The Mill Creek Subwatershed, at 145 square miles, is the largest subwatershed in the Huron River Watershed. It enters the Huron River from the south in Dexter. For larger image of map, click on map.

Nine communities, under the leadership of the Huron River Watershed Council, have developed a Subwatershed Management Plan for Mill Creek.

»	What is the Mill Creek Subwatershed Management Plan?
»	Why is the Plan Needed??
»	What are the Primary Challenges?
»	What's Next?
»	What You Can Do?

What is the Mill Creek Subwatershed Management Plan?

• Links to the Mill Creek Subwatershed Management Plan, approved 2003, revisions approved 2006 (The plan is on the HRWC website as a series of pdf files so that each file is not excessive to download.)

• State of Michigan-approved
• A tool for you to raise funds
• A guide for protection and restoration activities in the subwatershed

The 2-year planning process involved government, business and citizen representatives, as well as technical advisors who contributed their expertise to ensure a scientifically-defensible plan. Washtenaw County Conservation District and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service co-facilitated the planning process. The U.S. EPA provided the funds for the project and MDEQ administered the grant.

Approval of the Plan makes the Mill Creek communities eligible to compete for implementation funds to address problems such as high nutrient loading, stream bank destabilization, soil erosion, and other activities identified in the Plan. The Plan meets the criteria of the Clean Michigan Initiative Nonpoint Pollution Control Grant Program. In addition, the Plan was the first in Michigan to be approved for U.S. EPA’s new requirements for its federal grants program.

Why is the Plan Needed?
The Mill Creek Subwatershed, at 145 square miles, is the largest subwatershed in the Huron River Watershed and contributes an estimated one-quarter of all phosphorus in the middle Huron (the River from Dexter to Belleville), helping to cause nuisance algal blooms in Ford and Belleville lakes. As a result, communities of the Mill Creek Subwatershed are under federal statute to reduce phosphorus pollution by 50 percent to meet water standards established by the Clean Water Act. A 50 percent reduction translates into 6,500-7,000 pounds of phosphorus annually.

What are the Primary Challenges?
Three primary challenges for Mill Creek are identified in the Plan:
(1) altered hydrology/ high stormwater peak flows;
(2) sedimentation and soil erosion; and
(3) high phosphorus load.

Sources and causes of these top challenges and several other challenges are presented in the Plan. A key finding is that unregulated nonpoint sources of pollution contribute approximately 9-10 times more phosphorus than regulated point sources.

Opportunities to Protect and Restore Mill Creek: Ways to mitigate the challenges are presented as a menu of best management practices (BMPs) in a 5-Year Action Plan in Chapter 8. The BMPs range from managerial practices (e.g., new and revised ordinances) to structural practices (e.g., removing Mill Pond Dam in Dexter) to vegetative practices (e.g., vegetated riparian buffers). The combination of actions to be taken will be determined by each community based on cost, acceptability and sustainability. The table below excerpts some of the information from the Action Plan to assist communities in prioritizing which activities to focus on during the first one to two years.

What's Next?
The first step in moving toward implementation of the Plan is approval of a Partner Resolution in the communities and agencies in the watershed. By signing the Local Partner Resolution, communities acknowledge the problem of nonpoint source pollution, express support and intent to participate in a Mill Creek Subwatershed Steering Committee, and consider and implement pollution reduction recommendations as presented in the Plan.

Communities and agencies who have approved resolutions:

Village of Dexter
Dexter Township
Scio Township
Lima Township
Lodi Township
Webster Township
Washtenaw Conservation District

Plan Implementation: HRWC is in the midst of a project to work with the Mill Creek partners on implementing some of the Plan’s recommendations. MDEQ has committed $100,000 in funding for this project. The project goal is to transition from planning for the protection of the Mill Creek Subwatershed to implementing the activities identified in the Management Plan and sustaining these efforts over the long-term.

So far, the project has

• Worked with Limno-tech , Inc. to create site plans for several stormwater treatment structures within older neighborhoods of the Village of Dexter, which were built before stormwater regulations were in place.
• Met with citizens groups, township boards and planning commissions, and other groups to discuss plan implementation
• Worked with a citizens group in Chelsea to plan for providing vegetative buffers on Letts Creek at Veterans Park
• Helped to organize a creek walk along Letts Creek
• Created two displays suitable for set up at local libraries, town halls, etc.
• Reviewed existing ordinances of and provided recommended changes and sample ordinances to Lodi and Sylvan Townships and the Village of Dexter
• Worked with Lima and Scio Townships and Dexter Village to develop wetlands and natural features setback ordinances. Scio Township has enacted its wetlands ordinance.

What You Can Do?
Here’s how you can help protect Mill Creek by participating in implementing the Mill Creek Subwatershed Management Plan:
- Let us know if you know of any areas in particular need of streambank restoration, stormwater controls (such as detention ponds, infiltration basins, etc.), or if you are a property owner who would like to restore wetlands on your land. We can help you create a site plan and search for funding.
- If you are interested in getting involved in a citizens group, let us know and we may be able to connect you to other interested people.
- Display one of our displays at your town hall or any other public place. Contact us if you have any ideas.
- Encourage your local government to use our help in improving ordinances to protect the creek, or encourage them to pass the resolution (if they have not yet done so).

Last Updated: February 2006