©2004 Mid-Michigan Environmental Action Council
P.O. Box 17164, Lansing, Michigan 48901-7164
(517) 214-5684 jessicayorko@sustainablesolutions.biz
Stormwater Pollution Prevention
What is polluted
stormwater?

Stormwater is water
from rain or melting
snow that does not
immediately soak into
the ground. Instead
stormwater flows
across hard surfaces
such as parking lots,
streets, lawns and
roofs and picks up
pesticides and
fertilizers, sediment,
pet waste, cigarette
butts, litter, oil and
other pollutants.  This
runoff flows into street
drains and ditches.
Eventually, the runoff
ends up in rivers,
streams, or in the soil
where it can seep into
ground water (our
source of drinking
water).  The runoff
does not enter a
sewer-type treatment
plant to be cleaned.
Promoting Low-Impact Development with Grassroots Advocacy,
Education, and Ordinances

This project is funded by a grant from Freshwater Future
and with the support of The Greater Lansing Go Green!
Initiative


Project Summary

In 2008 and 2009, Mid-MEAC will be working with local partners to
implement low-impact development practices and policies in the Greater
Lansing area, using grassroots advocacy, education, and policy changes.


What is Low Impact Development?

LID is comprehensive land planning and engineering design approach
with a goal of maintaining and enhancing the pre-development
hydrologic regime of urban and developing watersheds. This design
approach incorporates strategic planning with micro-management
techniques to achieve superior environmental protection, while allowing
for development or infrastructure rehabilitation to occur. The ultimate goal
of Low Impact Development is to reduce the amount of polluted
stormwater entering our local waterways.

    Examples of LID:
    1.  Rain Gardens
         and Bioretention
    2.  Rooftop Gardens
    3.  
      Sidewalk Storage
    4.  Vegetated Swales,
         Buffers, and
         Strips;  Tree
         Preservation
    5.  Roof Leader Disconnection
    6.  Rain Barrels and Cisterns
    7.  Permeable Pavers
    8.  Soil Amendments
    9.   Impervious Surface Reduction and
          Disconnection
    10. Pollution Prevention and Good
           Housekeeping





Increasing Advocacy

The project will increase advocacy by engaging local residents in understanding, developing and
advocating for the implementation of low-impact solutions to stormwater and land use issues.
Through educational efforts, community discussions, and policy negotiations, the project will
influence community and individual behavior and opinion and public policy, and as a result,
corporate and individual conduct. Over the past five years, Mid-MEAC has learned that in order to
protect local and regional ecosystems, we must simultaneously increase “environmental literacy”
amongst individuals and decision makers, and create a bridge for cooperative policy development
that is sensitive to community needs. This project will use that same approach to developing local
ordinances in the City of Lansing.  Area residents desire a cleaner, useable river, but often feel
helpless in translating their desire to action.  This project will create a tangible, feasible avenue to
restoring a local waterway.


Project Goals

  • Work with local stakeholders and local government to write and create low-impact
    development ordinances, a plan for generating public and political buy-in, and publications
    and messaging for public education.
  • Reduce polluted stormwater runoff by delivering information to individuals, local groups
    and elected officals about why reducing runoff is important, and best practices for
    individuals, property managers, and developers.


Relation to Mid-MEAC Mission and Goals

In 2007, the Mid-MEAC board developed a list of goals and objectives in five areas: River
Protection, Transportation Options, Land Use, Sustainable Practices, and Operations. The goal of
our River Protection focus is “Clean Water: Swimmable, Drinkable, Fishable”. Our strategies
include creating baseline water quality data through volunteer stream monitoring, and promoting
the use of low-impact development techniques, like rain gardens. The goal of our Land Use focus
is “Maintaining Urban Cores – Preserving Space for Nature” and the strategies include holding
community forums to elevate awareness of, and implement, low-impact development ordinances.
This project increases our ability to protect aquatic habitats by allowing us to help create
awareness, behavior, and policies for long-term aquatic health.


Project Evaluation Measures

  • Number of people reached with information about low-impact solutions to stormwater and
    land-use planning for clean water.
  • Number of people engaged in formulating strategies, ordinances, and policies to reduce
    polluted runoff and create responsible land-use policies.
  • Number of new low-impact development ordinances and restrictions adopted, and what
    they mean for local water quality.
  • Change in residents’ understanding of how land use and development practices impact
    aquatic habitats and human health.
  • Estimates of stormwater pollution prevention quantities, and impacts on aquatic habitats.
  • Creation and implementation of a Low Impact Development Ordinance.


For More Information, Contact:

Jessica Yorko
jessicayorko@sustainablesolutions.biz
517-214-5684
Mid-Michigan Environmental Action Council
Kalamink Creek stormwater
runoff
Storm Drain Labeling
Stormwater drain off the west
branch of the Red Cedar
Reflections in the Red Cedar
River
Volunteers collecting samples
Stream Monitoring on the
west branch of the Red Cedar
Stream monitoring on the
west branch of Red Cedar
Volunteer stream monitoring
training
Volunteer stream monitoring
training