Huron River Report 2012

7/30/2019 Huron River Report 2012

1/12

Winter 2012

Huron River ReportPublished quarterly by the Huron River Watershed Council

1100 North Main Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

continued on page 3

200 Years of Michigan FishPart 1 of a four-part series on Michigans sheries

Low Flow Woes and Lake LevelsThe consequences of lake level control in a drought

continued on page 5

Blue GivingNever a Dull MomentStormdrain Awareness pg 6

pg 8pg 7

This years drought and consistently warmwinter, spring and summer conditionshave lots of people talking about extremeweather and the role of climate change.A compounding factor is the stress thatcourt-established water levels on lakeshave on the Huron River system underdrought conditions. Climate scientistsexpect these conditions to occur withgreater frequency over the next 30-50

years.

STATE LAW AT ODDS

Michigan law prohibits reduced river owsunder Section 324.301 of the 1994 Natural

Resource and EnvironmentalProtection Act. The sectionstates that diminishing aninland lake or stream isprohibited without a permit.Diminish can mean to reduceows to a creek, as happenswhen gates of a lake levelcontrol structure are closed.

However, a bit later in the law,under Section 324.307, reducedriver ow is allowed. Under this

Michigan boasts 11,000 lakes, 36,000 milesof streams and rivers, and is surrounded bythe largest system of freshwater lakes onEarth. Over the past two hundred years,European settlers and their descendentshave done much to alter these naturalsystems and the creatures that inhabit

them. This article is the rst in a series offour articles that examine how humanschanged sh diversity and abundancein Michigan since 1830 through greed,stewardship, ignorance and intention.

1830-1873: THE HISTORY OF ABUSE

In the 1830s, many immigrants settled inMichigan and set up homes, farms, andvillages. Resource extraction from theland and water dened this period as thesettlers worked hard, used Michigansnatural resources, and thrived. Iron, copper,

timber, and sh were in plentiful supply.

Sturgeon line the docks in this late 19th century photo. Sturgeon were initially killed and wasted,

and later harvested to near extinction. source: Public Domain, Freshwater and Marine Image Bank

Dam management during drought conditions this summer

led to extremely low river ows in some places.photo: Ben Connor of Damn Arbor


2/12Winter 2012 Huron River Report

Featured Articles

200 Years of Michigan Fish ..........coverPart 1 of a four-part series

Low Flow Woes and Lake Levels.....coverThe consequences of lake leve control in drought

Survey Says Watershed Residents areStormdrain-Aware ...................6Most recognize that untreated runoff goesdirectly to lakes and streams

Never a Dull Moment ...................7HRWC reports on progress

Blue Giving ...................8Staff top-ten picks for meaningful gifts

Page 2

Table of Contents

*= Adopt-A-Stream Monitoring Site

Events

HRWC ofces are located at the NEW Center1100 N. Main Street in Ann Arbor

Call (734) 769-5123 or visit the HRWC website for directions

Regular Features

Lauras Stream of Consciousness..............9An update from the Executive Director

You Make the Difference! ..................11Become a member of HRWC

Thank You! back cover

The content of this newsletter is prepared byHRWC staff and does not necessarily reect the

opinions of HRWC board members.

Thurs. Dec. 13, 5:30 PM

HRWC Executive MeetingNEW Center, Ann Arborcontact: [email protected]

Sat. Jan. 26, start at 10:30 AM OR12:00 PM, and lasting up to 5 hoursWinter Stoney Search

NEW Center, Ann Arbor - travel tolocations with your teamRegistration: www.hrwc.org/volun-teers/stoneycontact: [email protected]

Thurs. Jan. 31, 5:30 PM

HRWC Board MeetingNEW Center, Ann Arborcontact: [email protected]

Sat. March 2, 9 AM - 5:30 PM18th Annual Quiet Water

Symposium

MSU Campus, East Lansingwww.quietwatersymposium.orgcheck the website for registrationdetails, etc.

More events and updates on the web at: www.hrwc.org

cover

Indicates geographiclocation connected to

article.

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Followus

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Twitter!

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ter.com/

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3/12Winter 2012Huron River Report Page 3

continued from cover

200 Years of Michigan Fish

continued on page 4

During these early times, Michiganssheries seemed inexhaustible. Lake

whitesh was deemed as one of thehighest quality food shes ever discoveredthroughout the world and it rivaledthe great forest of white pine or the

buffaloes on the western plains. However,commercial shing quickly depleted theabundant sheries of early Michigan asthe industry grew in the Great Lakes andmajor rivers. The Michigan Department ofNatural Resources (DNR) Fish Division hasestimated that at least 1.2 billion poundsof sh (whitesh and others) were takenfrom Lakes Superior, Michigan, and Huronfrom 1830-1890. As catches declined, theshing industry developed new exploitivenets, gear, and techniques to keep thecatch high. Other non-target species,

known as bycatch, suffered as a result.

A standard practice for sherman was todestroy bycatch by dumping these shon land or purposely injuring them anddropping them overboard to die. Thesturgeon became the poster child ofthis pointless waste. In 1973, former DNRFish Division Chief Wayne Tody wrote,Today, we deplore the slaughter ofthe passenger pigeon, the Americanbison But very likely, no singleanimal was ever subjected to suchdeliberate wanton destruction as wasthe lake sturgeon.

Lake sturgeon are very large (ftypound sh were common, and manyreached a length of nine feet). Thebony plates covering the sturgeonwould get entangled in shingnets and tear the webbing. Also, asthe sturgeon is a bottom feeder,shermen mistakenly thought thatthese sh ate the young of the more

valuable species. For these reasons,sherman saw the sturgeon as a nuisancespecies and often killed them just to getrid of them. They piled the sh in longrows on shore and burned them and,because of the sturgeons high fat content,they also burned the carcasses in boatboilers.

By 1860, a market for a whole variety ofsturgeon products took hold, transformingsturgeon from a nuisance species to a

commodity prized for its hide, meat, androe (caviar). This market took the sturgeonout of the frying pan and into the re, andin just two generations, the sturgeon ofthe Great Lakes would be harvested nearto extinction.

Today the sturgeon can still be found. Butit is a state-listed threatened species anda federal species of concern. Federal andstate scientists have had some successin protecting and building the sturgeonpopulation by creating sturgeon habitat inLake Erie and Lake St. Clair.

1873-1929: THE BEGINNING OF FISHERIES

MANAGEMENT: STOCKING

Spurred on by a need to more carefullymanage the resource, in 1873, the State

government started the precursor of theMichigan DNR Fish Division the Boardof Fish Commission. The Commissionsrst responsibility was to select a

suitable location for a State sh-breeding establishment, for the articialpropagation and cultivation of White Fishand such other kinds of the better class offood-shes as they may direct.

By 1890, after 20 years of attempting torevitalize the commercial shery throughrearing and stocking, the Fish Commissionknew that their efforts were on a breakeven level. Whitesh commercial sheriesstill existed, but the catch was very lowand many of the shermen could notearn enough to stay above the povertylevel. With no regulations in place, theshermen were keeping everything they

caught despite size, and the sh stocked

by the Fish Commission were not givenenough time to mature and reproduce.

In 1897, the Fish Commission attempteda political route to ght depletion.However, the state legislature did not

allow it to place limitations on thenumber of sherman, the amount ortype of gear, or even total catch. Inaddition, the state legislature questionedthe Commissions effectiveness and cutits budget in half. Eventually the fullbudget was reinstated, but the legislaturetold the Commission that it could nolonger allocate money toward therearing and stocking of commercial sh.

The sh rearing operations in Detroitwere abandoned. After the turn of thecentury, under considerable pressure

from commercial shing enterprises, thefederal U.S. Fisheries Commission beganto operate these empty facilities but thestate government was ofcially done with

assisting the commercial shing business.

The Commission, with their daysmanaging Great Lakes commercial sheriesbehind them, began to invest more heavily

in inland waters and intensiedtheir efforts to spread game shspecies around the state. One of theCommissions main jobs was to move

native species to new areas. By theturn of the century, the Commissionspread brook trout from the UpperPeninsula to 1,500 different streamsin the Lower Peninsula. Warmwater sh were not ignored; theCommission spread bass, perch, andpansh to areas where they had notbeen, such as isolated lakes.

The Fish Commission also broughtnew species to Michigan by widelyspreading both German trout and

California trout. German trout becamebetter known as brown trout, a namechange precipitated by the general dislikeof Germany during World War I. Californiatrout were eventually called rainbow troutIt is a shame that neither of the old namesstuck, since most people today do notknow that brown and rainbow trout arenot native to Michigan.

Commercial sheries harvested over a billion pounds of

lake sh from the Great Lakes in the late 1800s.

source: Public Domain, Freshwater and Marine Image Bank


4/12Winter 2012 Huron River ReportPage 4

continued from page 3

200 Years of Michigan Fish

Paul Steen

Like the commercial shery, game shsuffered from poor management andnon-existent regulations. Native brooktrout populations declined becausethe introduced brown trout was morecompetitive and able to thrive in slightly

warmer waters. However, of particularlament is the decline and loss of thebeautiful grayling during this time period.

The extirpation of the grayling was theresult of overharvesting and habitat loss.As railroads spread, northern streamsbecame more accessible to more peopleand, as F.A. Westerman, MDNR FisheriesDivision Chief noted in 1961, This greatlyintensied the angling pressure on these

beautiful sh, which for sheer beauty andgameness could not be excelled by anyother sh No sh responded more avidlyto the articial y. Long leaders to which

three and even four ies were attachedoften yielded successive catch of threeand even four sh at a cast soon thequestion arose, What had become of thegrayling? William Montague, a pioneerat Paris, Mecosta County, recalled anadventure with grayling when interviewedin his old age. One spring the graylingwere running up the Hersey. We notedthey had some difculty in passing anobstruction in the stream, so we placed acanoe crosswise at that point and caught

over seven hundred in one afternoon.Needless to say, sustainability was not amainstream concept in the late 19th andearly 20th centuries.

Timber operations in particular caused

extensive erosion, damming, and alteredstream hydrology. White pine harvestingwas in full swing in the latter half of the19th century throughout Michigan. All ofthe prime grayling streams were also inwatersheds that had tremendous expansesof white pine. Loggers used streams as theconveyance to transport the logs fromupper parts of watersheds down to theGreat Lakes, where they could be pickedup by ships and carried to populationcenters like Chicago, Detroit, and Buffalo.It was common practice to build dams

and create large impoundments to storethe logs. Upon time to transport, theloggers would breach the dam and ridethe logs down the river in a huge rush ofwater. As the logs traveled downstream,they destroyed the stream banks, and thereleased water scoured the streambed ofimportant gravel and rock substrate.

Overharvesting and the timber practicestook their toll on the grayling. Other

members of the grayling family are stillliving in Montana, Europe, and the Arctic,but sherman last reported catching theMichigan Grayling in 1935.

COMING SOON!

In the next part of this series, HRWC willexamine how Michigan led the nation insheries research with the founding ofthe Institute for Fisheries Research in 1930.During this time, the state governmentbegan to put shing regulations inplace backed by scientic evidence andreasoning.

Sources:

1894. Biennial Report of the Fish Commission

Board, 1892-1894. Michigan Department ofNatural Resources Fisheries Division, Lansing,

Michigan.

1973. Michigan Department of Natural

Resources Centennial Report, 1873-1973.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Fisheries Division, Lansing, Michigan.

Unwise logging practices decimated river habitat in Michigan throughout the 19th

century and into the 20th century, as seen in this picture of the Muskegon River.source: Used with permission, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan, BL005914

The Michigan grayling was prized for its beauty

and abused for its love of the articial y.credit: Public Domain, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service



Low Flow Woes and Lake Levelscontinued from cover

Paul Steen and Ric Lawson

section, lakes can have a regulatedlake level through the use of alake level control structure thatmaintains a lakes water level whilereducing ow to downstreamlakes and rivers. Lake residents are

able to obtain these designationsfor their lake through a processwith the Michigan Department ofEnvironmental Quality (DEQ). Oncea judge sets a lake level, thelake or dam manager (often thecounty Drain or Water ResourcesCommissioner) is responsible foraltering the outow of the waterfrom these lakes via structures sothat the lake is able to maintaina constant depth. Managers havevery little allowance to alter

these established levels. Lakeresidents are motivated to pursueregulated lake levels to makeboating and recreation easier,and ensure that docks can beused reliably despite changes inweather conditions. Many lakesin the watershed, including in-lineimpoundments of the Huron River,have court-ordered lake levels.

Typically, though not always, theDEQ gives section 307 precedence

over section 301, meaning thatpermitted lake control structuresare allowed to diminish thedownstream lake or stream in order tomaintain lake levels.

MAINTAINING LAKE LEVELS DURING A

DROUGHT

Actions taken to maintain a court-orderedlake level usually go unnoticed duringperiods of normal weather. But thismanipulation of a natural system has thepotential to stress the ecology of thelake during drought periods. Since thelake manager is obligated to maintaina xed lake water level, but not a xed

downstream water level, it is possible thatthey would need to hoard incomingwater and only allow reduced ow or

even no ow downstream (see graphic).

Under typical ow conditions, the amountof water leaving a lake will equal theamount of water entering the lake, plusany additions from rain, and minus anywater lost through evaporation. Under

drought conditions, the amount of waterentering the lake is already reduced fromlow stream ows, no additional input isprovided from rain, and the amount of

Depiction of a simple impoundment system. During dry

conditions, evaporation can signicantly reduce ow available

downstream. credit: HRWC

evaporation can be signicant. Asa result, a lake manager may haveto close off the outow altogetherto maintain the lakes court-ordered water level, and no wateror very reduced ows will reach

downstream to keep the sh aliveor provide water to the next lakeor river section downstream. Thissituation occurred at a number oflocations in the watershed this pastsummer.

HOW CAN THE SITUATION BE

IMPROVED?

A measure of relief could befound in the operation of thestructures. Some lakes have anun-gated pipe or dam bypass

that drains downstream, so thatsome amount of water is alwaysowing downstream even whenthe dams gates are completelyclosed. However, such a bypass isnot required to obtain a legal lakelevel. Building this measure intothe requirements would providea safeguard to ensure that somelevel of water is always goingdownstream.

The DEQ has the responsibility to

examine the problem with streamow as it relates to drought andmandated lake levels. In particular,

prioritizing the maintenance of lake levelsover allowing for run-of-the-river ows isdangerous for the survival of downstreamecosystems, especially during droughtconditions. DEQ staff is aware of theproblem and considering options short ofchanging the law. Ultimately, it may takelegal or legislative changes to establishbetter recognition of river and stream owneeds in lake level control policy.

Give your old and unwanted books, CDs, and DVDs a second life! Bring them to HRWCbetween 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM weekdays. Books by Chance will sell them over the internetand donate the proceeds to HRWC. Non-ction, scholarly, technical, current medical and

science, quilting/sewing, engineering, law, political, very current ction, and textbooksappreciated. Questions? Contact Rebecca Foster x 610 or [email protected].


6/12



compiled by Elizabeth Rigg

HRWC reports on progress

Never a Dull Moment

ADOPT-A-STREAMMeasuring & Mapping program teamssucceeded in collecting habitatinformation about local sampling sites. Anew partnership between HRWC, LeslieScience & Nature Center (LSNC), and LeslieGolf Course offered LSNC campers theopportunity to sample Traver Creek whilestudying water quality changes relatedto the golf courses waterway restorationproject. Our newest endeavor has beenthe River Stewards pilot, where long-termvolunteers walked sections of Mill andFleming creeks.

BIORESERVE

The summer eld season wrapped upwith 53 assessments on private and publiclands, including 11 Southeast Michigan

Land Conservancy (SMLC) preservesand natural areas within four Huron-Clinton (HCMA) Metroparks. Based onthe assessments, SMLC and HCMA cancreate effective management plans forthese ecosystems. A new project creatinga Green Infrastructure plan and map hasstarted in Lyndon Township and will soonexpand to other communities, helping toguide future land development and naturalasset planning.

HONEY CREEK

HRWC engaged volunteers to collectwater samples throughout the HoneyCreekshed to determine patterns ofbacteria levels in the tributary just westof Ann Arbor in Scio Township. HoneyCreek was previously found to have unsafelevels of bacteria. Samples were analyzedfor bacteria concentration and geneticngerprints to identify potential sources.

Unfortunately, results showed broadcontamination across the creekshed, andmany types of sources were identiedincluding human activities. HRWC is

developing a plan to identify and reducecreek contamination.

DETECTING FAILING SEPTIC SYSTEMS

HRWC leads a project team on developingand testing a protocol for focusingresources to address failing septic systems.The team developed a protocol thatemploys a combination of GIS, thermaland color infrared imagery, and targetededucation. The protocal was tested in the

eld by 300 homeowners. HRWC, alongwith Washtenaw County, SanbornSolutions, and Photo Science, Inc.,embarked on this project to nd a wayto reduce the quantity of phosphorusand bacteria entering the middle HuronRiver from failing septic systems, andto develop a cost-effective approachfor county health departments acrossthe country to monitor and correctproblems.

MAKING CLIMATE-RESILIENT

COMMUNITIES

Project participants of the NaturalInfrastructure, In-stream Flows, andWater Infrastructure sectors met overthe course of six months to discussvulnerabilities to projected changes to

the local climate and develop strategiesto reduce these vulnerabilities. Outcomesinclude: tree species fact sheets sharingthe predicted impact of climate changeon key tree species in our watershed forlarge scale planting and reforestationefforts; a meeting of dam operators todiscuss communication needs for optimaleveryday and emergency management ofmain stem dams for improved river ow

management; and a revision of rainfallfrequency curves for the area for improveddecisions about stormwater infrastructure

and management.

RIVERUP!

HRWCs partnership with the NationalWildlife Federation, the Michigan Leagueof Conservation Voters Education Fund,and a group of business and communityleaders called the Wolfpack, is yieldingamazing results. During the rst year of

this river renaissance, RiverUp! completeddesign and construction for the improvedportage at Superior dam; launched theHuron River Water Trail with a new

logo, way-nding signs, marketing, andthe designation of four Trail Towns; andcoordinated the re-envisioning of twoindustrial riverfront properties in AnnArbor and Ypsilanti. Amore completereview of the rst

year, as well as plansfor the next three

years, is available atwww.riveruphuron.org.

STORMWATER PERMITS

Michigan DEQ recently revised stormwater

permits for municipalities in the HuronRiver watershed. The biggest revision isthat municipalities will apply and receiveindividually tailored permits rather thancoverage under a general statewide permitOther changes include responsibilitiesfor addressing water quality impairments,monitoring, and general exibility inhow communities choose to comply.HRWCs Stream Monitoring points tosuccess in this type of approach. HRWC iscoordinating application content for mostmunicipalities in Livingston, Washtenaw

and Wayne counties.

SAVING WATER SAVES ENERGY

This program had an outstanding summeroutreach season. Fifteen festivals(March through September); 9 differentcommunities in the watershed (Milfordto Flat Rock); 25 volunteers; 1 H2O Hero

(in costume); 2 visits from CongressmanJohn Dingell (Huron River Day andRiverfest); 500 hero masks (colored, cut,and assembled by the youngest everydayheroes); 1,500 ve-minute shower timers

and tip cards distributed; 1,000 toilet leakdetection kits put to use by homeowners;

350 pledges to save collected; andcountless conversations about EPAsWaterSense label, the affordability ofwater efciency and the resulting benets(saving water, energy, money and reducingcarbon emissions).

Young water heroes try out their masks at Summer

Fest. photos: HRWC



HRWC BOARD OF DIRECTORS

HRWC STAFF(734) 769-5123

Rebecca Esselman x 611

Watershed [email protected]

Jennifer Fike x 604

Finance [email protected]

Rebecca Foster x 610

Development Associate

[email protected]

Jason Frenzel x 600

Stewardship [email protected]

Pam Labadie x 602

Marketing [email protected]

Ric Lawson x 609


Kris Olsson x 607


Elizabeth Riggs x 608

Deputy [email protected]

Laura Rubin x 606

Executive [email protected]

Margaret M. Smith x 605

Director of [email protected]

Paul Steen x 601


Debi Weiker

Watershed Program [email protected]

CITY OF ANN ARBOR

Dick Norton (Exec. Comm.)

Eunice Burns (Exec. Comm.)

Craig Hupy

Evan Pratt (Chair)Molly Robinson (alternate)

Cheryl Darnton

ANN ARBOR TOWNSHIP

Diane OConnell (Exec. Comm.)

VILLAGE OF BARTON HILLS

Cheryl Mackrell

CITY OF BELLEVILLE

vacant

CITY OF BRIGHTON

vacant

CITY OF CHELSEA

Steven Wright

COMMERCE TOWNSHIP

Peter Schappach

DEXTER TOWNSHIPBarry Lonik

Kathryn Bowring (alternate)

VILLAGE OF DEXTER

Paul Cousins (Vice Chair)

CITY OF FLAT ROCK

Jim Martin

GENOA TOWNSHIP

vacant

GREEN OAK TOWNSHIP

Fred Hanert

HURON TOWNSHIP

Deeda Stanczak

Robert Stanczak (alternate)

LIVINGSTON COUNTY

Matt BolangScott Barb

VILLAGE OF MILFORD

Mark Irish

MILFORD TOWNSHIP

Mary Bajcz

NORTHFIELD TOWNSHIP

Sue Shink

OAKLAND COUNTY

Chris Benedict (Exec. Comm.)

VILLAGE OF PINCKNEY

Barry White

PITTSFIELD TOWNSHIP

vacant

PUTNAM TOWNSHIP

vacantCITY OF ROCKWOOD

vacant

SALEM TOWNSHIP

vacant

SCIO TOWNSHIP

Gerry Kangas

Erik Petrovskis (alternate)

VILLAGE OF SOUTH

ROCKWOOD

Matthew LaFleur

SUPERIOR TOWNSHIP

John Langs (Exec. Comm.)

VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP

Dave Wilson

WALLED LAKELisa McGill

WASHTENAW COUNTY

Janis Bobrin (Exec. Comm.)

Scott Munzel

Steve Francoeur (alternate)

WAYNE COUNTY

vacant

WEBSTER TOWNSHIP

vacant

W. BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP

Gene Farber (Treasurer)

WHITE LAKE TOWNSHIP

Kathy Aseltyne

CITY OF WIXOM

Michael HowellVILLAGE OF WOLVERINE LAKE

vacant

CITY OF YPSILANTI

Sally Lusk

Lisa Wozniak

YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP

Norm Andresen

Page 8

Staff top-ten picks for meaningful holiday gifts

Blue Giving

1. Nothing says I love you like a localfarm share providing the recipientwith a weekly supply of organic,in-season produce grown by localfarmers. For a list of sources check outannarbor.com/entertainment/food-

drink/an-updated-csa-guide-for-2012.2. A rain chain makes a beautiful featureout of the transport of water fromrooftop to soil.

3. A dissecting microscope will encour-age your budding biologist by givingthem an up-close look at nature andall of its wonder.

4. For that special someone who lovesto run, how about an upcycled bagor tote made from race bibs? Look atwww.mile22bags.com.

5. For the techie, a Nest Learning

Thermostat tracks individual heat-ing and cooling needs and keeps thehome environment comfortable andefcient.

6. A gift certicate from a native plantnursery makes gardeners happy whileprotecting the river, as native gardensrequire less water and fertilizer andare great for ltering pollutants TryNature and Nurture, Appel Environ-

mental Design, Native Plant Nurseryor Plantwise for local plant stock.

7. A WaterSense labeled showerheadsaves money, water and energy andstill provides a refreshing shower.

8. Rain barrels capture water from roof-tops and hold it for later use, keepingwater out of the stormwater systemand reducing the impacts of urbanrunoff.

9. A number of books for all ages are

written by Michigan authors on top-ics relate to water and nature. TryChickadees At Nightby Bill O. Smithfor children or The Living Great Lakesby Jerry Dennis for adults.

10. And last, but certainly not least, amembership to HRWC includes thatgood feeling you get when you sup-port a great cause, plus a quarterlynewsletter, discounts on some greatevents and our sincerest appreciation:www.hrwc.org/support-us.

compiled by Rebecca Esselman



Laura Rubin

An update on HRWC projects and activities

Lauras Stream of Consciousness

THANK YOU, JANIS!

Janis Bobrin, Washtenaw County WaterResources Commissioner, is retiring at theend of the year. She has committed her33-year career to the environment, people,and public service, and has led the charge

to transform the way we manage water inMichigan. Janis has guided the state andregion through her focus on water qualityimprovement projects, stewardship,community engagement, and greeninfrastructure.

In 1988, Janiswas electedWashtenawCounty DrainCommissioner,a position that

traditionallyfocused onmaintenanceandconstructionof DRAINSto get the

water off the land as fast as possible. Herbackground in environmental planningmade her especially well-suited to theevolving role of the drain commission.In her ve terms in ofce, she expandedand reshaped the position to one that

focuses on water quality protection andrestoration thats WATER (not drains!) a change reected in the new titleadopted four years ago: Water ResourcesCommissioner.

In addition to the responsibilities ofher ofce, Janis manages WashtenawCountys Public Works Departmentand operates the Countys Soil Erosionand Sedimentation Control program.She has also served as a member of

numerous local commissions focusedon environmental protection. Prior toher current position, Janis worked as anenvironmental planner and manager ofwater quality programs for SEMCOG.

Recent creek and watershed restorationprojects include: Malletts Creek Restoration Project in

Ann Arbor (2012), which will improvewater quality and habitat in the creek,resulting in an annual reduction of

715 pounds of phosphorus dischargedto the Huron River from the MallettsCreekshed.

Mary Beth Doyle Wetland Preservein Ann Arbor and Pittseld Township(2008). The wetland holds 15 million

gallons of stormwater before releasingit slowly back to Malletts Creek. Thewetland helps stabilize ow aftera storm and removes 2/3 of thesediments and phosphorous thatwould have otherwise owed into theHuron River.

Pioneer High and West ParkStormwater projects in the AllenCreekshed (2011).

Other issues Janis has taken on include: Development of a Watershed Plan for

the Middle Huron River that guidesprotection and restoration efforts andis a prerequisite to receipt of stateand federal grants.

Instituting programs to eliminate andprevent pollution in county drains andwaterways.

Adoption of requirements for lowimpact, natural approaches tostorm water management in newdevelopments, to protect our waterresources as the county grows.

In addition, Janis has implemented publicoutreach programs like CommunityPartners for Clean Streams, RiverSafeHomes, and the Residential Rain GardenProgram, which have become State andNational models.

Janiss career has set a high bar for therest of us to strive for in water resourceprotection. She showed us how we canall make a difference in our community,region, and state. Whether it is changes tostate policy, helping local residents withooding problems, or leading pollutionprevention initiatives, Janiss know-howand tenacity got things done.

Protecting natural resources for this andfuture generations is a daunting goal, but

Janis Bobrin has never shied from thechallenge. The water resources of thisregion, the state, and the Great Lakes havea much brighter future thanks to Janisscareer. Thank you, Janis.

THE CLEAN WATER ACT CELEBRATES

40 YEARS

Its not every day that you get tocommemorate landmark environmentallegislation with a legislator who authoredit. Thats just what Elizabeth Riggs andI did on October 18th in Flat Rock withCongressman John Dingell (D-MI15) tomark the 40th Anniversary of the CleanWater Act. We were joined by other

conservationists and sportsmen dedicatedto protecting our freshwaters.

The Clean Water Act has been centralto cleaning up the Huron River and thenations waters including the Great Lakesand all the waters within their basin.Many of our programs and funding owetheir start and continuation to the toolsand resources provided by the Act. Infact, HRWC has received about 24 grantsvalued at over $3,000,000 that reach intoall communities of the watershed with

the unifying goal of making the river moreswimmable, shable and drinkable. Thesegrants have restored creeks, protected highquality streams, and developed forward-looking plans that commit stakeholders torestoration and protection actions.

Even on a sun-lled autumn afternoonwhere the mood was festive, the prospectof Congressional threats to the Act casta shadow. In passing the Clean WaterAct, Dingell and his bipartisan colleagues

worked to establish a broader denitionof which waters could be protected. Somemembers of the current Congress areintent on dismantling the Act and the USEPA. We are watching these bills closelyat HRWC. I encourage you to do thesame and take action to let your voice beheard as the voice for the Huron River andfreshwaters all over the county.

photo: J. Lloyd

photo: AA News



201 2

Brew

Riveror the

Aternoon DelightAnthonys Gourmet Pizza

Carsons American Bistro

Cupcake Station

Decadent Delight Cakes and Pastries

Dexter Pub

Gratzi

Jerusalem Garden

Jolly Pumpkin Ca and Brewery

Katherines Catering

La Dolce Vita

Logan

Macs Acadian Seaood Shack

Morgan & York

Pacifc Rim by KanaPaesano Italian Restaurant

Palio

Peoples Food Coop

Prickly Pear Southwest Ca

Real Seaood

Redbrick Kitchen

Silvios Organic Pizza

Terry Bs Restaurant & Bar

The Common Grill

Tios

Tracklements Smokery Kerrytown

Tuptim Thai Cuisine

Restaurants

Ingrid Ault

Eric BasseyMatthew Bergh

Paul Bissell

Michele Blinder

Tiany Bristol

Susan Bryan

Eunice Burns

Misty Callies

Jared Collins

Pat Cousins

Paul Cousins

Nina Cruz

Shannon Culver

Max Davidson

John Davis

Leah Drapkin

Seth Elliott

Meg Fairchild

Mariah Fink

Rebecca Foster

Nicole Genaw

Kyle Green

Lindsay Hanna

Judith Heady

Janet Kahan

Anita Lamour

Emily Levine

John Lloyd

Laura LoVasco

Rosalie Meiland

Mike MouradianSuzanne Ohmit

Will ONeil

Heather Rice

Pamela Rice

Chris RiggsCassie Roberts

Bob Robertson

Marlene Ross

Harry Sheehan

Lara Thomas

Blair Treglown

Kathy Weinman

Ivy Wei

Barry White

Louisa White

Korinne Wotel

Thank you to the brewers, the brew pubs, the staff, the chefs, the host committee, our

hosts John and Ruth Langs, and Steppe Solutions. Thank you to our guests, our great

volunteers, the staff and board of HRWC. Thank you to everyone who supported

HRWC through our brew events and joined us in a toast to the Huron River.

201 2

Suds

Riveron the

SponsorsCardno JFNewComerica Charitable Trust Services

ECT, Inc.

Excelda Manuacturing

Scott E. Munzel, Attorney at Law

Stantec Consulting Michigan

In-kind ContirbutorsA-1 Rental

Ann Arbor Trout Unlimited

Colton Bay Outftters

Dunning TOYOTA

Glacier Hills

McFarland Tree ServiceTom Thompson Flowers

Unadilla Boatworks

Host CommitteeJanis Bobrin and Mike Allemang

Mary and Bill Kinley

Ruth and John Langs

Maureen Martin and Mike Penskar

Donna and Stu Snyder

Christopher Kelly and Gary Banas

Gerri Barr and Tom Egel

We had a wonderful time and,until next year, see you on the river.

Volunteers

Page 10



Spend a few hours per week on a project of interest

Volunteers Needed!

Yes, I want to help protect the Huron River

I wish to become a member of HRWC in the amount of:

$35Mayy

$50Crayfsh

$100Dragony

$250Sot Shell Turtle

$500Salamander

$1,000Smallmouth Bass

$2,500Great Blue Heron

Other__________________

Name

Address

City State Zip

Phone

Yes I would like to receive HRWC news and updates emails,

my email address is:

Save postage and the environment by donating online atwww.hrwc.org/support-us or send this form with your check

to HRWC, 1100 N. Main St., Ann Arbor, MI, 48104. HRWC is a 501(c)3 organization and contributions are tax deductible.

As the eld season winds down, HRWC is in need of a few volunteers to work on indoorprojects.

MARKETING ASSISTANT

Interested in publicity, marketing, graphics, or public education campaigns? HRWCsmarketing work could use your creativity! Time commitment: 1-3 half-days per week.

contact: Pam Labadie, [email protected], ext. 602

HRWC ORAL HISTORY PROJECT

Seeking 2-3 volunteers to conduct a series of organizational oral history interviews.Volunteers for this project must be good with people and documentation, able tocommit to 10+ hours per month over the next 1-2 years, and have an interest in learningHRWCs history. contact: Jason Frenzel, [email protected], ext. 600

OFFICE TASKS

A volunteer who is comfortable with a variety of computer programs is needed to helpupload les, bolster HRWC webpage links, and handle other task-oriented computerwork. Time commitment is one to two half-days in the HRWC ofce. contact: JasonFrenzel, [email protected], ext. 600

Your year-end gift strengthens HRWC programs and continues the tradition of working together to preserve,

restore and protect the natural resources of our Huron River Watershed. Please use the envelope

enclosed to donate today, and thank you!

Eric Bassey was awarded the 2012 THATS

USING YOUR HEADWATERS volunteer award

thanks to his expertise with computers and

fantastic help at the HRWC ofces. photo: HRWC


12/12

NONPROFIT

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

Ann Arbor, MI

Permit #435

The Huron River Watershed Council receives contributions via payroll deduction through EARTH SHARE of Michigan.

Thanks to Our Volunteers!Protecting the Huron is a big job and we would be lost without the donations of time, talents,

and resources from our dedicated volunteers. We extend Special Thanks to:

Printed on 30% minimum post-consumerrecycled content paper

Ron Sell, Barry Lonik, Gerry Neumeier andDea Armstrong for their leadership andstewardship on the Huron River summerpaddle trips.

Paul Cousins, Tom Jameson, Lisa Perschke,

Bob Robertson, Jana Smith, Korinne

Wotell, and Kathie Weinmann for makingHRWCs booth at the Ypsilanti HeritageFestival in August a huge success. As aresult of their efforts we sold $1,000 inkayak rafe tickets, signed up dozens ofpeople for our newsletter, handed out 350

shower timers or leak detection kits andshared super-hero mask-making and streammonitoring with more than a hundredfamilies.

Leslie Rivera of the City of Ann Arbor forteaming up to distribute local homegrownwater at the Homegrown Festival.

Twenty volunteers who conductedMeasuring & Mapping of local streams.

Josh Miller and Heather Rice of theWashtenaw County Water ResourcesCommissioners Ofce for working ourbooth at the University of Michigans

Party for the Earth.

Matt and Drake LaFleur, Korinne Wotell,and Dan ODonnell, Howard Borden,

Tom Witkowski and Don Rothman of theHuron River Fishing Association for helpingwith set-up and pack-up, telling shingstories, tying ies, and talking with thepublic at the Flat Rock River Festival.

Two dozen volunteers at the RiverCleanup; the Village of South Rockwood,Lake Pointe Marina, A&J Maintenance,

Riverfront Family Restaurant, and theCity of Ypsilanti for agreeing to helpdispose of the trash; Riverside Kayak

Connection, Schultz Outtters, and SkipsCanoe Rental for loaning equipment; andto Mike Schultz and Kermit Jones forhelping to coordinate the cleanups.

Korinne Wotell for going above the call ofduty with our Education, Water Quality, andMarketing programs this summer.

Bruce Artz, Dick Chase, Max Bromley,

Dave and Sharon Brooks, Bret Harris,Peggy Liggit, Joan Martin, Chatura Vaidya,

and Pranav Yajnik for their intrepid creekwalks for the pilot River Steward project.

Thirty-eight volunteers who performedBioreserve eld assessments on propertiesthroughout the watershed.

Ingrid Weisz for collecting pictures for ourFlickr Plant ID photostream.

Sally Rutzky for leading Bioreservevolunteers on a plant ID walk at South Lake.

Jay Siegel, special project assistant, for his

help with the Huron River Water Trail.

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Huron River Report 2012

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