Grading the River Raisin Watershed: How does our river compare?
The sun setting over the River Raisin, City of Manchester, April 30, 2024. Photo by Sara Swanson.
Editor’s note: If you live in the Manchester area, even if you don’t think of yourself as living near the River Raisin, you most likely are living in its watershed. The City of Manchester, Manchester Township, and Bridgewater Township are all completely within the River Raisin Watershed. And while not completely within it, the southern halves of Sharon Township and Freedom Township are. This means that rain falling onto your sidewalk or driveway is mostly likely headed to the River Raisin.
from River Raisin Watershed Council
Have you ever wondered how the River Raisin compares to other rivers and watersheds? Thanks to recent efforts by the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science in partnership with the River Raisin Watershed Council, and with funding from the Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation, we have a Report Card that tells us where we stand! Report cards are data-driven, visually engaging documents that synthesize information from various sources and sectors, from water quality to household income.
No, we didn’t ace all the tests. Our overall average was “C,” putting the River Raisin Watershed in “moderate” condition, with grades ranging from “A” to “F” for indicators that fall within six major categories. You can download the Report Card by checking out the River Raisin Watershed Council website or using the following link: https://www.riverraisin.org/watershed-report-card.
The six categories outlined in the Report Card are: Water, Economy, Ecosystem, Human Health, Infrastructure, and Recreation. There are five to seven indicators within each category. These indicators were selected and evaluated by a large group of River Raisin stakeholders who met over the past three years to produce our first Report Card for the River Raisin Watershed. Four other watersheds in southeast Michigan that flow into Lake Erie have their own report cards. The grades for the Rouge, Clinton, Detroit, and Huron watersheds ranged from “D+” to “C+.”
As specified in the River Raisin Watershed Report Card, past industrial, agricultural, and land-use practices have negatively impacted the watershed. Since the Clean Water Act was passed in 1970, awareness of human impacts on the watershed has increased, and advancements in science and technology have allowed us to evaluate those impacts. If we had a Report Card in 1970 it is certain our grade would have been much lower.
The southeast Michigan region is heavily developed and populated, with a long history of industry. These factors have impacted the environment: water quality is degraded in many areas, and forest coverage is declining. The relationship between human and environmental health shows in fish consumption advisories and the presence of E. coli in the water. The entire region faces challenges with stormwater management and associated flooding events, despite recent efforts and improvements. You can access the details on all of the Report Cards at MichiganReportCards.org
The River Raisin Watershed Council is committed to improving the health of our watershed through education and partnerships with the many stakeholders who assisted us with this Report Card. We invite you to join us as members and volunteers to support these efforts. This spring and summer we will be offering opportunities to attend regional meetings around the watershed to help guide RRWC’s strategic planning process. We need your input on the future of our work!
This year we are celebrating our 50th anniversary. In 2025 we will hit the ground running with a new strategic plan. We are excited to continue to raise our grade with your help!
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