ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES LINKS
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
The mission of the MDEQ is to protect and enhance Michigan's environment and public health in the areas of air, land, waste, and water.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
The MDNR is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use, and enjoyment of the state's natural resources for current and future generations. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources had its beginnings in the early 1900s, when most people thought the natural resources were there for the taking. When it was discovered that there wasn't, in fact, an endless supply of resources, Michigan citizens worked to protect what was left.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
The mission of the Environmental Protection Agency is to protect human health and the environment. Since 1970, EPA has been working for a cleaner, healthier environment for the American people. EPA leads the nation's environmental science, research, education and assessment efforts.
Land Conservancy of West Michigan
The Land Conservancy of West Michigan is dedicated to the protection of the dunes, forests, wetlands and fields that give central West Michigan its distinctive beauty, character, and quality. They use voluntary tools and work directly with landowners and local communities in efforts to keep nature nearby.
The Federation mission is taking care of the fish, wildlife, air, land, and water that make the Lake Michigan region a national treasure and helping citizens understand how they can help too. To that end, they draw on many resources, working with teachers, scientists, economists, legal specialists, government representatives, communities, and individuals. And, year-by-year, individual-by-individual, they're getting back a healthy Lake Michigan environment.
Muskegon River Watershed Assembly
The mission of the MRWA is to preserve, protect and enhance the natural, historic and cultural resources of the Muskegon River Watershed through educational and scientific initiatives, while supporting positive economic development, agricultural and quality of life initiatives of organizations working in the river watershed.
Center for Watershed Protection
Founded in 1992, the Center for Watershed Protection is a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation that provides local governments, activists, and watershed organizations around the country with the technical tools for protecting some of the nation’s most precious natural resources: our streams, lakes and rivers. The Center has developed and disseminated a multi-disciplinary strategy to watershed protection that encompasses watershed planning, watershed restoration, stormwater management, watershed research, better site design, education and outreach, and watershed training.
West Michigan Environmental Action Council
WMEAC is a non-profit environmental advocacy and education organization committed to empowering citizens to make a difference in the protection of our environment and our children's future. One of their programs is –
Rain Gardens of West Michigan is an environmental education program focused on stormwater education, and on the values of using rain gardens and native plants in the landscape to improve urban and suburban water quality. Their motto is: "Saving the Great Lakes One Rain Garden at a Time".
Air and Waste Management Association
The Air & Waste Management Association (A&WMA) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan professional organization that provides training, information, and networking opportunities to thousands of environmental professionals in 65 countries.
Great Lakes Information Network
The Great Lakes Information Network (GLIN) is a partnership that provides one place online for people to find information relating to the binational Great Lakes – St. Lawrence region of North America. GLIN offers a wealth of data and information about the region's environment, economy, tourism, education and more. GLIN has a strong network of state, provincial, federal and regional partner agencies and organizations, and has become a important component of informed decision-making, and a trusted and reliable source of information for those who live, work or have an interest in the Great Lakes region.
The Great Lakes Commission is a binational public agency dedicated to the use, management and protection of the water, land and other natural resources of the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence system. In partnership with the eight Great Lakes states and provinces of Ontario and Québec, the Commission applies sustainable development principles in addressing issues of resource management, environmental protection, transportation and sustainable development. The Commission provides accurate and objective information on public policy issues; an effective forum for developing and coordinating public policy; and a unified, system wide voice to advocate member interests.
Local Government Environmental Assistance Network
The Local Government Environmental Assistance Network (LGEAN) is a "first-stop shop" providing environmental management, planning, funding, and regulatory information for local government elected and appointed officials, managers and staff.
The Michigan Water Science Center is part of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), which is the Nation's largest natural resource science agency and provides information that is used to protect life and property from natural disasters, manage natural resources, and protect the environment. Their mission, since being established by Congress in 1879, is to provide relevant, impartial, and timely natural resource information. Since 1900 the USGS has provided water-resources data and information about Michigan. Historical information about streamflow, ground-water levels, and water quality provide a baseline to assess the effects of human activities and natural changes, such as climate, on water resources. The Michigan Water Science Center continues to run monitoring networks and conduct scientific assessments and research of Michigan's water resources.
American Public Works Association
The American Public Works Association is an international educational and professional association of public agencies, private sector companies, and individuals dedicated to providing high quality public works goods and services.
Founded in 1928, the Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization with members from varied disciplines who work toward the WEF vision of preservation and enhancement of the global water environment. The WEF network includes water quality professionals from 76 Member Associations in 30 countries.
The USGS serves the Nation by providing reliable scientific information to describe and understand the Earth; minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters; manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources; and enhance and protect our quality of life. USGS has become a world leader in the natural sciences thanks to their scientific excellence and responsiveness to society's needs.
National Resources Defense Council
NRDC is an environmental action organization. They use law, science and the support of more than 1 million members and online activists to protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all living things. Urban Ecology’s mission has always involved local change within a global perspective. Urban Ecology continues to pursue its vision of creating vibrant neighborhoods by listening to communities, designing neighborhood plans to meet residents’ specific needs, advocating change, and serving as an information resource.
Urban Ecology was founded in 1975 by visionary architects and activists who believed that cities should serve both people and nature. From the beginning, Urban Ecology has used urban planning, ecology, and public participation to help design and build healthier cities.
Riparian Owner's Guidebook (for watershed management) – PDF file
A publication by the Annis Water Resources Institute (at Grand Valley State University), the book is a resource to inform citizens about what they can do to help protect our lakes and streams. The Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute (AWRI) is a multidisciplinary research organization committed to the study of freshwater resources. The mission of the institute is to integrate research, education, and outreach to enhance and preserve freshwater resources.
Sustainable Measures develops indicators that measure progress toward a sustainable economy, society and environment. They work with communities, companies, regional organizations, and government agencies at all levels.
The Environmental Sustainability portal – An Information Gateway empowering the movement for environmental sustainability.
Renewable Energy Policy Project
REPP's goal is to accelerate the use of renewable energy by providing credible information, insightful policy analysis, and innovative strategies amid changing energy markets and mounting environmental needs by researching, publishing, and disseminating information, creating policy tools, and hosting highly active, on-line, renewable energy discussion groups.
U.S. Global Change Research Information Office
The GCRIO provides access to data and information on climate change research, adaptation/mitigation strategies and technologies, and global change-related educational resources on behalf of the various U.S. Federal Agencies that are involved in the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP).
Center for Livable Communities
The Center for Livable Communities is a national initiative of the Local Government Commission (LGC), a non-profit, non-partisan, membership organization of elected officials, city and county staff, and other interested individuals.
The FIC is a clearinghouse for information about farmland protection and stewardship. It is a partnership between the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and American Farmland Trust. At the FIC website, they have a collection of materials, agricultural and land use statistics, laws, literature, and technical resources related to farmland protection and stewardship.
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