Huron River Report, Spring 2016 Web

8/19/2019 Huron River Report, Spring 2016 Web

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Huron River ReportSPRING 2016P u b l i s h e d q u a r t e r l y b y t h e H u r o n R i v e r Wa t e r s h e d C o u n c i l

Build it and they will comeThe inuence of these six people willbe felt throughout the neighborhood.A recent study1 found that themost important inuence on ahomeowner’s landscape decisions iswhat their neighbors do. So when you

plant a rain garden, you inuence yourneighbors to plant one too.

The Swift Run community caresabout the health of the creek. Aneighborhood survey sent by HRWCfound 34 percent of homesitesalready practice methods that reducestormwater runo and pollution(mulching grass, rain gardens, disposeof pet waste, plant trees and shrubs).A remarkable 89 percent say they arewilling to take action to improve waterquality. Neighbors had already startedtaking care of the creek. One neighbor

itemized the things they had pulled

continued on page 4

INSIDE: UPCOMING EVENTS AND WORKSHOPS Coal tar sealants and PAH levelsEarth Day Eve F i lm Fest at Mich igan Theater | 50th Anniversary Huron Love Stor ies compi led

featurestory

If one person can make a dierenceby building a rain garden – then aneighborhood can truly change thecharacter of a creek. The Mitchellneighborhood – which borders SwiftRun, a tributary creek to the HuronRiver – has started to improve the

creek’s water quality by creating raingardens, and helping each other.

Little did I know when Iinvited residents in the Mitchellneighborhood to take the Master RainGardener class last year that the sixfolks who signed up would end uphaving barbecues together, helpingeach other out, and becoming friends.And not only that – they built raingardens. They built beautiful gardensthat capture the runo from theirroofs and soak it into the ground, animportant rst step to improving the

health of Swift Run.

Rain Gardens in MitchellNeighbors join together to protect Swift Run Creek

Guest

article by

Susan Bryan

Fluctuating Flows Frustrate FishHow providing more habitat helps fish spawn and thrive

Rivers naturally ebb and ow,with water speeds and waterquantities that are aected by avariety of natural factors: weather,stream gradient, underlying soils,groundwater, and vegetation. Ofcourse, humans directly inuence howwater ows as well. The more landthat is covered by concrete, asphalt,buildings, and sewers, the faster the

rain moves to creeks and rivers. Whena river goes from a trickle of waterto a rip-roaring torrent quickly aftera storm, it is called “ashy.” Flashyows erode stream banks, scour therocks and sand that make up thestream bed, and destroy aquatic life.Of particular concern is when thesetypes of ows happen in the latespring and early summer, which is the

main spawning (reproductive) season

for sh.Lessons from MaineA story from the Rapid River inOxford County, Maine, highlightsthe disruption of uctuating owson spawning sh. In Maine, invasive

continued on page 6

Rain garden plants, usually native

species, help capture and flter

polluted runoff.

credit: S. Bryan


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Laura’s Stream of ConsciousnessHRWC statusand updates

ver the last year manyenvironmental debacles pointto a serious threat to cleanwater and a safe environment.

Starting with Volkswagen’sadmission of cheating on emission

testing to the natural gas leak inCalifornia to the Flint drinking watercontamination, they all highlight alack of trust, judgment, and oversighton human health and safety issues.What shocks me the most though,is the lack of accountability andregulation. I shouldn’t be surprisedgiven Michigan’s recent derisionof regulation, budget cuts toenvironmental protection, and afocus on shrinking government.Michigan ranks 50th among states ingovernment transparency.

In the U.S., drinking water regulationswere rst enacted by the federalgovernment in 1914 addressingthe bacteriological quality ofdrinking water. This regulation waslater strengthened in the 1960sas it became clear that industrialprocesses were threats to cleanwater and human health. Localgovernments were to provide cleanwater and safely dispose of waste.Oversight of local governments andindustry was an expected role of

State and federal governments.

Despite dozens of statewideenvironmental disasters (Enbridge oilspill, the Pall Gelman contamination,industrial clean-up sites), the Stateof Michigan has been shrinking thebudgets and sta of the oversightand regulatory departments. In1995 Governor John Engler splitthe Michigan Department of NaturalResources (MDNR) into the MichiganDepartment of EnvironmentalQuality (MDEQ) and MDNR. The

children’s healthsuggests an agencywell o the rails ofits stated mission.

I see these

problems regularly in our missionto protect and restore the Huron.Permits are quickly issued with littlereview. Corporate and municipal self-reporting with little, if any, reviewis common. The pursuit of scienticunderstanding and application isgiven low priority. The MDEQ stathat regulate inland lake and streamsare overwhelmed with permit reviewsand enforcement activities resultingin rubber-stamped permits thatrarely get more than a cursory reviewHRWC receives dozens of calls

annually from citizens impacted bypoor permitting and design, naturalresource destruction or pollutionviolations. Without HRWC stareviewing the permits, making sitevisits, and/or making phone calls andusing our connections and inuence,the problems would remain. Even themost well-intentioned and competentMDEQ sta are only able to respondto the most pressing problems,and much pressure is put on themto get out of the way of economicdevelopment.

What can we do to avoid these samedisasters from happening again? Weneed to remind the Governor aboutMDEQ’s responsibility to ensureclean water and push him to restorebudgets, add sta and training, andsupport sta who serve that mission.Providing clean drinking water isa series of steps, a chain of eventsand actions starting with the sourcewater. We need to empower citizensand agency sta to speak up andadvocate eectively. We need to use

science and water quality monitoringto develop policy and action. Finally,we must listen to the disempowered,to continue to take their concernsseriously, ask the questions and nottake it for granted that expertise,good judgment and oversight are amatter of course.

— Laura Rubin

HRWC Executive Directo

H .

B u f f m a nO

MDEQ mission is to promote thewise management of Michigan’sair, land, and water resources tosupport a sustainable environment,healthy communities, and vibranteconomy. Governor Engler said the

split secured more direct oversightof state environmental policy, butthen he reduced the number of stateenvironmental employees throughbudget cuts. A year later, oversightfor drinking water protection wastransferred from the MichiganDepartment of Health to the MDEQ.In 2009, Governor Jennifer Granholmbriey merged the MDNR and MDEQagain as the Department of NaturalResources (DNRE). In 2011, GovernorRick Snyder’s rst-ever executiveorder, Executive Order 2011-1, split

the DNRE, returning MDNR and MDEQinto separate agencies.

Additionally, the MDEQ’s budget andresources have been dramaticallyreduced. In the past 15 years, thegeneral fund contributions to theMDEQ have been cut by 59 percentand the full-time equated positionshave been cut by 25 percent. Theimpacts of these cuts and the generaldisdain for regulation is prevalentin MDEQ leadership and has ledto a minimalist approach by most

sta. It is clear that the primaryresponsibility for what happened inFlint rests with the MDEQ, despitethe Governor’s eorts to spreadthe blame. MDEQ failed in itsresponsibility to ensure safe drinkingwater in Michigan and, again, in itsdismissive and scornful tone towardresidents’, health care professionals’,and scientists’ discoveries andconcerns. Worse yet, the blatantmisrepresentation of facts andmanipulation of data to cover forbad policy decisions at the cost of


3/16

calendar

of events

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HRWC Events and WorkshopsM A R C H • A P R I L • M A Y • 2 0 1 6

Native Plants and Rain Gardens at the Home, Garden & Lifestyle ShowFriday-Sunday, March 18-20, Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds, Ann Arbor

Learn tips for using native plants in landscaping and/or building a rain garden to capture and inltrate

runo from HRWC and the Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner’s Oce. Experts on hand toanswer questions and give advice.Details: www.bragannarbor.com

Water Quality Monitoring TrainingSaturday, March 19 1pm, NEW Center, Ann Arbor

Help measure the quality of local rivers and streams this spring and summer! Learn how to collect water samples, measurestream ow, and sample runo from rain storms. No prior knowledge is necessary, however completion of training workshoprequred. Volunteers near or willing to travel to Wayne and Livingston Counties are particularly needed. Sampling in the eldis 2+ hours each trip, with a commitment of 8 trips during the season (April – September).Details: www.hrwc.org/water-quality-monitoringRegistration (required): www.hrwc.org/volunteer/water-sampling

River RoundupSaturday, April 16, 9am or 10:30am, lasts 4 to 5 hours, NEW Center and throughout the watershedJoin a small team with your friends and family for this popular event. Collect a sample of the bugs and other creatures that

live in our streams. Like canaries in a coal mine, these creatures tell us the health of the river.Registration:

www.hrwc.org/roundup

Wild & Scenic Film FestivalThursday, April 21, 6pm, Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor

Join HRWC and ve locally based environment and natureorganizations on Earth Day eve, for inspiring lms that celebrateour commitment to protect local ecosystems and the planet asa whole. Doors open at 6pm, lms start at 6:30pm. Tickets: $10general; $8 members; $7.50 students/seniors.Info: https://aawildsceniclmfest.wordpress.com

Annual Meeting Thursday, April 28, 5:30 – 7:30pm, Riverside Arts Center,76 N. Huron St.,Ypsilanti

Join us for an update on HRWC programs and a tour of our shhabitat restoration project (see the cover article).

Bug ID DaySunday, May 1, Noon – 2pm, or 2pm – 4pm, NEW Center

Discover what kinds of bugs volunteers found at the recentRoundup. Separate them into look-alike groups, and then anexpert will identify them with you. Record the data and comparethe results to past years.Registration: www.hrwc.org/id-day

Bioreserve Field Assessment TrainingSaturday, May 14, 10am – 4pm, Independence Lake CountyPark, Webster Township

Get outside, meet new people, and learn about local naturalareas through this unique program. Inventory ecologically important natural areas throughout the watershed. Commitment entailsperforming (as part of a team) two or more assessments duringthe spring and summer. People with plant identication skillsespecially welcome.Registration: www.hrwc.org/volunteer/bioreserve-eld-assessments

Meet

guest author

Susan Bryan

April 21, 2016 • Michigan TheatreEcology Center

Huron River Watershed Council

Legacy Land Conservancy

Leslie Science & Nature Center

The Stewardship Network

UM SNRE


4/16

out of Swift Run: 21 car tires, a child’splastic slide, several plastic shelves, arusty bicycle frame and a “ton – only aslight exaggeration” of other junk.

Friends and neighborsThere is something special about

working together with neighbors,rather than alone. Other problemsget solved, not just creek issues.A solitary gardener got her fellowMaster Rain Gardeners to help herweed the neighborhood park, whereshe had labored by herself for years.And out of the six Mitchell classmates,they built ve rain gardens, an 83percent success rate (exceeding thetypical 64 percent). These Mitchellneighbors encouraged and helpedeach other. The resulting rain gardensare part of a larger project by HRWC,

Washtenaw County Water ResourcesCommissioner, and the City of AnnArbor to improve Swift Run with GreenInfrastructure.

That is what the Mitchellneighborhood is doing. Could yourneighborhood do the same thing?What about just you, on your ownproperty? Even one person canmake a big dierence. One person,who plants a beautiful rain gardenin their front yard along with one ofthe program’s rain garden signs caninuence a whole neighborhood.Neighbors see the garden and the

sign, and start to call the Rain GardenProgram for assistance. They start toask the gardener “What is this raingarden thing?” and an educationalmoment is born.

Why plant a rain garden?Outdated landscaping has the roofruno water from the house goingstraight down the driveway, into thestreet, and down the stormdrain -washing pollution into the Huron

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Rain Gardens in Mitchell continued from cover pageRiver. Modern landscaping – a.k.a.“river safe landscaping” – keeps thewater in the garden, where it keepsthe garden looking lush and green.

Rain gardens capture the waterrunning o of a roof, driveway orsidewalk. The water pools in a shallow

puddle in the garden, which soaksinto the soil and gets absorbed bythe plants. The plants in a rain gardenare common, but extraordinary. Theyare adapted to both dry periods, andwet periods – pretty amazing. Andyou may know many of them: PurpleConeower, Rose Mallow Hibiscus,Black Eyed Susans, Joe Pye Weed,even non-natives like Hostas. Theseplants ourish and thrive in thedicult environment of a rain garden.

— Susan Bryan

Susan Bryan is the Rain GardenCoordinator for the Washtenaw CountyWater Resources Commissioner’s Oce.She has designed over 60 residential raingardens planted in Washtenaw County,and mentored over 350 homeownersplanting rain gardens. Notable projectsin her portfolio include the Miller Avenueroadside rain gardens, and WellingtonPark. She created and teaches the MasterRain Gardener class, is a past presidentof Wild Ones, has a master’s degree inlandscape architecture from the University

of Michigan, and is an Advanced MasterGardener in Washtenaw County. Reach herat [email protected].

1 Lawn People, Paul Robbins, Professor,Department of Geography and Regional

Development, University of Arizona/2007

Little did I know when I invitedresidents in the Mitchellneighborhood to take the MasterRain Gardener class last year thatthe six folks who signed up wouldend up having barbecues together,helping each other out, andbecoming friends. —Susan Bryan

ABOVE: A creek walk hosted by

Michael Ziegler helped neighbors

understand the connection to their

creek.

BELOW LEFT: Signs help cue neighbors

that a rain garden is more than just a

perennial bed!

BELOW RIGHT: Rain gardens are

aesthetically pleasing, in addition tobeing functional on many levels, as

demonstrated by Gwynne Fisher’s yard.

credit, all photos this page: S. Bryan


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Rain Gardens in Mitchell continued from previous page

Neighbors embrace their roles as

creekshed stewards and rain garden

advocates. Pictured clockwise from

upper left: Renee Ringholz, Lindsey

Messing, Michael Zeidler, and

Monica Milla.

credit, all photos this page: S. Bryan

PAGE 5

How to plant a rain garden

• Visit the WashtenawCounty Water ResourcesCommissioner’s websitewww.ewashtenaw.org/raingardens for resources andhow-to’s.

• Ask for a site visit. ContactSusan Bryan [email protected] to schedule

a site visit to analyze where arain garden could go on yourproperty, and how to do it.

• Take the Master Rain Gardenerclass, to learn how to designand build your own. The classtakes students step-by-stepthrough designing their ownrain garden. By the end ofclass, you are ready to dig!www.MasterRainGardener.org

• Volunteer. Help spread the

word by becoming a raingarden ambassador. Adopt arain garden in a park. ContactCatie Wytychak to learn aboutopportunities to [email protected]

• Go to www. hrwc.org/swiftrun to learn more aboutthis project.

“The upcoming 2016 spring season will mark the fourth year for my rst raingarden! I was so thrilled with the results that I’ve planted several more andcompleted the Master Rain Gardener course last year so that I may betterassist others in my community. Rain gardens are diverse, adaptable, and onceestablished, can be rather low maintenance. I’ve planned my rain gardens to

bloom year round, attracting bees, butteries, and even hummingbirds onoccasion. Many of my neighbors have commented positively on my landscapeaddition, some going so far as to create their own! I would certainly encourageeveryone with some land to plant a rain garden. Whether big or small, simple orcomplex, the possibilities are endless.”

— Renee Ringholz

Swift Run Master Rain Gardener(pictured at far left)


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Fluctuating Flows Frustrate Fish continued from cover pagesmallmouth bass were having anegative eect on native brooktrout. Urged by local recreation andconservation groups, Maine’s naturalresource agency looked into non-toxic ways to remove the smallmouthpopulation. They purposely released

pulses of water from an upstreamdam to displace adults, fry (babysh), and eggs, and destroy nests.Following each pulse, divers estimateddamage to nests and disappearanceof fry. Forty percent of all spawningsmallmouth bass in the Rapid Riverstudy were unsuccessful in spawningdue to the dam releases, and anestimated 20 percent more weredamaged in some way.

Flow pulses hurt Huron’s nativefsh populations

In the Huron River, the smallmouthbass is a very important nativespecies and would not intentionallybe destroyed. However, the Huronexperiences pulses of water afterlarge storms, and when this happensduring the spawning season, thepulses can have strong negativeeects on the sh population. Thepulses increase in magnitude in ashyurban streams. Climate change hasalready aected Huron River ows bycreating higher intensity rain storms

that cause unstable water levels andspeeds. Scientists expect trends toworsen in the future.

Storms are not the only factormaking Huron River water owsunstable. Water releases from damscan accidently cause the same

damage to spawning sh like thosepurposely harmed in the Maineexample. The ow situation at ArgoDam in Ann Arbor is a good exampleof this. Argo Dam is electronicallycontrolled and even when there is noprecipitation it is constantly openingand closing its gates and releasingwater pulses to the river downstream.Most of these changes are minoructuations. However, the pulses canbecome very large after big storms.Exacerbating this problem is thestorm runo from Allens Creek, a largestorm sewer that releases the rain justdownstream of Argo Dam.

A recent independent studyby Austin Elliott, a senior at theUniversity of Michigan, concludedthat water ow downstream of ArgoDam and Allens Creek had at leastone major water pulse per year from2010-2014 during the smallmouthbass spawning season. These pulsesrapidly increased water ow by atleast 100-150 percent, which wasthe same change of ow rate used to

purposely destroy sh in the Maineexample. Less dramatic changes wereeven more common; on average, from2010-2014 there were four waterpulses per year that exceeded a 50percent change.

In 2010, ow changes below Argo

Dam and Allens Creek were the mostpronounced of all ve years in thestudy. Flow spikes occurred on May1st, May 2nd, May 3rd, May 13th, June3rd, and June 6th. The spacing ofthese ow spikes leaves the longestperiod without interruption (betweenMay 13th and June 3rd, or 21 days) –too short a time for the smallmoutheggs or fry to nish development. Thelargest percent increase was the pulseon June 6th which increased ow by540 percent (650 cubic per secondto 3500 cubic feet per second) overa four hour period. This is the mostextreme example from the ve years,but it does display the river’s responseto heavy precipitation, ashiness, anderratic dam controls.

Safe nesting sites neededSpawning success is also directlyconnected to a sh’s ability to selecta safe place to build a nest, which isalso related to water ow changes.Fish pick nest locations that looksafe from their perspective, but whenthey do this under low ow waterconditions, their judgment can befaulty. When water ows increase,nest location may end up being highlyexposed and wash away. In the future,we anticipate lower base ows andhigher peak ows because of biggerstorms and increased surface runo,so poor nest site selection could bea real problem for native sh in the

Huron.One way to combat the negative

eects of uctuating water ow is tobuild resiliency into the river’s habitat

In other words, habitat should protectthe sh in any ow situation. Riverhabitat must be secure and stablein high ow and still provide hidingplaces in low ow. Since smallmouthbass guard their nests from predators,achieving successful reproductionmeans having the ability to physicallystay near nests. Therefore, goodquality sh habitat needs to provide

continued on next page

An excavator sculpts the river bed to create a “pool” and

suitable fsh habitat in the Huron at Riverside Park. credit: HRWC


7/16

Fluctuating Flows Frustrate Fish continued from previous page

PAGE 7

breaks in the water so sh can get outof the current to rest, while allowingsh to hide from bigger sh and birds.

River habitat restoration inYpsilanti

In the fall of 2015, HRWC oversaw therestoration of sh habitat in the HuronRiver in Ypsilanti, along the City’sRiverside, Frog Island, and WaterworksParks. Previously, this section of theHuron River had poor habitat forsh. There were no large rocks in thestretch that would provide breaks inthe current. Fallen trees - importantfor cover and ow breaks - weresparse.

To build habitat that would protectthe sh from uctuating water ows,HRWC contractors felled and anchored

29 trees through this 1.5 mile stretchof the Huron River. A chainsaw experthinged the trees, meaning that thetrees were partially cut at the baseand then directed into the river stillattached. Workers also attachedhidden anchors to prevent the treesfrom changing position or dislodgingand oating downstream. The treesshould maintain their position for atleast a decade before breaking apart,and in that time will continue to trap

other debris coming downthe river, creating ow breaks,cover for sh, and safe placesfor the sh to build nests whilestill allowing for safe paddlingpassage.

The Ypsilanti section of

the Huron River lacks “pools”(areas of slower owing,deeper water). Fish use poolsas places to rest from fastwater currents. As a part ofthe restoration eort, a largepool was excavated with abackhoe and the displacedcobbles and rocks were placedin front of it. The change inriver bottom creates a smallamount of scouring in order tokeep the pool from lling in with nesediment. A rock vane made of largelimestone boulders was also placedto slow the ow at the edges of thepool. This feature is casting distanceaway from the gazebo at RiversidePark, providing a great shing spot forsmallmouth bass.

Argo Dam and future projectsIn the future, HRWC plans toinvestigate other ways to makethe river’s habitat more varied and

A brightly striped smallmouth bass. credit: M. Schu

A side by side comparison of the water ow at Hamburg, upstream of Ann Arbor (left), and below Argo Dam (right).

Both graphs show how water ows increase after a storm. Yet it is Argo Dam’s erratic behavior and Allen Creek’s ashy ows that create the water pulses so inhospitable for sh. Credit: USGS

Flow Pulse Graphs

resilient. Of particular interest will be

the river section downstream of ArgoDam and Allens Creek. HRWC’s goal isto provide meaningful ow breaks tosh who have to withstand high waterspeed and ow conditions, as well asplaces for the sh to go when the owplummets and the river runs dry. Thiswork is still in its investigative phase,so stay tuned for future news.

— Paul Steenand Austin Ellio


8/16

The Huron River Watersh

Founded in 1965, the Huron River

Watershed Council (HRWC) protects

and restores the river for healthy, vibrant

communities.

HRWC coordinates programs and

volunteer efforts that include pollution

prevention, hands-on r iver monitoring,

wetland and oodplain protection, public

outreach and education, and natural

resources planning.

Individuals, local businesses and more

than 40 communities support HRWC’s

work through voluntary membership.

facebook.com/huronriver

1100 North Main Street, Suite 210

Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104

(734) 769-5123 • www.hrwc.org

The Huron River Report is published quarterly. Its

content is prepared by HRWC staff and does not

necessarily reect the opinion of board members.

Layout: S&J Design Studio

Illustrations and quarterly design:

J. Wolf, Laughing Goat Arts © 2016

Huron River Report © 2016

twitter.com/hrwc

youtube.com/huronriverwc

instagram.com/huronriver


9/16

Lake Erie

Front row: Rebecca F., Rebecca

E., Jennifer, Elizabeth and Marga-

ret. Middle row: Pam, Laura, Kris,

Paul, Anita and Stevi. Back Row:

Jason and Ric.

Huron RiverWatershedCouncil Staff (734) 769-5123

Anne Savage

Anita Daley x 603 Marketing Specialist

[email protected] Esselman x 611Watershed Planner

[email protected]

Rebecca Foster x 610Development Associate

[email protected]

Jason Frenzel x 600Stewardship Coordinator

[email protected]

Jennifer Kangas x 604Finance Manager

[email protected] Kosloskey x 613Watershed Planning [email protected]

Pam Labadie x 602Marketing [email protected]

Ric Lawson x 609Watershed Planner

[email protected]

Kris Olsson x 607Watershed Ecologist

[email protected]

Elizabeth Riggs x 608Deputy Director

[email protected]

Laura Rubin x 606Executive Director

[email protected]

Margaret M. Smith x 605Director of Development

[email protected]

Paul Steen x 601Watershed Ecologist

[email protected]


10/16

PAGE 10

The Bad, The Good, and The Really GoodCelebrating success toward a coal tar-free watershed

The Winter 2014 edition of the HuronRiver Report introduced the issuesassociated with coal tar sealcoat,a pavement maintenance productwidely used in the watershed. The

polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) present in large quantities inthis sealcoat product are hazardousto both aquatic life and humanhealth. HRWC has been hard at workidentifying impacts and pursuingsolutions. There is much to report.While this pollutant is present inthe watershed at alarming levels,signicant gains have been madetoward a coal tar-free future for theHuron River watershed, its residentsand hopefully the State of Michigan.

Toxic detention pondsFirst, the bad news. In late October,HRWC sta took sediment samplesfrom three detention ponds aroundthe City of Ann Arbor. The results werestartling. Of the ten PAH compoundswith scientically identied “probableeects concentrations” (PEC, i.e.the concentration that results inhealth impacts or death in aquaticorganisms), sediments from theMalletts Creek pond exceeded thePEC for eight PAH compounds! Someof those PAHs are known carcinogens.

Sediments in the Traver and Flemingponds exceeded the PEC for 6 and 4of the PAH compounds, respectively.In the Malletts Creek sample, the PECfor one PAH was exceeded by morethan 10-fold. The bottom line is thesedetention pond sediments are highlytoxic!

Other studies have indicated thatbetween 50–84 percent of PAHs indetention pond sediments originatefrom coal tar sealants. It appears thatAnn Arbor (and most probably otherpaved areas in the watershed) has a

problem with coal tar leaching. Theresults from the HRWC samplingsare consistent with ndings fromUSGS and other research scientistsnationally. Further, it is likely that

sediments from stormwater runoelsewhere (e.g. in catch basins andat storm pipe outfalls) are also toxic.All of these sediments require properdisposal.

Local Legislative ProgressNow, the good news. Initial outreachto HRWC board members, localelected ocials and watershedresidents led to a number ofcommunities highly interested intaking action to restrict the use of coaltar sealcoat. Here’s a glimpse of the

gains made:• Washtenaw County prohibits the

use of coal tar sealcoat for anypavement work they contract.

• Scio Township PlanningCommission invited a presentationon the issue and a ban is beingconsidered by the OrdinanceCommittee.

• Ann Arbor EnvironmentalCommission presented a

resolution to ban coal tar sealcoatand other high PAH sealcoatproducts to City Council forconsideration in the next fewmonths.

• The Department of EnvironmentalQuality is developing statewideguidance on the proper (andregulated) disposal of high-PAHdetention pond sediments.

Ground-breaking legislationFinally, the really good news. Twogame-changing successes warrantcelebration. In December of 2015, VanBuren Township’s Board of Trusteesunanimously passed a ban on coaltar and other high PAH sealcoats –

the rst of its kind in the nation! Inaddition, Representative Kristy Pagan(D-Canton) introduced a bill to theState Legislature that would do thesame.

Much of the credit for the rstmunicipal-wide ban in Michiganbelongs to Dr. David Wilson. A tirelessHRWC volunteer and board member,Dave is a retired chemist and VanBuren Township EnvironmentalCommission member. He picked up

Ric Lawson and Paul Steen

sample sediment from

detention basins in Ann Arbor to

test for PAH contamination.

credit: HRWC

continued on next page


11/16

PAGE 11

this issue with fervor. Dave read the2014 HRWC newsletter article andthen shepherded the issue throughthe government process. At the sametime, Dave directed outreach to

residents of the township by speakingto audiences at the library, Rotary andthe Grange. He wrote several articlesfor the Belleville Independent toraise awareness and support. And heinitiated countless conversations withdecision-makers critical to passing theban, lending his expertise, answeringquestions and advocating for action.

On December 17th, at a townshipboard meeting, the ordinance passedwith unanimous support. The Boardthanked Dr. Wilson and HRWC forbringing the issue to their attention

and helping get an unnecessarypollutant out of the township.

That same week, as thecongressional session closed forthe year, HRWC worked quicklywith Representative Pagan’s oceto nalize coal tar legislation tointroduce to Michigan legislators.House Bill 5174 has several othersponsors from the area who hadbeen briefed on the issue by HRWCsta over the past year includingrepresentatives Je Irwin (D-AnnArbor), Gretchen Driskell (D-Saline),

Bill LaVoy (D-Monroe) and AdamZemke (D-Ann Arbor). While statelegislation has a long road ahead,there is plenty of work to be donein the coming year to build support

for a state level ban andthere are several localRepresentatives poised todo just that.

PAH vs. Coal Tar

Unique to HRWC’scampaign is theregulation of not onlycoal tar sealcoat, but anysealcoat product high inPAH content. Van Buren’slegislation is the rst inthe nation to regulate allhigh PAH content (overone percent, by weight)sealcoats. The introduced statewidelegislation would do the same. Thisamendment became necessary as

new sealcoat products have beenintroduced to the market and arebeing branded as “non-coal tar”or “environmentally friendly” butin reality still contain harmfulquantities of PAHs, the substancesof concern in coal tar sealcoat.(See the box at right for tips onidentifying sealcoats with high PAHcontent.)

HRWC will continue its eortsin 2016 by working with a growingnumber of communities interestedin banning coal tar sealcoat,

reaching out to residents of thewatershed with information tohelp people nd less harmfulways to maintain paved surfacesand advocating at the state levelfor better regulations and laws

that protect peopleand freshwaterecosystems from theharmful eects of PAHexposure. Learn moreat hrwc.org/coaltar.

— Rebecca Esselman

and Ric Lawson

The Bad, The Good, and The Really Good continued from previous page

Dave Wilson and

Rebecca Esselman after

the adoption of the coal

tar ordinance by the Van

Buren Board of Trustees.credit: R. Otzman

PAHs in sealants are harmful to

the environment, aquatic life, and

human health. Low- or no-PAH

alternatives are available for

residential and commercial use.credit: Invia-tech

Identifying sealcoats withhigh PAH content

Request a Materials Safety DataSheet (MSDS) or look at theproduct label.

Avoid products with the followingidentiers:

Coal Tar Based Sealants 1.CAS#65996-92-12.CAS#65996-93-23.CAS#65996-89-64.CAS#8007-45-25.Coal Tar6.Coal Tar Pitch

7.Coal Tar Distillates8.RT-129.Rened Tar10.Rened Coal Tar Pitch11.Coal Tar Pitch Volatiles12.Tar13.Related terms

Other High PAH Sealants 1.CAS#64742-90-12.CAS#69013-21-43.Steam-cracked PetroleumResidues4.Steam-cracked Asphalt

5.Pyrolysis Fuel Oil6.Pyrolysis Oil7.Heavy Aromatic Pyrolysis Oil8.Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO)9.Heavy Pyrolysis Oil (HPO)10.Ethylene Tar11.Ethylene Bottoms12.Related terms


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Huron Love Stories • HRWC oral history project

PAGE 12

As part of HRWC’s 50th Anniversarycelebration, I volunteered tointerview key “old timers” about theirexperiences and write newsletterstories, which became “The HRWCOral History Project.“ With the

anniversary year ended, I concludethe project with this article aboutmy observations. Upon reviewingtranscripts, I realized most were trulylove stories. Some of the declarationsof love were direct, while some wereimplied or could be inferred.

Janis Bobrin, former WashtenawCounty Water ResourcesCommissioner, loved the river enoughto nd public funds and neededsupplies for projects that would helpassure the quality of the river. The

Adopt-A-Stream project got its startwith resources from her department.

Scott McEwen and Joan Martin,successive Adopt-A-Stream directors,loved the river enough to devotetheir time to establishing rigorousbenchmarks for monitoring, andmeasures of water quality.

Dave Brooks put his wife throughdental school, and they made a “deal.”He would retire early from UM and shewould support him and the volunteeractivities he loved, including projectsfor HRWC. Dave worked with teamsto measure river elevations withsurveyors’ transects and level rodsto develop cross sections of Miller’sCreek. He headed up and provisionedthe annual count of stoneies inthe winter and mapped study sites,becoming a “master” volunteer.

Ron Sell, who builds and repairssmall boats, is a sailor and paddlerextraordinaire. He joined HRWCto plan and participate in its rstRiverfest in 1993, a river-long lovefest involving nine days on the water

and numerous paddlers. Says Ron, “Ithink it was a very signicant thingand really got people thinking of theriver as a whole, not just as separatecommunities.” Riverfest involvedlocal dignitaries and encouragedcommunities to organize events asthey came along. “We would come in,have a party, camp overnight, and thenbe on our way.” That’s real love of theriver.

Paul Cousins, former Dexter highschool teacher of biology and

environmental studies, as well asowner and operator of the formerCousins Heritage Inn in Dexter, is verydirect about his love aair. It beganin the 1960s. His high school wason the largest Huron River tributary,Mill Creek, which drains about 200square miles of land. It became anoutdoor laboratory for his students.Through the eorts of HRWC andmany governmental entities, he sawthe river go from polluted to thecleanest in Southeast Michigan. “TheWatershed Council has been the loveof my life for over 40 years.”

So much of the Oral History projectfocused on the river, but

JanisBobrin’s interview was a reminderof the land/water connection.Unprecedented growth anddevelopment in the 1990s andinto the 2000s, brought concernsregarding stream protection, shifting

the focus from the water to the landthat drains in to the river system. Janissaid, “I spent a lot of time explainingto the local governments that, ‘You putin a subdivision here, you are goingto aect a creek over there.’ They may

never have thought of that becauseone doesn’t see the direct link. Butyou’re changing the land. You’repaving over natural areas. You’recreating more runo. And it all aectsthe waterways in that individualcreekshed.” As a result of eorts likeJanis’, more foresight and preventiveaction is now part of the developmentprocess in many communities.

As for me, this volunteer project asHRWC’s oral historian has been alabor of love — of the river, of the

interviewees, and of the sta whosupported me. Thank you so much. Ithas been a pleasure.

— Karen Snyde

Thank you, Karen, for collecting andcompiling many wonderful storiescelebrating HRWC’s history! All transcriptsand photos will be turned over to theBentley Library at the University of Michigan

for preservation.

$20,000 and counting. That’s how much we’ve raised

through Books by Chance with your support! Proceeds from the internet sale of old and unwanted books, CDs and DVDs helps HRWC. Pleasedonate! We like the slightly esoteric, academic, scholarly and especially university presses.To put your “treasures” to work for HRWC bring your donation to the HRWC oce, 9am-5pmweekdays. We will handle the rest.

QUESTIONS: Rebecca Foster (734) 769-5123 x 610 or [email protected]


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PAGE 13

Thank you to our generous volunteers• November and December, 2015; January, 2016

HRWC would like to extend our gratitude to everyone who helped protect the Huron River by giving of their

time and talent. HRWC volunteers are making a difference every day!

Breanna AndersonJoyce ArakelianBruce ArtzMary Bajcz

Brittany BirdMax BromleyMerrill BumsteadGary BurkLee BurtonJerey CampbellBarbara CampbellBrian CarlsonJennifer CarmanRichard ChaseColleen ClarkAndrew ClarkFrancis ConnollyCaleb DominguezMaxwell DominguezCarlos DominguezLauren EatonGregory Ewing

Brian FilipiakJan FinnRobert FinnJohn Gannon

Jacy GarrisonWalter GauthierLindsay HannaThor HelgesonBeth HelgesonTim HornMark IrishJanet KahanJennifer KerberLarry KerberDanita KingBill KinleyChristine KnightJames KralikRobert KrzewinskiBarry LaRueJohn LloydBarry Margolis

Matt MarshHannah MartinJohn MartinMark Maynard

Ed McCarterMarjorie McRobertsDaniel MyersKyle NowelsDaniel PassmoreJerry PaulissenGianna PetitoZach PiroliJessica PiroliTony PittsMcKenzie PowersSebastian RataezykRaghav ReddyJackie RichardsSummer RobertsDonald RottiersMollie RuthConstance Ruth

Karen SchaeferRyan SchaeferMark SchallerLarry Scheer

Jennifer SchlichtJana SmithErin SpanierEmily TorranceMegan TorranceMakayla VeenstraHeather WadeKaty WallanderMadison WilletteAlexa WuttCatherine Wytychak

Deana Zhu

Huron River Watershed Council Board of Directors

Board of Directors

Norm AndresenScott Barb

Sue Bejin

Eunice Burns

Marlene Chockley

Cheryl Darnton

Bob Demyanovich

Larry Dishaw

Steve Francoeur (Alternate)

Fred HanertMark Irish

Gerry Kangas

Matthew LaFleur

Barry Lonik

Sally Lusk

Molly Maciejewski

Cheryl Mackrell

Scott Munzel

Executive Committee

Mary BajczChris Benedict

Janis Bobrin

Paul Cousins

Gene Farber (Treasurer)

Michelle LaRose

Dick Norton (Vice Chair)

Diane O’Connell

Evan Pratt (Chair)

Peter SchappachBarry White

Dave Wilson

Curt Wolf

Lisa Wozniak

Steven Wright

Melissa Zaksek (Alternate)


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PAGE 14

James and Ashley AdoxJohn E. Allison and Julia V. MillerNorman and Sandy AndresenAnonymousAppel Environmental Design, LLC.Deaver Daves ArmstrongEric ArnoldTimothy AthanRobert Ayotte and Jennifer EkstromCatherine Bach and Brian HazlettRobert and Marcia BaileyMary and Bill BajczBrenda J. BakerBeth and Lisa BashertBrad and Lydia BatesMargery Beardsley and Kurt SonenAllan R. and Dorothy BeaudoinMark R. Berg and Frances Lewy Berg

Eugene F. and Kay W. BerrodinWilbur C. BigelowJoan A. BinkowElizabeth BishopDavid BlochwitzRosanne and Tom BloomerJanis Ann Bobrin and Michael

AllemangWilliam W. and Joan Demilt BoddieBooks By ChanceGeorge E. BorelDietrich Bouma and Deena ThomasSandra and Rolf BoumaKathryn M. Bowring and Paul T. ReidGeorge Brach and Kevin Sharp

Enoch and Elizabeth BraterRachel Brett HarleyLeslie Briggs and Alvin E. LakeJanice and Robert M. BrimacombeDavid and Sharon BrooksMichael P. and Robin S. BrooksEmily and Jim BrownKaren BrownThomas A. and Sally B. BrushSusan BryanSally and Ian BundLance BurghardtCaryl and Michael BurkeDaniel Burrows

Lee Burton and RobertaShaw-Reeves

Margaret ButtenheimHarold and Kathy ButtermoreMary B. and John R. CaldwellJennifer CarmanSusan CarterKenneth and Gail Baker CastleJack CederquistMark H. Charles and Layla AmandaSue H. and Richard E. ChaseMarlene and Leonard ChockleyKaren ClaryCarol M. CollinsMelinda and Wayne ColquittComerica BankLinda L. CoughenourEdward and Marilyn Couture

Heidi Cowing Herrell and StephenHerrell

Coxen Enterprises Inc.Lisa Cronin and Ariel NicolaciDaniel S. CutlerWesley Daining and Margaret E.

GnegyDave and Judy DarlingAndrea V. DeAgostino and James

Leonard SmithDan Del Zoppo and Lisa Fox-Del

ZoppoMark E. DelaneyJennifer Delisle and William CaseyJoyce and Michael DerenBen and Denise DerocherDavid Dickinson and Jeannine

LaPradSteve and Judy DobsonJohn DonleyDee DrakeLynn DrickamerRobert Droppleman and Julie P.

WeatherbeeDavid DrouillardArun and Jennifer D’SouzaCarole F. DubritskyCathy DyerLauren Eaton

Gordon Ebbitt and Janice HendrickJohn A. and Katherine K. EdgrenMarilyn EdingtonCharles Edmonson and Karen LandMorgan H. and Sally EdwardsMichele Eickholt and Lee GreenJames H. EmerickEric EngelPaul M. and Carolyn ErnzenExcelda Manufacturing, Inc.Daniel J. Ezekiel and Martina

Harmon EzekielJames and Rhonda Fackert

Thank you to our generous supporters• November and December, 2015; January, 2016

HRWC would like to extend our gratitude to everyone who helped protect the Huron River by giving of their

time, talent, in-kind contributions, and fnancial resources.

Gene FarberReynolds and Gail A. FarleyMargaret and John FaulknerSally C. FinkJanet M. FisherJoe and Beth FitzsimmonsCarol E. and Robert W. FletcherPamela Flick and Kevin GuthrieRebecca Foster and Bob

WeisenbergerChris FowlerHelen Fox and James S. KoopmanFrederick S. Upton FoundationRob and Nancy FrenchJason FrenzelMartha and Thomas FriedlanderJulie F. and Jack FrostDawn M. Fyrciak

Albert E. and Karen K. GallupPaul J GambkaJay and Gywn GardnerMary and Hugh GartonKim and Diane GasiorGregory GessertPhillip Frederick and Marilyn Jean

GeyerDavid and Helene GidleyDavid and Margaret Ann GilbertSteve GilzowPaul and Anne GlendonEdward and Mona GoldmanNancy Jo and Laurence A. GoldsteinJohn Goodman

Jack and Margaret GoodnoeJesse E. and Anitra GordonKenneth Gottschlich and Martha

PollackMichael GowingJoann and Thomas GreenDunrie A. Greiling and David B.

HigbieRobert and Susan GreseRaymond and Daphne M. GrewMark W. and Susan S. GrinTalbot and Jan HackFarah HadoMitch and Lori Hall

The Hamp FamilyJanet N. and Phil HamptonAgnes HannahsJe and Amy HarmsJoan M. Harris and Edward W. SarathPhilip and Janet HarrisonLaura Lee Hayes and Robert C. BrillJudith E. HeadyRon HenryJulia P. HenshawJohn Hieftje and Kathryn GoodsonStephen HiltnerPeter Hinman and Karen Snyder

You are important to us!If your name is misspelled,incorrectly listed, or omitted,please accept our sincereapologies and bring the errorto our attention so that wemay correct our records.Contact Margaret Smith [email protected] or(734) 769-5123 x 605.

Mariann Hirakawa and DanielGoldman

Cynthia HodgesKathryn HolmesAndrew and Catherine HorningKenneth T. and Carol A. HoveyKathleen and Gary HunagleDale and Helaine Roberta HunscherEdith HurstSusan Hutton and Michael ByersJack and Ginny Sinn FoundationElizabeth JacksonMary Lewis JamesThomas A. and Sandra B. JamesonPaul JeeriesSteven V. and Margaret P. JensenBarry and Leslie A. JohnsonEric Johnson

Jolly Pumpkin Artisan AlesJudith and Charles JudgeBarb and Lenny KafkaNeil KaganJanet KahanCharles and Kathleen S. KanelosJennifer and David KangasH. Peter and Carol A. KappusDouglas S. Kelbaugh and Kathleen

NolanRichard G . KellerLeslie KellmanJulia A. KennelLarry W. KerberJessica Fogel and Laury Weiner

Susan and Peter KlaasLuci KlinkhamerJohn R. Knott and Anne Percy KnottJanet and David KnowltonBridget KnyalBetty Jo and Richard KolbJohn David Kotre and Grace Helms

KotreDavid KraepelRuth Kraut and Michael AppelJe KugelGeorge KunkleRichard KwonPam Labadie and Karim Motawi

Susan A. Lackey and Steve DautMatthew LaFleurCarol LandsbergMargaret LansingEugene K. and Laura H. LaporteJohn LappGayle LarsonLinore LathamGeorge LavoieRic Lawson and Kathryn A. StockingDavid LernerSheldon and Mary LevyGraham E. Lewis


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PAGE 15

Mary LironesJohn Lloyd and Sue BudinMichael D. LongBarbara B. and David R. LucasDavid and Louise LuttonDiane MacaulayLaura MajewskiRichard Paul ManczakBarry MargolisMarykay Marks and Mark CynarJoan and Michael MartinMaureen Martin and Mike PenskarDavid MasonVirginia MaturenRaymond A. Maturo and Ann T.

MulhernEdith MaynardPatti McCall McGuirePaul T. McCannJohn McCauley and Virginia

Weingate

Lineve McKieCatherine McLaughlin and Leon

WyszewianskiMcRoberts Family FoundationPeter G. MeierD. Patrick and Sandra I. MerkelMatt Mikesell and Chris

Doherty-MikesellRoger and Katherine MillsDaniel W. MinockDallas Moore and Judith LehmanMichael C. Moran and Shartel BrownDorothy and John MorenoBernice MorseSusan S. MorseDan and Mim MunzelWayne and Dolores MurphyEric NelsonGerald D. Nordblom and Barbara

MichniewiczMargaret and Robert NorthrupAnn M. Novak and Joe KrajcikPaul A. NucciDiane O’Connell and James R. MillerLaurence and Mary LouiseO’ConnellG. Elizabeth OngElsie L. OrbMargarette Orlik-Walsh and Martin

WalshCamille L. Orso and Edward A. MorinJames Ottaviani and Katrina

HagedornJeannine Palms and Dale PettyArthur and Mona PancioliJoel Panozzo and Andy SellPanos PapalambrosMary and John PedleyRussell PerigoSandra PerkinsLeslie C. and Susan E. PettisMary Phelps

Sybil and Bill PhelpsKathleen PhillipsKaren L. and William T. PierceBertram and Elaine PittRaymond PittmanTony and Melanie PittsPlantwise, LLCBeth HeuserSharon PoppThomas S. PorterRalph R. and Barbara PowellWilliam B. and Diana V. PrattJudith A. and Michael F. PrevilleKaren Prochnow and Mark

StranahanFrank A. and Myung RaymondTimothy and Patricia RedmondHarry J. and Gene Regenstreif David F. ReidDavid B. ReinRuth M. and Thomas Reynolds

Richner & RichnerElizabeth and Christopher RiggsCatherine Riseng and Earl GoddinMarlin and Dorothy RistenbattJohn A. and Renee C. RobbinsKathryn Robine and Kevin KerberJohn Martin RogersDietrich and Mary Ann Rolo John Roos and Kath WeiderPhil RoosLaura Rubin and John LofyRoberta RubinChristine Rue Pat RutowskiAndrea Sankar and Mark LuborskyRichard and Norma SarnsRichard N. and Norma J. SarnsEtta G. SaxeKaren SchaeferMary Ann SchaeferBruce SchlanskerBrian and Sara SchneidewindDavid and Karyn SchoemJeanie H. and Robert A. SchultzJim SchulzSandie SchulzeRichard A. ScottWilliam L. Secrest and Misty CalliesChristine Seguin

Erik H. and Carol M. SerrPatricia Jean and Robert ShawIngrid and Cliord SheldonNancy ShierJennifer SierackiMitchell Silverman and Deborah

Aviva PanushCarol S. and Michael R. SimonAdam and Theresa A. SmithEdwin and Shirley SmithPeter Smith and Martha WeintraubSmithGroup JJRJudith Smutek

Jonas L. Snyder and Elsie DykeWilliam and Lois A. SolomonKen and Toni SpearsLinda SprankleAnn and David StaigerKathryn StebbinsPaul L. and Eulalia M. StewartCarol and John StrahlerF. Brian and Lee TalbotPeg Talburtt and Jim PeggsErika, Clarke, and Megan TaylorMarilyn and Mike TaylorMargaret W. TeallMark TenBroekJill and David E. ThacherCathy TheisenBruce Thelen and Kathryn FloodJames R. and Carol A. ThiryGayle ThomasTowsley FoundationLewis and Jesse Tripp

David Uhlmann and Virginia MurphyBen and Bonnie UptonEdward ValeskaAlan and Norma Kay Van KerckhoveJoyce Van OchtenSally and Paul Van SlambrouckStuart and Christina VedderPieter D. Vreede and Naomi L.

GilbertScott and Ruth WadeWadhams Family FoundationKim WaldoMartha Walker and Mark F.

HauptscheinBruce Wallace and Susie CannellVictoria Walls and Bill CopenhaverKari and Kyle WalworthArthur and Renata WassermanWalter J. Weber, Jr. FamilyKathie K. WeinmannJim and Kathy WelchBill and Cheryl WellsPhyllis and Leslie WerbelSusan and Peter WestermanBarry and Cathy WhiteDave F. and Mary Ellen WibleJoe and Judith WilhelmeWilkinson FoundationWilliam and Lisa Ford Foundation

Paul WinderJennifer and Eric Wolf Charlotte A. WolfeDeborah L. and Klaus WolterSusan O. and Jon K. WooleyLisa Wozniak and Kenneth SimonSteven J. and Dayle K. WrightJennifer Wycko Roger WykesSteven Yaee and Julia WondolleckPatricia B. and Charles F. YocumMark E. ZarembaJason and Margaret Zawacki

Philip ZazoveDorothy and Henry ZelisseAnn C. and Karl L. ZinnRobert A. Zucker

In Memory of John HollandMaurita Peterson HollandRed Hat Matching Funds

In Memory of Ida Cook FlagesChuck and Mary Lofy

In Memory of Joseph WelchDebra Niss

In Memory of Lloyd T. WilliamsNancy Williams

In Memory of Peter SulkiwskyjMark Karpenko

In Memory of Steve PalmquistChuck and Mary Lofy

In Honor of Marjorie ThomasRichard Corpron

In Honor of Joan MartinRobert Black

In Honor of Eunice BurnsRyan Howard

In Honor of David J. BaySusan Campbell

In Honor of Dave WilsonBruce Loughry

Thank you to our generous supporters• November and December, 2015; January, 2016

credit: E. Wolf


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