The Michigan Groundwater Stewardship Program (MGSP) is funded by assessments on the sale of nitrogen containing fertilizers and pesticides. The fees are paid into the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) and used to fund programs that protect groundwater. The Mason-Lake/Manistee Groundwater Stewardship Program (GWSP) originated in 1995 on a very small scale with limited funding received from an MDA grant. During fiscal year 1996 the program expanded and a groundwater technician was hired. Much time and effort in 1996 was spent on program promotion and education efforts. For the 1997 fiscal year a full-time groundwater technician was hired and Manistee County was added to the program area. Current counties covered by our GWSP are Manistee, Mason, and the west one-half of Lake County. The program is administered by the Mason-Lake Conservation District.

The strength of the Mason-Lake/Manistee GWSP comes from guidance and involvement of a very active, 24 member, Groundwater Stewardship Team (GWST). The team includes agricultural producers, USDA agency persons, county officials, agribusiness people, township and lake association representatives, and urban or residential property owners. The Groundwater Stewardship Team’s role is to help set program priorities, give direction, and assist the local GWSP in achieving the goals and mission of the Michigan Groundwater Stewardship Program. Priorities established by our GWST as prioritized are 1- Groundwater education; 2- Conducting Farm & Home*A*Syst risk assessments; 3-Providing technical assistance; 4-Cost-share assistance to install groundwater stewardship practices as identified by F*A*S; and 5- Continue program.

The team feels our geographic area is very vulnerable to groundwater contamination because a large portion of the area includes coarse textured (sandy, gravely) soils which are very susceptible to leaching of pesticides, fertilizers, and other pollutants. Also the area has many large dairy herds, numerous vegetable and asparagus farms, and a large number of orchard producers. There are numerous highly populated lake and recreational areas located within our boundaries, as well as 50 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline. High nitrate levels in drinking water have been identified through several studies in our area and are a concern for many residents.

Farm*A*Syst (F*A*S) is the first step the GWSP uses when working with individual farmers and is an assessment of the activities conducted around the farmstead that may pose a risk to groundwater. Items such as fuel, fertilizer, pesticide use and storage, animal waste storage and disposal, well locations, disposal of household wastewater and hazardous materials are discussed. The assessment is carried out by the landowner with assistance from a groundwater technician or AmeriCorp representative with the results being kept strictly confidential. After the F*A*S is completed, recommendations are made by the technician addressing items that may pose a risk to groundwater. Recommendations may include the installation of practices such as mix/load pads, fertilizer and pesticide containment facilities, fuel dispensing pads, animal waste disposal systems, well closures, integrated Pest Management and scouting programs, or in many cases minor changes in every day activities around the farmstead that will reduce the risk of groundwater contamination. If structural practices are needed and installed, cost-sharing is available through the GWSP. Cost-share rates vary from 50 to 90 percent, and usually there is a $3,000.00 limit per practice.

Home*A*Syst (H*A*S) is similar to the F*A*S assessment, but addresses the non-farm home owners, that have their own wells and septic systems. The H*A*S is a useful tool for Lake Associations, wellhead protection areas, and other urban dwellers. It looks at issues such as lawn and garden pesticide management and fertilizer use, surface water runoff, household wastewater disposal, pet waste management, and landscaping. This year the AmeriCorp representatives of the MGSP will focus their efforts on conducting H*A*S assessments throughout the state.

The success our program has enjoyed is the direct result of the efforts put forth by our Groundwater Stewardship Team, Conservation Districts, Michigan State University Extension, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Michigan State University Extension, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Michigan Farm Bureau and Agribusiness organizations in our area. Closing abandoned wells has been a high priority throughout the State of Michigan, as these wells provide a direct conduit to groundwater aquifers for the introduction of pesticides, fertilizers, and other harmful contaminants. In many cases these old wells are a safety hazard, where old pits, dug wells, or large open casings are vulnerable to small children and others falling into them. Case in point, several years ago when "baby Jessica" fell into an open well. The GWSP provides cost-sharing (up to 90% of the total cost) to properly close these old wells. During the past two years there have been in excess of 80 abandoned wells closed in our program area. Another concern in our area is identified through F*A*S is farmers mixing and loading their fertilizer and pesticides at, or near, the wellhead. This very high-risk activity, allows any spills at these locations to readily find their way to groundwater aquifers. With cost-share assistance from the GWSP, farmers have purchased nurse tanks which allows them to haul water from the well to the field for mixing and loading. Offset-hydrants which allows them to fill their sprayer 150 foot away from the wellhead have been installed to accomplish this same purpose.

In addition to the MDA grant, our program has been fortunate to receive cost-share funding for groundwater practices from a local lake association. Nearly $10,000,00 in cost-share was spent during the 1997 fiscal year in addition to regular GWSP funds. This lake association has also agreed to reimburse our program for the cost of drinking water samples taken and tested when their owners complete a Home*A*Syst.

The highest priority of our program identified by the GWST is education. The Mason-Lake/Manistee educational efforts involves programs and demonstrations for presentations to schools, farmer groups, lake associations, and township meetings. We use a groundwater flow model and other graphic displays, along with overheads, videos and demonstrations for interested groups. During the past two years groundwater education programs have been presented to 1300 school students and over 500 adults, along with 170 F*A*S and 90 H*A*S having been conducted. In addition we regularly publish newsletters, provide newspaper articles and use radio programs to further our educational efforts regarding the importance of groundwater protection. The effectiveness and awareness of the GWSP continue to be evaluated at both the local and state level.