Regional Freshwater Protection

WMEAC is proud to have received $150,000 over two years from the Wege Foundation to protect our communities fresh water resources through policy and education. The grant from the Wege Foundation focuses on moving forward the values laid out in our 2016 Strategic Plan: educating and engaging, activating for solutions, and research and policy innovations.

“For nearly 50 years WMEAC has focused on educating and advocating for water protection across West Michigan. The Wege Foundation shares that focus, and we are proud to continue our work alongside them,” said Bill Wood, Executive Director of WMEAC.

Through this grant, WMEAC’s policy arm will move forward with a regional water quality agenda by providing active leadership, encouraging best management practices for protecting water resources and initiating water quality discussions at municipal levels. This work will include ensuring water quality is at the forefront of river restoration projects, advocating for septics, continued environmental journalism, and developing partnerships across the watershed to ensure collaboration.

The educational components of the grant will focus on expanding the understanding across West Michigan of green infrastructure. This work will include hosting workshops for the new Rainwater Rewards stormwater calculator, expansion of the 15 to the River PSA, and green infrastructure workshops. In addition to this high-level education work, WMEAC will also partner at the grassroots level with organizations locally to ensure all residents in the region have access to green infrastructure tools. In order to reach constituents at the grassroots level, WMEAC is creating new partnerships with organizations like Habitat for Humanity, as well as working with longtime partners SEEDS of Promise.

“The focus of this grant is expanding education at both the municipal and leadership level, as well as support and access at the grassroots level,” said Wood. “Through new partnerships, we can expand our education about the value of freshwater and the importance of maintaining and expanding investment in green infrastructure in the Great Lakes region.”