Paw Paw Lake
The area around Paw Paw Lake in the Paw Paw Lake Sub Watershed is a High Priority Urban Management Area and suspected to contain most of the urban related pollutant sources impairing or threatening water quality in this area.
From watershed management plan:
Priority areas were identified in the watershed based on lands that are contributing, or have the potential to contribute, most of the pollutants impacting water quality. By identifying priority areas, implementation can be targeted to the places where the most benefit can be achieved. Three different types of areas were prioritized in the PPRW – protection, agricultural management, and urban management.
The area around Paw Paw Lake in the Paw Paw Lake Sub Watershed is a High Priority Urban Management Area and suspected to contain most of the urban related pollutant sources impairing or threatening water quality in this area.
Urban Management Areas - The prioritization of urban management areas is based on significant water body impairments, amount of urban land cover and problems identified by MDEQ staff, MDNR Fisheries staff, Van Buren County Drain Commissioner or through the volunteer inventory process. Section 8.3 of the management plan provides more details. The following tasks should be focused in the high and medium priority urban management areas.
Utilize stormwater best management practices (road/parking lot sweeping, stormceptors, rain gardens, constructed wetlands, vegetated swales, etc)
Enact stormwater and post construction control ordinances
Identify and correct illicit connections or discharges to stormwater system
Utilize best management practices for road maintenance (such as alternative deicing methods)
Enact a phosphorus lawn fertilizer ban
Increase or expand household hazardous waste disposal options
Distribute spill kits
Properly maintain and design municipal sewer system infrastructure
The northern half of the Paw Paw Lake Sub Watershed is a Medium Priority Agricultural Management Area and suspected to contain most of the agricultural related pollutant sources impairing or threatening water quality in the area.
Agricultural Management Areas - The prioritization of agricultural management areas is based on significant water body impairments, estimated pollutant loadings (SWAT model), amount of agriculture land cover and problems identified by EGLE staff, MDNR Fisheries staff, Van Buren County Drain Commissioner or through the volunteer inventory process. Section 8.2 of the management plan provides more details. The following tasks should be focused in the high and medium priority agricultural management areas.
Utilize alternative drain maintenance/ construction techniques (such as two stage ditch design, natural river restoration techniques - j-hooks, cross vanes, etc)
Restore riparian buffers and stabilize eroding streambanks
Restore wetlands
Prevent/limit livestock access (fencing, crossings structures, alternative water sources)
Install agricultural BMPs (filter strips, no-till, cover crops, grassed waterways, etc)
Protect wetlands
Expand disposal options for agricultural chemicals
Develop and implement manure management plans
Utilize soil testing to determine appropriate application rates for fertilizers and pesticides
Utilize integrated pest management
Construct secondary containment facilities for chemical/fuel handling areas
Improve and/or enforce septage waste disposal regulations