Overview

HRWC is a nonprofit coalition of Huron Valley residents, businesses, and local governments.  The Council bridges political boundaries by building partnerships between and among communities, community leaders, residents, and commercial enterprises.  Serving those constituencies, HRWC monitors the Huron River, its tributaries, lakes, and groundwater, and directs multiple programs addressing pollution prevention and abatement, wetland and floodplain protection, citizen education, and natural resource and land-use planning.

Since it was formed, the Council has served as a place where local units of government and citizens have discussed problems and sought solutions to critical issues affecting the River.  Even though the Council has no enforcement powers, it has accomplished its goals through the use of technical data, factual information and citizen stewardship to influence decisions made by various local and state agencies.

Mission Statement: The mission of the Council is to inspire attitudes, behaviors, and economies that protect, rehabilitate, and sustain the Huron River system.

Stream monitoring by volunteers: HRWC has developed the premiere citizen-monitoring network in the State. Our strong quality assurance and quality control mechanisms allow agencies to confidently use this data to direct water protection programs.

Educating the public: HRWC has an award-winning mass media campaign aimed at changing behaviors to keep our water safe and clean.

Reducing Pollution: HRWC’s work on phosphorus pollution produced numerous ordinances to protect natural areas, provide stronger protection of wetlands, and to reduce conversion of land and natural habitat to pavement and buildings.

Assisting Communities on Water Issues: HRWC’s science and policy experts respond daily to residents and government representatives to help them manage development in ways that protect creeks, wildlife, and natural features.

Protecting Drinking Water: HRWC has written an award-winning guidebook that communities throughout Michigan are using to develop drinking water protection plans.

Adaptation Work:

Climate-related programs

Making Climate-Resilient Communities: HRWC is bringing together our community partners up and down the river to examine the topic of a changing climate and how communities in the watershed, and Michigan, can maintain quality of life under projected scenarios. GLISA and River Network are partners.

Saving Water Saves Energy:In an effort to begin both mitigating and adapting to climate change the Masco Corporation Foundation and HRWC have launched a 3-year project to develop and disseminate a home “Saving Water Saves Energy” campaign and toolkit for distribution to households in Southeast Michigan and for use by HRWC business partners as well as watershed organizations across the country.