal life in the aquatic 

environment. 

Human activity can 

cause over-nutrification 

and affect water 

quality, especially in 

slow moving or 

stagnant water. A 

nutrient-rich lake can 

often be subject to 

frequent and severe 



excess nutrients? 

Clean Water Act 

Michigan Drain Code 

Watershed Management Plans 

Illicit Discharge Elimination 

NREPA 

nuisance algal blooms, low transparency and hypoxia (low 

oxygen). Lakes with very high nutrient concentrations and 

biological activity are termed hypereutrophic. Some causes of 

high nutrient concentrations are: 

● Paving over land (prevents infiltration and causes 

erosion) 

● Construction site erosion 

● Excessive or inappropriate fertilization 

● Improper manure management 

● Septic system failures 

● Pet waste and urban wildlife 

● Sanitary sewer overflows 

Nutrient Response Objective 

Limit nutrient delivery to waterways from stormwater runoff, 

agricultural activities, and sanitary overflows. 

46 

Nutrient Response Results 

Nutrients are often bound in sediments. As a result, the erosion 

control regulations mentioned in the ‘Sediments’ discussion 

(Challenge #10) apply to nutrients. Both the Federal Clean 

Water Act NPDES program and the Michigan Natural 

Resource Environmental Protection Act (NREPA) regulate 

activities that disturb more than one acre of land, or any 

acreage within 500 feet of a waterway. 

Figure 9: Storm Water Runoff 

Source: County Drain Commissioners Office, December 2005 

These same laws require primary and secondary treatment of 

wastewater before being discharged to rivers, lakes or streams. 

Septic systems are regulated under NREPA and County codes. 

A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) has been established 

for phosphorus for the middle Huron River. A TMDL is a 

pollutant budget that limits the amount of phosphorus that can 

be delivered to the river by human activity. Since 1994, 

the Huron River Watershed Council has managed the 

17-community “Middle Huron River Watershed Initiative”, a 

comprehensive strategy to meet the Phosphorus TMDL.

The Rules of the Washtenaw County Drain Commissioner 

were updated in 1994 to enhance pollution removal. The Rules 

require water quality treatment for runoff from new 

construction and reconstruction. Best Management Practices 

(BMPs) such as stormwater detention, infiltration systems, 

stream buffers, and more, help to cleanse stormwater runoff 

before it leaves the site. These rules apply to most construction 

activity, but not all. The rules have been adopted by many local 

municipalities and are widely applied. The rules will appear in 

an updated version in early 2008. 

Stream bank stabilization projects designed to reduce erosion 

and sediment delivery, are being conducted in the Huron River, 

and various creeks: Johnson, Traver, Mill and Miller. 

Watershed plans in the Huron, Stony, Rouge, and soon the 

River Raisin and Saline, call for improved BMPs that promote 

a wide range of BMP’s (see Appendix B). Special Projects 

have been completed to reduce nutrient discharges: 

● Olson Park and Stormwater Demonstration – a City of 

Ann Arbor park located on Pontiac Trail and Dhu 

Varren Road that incorporates and interprets a variety 

of water quality BMPs: biodetention, porous pavement, 

rain gardens, wetland treatment, etc. 

● With county assistance, thirty rain gardens have been 

installed at various homes and businesses and more are 

planned. These sunken gardens capture and infiltrate 

stormwater, allowing the plants to absorb nutrients. 

Many other rain gardens have been installed by private 

landowners and local governments. 

● Illicit discharges, improper sanitary discharges to storm 

sewers, are being identified and removed. In 2005, 

150 drains were inspected and 17 illicit connections 

were identified and corrected. Local Cities and Villages 

are pursuing similar programs. 

47 

● Septic systems are inspected at the time of home sale, 

and failing systems are corrected. 

● A 15 acre wetland treatment area is being constructed at 

Mary Beth Doyle Park along Malletts Creek, in the City 

of Ann Arbor. This system will reduce phosphorus by 

50% within the Mallets Creek subwatershed. 

Next Steps 

The scope of the problem suggests that current responses are 

inadequate. Future development and redevelopment sites must 

infiltrate stormwater similar to the natural landscape. The next 

generation of County storm water regulations will prescribe 

such practices. Additional regulation of lawn care chemicals 

and wide public education also will be pursued. 

Figure 10: Phosphorus Loading 

Source: http://vincejtremante.tripod.com/cycles/phosphours.htm, May 2006

Challenge #10 Sediments 

Runoff from rainstorms and snowmelt is the most significant 

source of water pollution today. Sediment from construction 

sites, agricultural activities, and urban landscapes, is a principal 

constituent of polluted runoff. In addition, sediment from 

stream bank and channel erosion, resulting from excessive 

stormwater volumes and flows rushing into local waterways, is 

another major source of sediment deposition. Sediment is a 

physical concern; it can clog catch basins, culverts and stream 

channels, causing flooding, impeding navigation and 

recreational uses, and requiring expensive dredging. It can 

smother habitat and spawning areas. In addition, because of the 

range of pollutants, including nutrients and toxic chemicals, 

some of which can bind with soil, it is also a source of 

chemical pollution, resulting in nuisance aquatic weed growth 

and algal blooms. 

Sediment Response Objective 

Minimize sediment delivery to waterways from storm water 

runoff, and reduce stream channel erosion. Limit impact of inlake 

sediment through management practice. 

Sediment Response Results 

Washtenaw County and local units of local government can 

control construction erosion under Part 91 of Michigan Public 

Act 451 of 1994 (NREPA). All construction sites of 1 acre or 

more or within 500 feet of an inland lake or stream must 

develop and implement an approved soil erosion and 

sedimentation control plan. Such plans are also required under 

the federal Clean Water Act. The law requires that a log be 

kept at every construction site, and that all erosion control 

measures be inspected and maintained after any significant rain 

event. 

48 

Habitat Total Maximum Daily Loads, under Section 303(d) of 

the Clean Water Act, are in place for local streams including 

Malletts and Swift Run, mandating a plan of action for 

sediment reduction. 

The Rules of the 

Washtenaw County Drain 

Commissioner require that 

storm water be collected and 

managed prior to leaving a 

developed site at a regulated 

rate, thereby reducing the 

high velocities that lead to 

channel erosion. 



sediments? 



Watershed Management Plans 


NREPA (Part 91, Soil Erosion 

and Sedimentation Control) 

Watershed plans in urban areas call for retrofitting and 

maintaining BMPs, such as storm water ponds, to provide 

better flow control and sediment removal. Close to $4 million 

is being spent along Malletts Creek (Mary Beth Doyle Wetland 

Preserve) to advance these objectives. Riparian buffer 

ordinances are also under development and/or implementation. 

These natural areas can filter runoff and keep sediment out of 

waterways. 

Stream bank stabilization projects have been conducted 

throughout the County. Johnson Creek, a tributary within the 

Arboretum, and Traver Creek are some of the waterways where 

projects have been implemented. Others are underway on Mill 

and Miller Creeks. 

Routine drain maintenance conducted under the Michigan 

Drain Code provides for sediment removal from stream 

channels, culverts, and stormwater structures.

Rain gardens have been installed on 30 individual properties 

with financial assistance through the County. These help 

capture and infiltrate storm water flows, trapping sediment and 

reducing volume and velocity of runoff. The program has been 

extended into 2008-2009. 

A program is being piloted for management of Ford Lake, 

designed to reduce the impact of nutrient-rich in-lake 

sediments or water quality. Professor John Lehman of 

University of Michigan, operating with a Federal Clean Water 

Grant, has demonstrated that lake management techniques can 

mitigate the effects of in-lake phosphorus and reduce algae 

blooms. For more information see: 

http://www.umich.edu/~hrstudy 

Next Steps 

Rapid land use change makes control of erosion and 

sedimentation from construction sites a challenge. Visual 

inspections indicate that more enforcement would benefit all 

Part 91 programs. Enforcement agencies are meeting in a 

County-wide forum. This may be an opportunity for resourcesharing 

and program improvement. 

The Huron River Watershed Council is working with local 

governments on Stream Buffer programs that can provide a 

model for implementation by communities throughout the 


In 2007, revised Rules of the Washtenaw County Drain 

Commissioner were published, calling for infiltration of storm 

water where possible, and supporting more innovative BMPs 

that can refine on-site water management. Local governments 

generally follow these County standards. The Rules target new 

development and some redevelopment. However, runoff 

volumes from developed areas also must be reduced. 

49 

Expansion of rain garden and BMP installation/retrofit 

programs is recommended. Allen Creek will be the focus of an 

urban retrofit study in 2007. 

Comprehensive and proactive drain maintenance can 

substantially reduce sediment delivery. Drain Code statutory 

spending limits ($2500 per mile of drain per year) limit what 

can be accomplished. State Drain Code amendments are 

recommended. 

Institutionally follow-up on the innovative lake management 

program for Ford Lake is recommended to reduce the impact of 

in-place sediments. By preventing lake “turnover”, it appears 

that algae blooms and weed growth can be reduced 

significantly. 

Figure 11: Sedimentation at Swift Run 

Source: Huron River Watershed Council

Challenge # 11 Toxic Compounds 

Sources of toxic compounds include pesticides, motor vehicles, 

industrial activities, atmospheric deposition, spills, and illicit 

dumping. 

Toxic substances lower dissolved oxygen, stress sensitive flora 

and fauna, enter the aquatic food chain, and may degrade the 

appearance of water surfaces. Periodically elevated 

concentrations of 

toxic compounds 

may be responsible 

for the paucity of 

aquatic species 

diversity found in the 

Huron River’s urban 

tributaries and 

slightly impaired 

populations of the 

Huron main stem. 



toxic compounds? 

Home Toxics Program 


Community Partners for 

Clean Streams 

Hazardous Waste Regulations 

Metals found in surface waters and bottom sediments in the 

project area include lead, arsenic, zinc, cadmium, manganese 

and barium. Some sediment samples from Geddes Pond, for 

example, were found to be "heavily polluted" with arsenic and 

lead, according to U.S. EPA standards. 

Toxic Compounds Response Objective: 

Maintain or attain water quality standards and minimize the 

exposure to and consumption of water with elevated levels of 

toxic compounds in Washtenaw County. 

Toxic Compounds Response Assessment: 

There are no TMDL plans under implementation that involve 

toxics; however, lack of water quality monitoring data makes 

quantitative assessment for toxic compounds impossible. 

50 

Washtenaw County manages a Home Toxics Reduction 

Program designed to assist residents in the proper disposal of 

toxic materials commonly used in homes. The Home Toxics 

Reduction Program collected over 729 thousand pounds of 

toxic materials between 1994 and 2004. Substances included 

flammables, oil-based paints, pesticides, batteries, mercury, 

and more. 

Figure 12: Home Toxics Drop-off Station 

Source http://www.ewashtenaw.org/government/departments/planning_environment/dpw/ 

hhw_location_html, May 2006 

The County’s Pollution Prevention Program ensures that 

chemicals are properly handled and stored. It also provides for 

source control by reducing the amount of toxic substances 

used. In addition, the County has a “Polluter Pay” regulation in 

place to respond to instances of toxic dumping.

The Community Partners for Clean Streams program produces 

educational materials that provide guidance on toxic 

compounds. The program emphasizes utilizing the “least toxic 

option” when purchasing products like cleaners and paints. The 

program also provides tips for reduction of use, and for proper 

storage and disposal of these items. 

Hazardous waste regulations enable the County’s Emergency 

Management department to have a hazardous material response 

team (HAZMAT). The County also has 24-hour response to 

spills and releases coordinated with the MDEQ. 

Next Steps: 

There is an opportunity to prevent toxics from becoming a 

widespread water quality issue in the County. This will require 

continued and expanded support for successful activities like 

the Home Toxics Reduction Program. Water quality 

monitoring is needed to determine and catalog the extent to 

which toxics maybe a problem in the water system. 

51

Challenge # 12 Pathogens and Bacteria 

The source of pathogens and bacteria can be traced to animal 

waste, failing septic systems, illicit sewer connections and 

sewage treatment overflows. Increased pathogen levels can 

pose health risks and close or restrict the use of recreational 

areas. Samples taken from the County waterways and storm 

drains after rainstorms 

have demonstrated that 

concentrations of 

pathogens routinely 

exceed federal water 

quality standards for full 

body contact. Pathogen 

levels in excess of total 

body contact limits have 

also been found in the 

Huron's tributary 

waterways. Problems 

are predominantly wet 

weather related. 



pathogens and bacteria? 


Time of Sale Program 



Pet Waste Ordinances 

Beach Monitoring 

Pathogens and Bacteria Response Objective: 

Maintain or attain Water Quality Standards and minimize the 

exposure to and consumption of water with elevated levels of 

pathogens and bacteria in Washtenaw County. 

Pathogens and Bacteria Response Assessment: 

Total Maximum Daily Loads for pathogens, bacteria, and/or 

E. coli have been established and are under implementation for 

stretches of Allen’s Creek, the Huron River, and the Saline 

River. Similar TMDLs are scheduled to be developed for 

Honey Creek and Paint Creek. 

52 

An Illicit Discharge Elimination Program is in place and 

ongoing. Results of limited DNA testing suggest that 

contamination is largely from urban wildlife and pet waste 

rather than human sources. The DNA-typing information 

demonstrates that attaining total body contact levels in urban 

areas may not be possible, as such sources cannot be 

controlled. 

E. coli and pathogen TMDLs are in full implementation with 

Storm Water Permit activities as the strategies for pathogen 

and bacteria reduction in urban areas. However, because the 

Federal Storm Water Permit is only required in areas that meet 

the U.S. Census Bureau definition of “urban areas”, 

fragmentation of program implementation occurs and 

undermines the effectiveness of the activities; it is not an 

ecosystem based approach. Further, because water quality 

monitoring is sporadic and limited, it is difficult to track 

overall progress outside of the stormwater permit area. 

The Time of Sale program requires that all residences served 

by well water be tested for excess pathogens and bacteria prior 

to property transfers. 

The County Drain Commissioner’s Rules (design standards) 

set buffers around waters designated as County Drains, 

including many streams and storm water ponds. Natural buffers 

and landscaping can be utilized to reduce nuisance geese 

populations around these features. 

The Illicit Discharge Elimination Program aims to find and 

eliminate illegal and/or unknown point source discharges into 

stormwater systems. In 2005, 150 drains were inspected and 17 

illicit discharge connections were identified and corrected.

Most, if not all, of the local units of government in Washtenaw 

County have pet waste ordinances. These ordinances require 

pet owners to properly cleanup and dispose of waste produced 

by their pets. Enforcement of these ordinances may go a long 

way to addressing this challenge. In addition, public education 

efforts are being stepped-up. The Humane Society of Huron 

Valley estimates some 60,000 feral cats in Washtenaw County. 

Spay and neutering programs are ongoing. 

Beach monitoring makes sure that all public swimming 

beaches reporting elevated levels of pathogens or bacteria, 

including E. coli, are closed until in attainment with water 

quality standards. 

Next Steps: 

Through DNA testing the County has identified pets and urban 

wildlife, like raccoons, skunks, and cats, as a major contributor 

to the E. coli challenge. Education is key to mitigating this 

problem, focusing on pet waste cleanup/reduction, monitoring 

and controlling pets and/or securing them indoors, 

removal/securing of outdoor trash and food waste storage and 

compost. 

Continue the ongoing efforts of the Illicit Discharge 

Elimination Program. Work to incorporate the results of DNA 

testing into planned strategies for the reduction of pathogen 

and bacteria contaminants in the water system. Work toward 

developing an ecosystem based as opposed to an urban area 

based approach to confront this challenge. 

53 

Figure 13: E. coli 

Source: http://www.organicovertune.com/pathogens.html, Oct. 2006

Challenge # 13 Temperature, Volume and Rate 

The source of high surface water temperatures can be traced to 

impervious surfaces, land clearing, land use alterations and soil 

compaction. Impervious and compacted surfaces prevent 

rainfall and snowmelt from percolating into the ground. 

Instead, storm water accumulates and is discharged off-site as 

surface runoff. This fundamentally alters the balance between 

surface and ground water feeding lakes and streams. 

Groundwater enters streams at a relatively constant 

temperature (between 49 and 54 degrees Fahrenheit) regardless 

of the season. Surface water is much closer to the ambient air 

temperature. As a watershed develops, its lakes and streams 

receive a much greater proportion of warm surface water 

runoff, and less cold groundwater. Higher summer 

temperatures alter in-stream habitat for fish, invertebrates and 

other aquatic life. Not only is the water warmer, but also its 

capacity to store oxygen is lower. As temperatures rise, 

sensitive species, those not able to adapt to their warmer 

environment, decline and disappear altogether. 

Excessive flow and volume issues can also be traced to 

impervious surfaces, land clearing, land use alterations and soil 

compaction. Precipitation prevented from percolating into the 

soil accumulates and is discharged as surface water runoff. As 

a creekshed develops, runoff volumes increase and water is 

delivered to receiving waters at a much faster rate. The 

cumulative impact of urban development throughout the 

watershed can be measured in the receiving waterways. Instream 

hydraulics and stream channel structure, or 

morphology, are altered in fundamental ways. 

Temperature, Volume, and Rate Response Objective: 

Minimize behaviors and activities that increase the volume and 

velocity of storm water runoff and create negative impacts on 

the aquatic life and habitat in Washtenaw County. 

54 

Temperature, Volume, and Rate Response Assessment: 

Most urban streams and many urbanizing streams show the 

negative impacts of increased flows. The Adopt-a-Stream 

program is conducting some monitoring for flow; the 

remainder is being conducted within the scope of specific 

projects. No trend information is available. However, it is 

realistic to assume that the 

rapid increase in impervious 

surface in the county is 

unlikely to be fully mitigated 

by current BMPs. Site 

design and storm water 

management standards that 

better mimic natural systems 

must be put into place at an 

accelerated pace. We have 

little local data regarding the 

effectiveness of our current 

BMPs. 


address the challenge 

of temperature, volume 

and rate? 


Watershed Management 

Planning 

Local Ordinances 

Open Space Acquisition 

NREPA 

The County Drain Commissioner’s Rules (design standards) 

set specific temperature criteria for certain watersheds when 

thermal impacts are of paramount concern. New standards will 

also promote the infiltration of smaller storm events, and are 

expected to substantially improve stream channel protection. 

The rules also control the rate of storm water flow from all new 

developments. More aggressive approaches to low impact 

development are needed through local planning, zoning, and 

site design criteria.

Watershed Management Plans outline steps necessary to 

address temperature, volume, and rate issues through the 

implementation of BMPs. This includes rain gardens, storm 

water infiltration techniques, and natural feature protection, 

among other recommendations. The problem remains however, 

that low impact design and innovative stormwater management 

approaches are not routinely part of new land use proposals. 

Local Ordinances for storm water, wetlands, setbacks, and 

natural features protection help with runoff reduction and flow 

management. Local governments in Washtenaw County 

require that new developments adhere to the Drain 

Commissioner’s rules or standards for storm water system 

design. Several are looking at more aggressive ordinances 

promoting infiltration. 

Open space acquisition is currently being undertaken by the 

Washtenaw County Parks Department and is focused on 

placing a priority on riparian corridors. Ann Arbor’s Greenbelt 

program is also preserving farmland and open space. 

NREPA PA 457 of 1994 requires many proactive surface water 

protection measures including protection of inland lakes and 

streams, wetland protection, construction sedimentation and 

erosion control, and more. 

Next Steps: 

Develop a strategy to implement development standards that 

will better mimic natural systems. Focus efforts not only on 

new development but also on retrofitting and removing old 

impervious surfaces. Lead by example and look to implement 

new standards on public right of ways. Work with the Adopt-a- 

Stream program to expand flow monitoring. Look for 

opportunities to link effort with specific project monitoring. 

55

Challenge # 14 Pharmaceuticals 

Pharmaceuticals and related chemicals are an emerging issue in 

water quality. Historically, water treatment plants have not 

been required to test or treat for these substances so they 

traveled from home disposal into the water supply without 

treatment or removal. With pharmaceutical use on the rise, 

coupled with increased development patterns, the effect of 

pharmaceutical 

waste on water 

quality could 

potentially become 

a major challenge 

to preserving and 

attaining Water 

Quality Standards. 



pharmaceuticals? 

Educational Materials 

Pharmaceuticals “take back” 

program under development 

Pharmaceutical Response Objective: 


elevated levels of pharmaceuticals in Washtenaw County. 

Pharmaceutical Response Assessment: 

Washtenaw County has developed educational materials for 

residents on the disposal of pharmaceuticals and the possible 

effects of improper disposal. The County is currently working 

to develop and expand “take back” programs, where 

pharmacies can receive for disposal (and in some cases, reuse) 

unused prescription drugs. However, study shows that 

excretion accounts for approximately 90% of the problem. 

There is no current strategy to address this concern. 

56 

FIGURE 14: Pharmaceutical Waste 

Source: http://www.roadsafeeurope.com/clinical.htm, May 2006 

Next Steps: 

Continue to research and report on the effects of 

pharmaceuticals in the waste stream. Encourage water 

monitoring and sampling for pharmaceuticals. Continue to 

develop and distribute educational materials that can 

potentially mitigate a downward trend from developing.

Challenge # 15 Point Source Discharges 

Point source waste discharges to surface water s are regulated 

by the Clean Water Act via the National Pollutant Discharge 

Elimination System (NPDES). Municipal NPDES permits 

specify the quality and quantity of treated wastewater permitted 

to be discharged at a particular location. There are 47 NPDES 

permits for surface water discharges in Washtenaw County. 

Information can be found at the following sites: 

● EPA Envirofacts Data Warehouse 

○ http://www.epa.gov/enviro/index_java.html 

● DEQ NPDES 

○ http://www.michigan.gov/deqnpdes 

Point Sources Discharges Response Objective: 

Control the discharge of regulated pollutants, to maintain or 

attain WQS in Washtenaw County, and to minimize public 

exposure to waters with elevated levels of contaminants 

resulting from pipe discharges. 

Point Source Discharges Response Assessment: 

The NPDES permitting system is in place and effectively 

regulates point source pollutant discharges to surface waters. It 

is the primary response to point source discharges and has 

historically been used effectively. 



point source pollution? 


Water Monitoring 


57 

The Illicit Discharge Elimination Program is in place and 

ongoing to find and remediate those discharges that 

accidentally or intentionally evade the permitting program. In 

2005, 150 drains were inspected and 17 illicit discharges 

connections were identified and corrected 

The Huron River has a Total Maximum daily Load (TMDL) 

for Phosphorus upstream of Ford and Bellville Lakes. 

Point source dischargers to the Huron River between Portage 

Lake and Belleville Lake are implementing voluntary limits 

below permit levels for phosphorus. This effort is part of an 

overall strategy to reduce the occurrence of algae blooms in 

Ford and Belleville Lakes. See the Middle Huron Initiative at: 

http://www.hrwc.org/program/mid.htm 

Point Source – Wastewater Treatment Plants 

Wastewater treatment plants are an example of regulated 

pollutant discharge. In Washtenaw County there are eleven 

municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTP), also known 

as Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs). POTWs have 

a significant effect on water quality because they discharge 

treated wastewater primarily into rivers and to a lesser extent 

the groundwater. The wastewater discharged at these facilities 

receives physical, biological and chemical treatment, yet still 

contains various contaminants. POTWs are not able to treat all 

industrial chemicals, so industries that are permitted to 

discharge chemicals to a POTW must meet specific 

requirements through an Industrial Pretreatment Program. For 

all these various reasons, POTWs are closely monitored at the 

Federal, State and County level.

Monitoring of point source discharges is performed by permit 

holders, and in isolated areas, sporadically by the MDEQ. 

There is no comprehensive ongoing surface water quality 

monitoring program. Without systematic and strategic water 

monitoring a complete assessment is not possible. 

Next Steps: 

Successful programs like the NPDES permitting program 

should continue to be implemented and enforced; however, 

given the difficulty of monitoring and implementing TMDLs 

an effort should be made to regulate new discharges and hold 

new use allocations to a more stringent set of criteria than 

currently used. 

58

Challenge # 16 Community Wastewater Systems 

Community wastewater systems (CWWS) are any system that 

treats and disposes of sewage and is privately owned. 

Typically, CWWS are proposed to allow greater density, create 

open space, provide for more economical means of treatment, 

or overcome site conditions. These systems can be small in 

terms of number of users to large servicing thousands of users. 

Smaller systems – less than 70 homes, are typically proposed 

as a large septic system. Larger ones are similar to municipal 

sewage treatment plants and often discharge to surface water 

via NPDES permit. 

Once built, ownership most frequently is turned over to a 

homeowner association representing the users who are 

responsible for the operation and maintenance. 

Challenges to groundwater can come from poor site selection, 

poor design, poor construction, and lack of monitoring and 

maintenance. Each element can contribute to improperly 

treated sewage contaminating groundwater and surface water. 

Community Wastewater Systems Response Objective: 

Assure CWWS are properly located, designed, and maintained 

to prevent groundwater and surface water contamination. 



community wastewater 

systems? 


Water Monitoring 

59 

Community Wastewater Systems Response Assessment: 

CWWS have not proliferated in the past due to a prerequisite 

by MDEQ that the local unit of government pass a resolution 

accepting liability in the event of failure. Recent Court 

decisions and State regulation has removed that requirement 

and the number of proposals has escalated. 

In an attempt to address the issue, Washtenaw County 

government and several Washtenaw County townships have 

enacted ordinances and regulations to address these critical 

points. 

Next Steps: 

Regulations that assure CWWS are properly located and 

operated should be enacted and enforced. Educational efforts to 

assure individual users are aware of the type of systems they 

are connected to and the dos and don’ts of how their actions 

can impact the system operation should be provided. 

Monitoring to assure systems are meeting design parameters 

must be a part of any CWWS. State legislation requiring prior 

zoning approval should be enacted.

FIGURE 15: Surface Waterr 

Organizationss 

Hur ron River Watershhed 

Counccil 

60 

3.4 OOrganizationns 

Leaderrship, 

Educationn 

& Advocacy 

Washttenaw 

County provides severaal 

services to Coounty 

residennts 

relating to suurface 

water, inccluding: 

home ttoxics 

dispossal, 

provision of f information onn 

surface water ppollution 

and itss 

sources, handss-on 

technical asssistance, 

and edducational 

prograams. 

Washttenaw 

County haas 

been consideered 

a leader stattewide 


watersshed 

protection pplanning 

and prrogram 

implemeentation. 

The County 

manages a number of proograms 

as a partt 

of Phase 

II commpliance 

with Seection 

402 of thee 

Clean Water AAct. 

Althouugh 

the urban poortion 

of Washtenaw 

County is 

under the Phase II NPPDES 

storm watter 

permit progr 

of the programs beloww 

predate permitt 

regulations an 

been eemulated 

throughout 

the state: 

5 

s regulated 

am, many 

d have 

● 

● 

● 

● 

● 

● 

● 

● 

● 

● 

● 

● 

● 

● 

● 

● 

Technical Asssistance 

to Locall 

Governments 

The Washtenaaw 

County Commprehensive 

Plann 

GIS Mapping and Informationn 

Community Paartners 

for Cleann 

Streams 

Adopt-a-Streaam 

Rules of the DDrain 

Commissiooner 

Illicit Dischargge 

Elimination 

Allen’s Creek Rain Gardens 

Malletts Creekk 

Restoration Pllan 

Waste Knot 

Environmentaal 

Excellence Awwards 

Signage – Streeam 

Crossing 

Homeowners HHandbook 

Pollution Prevvention 

Soil Erosion aand 

Sedimentatioon 

Control 

Time of Sale WWell 

and Septic Inspection 

5 

For desscription 

of the Clean WWater 

Act see Section 3. 4.

● Home Toxics Reduction Program 

● “Issues of the Environment” Radio Program 

● “Your World” Newspaper Articles 

● Creek Groups 

Contact Information: 

Washtenaw County Department of Planning and Environment 


705 N. Zeeb Rd. 

P.O. Box 8645 

Ann Arbor, MI 48107 

Phone: (734) 222-3800 

http://www.ewashtenaw.org 

Washtenaw County Drain Commissioner 

705 N. Zeeb Rd. 

P.O. Box 8645 


Phone: (734) 222-6833 

http://drain.ewashtenaw.org 

Leadership, Education & Advocacy 

The River Raisin Watershed Council (RRWC) is an 

organization involved in activities to protect and preserve water 

quality in the River Raisin watershed. Here are some of the 

activities that the RRWC has sponsored: 

● Distributed approximately 3,000 watershed activity 

books to Washtenaw County students. 

● Donated more than 2,000 maps of the River Raisin 

Watershed. 

● Distributes a newsletter. 

● Provides information to countless individuals and 

agencies in Washtenaw County. 

● Developing a watershed management plan. 

61 


1042 Sutton Road, Suite 3 

Adrian, MI 49221 

Phone: (517) 265-5599 

Advocacy & Leadership 

The Raisin Valley Land Trust is an organization located in 

the River Raisin Watershed dedicated to protecting open space, 

preserving natural features, and reducing future 

imperviousness. 


1042 Sutton Road, Suite 3 

Adrian, MI 49221 

Phone: (517) 265-5599 


The Huron River Watershed Council (HRWC) is a very 

active local organization that works to protect the Huron River 

watershed. They are involved in activities that range from 

watershed planning, to stream and river monitoring, to event 

planning. In the past, the HRWC has partnered with residents 

and governmental units, including Washtenaw County, to 

provide services that promote water quality preservation in the 

Huron River basin. Here are some examples of programs 

supported by the HRWC: 

• Creek Groups 

• Drinking Water Protection 

• Land Information Access Association 

• Stewardship Network 

• Wetland Identification 


1100 N. Main, Suite 210 


Phone: (734) 769-5123 

http://www.hrwc.org


Trout Unlimited is an organization that supports water quality 

preservation and works to protect the habitat of local fish and 

aquatic life. They are a local chapter of a nationwide 

movement for coldwater fishery protection. They have been 

involved in a variety of activities from hosting a political 

luncheon in Lansing to discuss Michigan’s water resources, to 

joining in Huron River Day by providing a fishing experience 

for children. 


Mike Moran 

Phone: (734) 414-0865 


Friends of the Rouge is an organization that promotes 

restoration and stewardship of the Rouge River Watershed. 

Here is a sample of some of the programs they manage: 

• Watchfrogs 

• The Rouge Education Project 

• Rouge Rescue/River Day 

• School Yard Habitat 


4901 Evergreen Road, 220 ASC 

Dearborn, MI 48128 

http://www.therouge.org 

62 

Advocacy & Leadership 

Washtenaw Land Trust is dedicated to protecting natural 

areas and working farms in Washtenaw County and its 

neighboring counties. They work to purchase land and/or 

development rights for places of natural significance or 

agricultural viability that are threatened by economic pressures 

of alternate uses. 


1100 N. Main Street 

Ann Arbor, MI. 48104 

Phone: (734) 302-5263 

http://www.washtenawlandtrust.org

3.5 Local Tools 

There are many ordinances that municipalities can enact to 

help protect the surface water quality of their region. 

Washtenaw County has been recognized as a leader in illicit 

discharge reduction for developing an ordinance designed to 

prevent septic leaching by requiring onsite inspection at 

property transfer. 6 The following are examples of the types of 

ordinances that can be implemented, as well as their general 

application to water quality issues. 

● Wetlands ordinances can be established to further 

protect wetland areas that are protected under the Clean 

Water Act (CWA) as well as protect wetland areas that 

are not protected by the CWA. 

● Soil erosion and sediment control ordinances can be 

established to help prevent the soil erosion and 

sedimentation of vulnerable water body areas during 

times when land is disturbed, such as during building 

construction and site preparation. 

● Post construction control can be established to help 

regulate other features of a construction project that 

contribute to the degradation of water quality, including 

the inclusion of excessive amounts of impervious 

features or failure to mitigate for the impact of 

impervious features. 

● Stormwater ordinances can be established to create 

criteria for the evaluation of storm water runoff from 

site specific projects and public works projects, like 

road construction. 

6 Source: http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/ordinance/discharges.htm, December 2005. 

63 

● Phosphorus reduction ordinances can be established 

to target this specific threat to water quality. A 

phosphorus reduction ordinance can be used to create 

BMP criteria. 

● Stream and waterway buffer ordinances can be 

established to limit the disturbance of waterways within 

a certain number of feet. This kind of ordinance can be 

tiered. For instance, a no-build zone could be 

implemented over 100ft while a non-disturb zone is 

implemented over 50ft. 

● Floodplain management ordinances can be established 

to regulate the naturally occurring floodplain zones that 

surround waterways and water bodies. 

● Open space creation ordinances can be established to 

support the creation of open space by providing 

incentives to local residents and developers to set aside 

land for natural feature preservation or for parks and 

recreational activities.


64

APPENDIX A: 

Local Unit of Government Water Quality 

Indicators 

Page 

# 

Appendix A: Introduction & CCR TABLE (65-71) 

A1 Ann Arbor Township; Map & Text 72 

A2 Augusta Township; Map & Text 74 

A3 Bridgewater Township; Map & Text 76 

A4 Dexter Township; Map & Text 78 

A5 Freedom Township; Map & Text 80 

A6 Lima Township; Map & Text 82 

A7 Lodi Township; Map & Text 84 

A8 Lyndon Township; Map & Text 86 

A9 Manchester Township; Map & Text 88 

A10 Northfield Township; Map & Text 90 

A11 Pittsfield Township; Map & Text 92 

A12 Salem Township; Map & Text 94 

A13 Saline Township; Map & Text 96 

A14 Scio Township; Map & Text 98 

A15 Sharon Township; Map & Text 100 

A16 Superior Township; Map & Text 102 

A17 Sylvan Township; Map & Text 104 

A18 Webster Township; Map & Text 106 

A19 York Township; Map & Text 108 

A20 Ypsilanti Township; Map & Text 110 

A21 Ann Arbor City; Map & Text 112 

A22 Barton Hills Village; Map & Text 114 

A23 Chelsea Village; Map & Text 116 

A24 Dexter Village; Map & Text 118 

A25 Manchester Village; Map & Text 120 

A26 Milan City; Map & Text 122 

A27 Saline City; Map & Text 124 

A28 Ypsilanti City; Map & Text 126 

APPENDIX A: 

Local Unit of Government Water Quality Indicators 

Introduction: 

This section is intended to provide information on sites that can be 

considered indicators of local water quality. For each municipal 

district in Washtenaw County, there is a Water Quality Indicator map 

and companion text. Included in the text is general information about 

the current state of the groundwater composition and a list of major 

surface water features with photographs. Information about drinking 

water sources and quality, including consumer confidence report 

summaries and well information is also included. The maps compile 

11 indicator data sets and well first areas. Local indicator data is 

discussed for each governmental unit. 

Surface Water Features 

Surface water features include prominent lakes and large ponds. A list 

of the more significant water features as well as a photograph and a 

small description of recreational opportunities is provided for each 

governmental unit. 

65

DDrinking 

Water r: Consumer CConfidence 

Repoort 

Summaries 

IIncluded 

for eac ch local unit of ggovernment 

is a summary of the 

iinformation 

ava ailable in the Consumer 

Confideence 

Report 

( (CCR) for that area’s a drinking wwater 

service prrovider. 

Drinkinng 

wwater 

treatment plants produce consumer confiidence 

reports 

tthat 

contain info ormation regarding 

the water soources, 

ppopulation 

serve ed, additives, annd 

trace chemicaal 

amounts. Thee 

CCCRs 

present lists 

of the regulaated 

contaminannts 

that the CWSS 

( (Community Water 

System) detected 

in the treeated 

water and 

tthe 

levels at whi ich they were foound 

for the preceding 

calendarr 

yyear. 

Unregulate ed contaminantss 

detected durinng 

monitoring arre 

tto 

be reported an nd their significcance 

identified. . A contact 

pphone 

number for f the service prrovider 

is includded 

in this 

ssummary. 

CCR information is aavailable 

for muunicipal 

water 

sservice 

areas and 

some smaller localized commmunity 

water 

pproviders 

(See CCR C Table pagees 

72-73). 

DDrinking 

Water r: Well Informaation 

MMuch 

of Washte enaw County geets 

it drinking wwater 

directly 

ffrom 

the ground dwater resource via on-site wellls. 

To help 

uunderstand 

the extent e this resouurce 

is used, the report includes 

a total for the nu umber of wells ddrilled 

between 1968 and 1992. . 

DData 

about the number n of new aand 

replacemennt 

wells betweenn 

tthe 

years 2000 and a 2005 is alsoo 

provided. The average well 

ddepth 

and the ra ange of well deppths 

are also inclluded. 

LLocal 

Indicator r Data Totals 

AAs 

mentioned ea arlier, the maps on the followinng 

pages containn 

ccompilation 

data a for 11 kinds of 

sites that can hhelp 

to indicate 

llocal 

water qual lity. On the folloowing 

pages is a description of 

eeach 

of the indic cators included on these maps. Due to space 

cconstraints 

and the t density of data 

in certain arreas, 

the 

iindividual 

sites have not been laabeled. 

Rather, a total of the 

nnumber 

of each data set for each 

jurisdiction haas 

been tallied inn 

tthe 

legend. 

66 

Local Indicator Data Descriptions: 

Seeptage 

Disposall 

Sites: 

Septagge 

disposal sitess 

are sites that acccept 

waste thatt 

has been 

removved 

from septic ttanks. 

There aree 

three septage ddisposal 

sites inn 

Washtenaw County, 

located in 

the townshipss 

of Dexter, 

Lyndoon 

and Sylvan. TThe 

sites are 30, , 107, and 50 acrres 

respecctively 

and all haave 

a water table 

depth of at leaast 

five 

feet. AAll 

three are mannaged 

by privatee 

sanitation servvice 

providders. 

For more innformation 

abouut 

septage dispoosal 

issues 

see thee 

Time of Sale RRegulation 

(Actiivity 

#1) on pagge 

7 and the 

On-Sitte 

Sewage Regulation 

(Activityy 

#7) on page 9. 

NPPDES 

Storm WWater 

Permit HHolders: 

Nationnal 

Pollution Discharge 

Eliminaation 

System (NNPDES) 

storm water permit hoolders 

are facilitties 

that are requuired 

to 

employ 

best managemment 

practices too 

ensure that harrmful 

pollutaants 

do not migrrate 

off site duriing 

rain events. There are 

78 succh 

sites in Washtenaw 

County. MMost 

of these siites 

are 

industrrial 

facilities likke 

automotive pllants, 

and platinng, 

milling, 

printinng 

companies. SSome 

of these sittes 

are services that 

managge 

large vehicle fleets, transporttation 

services, ppostal 

servicees 

or municipal services. For mmore 

informationn 

about 

NPDEES 

storm water ppermit 

issues seee 

the Clean Watter 

Act 

(Activvity 

#11) on page 

36.

NPDES Poi int Source Disccharge 

Permit HHolders: 

NNational 

Polluti ion Discharge EElimination 

Systeem 

(NPDES) 

ppoint 

source discharge 

permit hholders 

are sites that have 

ppermits 

to disch harge waste direcctly 

into surfacee 

waters. The 

ppermit 

will stipu ulate what kindss 

of waste are peermitted 

as welll 

aas 

the quantity and/or a rate of the 

waste that cann 

be discharged. 

TThere 

are 47 suc ch sites in Washhtenaw 

County. Most of these 

ssites 

are industri ial facilities andd 

municipal servvice 

providers. 

FFor 

more inform mation about NPPDES 

point sourrce 

discharge 

ppermit 

issues see 

the Clean Water 

Act (Activityy 

#11) on 

ppage 

36 or Point 

Sources Dischharges 

(Challengge 

#16) on pagee 

558. 

TMDL Site es: 

TTotal 

Maximum m Daily Load (TMDL) 

sites are water bodies 

tthat 

have been identified 

to exceed 

a water quaality 

standard 

( (WQS) establish hed for any of MMichigan’s 

proteected 

designatedd 

uuses. 

Problems identified i in Waashtenaw 

Countty 

include 

mmercury 

in fish tissue, PCB’s, ppathogens, 

poor species 

ddiversity, 

E. col li, Dissolved Oxxygen 

(DO) and Phosphorus. 

TThere 

are 20 TM MDL sites identiified 

in Washtennaw 

County; 

hhowever, 

only five f have compleeted 

plans. Of thhe 

remainder, 

ttwo 

have been removed r because 

the issues havve 

been resolvedd 

aand 

13 are sched duled to be deveeloped 

between 2006 and 2011. 

TThe 

identified TMDLs T often coover 

WQS exceeedances 

of 

mmultiple 

ecologi ical threats. Forr 

instance, a watter 

body may 

hhave 

a TMDL th hat regulates phhosphorus, 

E. coli, 

DO, and 

ttemperature. 

Du ue to lack of watter 

quality moniitoring, 

it is 

ddifficult 

to asses ss if the TMDL program is an eeffective 

iindicator 

of actu ual WQS exceeddances 

in the Coounty. 

For moree 

iinformation 

abo out TMDL’s seee 

the Clean Wateer 

Act (Activity 

# #11) on page 36 6. 

67 

ASST 

Sites: 

Abovee 

Ground Storagge 

Tanks (AST) are sites that arre 

permittted 

and registerred 

by the MDEEQ 

to maintain aand 

operate 

a chemmical 

storage tannk 

located abovee 

the ground. Inn 

Washttenaw 

County thhere 

are AST’s tthat 

contain the following 

substaances: 

FL, CL, CCNG, 

LPG, LP, , JET-A, AVGAAS, 

Diesel, 

Gasoliine, 

Jet Fuel, and 

Oil. There aree 

116 AST sites in 

Washttenaw 

County. FFor 

more informmation 

about AST 

responnses 

see the Cleaan 

Water Act (AActivity 

#11) onn 

page 36. 

USST 

Sites: 

Underr 

Ground Storage 

Tanks (UST) are sites that aree 

permitted 

and registered 

by the MMDEQ 

to mainntain 

and operatee 

a 

chemiccal 

storage tankk 

buried below thhe 

surface levell. 

In 

Washttenaw 

County thhe 

great majorityy 

of UST sites aare 

for 

vehiclee 

fueling. Washhtenaw 

County hhas 

232 active fa facilities or 

locatioons 

were regulatted 

undergroundd 

storage tanks aare 

operattional. 

An additiional 

514 facilities 

or locations exist were 

regulaated 

undergroundd 

storage tanks have been propeerly 

closedd. 

For more inforrmation 

about UUST 

responses ssee 

the 

Wellheead 

Protection ( (Activity #5) onn 

page 9. 

LUUST 

Sites: 

Leakinng 

Under Grounnd 

Storage Tankks 

(LUST) are siites 

that 

have bbeen 

permitted aand 

registered byy 

the MDEQ to maintain 

and opperate 

a chemicaal 

storage tank bburied 

below thee 

surface 

level, aand 

a leak of thee 

substance conntained 

in the tannk 

has 

causedd 

an environmenntal 

impact. As tthe 

UST list woould 

indicatte, 

the majority of documented LUST sites havve 

resulted 

from ppetroleum 

leaks. . There are 153 LUST sites in WWashtenaw 

Countyy. 

For more infoormation 

about LUST issues seee 

LUSTs 

(Challenge 

#6) on pagge 

24.

615 Sites: 

PPart 

615, Superv visor of Wells aand 

the Adminisstrative 

Rules off 

11996, 

outlines ru ules that governn 

the oil and gas industry. 

SSpecifically, 

Par rt 615 sets standdards 

for the drilling, 

operation, 

mmaintenance 

and d permitting of oil and gas wellls. 

In Washtenaww 

CCounty 

there are e four Part 615 Sites, all in Saleem 

Township. 

WWhen 

spills occ cur at such sites they are reporteed. 

Between 

11991 

and 1996 there t were four spills that occurrred 

at these 

ssites. 

For more information i aboout 

Part 615 spilll 

responses see 

tthe 

Clean Water r Act (Activity # #11) on page 366. 

201 Sites: 

PPart 

201 sites ar re sites that havee 

identified enviironmental 

ccontamination 

above a applicablee 

cleanup criteriia, 

excluding 

LLeaking 

Underg ground Storage TTank 

sites. Wasshtenaw 

Countyy 

hhas 

63 listed 201 

Sites. These sites 

are greatly cconcentrated 


WWashtenaw 

Cou unty’s urbanizedd 

areas, includinng 

the cities of 

AAnn 

Arbor, Che elsea, Ypsilanti, and the borderiing 

townships of 

AAnn 

Arbor, Pitts sfield, Scio, andd 

Ypsilanti, amoong 

others. For 

mmore 

informatio on about Part 2001 

issues see Parrt 

201 Sites 

( (Challenge #4) on o page 20. 

68 

1115 

Sites: 

Part 1115 

outlines the rrules 

and regulaations 

for solid wwaste 

managgement 

for the SState 

of Michigaan. 

Part 115 Sitees 

are 

permittted 

solid waste landfills that caan 

legally acceptt 

househhold 

trash and oother 

waste mateerials 

for landfilll 

applicaation. 

There is oone 

open Type III 

landfill in Waashtenaw 

Countyy, 

the Veolia ESS 

Arbor Hills faacility, 

located inn 

Salem 

Townsship. 

For more iinformation 

on 1115 

responses see 

Landfi fills (Challenge # 5) on Page 22. . 

11 11 Sites: 

Part 11 11 outlines the rrules 

and regulaations 

for hazarddous 

waste 

managgement 

for the SState 

of Michigaan. 

Part 111 Sitees 

are 

permittted 

to manage hhazardous 

wastee. 

These sites arre 

frequeently 

industrial ffacilities 

that creeate, 

or use, hazzardous 

materiials 

as a part of a manufacturingg 

process. Theree 

are eight 

111 Siites 

in Washtenaaw 

County, locaated 

in the citiess 

of Ann 

Arbor, , Saline and Ypssilanti, 

as well aas 

Scio Townshiip. 

For 

more iinformation 

on 1111 

responses see 

Toxic Compoounds 

(Challenge 

# 11) on PPage 

52.


69

CCR Table Page I 

70

CCR Table continued 

71

A1: Ann Arbor Township 

The Ann Arbor Township groundwater resource is very diverse 

with a complex geology consisting of the Fort Wayne and 

Defiance Moraines and glacial outwash deposits. Gravel and 

sand deposits exist at varying depths and thickness. 

The land surface of the Township is 26% sandy textured soils, 

while 15% is hydrous soil. Hydrous soils have a seasonal 

groundwater table that reaches the ground surface. The 

identification of groundwater recharge areas in the Township is 

difficult because of the diversity of soil types. 

Drinking Water: Well Information 

From 1968 through 1992 there have been 468 water wells 

drilled in Ann Arbor Township. Between the years 2000 to 

2005 there were 88 new wells drilled and 75 wells were 

replaced. The average depth is 104 feet. However, average 

well depth has little statistical significance in Ann Arbor 

Township as well depths vary greatly. The range of well 

depths is 34 feet to 318 feet. 

Drinking Water: Consumer Confidence Report Summary 

Ann Arbor Charter Township: See city of Ann Arbor. 

Surface Water Features: Malletts Creek, Geddes Pond 

Geddes Pond is located adjacent to Gallup Park off Huron 

River Drive and Fuller/Geddes Road. Gallup Park is a 69-acre 

recreation area located along the Huron River. The park 

features a walking path that connects to an island, and two 

playgrounds, a canoe livery, picnic areas, open field for play, 

and over three miles of asphalt trails that are popular for 

biking, rollerblading, walking and running. Gallup Park is one 

of Washtenaw County’s most utilized recreation areas. 

72 

Ann Arbor Twp. – Geddes Pond 

Source: http://3rdhouseparty.typepad.com/blog/daytoday_things/, Oct, 2006. 

Local Indicator Data 

Ann Arbor Township has one TMDL site in place at Geddes 

Pond for pathogens. It has two Part 201 Sites, one of which has 

petroleum contamination and is also classified as a LUST site. 

It has one NPDES permit for storm water. The Ann Arbor 

Wastewater Treatment is also located in the Township and 

possesses an NPDES pollutant discharge permit.

A2: Augusta Township 

Challenging groundwater quality and quantity and a seasonal 

high groundwater table in some areas are factors that have 

limited growth in this largely rural township. This is due to the 

glacial geology of the township, which consists mainly of 

clay-rich lake plain deposits. Aquifers capable of producing 

high volumes of potable water are not present because of this 

lake sediment geology, which does not include significant 

layers of coarse sands and gravels capable of holding large 

volumes of water. Aquifers in some areas are comprised of 

thin layers of fine sand, which frequently yield limited 

amounts of water for domestic purposes. 

Underlying the glacial deposits is Coldwater Shale and 

Limestone bedrock. These formations are encountered in 

approximately 60% of the drilled wells. Coldwater Shale 

predominates to the north and limestone of the Detroit 

formation is encountered in the south. The average depth to 

bedrock is over 200 feet. However, the southern portion to 

the Township has only 60-120 feet of drift. Groundwater 

supplies in the southern part of Augusta Township are 

especially difficult to obtain because of the absence of drift 

aquifers below 25 feet and the presence of a limestone aquifer 

that has high levels of hydrogen sulfide in many areas. 

Methane gas and hydrogen sulfide gas make the groundwater 

undesirable for domestic use. 

Of note is the presence of little or no iron, and high levels of 

chloride and sodium in some wells. Wells terminated in or 

near bedrock exhibit higher levels of chloride and sodium. 

Compounding water quality problems is the presence of 

naturally occurring manganese and barium. Manganese can 

cause black staining of plumbing fixtures, jewelry, and other 

metals. 

74 

Augusta Twp. – Township Hall 

Source: http://www.augustatownship.org/index.php/, Oct. 2006. 



drilled in Augusta Township by licensed well drillers. 

Between the years 2000 to 2005 there were 62 new wells 

drilled and 52 wells were replaced. The average well depth in 

the Township is 114 feet. Wells range in depth from 25 feet 

to 255 feet. 


Augusta Township: See Ypsilanti (YCUA) 

Surface Water Features: Stony Creek 


Augusta Township has no TMDL sites. It has one Part 201 

Site, which is the closed Arkona Road Landfill. It has two 

NPDES permits for storm water. Augusta Township has 19 

UST sites and 6 LUST sites.

A3: Bridgewater Township 

The clay rich Fort Wayne and Defiance moraines provide for 

groundwater protection as most supplies are found beneath 

thick layers of clay. Bedrock is not a primary source of potable 

water in the Township as the Coldwater Shale found in the area 

often contains excess amounts of dissolved minerals. 

Rural homes served by shallow wells (i.e. less than 50 feet 

deep) could be threatened with nitrate contamination from 

commercial agriculture or failing septic systems. In 2006, a 

municipal sewer system was under construction within the 

Hamlet of Bridgewater. Owners of shallow wells in 

agricultural areas should test for nitrates, especially when 

children less than 18 months in age are consuming the water. 


From 1968 through 1992 there have been 211 wells drilled in 

Bridgewater Township. The average well depth in the 

township is 98 feet. Between the years 2000 to 2005 there 

were 51 new wells drilled and 31 wells were replaced. 


None. 

Surface Water Features: River Raisin, Saline River, Joslin 

Lake, Schasser Lake, Columbia Lake. 

76 

Bridgewater Twp. – Township Hall 


Bridgewater Township has no TMDL sites. It has no Part 201 

sites. It has one NPDES permit for storm water and two 

NPDES pollutant discharge permits. Bridgewater Township 

has no UST sites and no LUST sites but does have one AST 

site.

A4: Dexter Township 

As determined from the Washtenaw County Soil Survey 

conducted by the U.S. Soil Conservation Service, 42% of the 

land surface in Dexter Township has sandy coarse textured 

soils and 20% has soils that are hydrous or have a seasonal 

high water table that reaches the ground surface. 7.5% of 

Dexter Township is surface water. 

Adequate quantities of potable water are difficult to find in 

areas west of Dexter-Pinckney Road and near the Huron River. 

This is also true for areas along Flemming and Island Lake 

Roads. 



drilled in Dexter Township. Between the years 2000 to 2005 

there were 328 new wells drilled and 197 wells were replaced. 

The average well depth in the township is 89 feet. 


None. 

Surface Water Features: Portage Lake, Silver Lake, Half 

Moon Lake, Riker Lake, North Lake, West Lake, Hiland 

Lake, Crooked Lake, Four Mile Lake, Huron River. 

78 

Dexter Twp. – Huron River at Hudson Mills Metropark 


Dexter Township has one TMDL site for mercury at Portage 

Lake. It has no Part 201 Sites. It has no NPDES permits for 

storm water and one NPDES pollutant discharge permit for the 

Multi Lakes Sewer authority on North Territorial Road. It also 

has one septage disposal site. Dexter Township has 8 UST sites 

but no LUST or AST sites.

A5: Freedom Township 

Subsurface coarse sand and gravel layers are common to the 

geology of Freedom Township. Aquifers are typically found 

from 25-100 feet. Many of these aquifers are naturally 

protected by clay layers that average 26 feet in thickness. 

These clay layers are present over much of the Township. This 

is due in part to the clay-rich Fort Wayne moraines. 

There are several sand and gravel mining operations in the 

Township. Sand and gravel mining operations have the 

potential to impact groundwater resources in several ways. 

These operations use fuels and petroleum-based lubricants 

which when improperly maintained can lead to contamination. 

Sand and gravel mining operations can involve de-watering or 

hydraulic mining below the water table. When these 

operations occur, area water supplies have the potential to be 

affected. 

Freedom Township has the largest storage facilities for 

petroleum found in Washtenaw County. At full capacity this 

facility will store up to 11 million gallons of gasoline and other 

petroleum based fuels. The facility was built with groundwater 

protection measures in place. 



drilled. Between the years 2000 to 2005 there were 40 new 

wells drilled and 42 wells were replaced. The average well 

depth in the township is 90 feet. 

80 

Freedom Twp. – Township Hall 


None. 

Surface Water Features: Pleasant Lake, Silver Lake. 


Freedom Township has no TMDL sites. It has one Part 201 

site. It has one NPDES permit for storm water and one NPDES 

pollutant discharge permit. Freedom Township has 5 AST sites 

and one UST but no LUST sites.

A6: Lima Township 

Obtaining adequate water supplies in sections 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 

10 can be difficult in Lima Township. These sections are "well 

first" and it is required that a well with at least 7 gallons per 

minute capacity be obtained prior to building a home. 

Some residents have found tannic acids in their water supplies. 

Tannins enter groundwater as the water travels through soil 

high in organic matter. The presence of tannic acids indicates 

that the large wetland areas in the Township act as aquifer 

recharge areas. The surface soils are a mix of heavy clay and 

sandy soils. Approximately 20% of the land surface area is 

covered by sandy soil and 28% is hydrous or muck soils high 

in organic matter. Water covers 2.94% of the Township's 

surface area. 


Between 1968 and 1992, 500 wells were drilled in Lima 

Township. Between the years 2000 to 2005 there were 161 new 

wells drilled and 57 wells were replaced. Depths range from 

30-213 feet with an average of 77 feet. Most wells draw water 

from aquifers ranging from 50-100 feet deep. 


Thornton Farms: Water is drawn from two groundwater 

wells. Contact: (734) 464-7979 

82 

Lima Twp. – Four Mile Lake 

Surface Water Features: Four Mile Lake, Nordman Lake, 

Sutton Lake, Mill Creek. 


Lima Township has one TMDL site for mercury at Four Mile 

Lake. It has three Part 201 Sites. It has four NPDES permits for 

storm water and one NPDES pollutant discharge permit. Lima 

Township has 7 UST sites and 2 LUST but no AST sites.

A7: Lodi Township 

Groundwater supplies adequate for residential homes are found 

over most of Lodi Township. Due to dry holes and low yield 

wells, sections 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 24 are "well first". In 

these areas, a well that yields at least 7 gallons per minute of 

potable water must be drilled prior to constructing a new home. 

The major glacial feature of the Township is the Fort Wayne 

Moraine and its clay-rich soils. Coarse textured surface soils 

are found in both the northwest and southeast portions of the 

Township and comprise 17.5% of the land surface. Because the 

moraine covers most of the Township, clays predominate. 

However, an analysis of the clays found in the top 40 feet of 

soil reveals that in most of the Township, the percentage of 

clay is below 50%. This shows vulnerability of deeper 

groundwater supplies through connections with shallow sand 

and gravel deposits. 



drilled in Lodi Township. Between the years 2000 to 2005 


The average well depth in the Township is 99 feet. 


Orchard Grove Manufactured Housing Community: 

Water is drawn from two groundwater wells. Contact: 

(734) 662-1900 

84 

Lodi Twp. – Township Hall 

Surface Water Features: Arnold Lake, Deppmann Lake. 


Lodi Township has no TMDL or Part 201 sites. It has two 

NPDES permits for storm water and four NPDES pollutant 

discharge permits. Lodi Township has 8 UST sites, 2 LUST 

and 3 AST sites.

A8: Lyndon Township 

The geology of Lyndon Township is variable with 62.6% of the 

land is made up of soils that are sandy in nature. The presence 

of highly permeable soils allows for significant groundwater 

recharge. Nearly half (41%) of all wells did not encounter a 

confining clay layer of 10 feet or greater. Therefore, the 

potential for groundwater contamination from land use is higher 

in these areas. Lakes are a prominent feature, as 5-6% of the 

land surface in the township is comprised of small and medium 

sized lakes and water bodies. 


Lyndon Township has had 464 drinking water wells drilled 

from 1968 through 1992. Between the years 2000 to 2005 there 

were 113 new wells drilled and 84 wells were replaced. The 

average well depth is 85 feet. Fifty-five wells were drilled less 

than 50 feet deep. The majority (280 wells) are 50-100 feet 

deep. Thirty wells were drilled deeper than 150 feet. Many of 

these did not yield a suitable quantity of water. 


None. 

Surface Water Features: South Lake, Bruin Lake, Joslin 

Lake, Green Lake, and Sugarloaf Lake. 

Pinckney Recreation Area, located in Lyndon and Dexter 

Townships, is known for its extensive trail system and chain of 

excellent fishing lakes. This 11,000-acre park has a wide 

variety of activities for backpackers, mountain bikers, anglers 

and other recreation enthusiasts. Twenty-six miles of multi-use 

trail with remote campsites afford a backcountry experience. 

86 

Lyndon Twp. – South Lake in Pinckney Recreation Area 


Lyndon Township has no TMDL sites. It has two Part 201 

Sites. It has no NPDES permits for storm water and no NPDES 

pollutant discharge permits. It has one septage disposal site. 

Lyndon Township has one AST site, one UST and no LUST 

sites.

A9: Manchester Township 

The geology of Manchester Township is characterized by 

sandy and gravelly clay till underlain by a predominantly 

Marshall Sandstone bedrock with some layers of shale. Sand 

and gravel deposits in the Township are extensive. Thus, 

aquifers are very prevalent throughout the Township. 

Nearly 50% of all the wells drilled in the Township are drilled 

through a 10 foot layer of clay. However, because there are frequent 

layers of sand, this clay is very likely to provide most 

aquifers little or no protection from area land use. 


From 1968 through 1992 there have been 303 drinking water 

wells drilled in Manchester Township. Of these, 217 have been 

added to the Washtenaw County Groundwater Database. 

Between the years 2000 to 2005, there were 209 new wells 

drilled and 53 wells were replaced. The average well depth is 

105 feet deep. 


None. 

Surface Water Features: Iron Mill Pond, Lower Lake, River 

Raisin, Twin Lake, Wheton Lake, Halfmoon Lake, 

Cranberry Lake, Hudson Lake, Smalley Lake. 

88 

Manchester Twp. – Township Hall 


Manchester Township has no TMDL sites. It has no Part 201 

Site. It has one NPDES permit for storm water. It has no 

NPDES pollutant discharge permits. Manchester Township has 

no AST sites, no UST and no LUST sites.

A10: Northfield Township 

Aquifers yielding sufficient quantities of water are found in 

most areas of Northfield Township. However, the northeast 

quarter of the township and an area of the southeast corner are 

designated as "well first" due to low yield well locations being 

encountered. 



wells drilled in Northfield Township. This number of wells is 

high for a rural community. However, the Whitmore Lake area 

is not served by a municipal water system. Between the years 

2000 to 2005, there were 194 new wells drilled and 103 wells 

were replaced. The average well depth in the township is 78 

feet. 


Northfield Estates: Water comes from six groundwater wells 

within the community boundaries. Contact: (734) 449-8555 

Westbrook Apartments: Water drawn from two groundwater 

wells. Contact: (734) 449-4213 

Harbor Cove Apartments: Two groundwater wells, each at a 

depth of approximately 160 feet. Currently under an 



Corrective actions are in progress which includes the 

installation of replacement wells, with compliance required by 

July of 2008. Contact: (734) 449-5520 

Northfield Place Nursing Home: Currently under an 



90 

Northfield Twp. – Aerial of the South Side of Whitmore Lake 

Corrective actions are in progress which includes the 

installation of replacement wells, with compliance required by 

July of 2008. Contact: (734) 449-4431 

Village At Eagle Garden: Water drawn from two groundwater 

wells. Contact: (734) 449-0466 

Surface Water Features Whitmore Lake, Horseshoe Lake, 

Dead Lake, Tobin Lake, Lawton Lake. 


Northfield Township has two TMDL sites, one for poor 

macroinvertebrate communities at Horseshoe Lake and one for 

PCBs at Whitmore Lake. It has no Part 201 Sites. It has three 

NPDES permits for storm water and no NPDES pollutant 

discharge permits. Northfield Township has four AST sites, 28 

UST and 11 LUST sites.

A11: Pittsfield Township 

The western portion of Pittsfield Township consists of glacial 

outwash soil formations. The Ann Arbor Municipal well field 

is located in this area and draws its water from the Steer Farm 

Aquifer. This aquifer is the only named aquifer in Washtenaw 

County. This aquifer is rated at 5.2 million gallons per day. 

Approximately 22% of the land surface of the Township has 

surface soils that are sandy or coarse textured and 22% of the 

land surface has hydrous soils or soils in which the seasonal 

high water table comes up to the ground surface. Water covers 

2.91% of the Township's land surface. 

Groundwater protection in Pittsfield Township is critical for a 

variety of reasons including: 

• The resource is vulnerable due to the presence of coarse 

textured soils and probable inter-connections between 

shallow and deep aquifer systems. 

• The presence of an aquifer system that is currently 

being used as a municipal water source. 

• An ever expanding land use of residential 

subdivisions and commercial facilities. 



drilled in Pittsfield Township. Between the years 2000 to 2005 


The average well depth for the Township is 105 feet. 

92 

Pittsfield Twp. – Township Hall 


Pittsfield Township: See Ypsilanti (YCUA) 

Surface Water Features Swift Drain, Koch Warner Drain, 

Millers Creek. 


Pittsfield Township has no TMDL sites. It has three Part 201 

Sites. It has seven NPDES permits for storm water and no 

NPDES pollutant discharge permits. Pittsfield Township has 21 

AST sites, 83 UST and 10 LUST sites.

A12: Salem Township 

Dry holes have occurred in many sections of Salem Township 

and the entire township has been identified as "well first.” This 

requires that wells be drilled first prior to constructing any new 

homes. 

A review of the surface soils of the Township shows that 23% of 

the land is covered by sandy soils. 28% of the land surface is 

hydrous or has a seasonal high water table that comes to the 

surface. Water features cover 3.14% of the Township. 

Groundwater supplies are threatened by the presence of two 

landfills, the Salem Township landfill that is capped and inactive 

and the active Veolia ES landfill, which is among the largest 

in Southeast Michigan. Both are listed by the Michigan 

Department of Environmental Quality as P.A. 451, Part 201 

Sites or sites of known or suspected groundwater 

contamination. 


From 1968 through 1992, 695 drinking water wells were drilled 

in Salem Township. Of these, 525 have been added to the 

Washtenaw County Groundwater Database. Between the years 

2000 to 2005 there were 255 new wells drilled and 76 wells 

were replaced. The average depth in the Township is 110 feet. 

This number is very misleading because of the great range of 

well depths in the Township. Sections 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 30, 

and 36 have an average well depth of over 150 feet. Sections 

19, 20, and 36 have well depths far deeper, with average 

depths of 251, 195, and 234 feet. 

94 

Salem Twp. – Town Hall 


None. 

Surface Water Features: Fleming Creek, Johnson Creek, 

Walker Creek/Drain, Ingall Drain, Wagner Drain. 


Salem Township has one TMDL site for poor dissolved oxygen 

at Johnson Creek, from the confluence with the Walled lake 

branch upstream to 5 Mile rd. West of Currie Rd. It has three 

Part 201 sites. It has four NPDES permits for storm water and 

two NPDES pollutant discharge permits. Salem Township has 

four UST sites, and no AST or LUST sites.

A13: Saline Township 

The Fort Wayne Moraine, the predominant glacial feature in 

Saline Township, is underlain with clay till soil formations 

with an aggregate thickness of over 100 feet. Aquifers found 

under the clay till provide water of good quality and quantity. 

The surface soils of the township are 20% sandy. The land 

surface has 23% hydrous soil, or soil with seasonal high water 

table that comes up to the surface. Water covers 1.4% of the 

Township's land surface. 


From 1968 through 1992, 181 drinking water wells have been 

drilled in Saline Township. Between the years 2000 to 2005, 


Wells range in depth from 31 to 278 feet, with the average 

being 125 feet deep. 


None. 

Surface Water Features: Saline River, Macon Creek. 

96 

Saline Twp. – Township Hall 


Saline Township has no TMDL sites. It has no Part 201 Sites. 

It has no NPDES permits for storm water and one NPDES 

pollutant discharge permit. Saline Township has four UST 

sites, one AST and no LUST sites.

A14: Scio Township 

The glacial geology of Scio Township is made up of End 

Moraine, Ground Moraine, Kames and Outwash. Adequate 

groundwater supplies can be obtained in most areas. 

Approximately 22% of the land surface is covered by soils 

that are sandy, and 24% of the land is covered by hydrous soil, 

or soils that have a seasonal high water table elevation that 

comes up to the surface. Water features cover 3.45% of the 

Township's surface. 


From 1969 through 1992 there have been 1,647 water wells 

drilled in Scio Township. Of these, 1, 152 have been added to 

the Washtenaw County Groundwater Database. Between the 

years 2000 to 2005 there were 224 new wells drilled and 144 

wells were replaced. The number of wells drilled in Scio 

Township is the highest of any Washtenaw County township. 

However, groundwater contamination in the Jackson Road 

area has resulted in large areas of Scio Township receiving 

municipal water extensions. The average well depth in the 

Township is 97 feet. 


Scio Township: See City of Ann Arbor or Dexter Village. 

Contact: (734) 665-2606 

Loch Alpine Sanitary Authority: Drawn from three 

underground wells. Water pumped through a filter to remove 

iron. Then chlorinated and stored in elevated tank for use by 

residents. Contact: (734) 426-4545 

98 

Scio Twp. – Huron River at Historic East Delhi Bridge 

Surface Water Features: Huron River, Honey Creek, Third 

Sister Lake, Green Oak Lake. 


Scio Township has one TMDL site for pathogens in Honey 

Creek. It has eleven Part 201 Sites. It has ten NPDES permits 

for storm water and seven NPDES pollutant discharge permits. 

Scio Township has one AST, 47 UST sites, and nine LUST 

sites.

A15: Sharon Township 

Coarse textured glacial outwash, end-moraines, and till dominate 

the sediment types of Sharon Township. The presence of the 

very coarse textured soil is cause for the shallow unconfined 

aquifers to be very susceptible to contamination from surface 

land use. Thick clay layers capable of protecting groundwater 

aquifers from surface contamination are virtually nonexistent 

through most of the Township. 

Two bedrock types, the Marshall Sandstone and the Coldwater 

Shale, characterize the bedrock of the Township. Most of the 

wells drilled into bedrock are completed in the Marshall 

Sandstone because of superior water quantity and quality as 

compared to Coldwater Shale. 

Because the soils and subsurface sediments are porous and 

permeable, large areas of the Township are conducive to 

groundwater recharge. Areas which have a great potential for 

aquifer recharge are the most vulnerable to groundwater 

contamination from land use activities. 


From 1968 through 1992, 253 wells were drilled in the 

Township. Of these wells, 62 were terminated in bedrock 

and 191 were in "drift" or sand and gravel formations. The 

thickness of glacial or "drift" deposits above bedrock range from 

75 feet to 200 feet in thickness. Between the years, 2000 to 

2005, there were 96 new wells drilled and 29 wells were 

replaced. 

100 

Sharon Twp. – Sharon Mills Park at River Raisin 

Source: http://www.ewashtenaw.org/government/departments/parks_recreation/sharonphotos 


None. 

Surface Water Features: River Raisin, Mill Creek. 


Sharon Township has no TMDL sites. It has no Part 201 Sites. 

It has no NPDES permits for storm water and no NPDES 

pollutant discharge permits. Sharon Township has 14 UST 

sites, four AST and no LUST sites.

101

A16: Superior Township 

Many portions of Superior Township have groundwater 

supplies that are of insufficient quantity for residential use, so 

the entire Township is designated “well first.” A well with at least 

seven gallons per minute of potable water must be permitted 

and drilled prior to constructing a residential home. 

Groundwater supply problems are associated with the finegrained 

lake plain geology of the eastern portions of the 

Township. 

Approximately 8.5% of the water wells that have been drilled in 

the township encountered bedrock. A large percent of the wells 

drilled into bedrock did not yield sufficient quantity of water and 

no pump was installed. The predominant bedrock type 

encountered is blue, black and gray Coldwater Shale. 

It is projected that aquifer recharge is occurring at a higher 

rate in the areas with sandy surface soils. Also, these areas 

have a higher probability that shallow unconfined water table 

aquifers are connected hydraulically to deeper aquifer 

systems. Land use in these sandy areas should be regulated to 

help prevent or minimize those activities which negatively 

impact groundwater. 


From 1968 through 1992, there have been 803 water wells 

drilled in Superior Township. Between the years 2000 to 2005 


The average well depth of 123 feet is the deepest in the 


102 

Superior Twp. – Parker Mill at Fleming Creek 


Superior Township: See Ypsilanti (YCUA) for most of the 

water district or for those residents in the far western portion of 

the water district see Ann Arbor Township 

Surface Water Features: Fleming Creek, Huron River, Frain 

Lake, Murray Lake. 


Superior Township has no TMDL sites. It has one Part 201 

Site. It has no NPDES permits for storm water and one NPDES 

pollutant discharge permit for its Municipal Separate Storm 

Sewer System. Superior Township has nine UST sites, three 

AST and three LUST sites.

103

A17: Sylvan Township 

The geology of Sylvan Township consists of a mixture of 

coarse textured soils of Kame Moraine, Ground Moraine, and 

Outwash. The Township’s groundwater resource varies 

considerably from the rest of Washtenaw County, in that 

approximately 40% of the wells in the Township are 

terminated in bedrock. This occurrence is due to the presence 

of the Marshall Sandstone formation which underlies much of 

the Township. 

Some wells in Sylvan Township have experienced problems 

with tannic acid. This is most likely to occur in wells less than 

50 feet deep in areas that have substantial wetlands acting as 

groundwater recharge areas. Tannic acid does not represent a 

health threat and is treatable using a charcoal or activated 

carbon type filter to remove the "yellowish" color tannins 

cause. 



wells drilled in Sylvan Township. Between the years, 2000 to 


replaced. The average well depth is 87 feet. 


Sylvan Township Water and Sewer Authority: Water 

drawn from two underground wells, each at a depth of 

approximately 120 feet, and meets or exceeds State standards. 

Contact: (734) 433-5470 

St. Louis Center: Drawn from two underground wells, each 

over 100 feet deep. Currently under an Administrative Consent 

Order (ACO) to address arsenic concentrations exceeding the 

drinking water standard. Corrective actions including 

installation of a treatment system is under way, with 

compliance required by July of 2008. 

104 

Sylvan Twp. – Mill Lake Observation Deck 

Surface Water Features: Mill Lake, Crooked Lake, 

Cavanaugh Lake, Cedar Lake, Goose Lake, Lehman Lake, 

Spring Lake, Doyle Lake, Fisk Lake, Walsh Lake. 

Waterloo Recreation Area, the largest park in the Lower 

Peninsula, is located in Sylvan and Lyndon Townships. The 

park is more than 20,000 acres, and has a variety of amenities, 

including: modern campgrounds, a rustic campground, an 

equestrian campground, a swimming beach, several picnic 

sites, 11 excellent fishing lakes, eight boat launches, 12 miles 

of interpretive nature trails, 47 miles of hiking trails, and the 

Gerald E. Eddy Discovery Center. 


Sylvan Township has no TMDL sites. It has no Part 201 sites. 

It has one septage disposal site. It has no NPDES permits for 

storm water and one NPDES pollutant discharge permit. 

Sylvan Township has 37 UST sites, three LUST, and three 

AST sites.

105

A18: Webster Township 

Areas in sections 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11, 18, 19, and 30 of Webster 

Township have limited amounts of potable groundwater. All 

these areas are currently "well first" because of potential 

difficulties in locating a drinking water source supplying 

adequate quantities. 



wells drilled in Webster Township. Between the years, 2000 to 


replaced. The average well depth in the Township is 91 feet 

deep. 


None. 

Surface Water Features: Independence Lake, Parks Lake, 

Base Line Lake, Mud Lake, Huron River, Arms Creek. 


Webster Township has no TMDL sites. It has no Part 201 sites. 

It has two NPDES permits for storm water, one for the Webster 

Township Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System, and one 

industrial storm water permit. It has no NPDES pollutant 

discharge permits. Webster Township has no UST sites, one 

LUST site, and no AST sites. 

106 

Webster Twp. – Historic Township Hall

107

A19: York Township 

Adequate quantities of potable water can be difficult to find in 

many areas of York Township. Dry holes have occurred in 

many of the sections in the township. These dry holes are due 

to the presence of fine-grained lake plain sediment which is not 

an aquifer material. 

The entire Township has been designated as "well first" 

because of the groundwater supply problems that have been 

encountered. This requires that a well capable of at least seven 

gallons per minute of potable water must be permitted and 

drilled prior to constructing a residential home. 

Approximately 25% of the Township is covered by sandy soils 

and 20% has soils which are hydrous or have a seasonal high 

water table that comes to the surface. Surface water covers 

1.9% of the land surface. 


From 1968 through 1992 there have been 1,133 water wells 

drilled in York Township. Between the years, 2000 to 2005, 


The average well depth is 114 feet. 


None. 

108 

York Twp. – Township Hall 

Surface Water Features: Saline River, Buck Creek, Spring 

Brook, Ella Lee Lake. 


York Township has one TMDL site for untreated sewer 

discharge and pathogens in the Saline River. It has no Part 201 

sites. It has no NPDES permits for storm water and one 

NPDES pollutant discharge permit. York Township has seven 

UST sites, no LUST sites, and seven AST sites.

109

A20: Ypsilanti Township 

The predominant glacial feature in Ypsilanti Township is 

glacial lake plain, comprising over 80% of the land surface. 

The remainder of the Township consists of the inner Defiance 

moraine. Glacial lake plains are characterized by finely 

textured "lake sediment" soil. 

Glacial lake plain soil is typically not a good aquifer material. 

This is evidenced by the presence of many low yield (less than 

7 gallons per minute) wells and several locations identified as 

dry holes. Sections 25, 26, 29, and 31 through 36, have been 

identified as “Well First.” A well with at least seven gallons per 

minute of potable water must be permitted and drilled prior 

to constructing a residential home in “Well First” areas. 

Approximately 41% of the land surface of the Township is 

covered by sandy soils, while another 24% of the land surface 

is covered by soils in which the seasonal water table comes to 

the surface. Surface water covers 2.8% of the Township. 



drilled in Ypsilanti Township. Between the years, 2000 to 


replaced. The average well depth is 97 feet. 


Ypsilanti Township: See Ypsilanti City (YCUA) 

110 

Ypsilanti Twp. – Ford Lake 

Surface Water Features: Ford Lake, Paint Creek, Huron 

River. 


Ypsilanti Township has five TMDL sites, including two at 

Ford Lake for phosphorus and nuisance algae, and two at 

Ford/Belleville Lake for mercury and PCBs. It has twelve Part 

201 sites. It has nine NPDES permits for storm water and five 

NPDES pollutant discharge permits. Ypsilanti Township has 

104 UST sites, 28 LUST, and 27 AST sites.

111

A21: Ann Arbor City 


None. 


Approximately eighty-five percent of Ann Arbor's drinking 

water comes from the Huron River, with the remainder coming 

from wells south of the city. Both water supplies are pumped to 

the water treatment plant, where it is blended, treated and 

pumped to customers. 

The water is treated by lime softening to remove hardness 

(calcium, magnesium), particles, and organic material. The 

water is further treated with: 

• Ozone for disinfection and making the water taste better 

• Carbon/sand filtration to remove particles and other 

compounds 

• Chloramine (chlorine and ammonia) disinfection for the 

distribution system 

• Fluoride addition for dental health 

The water treatment plant processes 6 billion gallons of water a 

year and services approximately 120,000 permanent residents. 

Contact: (734) 994-2840 

Email: water@a2gov.org 

Surface Water Features: First Sister Lake, Second Sister 

Lake, Huron River, Barton Pond, Traver Creek, Malletts 

Creek, and Millers Creek. 

112 

Ann Arbor City - Dolph Park Observation Deck 


The City of Ann Arbor has five TMDL sites, including four in 

the Huron River and its sub-basins, dealing with E. coli, 

phosphorus, pathogens, poor macroinvertebrate communities, 

and PCBs. It has twelve Part 201 Sites. It has nine NPDES 

permits for storm water and nine NPDES pollutant discharge 

permits. The City of Ann Arbor has 191 UST sites, 47 LUST, 

and 16 AST sites.

113

A22: Barton Hills Village 


None. 


Barton Hills Village: Two primary wells as well as two backup 

wells provide the water from a depth of 55 feet. State of 

Michigan source water susceptibility to contamination rating 

“low”. Contact: (734) 663-1284 

Surface Water Features: Barton Pond, Huron River. 


Barton Hills Village has no local indicator data sites. 

114 

Barton Hills Village – Barton Pond

115

A23: Chelsea City 


None. 


City of Chelsea: Water comes from five wells ranging 

between forty and sixty feet deep. All five wells have an 

overlying clay layer that acts as a natural barrier against 

contaminants. A new water treatment plant removes 

manganese and softens the water using a Reverse Osmosis 

technique. The water is aerated and potassium permanganate is 

added as an oxidizer. Chlorine is added as a disinfectant. 

Fluoride is added for dental health. 

Contact: (734) 475-8298 

Surface Water Features: Letts Creek, Pierce Lake. 


Chelsea City had one TMDL site for Letts Creek for fish and 

macroinvertebrate communities rated poor but it has been 

removed from the TMDL schedule. It has three Part 201 Sites. 

It has five NPDES permits for storm water and one NPDES 

pollutant discharge permit. Chelsea City has 31 UST sites, 

seven LUST, and five AST sites. 

116 

Chelsea City – Historic Chelsea Railway Depot

117

A24: Dexter Village 


None. 


Dexter Village: Water comes from three wells, each at a depth of 

approximately 200 feet. All wells are located within the community 

boundaries. Water is pumped to the Village’s iron removal plant where 

it is aerated, filtered and disinfected. Then it is pumped into the water 

tower where it is ready to be used by the public. No fluoride is added 

as it occurs naturally in the water. Contact: (734) 426-4572 

Surface Water Features Huron River, Mill Creek. 


Dexter Village has no TMDL sites. It has two Part 201 Sites. It has 

five NPDES permits for storm water and two NPDES pollutant 

discharge permits. Dexter Village has four UST sites, six LUST, and 

one AST sites. 

118 

Dexter Village - Mill Pond

119

A25: Manchester Village 


None. 


Manchester Village: Drawn from three wells at depths 

ranging from 60 to 110 feet and pumped to the iron removal 

plant. At the plant water is aerated and filtered to remove iron. 

Fluoride and chlorine are then added. Susceptibility of source 

water to contamination is rated “moderately high” by the State 

of Michigan. Contact: (734) 428-7877 

Surface Water Features: River Raisin. 


Manchester Village has no TMDL sites. It has two Part 201 Sites. 

It has one NPDES permit for storm water and one NPDES 

pollutant discharge permit. Manchester Village has five UST sites, 

two LUST sites, and no AST sites. 

120 

Manchester Village - River Raisin

121

A26: Milan City 


None. 


Milan City: Water drawn from three wells each between 80 

and 100 feet is pumped to the city’s water treatment plant 

where air is introduced to oxidize iron and then filtered to 

remove iron. The water is disinfected and stored in elevated 

storage tanks. Contact: (734) 439-1780 

Surface Water Features: Saline River. 


Milan City has no TMDL sites. It has two Part 201 Sites. It has no 

NPDES permits for storm water and no NPDES pollutant discharge 

permits. Milan City has six UST sites, three LUST, and two AST 

sites. 

122 

Milan City – Saline River

123

A27: Saline City 


None. 


Saline City: Draws water from five wells, each 120 feet deep. Water is 

remnant of glacial deposits. Susceptibility of source water to 

contamination is rated “moderately high” by the State of Michigan. 

Contact: (734) 429-4907, Ext. 225 

Surface Water Features: Saline River. 


Saline City had no TMDL sites. It has two Part 201 Sites. It has five 

NPDES permits for storm water and four NPDES pollutant discharge 

permits. Saline City has 34 UST sites, four LUST, and two AST sites. 

124 

Saline City – Mill Pond on the Saline River

125

A28: Ypsilanti City 


None. 


YCUA: The Ypsilanti Community Utilities Authority 

(YCUA) provides its customers with drinking water from the 

Detroit water system. It is purified at the Southwest and Spring 

Wells Water Treatment Plants and delivered to YCUA for 

distribution. Contact: (734) 484-4600 

Surface Water Features: Huron River, Paint Creek, Ford 

Lake. 


Ypsilanti City had no TMDL sites. It has five Part 201 Sites. It has 

six NPDES permits for storm water and two NPDES pollutant 

discharge permits. Ypsilanti City has 51 UST sites, nine LUST, 

and nine AST sites. 

126 

Ypsilanti City – Historic Water Tower

127


128

APPENDIX B: Watershed Plans and Best 

Management Practices 

Appendix B: Introduction (129) 

Page # 

B1 Plan 1: Upper Grand River Plan 130 

B1 Upper Grand Area Map 130 

B2 Plan 2: Huron Chain of Lakes Plan 131 

B2 Huron Chain of Lakes Area Map 131 

B3 Plan 3: Mill Creek Plan 132 

B3 Mill Creek Area Map 133 

B4 Huron Arbor-Ypsilanti Area Map 133 

B4 Plan 4: Huron Arbor-Ypsilanti Plan 134 

B5 Plan 5: Middle One Rouge Plan 135 

B5 Middle One Rouge Area Map 136 

B6 Lower One Rouge Area Map 136 

B6 Plan 6: Lower One Rouge Plan 137 

B7 River Raisin Area Map 137 

B7 Plan 7: River Raisin Plan 138 

B8 Plan 8: Stony Creek Plan 139 

B8 Stony Creek Area Map 140 

B9 BMP Introduction 140 

B9 Comprehensive BMP Table 141 

129 

APPENDIX B: 

Watershed Plans and Best Management 

Practices 

Watershed management planning is one of the most useful 

tools to support water quality protection. A brief description of 

this protection activity is provided in Section 3.2. This 

appendix elaborates on how watershed management planning 

has been utilized in Washtenaw County across jurisdictional 

lines in the major watershed areas including: 

● Upper Grand River Watershed Management Plan 

● Huron Chain of Lakes Management Plan 

● Mill Creek Subwatershed Management Plan 

● Watershed Plan for the Huron River in the Ann Arbor – 

Ypsilanti Metropolitan Area 

● Middle One Rouge River Subwatershed Management 

Plan 

● Lower One Rouge River Subwatershed Management 

Plan 

● River Raisin Watershed Management Plan, Phase 1 

● Stony Creek Watershed Management Plan 

Many of the County’s subwatersheds, like Malletts, Millers, 

Allen’s, and Flemming creeks have plans in place that have not 

been summarized in this edition of the Water Protection 

Activities in Washtenaw County Report. 

Also included in this appendix is a table that summarizes all of 

the BMP recommendations included in the summarized plans.

B1 - Plan 1: Upper Grand River Watershed Management Plan 

Plan Date: December 1, 2003 

The majority of the Upper Grand River Watershed (UGRW) 

lies within Jackson County with the remaining portions in 

Ingham, Eaton, Hillsdale and Washtenaw Counties. The 

UGRW covers a total of approximately 700 square miles 

(447,923 acres) and is divided into seven sub-basins. Only 

relatively small, “headwaters” portions of the Portage River 

sub-basin (106,441 acres) and the Center, Grass and Wolf Lake 

sub-basin (49,465 acres) are located in Lyndon and Sylvan 

Townships in Washtenaw County. Drainage is in a 

southwesterly direction out of Washtenaw County. 

Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) allocations were 

prepared in 2003 for sections of the Grand River and Portage 

River to address issues of low dissolved oxygen (D.O.), 

pathogens and Water Quality Standards violations. Additional 

TMDLs for the UGRW are scheduled in the future (2007- 

2011) for mercury, pathogens, low dissolved oxygen, fish 

consumption advisories, polychlorinated biphenyls and Water 

Quality Standards violations. None of the water bodies 

identified for future TMDL allocation are located in 


In the Portage River sub-basin approximately 50 percent of the 

land is agricultural in use, eight percent is urban residential and 

one percent is urban commercial/industrial. Issues of concern 

include nitrate/nitrite loading, elevated erosion rates and 

encroachment on floodplains and riparian buffers. 

The Center, Grass and Wolf Lake sub-basin is predominantly 

agricultural with approximately 15 percent of the area urbanresidential. 

This sub-basin exhibits high potential for stream 

130 

bank and shoreline erosion due to high levels of overland 

runoff and relatively high “off-field” erosion. 

Recommended BMPs include the use of buffers/filter strips, 

grassed swales, grassed waterways, conservation tillage, 

cover/green manure crop, terraces, stream bank stabilization, 

bio-retention areas, constructed wetlands, nutrient 

management, live stock fencing and wet ponds. 

B1 Map:

B2 - Plan 2: Huron Chain of Lakes Watershed Management 

Plan 

Plan Date: November 2005 

The Huron Chain of Lakes Watershed (HCLW) covers 253 

square miles (161,919 acres), representing 28% of the Huron 

River watershed. The majority of the watershed lies within 

Livingston County, with the eastern portions in southwest 

Oakland County and the southern most areas in Dexter, 

Webster, Northfield and Salem townships in Washtenaw 

County. Within this watershed area, the Huron River flows 

southwest for 27 miles through a series of wetlands and lakes 

prior to continuing south through Washtenaw County. 

While the HCLW contains several areas of high quality natural 

habitat, aquatic ecosystems, and recreational opportunities, 

analysis of existing data indicate that the HCLW also has 

stretches of medium and low quality waterways that require 

mitigation of existing impairments. Identified impairments 

include: high nutrient loading, altered hydrology, 

sedimentation, soil erosion, pathogens, salts, organic 

compounds, heavy metals, elevated water temperature and 

debris/litter. Additionally, three TMDLs for phosphorus have 

been established in the watershed for Brighton, Strawberry, and 

Ore Lakes. Six TMDLs for other pollutants are scheduled for 

future (2007-2013) establishment in the watershed. One TMDL 

is scheduled for 2009 in Washtenaw County for a “poor macro 

invertebrate population” in the Horseshoe Lake Outlet Drain. 

A total of 96 Best Management Practices (BMPs) are identified 

in the action plan to mitigate these impairments. Included are 

Managerial Actions (ordinances, policies, studies, education, 

illicit discharge elimination, funding), Vegetative Management 

Alternatives (wetlands, buffers, grassed swales, habitat 

131 

restoration, soil stabilization) and Structural Management 

Alternatives (storm water retention/detention basins, 

infiltration trenches, culvert maintenance/repair, grade 

stabilization, sediment trapping). Not all BMPs apply to, or 

have been implemented by, all cities, villages and townships 

within the HCLW. 

B2 Map:

B3 - Plan 3: Mill Creek Subwatershed Management Plan 

Plan Date: September 2003 

The Mill Creek Subwatershed (MCSW) (92,600 acres) is 

located in Lyndon, Dexter, Webster, Sylvan, Lima, Scio, 

Sharon, Freedom and Lodi townships in Washtenaw County 

and also includes the City of Chelsea and the western portion 

of the Village of Dexter. Only the extreme western-most 

portions of the MCSW are located in Jackson County. There 

are approximately 15,400 acres of wetland remaining in the 

MCSW. The MCSW drains through two main channels (North 

Fork and South Branch) into the Middle Huron subwatershed. 

The MCSW area is experiencing increasing development 

pressures from a growing economy and urban sprawl. The 

MCSW plan defines the major threats to the system based on 

both the state designated uses and desired uses. The major 

threats outlined in the plan are: land use changes, high storm 

water peak flows, erosion and sedimentation, excess nutrients, 

threat of loss of natural features, uncontrolled sources of 

bacteria, need for public awareness and action, need for 

administrative support and institutional and financial 

arrangements, and the need for monitoring programs and data 

collection. Additionally, the MCSW is believed to contribute 

approximately 25% of the phosphorus received by Ford and 

Belleville Lakes. Both of these lakes are listed by the State as 

impaired. As a result, a TMDL for phosphorus was established 

in Mill Creek and the communities in the MCSW are under 

mandate to reduce phosphorus loading to the river by 50%. 

The Water Quality Assessment notes that monitoring data for 

the area is limited. The plan attempts to assess the conditions 

by dividing the total area into nine distinct catch basins. For 

each of these areas there are few chemical monitoring reports; 

132 

much of what does exist dates back to the 1980’s. There were 

observations of sensitive macro invertebrate populations in five 

of the nine basins. The influence of Mill creek on the 

phosphorus and nitrate loading problem in the Huron River is 

evidenced by monitoring that occurs both upstream and 

downstream of the Mill Creek confluence with the main branch 

of the Huron River. 

The plan outlines several strategies and BMPs that can help to 

address the major threats to the watershed and work toward 

preserving the higher quality areas and mitigating the areas of 

greater concern. Among the strategies discussed are: Wetland 

& Natural Feature Restoration/Ordinances, In-stream Structure 

Removal, Bio Retention, Infiltration, Rain Gardens, Green 

Roofs, Riparian Buffers, Sediment Traps, Culvert 

Replacement, Nutrient Management, Illicit Connection 

Correction, Stream Habitat Restoration, Monitoring Programs, 

Volunteer Programs, Public Education, Site Plan Review 

Enhancement, Low Impact Design, Purchased Development 

Rights, and the Establishment of a Mill Creek Subwatershed 

Task Force.

B3 Map: 

133 

B4 Map:

B4 - Plan 4: Watershed Plan for the Huron River in the Ann 

Arbor – Ypsilanti Metropolitan Area 

Plan Date: Updated March 2000 

The Washtenaw County Office of the Drain Commissioner 

manages and updates the Watershed Plan for the Huron River 

in the Ann Arbor – Ypsilanti Metropolitan Area. This plan was 

originally prepared in 1994 by the Washtenaw County Office 

of the Drain Commissioner and the Huron River Watershed 

Council. The plan was revised in 2000 and is scheduled for 

further revision in 2007. The plan covers the middle portion of 

the Huron River including all or portions of Salem, Scio, Ann 

Arbor, Superior, Pittsfield, and Ypsilanti Townships and the 

Cities of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. The following Huron River 

Sub-basins/Creeksheds are covered: Fleming, Traver, Honey, 

Allen, Miller, Malletts, Swift Run, and Ford Lake. The plan 

covers an area of approximately 73,300 acres. 

The plan identifies major impairments to the watershed area 

and describes associated sources and impacts. Identified 

impairments include: excess nutrients, sedimentation, toxic 

compounds, pathogens, E. coli, litter and debris, temperature, 

and flow issues. A description of each of these impairments is 

provided. There are 10 Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) 

currently in place or scheduled for development in this 

watershed to address problems with phosphorus, E. coli, fish 

consumption advisories, polychlorinated biphenyls, pathogens, 

poor fish and macro invertebrate communities, and elevated 

mercury in fish tissue. 

The plan describes watershed management activities intended 

to mitigate the impairments and lists them in three categories 

as: “completed”, “ongoing”, or a “recent initiative”. On-going 

programs include “Adopt-a-Stream” and “Community Partners 

134 

for Clean Streams”. The recent initiatives section of the plan 

describes many programs including the Middle Huron 

Phosphorus Reduction Initiative, the Malletts Creek 

Restoration Project, and the “Time of Sale” on-site well and 

septic inspection program. 

The plan also contains a list of recommendations that aim to 

protect the Michigan designated uses that are threatened, and 

includes an additional designated use based on local concern – 

Recreation and Urban Amenity Opportunities. The 

recommendations are grouped into the following categories: 

Best Management Practices (BMPs), Education and 

Community Involvement, Planning Regulations and Policy, 

Monitoring and Data Collection, and Interagency Coordination. 

BMPs recommended include but are not limited to: storm 

water capital improvements, flow management, catch basin 

retrofits, stream bank stabilization, and dye-testing for illicit 

discharges. 

Appendices to this plan include a detailed physical and 

biological assessment for each of the tributaries in the study 

area conducted under a contract with the Washtenaw County 

Soil Conservation District with additional volunteer work 

conducted though the Adopt-a-Stream program. Also included 

are watershed management plans for Fleming Creek, Malletts 

Creek, Ford Lake, and Allen’s Creek, as well as a storm water 

management plan for Buhr Park. Future updates of this plan 

will include the Miller Creek plan that was completed in 2004.

B5 - Plan 5: Middle One Rouge River Subwatershed 


Plan Date: April 2001 

The Middle One Rouge River (MORR) Subwatershed (51,514 

acres) makes up approximately 20% of the Rouge River 

watershed, the most heavily populated and industrialized 

watershed in the state. The MORR is located in western Wayne 

County, eastern Washtenaw County and southern Oakland 

County. A relatively small, “headwaters” section (9,323 acres) 

of the MORR subwatershed is located in Salem Township in 

Washtenaw County. Drainage in Salem Township is in an 

easterly direction out of Washtenaw County. 

Water quality monitoring in the Rouge River Watershed 

suggests the following impairments to the MORR: elevated 

bacteria levels, high storm water peak flows, sedimentation and 

soil erosion, high nutrient load, and threats to macroinvertebrate 

populations. TMDL allocations were prepared in 

2000 for the Middle Branch of the Rouge River from the 

confluence of the Main Branch up to and including Phoenix 

Lake for “fish consumption advisories” (PCBs). TMDL 

allocations were prepared in 2002 for the Middle Branch of the 

Rouge River upstream to Eight Mile Road for combined 

sewage overflows, pathogens, D.O., and poor rating of fish and 

macroinvertebrate communities. TMDL allocations are 

scheduled for 2007 for Tonquish Creek, a tributary to the 

Middle Branch of the Rouge upstream to Joy Road, for the 

poor rating of the macroinvertebrate communities. None of the 

water bodies identified for future TMDL allocation are located 

in Washtenaw County. 

The MORR subwatershed management plan describes different 

projects and organizations that have been developed to improve 

water quality in the Rouge River watershed. 

135 

The Rouge River National Wet Weather Demonstration 

Project, which began in 1992, is funded through grants from 

the United States Environmental Protection Agency and is 

managed by Wayne County. In addition to spearheading subwatershed 

plans throughout the Rouge, this comprehensive 

program deals with the problems of combined sewer 

overflows, polluted storm water runoff and various other nonpoint 

source pollutants. Also included is an intensive 

monitoring/sampling program, modeling and geographic 

information systems and public outreach. 

The MORR subwatershed group developed best management 

practices (BMPs) for managing water quality in the various 

urban and rural communities. Individual subwatershed 

advisory groups then developed community-based “Action 

Plans” and “Stormwater Pollution Prevention Initiatives” 

which are a required component of the Michigan Voluntary 

General Stormwater Permit. Common long term goals to 

improve water quality were identified. A total of 45 BMPs to 

address the goals listed above are recommended in the plan. 

Not all BMPs apply to, or have been implemented by all cities, 

villages and townships within the MORR. 

In 2003, the Rouge River Watershed Local Management 

Assembly (Assembly of Rouge Communities) formed to 

continue the restoration of the Rouge River Watershed. The 

Assembly of Rouge Communities is a volunteer organization 

of the local units of government (e.g. cities, townships and 

villages) and Counties (e.g. Wayne, Oakland and Washtenaw) 

located in part or totally within the watershed of the Rouge.

B5 Map: 

136 

B6 Map:

B6 - Plan 6: Lower One Rouge River Subwatershed 



The majority of the Lower One Rouge River (LORR) 

Subwatershed (39,785 total acres) lies within Wayne County 

with smaller, “headwaters” sections located in Salem Township 

(1,015 acres), Superior Township (10,371) and Ypsilanti 

Township (1,097 acres) in eastern Washtenaw County. The 

LORR area is approximately 20% of the total Rouge River 

Watershed. LORR drainage is in an easterly direction out of 


Water quality monitoring in the Rouge River Watershed 

suggests the following impairments to the LORR: elevated 

bacteria levels, high storm water peak flows, sedimentation and 

soil erosion, high nutrient load, elevated water temperatures 

and threats to macro-invertebrates, fish and wildlife. Total 

Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) allocations were prepared in 

2000 for the Lower Branch of the Rouge River from the 

confluence of the Main Branch upstream for a “fish 

consumption advisory” (polychlorinated biphenyls). Additional 

TMDLs were allocated in 2002 for the Lower Branch of the 

Rouge River from the confluence of the Main Branch upstream 

to I-275 for pathogens, failing to meet water quality standards 

for dissolved oxygen, and poorly rated fish and macro 

invertebrate populations. Data collected from the United States 

Geological Survey indicate that peak flows in the river are 

increasing in volume and frequency. 

The LORR subwatershed management plan describes different 

projects and organizations also described in the MORR review 

including the Rouge River National Wet Weather 

Demonstration project. 

137 

B7 Map: 

The LORR subwatershed group developed best management 

practices (BMPs) for managing water quality in the various 

urban and rural communities. The same process described in 

the MORR review was used to identify a total of 45 BMPs. Not 

all BMPs apply to, or have been implemented by all cities, 

villages and townships within the LORR. 

The Rouge River Watershed Local Management Assembly 

(Assembly of Rouge Communities) mentioned in the MORR 

review is also a key component to the LORR plan.

B7 - Plan 7: River Raisin Watershed Management Plan 

(Phase 1) 


The Washtenaw County portion of the River Raisin Watershed 

exists in the South-central and Southwestern part of the 

County. It has the second largest drainage area in the county, 

ranking behind the Huron. The watershed starts in the north at 

Sharon, Freedom, Lodi, and Pittsfield townships and extends 

south into the townships of Manchester, Bridgewater, Saline 

and York. Additionally, portions of Manchester Village, and 

Saline and Milan cities also drain to the River Raisin 

Watershed. The Watershed Starts to the west of Washtenaw 

County in Hillsdale County and runs eastward through Jackson 

County into Washtenaw. South of Washtenaw County the 

River Raisin and the watershed areas that feed it continue on 

through Lenawee and Monroe County and eventually drain to 

Lake Erie. The Raisin Watershed is approximately 1074 square 

miles and extends into Ohio in its southern reaches. A TMDL 

for pathogens and untreated sewage discharge exists in the 

Saline River, in York Township. 

The River Raisin Watershed Management Plan - Phase 1 is a 

University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and 

Environment (SNRE) student project that was initiated in 

cooperation with the River Raisin Watershed Council 

(RRWC). It is part of the $277,000 Section 319 grant to 

develop and implement a formal Watershed Management Plan. 

The SNRE plans to follow this student project with another, 

presumably Phase 2. 

The plan focuses on three areas: water quality, conservation of 

natural areas, and laws and ordinances. The water quality 

section contained an assessment based on eight sampling 

138 

locations along three tributaries in the watershed: Hazen Creek, 

Evans Creek, and River Raisin. Each sampling location was 

tested three times, once in August and November of 2005, then 

again in March of 2006. Analysis was conducted on the 

samples for Total Phosphorus (TP), Soluble Reactive 

Phosphorus (SRP), Ammonia, Nitrate, and Total Suspended 

Matter. TP results ranged from approximately 20 - 175 µg/L, 

while SRP range from 1 - 35 µg/L. Nitrate results ranged from 

approximately 0.2 – 5 mg/L. 

The plan recommends expanding the riparian buffers as a 

primary method for addressing elevated nutrient levels, noting 

that more than 60% of the stream corridors sampled have 

buffers of less than 16 meters. It further recommends 

integrating the analysis and recommendations of the Phase 1 

study into a comprehensive Rive Raisin Watershed 

Management Plan. 

NOTE: 

“The River Raisin Watershed Management Plan - Phase 1” 

is a University of Michigan student research project that is 

intended to inform the development of a State approved 

watershed management plan. It is NOT a watershed 

management plan. The River Raisin Watershed Council is 

currently working to develop a formal watershed 

management plan for the Raisin.

B8 - Plan 8: Stony Creek Watershed Management Plan 

Plan Date: June 2005 

The Washtenaw County portion of the Stony Creek Watershed 

is located in the Southeastern corner of the County. The area 

the watershed covers consists of the majority of Augusta 

Township and large portions Ypsilanti, Pittsfield and York 

Townships. Additionally, portions of Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and 

Milan Cities also drain to the Stony Creek Watershed. South of 

Washtenaw County the Stony Creek and the watershed areas 

that feed it continue on through Monroe County. The 

Watershed is approximately 32 miles long and up to 8 miles 

wide. 

The Water Quality Assessment of the Stony Creek Watershed 

indicates that the headwater areas in Washtenaw County are 

problem areas. Macro-invertebrate monitoring in these 

urbanized and developing areas shows little presence of 

sensitive species, however, some species were identified 

downstream in Monroe County. Chemical monitoring for 

nutrients suggests potential problem areas for both phosphorus 

and nitrates. Additional problem areas were identified for 

dissolved oxygen, elevated temperature, elevated conductivity 

and pH. A TMDL for dissolved oxygen, pathogens, and fish 

kills exists in Paint Creek in Ypsilanti Township. 

The plan also catalogues areas of inadequate riparian buffers, 

instances of bank and road crossing erosion due to flow issues, 

areas of sedimentation, algae blooms, bacterial and oil sheen, 

and litter and debris. These problems are also occurring more 

significantly in the portions of the watershed that lie within 


139 

The plan outlines goals that aim to protect the designated uses 

that are threatened by these conditions. To achieve these goals 

the plan suggests implementing an array of BMPs including: 

storm water management, low impact development, enhanced 

site plan review, open space easements, natural features and 

wetlands ordinances, bio-retention and infiltration systems, 

disconnect impervious surfaces, rain gardens, green roofs, 

street sweeping, native species restoration, and illicit 

connection correction, among others. 

To achieve these outcomes the plan recommends the 

development of a Stony Creek Watershed Council.

B8 Map: 

140 

B9 - BMP Introduction 

The following pages contain a Comprehensive Best 

Management Practices Table. This table provides a summary 

of every BMP recommended in all of the watershed plans 

reviewed in this section. The columns in the table describe the 

following information: 

● Column 1: Watershed Plan – Title of the plan in which 

the BMP is recommended 

● Column 2: BMP Title – The Title of the BMP as it 

appears in the watershed plan 

● Column 3: BMP Description –Summary of the 

steps/actions needed to implement the BMP 

● Column 4: BMP Outcome – Summary of the desired 

effect resulting from the implementation of the BMP 

The compilation of this information is intended to provide a 

resource for comparison of the recommendations across 

watershed boundaries county-wide. This table can also serve as 

a reference for developing Countywide BMP 

recommendations.

B9: Comprehensive Best Management Practice Table 

Watershed Plan BMP Title BMP Description BMP Outcome 

Huron Chain of Lakes Phosphorus reduction ordinance Regulate selection, use, storage and disposal of fertilizers 

141 

Reduction of nutrients entering watershed reducing algal blooms and 

fish kills 

Huron Chain of Lakes Native plant landscaping ordinance Encourage use of plants adapted to this geographic area Improved storm water infiltration , soil stabilization and habitat 

Huron Chain of Lakes No dumping ordinance Regulate dumping into surface water and wetlands 

Education and enforcement regarding pet waste 

Improved storm water infiltration , soil stabilization and habitat 

Huron Chain of Lakes Pet waste ordinance 

management Reduction of E. coli, pathogens and nutrients entering watershed 

Reduction of impervious surface area minimizing runoff to 

Huron Chain of Lakes Private roads ordinance Allows for roads to be narrower than county standards watershed 

Development rights purchase Allows organizations to purchase property development 

Huron Chain of Lakes ordinance 

rights Limits development, protection of sensitive natural features 

Protects watershed regarding water quality, quantity and biological 

Huron Chain of Lakes Storm water management ordinance Regulations to guide property development 

Ordinance for wetlands not currently regulated by state 

integrity 

Huron Chain of Lakes Local wetlands ordinance 

or federal authorities Protection of small and isolated wetlands 

Septic system time-of-sale 

Regulation for inspection and maintenance of septic 


systems Identification of failed septic systems 

Adopt overlay zoning for riparian More protective ordinance than state or federal law, 

Huron Chain of Lakes corridor 

reflects community priorities 

Review floodplain, soil types, landmark trees, 

Protection of important local natural resources 

Huron Chain of Lakes Enhance site plan requirements groundwater recharge areas, etc. 

Planning and management practices to mimic pre- 

Assures environmental responsible development 

Huron Chain of Lakes Low impact development principles development runoff conditions 

Reduce intentional and accidental littering through 

Maximize infiltration, minimize erosion and runoff volume 

Huron Chain of Lakes Enforcement of litter laws 

enforcement in likely areas Reduction of impact of litter and debris on water resources 

Enforcement of soil erosion policies Regular inspection of construction/post construction 

Huron Chain of Lakes & sediment control policies storm water BMPs &sediment control BMPs Reduction of erosion and sediment in storm water 

Review & revise soil erosion Regular review of construction/post construction storm 

Huron Chain of Lakes policies & sediment control policies water BMPs Reduction of erosion and sediment in storm water 

Enforcement of construction site Regular enforcement of construction/post construction 

Huron Chain of Lakes inspections 

storm water BMPs Reduction of erosion and sediment in storm water 

Minimize total impervious surface 

Reduction in storm water peak discharges, runoff volumes and 

Huron Chain of Lakes area Reduce street widths, driveway widths, parking areas erosion 

Open space preservation in zoning Amend zoning maps to increase protection for water 


resources Preserve open, undeveloped land, minimize impervious surface area 

Revise grading and land clearing Restrict grading and clearing to area required for building 

Huron Chain of Lakes practices 

footprint and construction Retention of natural hydrology, minimal erosion 

Revise parking standards for new Reduce parking requirements and dimensions, reduce 

Huron Chain of Lakes development 

impervious surfaces Increase storm water infiltration, minimize impervious surface area 

Management standards for pond Guidelines for shoreline buffer plantings to discourage 

Huron Chain of Lakes landscaping 

nuisance geese Reduce E. coli and erosion, improve storm water infiltration 

Huron Chain of Lakes 

Incorporate planning into local 

ordinances 

Provide local implementation of conservation analysis 

and regional environmental plans 

Local ordinances and planning efforts can protect and preserve 

priority areas



Directing flows from roof drains and paved areas to 

Huron Chain of Lakes impervious surface area 

stabilized vegetated areas Reduction in storm water peak discharges, runoff volume and erosion 

High powered street and paved area Management measure that involves pavement cleaning 

Huron Chain of Lakes sweeping 

Provide pet waste bags in parks and 

on a regular basis Reduction of sediment debris and pollutant export to receiving waters 

Huron Chain of Lakes public areas Provides bags for cleanup of pet waste Reduction of E. coli entering surface waters 

Increase numbers of refuse 

Provides refuse containers in appropriate numbers and 

Huron Chain of Lakes containers 

Improve protection of stream and 

locations Reduction of litter and trash in surface waters 

riparian habitats through alternative Look for opportunities to correct old drainage practices 

Huron Chain of Lakes drain practices 

like tiled agricultures Restores hydrologic function 

Warning label that storm drain inlets discharge 

Increased awareness that water/waste entering the drain enters 

Huron Chain of Lakes Mark storm drains and catch basins water/waste to surface water 

surface water 

Reduce use of conventional road Consider alternatives to sodium chloride such as calcium 

Huron Chain of Lakes de-ices 

chloride, calibrate spreaders Reduction of sodium chloride entering watershed 

Develop and implement monitoring Establish dataset for water quality parameters, flow 

Huron Chain of Lakes strategy 

volumes and biotic indicators Provides data for a better understanding of conditions in watershed 





Initiate hydrologic study and 


Inventory and stabilize eroding 

stream banks 

Inventory storm water areas for 

retrofit opportunities 

Investigate opportunities for 

recreation areas 

Huron Chain of Lakes Municipal mapping of wetlands 

Comprehensive hydrology and hydraulic study in the 

watershed 

Reduce the force of flowing water or increase the 

resistance of the bank to erosion 

Find opportunities for onsite detention retrofits for older 

drain projects 

Increase opportunities for people to access water 

resources 

Creation of current wetlands maps and assessment of 

wetlands that appear on maps 

Inventory natural features and state and federally listed 

plants and animals in watershed 

Educational materials regarding proper operation and 

maintenance of septic systems 

Educate residents regarding local watersheds, including 

142 

Understanding precipitation, infiltration, surface runoff, flow rates 

and storage & better understanding of velocity, flow depth, flood 

elevation, channel erosion 

Protection of stream banks and lake shore lines, reduced erosion and 

sediment 

Reduce the storm water entering the system and allow for onsite 

infiltration 

Increase in number of persons interested in protection of water 

resources 

Improves information about size, type and delineation to assess 

future impacts 

Provides information to assist with survival and sustainability of 

these species 

Reduction in number of failed systems and pathogens entering 

watershed 

Huron Chain of Lakes Conduct natural features inventory 

Homeowner education about septic 

Huron Chain of Lakes systems 

Provide watershed education to 

Huron Chain of Lakes residents 

impacts and protection activities Foster a community involvement and environmental stewardship 

Trash management information and Provide educational materials regarding proper trash 

Huron Chain of Lakes education 

disposal Reduction of litter and trash in surface waters 

Yard, lawn care, native landscape Provide educational materials regarding yard, lawn care 


Promote county extension service 

and native landscaping Reduction in fertilizer use and erosion, habitat improvement 

Huron Chain of Lakes soil testing Evaluation of lawn and garden nutrient requirements Reduction of unnecessary fertilizer application 

Education regarding pet waste Provide educational materials regarding proper pet waste 

Huron Chain of Lakes disposal 

disposal Reduction of E. coli entering surface waters 

Information and education program Provide materials regarding chemical application and soil 

Huron Chain of Lakes for farmers 

erosion Proper fertilizer and pesticide application, reduced soil erosion 

Recreational vehicle waste disposal Provide educational materials regarding proper waste 


disposal Reduction in number of illicit discharges from recreational vehicles


Regular storm water related Education materials reach more residents by diversifying 

Huron Chain of Lakes information on T.V. 

information mediums Foster a community involvement and environmental stewardship 

Watershed related articles in Education materials reach more residents by diversifying 

Huron Chain of Lakes community newsletters 


Watershed related information on Education materials reach more residents by diversifying 

Huron Chain of Lakes websites 


Develop and distribute low impact Provide decision makers with information on LID and Ensure that decision makers have the most up to date resources 

Huron Chain of Lakes design materials 

land use 

available 

Reporting system for illicit 

Promote public identification and reporting of illicit 

Huron Chain of Lakes discharges 

discharges Reduction of E. coli, pathogens and nutrients entering watershed 

Household hazardous waste Provide opportunity for proper disposal of household 

Huron Chain of Lakes collection site/day 

hazardous waste Reduce volume of hazardous waste entering the environment 

reduce sediment, debit ,and nutrient loading through storm water 

Huron Chain of Lakes Yard waste collection and recycling Collect yard waste and encourage residential recycling system 

Watershed and river crossing Similar to border signage, place signs on major corridors 

Huron Chain of Lakes signage 

marking watershed ecology 

Conduct visual inspection, confirm sources and map 

Create a community knowledge and identity with the ecosystem 

Huron Chain of Lakes Conduct outfall screening program locations of all outfalls 

Place smoke/dye into suspect locations, storm/sanitary 

Identification of outfalls potentially containing illicit discharges 

Huron Chain of Lakes Perform smoke/dye testing program 

Develop a reporting 

drains to confirm proper isolation Identification of illicit discharge sources 

program/follow-up for illicit Make sure that identified illicit connection are corrected 

Huron Chain of Lakes connections 

by developing a system for action 

Conduct storm water sampling program and inspections 

Ensure the enforcement and correction of illicit discharges 

Huron Chain of Lakes Trace illicit connections 

to trace illicit connections Identification of illicit discharge sources 

Enforcement for non-correction of Enforcement action may be required to insure timely 

Huron Chain of Lakes illicit discharges 

removal of illicit connections Timely disconnection of illicit connections 

Train staff to identify illicit 

Train staff to properly interpret lab results and conduct 

Huron Chain of Lakes discharges 

onsite inspections Identification of illicit discharge sources 

Minimize seepage from sanitary Confirm integrity of sanitary sewers through TV 

Huron Chain of Lakes sewers 

inspection or smoke/dye test Identification of illicit discharge from sanitary sewer 

Minimize seepage from onsite Develop septic inspection programs, encourage voluntary 

Huron Chain of Lakes sewage disposal systems 

residential inspections 

Identify new or changes in outfall areas and/or drainage 

Identifies discharges and reduces nitrate and bacterial migration 

Huron Chain of Lakes Update outfall and/or drainage maps projects and conduct necessary mapping updates Ensures up-to-date and accurate information 

Track outfalls from new 

Develop a method to identify and inspect for new Ensures responsible construction practices are employed and helps to 

Huron Chain of Lakes construction 

construction outfalls 

track success of construction standards 

Establish a committee to implement Set standards and recruit members for an implementation 

Huron Chain of Lakes plan 

committee Ensures implementation and cross-jurisdictional cooperation 

Establish priorities research costs and funding 

Creates a methodology for plan implementation based on diverse 

Huron Chain of Lakes Conduct work sessions 

mechanisms 

interests 

Ensure consistency of ordinances Provide regional oversight and guidance to LUGs on Ensures similar standards and regulatory measure are implemented 

Huron Chain of Lakes among LUGs 

effecting transparent policy 

Find opportunities to improve communication and 

throughout watershed 

Improve drain maintenance 

coordination between Drain Offices, Road Commissions, 

Huron Chain of Lakes coordination 

and MDOT Enables a coordinated effort to fostering alternative drain practices 

143



Promote collaboration in watershed 

management 

Find partnership opportunities - Schools, Business, Creates a community responsibility and stake in water resource 

Institutions 

Recognize need to expand funding for staff, programs, 

protection 

and commitments; and act Ensures the communities ability to fund desired improvements 

Huron Chain of Lakes Seek alternative funding sources 

Secure funding to establish 

Huron Chain of Lakes monitoring program Possible grant programs, or storm water fee assessments Monitoring will help to direct water resource conservation efforts 

Create a funding source for land 

Directed land/rights acquisition will preserves identified priority 

Huron Chain of Lakes acquisition Possible transfer or purchase of development rights 

Fines for violations can fund both illicit discharge and 

areas 

Create legal penalties to illicit related water quality programs, fees can be assessed 

Huron Chain of Lakes discharges for revenue generation based on mitigation costs and/or punitive assessments Provides opportunity to create and direct new revenue stream 

Structural practices similar to wet ponds that incorporate Treatment, settling and storage of storm water. Aesthetic 

Huron Chain of Lakes Construct storm water wetlands wetland plants into the design 

value/habitat 

Create and maintain grassed Natural or constructed channels on farm lands established 

Huron Chain of Lakes waterways 

with suitable vegetation Treatment of sheet flow, improved infiltration, reduced erosion 

Install and maintain vegetated filter Strips of grass or other permanent vegetation designed to Slower runoff velocities, better infiltration, sediment and nutrient 

Huron Chain of Lakes strips 

treat sheet flow 

Streamside ecosystems managed for the enhancement of 

filtration 

Huron Chain of Lakes Install and maintain riparian buffers water quality Slower runoff velocities, infiltration, sediment and nutrient filtration 

Install and maintain bioretention Landscaping features in developed areas adapted to 

Huron Chain of Lakes systems 

provide onsite treatment 

Open channel management practices designed to treat 

Sediment and nutrient filtration, slower runoff velocities 

Huron Chain of Lakes Install grassed swales 

and attenuate storm water runoff Slower runoff, sediment and nutrient filtration, improved infiltration 

Replacement of turf grass with native tall grasses and Discourage geese- reduce E. coli, slower runoff, sediment & nutrient 

Huron Chain of Lakes Install pond buffer native plantings flowering plants 

filtration 

Practice agricultural conservation Establish and maintain vegetative cover, used primarily 

Huron Chain of Lakes cover 

on agricultural lands Slower runoff velocities, improved infiltration, reduced erosion 

Practice crop rotation w/ cover and Employ agricultural techniques that limit impacts on 

Huron Chain of Lakes mulch 

water quality Reduced sedimentation, and nutrient loadings 

Treatment, settling and storage of storm water. Aesthetic 

Huron Chain of Lakes Restore wetlands Rehabilitation of drained or degraded wetlands 

Vegetated depression typically near an impervious 

value/habitat 

Huron Chain of Lakes Install rain gardens 

surface to intercept storm water runoff Slower runoff velocities, infiltration, nutrient filtration 

Replace turf grass with shrubs and Use native grasses, shrubs and trees to create attractive 

Huron Chain of Lakes trees 

boarders Improved infiltration, slower runoff, nutrient filtration 

Evaluate areas for in-stream Installation and maintenance of in-stream structures to 

Huron Chain of Lakes restoration 

improve fish and wildlife habitat 

Physical or vegetative control measures to prevent or 

Improved habitat 

Huron Chain of Lakes Stabilization of soils and slopes reduce soil erosion Reduced soil erosion, improved surface drainage 

Promote storm water infiltration and A storm water device or system collecting runoff and 

Huron Chain of Lakes detention 

discharging it into the ground Improved infiltration, sediment collection and nutrient filtration 

Install and maintain infiltration A rock filled trench with no outlet that receives storm 

Huron Chain of Lakes trenches 

water runoff Reduced soil erosion, improved infiltration 

Huron Chain of Lakes Install and maintain vegetated roofs Structural addition of plants/soil over a traditional roof system Improved energy efficiency, reduction of storm water runoff 


Reduce nutrients at permitted point 

sources 

Use best available technology (BAT) to remove 

pollutants from point source effluent Prevention of pollutants from entering the watershed 

144


Huron Chain of Lakes Install grade stabilization culverts 

Install structures to control the grade and head cutting in 

channels (mostly agricultural) Reduces erosion and sedimentation 

Install and maintain catch basin Installation of additional sump chambers to enhance 

Huron Chain of Lakes inserts 

collection of solids Reduction of sediment in storm water 

Install and maintain porous 

Modular paving blocks with openings filled with sand or 

Huron Chain of Lakes pavement 

soil 

Two-chambered collection device consisting of a settling 

Reduction of surface runoff, improved nutrient filtration 

Huron Chain of Lakes Install and maintain media filters chamber and filter bed Reduction of sediment in storm water 

Install and maintain sediment Barriers, basins and other devise designed to remove 

Huron Chain of Lakes trapping devices 

sediment from runoff Reduction of sediment in storm water 

Repair misaligned/obstructed Coordinate townships and County efforts to address 

Huron Chain of Lakes culverts 

drainage problems 

Alter grading practices and examine surface options on 

Addresses changes in hydrology and maintenance 

Huron Chain of Lakes Stabilize road/bridge surfaces unpaved roads and bridges Reduce sediment pollution 

Mill Creek Restore wetlands Rehabilitation of drained or degraded wetlands 


Treatment, settling and storage of storm water. Aesthetic value/habitat 

Mill Creek Implement local wetland ordinances or federal authorities Protection of small and isolated wetlands 

Initiate hydrologic study and Comprehensive hydrology and hydraulic study in the 

Understanding precipitation, infiltration, surface runoff, flow rates 

and storage & better understanding of velocity, flow depth, flood 

Mill Creek 


watershed 

elevation, channel erosion 

Remove in stream structures and Removal of Dams and other obstructions like sediment 

Mill Creek 

obstruction 

islands, log jams, branches/trees Can solve soil erosion and flooding problems 

Implement natural features 

Protect local natural resources and direct development to Can be more protective than federal & state law to reflect local 

Mill Creek 


suitable areas 

priority 

Implement storm water & water 


Mill Creek 

resource protection ordinances Regulations to guide property development 


Construct and maintain storm water Manage storm water treatment onsite or per regional Reduce sediment, nutrient and flow issues associated with 

Mill Creek 

detention/ retention 

tributary area 

unmanaged storm water 

Construct/maintain wet detention Manage storm water treatment onsite or per regional Reduce sediment, nutrient and flow issues associated with 

Mill Creek 

ponds 

tributary area & create wetland 


Install and maintain bioretention Landscaping features in developed areas adapted to 

Mill Creek 

systems 

Construct and maintain infiltration 

provide onsite treatment Sediment and nutrient filtration, slower run-off velocities 

Mill Creek 

trenches Diverts storm water into a trench with no outlet Stores storm water runoff and allows for soil infiltration 

Install storm water 

Diverts storm water into a trench, basin, permeable 

Mill Creek 

retention/infiltration devices pavement for absorption into soil 


Stores storm water runoff and allows for soil infiltration 

Mill Creek Install grassed swales 

and attenuate storm water runoff Slower runoff, sediment and nutrient filtration, improved infiltration 



Mill Creek 


stabilized vegetated areas Reduction in storm water peak discharges, runoff volume and erosion 

Install and maintain extended wet Manage storm water treatment onsite or per regional Reduce sediment, nutrient and flow issues associated with 

Mill Creek 

detention ponds 



Mill Creek Install and maintain rain gardens 


surface to intercept storm water runoff Slower runoff velocities, infiltration, nutrient filtration 

145


Mill Creek Install and maintain vegetated roofs 

Structural addition of plants/soil over a traditional roof 

system Improved energy efficiency, reduction of storm water runoff 

Mill Creek Implement private roads ordinance Allows for roads to be narrower than county standards Reduction of impervious surface area minimizing runoff to watershed 

Establish flow limits in storm water NPDES could/should limit flow for permit holders no 

Mill Creek 

permits 

limit is currently established Limits will reduce hydrology damage associated with excess flow 

Implement alternative drain Look for opportunities to correct old drainage practices 

Mill Creek 

practices and rehab 


Implement stream bank stabilization Improve stream bank structurally through engineers, Improves stream health if flow and erosion issues are addressed prior 

Mill Creek 

measures 

bioengineered, or biotechnical stabilization 


to implementation 

Mill Creek Install and maintain riparian buffers water quality Slower runoff velocities, infiltration, sediment and nutrient filtration 

Create and maintain grassed Natural or constructed channels on farm lands established 

Mill Creek 

waterways 

with suitable vegetation 


Treatment of sheet flow, improved infiltration, reduced erosion 

Mill Creek Install grade stabilization culverts channels (mostly agricultural) 

Plant permanent vegetation cover on properties with 

Reduces erosion and sedimentation 

Mill Creek Utilize conservation cover 

exposed soil (primarily agricultural) Reduces soil/sediment run off and nutrient/nitrate issues/loadings 

Practice crop rotation w/ cover and Employ agricultural techniques that limit impacts on 

Mill Creek 

mulch 


Install and maintain sediment Barriers, basins and other devise designed to remove 

Mill Creek 

trapping devices 

sediment from runoff Reduction of sediment in storm water 

Install and maintain catch basin Installation of additional sump chambers to enhance 

Mill Creek 

inserts 

collection of solids Reduction of sediment in storm water 

Mill Creek Control soil erosion Stabilize slopes and soils Prevents or reduces erosion due to storm water run off. 

Mill Creek 

Mill Creek 

Mill Creek 

Construct and maintain media/sand 

and organic filters 

High powered street and paved area 

sweeping 

Repair misaligned/obstructed 

culverts 

Mill Creek Stabilize road/bridge surfaces 

Mill Creek Practice nutrient management 

Construct and maintain waste 

Mill Creek 

storage facilities 

Mill Creek 

Mill Creek 

Install and maintain livestock use 

exclusion 

Install and maintain vegetated filter 

strips 

Construct variety of filters - usually two chambered sand 

or sand/peat mix Removes pollutants and particulates from storm water 

A management measure that involves pavement cleaning 


Coordinate townships and County efforts to address 

drainage problems Addresses changes in hydrology and maintenance 


unpaved roads and bridges Reduce sediment pollution 

Employ Generally Accepted Agricultural Management 

Practices (GAAMPs) on agricultural land 

Construct barriers, embankments, and temporary waste 

storage facilities for agricultural uses 

Construct barriers like fences to keep livestock 25 feet 

from banks 

Strips of grass or other permanent vegetation designed to 


146 

Controls or limits potential pollutant/nutrient exposures from 

agricultural land use 

Reduces exposure pathways prior to land application of 

nutrients/fertilizers 

Protects riparian vegetation and banks from animals, limits waste 

exposure pathways 

Slower runoff velocities, better infiltration, sediment and nutrient 

filtration


Mill Creek 

Mill Creek 

Mill Creek 

Mill Creek 

Implement native landscaping 

ordinance Encourage use of plants adapted to this geographic area Improved storm water infiltration , soil stabilization and habitat 

Native vegetation restoration 

program 

Identify and eliminate illicit 

discharges 

Implement golf course nutrient 

management 

Mill Creek 

Implement phosphorus fertilizer 

reduction ordinances Regulate selection, use, storage and disposal of fertilizers 

Require regular inspection, maintenance, and repair of 

Mill Creek Implement septic system ordinances septic systems by ordinance. 

Mill Creek 

Mill Creek 

Mill Creek 

Mill Creek 

Mill Creek 

Mill Creek 

Mill Creek 

Mill Creek 

Mill Creek 

Mill Creek 

Mill Creek 

Mill Creek 



Utilize in stream habitat restoration 

techniques 

Construct and maintain media/sand 

and organic filters 

Install and maintain oil and grease 

traps 



Provide technical consultation and study, locate, 

coordinate, and implement native landscaping projects Reestablishes native species and restores riparian habitat 



Practice turf management, wetland restoration, 

watercourse buffers and environmentally sensitive 

purchasing and nutrient management - Certification is 

available through MSU Extensions Reduces negative effects of golf courses on local watersheds 

Protect local natural resources and direct development to 


147 

Reduction of nutrients entering watershed reducing algal blooms and 

fish kills 

Prevents, detects, and controls spills, leaks, overflows, and seepage 

of septic systems 

Can be more protective than federal & state law to reflect local 

priority 

Create channel blocks, boulder clusters, covered logs, 

tree cover, bank cribs, and other restoration techniques Corrects and improves fish and wildlife deficiencies 



Install oil and grease traps for industrial, maintenance, 

vehicle washing, and restaurants 


stabilized vegetated areas 

Removes high concentration of petroleum products, grease, and grit, 

by gravity and coalescing plates 

Reduction in storm water peak discharges, run-off volume and 

erosion 

Construct and maintain infiltration 

trenches Diverts storm water into a trench with no outlet Stores storm water run-off and allows for soil infiltration 

Install and maintain bioretention 

systems 

Landscaping features in developed areas adapted to 

provide onsite treatment Sediment and nutrient filtration, slower runoff velocities 

Implement municipal well field 

protection Complete implementation of wellhead protections plans Protects drinking water resources 

Monitor for water quality, quantity, 

biota 

Survey species of concern 

distribution and management 

Increase watershed education and 

ethic 

Implement a coordinated 

information campaign 

Mill Creek Enhance site plan requirements 

Collect a consistent dataset of water quality parameters, 

biotic indicators, and stream flow Establishes a baseline for implementing recommended BMPs 

Conduct study to examine condition of plant and animal 

species of concern like freshwater mussels 

Many activities include: Adopt-a-stream, school 

education, stewardship network 

Target nonpoint source pollution prevention through 

traditional marketing methods 

Species can serve as bellwether for progress on watershed 

management 

Identifies responsible parties, promotes community ownership, 

identifies problems/solutions, integrates public feedback 

Prevents pollution from entering system by motivating behavioral 

modifications 

Review floodplain, soil types, landmark trees, 

groundwater recharge areas, etc. Assures environmental responsible development


Mill Creek 

Mill Creek 

Mill Creek 

Mill Creek 

Mill Creek 

Mill Creek 

Huron Ann Arbor-Ypsi 







Implement low-impact design 

planning 

Study opportunities for recreational 

trail or enhancement 

Integrate storm water management 

into regional planning 

Implement purchase of development 

rights ordinance 

Implement a subwatershed task 

force 

Implement creative financial 

solutions 

Dye-testing and illicit connection 

removal 

Execute capital improvements to 

enhance storm water structures 

Construct flow management devices 

in areas not served by storm water 

detention; construct regional 

detention and water quality 

treatment where appropriate 

Prioritize and execute infrastructure 

repairs to drains and tributaries; 

remove sediment islands; stabilize 

road crossings 

Establish management /maintenance 

authority for waterways not 

currently under appropriate 

jurisdiction; undertake necessary 

repairs and remediation 

Stabilize and restore stream banks 

and lakeshores through 

engineering/bioengineering projects 

Installation/retrofit of catch basin 

sumps; maintain 

Identify LID planning area, analyze and develop 

recommendations 


resources 

Include environmental protection goals in new planning 

processes, as well as revisions and updates 

Identify areas to be protected as well as areas targeted for 

development 

148 

Utilizes small scale design techniques to reduce storm water run-off, 

volume, and frequency 

Increase in number of persons interested in protection of water 

resources 

Allows decision makers to consider water resource protection as a 

priority 

Direct growth away from environmental resources and toward 

targeted growth sectors 

Create manageable tributary groups to implement actions 

at a subwatershed level Allows for local coordination with a regional watershed organization 

Research opportunities and make efforts to secure new 

funding sources 

Test all new construct, property changes hands, or when 

evidence shows illicit connections, reroute discharges to 

sanitary systems. 

Retrofit existing county drains and private storm water 

ponds to detain first flush and bank full events; remove 

sediment; reduce nuisance geese and fecal contamination 

Construct new facilities on public land, easements or 

acquisitions 

Incorporate water quality treatment of storm water runoff 

and flow into ongoing maintenance programs 

Bring "New" drains under County Drain and MDEQ 

regulatory authority 

Ensures that money is available to fund new staff, projects, and 

commitments 

Locates improper pluming connection reduces associated 

contamination 

Reduces flow and allows for upstream infiltration, reduces fecal 

contamination 

Reduces downstream flooding, and improves storm water 

management in areas that predate current regulations 

Protects channel stability and bank wasting, prevents erosion and 

sedimentation 

Ensures that critical maintenance needs, sediment and debris 

removal, bank stabilization 

Recontour and revegetate streams that have been 

mitigated for flow or armoring and rip-rap Reduces erosive run off that undermines stream systems 

Incorporate sump clean out into normal maintenance of 

storm drains 

Offers critical water quality treatment serving roads, lawns and 

parking lots










Expand use of oil and grit removal 

devices, or other treatment devices 

at industrial sites, automotive 

service areas and large parking lots; 

monitor effectiveness Install where evidence of high level contaminants exist 

149 

Offers critical water quality treatment serving roads, lawns and 

parking lots for treating high contaminant areas 

Expand community partners for 

clean streams program Expand program to entire County Fosters watershed stewardship and BMP implementation 

Construct BMP demonstration sites 

on public and private land 

Construct appropriate recreational 

access points to protect banks and 

shorelines 

Initiate new outreach programs to 

homeowners, homeowners 

associations, landscapers and lawn 

care practitioners 

Maintain and expand mass media I 

& E program to inform 

Continued outreach to elected 

officials, local government staff, 

developers and engineers; promote 

low impact site design standards 

and guidelines 

Revise/adopt ordinances and 

standards to better manage storm 

water runoff, provide source control 

and protect natural features 

Find opportunities for demonstration on municipal owed 

areas 

Engage livery and marina operations no wake zones and 

similar BMPs 

Provide education, technical assistance, demonstration 

projects, and recognition for participation 

Expand programs to alternate media & avenues of 

information dissemination (signage); coordinate with 

phase I and phase II 

Integrate BMPs into site plan reviews - focus on water 

quality mitigation in addition to flow control 

Develop and/or implement ordinances and/or regulations 

at county, municipal, and townships 

Provides a venue for outreach to decision makers, developers, and 

contractors 

Reduce impacts and erosion associated with uncontrolled access 

points 

Removes barriers to implementation of BMPs & encourages 

community responsibility 



Educates decision makers regarding LID minimize nonpoint source 

impacts 

Can address many issues including natives, natural features, storm 

water management, imperviousness, etc. 

Huron Ann Arbor-Ypsi Convene pre-plan review meetings 

Strengthen enforcement of soil 

Communities in the study area encouraged to convene 

plan review meetings Broadens discussion to consider watershed and subwatershed impacts 

erosion and sediment control 

Reduces nonpoint source loading of sediments and phosphorus 

Huron Ann Arbor-Ypsi regulation regulations Monitor and enforce existing erosion control regulations during unstabilized construction phases 

Incorporate higher level of storm Implement sustainable design features into new road 

water management associated with construction and install treatment systems during 

Huron Ann Arbor-Ypsi road projects 

improvement projects Limits contamination associated with run off on ROW 

Upgrade street sweeping equipment Mitigate impacts of surface runoff by increasing 

Huron Ann Arbor-Ypsi and maintenance schedule 

Preserve land providing critical 

sweeping and efficiency Reduces impacts of phosphorus, heavy metals and peak flows 

storm water management function; Support land conservancies and sponsor programs like 

Huron Ann Arbor-Ypsi acquisition, easement 

Purchased Development Rights (PDRs) Preserve riparian habitat and stream structure/quality






Develop programs for removing 

debris along county drains and other 

waterways 

Establish program to monitor 

pollutant removal efficiency of 

BMPs 

Continue water quality sampling 

and biomonitoring 

Establish and maintain GIS 

database to assist hydraulic, 

hydrologic, and water quality 

monitoring 

Huron Ann Arbor-Ypsi Conduct natural features surveys 





Continue implementation of the 

middle Huron initiative 

Implement the Malletts creek 

restoration strategy; develop 

restoration strategies for other 

creeksheds 

Encourage dam removal where 

opportunities exist 

Continue collaborative efforts 

between citizen based creekshed 

groups, the HRWC, the Drain 

Commissioner’s Office, and other 

Washtenaw County and local 

government agencies involved in 

land use decision making and 

implementation activities 

Increase community cleanup days, education, use of 

community service workers Enhance aesthetic value and increases stewardship 

Monitoring BMP efficiency can lead future efforts by 

tracking success in varying conditions Enhance efforts to employ effective BMPs in the planning area 

Track and publicize information on water quality and Results influence decision makers and supports need for new 

other trends; identify chemicals threatening water programs 

Make data available to stakeholders and foster 

environmentally sensitive land use decisions 

Identify and assess critical natural features to storm water 

management 

Use middle-Huron initiative as multi-jurisdictional 

agency to implement plan recommendations and 

facilitate multi-government cooperation 

150 

More efficiently manage storm water throughout all phases of 

planning and development process 

Allows for protection of natural features performing critical storm 

water management functions though establishment of ordinances 

Promote consideration of watershed-wide goals and standards, and 

means of assessing watershed impacts of local plans and 

development 

Support the Malletts creak implementation and 

Encourages a watershed based approach to repairing urban stream 

encourage development of similar plans in other areas 

Operate dams as run of the river and research long term 

corridors 

removal options Remediate negative impacts of dams 

Provide technical assistance and facilitation to watershed 

groups 

Leverages community resources and fosters community 

identification and responsibility for water resources 

Upper Grand River 


Plan (Portage River) Buffers/Filter Strips Create a vegetative buffer to parallel to stream corridor Reduces negative impacts of sediment, run off, and nutrients 



Plan (Portage River) Grassed Swales 

Construct vegetated, open-channel management "swales" 

designed specifically to treat and attenuate storm water 

runoff for a specified water quality volume Reduces negative impacts of sediment, run off, and nutrients 



Plan (Portage River) Grassed Waterways Create grassed channels where natural waterways occur Reduces negative impacts of sediment, run off, and nutrients




Plan (Portage River) Conservation Tillage 



Plan (Portage River) Cover/Green Manure Crop 



Plan (Portage River) Terraces 



Plan (Portage River) Nutrient Management 



Plan (Portage River) Livestock Fencing 



Plan (Portage River) Wetland Restoration/Preservation 



Plan (Portage River) Stream Bank Stabilization 

Utilize a number of strategies and techniques for 

establishing crops in the previous crop's residues, which 

are purposely left on the soil surface Reduces negative impacts of sediment 

Utilize Cover crops like grasses, legumes, or forbs, or use 

Green Manure, for seasonal coverage to reduce the 

potential of erosion Reduces negative impacts of sediment 

Construct earthen embankments or ridge and channel 

systems that hold moisture and help trap sediments, 

minimizing sediment-laden runoff Reduces negative impacts of sediment 

Conduct responsible management of nutrients, such as 

fertilizers, to significantly reduce polluted runoff Reduces nutrient loading 

Construct fences to prevent negative impacts of livestock 

on waterways Reduces nutrient loading 

Create or restore wetlands, additional acreage improves 

surface and groundwater quality Reduces nutrient loading 

Plant trees, shrubs, and grasses, bank cover, riprap, etc, to 

maintain stream channel capacity and protect bank 

structure Reduces negative impacts of sediment 



Plan (Center, Grass, and 

Wolf Lake 

Subwatershed) Buffers/Filter Strips Create a vegetative buffer to parallel to stream corridor Reduces negative impacts of sediment, run off, and nutrients 




Wolf Lake 

Subwatershed) Grassed Swales 

Construct vegetated, open-channel management "swales" 

designed specifically to treat and attenuate storm water 

runoff for a specified water quality volume Reduces negative impacts of sediment, run off, and nutrients 




Wolf Lake 

Subwatershed) Grassed Waterways Create grassed channels where natural waterways occur Reduces negative impacts of sediment, run off, and nutrients 

151





Wolf Lake 

Subwatershed) Conservation Tillage 




Wolf Lake 

Subwatershed) Cover/Green Manure Crop 




Wolf Lake 

Subwatershed) Terraces 




Wolf Lake 

Subwatershed) Stream Bank Stabilization 




Wolf Lake 

Subwatershed) Bioretention Areas 




Wolf Lake 

Subwatershed) Constructed Wetlands 




Wolf Lake 

Subwatershed) Wet Ponds 

Stony Creek Watershed 


Develop Stony Creek Watershed 

Council 

Utilize a number of strategies and techniques for 

establishing crops in the previous crop's residues, which 

are purposely left on the soil surface Reduces negative impacts of sediment 

Utilize Cover crops like grasses, legumes, or forbs, or use 

Green Manure, for seasonal coverage to reduce the 

potential of erosion Reduces negative impacts of sediment 

Construct earthen embankments or ridge and channel 

systems that hold moisture and help trap sediments, 

minimizing sediment-laden runoff Reduces negative impacts of sediment 



structure Reduces erosion and sedimentation 

Construct rain gardens or other landscaping features 

provide on-site treatment of storm water runoff 

Create wetlands, additional acreage improves surface and 

groundwater quality 

Construct basins that have a permanent pool of water 

throughout the year to treat incoming storm water runoff 

by allowing particles to settle and algae to take up 

nutrients. 

152 

Reduces negative impacts of sediment, nutrients, and provides runoff 

detention 


detention 


detention 

Discuss issues related to Stony Creek including plan 

implementation Encourages continued cooperation between jurisdictional






Hydrological Study of Entire 

Watershed 

Implement Consistent Storm water 

Management Standards 

Conduct comprehensive hydrology study, refine 

information regarding velocity, discharge, flood 

elevations, channel erosion, storm drains, bridges and 

culverts Addresses problems of altered hydrology 


Management Plan First Flush and Bank Full Treatment Detain and treat bank full and first flush events on site 



Low Impact Design Roundtable 

discussion 


Management Plan Enhance site plan review 



Review jurisdictional storm water regulations and 

develop standard list for cross-jurisdictional 

implementation Addresses inconsistency in storm water regulations 

Encourages officials to implement LID strategies in 

regulation and site design 

Revise site plan review to include more strict application 

of natural feature preservation 

Local Open Space (Natural Areas) 

Easement Create opportunities for onsite infiltration 


Management Plan Natural Features Ordinance 


Management Plan Wetlands Ordinance 





Construct and maintain storm water 

detention/ retention 

Construct/maintain wet detention 

ponds 


Management Plan Bioretention Systems 



153 

Reduces the most polluted storm water from entering the stream 

corridor 

Reduces impacts of older design practices not designed with water 

quality goals as the primary focus 

Reduces negative effects of development on ecosystem 

(sedimentation, erosion, etc) 

Reduces pollution of surface water and helps sustain groundwater 

levels 


priority 


or federal authorities Protection of small and isolated wetlands 

Manage storm water treatment onsite or per regional 

tributary area 

Manage storm water treatment onsite or per regional 


Reduce sediment, nutrient and flow issues associated with 


Reduce sediment, nutrient and flow issues associated with 


Landscaping features in developed areas adapted to 

provide onsite treatment Sediment and nutrient filtration, slower runoff velocities 


Management Plan Infiltration Systems Diverts storm water into a trench with no outlet Stores storm water runoff and allows for soil infiltration



Management Plan Infiltration basins 


Management Plan Grassed/vegetative Swales 






Management Plan Green Roofs 

Disconnect Directly Connected 

Impervious Areas 

Municipal and Residential Rain 

Gardens 


pavement for abortion into soil Stores storm water runoff and allows for soil infiltration 


and attenuate storm water run-off Slower run-off, sediment and nutrient filtration, improved infiltration 




Management Plan Alternative Road Specifications Allows for roads to be narrower than county standards 




Management Plan Sand and Organic Filters 


Management Plan Street Sweeping 

154 


erosion 


surface to intercept storm water runoff Slower run-off velocities, infiltration, nutrient filtration 

Structural addition of plants/soil over a traditional roof 

system Improved energy efficiency, reduction of storm water run-off 

Reduction of impervious surface area minimizing run-off to 

watershed 

Soil Erosion and Sedimentation 

Control Enforcement Stabilize slopes and soils Prevents or reduces erosion due to storm water run-off 


Management Plan Golf Course Nutrient Management 



Native vegetation restoration 

program 


Management Plan Illicit Connection Correction 



Inventory Agricultural Conservation 

Practices 



Management measure that involves pavement cleaning 


Practice turf management, wetland restoration, 

watercourse buffers and environmentally sensitive 

purchasing and nutrient management - Certification is 

available through MSU Extensions Reduces negative effects of golf courses on local watersheds 

Provide technical consultation and study, locate, 

coordinate, and implement native landscaping projects Reestablishes native species and restores riparian habitat 



Determine what practices are being used and where 

practices can provide a benefit to water quality Reduces nutrient loading and sedimentation



Management Plan Riparian Buffer 


Management Plan Grassed Waterways 


Management Plan Grade Stabilization Structures 


Management Plan Conservation Cover 



Conservation Crop Rotation with 

cover crop and mulch/no-till 


Management Plan Nutrient Management 


Management Plan Waste Storage Facility 


Management Plan Livestock Use Exclusion 


Management Plan Vegetative Filter Strips 



Purchase/acquisition of 

development rights 


Management Plan Road/bridge surface stabilization 



Soil stabilization at road crossing 

embankments 


Management Plan Culvert replacements 


Management Plan Bank restabilization 


water quality Slower runoff velocities, infiltration, sediment and nutrient filtration 

Natural or constructed channels on farm lands established 

with suitable vegetation Treatment of sheet flow, improved infiltration, reduced erosion 


channels (mostly agricultural) Reduces erosion and sedimentation 

Plant permanent vegetation cover on properties with 

exposed soil (primarily agricultural) Reduces soil/sediment run off and nutrient/nitrate issues/loadings 

Employ agricultural techniques that limit impacts on 


Employ Generally Accepted Agricultural Management 

Practices (GAAMPs) on agricultural land 

Construct barriers, embankments, and temporary waste 

storage facilities for agricultural uses 

Construct barriers like fences to keep livestock 25 feet 

from banks 

Strips of grass or other permanent vegetation designed to 


Identify areas to be protected as well as areas targeted for 

development 


unpaved roads and bridges Reduce sediment pollution 

Stabilize road crossing embankments, conduct hydrology 

study to identify source of increase flow and erosion Reduces sedimentation 

155 

Controls or limits potential pollutant/nutrient exposures from 

agricultural land use 

Reduces exposure pathways prior to land application of 

nutrients/fertilizers 

Protects riparian vegetation and banks from animals, limits waste 

exposure pathways 

Slower runoff velocities, better infiltration, sediment and nutrient 

filtration 

Direct growth away from environmental resources and toward 

targeted growth sectors 

Conduct hydrology study to determine the proper size of 

culverts that are causing ponding/increased flow 

velocities due to being undersized Reduces flow and erosion/sedimentation 



structure Reduces negative impacts of sediment








Lower One Rouge River 

Subwatershed 



Subwatershed 



Subwatershed 



Subwatershed 



Subwatershed 



Subwatershed 



Subwatershed 



Subwatershed 



Subwatershed 


Implement alternative drain 

practices and rehabilitation 

Look for opportunities to correct old drainage practices 


Ash tree removal and restoration in 

floodplains Remove infected trees prior to dying/falling into streams Reduces potential log jamming/flooding, bank destabilization 

I&E: Yard care, native landscaping, 

septic system maintenance, vehicle 

maintenance and oil disposal 

Expand programs to alternate media and avenues of 

information dissemination (signage) 

Storm water and Water Resource 

Protection Ordinances Regulations to guide property development 

156 





Land Use Planning and 

Management Promote LID though land use planning Reduces impacts of development (sedimentation, erosion, flow, etc,) 



Slow Storm water runoff in Urban 

areas 

Install/maintain storm water 

retention/infiltration basins and 

other infiltration devices 


ponds and/or constructed wetlands 




erosion 

Maintain/Update/Install underground storage in urban 

areas Slows storm water loading to the system, reduces flooding and flow 


pavement for absorption into soil Stores storm water run-off and allows for soil infiltration 


throughout the year to treat incoming storm water run-off 

by allowing particles to settle and algae to take up 

nutrients. 


detention 

Construct/maintain Dry 

retention/detention ponds Ponds retain storm water and release over time Allows pollutants to settle/infiltrate prior to release to the system 

Install/maintain In-line storm sewer 

treatment devices Install catch basin inserts or swirl separators 

Support Environmental Friendly 

Residential and commercial lawn 

and garden maintenance 


Subwatershed 

Management Plan Street and paved area sweeping 

Manage to address proper use, selection, application, 

storage, and disposal of fertilizers Reduces nutrient loading 

Perform primary treatment to remove grit, sediment and floatable 

material from storm sewer flows 


on a regular basis Reduction of sediment debris and pollutant export to receiving waters



Subwatershed 

Management Plan Control soil erosion Stabilize slopes and soils Prevents or reduces erosion due to storm water run-off. 


Subwatershed 


Perform storm sewer system 

cleaning 

Remove pollutants and assure that pipes can carry there 

designed loads Reduces pollutants from entering the waterways 


Subwatershed 

Management Plan Perform catch basin cleaning Regularly clean catch basins Removes pollutants and particulates from storm water 


Subwatershed 



Subwatershed 



Subwatershed 



Subwatershed 



Subwatershed 



Subwatershed 



Subwatershed 



Subwatershed 



Subwatershed 


Construct/maintain media/sand 

filters 

Implement stream bank stabilization 

measures 

Prevent and remove stream 

obstructions 

Utilize soil stabilization measures 

for construction activities 






Detect and remove stream blockages caused by debris, 

log jams, sediment islands, and branches or fallen trees Reduces flow, erosion, and flooding problems 

Utilize physical and vegetative methods to stabilize soil 

during construction Reduces or prevents soil erosion 

Install/Maintain Sediment Trapping 

Devices Install and maintain sediment trapping devices 


discharges 

Identify and eliminate failing 

OSDSs 

157 

Barriers, basins and other devise designed to remove sediment from 

run-off 



Institute program to identify and eliminate failing septic 

systems (like Time of Sale_ Reduces nitrates and bacteria, etc. 

Facilitate agricultural manure 

management practices Employ GAAMPS on small horse/livestock farms Reduces bacteria and nitrates (E. coli, etc) 

Perform septic tank/sanitary sewer 

maintenance 


Subwatershed 

Management Plan Reduce Excessive geese populations 

Maintain systems during dry and wet weather, identify 

inflow and infiltration issues Reduces nutrient loading and pathogen loadings 

Utilize public education, landscaping and egg 

replacement to control nuisance pollutions Reduces bacterial problems associated with geese waste



Subwatershed 

Management Plan Maintain infrastructure Inspect pipes to locate blockages or pipe failures Eliminates a source of illicit discharges/cross connections 


Subwatershed 



Subwatershed 



Subwatershed 



Subwatershed 



Subwatershed 



Subwatershed 


Identify areas for recreational 

enhancement 

Continue and expand litter and 

debris cleanup 

Conduct natural features inventory 

and assessments 


protection ordinances 

Preserve and Enhance existing 

wetlands 

Preserve, enhance, and support 

wetland mitigation banking 


Subwatershed 

Management Plan Construct and Restore wetlands 


Subwatershed 



Subwatershed 



Subwatershed 



Subwatershed 



Subwatershed 



techniques 

Conduct household hazardous waste 

management 

Install/maintain oil and grease trap 

devices 

Public participation/education 

programs 

Highlight watershed issues in the 

media 


resources Fosters watershed stewardship and BMP implementation 

Create programs like adopt-a-stream to raise local 

awareness and control litter problems 





158 

Reduces litter and debris and fosters watershed stewardship and BMP 

implementation 


these species 


priority 

preserve & enhance wetlands, additional acreage 

improves surface and groundwater quality Reduces nutrient loading/preserves habitat and ecology 

Replace wetlands that have been destroyed or filled in the 

same watershed Reduces nutrient loading/preserves habitat and ecology 


surface and groundwater quality Reduces nutrient loading/preserves habitat and ecology 

Utilize techniques like creating in stream structures to 

correct/improve fish and wildlife habitat Improves habitat conditions 

Encourage proper use and disposal of household toxic 

materials, discourage purchasing of such materials 







Minimize the amount of these materials that enter the groundwater 

and surface water supplies 


by gravity and coalescing plates 




community responsibility



Subwatershed 



Subwatershed 



Subwatershed 



solutions 

Implement institutional framework 

to carry out watershed actions 


into community planning 


Subwatershed 

Management Plan Increase enforcement capacities 

Middle One Rouge 

River Subwatershed 




























Institute a framework to implement programs across 

watershed boundaries rather than institutional 



159 


commitments 



development 


priority 

Provide careful and regular inspection during design and 

construction phases of development Ensures that ordinance requirements are being followed appropriately 

Storm water and Water Resource 

Protection Ordinances Regulations to guide property development 



Land Use Planning and 

Management Promote LID though land use planning Reduces impacts of development (sedimentation, erosion, flow, etc.) 



Slow storm water run-off in Urban 

areas 

Install/maintain storm water 

retention/infiltration basins and 

other infiltration devices 


ponds and/or constructed wetlands 




erosion 

Maintain/Update/Install underground storage in urban 

areas Slows storm water loading to the system, reduces flooding and flow 


pavement for absorption into soil Stores storm water run-off and allows for soil infiltration 


throughout the year to treat incoming storm water runoff 

by allowing particles to settle and algae to take up Reduces negative impacts of sediment, nutrients, and provides runoff 

nutrients. 

detention 

Construct/maintain dry 

retention/detention ponds Ponds retain storm water and release over time Allows pollutants to settle/infiltrate prior to release to the system 

Install/maintain in-line storm sewer 

treatment devices Install catch basin inserts or swirl separators 

Support environmental friendly 

residential and commercial lawn 

and garden maintenance 

Manage to address proper use, selection, application, 

storage, and disposal of fertilizers Reduces nutrient loading 

Perform primary treatment to remove grit, sediment and floatable 

material from storm sewer flows




Management Plan Street and paved area sweeping 





Management Plan Control soil erosion Stabilize slopes and soils Prevents or reduces erosion due to storm water run-off. 




Perform storm sewer system 

cleaning 

Remove pollutants and assure that pipes can carry there 

designed loads Reduces pollutants from entering the waterways 



Management Plan Perform catch basin cleaning Regularly clean catch basins Removes pollutants and particulates from storm water 




























Construct/maintain media/sand 

filters 

Implement stream bank stabilization 

measures 

Prevent and remove stream 

obstructions 

Utilize soil stabilization measures 

for construction activities 






Detect and remove stream blockages caused by debris, 

log jams, sediment islands, and branches or fallen trees Reduces flow, erosion, and flooding problems 

Utilize physical and vegetative methods to stabilize soil 

during construction Reduces or prevents soil erosion 

Install/Maintain Sediment Trapping 

Devices Install and maintain sediment trapping devices 


discharges 

Identify and eliminate failing 

OSDSs 

160 

Barriers, basins and other devise designed to remove sediment from 

runoff 



Institute program to identify and eliminate failing septic 

systems like Time of Sale Reduces nitrates and bacteria, etc 

Facilitate agricultural manure 

management practices Employ GAAMPS on small horse/livestock farms Reduces bacteria and nitrates (E. coli, etc) 

Perform septic tank/sanitary sewer 

maintenance 

Maintain systems during dry and wet weather, identify 

inflow and infiltration issues Reduces nutrient loading and pathogen loadings




Management Plan Reduce Excessive geese populations 

Utilize public education, landscaping and egg 

replacement to control nuisance populations Reduces bacterial problems associated with geese waste 



Management Plan Maintain infrastructure Inspect pipes to locate blockages or pipe failures Eliminates a source of illicit discharges/ cross connections 



















Identify areas for recreational 

enhancement 

Continue and expand litter and 

debris cleanup 

Conduct natural features inventory 

and assessments 


protection ordinances 

Preserve and Enhance existing 

wetlands 

Preserve, enhance, and support 

wetland mitigation banking 



Management Plan Construct and restore wetlands 











techniques 

Conduct household hazardous waste 

management 

Install/maintain oil and grease trap 

devices 


resources Fosters watershed stewardship and BMP implementation 

Create programs like Adopt-a-Stream to raise local 

awareness and control litter problems 





161 

Reduces litter and debris and fosters watershed stewardship and BMP 

implementation 


these species 


priority 

preserve & enhance wetlands, additional acreage 

improves surface and groundwater quality Reduces nutrient loading/preserves habitat and ecology 

Replace wetlands that have been destroyed or filled in the 

same watershed Reduces nutrient loading/preserves habitat and ecology 


surface and groundwater quality Reduces nutrient loading/preserves habitat and ecology 

Utilize techniques like creating in stream structures to 

correct/improve fish and wildlife habitat Improves habitat conditions 

Encourage proper use and disposal of household toxic 

materials, discourage purchasing of such materials 



Minimize the amount of these materials that enter the groundwater 

and surface waste supplies 


by gravity and coalescing plates

















Public participation/education 

programs 

Highlight watershed issues in the 

media 


solutions 

Implement institutional framework 

to carry out watershed actions 


into community planning 



Management Plan Increase enforcement capacities 







Institute a framework to implement programs across 

watershed boundaries rather than institutional 



162 






commitments 



development 


priority 

Provide careful and regular inspection during design and 

construction phases of development Ensures that ordinance requirements are being followed appropriately

APPENDIX C: 

Acronyms and Abbreviations 

AST Aboveground Storage Tank 

BMP Best Management Practice 

CCR Consumer Confidence Report 

CPCS Community Partners for Clean Streams 

CWA Clean Water Act 

CWS Community Water System 

CWSRLF Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund 

DO Dissolved Oxygen 

DU Designated Use 

EPA Environmental Protection Agency 

gpm Gallons Per Minute 

HRWC Huron River Watershed Council 

LUST Leaking Underground Storage Tank 

MCL Maximum Contaminant Level 

MDCH Michigan Department of Community Health 

MDEQ Michigan Department of Environmental Quality 

mg/L Milligrams Per Liter 

µg/L Micrograms Per Liter 

MS4 Municipal Separate Sanitary and Stormwater Systems 

163 

NPDES National Pollution Discharge Elimination System 

NREPA Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act 

PA Public Act 

PCB Polychlorinated Biphenyls 

PERC Perchloroethylene 

POTW Publicly Owned Treatment Works 

ppb Parts Per Billion 

ppm Parts Per Million 

RRWC River Raisin Watershed Council 

SDWA Safe Drinking Water Act 

TMDL Total Maximum Daily Load 

USEPA United States Environmental Protection Agency 

UST Underground Storage Tank 

VOC Volatile Organic Compound 

WPA Water Protection Activities in Washtenaw County 

WQS Water Quality Standards 

WWTP Waste Water Treatment Plant 

YCUA Ypsilanti Community Utilities Authority

APPENDIX D: 

References 

City of Ann Arbor. 2004. 2004 Drinking Water Quality Report. Ann 

Arbor, MI. 

City of Ann Arbor. 2004. State of Our Environment. Ann Arbor, MI. 

Gastler, G., Hanson, R., Ratcliffe, M., Wolman, H., Coleman, S., 

Freihage, J. 2001. Wrestling Sprawl to the Ground: Defining 

and Measuring an Elusive Concept. Housing Policy Debate, 

Volume 12, Issue 4. Fanny Mae Foundation. Washington, 

DC. 

Huron River Watershed Council. 2003. The Middle Huron River 

Watershed Initiative. Ann Arbor, MI. 

Jaques, D. 1991. Review of Water Quality Reports concerning the 

Huron River in the Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti Urban Area. 

Washtenaw County Drain Commissioner. Ann Arbor, MI. 

Kentucky Environmental Quality Commission. 2001. State of 

Kentucky’s Environment. Frankfort, Ky. 

Livingston County. 2002. Environmental Awareness Handbook. 

Howell, MI. 

Lehman, John T. 2006. Adaptive Management for Improved Water 

Quality in Multi-Use Watersheds. Technical Report. EPA 

Grant Number: R830653 

Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). 2000. 

Ingham County: The Story of Water Resources at Work. 

Washington. D.C. 

U.S. Department of the Interior. 2000. Ground-Water Quality Atlas 

of Oakland County Michigan. Lansing, MI. 

164 

U.S. Department of the Interior. 2000. Water Quality Resources in a 

Rapidly Growing Region - Oakland County Michigan. 

Reston, VA. 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2002. State of the Waters 

2002: Region 5. Chicago, IL. 

The Water Resources Consortium & the Institute for Community and 

Regional Development. 2005. Stony Creek Watershed 

Management Plan. Eastern Michigan University. Ypsilanti, 

MI. 

Washtenaw County. 2004. A Comprehensive Plan for Washtenaw 

County. Ann Arbor, MI. 

Washtenaw County. 1994. Washtenaw County Groundwater Atlas. 

Ann Arbor, MI. 

Washtenaw County Drain Commissioner. 1999. Imperviousness 

Reduction and Mitigation in Tributaries of the Huron River. 

Ann Arbor, MI. 

Washtenaw County. 1993. Fragile Lands. Ann Arbor, Mi. 

Washtenaw County Drain Commissioner. 2000. Watershed Plan for 

the Huron River in the Ann Arbor- Ypsilanti Metropolitan 

Area. Ann Arbor, MI. 

Washtenaw County Drain Commissioner. 1994. The Physical and 

Biological Description of the Huron River, its Watersheds 

and Tributaries in the Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti Area. Ann Arbor, 

MI. 

Western Michigan University, 1981. Hydrogeologic Atlas of 

Michigan. Department of Geology, College of Arts and 

Sciences, Kalamazoo, MI. 

Wyckoff, M., Manning, M., Olson, K., Riggs, E., 2003. How Much 

Development is Too Much? Planning & Zoning Center, Inc. 

& Huron River Watershed Council. Ann Arbor, Mi., 

Lansing, MI

printed on recycled paper 

July 2008


Department of Planning & Environment 


705 N. Zeeb Rd., P.O. Box 8645 


(734) 222-3800 

www.eWashtenaw.org

Water Protection Activities in Washtenaw County

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