The Watershed Center works to reduce runoff pollution from reaching Grand Traverse Bay.  We partner with the City of Traverse City, numerous townships, and scores of volunteers on measurable on-the-ground projects that yield real results.  We continually research rapidly evolving runoff technologies.

Runoff collects from paved areas after it rains.  Runoff increases erosion, which results in more sediment flowing to Grand Traverse Bay. Excessive sediment from erosion, along with nutrients such as phosphorus from fertilizers, are the top two water quality threats to Grand Traverse Bay. Effectively managing runoff reduces sediments and phosphorus from reaching the Bay.

It also keeps Grand Traverse Bay oligotrophic, meaning cold. Runoff that flows over paved areas and land becomes warmer. Effective runoff management reduces such thermal pollution, which is important for cold water species such as Lake Trout.

Hear more about Runoff Drains.

Installing Runoff Improvements

We helped Traverse City install seven oil and grit seperators in 2007.  Our grant funding was generously matched by the City.

The Watershed Center was awarded $2.2 million in Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Funding from the U.S. EPA in 2011.  This funding will cover installing improved runoff filtration systems in Suttons Bay and Traverse  City.  

Green technologies for the Suttons Bay project include rain gardens and porous pavement, integrated with park and bike trail improvements.  The Traverse City project involves installing a runoff filtering system at East Bay Park to reduce bacterial contamination at the beach.  “The ultimate goal is to remove East Bay Park from Michigan’s Impaired Waters list,” says Sarah U’Ren, Program Director.  

We also partnered with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to improve the Bryant Park beach storm drain in Traverse City.  Funding comes from EPA’s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

A brand new catch basin and pipes were installed.  The old catch basin consisted of concrete bags.   The storm drain cap on the old system would often blow off during a rain, allowing runoff to flood the beach and flow right into West Bay, as pictured at top.  

A new runoff filtration system will be installed in spring 2012 that will decrease the amount of bacteria and other pollutants entering the Bay.  “The goal of this project is to reduce beach closures at Bryant Park due to high E.Coli counts, and to also remove this beach from Michigan’s Impaired Waters list,” says U’Ren.

See more photos on Facebook. 

Reducing runoff gives us Healthy Beaches for safe Up North waters.

A Natural Solution: Award-Winning Low Impact Development Guidebook

A Natural Solution details commercial and residential Low Impact Development runoff applications for the Grand Traverse region.  Low Impact Development is a set of small-scale runoff management practices that mimic and work with nature to reduce water runoff and pollutants.

Rain gardens, green roofs and porous pavement are examples.  LID methods minimize the impact of development on ground water, streams, rivers, lakes and coastal waters.

The U.S. EPA has found that implementing LID practices saves substantial money for developers, property owners and entire communities, all while improving water quality.

In the rapidly growing Grand Traverse region, water quality is directly linked to economic vitality, high property values and a vibrant quality of life.

Developers realize significant savings thanks to reduced costs for site grading and preparation, runoff infrastructure and paving. Capital cost savings can range from 15% to 80% when implementing LID practices.

For a copy of A Natural Solution, please contact Sarah U’Ren at suren@gtbay.org or 231.935.1514 ext 2 or download an electronic copy.  You can also view our Low Impact Development brochure.