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It's no secret that Bay County's quality of life could be improved by focusing on critical water quality and natural resource issues. With that in mind, county government established this department and directed it to coordinate and facilitate the participation of local government officials, farmers and agribusiness representatives, recreational users, local environmental groups, business and economic development organizations, and the public to increa se general community awareness and involvement. The department also encourages conservation and reasonable use of natural resources and is responsible for implementing several recreational and educational access projects for Bay County. This department seeks and receives a variety of grants for such projects, and is also responsible for updating the Solid Waste Management Plan as defined by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.
Divisions Under the Environmental Affairs & Community Development Department:
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Upcoming Events & Community Programs:
Saturday, April 20, 2013 - 2013 Mayor’s Annual Clean Up Day:
Saturday, April 20, 2013 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at two locations: 612 E. Fisher Street , Bay City, MI (at bend where Fisher and Walnut meet) and Madison Avenue Parking Lot , Bay City, MI (between 4th and 5th Streets) . For more information and for a list of acceptable items, please click HERE.
Saturday, April 27, 2013 - Household Hazardous Material Collection:
The next Bay County Household Hazardous Materials Collection will be held on Saturday, April 27, 2013 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Bangor Township Hall parking lot, located at 180 State Park Drive, Bay City, Michigan. This event is by appointment only. You must contact the Bay County Environmental Health Division at 989-895-4006 to schedule an appointment to drop off items. You will need to have a complete list of items and amounts at the time you call to schedule your appointment.
Saturday, April 27, 2013 - Bay City State Recreation Area Arbor Day Celebration:
Families, scout groups and youth organizations are invited out to Bay City State Recreation Area to celebrate Arbor Day in a very special way! Participate in a "Meet the Trees" hike, learn tips on small wood lot management from a forester, digital camera Tree Photo Hunt, make a tree "cookie" and discover the aliens invading our forests and what you can do to help. Activities ongoing from 9am-1pm. Please check out the EVENT FLYER for more information.
Yellow Jug Old Drugs Program:
Yellow Jug Old Drugs is a program operated by Great Lakes Clean Water Organization to collect and properly dispose of unwanted/unused drugs in a safe and approved manner to help keep our water clean. Individuals bring in unused/unwanted/expired drugs to their local pharmacy for proper disposal. The Yellow Jug Old Drugs containers and contents are picked up at pharmacies and are then transported to a Waste-to-Energy facility for secure and assured destruction. Click HERE to find a participating pharmacy in your area.
Dispose My Meds:
Dispose My Meds is an online resource to help you to find medication disposal programs at the local independent community pharmacy near you. More than 100 different pharmaceuticals have been detected in lakes, rivers, reservoirs and streams throughout the world. Pharmaceuticals are being detected in the environment and there is genuine concern that these compounds, in the small concentrations that they're at, could be causing impacts to human health or to aquatic organisms.
2013 Women's History Month Special Speakers Series:
In celebration of Women's History Month, a special speaker series will be taking place at the Jack and Alice Wirt Library Community Room. For more information on the dates and times, pleace check out the EVENT FLYER.
Maps of Interest:
Bing Map Link for Birds Eye Viewer of Bay City State Recreation Area
Shoreline Viewer Website Birds Eye Viewer of the Upper Peninsula
The Great Lakes Shoreviewer provides professional color photography of every inch of coastline (and many islands) in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (Lake Superior, Lake Michigan and Lake Huron). Each coastline photo also has a series of maps showing important natural features for planning and protection efforts.
Aerial Treatment of Phragmites Along Saginaw Bay Shoreline:
Aerial spraying to control the invasive plant Phragmites, is set to take place one time during the period between September 15, 2011 and October 15, 2011 along the Saginaw Bay shoreline adjacent to Bay County’s Pinconning Park and Fraser Township’s Linwood Scenic Park, at the east end of Linwood Road. The exact date is unknown at this time as aerial spray treatment is weather dependant, with favorable conditions of light winds with moderate humidity. The aerial treatment will be done by helicopter as this was determined to be the most effective method to reach the shoreline area and can target stands of phragmites only. An herbicide mixture of the products Habitat (Imazapyr), and Aqua Pro (glyphosate) a surfactant will be used to treat only those areas of Pinconning Park and Linwood Scenic Park area that have dense stands of phragmites. This mixture is specially formulated to be targeted to plants and safe for use in aquatic ecosystems near waterways. There will be a 24 hour water use restriction at the treatment area, so signs will be posted against swimming and/or wading at the site. Bay County Environmental Affairs and Community Development received a grant for phragmites treatment at the Pinconning Park location from the US Fish and Wildlife agency. Please note that a separate but similar spray application will be done about the same time at the Nayanguing Point area by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Any questions should be directed to Laura Ogar, Director of the Bay County Environmental Affairs and Community Development Department 989-895-41356 or via email at ogarl@baycounty.net. The General Permit is available for viewing by clicking HERE.
In The News:
MLive: Farmers in Saginaw Bay Region focused on water quality, not animal waste with recent $550,000 federal funding program (July 6, 2011)
Midland Daily News: Saginaw Bay Part of Preservation-Conservation Effort (July 5, 2011)
MLive: Update: $550,000 in federal conservation funds announced to help preserve Saginaw Bay Watershed (July 5, 2011)
Great Lakes Echo: Local governments search for funds to fix failing septic systems (June 28, 2011)
Δ Saginaw Bay Coastal Initiative (SBCI) Official County Webpage
The Saginaw Bay Coastal Initiative (SBCI) holds monthly meeting on the 3rd Thursday of each month.
NEXT SBCI MONTHLY MEETING:
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, April 18, 2013 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Bay County Building, 515 Center Avenue, 2nd Floor Old Commission Chambers, Bay City, Michigan.
Economic Areas of Interest
DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE):
The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) invests in clean energy technologies that strengthen the economy, protect the environment, and reduce dependence on foreign oil.
Wind Energy
Δ Wind Energy
Other Environmental Links
Please click here for links to information regarding governmental, educational, recreational and advisory environmental organizations and groups.
Other Areas of Interest
Δ Hazard Mitigation Plan