Did You Know?

West Michigan
Environmental
Action Council

1007 Lake Dr SE,
Grand Rapids MI 49506
Tel: 616-451-3051
Fax: 616-451-3054

e-mail: info@wmeac.org

Programs

In the News

Welcome to WMEAC

Welcome to WMEAC in Grand Rapids, Michigan. WMEAC has a 40 year history of environmental action in Michigan. Whether you are a concerned citizen, business owner, faith leader or student, we can help you translate your passion for the protection of our environment into positive action. WMEAC has two key areas of focus:

  1. Building Sustainable Communities
  2. Protecting Our Water

Our activities and our office are educational models of sustainability for the Great Lakes region. In fact, our building was the first Double Gold LEED Certified facility in the nation! With your help we can continue to make West Michigan a model region for sustainable practices throughout the nation and the world! Please join WMEAC today and help us in our critical work. Click the Forms and Registration tab above to join online today! You can help ensure environmental sustainability for West Michigan’s future!

First Friday on Vacation Until September, but Join Us for Summer Fun!

First Friday on Vacation Until September, but Join Us for Summer Fun!

Save the date: Friday, September 4 is WMEAC’s next First Friday Luncheon.

Join us for WMEAC summer events:

Saturday, August 22: Have you always wanted to be a nature photographer? Here is your chance! Join us for WMEAC’s ‘Summer Fen’ 1-Day Eco-Photo Excursion! For beginners and advanced amateurs alike, this very special one-day ‘Summer Fen’ excursion combines excellent ‘on-site’ equipment instruction with assisted, ‘in-the-fen’ photography sessions in the Barry County State Game Area. Beautiful summer wildflowers, including native orchids and insectivorous plants, along with other botanical treats, offer exciting photo opportunities for every budding nature photographer, regardless of equipment or skill level. Locations will be within an hour’s drive of Hastings, Michigan.

For more information, and a downloadable registration form, click here!

Community-Based Stormwater Plan for Grand Rapids

Community-Based Stormwater Plan for Grand Rapids

You are needed! Help create our Community-Based Stormwater Plan.

The City of Grand Rapids and West Michigan Environmental Action Council are gathering community members to help with this effort, and we need you.

Why should you care about stormwater?

Stormwater is rain that did not soak into the ground or get taken up by plants as nature intended. When stormwater runs through our communities, it becomes dirty and polluted. It washes animal waste, garbage, fertilizers, chemicals, gas and oil from cars into our storm sewers. This pollution then flows into our streams, rivers and lakes.

What can you do about stormwater?

You and everyone in our community can help solve our stormwater problems. Practical solutions to capture stormwater onsite are available. WMEAC and the City of Grand Rapids need your help to plan and get the word out about stormwater solutions that homeowners, businesses, schools, and faith communities can use. We can solve this problem together!

Why do we need a community-based plan?

We need your help to find creative and affordable solutions for stormwater problems. We should value rain as a resource. Rainwater can be captured at homes and businesses in order to:

• Reduce the expense of our storm sewer operations. • Save money on water and landscaping. • Protect our public waters—clean water for our green city!

We Need Community Leaders… We Need YOU! Get Involved!

Contact WMEAC at 616-451-3051 x 33

rsvp@wmeac.org

Want to know more or help spread the word? Download flyer by clicking here!

Read “A Shared Journey” by Frank Ruswick

WMEAC members and friends came together on May 15, 2008 to celebrate our successes of 2007. Frank Ruswick, Senior Policy Advisor for the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, delivered an inspiring presentation. We would like to share it with you.

Read More

WMEAC Elects 2008-2009 Board of Directors

WMEAC elected new members to its board of directors. Learn more about them in the attached press release.

Read More

2007 Annual Report

2007 Annual Report

WMEAC’s annual report is now available for download. Find out what your membership and contributions made possible. Click here to read the 2007 annual report.

Action Items

Clean Water Legislation Reintroduced in U.S. Senate: Your Help Needed to Secure Quick Committee Action! The Clean Water Restoration Act, which will protect the water we drink and streams, lakes and wetlands so important to fish, wildlife and outdoor recreation, has been reintroduced in the U.S. Senate. This bill responds to Supreme Court decisions that dramatically narrow the waters, especially small streams and wetlands, that have been protected by the Clean Water Act for more than 35 years. With enough support from Senators, this legislation could get a crucial vote in committee as early as next month. Please contact your U.S. Senators today and ask them to protect clean water by co-sponsoring the Clean Water Restoration Act. CLICK HERE to take action now!

Michigan’s wetland protections are at risk! - Michigan is considering repealing our state’s Wetland Protection Act. Alternative solutions exist to protect Michigan’s environment and economy. Make your voice heard; contact your senator and representative about this issue.Click here for a flier with more information.

Click here for more background on this critical issue.

Find your State of Michigan Representative.

Find your State of Michigan senator.

Stop Michigan’s Coal Rush - Learn more and share your input with the State of Michigan through this link: http://www.cleanenergynowmi.org/

Clean Kent County - Every day an estimated 1 million gallons of untreated waste from toilets and household drains is discharged from Kent County’s failing septic systems. Clean Kent County is a campaign to improve Kent County’s efforts to address this growing issue. To learn more or get involved contact us at info@wmeac.org.