On Monday, January 10th, the City of Traverse City and Grand Traverse County hosted an educational workshop for municipal officials and citizens regarding the designation of Grand Traverse Bay as an “Outstanding State Resource Water (OSRW).”

Representatives of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Water Bureau provided an overview and history of Michigan’s Water Quality Standards, implications of OSRW designation and steps that would need to be taken in the designation process.

On OSRW designation for Grand Traverse Bay would provide higher water quality standards for permitted discharges to the bay (such as: wastewater treatment plants, commercial discharges, etc) than currently exist.

In addition, MDEQ staff discussed their efforts to begin the process of developing nutrient standards for individual water bodies throughout the state. Nutrients, primarily phosphorous and nitrogen-based compounds, are the top non-point source pollutants to the bay. Controlling these inputs effectively would go a long way toward protecting many of the state’s lakes, rivers and streams from degradation.

The Watershed Center intends to continue pursuing this issue and has been invited to serve on the Advisory Committee for developing the nutrient standards. Grand Traverse Bay is on the DEQ's list of water bodies that will be looked at first. The process will begin in 2005 and from start to finish the implementation of new rules will likely last close to two years.

Note: We will post updates here as they become available.

For more information see the links below...