PROTECTING THE INTEGRITY OF HEADWATER STREAMS THROUGH INNOVATIVE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, EDUCATION, COOPERATION AND POLICY

The headwaters of three major Great Lakes tributaries are found in Livingston County located west of Detroit, Michigan. These streams provide significant aquatic habitat, which supports a diversity of aquatic life including threatened and endangered species. Livingston County is currently experiencing significant development pressure. The current level of growth, under existing development requirements, would promote a significant increase in impervious area and a subsequent increase in the potential for nonpoint source pollution, as well as detrimental impacts to riparian habitat.To address this concern, the Livingston County Drain Commissioner developed a model program to provide the development community and residents an understanding of the role that soil erosion and stormwater play in the transport of chemicals and degradation of habitat and detailed guidelines for development. The program was developed using an innovative, stakeholder-driven approach to bring together local government officials, state agency representatives, developers, contractors, environmental interests, and agricultural stakeholders to develop a unified approach to protect Livingston County headwater streams, for the benefit of economic and environmental interests. The approach included: (1) minimizing soil erosion and sedimentation during development and (2) mitigating adverse stormwater impacts during and after development through the establishment of the Livingston County Drain Commissioner's Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Program and Rules, Procedures and Design Criteria for Stormwater Drainage from development sites.