EGLE awards 17 conservation groups with $600K in Michigan watershed grants to improve water quality, education, and watershed management across the state.

EGLE Awards $600,000 for Michigan Watershed Protection and Education Efforts

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) announced today that it has awarded $600,000 in grants to 17 Michigan watershed organizations. The funds will support a wide range of conservation, education, and water management efforts across the state.

The grants, issued under Michigan’s Public Act 121 of 2024, are designed to help local groups address nonpoint source (NPS) pollution, conduct public outreach, and improve watershed management infrastructure. Each grant is capped at $40,000, and projects are expected to be completed within a year of receiving funding.

“This targeted investment will empower local watershed organizations to continue their essential work protecting Michigan’s water resources,” EGLE stated in its announcement.

Dozens of Applicants Sought State Support for Watershed Projects

According to EGLE, 42 applications were submitted requesting approximately $1.5 million in total funding, underscoring both the need and interest in Michigan’s water protection programs. After evaluation, 17 organizations were selected for funding.

The recipients represent a broad cross-section of Michigan’s diverse geography, from the Detroit River in the southeast to Grand Traverse Bay in the north and the White Lake Association along Lake Michigan.

Range of Funded Projects Address Pollution and Public Education

The funded activities span administrative support, educational programs, pollution control, and technical assessments. Specific project activities include:

Organizational and administrative assistance for watershed groups.
Public education programs focused on watershed issues.
Installation of best management practices (BMPs) to reduce runoff and improve water quality.
Purchase of monitoring equipment and other supplies.
Water quality monitoring initiatives.
Development of watershed management plan elements.
Preparation of grant proposals for future funding.
Inventories of nonpoint sources of pollution, both desktop and field-based.

Nonpoint source pollution, which includes runoff from farmland, streets, and lawns, remains one of the leading causes of water quality impairment in Michigan. EGLE’s NPS Program administers these grants as part of the state’s broader strategy to address such pollution, which is more diffuse and harder to control than discharges from a single source like a factory or treatment plant.

Michigan Organizations Receiving Watershed Council Grants

The organizations receiving the 2025 grants include:

River Raisin Watershed Council (Adrian) – $39,984.75
Bay County Soil Conservation District (Bay City) – $40,000
Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority (Brighton) – $29,230
Eaton Conservation District (Charlotte) – $39,977.75
Oakland Conservation District (Clarkston) – $39,961.50
City of Flint – Water Pollution Control (Flint) – $39,970
Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy (Galesburg) – $12,502
Gladwin Conservation District (Gladwin) – $39,999.99
Schrems West Michigan Trout Unlimited (Grand Rapids) – $39,810
Barry Conservation District (Hastings) – $36,267
Calhoun Conservation District (Marshall) – $39,259.28
White Lake Association (Montague) – $6,227.42
Chippewa Luce Mackinac Conservation District (Sault Ste. Marie) – $39,999.42
Mason-Lake Conservation District (Scottville) – $38,610.56
Clinton Conservation District (St. Johns) – $38,211.20
Friends of the Detroit River (Taylor) – $39,998.52
The Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay (Traverse City) – $39,990.61

Nonpoint Source Program Key to Michigan’s Water Quality Strategy

The funding is part of EGLE’s Nonpoint Source (NPS) Program, which helps local groups create and implement watershed management plans to reduce runoff pollution. The program issues multiple calls for proposals each year. Current and upcoming funding opportunities are posted on EGLE’s NPS web page.

EGLE emphasized that strong local partnerships are essential for the success of these programs. “By supporting local organizations, we are building capacity to monitor, manage, and improve our waterways on the ground where it matters most,” the agency stated.

Michigan Watershed Grants Target Ongoing Water Resource Challenges

The state of Michigan faces significant challenges in maintaining water quality across its more than 11,000 inland lakes, 76,000 miles of rivers and streams, and 3,200 miles of Great Lakes shoreline. Nonpoint source pollution remains a persistent threat, often driven by urban development, agriculture, stormwater runoff, and legacy contamination.

In recent years, Michigan has also invested heavily in addressing PFAS contamination, lead service line replacement, and aging water infrastructure. The NPS grants complement these broader water quality initiatives by targeting localized problems through community-based efforts.

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