Oakland Conservation District

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Oakland Conservation District

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The Oakland Conservation District is a locally organized, special-purpose unit of state government that provides natural resource information and technical assistance to Oakland County residents.

09/02/2026

Michigan is home to some of the most valuable wetlands in the country, and chances are there is one closer to you than you think.

Wetlands are areas where water covers the soil or is present at or near the surface for part or all of the year. They include marshes, swamps, bogs, and wet meadows, and they play a critical role in protecting the water quality of Oakland County's local rivers, lakes, and streams. Michigan's wetland law recognizes the wide range of benefits that wetlands provide to our communities, recreation, tourism, and economy.

Here is what wetlands do for our water and our community:

- Filter nonpoint source (NPS) pollution by acting as a natural biological and chemical treatment basin, absorbing sediment, nutrients, and other pollutants before they reach open water
- Store floodwater and slow stormwater runoff, reducing flooding risk in surrounding neighborhoods and along stream banks
- Recharge groundwater supplies by allowing water to soak slowly into the ground rather than rushing into storm drains
- Provide critical habitat for fish, migratory birds, and rare or threatened wildlife species
- Support nutrient cycling that keeps aquatic food webs healthy and productive

Despite all of these benefits, Michigan's wetlands continue to face threats from development, invasive species, and a changing climate. According to EGLE, areas that have already experienced significant historic wetland loss continue to face consequences including water quality issues, flooding, and loss of wildlife habitat.

The restoration of drained or altered wetlands can re-establish important ecological functions, including new wildlife habitat, increased flood storage, and improved water quality for the surrounding watershed.

Michigan landowners can voluntarily participate in wetland restoration through EGLE and the Michigan DNR's Voluntary Wetland Restoration Program. Protecting and restoring wetlands is one of the most impactful things that can be done for Oakland County's long-term water quality.

Sources: michigan.gov/egle/about/organization/water-resources/wetlands | michigan.gov/egle/about/organization/water-resources/wetlands/wetlands-watershed-planning | watershedcouncil.org/our-waters/wetlands

08/26/2026

In a natural landscape, rain soaks into the ground, filtering through soil and replenishing local groundwater, streams, and lakes. But as communities grow and develop, open spaces like forests, parks, and grassy areas are replaced with rooftops, driveways, and parking lots. Water has nowhere to go. Instead of soaking in, it rushes across these hard surfaces, picking up oil, sediment, fertilizer, pet waste, and other pollutants before flowing into storm drains and directly into local waterways, untreated. This is what impervious surfaces do, and it is one of the leading drivers of nonpoint source (NPS) pollution. Studies have shown that up to 70 percent of the pollution in our streams, rivers, and lakes is carried there by runoff from practices carried out in our own yards and gardens.

The more impervious surface a community has, the worse the problem gets. More pavement means more runoff, more flooding risk, and more pollutants reaching Oakland County's five major river watersheds. In August 2014, Southeast Michigan experienced firsthand what that can look like when massive storms dropped four to six inches of rain in four hours, resulting in major flooding on roads, freeways, and parks across the region.

The good news is that practical solutions exist. Green infrastructure helps manage stormwater closer to where it falls:

- Plant trees: certain species of mature trees can absorb over 2,800 gallons of water annually, significantly reducing runoff volume
- Install a rain garden to capture runoff from rooftops and driveways and filter it naturally through the soil
- Choose permeable pavement for driveways and walkways so water can filter through rather than run off
- Disconnect downspouts and direct them onto grass or garden beds instead of pavement
- Add mulch and native plantings to bare soil areas to slow and absorb rainfall

Green infrastructure doesn't just protect water quality. It reduces flooding, cools neighborhoods, creates wildlife habitat, and can even lower water management costs for the whole community.

Sources: canr.msu.edu/news/soak_up_the_rain_part_1 | canr.msu.edu/news/why_do_we_need_rain_gardens

08/21/2026

Bare soil is a common source of nonpoint source (NPS) pollution, and one of the easiest to fix.

When soil is left exposed in garden beds, yards, or around trees, rain hits it directly, loosening particles and carrying sediment, nutrients, and pollutants into storm drains and straight into Oakland County's local waterways. A layer of mulch can interrupt that process entirely.

According to MSU Extension, proper mulching conserves soil moisture, moderates soil temperature, suppresses w**ds, and increases organic matter in the soil. It also breaks down over time to improve soil microbial activity, reducing how much fertilizer you need down the road and keeping excess nutrients out of our local waterways.

Here are some easy mulching tips for Michigan homeowners:

- Apply 2 to 3 inches of mulch around garden beds, trees, and shrubs
- Use organic mulches like shredded hardwood bark, wood chips, or ground leaves since they contribute organic matter back to the soil
- Keep a 6 inch mulch-free ring around the base of trees to prevent rot
- Use shredded leaves from your own yard as a free natural mulch option
- Run over fallen leaves with a mulching mower instead of raking and sending them to the curb. EGLE notes that leaves are Michigan's original fertilizer and mulching them back into your yard keeps nutrients in the soil where they belong
- Avoid using un-composted grass clippings as mulch as they mat together and block moisture and oxygen from reaching plant roots

Small steps to keep soil covered this fall can make a real difference for Oakland County's watersheds all winter long.

Sources: canr.msu.edu/news/mulch_just_do_it | michigan.gov/egle/newsroom/mi-environment/2024/10/29/leaving-the-leaves

08/19/2026

You may not farm, but cover crops aren't just for farm fields, they can be used right in your own backyard garden too.

When soil is left bare, whether on a farm field or in a home garden over winter, rain hits exposed ground and carries sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus directly into storm drains and local waterways. This is nonpoint source (NPS) pollution, and bare soil is one of its most overlooked sources.

Cover crops are plants grown specifically to cover and protect soil when a main crop is not growing. Farmers across Michigan use them between harvests, but home gardeners can use the same approach in vegetable beds and garden patches. According to MSU Extension, cover crops in home gardens can help meet soil and plant nutrient needs, improve water infiltration, reduce soil erosion, and reduce w**d pressure and soil crusting.

Here are some cover crop options that work well for Michigan home gardeners:
Cereal rye: can be planted into mid-October, winter hardy, and great for erosion control
Oats: plant by end of August, winter kills on its own so no spring termination needed
Crimson clover: a legume that fixes nitrogen naturally, plant by early to mid-August
Daikon radish: breaks up compacted soil with its deep taproot, plant by early to mid-August

Here's why it matters for Oakland County's waterways. Cover crop roots hold soil in place, capture excess nitrogen before it leaches into groundwater, and open up channels in the soil so rain soaks in rather than runs off into local streams and lakes. Legume cover crops like clover also fix nitrogen naturally, reducing how much fertilizer you need the following season and keeping more nutrients out of local waterways.

Oakland County sits at the headwaters of five major river watersheds; the Clinton, Huron, Rouge, Shiawassee, and Flint. What happens in your garden this fall has a direct connection to the water quality in our local lakes and streams.

Sources: canr.msu.edu/news/using-cover-crops-in-the-home-garden | sare.org/publications/cover-crops-ecosystem-services/10-ways-cover-crops-enhance-soil-health | usda.gov/about-usda/general-information/initiatives-and-highlighted-programs/peoples-garden/soil-health/cov

08/14/2026

Erosion might seem like a slow, invisible process, but the warning signs are often right in your own yard, and catching them early can protect both your property and Oakland County's local waterways.

When soil erodes, it doesn't just disappear. It gets carried by stormwater runoff into storm drains, streams, and lakes, bringing along fertilizers, pet waste, oil, and other pollutants. This makes erosion a direct contributor to nonpoint source (NPS) pollution in our local watersheds.

Here are some signs that erosion may already be happening on your property:
- Bare or exposed soil, especially on slopes or near the water's edge
- Gullies or small channels forming where water flows across the ground
- Puddles or wet patches where eroded soil and water have settled
- Leaning or fallen trees with exposed roots near the shoreline
- Cloudy or discolored water near a lakeshore, especially after heavy rain

Prevention is far easier and less expensive than repair. Keeping trees, shrubs, and native plants in place, limiting turf grass at the water's edge, and minimizing impervious surfaces are some of the most effective ways to slow erosion. Deep-rooted native vegetation holds soil in place and slows runoff naturally, making it one of the best tools Michigan landowners have for protecting both their property and local water quality.

If your shoreline is already eroding, the Michigan Natural Shoreline Partnership has resources on natural bio-engineering solutions and a directory of certified shoreline professionals in Michigan.

Sources: shorelinepartnership.org/basics-of-erosion-control.html | canr.msu.edu/news/understanding_lakeshore_ecosystems_part_4_shoreline_erosion

08/12/2026

Between land and water, there is often a strip of vegetation doing some of the most important water quality work in the entire watershed.

Buffer strips are zones of permanent vegetation that slow and filter stormwater runoff while holding soil in place, reducing the amount of harmful phosphorus and sediment that reaches local rivers, lakes, and wetlands. A buffer typically begins at the water's edge and extends at least 30 feet inland: that stretch of plants, grasses, and shrubs acts as a natural filter, capturing excess nutrients and pollutants before they ever reach the water.

There are a few different types depending on the land and its use including:
— Shoreline gardens: a planted buffer between a lake or stream and a residential lawn, something any homeowner can establish
— Contour buffer strips: used on sloped agricultural fields to slow rainwater moving downhill and prevent erosion
— Wetland buffers: vegetation around wetland edges that supports wetland function, reduces flooding, filters pollutants, and provides critical wildlife habitat

Buffer strips don't just protect water quality. They reduce erosion, stabilize stream banks, support wildlife, and improve the land's resilience to heavy rain, making them one of the most effective tools for reducing nonpoint source (NPS) pollution at the landscape level.

Michigan landowners don't have to wait for regulations to act. Leaving native vegetation intact near waterways, avoiding mowing to the water's edge, and minimizing fertilizer and pesticide use near wetlands are all simple steps that protect Oakland County's watersheds. The wider and more natural a buffer remains, the greater its benefits for our local water.

Sources: cleanlakesalliance.org/buffer-strips | citizensforsuperior.org/post-1760

08/07/2026

One of the most beautiful ways to protect Oakland County's waterways is right in your own backyard.

A rain garden is a shallow, planted depression designed to capture and absorb rainwater runoff from roofs, driveways, and lawns. Instead of flowing into storm drains and directly into our local rivers and lakes, water soaks into the soil and gets naturally filtered before it ever reaches a waterway. Rain gardens are one of the most effective tools homeowners have for reducing nonpoint source (NPS) pollution at the source.

Location matters more than most people think. Place your rain garden where runoff naturally flows, near a downspout or the edge of a driveway works well. Keep it at least 10 feet from any building, avoid spots where water is already pooling, and aim for level ground so water spreads evenly and has time to soak in.

The best plants for Michigan rain gardens are native species because they are adapted to our climate and can handle both standing water after a storm and dry conditions during summer heat. Their deep root systems help water move into the soil faster and filter pollutants more effectively. Some great options for southeast Michigan include purple coneflower, black-eyed Susan, butterfly milkw**d, New England aster, golden alexanders, fox sedge, and fragrant sumac. Native bees, butterflies, and birds also depend on these plants for food and shelter, so a rain garden does double duty for both water quality and local wildlife.

Rain gardens capture and absorb water within a day or two of a rain event and are dry most of the year, so despite the name, they aren't a source of standing water or mosquitoes.

Ready to build one? MSU Extension and Friends of the Rouge both have free resources and native plant lists specific to southeast Michigan.

Sources: canr.msu.edu/news/soak-up-the-rain-with-a-rain-garden | therouge.org/plantsforraingardens
Photo Cred: MSU Extension, Mark Bugnaski Photography

08/05/2026

Summer in Oakland County means lake days, swimming, and time on the water, but before you jump in, it's worth knowing what's beneath the surface.

Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution in the water appears from excess nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizer, pet waste, and stormwater runoff. This fuels the growth of harmful algal blooms (HABs), rapid overgrowths of algae that can make both people and pets sick.

In Michigan, algal blooms typically form during periods of warm temperatures, lots of sun, and high nutrient levels in the water. They aren't always easy to spot: a bloom can look like scum, foam, or a mat on the surface, or like paint spilled in the water, and is sometimes accompanied by an earthy or musty smell. It is not possible to determine whether a bloom contains harmful toxins just by looking at it.

Health risks are real. Skin contact with HABs can cause rashes, hives, or blisters, and may trigger runny eyes, nose, or asthma-like symptoms. Pets are especially vulnerable: rinse them off immediately if they've been in contact with the water and watch for signs of illness.

The good news is Michigan makes it easy to check before you go. EGLE's BeachGuard tool is an interactive map updated by local health departments that shows current water quality conditions at monitored beaches across the state. If something looks off at your local lake, you can also report it directly to EGLE.

Check your beach: mienviro.michigan.gov/nsite/beach/map
Report a bloom: michigan.gov/egle/about/organization/water-resources/glwarm/harmful-algal-blooms

Sources: michigan.gov/egle/about/organization/water-resources/glwarm/harmful-algal-blooms | michigan.gov/egle/about/organization/water-resources/beaches | michiganseagrant.org/topics/coastal-hazards-and-safety/harmful-algal-blooms | michigan.gov/egle/faqs/water-quality-protection/harmful-algal-blooms

07/30/2026

Washing your car at home can have a larger impact for Oakland County's waterways they you might have thought.

When a car is washed on a driveway or street, the runoff carries soap, detergents, residue from exhaust fumes, gasoline, heavy metals from rust, and motor oil directly into nearby storm drains, and straight into our local rivers, lakes, and streams without any treatment. This makes home car washing a source of nonpoint source (NPS) pollution that many people don't think about.
Phosphates found in many common soaps are a particular concern, once they reach local waterways they can trigger algae growth, which reduces oxygen levels and harms aquatic life.

Commercial car washes, by contrast, are required to send their wastewater to treatment facilities, and most recycle their water multiple times before it is treated and released, using far less water overall than a typical home wash.

If you do wash your car at home, a few simple steps can reduce the impact on our local waterways:
— If washing at home, do it on grass or gravel rather than concrete or asphalt so water can filter into the ground before reaching a storm drain
— Use biodegradable, phosphate-free soap and use it sparingly
— Use a spray nozzle with flow restriction to minimize the amount of runoff
— Empty wash buckets into a sink or toilet rather than onto the pavement
— For fundraiser car washes, consider partnering with a commercial car wash facility to reduce pollution

Small choices about where and how we wash our cars add up across an entire community and watershed.

Sources: epa.gov/nutrientpollution/what-you-can-do-your-home | cleanwaterkcmetro.org/wash-your-car-the-safe-way

07/27/2026

Picking up after your pet is about more than being a good neighbor, it's a water quality issue that affects Oakland County's rivers, lakes, and streams.

Pet waste left on lawns, sidewalks, and parks doesn't just stay there. When it rains, stormwater picks it up and carries it directly into storm drains and straight into our local waterways without any treatment. This makes pet waste a form of nonpoint source (NPS) pollution, and in Michigan it is one of the tracked sources contributing to E. coli contamination in our surface waters.

E. coli is a type of bacteria found in the digestive systems of warm-blooded animals, including dogs. Michigan's EGLE uses E. coli levels as a water quality indicator, when levels are too high, it signals that other harmful pathogens may be present as well. Elevated E. coli in local waterways can lead to beach closures, swimming advisories, and health risks for anyone who comes into contact with the water. In Michigan, bacteria levels in local waterways are also more likely to spike in the 24 to 48 hours following a large rainstorm, when runoff is at its highest.

Beyond bacteria, pet waste also adds excess nutrients to waterways as it breaks down, contributing to algae growth and low oxygen conditions that are harmful to fish and aquatic life.

A few simple steps make a real difference for Oakland County's watersheds:
— Always pick up pet waste and dispose of it in the trash
— Never leave pet waste near a storm drain, stream, or lake
— Do not feed geese, or ducks at parks and beaches, their waste is also a significant source of bacteria in local waterways
— Check EGLE's BeachGuard website before swimming to see current water quality conditions at monitored beaches in Michigan

Small habits add up across an entire community.

Sources: michigan.gov/egle/about/organization/water-resources/glwarm/e-coli-in-surface-waters | stormwatercoalition.org/petwaste

Address

7150 Dixie Highway, Suite 1
Clarkston, MI
48346

Telephone

+12489227822

Website

http://www.oaklandconservationdistrict.org/, https://www.instagram.com/oaklandconservation/

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