Stormwater Management

SEMCOG is dedicated to preserving and restoring water quality in Southeast Michigan. In addition, SEMCOG formed the Southeast Michigan Partners for Clean Water to protect and improve the quality of our water resources through a coordinated and consistent stormwater management effort for the region. The Southeast Michigan Partners for Clean Water includes representatives from various counties, communities, watershed councils, the private sector, and water quality professionals in Southeast Michigan. The group has developed the Ours to Protect campaign, the Municipal Training program, and watershed signage.

Low Impact Development
Low Impact Development is a comprehensive land planning and site design approach that focuses on preserving natural features, minimizing disturbance, and managing rainfall as close to the source as possible. It helps local government efficiency by reducing the cost of infrastructure. 

Phase II Regulations
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has issued the Phase II Storm Water Rule, which requires municipalities and other public bodies that operate a separate stormwater drainage system within a U.S. Census-defined Urbanized Boundary to obtain a stormwater permit. This permit program affects over 120 communities in Southeast Michigan and is administered by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ). SEMCOG engages watershed planning groups, MDEQ, and numerous communities in coordinating efforts and creating tools to assist municipalities in meeting Phase II requirements.  

Municipal Training Program 
SEMCOG developed a Municipal Training Program to assist local communities with the good housekeeping requirements of the Phase II Stormwater Permit and to protect our area waterways. The stormwater regulations notes six training areas. Training modules and fact sheets are being developed for each of these topics.

Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)
When a lake or stream does not meet Water Quality Standards (WQS), a study must be completed to determine the amount of a pollutant that can be put in a water body from point sources and nonpoint sources and still meet WQS (including a margin of safety). Determining the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) is the process used to determine how much pollutant load a lake or stream can assimilate.

To view TMDL’s that have been developed and approved for individual waterbodies in the State of Michigan, please visit the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Web site.  

Ours to Protect Campaign
SEMCOG's "Our Water. Our Future. Ours to Protect.-Seven Simple Steps to Clean Water" public education campaign is aimed at daily actions individuals can take to help protect rivers, lakes, and streams. Printed materials such as tip cards, posters, and newsletter articles have been created for each of the Seven Simple Steps to Clean Water. Additional information about the campaign and digital copies of the print materials can be found at the "Our Water. Our Future. Ours to Protect." Web site. 

Watershed Signage
This successful, collaborative sign program in Southeast Michigan installs signs across the region at river crossings and watershed entrances. The signs have a consistent look and all contain the message, “Ours to Protect,” the main message of the “Our Water. Our Future. Ours to Protect—Seven Simple Steps to Clean Water” public education campaign. Five counties participate in this successful signage program. Additionally, many communities that are required to meet the federal Phase II Stormwater Regulations have included watershed signage as one effort to meet their public education requirements. There are currently 979 watershed signs in Southeast Michigan located in the following counties and communities:    

• Livingston County-60 signs
• Macomb County-20 signs
• Oakland County-406 signs
• St. Clair County-32 signs
• City of Southfield-41 signs
• City of Troy-50 signs
• Rouge River Watershed (Oakland and Wayne Counties)-370 signs