Keep your eyes on the water

Jennifer DeMoss

A harmful algal bloom (HAB) on Black Lake in Cheboygan County. HABs can release a toxin that makes it unsafe to fish or swim in an affected area. Ingesting water from a bloom can cause health problems for pets, wildlife, and people. Concerned residents keep an eye out for HABs on Black Lake every summer.

The following guest commentary was submitted by Jennifer DeMoss, communications director at Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council.

A noticeable change in the color of a river. Unusual algal growth. Bright white PFAS foam on the water. These are some of the issues that people have called in to report to Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council over the years. These days, our intrepid office manager, Natalie Walts, runs the switchboard, answering questions or relaying concerns to the appropriate people.

Our staff of 13 people protect the freshwater resources of our four-county service area. That includes over 1,800 inland lakes and around 3,000 miles of rivers and streams plus portions of the Lake Michigan-Huron shoreline. Needless to say, that’s a lot of area to cover for our modest staff size. That’s why we depend on people in our service area to act as our eyes on the water.

What does it mean to be our eyes on the water? Associate director Jen Buchanan explained that it has a lot to do with simply paying attention to the environment. For example, a caller from a few years ago noticed that the Bear River was a distinct shade of brown and sent pictures. Buchanan was able to determine that a city stormwater sewer had broken, which was quickly repaired.

“That’s the kind of information we need — when there’s a noticeable change from the norm,” said Buchanan.

Policy director Jennifer McKay said that people contact the Watershed Council all the time if they believe there are potential violations to local ordinances, environmental protection laws or permit conditions impacting wetlands, streams, or shorelines. It allows staff to investigate if a violation has occurred and contact the proper authorities if water resources are threatened or have been harmed.

Volunteer avian botulism monitor Sue Bissell noted that it’s not necessary to have technical skills to keep an eye out for water quality. For the past six years she’s been walking Forest Beach in Harbor Springs, looking for birds that have potentially died from avian botulism and washed ashore. One of the most interesting effects of her volunteer work is that she’s paid a lot closer attention to fluctuating water and algae levels.

Ron Leng lives on Long Lake near Cheboygan. He recently had a chance to keep an eye on water quality when a new neighbor bulldozed his lot. “He probably cleared about two-thirds of the shoreline,” said Leng, “and that’s against our homeowners association’s bylaws.” The property owner ended up having to commit to a restoration plan to mitigate the damage. The experience encouraged Leng to become a Watershed Council member and learn more about bioengineering to protect shorelines from erosion without using outdated techniques like seawalls.

Leng said that associations are a good way to make sure that shorelines stay healthy, but he’s concerned that properties without much oversight will contribute to watershed degradation. “People are flocking up north to be near the lakes, but they don’t know the hydrology or the culture of protecting them. You have to catch them before they do damage and tell them there’s a different way to get to the water than clearcutting.”

It’s obvious that more than just the Watershed Council staff and other conservation agencies, plus numerous regulatory agencies, need to maintain an awareness of water quality issues in the area. Lake associations, business owners, homeowners, visitors, and others are part of keeping our watersheds livable. That includes knowing who, and when, to call when something seems amiss.

“We’re not a regulatory authority,” said Buchanan. “While we work to support and improve water quality regulations and partner with regulatory agencies and local governments, we cannot enforce regulations.”

Having lots of eyes on the water has been necessary in many circumstances, from a cooking oil spill in the Crooked River in 2013 to paint being dumped into storm drains that lead directly into the bay. It takes just a little bit of time and attention to keep our waters healthy and clean so we can all enjoy them for years to come. If you witness something that seems like an emergency concern, make sure to contact one of the organizations below. If your concern doesn’t match their services, contact the watershed council at 231-347-1181 or info@watershedcouncil.org, and we’ll try to put you in touch with the proper agency. Thanks so much for being our eyes on the water!

If you notice the release of oil or another hazardous liquid, immediately call the following three numbers:

911 to notify local authorities
800-292-4706 to notify State authorities (Michigan Pollution Emergency Alert System)
800-424-8802 to notify Federal authorities (National Response Center)

Septic system issues: Call the Health Department of Northwest Michigan at (231) 547-6523 for issues with your own septic system. For concerns about someone else’s septic system, fill out form EH-01 at http://www.nwhealth.org/pubs/EH-01.pdf and submit it to your district’s office:

Harmful algal blooms: Call the State of Michigan Environmental Assistance Center at (800) 662-9278 or email AlgaeBloom@michigan.gov.

Suspected PFAS: For general questions about PFAS, call the Michigan Environmental Assistance Center at (800) 662-9278. For concerns about PFAS in drinking water, contact the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy Drinking Water Laboratory at (517) 335-8184.