AdminAsst, Author at Muskegon River Watershed Assembly

EGLE Awards Watershed Management Planning Grants

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 16, 2020 EGLE Media Office, EGLE-Assist@Michigan.gov, 517-284-9278 Robert Sweet, Nonpoint Source Grants Coordinator, SweetR@Michigan.gov, 517-512-9765 The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) announced today three grants totaling $276,000 for projects that will benefit Michigan's lakes and streams by developing new or updating existing watershed management plans. The plans will help to restore impaired waters and...[ read more ]

Muskegon River Watershed Assembly Receives Tree Planting Grant

Written by Mary Hansen, MRWA Project Manager Last fall, the Muskegon River Watershed Assembly (MRWA) was awarded a grant for more than $300,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). This grant will allow the MRWA, along with 6 partners to plant 882 trees over 300 acres in 4 counties within the watershed. Partners...[ read more ]

Jon Bumstead Legislative Report

Jon Bumstead Michigan State Senator Director, Muskegon River Watershed Assembly On Tuesday May 20th two dams on the Tittibiwassee River in central Michigan failed sequentially resulting in a disastrous chain of events that ultimately left the city of Midland under 9 feet of water. Now more than two months later, the flood has receded but extensive damage remains and many property...[ read more ]

Love in the Time of Coronavirus

By George Heartwell, Grand Rapids Mayor (Retired) Director Muskegon River Watershed Assembly (with apologies to Gabriel Garcia Marquez from whom I adapted this title from his Love in the Time of Cholera) Covid 19. We’d never heard of it. Wuhan. Who even knew where it is? Suddenly this novel coronavirus, identified first in China, has come to dominate out...[ read more ]

Great Lakes Grant Improves Water Quality

A Watershed Forestry Success Story The Challenge: The Muskegon River Watershed in Michigan was experiencing substantial nonpoint source pollution from water runoff into its waterways from three locations—Clay Cliffs in Big Rapids, Bridgeton Township Park in Grant, and the city of Muskegon, a Great Lakes Area of Concern. The watershed is one of the largest in Michigan and covers 2,725...[ read more ]

From the Office of the Director

From the Office of the Director Marty Holtgren, PHD Executive Director, Muskegon River Watershed Assembly Dear Friends and Partners, Speaking for the staff of the MRWA during these difficult times, we find our thoughts turning to you – the family and friends we are fortunate to work beside in protecting the watershed. We hope you are safe and we...[ read more ]

A Renewed Interest in Spring

By Dr. Stephanie Ogren, MRWA Member and VP of Science and Education at the Grand Rapids Public Museum [caption id="attachment_6142" align="alignleft" width="104"] Springtail on the ice. Photo: Wikimedia Commons[/caption] I have never really liked spring. I am more of a fall person…changing leaves, brooding skies, crisp air. Spring, to me, was and is, mud, rain, and unpredictable. This year I...[ read more ]

Something Fishy in the Bait Bucket: Stop the Spread of Invasive Species

By Zach Peklo, NCCISMA Invasive Species Technician Temperatures are rising and the ice has melted. More and more fishermen will be hitting the water in the upcoming weeks on local lakes as ice fishing shanties give way to water craft of all descriptions. With over 11,000 inland lakes in Michigan and plentiful public access locations, it is not difficult to...[ read more ]

Be On the Watch for Eurasian Watermilfoil

[caption id="attachment_6135" align="alignleft" width="181"] Identifying Eurasian Watermilfoil: Submerged, limp aquatic plant 12 to 21 leaflet pairs per leaf. Whorls of 4 feather-like leaves around the stem. The native look alike, Northern watermilfoil can be identified by its lesser number of leaflets, typically, 10 leaflets or less per leaf.[/caption] By Zach Peklo, NCCISMA Invasive Species Technician Eurasian watermilfoil is an invasive...[ read more ]

MRWA Receives Major Funding

Director’s Note: This grant is currently on hold due to covid 19 concerns and the start date to begin the fieldwork may be postponed. The USFS assures me that the funding is secure and we will be ready to begin as soon as the necessary funds are released. Marty Holtgren, Executive Director MRWA In January of this year, the United...[ read more ]

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