MSU Extension Water Quality Digest

Current News Stories

Identifying and managing invasive Eurasian and hybrid watermilfoils in Michigan lakes: A response to differential sensitivity to herbicides
December 19, 2022 | Jo Latimore, Erick Elgin, James McNair, Syndell Parks, Ryan Thum

We genetically analyzed hybrid watermilfoil collected from lakes across Michigan and tested the hybrid plants’ susceptibility to a common herbicide, fluridone. We made two important determinations. First, there are many different genetic strains of hybrid watermilfoil in Michigan lakes. Second, these strains respond differently to fluridone, and some are highly resistant to it. Therefore, knowledge of what strain(s) of watermilfoil are present in a lake is very important when developing a management plan that includes control with herbicides.

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Local government has an important role for water quality protection: Part 1
December 21, 2022 | Mary Reilly

Local governments have a very important role to play in protection of surface water, ground water, drinking water and wetlands, often filling in the gaps in state and federal regulations. If local government does not do so with local zoning, those gaps may not be addressed. There are various state and federal laws designed to protect water quality. But relying only on state laws may not do a complete job.

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Local government has an important role for water quality protection: Part 2
December 21, 2022 | Mary Reilly

Local governments have a very important role to play in the protection of surface water, ground water, drinking water, and wetlands, often filling the gaps in state and federal regulations. If local government, with local zoning does not do so, those gaps may not be addressed. There are various state and federal laws designed to protect water quality. But relying only on state laws may not do a complete job and is not as successful at being preventative as zoning can be.

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Local government has an important role for water quality protection: Part 3
December 21, 2022 | Mary Reilly

In part one of this series of articles, “Local government has an important role for water quality protection,” the focus was on how to determine the amount, or distance, of greenbelt buffer along lakes and rivers. Part two focused on the importance of protecting the natural resource and habitat along lake and stream edges. This article focuses on the idea that regulations requiring such greenbelts and buffers are within the authority of local government and does not raise the specter of a property taking.

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