In 1990, about a dozen local agencies and organizations realized they each managed programs with similar visions: "sustaining or restoring the Bay's watershed to ensure the region's economic viability, high quality of use and employment for future generations." These agencies and organizations also realized collaboration could only enhance their individual efforts. Thus, The Grand Traverse Bay Watershed Initiative was formed.

In 1994, the organization formalized its management structure by organizing a Board of Directors, opening an office, hiring its first full-time staff, and seeking nonprofit status.

In 2000 the board adopted the current logo and new name: The Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay.

Since 1990 the Watershed Center and its partners have undertaken approximately 55 projects, which balance economic growth and environmental protection.


Historical Milestones

1991
Watershed residents and the City of Traverse City host the International Joint Commission (IJC) 5th Biennial Conference on Great Lakes Water Quality. Local efforts to protect land and water resources are cited by the IJC and are recommended as a model for community based pollution prevention programs.


1993
Rotary Charities of Traverse City and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation provide funding to support the Grand Traverse Bay Watershed Initiative (GTBWI). A board of directors is formed and a coordinator is hired. GTBWI advances a partnership approach to water quality protection.


1994
GTBWI is incorporated as a private non-profit partnership and membership organization governed by a 15-member board of directors and hires its first executive director.

GTBWI hosts the National Forum on Non-Point Source Pollution.


1995
Watershed stakeholders attend first annual Bay Day event to celebrate Grand Traverse Bay and promote protection of the region's natural resources.


1996
Partner projects such as the Mitchell Creek Watershed Planning Project are highlighted in National Geographic Magazine as an example of community efforts to reduce nonpoint source pollution.


1997
In partnership with the Grand Traverse Regional Math Science and Technology Center 35 teachers and 1,000 students participate in the Water Watch program and water quality monitoring day. Findings are presented at the annual Student River Congress.


1998
The first biennial State of the Bay report is distributed to local decision makers, community leaders, and watershed stakeholders to report on the overall condition of the region's water resources.

GTBWI partners with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to resume operation of an automated monitoring station on the Boardman River.

GTBWI hosts the Sustainable Coastal Communities Conference with the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration (NOAA).


1999
GTBWI partners complete the first water quality and habitat assessment of nine selected near shore sites in Grand Traverse Bay.

GTBWI partners with Michigan State University to support development of a land transformation model to study water quality changes associated with land use change.

Scientific research findings relevant to protecting the Grand Traverse Bay watershed are presented at first Grand Traverse Bay Symposium.


2000
GTBWI changes its name to The Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay. The Watershed Center issues report on storm water monitoring documenting high bacteria levels and nutrient loading to the bay.

The Watershed Center receives the Michigan Outdoor Writers Award for Protection of State Waters.

The Center received the CF Industries National Watershed Award for Partnerships to Protect Water Quality.


2001
The Watershed Center issues the 2nd State of the Bay report. A compact disc is produced containing multi-media features, GIS maps and educational information on the region's resources.

With funding support from the MDEQ, The Watershed Center partners with area health departments to conduct the first weekly monitoring of recreational water quality at 14 public bathing beaches in Grand Traverse, Benzie and Leelanau Counties.

The second biennial Bay Symposium is held presenting research on Great Lakes ice cover, changes to the food web in Lake Michigan, atmospheric deposition of toxins to the Great Lakes region, and local initiatives to protect community environmental health.

The Center receives a two-year, $250,000 grant to undertake a comprehensive watershed protection plan for the entire Grand Traverse Bay watershed. The Center begins hosting a series of educational workshops for shoreline governmental officials to protect coastal resources. In partnership with the Boardman Neighborhood Association, the Center organizes a storm drain stenciling project to build awareness of the impact of dumping waste into the storm drain system.


2002
The Center receives a $125,000 Clean Michigan Initiative grant which will allow it to complete the interactive water quality database project and install educational signage at key points throughout the watershed.

Watershed Center launches the Grand Traverse Baykeeper® program at a dinner featuring a keynote speech by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., president of the Waterkeeper Alliance®.


2003
As part of the database development project, the Center launched its retooled website located at www.gtbay.org.

Completed both the Grand Traverse Bay Watershed Protection Plan and the Boardman Lake Management Plan.

Received a $26,500 grant from the Michigan Coastal Management Program for Grand Traverse Baykeeper® activities.

Received a $99,150 grant from the Great Lakes Commission’s Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Program for restoration work on Kid’s Creek in the 17.5 acre preserve between Great Wolf Lodge and Kohl’s.

The Center inaugurated Stream Search, a volunteer monitoring project focusing on benthic macroinvertebrate populations in tributaries to the bay.

Conducted a workshop for Northport residents on wastewater treatment options.

Printed the first “Freshwater Focus” 16-page newspaper tabloid which was distributed to more than 50,000 households through a partnership with the Traverse City Record Eagle.

In partnership with the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments, hosted a two-day regional watershed planning meeting.

On behalf of the Grand Traverse and Leelanau-Benzie County Health Departments, the Center conducted beach monitoring on 13 area beaches throughout the summer.

Introduced the “Paddle with the Baykeeper” series of water tours for interested area citizens.


2004
Received $24,000 in grant funding to monitor area beaches during summer 2004.

Launched a fundraising campaign raise monies for the Grand Traverse Baykeeper® program and the Baykeeper boat. Rotary Charities committed a $22,500 challenge grant to the project.

Completed construction of the 23-foot Grand Traverse Baykeeper aluminum-hulled, eco-friendly tugboat.

Conducted the Baykeeper Tugboat Tour to six area marinas, passing out literature on clean boating, controlling invasive species

Conducted shoreline landowner workshops and workshops for business owners and local governments regarding the Kid’s Creek restoration project, riparian buffers and how to use the planned unit development zoning process to facilitate resource protection.

Between July and October, the Center was awarded $216,000 in USEPA grants and a $425,000 Clean Michigan Initiative grant to fund $825,000 worth of projects in and around the greater Grand Traverse area, including stormwater education and BMP installation, erosion control, installing vegetative buffers, repairing road/stream crossings, etc. The Center is working with a variety of partners to implement these grants.

Celebrated our 10th Anniversary!