Department of Environmental Quality Seeking Public Input

Liz Gullett

Oct 28, 2016

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is seeking public input on where to focus its monitoring efforts. The recommendations will support implementation of the watershed-specific component of the Michigan Water Quality Monitoring Strategy. In line with this, DEQ seeks to:

Assess the current status and condition of waters of the state and determine whether water quality standards are being met.
Measure spatial and temporal water quality trends.
Evaluate the effectiveness of water quality protection programs.
Identify new and emerging water quality problems.

To reach these goals, DEQ is seeking suggestions for monitoring water or sediment chemistry, contaminants in fish, fish or macroinvertebrate communities, nuisance aquatic plant or algae growth, E. coli bacteria, and other issues.

From now until September 20, 2017, DEQ plans to target more than half of its monitoring resources to those watersheds highlighted in the Basin Year 4 watersheds map, though DEQ will consider recommendations for other Michigan watersheds, including the Great Lakes and connecting channels.

Public input must be made by submitting the Water Quality Monitoring Request form here. Forms need to be submitted electronically by November 30, 2016, to be considered for the current field season which ends September 30, 2017.

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