MI Water Stewardship Program

Protect Our Water This Spring

As the seasons change, small actions at home can make a big difference for our local waterways. Thanks to the Greater Lansing Regional Committee for Stormwater Management (GLRC) for sharing these helpful tips!

✔️ Clean – Clear leaves and debris from catch basins, drains, gutters, and downspouts to help prevent flooding.
🚗 Wash Wisely – Use a commercial car wash where wastewater is treated. Washing at home can send soap, oil, and grease straight into storm drains.
♻️ Recycle – Safely dispose of leftover household chemicals at your county’s hazardous waste collection events, and consider switching to environmentally friendly Safer Choice products.
🏡 Inspect – Check your septic system every three years and pump as needed. Make sure sump pumps are working and consider installing a water alarm.
🌼 Apply Safely – Use fertilizers sparingly or choose eco-friendly options. Excess nutrients can lead to harmful algae blooms in our lakes and streams.
🐾 Scoop – Always pick up pet waste. It contains bacteria that can harm both people and aquatic life.

Together, these small steps add up to cleaner water and a healthier community.

Learn more at: www.mywatersheds.org

A quick 10-minute check could save gallons of water (and money). This Fix a Leak Week, take a moment to find and fix household leaks.

Find other helpful resources for water conservation in your home at https://miwaterstewardship.org/in-your-home/

💧🤫 Drip… drip… drip… Some leaks—like toilet leaks—are sneaky, silent, and costly. 💸
Even a small drip can waste gallons of water without you noticing.

This , take 10 minutes to check your home:

💧 Inspect faucets, pipes, and toilets

💧 Test your toilet with food coloring—see color in the bowl? That’s a leak!

💧 Fix leaks by tightening connections or swapping worn parts

At-home checklist: https://tinyurl.com/yvwd4c2u

More tips and resources: Michigan.gov/FixALeakWeek

The FishPass project in Traverse City is an innovative approach to reconnecting the Boardman River to Lake Michigan while protecting the river from invasive species.

FishPass is designed as a selective fish passage system that replaces a traditional dam with a series of channels that function like a controlled obstacle course. Instead of fully blocking fish movement, the system uses differences in water flow, depth, velocity, lighting, and other cues to sort fish by species. Native and desirable fish such as lake sturgeon and walleye are guided upstream to access historic spawning habitat, while invasive species like sea lamprey and other unwanted fish are redirected or blocked.

The system also incorporates advanced monitoring tools, including cameras and sensors, to track fish movement in real time. This allows researchers to continually refine how the channels function and improve selective passage over time.

FishPass represents a major shift in how we think about river restoration. It balances the goal of removing barriers and restoring natural connectivity with the need to prevent the spread of invasive species that threaten Great Lakes ecosystems. If successful, this project could serve as a model for rivers across the region and beyond.

Watch the video to learn how this fish obstacle course works and why it matters for the future of the Boardman River and the Great Lakes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdUjlUjajuI

How This River Keeps Unwanted Fish Away | Great Lakes Now In Traverse City, Michigan, a fish obstacle course is keeping unwanted species out of a river. As dams come down around the world, native fish are returning ...