We wholeheartedly support the overall message of this Holland Sentinel Opinion article  which is that the entire community needs to take ownership of water quality problems in Lake Macatawa before we will start seeing substantial water quality improvement. The Macatawa Watershed Project is trying to lead the way . .

The Macatawa Watershed Project recently secured a $50,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment to complete in depth sediment monitoring in the Macatawa Watershed, in partnership with Hope College. The sampling project will involve forensic analysis of many sediment samples across the watershed to determine the relative point of origin of each sediment type. This information is critically important to the success of future projects as it will help us target areas of the watershed that are shown to be the largest sources for sediment. Please see the Monday August 16th Holland Sentinel article for more information or contact Mary Fales at mfales@the-macc.org if you have any questions.

The June 2010 edition of the Watershed Project newsletter is now available! We hope you enjoy this information packed edition with information on environmentally friendly boating, local Clean Marinas, lake dredging, algae and sediment sampling and the benefits of replacing turf grass with alternative landscaping. If you’d like to be added to our mailing list please send an email with your contact information to info@the-macc.org

April is the month of Earth Day and this year you can celebrate Earth Day by caring for our local natural resource-Lake Macatawa and the Macatawa River. The Outdoor Discovery Center-Macatawa Greenway is hosting its annual River Clean Up Day on Saturday April 24th from 8:30am-noon. The Macatawa Watershed Project will be providing a pizza lunch for volunteers after the cleanup. To register and learn more please visit http://odcofwu.schoolwires.com/odcofwu/icalsw/eventDetail.asp?DID=15949

Hope to see you there!

The Macatawa Watershed Project (MWP) has been working hard since the late 1990’s to improve the quality of water in Lake Macatawa and the greater watershed. Currently, the MWP is working to revise and update our expired watershed management plan to meet new EPA criteria.

 A critical part of the watershed management planning process involves soliciting community wide input and ensuring that the management plan reflects community needs, desires and goals. We consider you and your organization to be an important watershed stakeholder! In that light, please consider joining us for a “Watershed Visioning Meeting” to help us discuss and develop a community vision for the Macatawa Watershed.

 Macatawa Watershed Visioning Meeting

 Monday, March 29^th

8:00am – 12:00pm

Alpenrose Restaurant

4 East 8^th Street, Holland

RSVP by March 15th to Mary Fales 616-395-2688 or mfales@the-macc.org

The goal of this meeting is to bring together key community stakeholder groups to review the history of the Macatawa Watershed Project, to learn more about the current status of the Macatawa Watershed and to work together to develop a watershed vision statement. In addition, we will be asking participants to brainstorm major tasks that may need to be accomplished in order to reach our vision in the future. Please see the attached agenda for more information.