Institute of Water Research

Research

• Engaging River Raisin Farmers in a Sub-surface Water Monitoring Program

  The goal of this project is to improve the health of the River Raisin and Western Lake Erie Basin through targeted research on tile drains.

• Expanding groundwater research in Baraga County, Michigan

  Groundwater modeling to support Ojibwa community with assessing and tracking toxic metals in drinking water

• Great Lakes Watershed Management System: Enhancements for Tracking Michigan

  Develop an online dashboard to assist MDARD and EGLE with tracking progress on their nutrient reductions goals for the WLEB

• Metrics, management, and monitoring - an investigation in rangeland and pasture soil health and their drivers

  Examine soil health drivers in pasture and rangeland management.

• Michigan Hydrological Framework

  Develop a hydrologic model sharing platform for Michigan

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  Western Lake Erie Expanded Water Quality Monitoring Program

  Conduct water quality monitoring on tile drains in the Western Lake Erie Basin.

• Wetland Research Targets Reducing Nutrients Leaving Tile Drains

  Several published sources of data indicate that agricultural tile drains may be responsible for the greatest single contribution of phosphorus delivery to Lake Erie.

• A Decision Support Tool for Measuring and Tracking the Social Benefits of Water Resources in Michigan Coastal Communities

  The IWR recently developed a data dashboard that allows local planners, decision makers, business leaders, and residents to identify, measure, and track the social benefits of water projects and resources in their community.

• Accelerating Conservation Adoption in the River Raisin

  This project will improve water quality in the River Raisin watershed and reduce phosphorus entering Western Lake Erie basin.

• Accelerating Nutrient Management Adoption in the Saginaw Watershed

  IWR will develop and implement a program to increase adoption of nutrient management practices on roughly 20,000 acres of farmland in the Saginaw River watershed.

• Improving Stream Habitat in the Maple River Watershed

  This project is part of the USDA Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), bringing nearly $600,000 in conservation funding to farmers in the Maple River watershed to improve fish habitat and water quality.

• The Mid-Michigan Health Impact Assessment Toolkit

  The IWR developed an online, GIS-based, analytical toolset for evaluating the effects of local planning and decision-making on community health and health equity in the mid-Michigan region.