With more than 1,400 lakes and countless tributary streams and rivers that flow throughout Oakland County, the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner's (WRC) Environmental Team is committed to sharing resources and providing education to waterfront property owners and others on how to protect water quality at their own back door and beyond.

Discover practical ways to protect our waterways in Waterfront Wisdom: Healthy Habits for Clean Water, a booklet that highlights seven simple habits for keeping our water clean and healthy.

Minimize Water Runoff

The interface between land and water (known as the riparian zone) serves a multitude of essential functions such as:

• Maintaining stream flows
• Cycling nutrients
• Filtering chemicals and other pollutants from runoff
• Trapping and redistributing sediments
• Absorbing and detaining floodwaters
• Maintaining fish and wildlife habitats, and
• Supporting the food chain for a wide range of organisms

Given that the number one source of water pollution today comes from stormwater runoff that enters our lakes and streams without prior treatment, waterfront property owners have a special responsibility to protect our water resources. They are at the frontline of preventing pollution from property directly adjacent to our waterways. Although all human activities in a watershed can affect the water quality of our lakes and streams, activities adjacent to riparian zones are most critical.

With the help of a federal grant through the Rouge River Wet Weather Demonstration Project, the WRC Environmental Team produced a series of informational booklets and pamphlets for waterfront property owners. They outline a variety of actions to protect water quality and wildlife, as well as property values and the quality of life enjoyed by the residents of Oakland County.

They can be viewed below or contact us if you would like a hard copy of any of these materials. By following Healthy Habits for Clean Water, you will learn how to minimize stormwater runoff from your property. You'll also learn how to minimize pollutants from leaving your property and entering the water.

Healthy Lawns and Gardens

Naturalized Shorelines & Streambank Buffers

Home, Yard & Animal Waste

Find out if your community participates in a Household Hazardous Waste Recycling Program.

• Benefits of Home Composting
• Non-toxic Cleaning Alternatives
• Stop FOG from Clogging Your Home Pipes & Entering the Sanitary Sewer System
• Waterfowl Management

Septic System Maintenance

• WQ-39: Managing Your Septic System - MSU-Extension Water Quality Bulletin
• A Homeowner's Guide to Septic Systems - US EPA, March 2005
• Septic System Education Resources - Alliance of Rouge Communities Website

Maintaining Boats & Other Recreational Vehicles

• Clean Boats Clean Waters Program
• Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers Campaign
• Aquatic Invasive Species Fact Sheets (Michigan Sea Grant)
• Non-toxic Cleaning Alternatives
• RV Dump Sites in Michigan