Flint River Watershed Coalition

THE VISION OF THE FLINT RIVER WATERSHED COALITION IS A HEALTHY, VIBRANT, ACTIVE FLINT RIVER WATERSHED FOR ALL. OUR MISSION IS TO DEVELOP PARTNERSHIPS TO PROTECT, PROMOTE, AND IMPROVE THE FLINT RIVER AND ITS WATERSHED FOR THE BENEFIT OF PLANTS, ANIMALS, INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES, GOVERNMENTS, AND ORGANIZATIONS. WE DO THIS THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING, AND COOPERATIVE INTERRELATIONS BETWEEN PARTICIPANTS IN PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES.

YOUTH ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION INCLUDES OUR CORE GREEN PROGRAM, THE BRIDGES CURRICULUM AND TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EXPANSION OF GREEN, AND OUR OUT OF SCHOOL TIME PARTNERSHIPS. PULLED TOGETHER, THESE PROGRAMS FOCUS ON DEVELOPING ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS AND STEWARDSHIP THROUGH A COMBINATION OF FIELD AND CLASSROOM SESSIONS. OUR YOUTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE A VALUABLE AND ENRICHING LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND MENTORS, AND HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED AS AN EFFECTIVE MEANS FOR TURNING TODAY'S YOUTH INTO THE ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERS OF TOMORROW. THE PROGRAMS ARE THE RESULT OF INVALUABLE PARTNERSHIPS WITH NOAA B-WET, THE NORTH AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, SEVERAL FEDERAL, REGIONAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT BODIES, ENVIRONMENTAL AND OUTREACH DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN - FLINT, AND KETTERING UNIVERSITY, THE GENESEE AND LAPEER INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, MANY OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITHIN THE WATERSHED, AND BUSINESS LEADERS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING MENTORING OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM.

FLINT RIVER STEWARDSHIP DAY IS AN ANNUAL COMMUNITY EVENT, INTENDED TO ORGANIZE VOLUNTEERS IN GENESEE AND LAPEER COUNTIES TO CLEAN SELECTED SITES ON THE FLINT RIVER TO IMPROVE THE APPEARANCE AN ECOLOGY OF THE WATERSHED. TYPICALLY 200 TO 300 VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATE IN THIS ONE DAY EVENT. THE PURPOSE IS TO CREATE AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF A CLEAN HABITAT, AND DEVELOP A RECOGNITION ON THE PART OF THE COMMUNITY FOR THE ROLE THAT THEY PLAY IN THIS ENDEAVOR.

MONITORING IS A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO IDENTIFY THREATS TO WATER QUALITY IN A SPECIFIC SECTION OF THE WATERSHED, AND TO CREATE A REGIONAL VISION FOR THE WATERSHED. THE FRWC PROVIDES STAFF ASSISTANCE, PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS, AND EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION TO VOLUNTEERS WHO DO BENTHIC TESTING THROUGHOUT THE WATERSHED.

FLINT RIVER WATER TRAIL - THE FLINT RIVER WATER TRAIL PROVIDES A VARIETY OF RECREATIONAL EXPERIENCES BY CONNECTING RIVER USERS TO NATURAL, CULTURAL, AND HISTORIC FEATURES ALONG A SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE RIVER TRAIL. THE WATER TRAIL WILL PROMOTE RECREATION, EDUCATION, AND ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION, AND INCREASE STEWARDSHIP OF THE FLINT RIVER AND SURROUNDING LANDS. THE WATER TRAIL IS A 73-MILE PADDLE-ABLE STRETCH OF THE RIVER FROM LAPEER TO MONTROSE, WITH 25 PUBLIC ACCESS POINTS. SECURED IN 2020, THE NATIONAL WATER TRAIL DESIGNATION REQUIRES COLLABORATION AROUND SEVEN KEY ATTRIBUTES OF A WATER TRAIL, AS LAID OUT BY THE NATIONAL PARKS SERVICE. PADDLING AND KAYAKING PROGRAMS HAVE EXPANDED SIGNIFICANTLY, AND HAVE BECOME CORE TO THE PROGRAM OFFERINGS OF THE FRWC, AND ARE KEY TO FULFILLING THE MISSION TO PROTECT, PROMOTE, AND IMPROVE THE FLINT RIVER AND THE WATERSHED. THROUGH GUIDED PADDLES, GROUP PADDLING EVENTS, IKAYAK, MINDFUL PADDLING, AND KAYAK FLINT, THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS OF ALL SKILL LEVELS HAVE ENJOYED THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE RECREATION ON THE RIVER THROUGHOUT THE WATERSHED. CHAPTERS - THE FLINT RIVER WATERSHED SUPPORTS THE ENVIRONMENTAL, RECREATIONAL, AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES OF ACTIVE CHAPTERS THAT WORK IN ALL AREAS OF THE WATERSHED. THE CURRENT CHAPTERS ARE: FLINT RIVER CORRIDOR ALLIANCE, LAPEER CHAPTER, FRIENDS OF THE FLINT RIVER TRAIL, AND FLI RIVER ANGLERS. - OUTREACH - THE FLINT RIVER WATERSHED COALITION PROVIDES AN ARRAY OF OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, SCHOOLS, CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, COMMUNITY GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS THROUGH EDUCATIONAL AND VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS. THESE INCLUDE A SPEAKERS' BUREAU, THE STORM DRAIN STENCILING PROGRAM, LAKE EVENTS, AND PARTICIPATION IN FAIRS AND CONFERENCES. FRWC STAFF AND TRAINED VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE TRAINING MATERIALS AND HANDS ON LEARNING ACTIVITIES THAT ARE TAILORED TO THE AUDIENCE.