Newsletter
The Macatawa Area Coordinating Council produces a newsletter that includes the latest information on the Watershed Project as well as other MACC activities and programs. To join our mailing list, please email us and include your name and address.
Want to know what topics are in each of the newsletters? Click Here for a breakdown of newsletter topics by subject and by issue.
Macatawa Watershed Project Newsletter December 2011
Macatawa Watershed Project Newsletter September 2011
Macatawa Watershed Project Newsletter June 2011
Macatawa Watershed Project Newsletter March 2011
Macatawa Watershed Project Newsletter Dec 2010
Macatawa Watershed Project Newsletter Sept 2010
Macatawa Watershed Project Newsletter June 2010
Macatawa Watershed Project Newsletter March 2010
Macatawa Watershed Project Newsletter Sept 2009
Macatawa Watershed Project Newsletter Jan 2009
Macatawa Watershed Project Newsletter Spring 2008
Macatawa Watershed Project Newsletter Spring 2007
Macatawa Watershed Project Newsletter Fall 2005
Macatawa Watershed Project Newsletter Summer 2005
Storm Drain Stenciling
Storm drains are part of the storm sewer system which carries water from rainfall and snowmelt directly from your neighborhood to our local rivers, lakes , streams and wetlands. This water becomes polluted when it picks up things like grass clippings, leaves, pesticides, motor oil, trash and pet waste and flushes them into storm drains. Stormwater is NOT treated by wastewater treatment facilities and therefore it is a direct route for pollutants to enter Lake Macatawa! The MACC supplies community volunteers with all the supplies to paint stenciled messages near the storm drains in your neighborhood to remind you and your neighbors to keep pollutants off the streets, driveways and sidewalks and out of storm drains.
Watershed Library
The Macatawa Watershed Project has a large reference library with historic and current information on Lake Macatawa. Please contact the MACC office at 616-395-2688 to view these documents.
Enviroscapes
With support from the Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area the Macatawa Watershed Project owns six Enviroscape tabletop units that can be used to educate students on watershed and nonpoint pollution issues in the Macatawa Watershed. The six Enviroscape units include: Wetlands, Nonpoint Source, Groundwater, Landfill, Coastal, and Hazardous Waste.
The Enviroscapes are available for use in a classroom or with a civic group. To check out any of the Enviroscape units, please contact the MACC office at 616-395-2688 or email us. For more detailed information on the Enviroscape units, visit www.enviroscapes.com.
Children’s Books
Three books by local authors and a local illustrator have been created to teach the basic concepts of water quality management in a watershed. The books target fourth grade and support the state curriculum to teach about the path that rain water follows. To receive free copies of the books, contact the MACC office at (616) 395-2688 or by email.
The Lake I Didn’t Remember
By Sara DenHerder, Illustrated by Betsy Buurma Morton
When Craig and Olivia found that that they could no longer swim or fish in their favorite lake, they went on a mission to discover who was responsible for the problem. In the process, they learned about watersheds, phosphorus, sediment and erosion, and learned that we all play a role in maintaining water quality.
A Day at the Farm
By Sara Stevens, Illustrated by Betsy Buurma Morton
Craig and Olivia learn how farmers make a difference in protecting water quality by using filter strips at the edges of fields to control erosion and help keep sediment and fertilizers out of watersheds. A teacher’s guide has been developed for this book, to download a copy of the lesson plans click here.
Springwater Rain
By Karen Hooker, Illustrated by Betsy Buurma Morton
Jason and Stephanie learn what stormwater run-off is, where all that water goes and how a wetland can filter out undesirable sediment and pollutants from the water.
For more information on educational activities in support of the Macatawa Watershed Project, please contact us.
INTO THE WATERSHED DVD
The Macatawa Area Coordinating Council and the Macatawa Watershed Project has produced an educational watershed DVD entitled Into the Watershed that has proven to be an effective tool. The 3-D animation DVD featuring several Holland High School students and local watershed experts provides educational information about wetlands, stormwater, agriculture, and land use influences on overall water quality of the Macatawa Watershed. The target audience for this production is 5th to 8th grades, although it has been effective in many groups young and old. Local involvement was a key to the success of this production. The producer is Pam Landes of Think Again, also a local watershed resident.
This DVD is just one of the several tools utilized by the Macatawa Area Coordinating Council to address the goal to reduce phosphorus in Lake Macatawa. The production of this DVD has been made possible in part by funding support from the Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area and the Office of Michigan Attorney General.
In June 2007, Into the Watershed was awarded the highest honors by the 28th Annual Telly Awards as well as the 13th Annual Communicator Award of Distinction, both international competitions. To view the DVD click here. If you are teacher and are interested in downloading lesson plans that have been developed specifically for this DVD please click here