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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You will learn:
Why natural shorelines are important
Reasons for lake problems
How and why these new techniques work
How you can get started
Your workshop hosts
LIVINGSTON COUNTY
WATERSHED ADVISORY GROUP
including Livingston County Drain & Road Commissions, Brighton,
Pinckney, and Green Oak, Hartland and Marion Townships
With support from
Financial Support
CSI Geoturf and Todd Services
Technical Support
CSI Geoturf, Wetlands Nursery,
Native Plant Nursery
Define "watershed”, please
A watershed is the area of land that drains to a
particular point along a stream
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.
Watersheds
of Livingston
County
Healthy rivers and lakes matter
Drinking water
Property values
Recreation
Storm water control
Wildlife habitat
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.
#1 cause of water pollution in U.S.
Polluted Water Runoff
. . . a result of our individual actions
throughout the watershed
Top 10 pollutants in U. S. waters
1. Metals
2. Pathogens (e.g., E. coli)
3. Nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus)
4. Sediment/siltation
5. Low dissolved oxygen
6. Fish consumption advisories (e.g., PCBs)
7. pH
8. Other habitat alterations
9. Temperature modifications
10. Biological impairment
Based on data from August 2005, EPA’s National Section 303(d) List
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
Where does it come from?
Fertilization of lawns & other landscape chemicals -
carries nutrients, pesticides, bacteria, & trash
Where does it come from?
Lack or failure of construction controls . . .
carries sediments & adsorbed pollutants
Where does it come from?
Creation of hard surfaces...
carries excess water, oils, greases & metals
Where does it come from?
Lack of resource protection
Wetlands, floodplains, & buffers often are not
protected by local governments
The result?
Fish kills
Nuisance algal blooms
& other aquatic weed growth
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
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
For more information . . .
www.hrwc.org
734.769.5123
Elizabeth Riggs,
Watershed Planner