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Living on the Edge Lake and River-Friendly Management for Waterfront Residents

Living on the Edge Lake and River-Friendly Management for Waterfront Residents. Elizabeth Riggs, Watershed Planner Huron River Watershed Council. Why are we here?. To learn about innovative, natural techniques to protect your shoreline, while at the same time enhancing the lake.

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Living on the Edge Lake and River-Friendly Management for Waterfront Residents

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  1. Living on the Edge Lake and River-Friendly Management for Waterfront Residents Elizabeth Riggs, Watershed Planner Huron River Watershed Council

  2. Why are we here? • To learn about innovative, natural techniques to protect your shoreline, while at the same time enhancing the lake. • You will learn: • Why natural shorelines are important • Reasons for lake problems • How and why these new techniques work • How you can get started

  3. Your workshop hosts LIVINGSTON COUNTY WATERSHED ADVISORY GROUP including Livingston County Drain & Road Commissions, Brighton, Pinckney, and Green Oak, Hartland and Marion Townships

  4. With support from Financial Support CSI Geoturf and Todd Services Technical Support CSI Geoturf, Wetlands Nursery, Native Plant Nursery

  5. Define "watershed”, please A watershed is the area of land that drains to a particular point along a stream

  6. Huron River Watershed Council HRWC is Michigan’s first and oldest watershed council ~ a coalition of local communities and residents established under state law in 1965 to protect the Huron River and its tributary streams, lakes, wetlands and groundwater.

  7. Watersheds of Livingston County

  8. Healthy rivers and lakes matter Property values Drinking water Recreation Storm water control Wildlife habitat

  9. Major threats to our freshwater Land use 40% of remaining open space to be developed by 2030 Changes to flow Dams and lake level control structures on rivers and tributaries, loss of wetlands, drain tiles, sedimentation Polluted runoff Occurs when rain or snowmelt flows over the ground. Impervious surfaces prevent runoff from naturally soaking into the ground.

  10. #1 cause of water pollution in U.S. Polluted Water Runoff . . . a result of our individual actions throughout the watershed

  11. Top 10 pollutants in U. S. waters • Metals • Pathogens (e.g., E. coli) • Nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus) • Sediment/siltation • Low dissolved oxygen • Fish consumption advisories (e.g., PCBs) • pH • Other habitat alterations • Temperature modifications • Biological impairment Based on data from August 2005, EPA’s National Section 303(d) List

  12. Quality of local rivers and lakes • 12.5% impervious surface (2000) 19% projected • Brighton, Ore & Strawberry Lakes impaired from phosphorus pollution • Biological impacts in some creeks, but other segments retain integrity • Loss of critical wetlands • Erosion and sedimentation from poor management and unnatural flows

  13. Where does it come from? Fertilization of lawns & other landscape chemicals - carries nutrients, pesticides, bacteria, & trash

  14. Where does it come from? Lack or failure of construction controls . . . carries sediments & adsorbed pollutants

  15. Where does it come from? Creation of hard surfaces... carries excess water, oils, greases & metals

  16. Where does it come from? Lack of resource protection Wetlands, floodplains, & buffers often are not protected by local governments

  17. The result? Fish kills Nuisance algal blooms & other aquatic weed growth

  18. What can homeowners do? • Use no phosphate fertilizers & soaps • Mow HIGH: 3” will do the trick • Select native plants and grasses • Live in a walkable community • Spread the word to your neighbors

  19. What can lake residents do? Keep trees, shrubs and grasses on shoreline slope to prevent erosion Prevent polluted runoff from reaching the water (home, yard & garden products) Choose stabilization techniques without hard materials Get involved with a watershed group

  20. For more information . . . www.hrwc.org 734.769.5123 Elizabeth Riggs, Watershed Planner

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