Michigan DNR to Invest $4 Million in Water Quality

Water quality in the western Lake Erie and Saginaw Bay watersheds is getting a major boost: a $4 million initiative aimed at advancing wetland restoration and reducing harmful algal blooms (HABs) in the two regions.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) and Ducks Unlimited (DU) are partnering on the project, through the Lake Erie and Saginaw Bay Wetland Conservation Program (WCP) with funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). DU will administer the WCP and is looking for local municipalities and private landowners interested in taking action to restore wetlands on their property.

DU will host an informational webinar via Zoom 10-11:30 a.m. EST Friday, Jan. 12, for anyone interested in this opportunity. Sign up for the webinar here. The webinar will also be recorded and shared.

“This grant could not have come at a better time, but the money has to be spent by December 2026, so we need to act fast,” said Ducks Unlimited Regional Biologist Kali Rush. “Lake Erie and Saginaw Bay have lost more than 80% of historical wetlands, which has significantly compromised water quality for residents and wildlife in our state.” 

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development are also partnering on this project.

“We can’t do this alone. Partnerships and willing landowners will be key to developing these wetlands and improving water quality and wildlife habitat,” said MDNR Director Scott Bowen. “We are excited to make this resource available to local governments, private landowners, and groups working directly with landowners who want to do their part to improve and protect long-term water quality through wetland projects.”

Why are algal blooms harmful?

Many factors affect water quality in Michigan’s inland lakes, ponds and the Great Lakes, but harmful algal blooms have become a frequent and expensive problem to manage. HABs are caused by increased levels of nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) from fertilizer, wastewater and stormwater runoff that then infiltrate our waterways.

Such blooms occur in western Lake Erie and Saginaw Bay every year. HABs can contain toxins that are poisonous to wildlife, pets and people. They cause areas known as “dead zones” that have little or no oxygen, which can result in massive fish die-offs.

Blooms can also close water to swimming, fishing, boating and other water-based recreation, and make drinking water unsafe for human consumption. For instance, a toxic bloom once caused a water supply plant in Toledo, Ohio to shut down because it was being overwhelmed by the amount of algae. Saginaw Bay runs the same risk with its water supply infrastructure.

How do wetlands help?

Healthy wetlands will help reduce excess nutrient levels in the water, which is key. They absorb carbon and nutrients and function much like sponges, absorbing and storing water during heavy rainfall and releasing it during drier seasons.

“People often think of wetlands only as homes for frogs, turtles, fish, muskrats and ducks, but they also serve a critical function for water quality,” Rush said. “Wetlands are the kidneys of our environment, filtering nutrients before they enter rivers, lakes and streams.”

Program background

The $4 million program is part of MDNR’s larger Michigan Legislature-allocated $10 million ARPA grant (in 2023) for wetlands to improve water quality. The MDNR and DU will use the additional $6 million of ARPA funds to support the advancement of several wetland projects that are already underway or in the planning stages, such as those at Crow Island State Game Area in the Saginaw Bay watershed and a water quality-focused wetland project in the Lake Erie watershed. The goal for these wetlands is to reduce phosphorus, nitrogen and sediment entering the waters of Lake Erie and Saginaw Bay.

“This work is going to improve water quality, provide fish and wildlife habitat, and support and enhance Great Lakes tourism and related economic sectors in Michigan,” Bowen said.

For more information about the community-based projects or to sign up for the webinar, email WCP@ducks.org. You can also email DNR-wetlandgrants@michigan.gov for more information related to this program.