Clear Genesee Water

08/15/2023

Want to hold a baby sturgeon in your hands? This Saturday, Aug. 19, there will be public release events, where attendees have the opportunity to release this pre-historic fish into the Saginaw Bay Watershed. +100 hatchery-raised Lake Sturgeon will be released into each tributary of the Saginaw Bay Watershed (Cass, Flint, Shiawassee, and Tittabawassee rivers).

• 11 a.m., Shiawassee River. The release will take place at Cole Park in Chesaning, MI, and will be hosted by the Friends of the Shiawassee River. For more information, contact Sarah Baker at [email protected].
• 1 p.m., Tittabawassee River. It will be held at the Bob G. Caldwell Municipal Boat in Midland, MI, and will be hosted by the Chippewa Nature Center. For more information, contact Jennifer Kirts at [email protected].
• 2 p.m., Flint River. It will be held at the Paddlers’ Landings (Mott Park Recreation Area) in Flint, MI, and will be hosted by the Flint River Watershed Coalition. For more information, contact Jennifer Raymond at [email protected].
• 3 p.m., Cass River. The release is at the parking lot at the Gunzenhausen Walkway in Frankenmuth, MI, and will be hosted by the City of Frankenmuth. For more information, contact Dan Hopp at [email protected].

08/09/2023

07/27/2023

Hey everyone! Kayak flint is hosting their pedal to paddle event this Saturday at 10 am.

What's pedal to paddle? Pedal to paddle is a event involving both kayaking and biking. We will meet at Irish road at 10 am and bike to Richfield, and then...PADDLE BACK downstream to Irish Rd. Yes! Perfect for all levels of experience both biking and kayaking.

Meaning this is not a triathlon! You may be the flash or you can be the tortoise 🐢 and enjoy life. The choice is yours!

This is a 2 in half mile ride one way. Just so you know what you are getting yourselves into.

07/07/2023

The meal time at Bluebell Beach will be changing starting Monday, July 10. They will now be serving from 2:40-3:00pm. There are many other locations around the area that will be hosting this program as well, so feel free to check out the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan website for times and locations.

07/05/2023

If you're out enjoying Michigan's waters, show the waterways some love by preventing the spread of harmful invasive species.

Simple steps to protect our waters:
☑️ Clean boats, trailers and equipment by removing plants, debris, and mud before leaving the access area. Dispose of the material in a trash receptacle or otherwise away from the water body, if possible.

☑️ Wash boats and trailers before leaving the access area, if possible, or at a nearby car wash or at home.

☑️ Dry boats and equipment for five days before launching into a different water body.

☑️ Disinfect live wells and bilges with a bleach solution (1/2 cup bleach to five gallons water).

Find educational boat landing events happening this week, and learn more about what you can do at https://bit.ly/441pou2.

06/27/2023

Thank you, Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds - LGROW, for this great tip!

06/14/2023

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the acceptance of more than one million acres into the Conservation Reserve Program’s (CRP) general signup. Learn more at the 🔗 link below.

These acres, combined with the anticipated enrollment of CRP’s grassland and continuous sign ups, will help offset the 2 million acres scheduled to expire in 2023 — resulting in a net gain in total acres for the third consecutive year.

“Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever are excited to celebrate another successful CRP general sign up,” said Jim Inglis, director of government affairs for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. “These numbers illustrate continued demand for the program across the country, and we’re pleased to see the third consecutive year with a net increase in CRP acres.”

“We look forward to using the momentum generated by this good news as a catalyst for further investment in conservation as we work with our elected officials in Congress,” Inglis said. “Improvements to the 2023 Farm Bill could expand CRP’s ability to provide conservation options — helping to achieve multiple land use goals including increased wildlife habitat, improved water quality, soil health benefits, climate resiliency measures and safeguarding rural economies.”

https://pheasantsforever.org/BlogLanding/Blogs/Pheasants-Forever/CRP-General-Sign-Up-Accepts-Over-One%C2%A0Million-Acres.aspx

06/09/2023

Saturday, June 10th @ 2:00p.m.

Wetlands are wonderful! During this program we will talk about the plants and animals that depend on wetlands. Then, we’ll explore our very own wetlands.

Please register at https://sevenponds.org/summer-programs-2023/

06/08/2023

Local take-back programs are a safe and environmentally friendly option for disposing of unwanted medications

06/08/2023

06/08/2023

05/31/2023

⚠️Here is today's fire danger map. Yes, it is still incredibly dry out there. Fire danger remains extreme throughout most of Michigan, and will stay this way going into the weekend.

Last weekend, Michigan DNR firefighters responded to 44 fires, including the 136-acre Fife Lake Outlet Fire in Wexford County. Our crews fight hard to keep fires small, but they need your help to prevent wildfires from flaring up in the first place.

We know we're sounding like a broken record here, but please do not burn yard debris and if you use a campfire/cooking fire, keep water and a shovel on hand and NEVER leave a fire unattended.

Drench the fire when you're done, stir it, then drench it again. Once it's cool to your hand, you're good to go.

Everything fire danger/wildfire prevention can be found at Michigan.gov/FireManagement

05/30/2023

It's springtime which means the weather is getting warmer, the birds are chirping,... and the nonnative invasive plants are growing :(. Come spend a couple hours with us at 2:00pm on Saturday as we work on removing these plants from around the center.

Feel free to preregister at https://sevenponds.org/spring-programs-2023/ or just show up on Saturday!

05/30/2023

Join us on June 11th for our annual Spring Native Plant Sale with East Michigan Native Plants.

These Michigan Native species are a great way to increase the biological diversity of your gardens. Whether you just want something new, or want to create a more diverse ecosystem, these natives are the answer.

To see the event page & plant order form visit
https://geneseecountyparks.org/calendar/ #/events/MSM80soi14/instances/FGltAqTUvB/

For more information visit: https://www.eastmichnatives.com/

For all ages and abilities.

Cost: Variable (see plant order form for costs)

Pre-orders due by 6/4/23 at noon, large variety of native plants available at the sale.

05/10/2023

Did you know that your observations as citizen scientists can make a difference to our collective picture of Michigan's biodiversity and the health of rare wildlife populations?

With warmer weather on the way, a lot of us are probably gearing up to start spending more time outside, which puts us in a great place to potentially spot some rare wildlife. If you spot something cool (like the Blandings turtle pictured here trudging across a field near my house), you can report it to the Michigan Natural Features Inventory and make that sighting count! Check out this link for more info:

https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/10cff7ddf03240c395fbb384a0ab76e9

05/08/2023

Recycle boat shrink-wrap with the EZ-Fill recycling program.

04/24/2023

04/19/2023

Stewardship Day is also happening in Lapeer! Contact our office for more information or contact Peter McCreedy at [email protected] to register

04/19/2023

Don’t flush old meds! They can end up in our drinking water, groundwater, Great Lakes, and rivers.

Instead, safely and anonymously drop off your unwanted medications at a Michigan State Police post or collection site this Saturday, April 22, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. What better way to celebrate Earth Day?

Find a site near you: https://www.dea.gov/takebackday -locator

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3obIjSP

04/18/2023

04/18/2023

If you enjoy springtime and the emergence of new life, this series is for you!

This sunday join the For-Mar team and Vernal Pool Patrol Coordinator, as we travel to Bluegill Boat Launch to explore vernal pools.

Visit https://geneseecountyparks.org/calendar/ to register or learn more.

We will be keeping an eye on the weather and will post any cancellations or updates on the For-Mar page

04/13/2023

04/13/2023

Why native plants are not just about beauty, bees, and butterflies. The deep roots hold excess rainwater, keeping it out of our streets and basements.

04/12/2023

70° and 🌞 in means it's a great day to clear out your storm drains! Cleaning drains before or in between the rain helps keep debris out of our drains and waterways and prevents street flooding.💧

04/11/2023

Spring Water Monitoring is just around the corner and we need you to get involved! The Spring Monitoring window has been set and registration for both the training and to monitor a site can be found by scanning the QR code on the flyer or here: https://forms.gle/phqXusZWhWhpzGTf7

The spring monitoring lab is scheduled for Saturday, May 6th from 12-3 pm at For-Mar. The lab is a great space for brushing up on your identifications and to ask any questions you may have, as well as seeing what others are finding. The monitoring window will run from Saturday April 29th through Saturday May 13th for those that can't attend the lab.

The free volunteer monitor training will be held this Saturday, April 15th at For-Mar from 9 am until noon. Registration is required.

Contact Jaime Welch at [email protected] for more information

04/11/2023

🌞🕶🌊Summer is coming! A snapshot of the Lake Callis Fees for the 2023 season is below. For a complete list of fees, visit our website at dtparks.com.

*A resident is classified as anyone living in the 48423 zip code. I.D. will be required during purchase for proof of residency.

04/10/2023

Help protect Michigan’s trails from erosion by following these tips when you come across muddy conditions this spring:

🚲 Mountain biking - If you encounter a muddy section, dismount and tiptoe down the center, not to the sides because it widens the trail.

🥾 Hiking - If you must traverse a muddy section of trail, go right through the center of the trail, rather than travelling around the mud and widening the trail.

🐴 Horseback riding - Although most horses don't mind getting their feet wet, you and your horse are encouraged to travel through the center of the trail so inadvertent trail widening doesn't occur.

04/10/2023

Remember, ! If you see suspicious dumping, odors or strange colors or oily sheens on waterways, call the Oakland County 24-Hour Pollution Hotline at 248-858-0931.

04/05/2023

Give storm water a job! Here are some things to implement to help your watershed health, improve the appearance of your space, decrease flooding, and minimize polluted runoff to the Flint River!

03/30/2023

Native plants save you money, are better for wildlife, don't require extra water or chemicals and are beautiful. Mark your calendars for Blue Heron Headwaters Conservancy's popular plant sale. Stay tuned for the plant list.

03/29/2023

📸 Credit Unknown

03/28/2023

Happy 188th, Genesee County! 🎂

To celebrate the wonderful people that call it home, entrance to the Village is FREE for all county residents this Genesee County day. So mark your calendars for June 3rd, 2023 and bring the family! The park is open 10am to 5pm.

Experience the sights, smells, and sounds of life in the 1880s!

Tickets for the train are now available at Geneseecountyparks.org

03/24/2023

2 MORE DAYS!!! The Mid Michigan Expo sponsored by Magoo’s Pet Outlet is almost here!

Bring the whole family to Dort Financial Center in Flint this weekend to get in on all the action. Police K9, flyball, dock diving, barn hunt, farm animals, reptiles, vendors, and more!

03/24/2023

Happy first day of spring, Grand Rapids! As the weather warms up here are a few things to keep in mind to help protect our watershed this spring season and beyond. 💧♻️🌷

Check out these easy spring tips brought to you by the Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds - LGROW

03/22/2023

Looking for a unique way to garden this year? A Rain Garden may be for you! 🌷🌸🌻

Rain gardens are little native plant rainforests with shallow depressions that collect, absorb, and filter water runoff from your roof, driveway, and other areas that don't allow water to soak in.

These tiny but mighty gardens are effective in removing nearly 90% of nutrients and chemicals from rainwater which prevents contamination of our waterways.

For more information visit: https://www.mywatersheds.org/rain-garden-101

03/22/2023

BOISE, Idaho — With spring settling in across the U.S. and days lengthening, many people are ready to spend more time outside. But after a walk outdoors, have you ever found seeds clinging to your clothes? Lodged in your socks and shoelaces? Perhaps tangled in your pet’s fur? While most of us do...