Water in Michigan

Michigan has about 242 streams (rivers and creeks) with a combined length of 36,350 miles (58,500 km) and about 11,000 lakes and ponds.[1] Michigan borders four of the five Great Lakes and is a signatory to the Great Lakes Compact.[2] The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality is responsible for the management of Michigan's water resources.[3]

Map of Michigan rivers

Sources of water

Groundwater

The state is divided into 12 hydrologic provinces based on geology, aquifer recharge rates and water quality. Bedrock aquifers provide potable water in five provinces. Glacial-deposit aquifers provide potable water in three provinces. Four provinces have a problem with low water quantity or quality.[1]

Surface water

Runoff from rain and snow melt provide the water for rivers and creeks. The water then flows into the Great Lakes.[1]

Uses of water
SS Arthur M. Anderson

Commercial

The Great Lakes are used to ship iron ore, coal, limestone, and cement to and/or from ports in Michigan.[4]

Energy generation is a large user of water. From damming rivers to generate electricity, to power plant cooling, to the Ludington Pumped Storage Power Plant.[5]

Irrigation and industrial uses also account for water usage.[5]

Bottled water such as Nestlé Ice Mountain brand is extracted and bottled in Michigan.[6]

Municipal

Municipal water systems withdraw water from surface water of the Great Lakes and ground water aquifers.[1]

Recreational

Michigan has almost 1,200 public and private beaches on lakes and rivers.[7]

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources operates six fish hatcheries and stocks game fish in many lakes and rivers.[8]

The state has over 1,300 boating access sites and over 80 harbors and marinas operated by various government entities.[9]

Protected areas

Michigan owns all rivers and lakes not surrounded by a sole owner. It has regulations governing structure placement and remedial actions such as chemical treatments to remove plants.[10]

Michigan is home to three wetland habitat National Wildlife Refuges: Seney, Shiawassee, Detroit River International.[11]

Michigan has 16 Federal Wild and Scenic Rivers and 16 State Natural Rivers. Three rivers are on both lists: Au Sable, Pere Marquette, Pine.[12]

Wetlands, commonly known as bogs, swamps, or marshes, are protected. Michigan requires a permit to disturb a wetland and requires mitigation if a wetland will be destroyed. Mitigation requires the creation of a new wetland of 1.5 times or more the size of the destroyed wetland depending on the importance of the wetland.[13]

Michigan has 13 Underwater Preserves to protect shipwrecks and natural features.[14]

Flora and fauna

Endangered species

The following clams found in Michigan are listed as endangered: clubshell pearly mussel, northern riffleshell, Snuffbox mussel.[15]

Round goby

Invasive species

The Great Lakes have been impaired by invasive species such as the sea lamprey, zebra mussel, quagga mussel, alewife, round goby, and Eurasian milfoil. Asian carp are a threat to enter the Great Lakes.[16] The opening of the Welland Canal allowed the sea lamprey and alewife to bypass the natural barrier of Niagara Falls. Quagga, zebra mussels, and round gobies arrived in the ballast water of ocean-going ships that originated in Europe and Asia and discharged the water in the Great Lakes. Eurasian milfoil was intentionally introduced as an aquatic ornamental plant.[17]

Pollution

Michigan has banned phosphorus in detergents and lawn fertilizers due to it causing algae growth.[18]

Pharmaceuticals have been detected in Great Lakes water tests. The effects on wildlife are in the early stages of study. Endocrine disruptors have been linked to altered reproductive organs in fish.[19]

Some municipalities in Michigan have a combined sewer for both sewage and storm water. Heavy rains can overwhelm sewage treatment plants and allow partially treated or diluted sewage to enter waterways. The state has schedules with these municipalities to eliminate or mitigate the overflows.[20]

As of March 2015, the Michigan legislature is considering legislation to ban the sale of products containing microbeads. The beads have been detected in the aquatic food chain because they look like food to animals.[21]

In July 2010, an oil pipeline burst resulting in the Kalamazoo River oil spill.[22]

The Tittabawassee River, Saginaw River, and Saginaw Bay have been designated a Superfund site by the EPA due to dioxin contamination from a Dow Chemical Company plant.[23]

Mercury in the environment accumulates in the tissues of certain fish and makes them unsafe for human consumption, particularly for unborn and young children.[24]

See also

References
  1. Rheaume, S.J. (1991). "Hydrologic Provinces of Michigan" (PDF). US Geological Survey. pp. 1, 3. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  2. "Great Lakes—St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Council".
  3. "DEQ Mission". Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  4. "An Overview of Our Industry: Great Lakes Shipping". Lake Carriers' Association. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  5. "Jurisdiction Reports for 2013 (Mgal(US)/day) - Michigan Report of Water Use by Withdrawals, Diversions and Consumptive Uses". Great Lakes Commission. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  6. "Settlement reached in Mecosta County, Ice Mountain water case". MLive. Grand Rapids, MI: Booth Newspapers. Associated Press. July 7, 2009. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  7. "Michigan Beach Monitoring: Year 2013 Annual Report" (PDF). Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. September 2013. p. 6. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  8. "2014 Fisheries Division Annual Report" (PDF). Michigan Department of Natural Resources. p. 10. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  9. "Michigan's Recreational Boating Information System". Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  10. "Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, Rules" (PDF). Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. 1994. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  11. "Refuge List by State: Michigan". U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  12. "Michigan's Natural and Wild & Scenic Rivers Map" (PDF). Michigan Department of Natural Resources. October 2003. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  13. "Part 303, Wetlands Protection, of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, 1994 PA 451" (PDF). Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. 1994. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  14. "Michigan Underwater Preserves System". Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  15. "Endangered, Threatened, Proposed and Candidate Species in the Upper Midwest (Region 3)". U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  16. "Great Lakes Region: Invasive Species". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  17. Domske, Helen; O’Neill, Charles R., Jr. (2003). "Invasive Species of Lakes Erie and Ontario" (PDF). Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  18. "Statewide Restrictions on Phosphorus in Cleaning Products and Fertilizers" (PDF). Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. June 2013. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  19. "Protecting the Great Lakes from Pharmaceutical Pollution". Alliance for the Great Lakes. 2010. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  20. "About Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO), Retention Treatment Basin (RTB), Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) and other discharges". Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  21. Ellison, Garret (February 25, 2015). "Michigan joins other Great Lakes states in considering microbead products ban". MLive. Booth Newspapers. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  22. "Oil Spill News and Updates: Talmadge Creek and Kalamazoo River Oil Spill". Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. June 2013. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  23. "Tittabawassee River / Saginaw River / Saginaw Bay Cleanup". U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  24. "DEQ Mercury (Hg) Homepage". Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
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