Michigan Water Stewardship Program

The Michigan Water Stewardship Program (MWSP) is a partnership of organizations that provide educational assistance to Michigan's residents to identify and reduce contamination risks to water and other natural resources. The program encourages individuals to take voluntary proactive steps to protect Michigan's water quality - our drinking water - as well as protect our other valuable natural resources while caring for our family's health.

MWSP Residential Stewardship

More than 150,000 Michigan residents have been reached on a variety of environmental stewardship topics. The educational interactions are designed to encourage the voluntary adoption of watershed best management practices and behaviors that will protect our water quality and natural resources. This informational website and online training program is the latest addition targeting residential populations and promoting environmental stewardship.

Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) Technical Assistance

MAEAP water stewardship technicians provide environmental risk assessments of management practices, structures and site conditions at farm headquarters. Technicians work with producers throughout the state to develop and implement management plans to prevent contamination of water at farm headquarters, production fields, orchards, nurseries, greenhouses and livestock operations.

Agricultural producers who participate in the program can become environmentally assured through the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP). Environmental assurance indicates the farm is in conformance with state and federal environmental laws and guidelines, and that it is protecting Michigan’s important natural resources for the use of future generations.

The Conservation Technical Assistance Initiative (CTAI) focuses on best management practice implementation and construction inspection to implement a variety of agricultural practices that are funded under the USDA farm bill in Michigan. These practices may include, but are not limited to, pest management, nutrient management, prescribed grazing, irrigation water management and tree/shrub establishment.

Abandoned wells pose a health risk by acting as a conduit for contaminated surface water to move directly down into drinking water aquifers. Environmental risk assessments and financial assistance from MWSP have resulted in the closure of more than 7,000 unused/unusable wells.

Abandoned well prior to
sealing and closure

Clean Sweep

Unused and unwanted pesticides are properly disposed of through the MWSP sponsored Clean Sweep program. More than 1.5 million pounds of chemicals have been removed from storage barns to other risky locations and properly disposed of in the past decade.

Our MWSP logo represents the two hands of Michigan - both the upper and lower peninisulas - and caring for our water resources and water quality.

The green hand symbolizes all vegetation and crops in our state and the tan hand symbolizes soils. 

The lighter blue water signifies the vast surface water throughout the state and the darker blue water denotes groundwater.

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Agricultural Spill Response

The Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) provides a 24-hour hotline (800-405-0101) for assistance with agricultural pollution emergencies.  Quick, effective response greatly reduces environmental risks.  MWSP staff coordinate any follow-up requirements with the the Department of Natural Resouces and the Environment and other regulatory agencies.

Groundwater Quality Monitoring

This water testing is designed to evaluate pesticide and nitrogen fertilizer contamination in Michigan's groundwater.  Nearly 20,000 water well samples have been screened for nitrates, nitrites and triazines at no charge to the well owners.

Agrichemical Container Recycling

The container recycling program miminizes the loss of pesticides to groundwater by promoting proper pesticide container rinsing procedures.  Properly rinsed containers are recycled through a partnership with agricultural businesses across the state.

Michigan Turfgrass Environmental Stewardship Program (MTESP)

This program advances environmental stewardship in Michigan's turf industry by protecting water resources, enhancing wildlife habitat and promoting stewardship achievements.