Kalamazoo Conservation District

Welcome to the
Davis Creek Watershed
Home Page

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Davis Creek Watershed Project is to improve the water quality and environmental health of Davis Creek and the Kalamazoo River by severely reducing the pollution and erosion from runoff within the watershed. Education, action and environmental cleanup are our goals in involving the diverse urban and rural landowners in improving the quality of life for people, wildlife and the community.

BACKGROUND

In the early 1990's, concerned citizens conducted volunteer water quality monitoring in Kalamazoo County in a effort to discover sources of pollution contributing to the degradation of the Kalamazoo River. This monitoring discovered that Davis Creek is one of the most polluted creeks discharge to the river. Davis Creek has no sources of industrial or municipal discharge to the creek, so it was easily determined that the water quality problems of Davis Creek come from the cumulative impacts of nonpoint source discharges.

Recognizing that community sustainability was closely related to managing nonpoint source pollution, a Nonpoint Source Pollution Advisory Committee was created through the River Partners Program of the Forum of Greater Kalamazoo. This volunteer group of citizens, public officials, and environmental professionals focused on area watershed programs, general nonpoint source pollution issues and the Davis Creek Watershed in particular. The committee defined a scope of work necessary to develop a community-based, Davis Creek Watershed Management Plan. Through hard work and personal dedication, committee members presented a proposed work plan to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality for funding through Section 319 of the federal Clean Water Act.

In 1995 MDEQ awarded federal grant moneys to the Kalamazoo Conservation District to develop a Davis Creek Watershed Management Plan on behalf of the greater community. With this grant, the Davis Creek Project became one of the first attempts by MDEQ to support a multijurisdictional, urban watershed project. MDEQ is currently using the successes of the Davis Creek Project as a model for other urban watersheds in the state.

The Davis Creek Project is action oriented--interested persons are encouraged to become involved as watershed stewards in their community, at their place of work, and in their back yards!

RELATED PROJECTS

Environmental Permitting & Erosion Control. Visit the Kalamazoo Conservation District's web page to learn about a related project to improve the control of soil erosion and sedimentation in Kalamazoo County. The control of soil erosion is important for all Michiganders, as sediment is the number one pollutant by volume of surface waters in the state. This project seeks to improve soil erosion and sedimentation control by promoting greater public awareness, and by facilitating better coordination among multiple environmental permitting agencies.

Natural Features Inventory. A Natural Features inventory of the Natural Communities within the Davis Creek Watershed is now available. An interactive version of the inventory is found here. A copy of the full report (6.3 MB) is available from our documents list (below), or by visiting the web site of Kieser and Associates, the consulting firm which prepared the inventroy report.

Riparian Concept - Lakeside Refinery Site. The Davis Creek Watershed Steering Committee formed a partnership with the City of Kalamazoo, the Emergency Response Division of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and the Kalamazoo area Coalition for Urban Redevelopment to maximize the restoration of this contaminated site -- an abandoned oil refinery located along Davis Creek. A concept plan was developed, illustrating multiple use of the site, including commercial redevelopment, riparian corridor buffer preservation, habitat protection, linear creek trailway, and opportunities for conservation education. The complete riparian concept plan can be downloaded as a PDF file (4.38Mg).

Riparian Land Owner Guide to Buffers. Land owners who are fortunate enough to own property on the banks or a stream or lake (known as riparians) can have a tremendous influence on the health of the waterbody. Perhaps the easist method to prevent adverse water quality impacts is to leave a natural vegetative buffer along the edge of the water. To assist land owners in managing this important area, a Guide for Riparian Buffer Establishment is now available for download in pdf format.

Annual Watershed Steward Awards. The Kalamazoo Conservation District, in cooperation with the Rivers Partners Program of the Forum of Greater Kalamazoo is pleased to announce the 2nd Annual recipients of the Kalamazoo area "Watershed Steward Awards." The 1999 Watershed Steward Awards are bestowed in partnership with the Kalamazoo Conservation District, the Kalamazoo County Drain Commission, and other supporters of the Forum’s River Partners Program. This community-based, annual award was created to recognize outstanding individual or organizational efforts in watershed protection, education and partnership in the Kalamazoo Area.

DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD

As published materials evolve for the Davis Creek Project, they will be made available through this page. Other program information is available, and visitors are encouraged to contact the references listed throughout this site. THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISIT!

NOTE:

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