New website offers tips for protecting state water quality

If you’re wondering if your water consumption habits are eco-friendly or how your daily actions can affect Michigan’s water quality and what you can do to improve it, you can now find out by visiting miwaterstewardship.org, a new interactive website aimed at encouraging Michigan residents to take voluntary, proactive steps to protect Michigan’s water quality.

The site was launched earlier this month by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Eaton Conservation District.

The website features free online training courses, a section for students to become youth stewards using games, videos, and activities, as well as a section for educators that provides ready-made lesson plans, activities, demonstrations, publications, presentations, and other teaching resources. A local resource section also lists local environmental events and volunteer opportunities throughout the state.

“The site and its free online training program assists homeowners across Michigan on how to make simple changes in their daily routine, which in turn benefits our water resources,” said Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Director Keith Creagh in a press release. “The Michigan Water Stewardship website showcases the state’s overall effort to protect Michigan’s abundant water resources and we are pleased to partner with our statewide conservation districts in utilizing this tool locally.”

A virtual water cycle flow model is also featured on the site, demonstrating the impacts of real life scenarios as a result of residents’ everyday actions.

Residents can also take a quiz to determine how “green” their daily activities are for Michigan while getting suggestions for improvement.

“There are a lot of small, easy changes residents and homeowners can make to protect local water quality, and in turn, protect the Great Lakes,” said Andrea Stay, executive director of the Eaton Conservation District.