Our Water’s History: Part Two

The water we drink. The water we flush. The water we enjoy. It’s all One Water.

Earlier this month, we celebrated Great Lakes and Fresh Water Week. I hope you had a chance to enjoy a few of the many benefits of living at the heart of earth’s greatest surface freshwater resource. Whether relaxing at the beach, paddling or riding in a boat, covering a few miles on a land or water trail, the people of Southeast Michigan have been enjoying spring and summer outdoors throughout the region.

As we reflect on the impact water quality has in our quality of life, it is key to recognize the power of partnerships in creating healthy, fresh, and flowing water resources across Southeast Michigan. To help do this, SEMCOG has produced the Southeast Michigan Water Quality Partners Series, available to view on our website now. As in prior years, Southeast Michigan’s One Water campaign has also emphasized a holistic understanding and shared responsibility for our water systems.

The recent history of land and water in this region can largely be defined by industrialization and urbanization. These massive changes provided space and potential prosperity for millions of people, but they also decimated habitat for native species and created barriers to priceless recreation assets.

However, Southeast Michigan’s water champions are proving that by working together to invest in water infrastructure, restore riparian areas, and educate the public on water stewardship, it is possible and achievable to improve water quality. A series of projects over the years have helped to shape our water history, with a focus of improving water quality and reducing human impacts on our water resources. They have also set the stage for much of the work being done across our region today. We reached out to a few of our partners to talk about some recently completed projects in the region and the importance of partnership in achieving these successes.

Impacts of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) launched in 2010 as one of the largest restoration efforts in the country. GLRI funding has focused on Toxic Substances and Areas of Concern, Invasive Species, Nonpoint Source Pollution Impacts on Nearshore Health, and Habitat and Species Restoration. So far, the initiative has invested nearly $450 million in restoration projects across Southeast Michigan.

Rouge River National Wet Weather Demonstration Project

The Rouge River National Wet Weather Demonstration project set the stage for much of the water restoration work that continues across the region today. The project ran from 1992 to 2014, resulting in:

• Identification and correction of 2,008 illicit discharges of wastewater to the Rouge River,
• Over 60 acres of native plant grow zones installed throughout the watershed, and
• Over $14.3 million invested in water quality projects.

The Rouge Project also led the nation in demonstrating CSO control technologies, resulting in over $2 billion invested to date by multiple agencies. State grants have also supported development of multiple watershed management plans that helped to set the stage for collaborative stormwater management projects crossing multiple jurisdictions.

Great Lakes Water Authority’s Wastewater Master Plan

Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) successfully led a regional collaboration of over 100 stakeholders to complete and adopt a first-of-its-kind Regional Wastewater Master Plan. This master plan takes a holistic and regionally integrated planning approach to CSO, SSO, wastewater treatment, stormwater, capacity management, and receiving water quality. Work has already begun to implement the goals of the master plan, including a collaborative effort to develop regional water quality monitoring and optimize regional system operations through real-time monitoring. Partner-driven implementation of this plan will bring long-term benefits to Southeast Michigan and the Great Lakes.

Clinton River Water Resource Recovery Facility

Using Thermal Hydrolysis Pretreatment (THP), a process that enhances the conversion of materials in wastewater to renewable energy, the new Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner’s Clinton River Water Resource Recovery Facility will help to ensure that the biosolids released will protect the natural habitats along the Clinton River by acting as carbon-rich soil conditioner. The new facility includes four purpose-built structures that contribute to the septage and THP process:

1. Septage Receiving Facility
2. Secondary Digester Gas Membrane Storage Dome
3. Biosolids Storage Pad
4. Biosolids Handling Building

The processes at the facility reduce:

• The facility’s carbon footprint,
• Dependence on natural gas with the use of methane generated from anaerobic digesters,
• Odors emitted, and the
• Volume of biosolids by 20 percent and disposal costs by 50 percent.

This project was funded by and will service 13 communities in Oakland County. Be sure to take a virtual facility tour here.

Ypsilanti CommUNITY Skatepark

A signature project completed in 2020 was the much-anticipated Ypsilanti CommUNITY Skatepark. The aptly named facility reflects the many partners that made the project possible. What started as a grassroots effort by members of the skateboarding community who desired a skate park in the eastern portion of the county grew into something more: a collaboration of the skateboarding community, Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission, Ypsilanti Township, and the Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner’s Office. This 9,000-square-foot skate park offers street-style skating and features a large bowl, ramps, stairs, and rails. A raingarden installed with native plants not only collects and filters water runoff from the park, but also provides shade and habitat that attracts pollinators. The project was so successful that it received a Facility Design Award from mParks. This project would not have been possible without financial support from the Ralph C. Wilson Foundation’s “Built to Play Skatepark” grant, Tony Hawk’s “The Skatepark Project,” and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Oakman Boulevard Bio-Retention Project

Detroit’s Water and Sewage Department (DWSD) recently completed a significant green infrastructure project. Along Oakman Boulevard, the city installed 10 bio-retention gardens to keep about 37 million gallons of stormwater out of the combined sewer system. Chambers were installed beneath eight of the bio-retention gardens, to help store and slowly release stormwater into the sewer system. DWSD hopes that this project will be the first of many to help address stormwater runoff and flooding throughout the City of Detroit. DWSD additional has implemented 15 additional green infrastructure projects throughout the city. It continues to work with a multitude of community partners through the Detroit Stormwater Hub on addressing stormwater runoff and green infrastructure implementation.

These are just a few of the many projects being developed and implemented across Southeast Michigan to support our stormwater, wastewater, and drinking water systems. While there is still much progress to be made, our region is working together to improve water quality and become more resilient, setting the stage for a bright water future. Visit mionewater.com to learn more about partnerships and projects happening across the region.