As a partnering member of the Muskegon Lake Watershed Partnership (MLWP), WMSRDC has been awarded funding for Muskegon Lake Watershed Partnership Student & Neighborhood Engagement from EGLE under Watershed Council Support. The project will include partnering with schools and neighborhood associations in the Ryerson and Four Mile Creek watersheds to implement a student-led tree planting and water resources improvement for Muskegon Lake Watershed.

MLWP and WMSRDC will collaborate to provide classroom visits and guided watershed land use walks and creek corridor explorations to inspire, inform, and educate teachers and students about the watershed’s natural resources and benefits. Students will lead tree mapping with input by watershed landowners, neighborhood associations, churches, city, and township in the development of an urban tree planting map to restore tree canopy in an urban, residential watershed area.

The funding will also provide for “Know Your Watershed” signage and supplies for the Muskegon Conservation District to plant 15 tree, which will prevent 885 gallons of urban stormwater runoff from entering storm drains that lead to Ryerson and Four Mile Creek.