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Water Protection Activities in Washtenaw County

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B2 - Plan 2: Huron Cha<strong>in</strong> of Lakes <strong>Water</strong>shed Management<br />

Plan<br />

Plan Date: November 2005<br />

The Huron Cha<strong>in</strong> of Lakes <strong>Water</strong>shed (HCLW) covers 253<br />

square miles (161,919 acres), represent<strong>in</strong>g 28% of the Huron<br />

River watershed. The majority of the watershed lies with<strong>in</strong><br />

Liv<strong>in</strong>gston <strong>County</strong>, with the eastern portions <strong>in</strong> southwest<br />

Oakland <strong>County</strong> and the southern most areas <strong>in</strong> Dexter,<br />

Webster, Northfield and Salem townships <strong>in</strong> <strong>Washtenaw</strong><br />

<strong>County</strong>. With<strong>in</strong> this watershed area, the Huron River flows<br />

southwest for 27 miles through a series of wetlands and lakes<br />

prior to cont<strong>in</strong>u<strong>in</strong>g south through <strong>Washtenaw</strong> <strong>County</strong>.<br />

While the HCLW conta<strong>in</strong>s several areas of high quality natural<br />

habitat, aquatic ecosystems, and recreational opportunities,<br />

analysis of exist<strong>in</strong>g data <strong>in</strong>dicate that the HCLW also has<br />

stretches of medium and low quality waterways that require<br />

mitigation of exist<strong>in</strong>g impairments. Identified impairments<br />

<strong>in</strong>clude: high nutrient load<strong>in</strong>g, altered hydrology,<br />

sedimentation, soil erosion, pathogens, salts, organic<br />

compounds, heavy metals, elevated water temperature and<br />

debris/litter. Additionally, three TMDLs for phosphorus have<br />

been established <strong>in</strong> the watershed for Brighton, Strawberry, and<br />

Ore Lakes. Six TMDLs for other pollutants are scheduled for<br />

future (2007-2013) establishment <strong>in</strong> the watershed. One TMDL<br />

is scheduled for 2009 <strong>in</strong> <strong>Washtenaw</strong> <strong>County</strong> for a “poor macro<br />

<strong>in</strong>vertebrate population” <strong>in</strong> the Horseshoe Lake Outlet Dra<strong>in</strong>.<br />

A total of 96 Best Management Practices (BMPs) are identified<br />

<strong>in</strong> the action plan to mitigate these impairments. Included are<br />

Managerial Actions (ord<strong>in</strong>ances, policies, studies, education,<br />

illicit discharge elim<strong>in</strong>ation, fund<strong>in</strong>g), Vegetative Management<br />

Alternatives (wetlands, buffers, grassed swales, habitat<br />

131<br />

restoration, soil stabilization) and Structural Management<br />

Alternatives (storm water retention/detention bas<strong>in</strong>s,<br />

<strong>in</strong>filtration trenches, culvert ma<strong>in</strong>tenance/repair, grade<br />

stabilization, sediment trapp<strong>in</strong>g). Not all BMPs apply to, or<br />

have been implemented by, all cities, villages and townships<br />

with<strong>in</strong> the HCLW.<br />

B2 Map:

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