A reflection on restoration progress in the Saginaw Bay watershed

Abstract

The Saginaw Bay watershed is unique and remains one of the most diverse watersheds in Michigan, containing the largest contiguous freshwater coastal wetland system in the United States. The watershed and Saginaw Bay support a wide variety of flora and fauna, agriculture and recreation opportunities. However, the rapid industrialization and population growth of the watershed in the 20th century strained the region's natural resources. Excessive nutrient loading, elevated bacteria levels, aquatic habitat loss, and chemical contamination all altered the watershed's ecosystem. These stressors contributed to declining fish and wildlife populations, loss of coastal wetlands, water quality concerns, beach closings, and the buildup of contaminants in the food web. Over the past four decades, extensive federal, state, and regional priority-based assessments and planning have positioned the Saginaw Bay watershed for significant restoration. There is a continued commitment by federal, state, and regional partners to advance restoration efforts. This paper reflects upon those activities and provides additional actions that would aid restoration work in the Saginaw Bay watershed and in the Saginaw Bay, a region of the Great Lakes that still must address significant environmental challenges to reach its full potential.