Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2006MI70B

Information Dissemination and Technology Transfer Training Programs

Institute: Michigan
Year Established: 2006 Start Date: 2006-03-01 End Date: 2007-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $22,000 Total Non-Federal Funds: $53,661

Principal Investigators: Lois Wolfson

Abstract: The state of Michigan is fortunate to have an abundant and widespread supply of water due in large part to its geographical location within the Upper Great Lakes Region. It is surrounded by four of the five Great Lakes, has over 11,000 inland lakes greater than five acres in surface area, over 36,000 miles of rivers and streams, and a vast groundwater supply. However, a high demand and use of these waters often result in both water quantity and water quality problems. As activities within the state continue to utilize water or degrade its quality, and competing uses continue to rise, the protection and management of states water resources becomes critical. Because the movement of pollutants across a watershed is not constrained by political boundaries, and activities in one political jurisdiction may lead to water degradation in another, the need for action at the watershed level is apparent. The difficulty in assessing impacts from erosion, nonpoint source pollution or shoreline development lies not only in the magnitude of the data collection efforts, but in the proper analysis and interpretation of the data needed for assessing the problem. Further, water withdrawals from both surface water and groundwater may result in decreased stream flow and reduced lake levels and lead to both water quantity and quality problems. In order to stay informed about water issues and to determine if efforts being made to reduce pollutants are proving effective, an education, monitoring, and evaluation program is appropriate. An effective information dissemination and training program facilitates the transfer of information needed to protect the water resources in the state, and helps to inform scientists, legislators, and citizens of the most recent information available. For further effectiveness, agency personnel, riparians, educators and others interested in protecting their water resources or in teaching others about it must understand the importance of collecting and/or analyzing information at the watershed level to ensure that reliable and appropriate information is being used to make sound decisions for water quality protection.